Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire

Rating: 4/4 stars

October Daye is not your average private investigator living in San Francisco–she’s a changeling, an individual who is half faerie, half human.  After spending fourteen years turned into a koi fish by an enemy, one of her closest allies in the faerie world is murdered by an unknown enemy.  Her ally’s dying wish is for her to solve the crime–and when October hears this, she is literally cursed so that if she doesn’t do it, then she, too, will die!  With the help of her friends, allies, and even enemies in the human and faerie worlds, October goes forth to solve the crime, making disturbing discoveries along the way.

Fans of young adult authors such as Holly Black (Modern Faerie Tales trilogy, Curse Workers trilogy) and Cassandra Clare (Mortal Instruments series, Infernal Devices trilogy) will enjoy this book’s urban fantasy and action elements, such as the fae living beside humans in modern-day San Francisco and frequent fight scenes.  This is technically a book written for adults, although it has high teen appeal and is appropriate for teenagers, with nothing more violent than most teen books.  October is also a very interesting female heroine, with various strengths and flaws and a detailed history.  The side characters are also interesting, although not as developed.  The constantly-moving nature of the story and bits of dry humor sprinkled throughout keep the story moving and the reader does not know what will happen next, although, unlike many pure “action” books, there is enough pausing here and there paired with backstory to steady the constant flow and give the reader a chance to know the characters.  The mystery elements of the book are blended into the fantasy aspect well, while still being logical and believable.    If you’re interested in a fast-paced but thoughtful read which details the intricacies of the faerie world, Rosemary and Rue is one of the best books in the genre that I have read.