An October Daye Novelette (Kindle Single) - Full of Briars

Unfortunately weak entry into the world of October Daye. I was hoping for a cute story from Quentin's perspective, but there was no story or plot, just one long conversation that rehashed previous territory. The interactions between the characters were formulaic and (I hate to say this) dull. The one bright spot was a brief exchange at the end of the story that made me smile. That's what earned it two stars. This really should have been a short story offered on her website for the die-hard fans.

Full of Briars fulfills something missing from the Toby Books. If you are current on the books, then the plot is predictable because this happens before the 2nd to last book published, The Winter Long. I really wish FOB had come out sequentially because if you had read TWL then all of the suspense and concern of what was to come in FOB was missing since you already knew the outcome. I almost gave the book 3* for that but changed my mind because other than that, FOB was truly exceptional. A lot of $2 novellas on the store are so short and repetitive that you feel like you wasted your money on it, but that is not the case here. Whatever the page count is, you couldn't tell because from beginning to end it feels complete.

This is the first time we see things from Quentin's perspective, and he is given a distinctive voice that is totally in character with who we have come to know him as. It would have been very easy for him to sound like a younger, male version of Toby but he doesn't.

This fills a large gap in the storyline, of what the consequences were for Quentin coming clean about his blind fosterage in Chimes at Midnight. And even though the outcome is known if you have read TWL, the worry and suspense are there on the page. It also clears up a little bit more on the subject matter of Quentin's fosterage as it came out in TWL. I am hoping we get some closure in the next book on his parents reaction to the truth surrounding it, and maybe find out more info about his sister, Penny. Before FOB I was under the impression only Quentin had been sent on fosterage, and his sister was safe at home. With the revelations from TWL and now FOB I am left wondering if Penny is in a similar situation as Quentin.

On the final chapter, I read quite a few reviews that people were surprised/ unhappy/ not quite comfortable with it for a myriad of reasons that really just sound like excuses for homophobia. On one review, the reason was that Quentin hasn't told Toby about the relationship fully while he did tell her about his human girlfriend. Well I just completely disagree with that. I think its totally in character of any teenager to not share details of his/her personal life with his parents, or stand-in parents. Quentin only told Toby about his gf when she disappeared. There was nothing written that had him sharing that info with Toby, or really anyone, previously nor was it implied that this was something he had planned on doing either. Also, at the time he wasn't living with Toby, he wasn't yet her squire, and they were not at the same relationship level they are at now. I can't remember if it was TWL or a Red Rose Chain when Toby talks about how Quentin is like a son to her. And that wasn't the case in An Artificial Night, the third book and the last one that Quentin was in any kind of romantic relationship. Another review talks about it coming out of left field. But the relationship is hinted at, and then basically comes out of the closet in RRC ~ it just wasn't relevant to the plot so not a lot of time was given to it. The scene is incredibly sweet, and again completely in character with what we've seen previously to Quentin in a relationship. It also works given the timeline of the plot and what occurs in FOB. With the issues settled, and his place decided for the next decade or so, it makes perfect sense that he would feel it was the right time to do something, and being a teenager, it makes perfect sense that he would do it immediately instead of going home and spending time with his family. The boy is 16!

Overall, I loved it. Opening up newer avenues and questions about the plot, heretofore unforeseen is something a good novella is supposed to do and FOB does this exceptionally well. Between that, and the character development, this is a welcome addition to the October Daye books.

I liked this short story told from Quentin' s point of view. I was very disappointed by the last chapter, not because of the revelation about Quentin, but because I don't like this character heading in this direction. Raj or Dean Ok but not Quentin. I might be a little jealous. I'm still looking forward to the next book and wish this story was longer.

I loved this story. Part of the reason is because I'm a cat person and I got a close up of the two cat characters, Tybalt, the King of Cats and Raj, the Prince. They are in "human" form, but they're still cats and act like it. Great cattitude! I also enjoyed Quenton's POV, learning about how he was affected by his position as a hidden prince, and all the crazy events of the series. This story is only 44 pages and there's not much action. Quenton's parents come to take him home, and he doesn't want to go. It's about how much Quenton has grown and matured since his parents sent him into fosterage and what he still must do to be ready when he must become King.

Dislike the casualness of homosexual behavior. For the first 1/4 of my life textbooks considered this to be able rant behavior. I have been around animals all my life and I concur that this type of behavior is abnormal and infrequent

Fantasy seems to be following a set course. At least one of the main characters must be Gay. Formulaic as the Matter of Arthur I guess. Predictable. The High King to be just needs to use a womb holder to continue his line while he generously bestows his attention on a favorite.