Part of October Daye
First published 2011
October "Toby" Daye receives devastating news that threatens everything she holds dear. Lily, Lady of the Tea Gardens and one of Toby's closest allies, lies dying from an impossible illness that no magic can cure. Her realm stands defenseless while the mysterious sickness spreads. Toby must race against time to uncover the truth behind this attack, but her investigation leads to a terrifying discovery. Oleander de Merelands has returned. This deadly enemy helped orchestrate Toby's fourteen-year transformation into a fish, and now she's back with an even more sinister plan. The Queen of the Mists pursues her own dangerous agenda while Toby struggles to save both Lily and her subjects. Every lead brings Toby closer to a choice she swore she'd never make again. The changeling knight must risk everything she values most to stop Oleander's plot. If she fails to solve this puzzle in time, the consequences will destroy not just Lily's realm, but everyone Toby loves.
Genres: adventure, mystery, fantasy, adult-fiction, urban-fantasy
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, gritty, high-stakes, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, race-against-time, returning-villain
Setting: Tea Gardens, Realm of the Mists
372 pages · Mass Market Paperback · DAW
Content warnings: death, violence