Once Broken Faith

“
Rosemary and Rue
will surely appeal to readers who enjoy my books, or those of Patricia Briggs.”

—Charlaine Harris, #1
New York Times
bestselling author

“McGuire opens a new chapter in the wonderful and increasingly daring adventures of October Daye, offering her a challenge that tests her physically, mentally and emotionally and is sure to keep readers riveted. Toby's narrative voice is increasingly self-assured in this ninth installment, and that confidence shows just how far she has grown and evolved, and just how capable a heroine she has become.”

—
RT Book Reviews

“The plot is strong, the characterization is terrific, the tragedies hurt . . . and McGuire's usual beautiful writing and dark humor are present and accounted for. This has become one of my favorite urban fantasy series, and I can't wait to find out what happens next.”

—FantasyLiterature.com

“An urban fantasy detective series featuring a resourceful female detective . . . [October Daye] should appeal to fans of Jim Butcher's
Dresden File
s as well as the novels of Charlaine Harris, Patricia Briggs, and similar authors.”

—
Library Journal

“It's fun watching [Toby] stick doggedly to the case as the killer picks off more victims and the tension mounts.”

—
LOCUS

“
A Red-Rose Chain
is romantic, hilarious, and just the right balance of peril and triumph. There seems to be no end to McGuire's magical world of faerie, and I can't wait for my next opportunity to adventure with Toby and her gang.”

—All Things Urban Fantasy

“These books are like watching half a season of your favorite television series all at once. . . . More than anything else, it's the fun of it all that's kept me returning to McGuire's books, and to this series, long after I've stopped reading other mainstream titles.”

—SF Signal

“I love that Toby is a strong, independent—yet still vulnerable—heroine. I love that this is a world where people die, where consequences matter. I love the complex world-building and mythology. I love the almost film noir tone of the series. I love that each book leaves me wanting more. If you dig urban fantasy, this is one of the best out there.”

—CC2K

InCryptid Novels:

DISCOUNT ARMAGEDDON

MIDNIGHT BLUE-LIGHT SPECIAL

HALF-OFF RAGNAROK

POCKET APOCALYPSE

CHAOS CHOREOGRAPHY

MAGIC FOR NOTHING*

SPARROW HILL ROAD

October Daye Novels
:

ROSEMARY AND RUE

A LOCAL HABITATION

AN ARTIFICIAL NIGHT

LATE ECLIPSES

ONE SALT SEA

ASHES OF HONOR

CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT

THE WINTER LONG

A RED-ROSE CHAIN

ONCE BROKEN FAITH

THE BRIGHTEST FELL*

*Coming soon from DAW Books

Copyright © 2016 by Seanan McGuire.

All Rights Reserved.

Cover art by Chris McGrath.

Cover design by G-Force Design.

Interior dingbat created by Tara O'Shea.

Map by Priscilla Spencer.

DAW Book Collectors No. 1734.

Published by DAW Books, Inc.

375 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10014

All characters and events in this book are fictitious.

Any resemblance to persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal, and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author's rights is appreciated.

Nearly all the designs and trade names in this book are registered trademarks. All that are still in commercial use are protected by United States and international trademark law.

This book is for Margaret.

There are many books in the world, but this one is
hers.

It's sometimes a little surprising for me to realize that we're ten books into this adventure, but here we are, and here we go, and we've traveled so far, and we have so far yet to go. Thank you for coming along with me. I promise I'll do things to make sure you get back safely.

A novel is never a solo undertaking, no matter how much it may feel like one. My thanks go to the Machete Squad, for their tireless attempts to make me better, and to the entire team at DAW, where they take excellent care of me. Thanks to the Agora, for hosting me, and to the staff of Disney's Old Key West resort, where chunks of this book were written. (Fun fact: the last book partially written at the Old Key West was
Late Eclipses
.)

Thank you Vixy, for continuing to be the star I steer by; Amy, for being ready to defend me at the crossroads; Brooke, for keeping me from destroying North America in a fit of pique; and Shawn, for cheering when I say I'm going to write the X-Men someday. Thanks to Alexis and Mary, for math and music, and to Randy, for grilled cheese and Target.

Sheila Gilbert remains the best of all possible editors, Diana Fox remains the best of all possible agents, and Chris McGrath remains the best of all possible cover artists. While we're on this track, my cats are the best of all possible cats. So are yours, if you have them. All hail the
pit crew: Christopher Mangum, Tara O'Shea, and Kate Secor.

My soundtrack while writing
Once Broken Faith
consisted mostly of
After It All
, by Delta Rae,
1989
, by Taylor Swift, the soundtrack of
Hamilton
, endless live concert recordings of the Counting Crows, and all the Ludo a girl could hope to have (barring a new album). Any errors in this book are entirely my own. The errors that aren't here are the ones that all these people helped me fix.

It wouldn't be a party without you.

OCTOBER DAYE PRONUNCIATION GUIDE

THROUGH ONCE BROKEN FAITH

All pronunciations are given strictly phonetically. This only covers races explicitly named in the first nine books, omitting Undersea races not appearing or mentioned in book ten.

ORN

Afanc:
ah-fank
. Plural is “Afanc.”

Annwn:
ah-noon
. No plural exists.

Bannick:
ban-nick
. Plural is “Bannicks.”

Barghest:
bar-guy-st
. Plural is “Barghests.”

Blodynbryd:
blow-din-brid
. Plural is “Blodynbryds.”

Cait Sidhe:
kay-th shee
. Plural is “Cait Sidhe.”

Candela:
can-dee-la
. Plural is “Candela.”

Coblynau:
cob-lee-now
. Plural is “Coblynau.”

Cu Sidhe:
coo shee
. Plural is “Cu Sidhe.”

Daoine Sidhe:
doon-ya shee
. Plural is “Daoine Sidhe,” diminutive is “Daoine.”

Djinn:
jin
. Plural is “Djinn.”

Dóchas Sidhe:
doe-sh-as shee
. Plural is “Dóchas Sidhe.”

Ellyllon:
el-lee-lawn
. Plural is “Ellyllons.”

Gean-Cannah:
gee-ann can-na
. Plural is “Gean-Cannah.”

Glastig:
glass-tig
. Plural is “Glastigs.”

Gwragen:
guh-war-a-gen
. Plural is “Gwragen.”

Hamadryad:
ha-ma-dry-add
. Plural is “Hamadryads.”

Hippocampus:
hip-po-cam-pus
. Plural is “Hippocampi.”

Kelpie:
kel-pee
. Plural is “Kelpies.”

Kitsune:
kit-soo-nay
. Plural is “Kitsune.”

Lamia:
lay-me-a
. Plural is “Lamia.”

The Luidaeg:
the lou-sha-k
. No plural exists.

Manticore:
man-tee-core
. Plural is “Manticores.”

Merrow:
mare-oh
. Plural is “Merrow.”

Naiad:
nigh-add
. Plural is “Naiads.”

Nixie:
nix-ee
. Plural is “Nixen.”

Peri:
pear-ee
. Plural is “Peri.”

Piskie:
piss-key
. Plural is “Piskies.”

Puca:
puh-ca
. Plural is “Pucas.”

Roane:
row-n
. Plural is “Roane.”

Satyr:
say-tur
. Plural is “Satyrs.”

Selkie:
sell-key
. Plural is “Selkies.”

Shyi Shuai:
shh-yee shh-why
. Plural is “Shyi Shuai.”

Silene:
sigh-lean
. Plural is “Silene.”

Sluagh Sidhe:
sloo-ah shee
. Plural is “Sluagh Sidhe.”

Tuatha de Dannan:
tootha day danan.
Plural is “Tuatha de Dannan,” diminutive is “Tuatha.”

Tylwyth Teg:
till-with teeg
. Plural is “Tylwyth Teg,” diminutive is “Tylwyth.”

Urisk:
you-risk
. Plural is “Urisk.”