October Daye's world is much larger than can be contained in the books; there are adventures outside the main narrative, and even adventures that involve people other than Toby herself. Welcome to the short fiction page.
Currently, the stories on this page appear in order of publication. This may change in the future, once we have more pieces by different narrators. Please read the descriptions before downloading or seeking out the stories, just so you'll know which books might be spoiled by reading too soon. Some stories are free; others have been printed in anthologies or collections. All stories will be clearly marked one way or the other.
In the case of free stories, multiple formats have been provided. Please download these, rather than attempting to read locally. In the case of stories included in print anthologies, purchase information has been provided.
The knowe known as "Goldengreen" has been locked and alone since the death of Evening Winterrose...which is why it's a bit of a problem when Toby and her allies are called upon to reopen the knowe. Knowes can have minds of their own, you see, and they don't take kindly to being disturbed. And since Toby would rather keep herself and her friends alive than actually succeed in her mission, it's entirely possible that things will not end the way that they were originally intended to.
Not that failure is an option. And not that trying to be careful is going to make any difference when the problem involves not just unreal real estate, but crumbling cliff faces, giant spiders, pixies, and smart-mouthed Fetches who insist on poking their noses in where they're not wanted. Oh, and did we mention that there's no coffee?
"Through This House" is best read between Late Eclipses and One Salt Sea, as it falls chronologically directly between these two books. It naturally contains spoilers for the first four Toby adventures.
"Through This House" was originally published in the anthology Home Improvement: Undead Edition, released in August of 2011. Copies are available from a bookstore near you.
It was 1972, and a teenage girl named Elizabeth Ryan thought that her world was coming to an end. Elizabeth was the daughter of two Selkies, you see, and she had just been passed up for a skin. But then a mysterious cousin who calls herself Annie appears, and Elizabeth finds other things to think about...
It can be easy to forget that worlds don't wait for heroes before they begin. It can be easy to forget that things happened before the lights came up and the story started. This is one of those things that happened: this is one of those tales that slipped through the cracks. It is the story of a girl named Elizabeth, and a girl named Annie, and what they were to one another, in the sight and sounding of the sea.
Maybe it isn't fair. But fairy tales never really are.
"In Sea-Salt Tears" is best read after One Salt Sea. It does not contain direct spoilers, but it will have the most emotional impact if you have already read through book five in the main series.
Download "In Sea-Salt Tears" in ePub.
Download "In Sea-Salt Tears" in MOBI.
Download "In Sea-Salt Tears" in PDF.
In the year 1666, a young Prince of Cats named Rand dwelt peacefully in Londontown with his beloved sisters, Jill and Colleen. He spent his nights at the theater, drinking in the works of Shakespeare, and had no interest in the day when he would be expected to rise up, challenge his father, and take his place as a King of Cats. For Rand, kittenhood was a wonderful dream, and one that he hoped would last forever.
Dreams end.
All stories have to begin somewhere, and this is where the story of Tybalt, King of Dreaming Cats, began: with a boy, and his sisters, and the city that he loved and never planned to leave. When duty calls, can he make the choice that will keep them all safe, without giving up everything that he has ever wanted from his life?
"Rat-Catcher" can be read at any point, as it is background for the series. It is best read after at least two volumes of the main series, to give a firm grounding in the character.
"Rat-Catcher" was originally published in the anthology A Fantasy Medley 2, released in December of 2012. This limited-edition volume can be obtained directly from Subterranean Press.