Full of Briars is a short story written by Seanan McGuire. It takes place on September 2, 2012, immediately after Chimes at Midnight. It is available exclusively as an e-book.
No, some of it is for my child's father,
O, how Full of briars is this working-day world!
—William Shakespeare, As You Like It
Author's Summary[]
Quentin Sollys has survived more than he ever expected to. He's a squire, working toward his knighthood; he's a student, a friend, and well on his way to becoming a hero in his own right. None of this means he ever wanted to see his parents in a room with his knight, the often unpredictable and definitely complicated Sir October Daye.
It's really a pity that Quentin so rarely gets what he wants. It's even more of a pity that his parents seem set on taking him home with them, whether he agrees with the idea or not. How can he make them see sense, when he's not even fully sure what sense is?
Plot[]
Quentin observes as his chosen family -- Toby, Tybalt, and May -- prepare to meet his parents, the High King and Queen of the Westlands of North America after the confirmation of Arden Windermere's rule. He reflects on how much he has grown under Toby's mentorship from a prejudiced, sheltered child to who he is today. When his parents arrive, introductions are made and Toby realizes they are considering taking Quentin home with them.
Quentin and his friends all argue for his remaining in the Kingdom in the Mists, while his parents counter with the danger Toby puts him in. Next they try privately to convince him to come home. Finally he says that he would be known as an oath-breaker throughout the kingdom if he left his squirehood without Sylvester and Toby's permission.
They reconvene in the morning to hear the monarchs' decision. Raj joins them and stakes his own claim on Quentin, feline-style. The monarchs announce that Quentin can stay.
After his parents leave, Quentin visits Dean Lorden, who notices the physical similarities between Quentin and the High King. After some flirting, they decide to try dating.
Characters[]
- Quentin Sollys: Crown Prince of the Westlands, in blind fosterage at Shadowed Hills, squire to Toby Daye.
- October Daye: Knight and hero of the realm
- Tybalt: King of Cats and Toby's boyfriend
- May Daye: Toby's Fetch and housemate
- Arden Windermere: Newly crowed Queen in the Mists, having recently reclaimed her throne from the false Queen
- Aethlin Sollys: High King of the Westlands, Quentin's father
- Maida Sollys: High Queen of the Westlands, Quentin's mother
- Madden: Arden's seneschal
- Raj: Prince of Cats, Tybalt's nephew and heir, Quentin's best friend
- Dean Lorden: Teenage Duke of Goldengreen, half-merrow, half-Daoine Sidhe, Quentin's friend
- Marcia: Dean's seneschal
Mentioned only[]
- Penthea Sollys
- Dare Lorimer
- Queen of the Mists – False Queen
- Sylvester Torquill
- Etienne
- Chelsea Ames
- Gilad Windermere
- Melly
- Treasa Riordan
- Li Qin Zhou
- Gillian Marks
- Luidaeg
- Katie
- Lowri
- Dianda Lorden
- Helen
- Evening Winterrose
Locations[]
- Kingdom of the Mists
- Muir Woods
- Cat in the Rafters, a restaurant owned by a member of Tybalt's court
- Goldengreen
Mentioned only[]
- Westlands
- Duchy of Shadowed Hills
- Court of Dreaming Cats
- Blind Michael's Realm
- Annwn
- Duchy of Dreamer's Glass
- Undersea
Continuity[]
Current Book[]
- Raj has known Quentin's true identity for ages. Presumably because "a cat may look on a king" and recognize royalty, but practically because Quentin pulled rank when Raj was hogging the remote.
- Quentin and Raj flirt with each other, but would never act on any attraction due to their courts' conflicting interests.
- Quentin and Dean begin dating, although Toby doesn't realize it for some time.[1]
Previous Books[]
- In explaining their adventures, Quentin and his friends casually mention the events of Toby's return to Faerie,[2] the ALH Computing investigation,[3] Blind Michael,[4] and Chelsea's capture by Samson and Riordan.[5]
- Quentin recalls when Toby lost Gillian to the Changeling's Choice, which is also when he and Dean met.[6]
Future Books[]
- Quentin has never understood why he and Penthea were sent so suddenly into blind fosterage, or why he was sent to such a broken and dysfunctional duchy.[7]
- Queen Maida - and to a lesser degree, King Aethlin - acts strangely when Quentin mentions Chelsea not being a changeling anymore despite being born as one.[8]
Suspected Foreshadowing - Unconfirmed[]
- Tybalt wonders why the false Queen hated Toby so much, beyond being prejudiced against changelings.
Quotes[]
- "No, some of it is for my child's father. Oh, how full of briars is this working-day world!" -Shakespeare, As You Like It
- Rosalind is saddened by the banishment of her father, finding the world frustrating and unfair. In this scene, she also finds herself attracted to the dashing Orlando.[9]
- Quentin misses his parents, but is also upset at the idea of leaving his found family. At the end of the story, he begins a romantic relationship with Dean.
See also[]
- Divided Courts
- Tuatha de Dannan
- Daoine Sidhe
- Changeling
- Cait Sidhe
- Blood Magic
- Snow Faeries
- Elf-shot
- Hob
- Merrow
- knowe