Forbid the Sea

October Daye #7.1

by Seanan McGuire

For ten years, the young King of Cats known throughout the Kingdom of Londinium as Tybalt—once known to family and friends as "Rand," a gentle Prince who had never aspired to the throne—had ruled his Kingdom alone, refusing to let any other of his kind enter the city while it is in his care. But even a King can get lonely...

When Tybalt meets a Selkie stranger named Dylan, it seems almost inevitable that they should become entangled with each other—the lonely King and the man without friends or family in London were virtually designed to be together. But sadly, designs can only hold for as long as they are left alone, and when the Undersea inevitably arrives looking for their missing son, Tybalt will have to choose. His Kingdom, or Dylan?

Either way, he loses.

Genres: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy, Short Stories, Fiction, Fae, Paranormal, Magic

20 pages, ebook

First published September 18, 2013

About the author

Hi! I'm Seanan McGuire, author of the Toby Daye series (Rosemary and Rue, A Local Habitation, An Artificial Night, Late Eclipses), as well as a lot of other things. I'm also Mira Grant (www.miragrant.com), author of Feed and Deadline.

Born and raised in Northern California, I fear weather and am remarkably laid-back about rattlesnakes. I watch too many horror movies, read too many comic books, and share my house with two monsters in feline form, Lilly and Alice (Siamese and Maine Coon).

I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(

Reviews

[Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Tybalt story, and it’s horribly sad.

[h o l l i s · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't love that this had an inconsistency from the original short that spawned it, RAT CATCHER, unless this came first.. but either way, inconsistencies!

I didn't love the bit of romance in the story, and too much Tybalt perspective makes the old-timey speech a little unbearable, but I love the concept of what this romance means to this character. Also the end was very subtly devastating and I was here for it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forbid the Sea is set about ten years after events in Rat-Catcher and can be downloaded for free from Seanan McGuire's website. Tybalt saved the rest of the Cait Sidhe by becoming King and sending them away to safety but he remained in Londinium alone to make sure nobody returned too early. Although the fae have begun to return he remains the only Cait Sidhe and he has kept himself away from the rest of the courts, he entertains himself by haunting the local theatres in his cat form and I don't think he even realised how alone he'd been until he meets selkie Dylan.

Dylan is alone in the city and away from his family for the first time so it seems natural for the two to spend time together. What follows is the start of a beautiful friendship and the beginnings of a budding romance but we've seen what happens when fae fall in love with selkies before and it doesn't usually end well.

I love Tybalt so I will devour any story from his point of view but I have to admit I wasn't sure if I wanted to see a romance between him and anyone other than Toby. Let's face it though this story is several hundred years before she was born and I think the guy's allowed to have a past! I actually found the relationship between Tybalt and Dylan was really sweet and even though I knew it couldn't end in a happily ever after I was hoping they'd get longer than they actually did.

[Ronda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I loved this Novella (and it was a free download from the site), it's given a good introduction to (I think)one of the main characters Rand, who is now known as Tybalt. He was once a prince and now, what seems, a lonely king. Tybalt meets with Dylan and it felt as though Tybalt was on the verge of falling in love but then Dylan has to face some consequences.

A compelling novella that was a fabulous read and a great step toward the series I am about to start.

[Dev · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE THAT BISEXUAL TYBALT! ❤ A short story that takes place about ten years after Rat Catcher and features Tybalt and a Selkie named Dylan. It's both cute and sad and I love any insight into Tybalt's past because he's probably my favorite character aside from Toby.

[Amy (Other Amy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

...you may as well
Forbid the sea for to obey the moon...
-William Shakespeare, The Winter's Tale

...
Immortality does not make a person immune to time; if anything, it makes it easier to believe that time is somehow meaningless, that every hour, once spent, will be replaced with a dozen more. The world doesn't work that way. Perhaps it did once, but that was in Faerie, and Faerie, as we all know too well, is another country.

One of the overarching themes of Seanan McGuire's October Daye series is that Faerie is dying, a slow moment by moment loss of mystery and decay of magic brought about largely by the arrogance of the Fae. These stories are loss writ large, across the tragedies of a handful of beautiful, wonderful heroes we her readers have come to know and love so well. We read, knowing each time that she is going to rip our hearts out, rip out her own to tell us this story.

And, damn, but she's done it again. Another beautiful loss. I admit I was cringing a little at first; I didn't really want to see Tybalt in another romance. (I hate romance small r in most all stories, but when I 'ship, I 'ship hard.) But then the light turned and I realized just who the actual interest was and she had me hooked, set up like a fool for the blow I knew was coming. (Regarding that interest, don't click if you don't want it spoiled (and don't read the book summary or any other reviews), but I can't contain my glee:The part of me that adores Captive Prince: Volume One started squealing like a girl, m/m! m/m! Why didn't somebody tell me that the incomparable Seanan McGuire had written an m/m story?!? *End squee.*)

What I love the most about her is how well she understands who her characters are. Nothing ruins a story faster than an author who betrays her characters for a plot (or anything else), and you just don't have to worry about that with McGuire. Everything in Tybalt, Cait Sidhe that he is, says cat at all times: his boredom, his willingness to chase down a whim, his refusal to do the sensible thing. This whole story, perfect cat-ness. And, wow. That epigraph.

So, the point. You need to have read at least through One Salt Sea in the series, or this story will not really carry the power it should, as some things will not make immediate sense. So, if you've read that far, it's free at http://www.seananmcguire.com/tobyshor... in epub, mobi or pdf. Go. Read now. You will be glad you did. If you haven't started the series, I highly recommend Rosemary and Rue, at least to see if McGuire's rendition of Faerie (the only one I have ever cared about, myself) is the fairy tale for you.

[Jen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another series prequel on Tybalt, set about 10 years after the events of "Ratcatcher." It's free on the author's website. Tybalt is alone in London, after all of the Cait Sidhe and Fae left town. And he doesn't really realize how lonely he is until he meets a selkie named Dylan. The two become fast friends and lovers. (This is m/m, but there is no on-page sex. Remember, the sexuality of the Fae in this world is very fluid.)

Anyway, we see Tybalt make his first emotional connection in a long time, only to see him lose it. It's a pretty melancholy ending and helps show why he is such a lonely soul. (29 pages)

[Ina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Wow, McGuire sure as hell loves tragic same-sex romances.

When I started reading this short story, I expected to meet Tybalt's past wife. Boy, was I wrong. Tybalt and Dylan's romance was just as bittersweet as that of Annie and Liz. I'm really starting to hate Selkies. All Fae societies have stupid rules, but Selkies really take it to another level. I still don't quite understand all the rules about passing the skin among them, but I hope it will be explained closely later in the series.

Considering everything Tybalt went through (losing a sister and his whole Court, being alone for ten years and then losing another person he became close to), I'm really surprised he is as okay as he is in the present. It broke my heart a little bit to read about how lonely he was.

At least he has Toby now.

[Nique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart breaking

[Arie ☂ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had come to one indisputable conclusion: if boredom has a form, it looks like an empty alleyway where no laughing sisters wait to tease. It looks like a Kingdom of ash and silence, filled with the ghosts of those who have left you behind. In the Kingdom of the Bored, I was the only King, and I might hold that crown until I mercifully died.

Tragic and beautiful in the way all Seanan Mcguire shorts seem to be. I haven't been able to get my hands on the previous Tybalt story (chronicling how he became a King of Cats) so I feel like I might have missed a few things, but overall this gave a great look into a very lonely time in Tybalt's life. Plus, a historical London setting and we get to see things from the cat perspective.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

If boredom has a form, it looks like an empty alleyway where no laughing sisters wait to tease. It looks like a Kingdom of ash and silence, filled with the ghosts of those who have left you behind. In the Kingdom of the Bored, I was the only King, and I might hold that crown until I mercifully died.

A very sad novella, where we see more into the past of the lonely King of Cats. Tybalt is one of my favorite characters in this series, and we had to wait so long for him and Toby to finally admit their love. Seeing more of the loss that Tybalt has experienced in his long life before Toby, just broke my heart, and made me love him even more.

Just like with the other novella, In sea-salt tears, it breaks my heart the way the selkies has to live their lives. The fae world is never fair, and almost never kind.

[Nerdy Werewolf · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This was a summer fancy and I knew it, but no Cait Sidhe, ever, has been casual with such things."

Well, you should read this one whenever, I suppose. I read it directly after Chimes at Midnight and that was fine. It's a free Tybalt short story from the author's website and it kind of broke my heart a little.

It takes place ages before any of the other books and while I'm glad to know a bit more about our resident King of Cats right after he donned his crown; holy hell, within that small window, there were so many feels!! I love Tybalt.

[Christina (A Reader of Fictions) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Oh my god, Tybalt, my baby.

"Forbid the Sea" is a tale of a past affair of Tybalt's. He falls in with a selkie named Dylan that he happens across while lonely, the only Cait Sidhe in Londinium. Obviously, I love knowing that Tybalt's bi, and I also love seeing why Tybalt's so protective, so concerned, and always there for Toby. Also how trusting he is to still accept her dangerous choices and just asking to be backup whenever possible.

FEELINGS.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A free short story, 0.3 in the chronological order of the October Daye paranormal fantasy series (7.2 in publishing order), normally revolving around Sir October Daye, but the focus in this story is of Tybalt back in 1676 in London, where he reigns as a young and lonely king.

My Take
A fascinating reveal of Rand's transition to Tybalt, from prince to king, in first person protagonist point-of-view from Tybalt's perspective where we finally learn how Rand became king and why.

In "Forbid the Sea", we meet that Rand/Tybalt and discover how lonely he's been, a meeting that leads to Tybalt and Dylan having a romantic fling, that ends too soon.

It's a sweet tale that will make you cry...

The Story
It's been ten years since the plague destroyed Londinium, and the Divided Courts are finally returning to the city they fled. Rand hoping to see the return of his ladylove...until he realized a truth.

It's an unscheduled trip down river that finds a friend and a lover for whom Tybalt would go to war.

The Characters
The theatre-loving Rand, er, Tybalt now, is the only Cait Sidhe in Londinium in his lonely Court of Fogbound Cats where all things lost eventually find their way. Jill and Colleen had been his sisters.

Dylan, a.k.a. Bradwr, is a newly created Selkie from Cambria. Murtagh is king of the Undersea.

The Divided Courts are...
...led by King Heydon and Queen Lettice, who have only just returned. September Torquill gets a mention.

Russell is an old sailor. Molly is a serving maid at a coastal inn.

The Cover and Title
The cover looks like a bomb went off with the ruined stone walls, a Roman road up which a cat walks. In the rocky background are two seals, resting with a watery coastline stretching off in the distance, a low range of hills behind the body of water. It's all in oranges, grays, and muddy yellows. At the very top is an info blurb in white with the author's name immediately below it. At the bottom is a distressed title in a deep yellow with another info blurb informing us that it's a story about Tybalt.

The title, to "Forbid the Sea", is a reflection of Tybalt's grief.

[Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forbid the Sea is the second Tybalt short story, and should be read after Rat-Catcher. Like its predecessor, it takes place far before Toby was ever born.

After the events of the previous short story, Tybalt is living alone in London. He meets a selkie, Dylan, and starts a romantic relationship. However, their relationship is not fated to last long.

It's another tale of tragedy for Tybalt! Maybe it's because Tybalt has a love for Shakespeare and the theater, but I have a feeling his whole life is just going to be one tragedy after the other.

A solid short story, and I wonder if maybe there would be a Tybalt novella about his early days? I would like to read that.

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars... This short story set in the "October Daye" series takes place in 17th century London focusing on Tybalt's time when the Cait Sidhe have disappeared and he has taken over the kingship... It explores a relationship he had with a newly skinned Selkie amidst a very lonely and troublesome time for himself; the story explores the bonds of friendship and intimacy that lead to an act of betrayal and heartbreak... I enjoyed hearing Tybalt's voice and piecing together more of his long life gaining increased insight into his personality and motivations:)

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is melancholy and rather sweet, definitely showing a more sensitive side to Tybalt's character than October Daye is aware of, at least in the first couple of books. We find out what some of his damage is, how he claimed the title King of Cats by killing his father in order to save the entire Court. Part of the high price for his act is loneliness, but he’s selfless enough that he wouldn’t go back and change what he did even if he could. In trying to escape his loneliness, Tybalt begins a dalliance with a Selkie who turns out to be a fugitive and brings himself more pain. I enjoyed the period detail of the story (set in the 1670s) and Tybalt’s narrative voice. It wasn’t surprising to find out about his affinity for the stage, given the way he speaks and behaves.

[Stella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tybalt <3

That's how I felt going into this story, and it's how I felt coming out of it. It's not how I really felt in the middle? I just really, really wanted Tybalt and Dylan to have some other connection than 'hey let's sleep together.' And while I realize that I can't always get what I want (even in a fictional universe), it definitely weakened some of the potency of the story for me.

However, the last few paragraphs were amazingly perfect and tragic, so if nothing else, it ended on a beautiful note that means my last impression of the story cannot be less than four stars. (Even if the middle was kind of a three.)

[Susana · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always with everything that Seanan Mcguire writes, i just wanted more pages to read..

This was a bittersweet story about Tybalt, who had been Rand the young prince of the Caith Sidhe, up until the succession fight with his father.
This sheds some light on the reason why Tybalt was the way he was, at the beginning of the October Daye series. He really was used to being alone...

I haven't read the first short named "Ratcatcher", so there was some references to other characters that i had never heard of. Maybe one day, all the October Daye shorts will be edited in a single book..yes? ;)

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Tybalt prequel, set in 1676 London. After ten long years without companionship, a chance encounter with a selkie by the name of Dylan helps the new King of Cats stave off loneliness... for a time.

So short, so sad, so beautiful. Seanan McGuire seems to have perfected the art of breaking one's heart in as few pages as possible.

[Suz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I'd read this sooner. I really love seeing things from Tybalt's perspective, but getting to see his perspective of the relationship with October? Pure gold.

[D.G. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story about Tybalt! I guess when you lived that long, you've tried out everything. ;)

[Nicole (bookwyrm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable short story set 10 years after Tybalt's ascension to the King of Cats in London, when he is the only Cait Sidhe in the Kingdom. This features his affair with a selkie man, and was sweet but wasn't my favorite of the shorts. Tybalt is a new king at this point, especially since he's had no subjects in town for the majority of his rule. The affair with Dylan was sweet, but obviously doomed from the start. (I don't see anyone reading this short without having read some of the novels in the series, and I don't recall Dylan ever being mentioned. Therefore I didn't expect their fling to last even for as long as it did.)

That said, I did enjoy the short story. Also, it's worth reading for Tybalt's humor alone.

[Tzurky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this but I just couldn’t because it fails at what it was supposed to do in my view which is provide more detail about the main characters of the novels. Sure it’s a love story involving one of them and it’s tragic and all but what does this tell me about the character that I didn’t know beforehand? Nothing. Well, something about their sexuality but I don’t give a rat’s ass about that. No, I wanted instead the story of the time immediately before this and how they got to where they were. And sure, there are hints dropped here and there about what they did and they process their feelings on that but it would have been so much more impactful to get this information first-hand.

So nope, this is an almost total miss for me. Not a total miss, because the love story is nice and all, but there’s not much to get out of it either since it re-treads the themes of a previous one.

[Sibil · Rating 3 out of 5]

And after reading the short story about the Luidaeg I couldn't resist and I had to dig in in this one, about Tybalt. And if the Luidaeg is one of my favorite characters ever, our King of Cat is one of my favorite in this series. And it was so sweet, and sad (again, sad, yes!) but I was so happy to meet again with him, and to see something more about his past!

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

auuuug, Seanan, whyyyyy

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad sadness. :(

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tybalt, 10 years into his reign.

[Laura Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

TYBALT'S QUEER TYBALT'S QUEER TYBALT'S QUEER 😍😍😍

Also, 😭. I knew this would be sad and I was correct. Lovely, though, in that perfect McGuire fashion.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well that turned out sad, but I found that I didn't really enjoy this story very much. In this Tybalt has been alone since the event's in Rat Catcher and now people are returning, but not his people. He's lonely and meets a Selkie. They start a relationship and spend some time together, but Dylan isn't who he seems to be, and Tybalt loses him in the end. I don't know if it's because I really didn't care much about Dylan (because seriously I didn't even know him enough to care) or if it's just that I don't like to see someone in my ship with someone else, but their relationship bothered me. I know this is many years before Toby is even born, but that still didn't make me like it much. I guess I'm not into reading about their past loves. I sure complained about Connor enough throughout the series. Also I'm not into the relationships that start off with them having sex just because they are attracted to eachother, but don't even know one another. I can forgive this in books when there's a supernatural element involved, but this was just like "You're hot lets have sex" and that's not the best way to to start off a relationship you want me to care about. Anyway as for Tybalt stories I think Rat Catcher was much better, but I'm curious to see how this story is mentioned or hinted at in the series. In Chimes at Midnight Tybalt made some comments that I feel made more sense because I read Rat Catcher, and seen what his life was like. So I expect at least the same in the next book, but sadly even though this was in Tybalt's POV I found that this was my least favorite of the short stories. I just couldn't connect to it.