'The Innocent Sleep" by Seanan McGuire

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love the author and have read all the books in the October Daye series. I was lucky enough to get ARCs of books #17 and #18. The Innocent Sleep" by Seanan McGuire is #18 in the series, recapping the same events as  "Sleep No More" but in broader strokes.

While book #17 told the story from Toby's POV, this one is narrated in the first person from Tybalt's perspective. You need to read the previous book before this one, as this book complements the story and reveals what happened behind the curtains -  things Toby and we, the readers, were unaware of at the time.

In the previous book, Toby was whisked into another version of reality, one without Tybalt or other cared-for family members. At the same time, Tybalt was ripped from his home and lost track of his wife, and a section of the Undersea (Saltmist) was sealed off from the land kingdoms. Titania has rewritten the world in her image, eliminating all the elements she deemed "undesirable" such as shapeshifters.

In this version of reality, The Cait Sidhe are believed to be extinct, but they are actually confined to their court, with only the royal cats able to travel through the shadow roads. Changelings are intentionally bred to serve the noble houses, and October lives with August in Amandine's tower, serving as August’s companion. Tybalt wants his family back, and now! This is his story.

Tybalt is one of my all-time favorite characters, so I enjoyed reading the story from his perspective and gaining insight into his emotions. His feelings about his missing wife and the entire wretched situation make him seem human and vulnerable. In fact, Tybalt is further developed here, as the author delves into his inner thoughts and emotions, making him feel authentic. I also appreciated meeting characters who were absent in the previous book, such as May and the librarian

The first section of the book was somewhat slow, repeating events we were already aware of, but the second section flew by. Oh, how it flew. Although the book lacks the tension of book #17 (since we already know how it will end), it still captivated me. The characters are well-drawn, and I felt like I was right there in the story. At the end of the book, there's a bonus novella titled "Doubtless and Secure", narrated from Helmi's POV. Helmi is a Cephali and the chief retainer of the Duchy of Saltmist.

As a companion book, it serves its purpose well, providing clarity on many aspects that may be previously unclear to some. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing style. Moreover, it kept me  engaged and never bored, so I rate it  4 out of 5 stars. A good story creates an emotional connection, and this book managed to achieve that admirably. If you are a fervent fan of the series, you will certainly enjoy it. I recommend the book to fans of the series, and I am already looking forward to reading the next installment.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.


* For more info about the book: 'The Innocent Sleep" by Seanan McGuire