My Thoughts

Picks up immediately when book 16 leaves off and is alternatively as riveting as it is off putting to me at other times.

To say that Titania has recreated her own twisted version of the Faerie that heretofore we have had to endure is only a small portion of what transpires in this particular installment.

Nor does it mentally prepare one completely for what comes next.

I say endure because it negates every milestone overcome by Toby and her allies in ways that are heartbreaking for both she and longtime readers of the series thus far.

Putting that statement out there need to add another to it, first time readers please start from series beginning or book 16-17-18 are not going to make complete sense to you.

The buildup to Toby regaining her memories is a slow one, however once that happens everything speeds up.

Some things were revealed we needed answers to and by books end really glad to have second part as next book takes us through what Tybalt goes through as well as other former residents of the original Faerie face.

To say my expectations were exceeded with this book is not near enough and really hoping next book can do so also.
Candles and Starlight
Novella at end of book details the trials faced by Rayseline Torquill in the lands Titania recreated for Blind Michael and it cleared up some more loose ends for me.
[EArc from Netgalley]

On every book read as soon as it is done and written up for review it is posted on Goodreads and Netgalley, once released then posted on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles as well.

#17 continues the story of October trapped by Titania in an alternate Fairy where all of Titania’s preferences rule. As such, October, as a mixed blood, is little more than a servant in her mother’s house. What’s worse is she is enjoying it as her enchantment doesn’t allow her to remember her real life- including Tybalt.. Can she wake up in time to save herself and her friends from this pure blood version of Fairy?
Great story! Thanks Netgalley for the ARC- my opinions are my own.

When we last left October and her crew, I honestly had no idea how Seanan McGuire could fix what had been broken. I KNEW she could, and I was so excited to see how it would happen.
Watching the past 16 books twine together again in this book and seeing how many threads are now frayed and ready for more story just makes me so happy! I honestly cannot wait to see what happens next for October and crew.
This book (and it's counter part) felt much like a well deserved twisty break of a character pause where we figure out the true nature beneath and what that says about a cast of characters.
I'm honored to have read this book early and I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Also, watching our girl Toby become who others wanted her to become? *internal screaming*
Finding out who she could always be because she's THAT strong? *also internal screaming*

This far into a series, one can usually expected more or less of the same. Not so with October Daye–somehow, seventeen books and a lot of novellas later, McGuire still manages to raise stakes. This would be impressive on its own, but on top of that, she also layers, twists, and turns her storytelling, not just at book seventeen, but from the beginning, so that nothing isn't a lead, a clue, an element for now, for later, from before. It's a feat of planning, and finger crossing that the series will run long enough for the plans to come to fruition, unlike any I've seen before, and I'm a sucker for a well-crafted story.

Where we are now with Sleep No More could almost be a jumping-in point if it didn't ruin all of the surprises that came before it: October, enchanted, is practically made anew, and it's a fascinating look at the world through different eyes. If you've ever had problems understanding the intricacies of past plots, this book will absolutely help clarify.

And now, on to the next one, because I have a real emotional drop-off when I finish a Toby Daye book, but thankfully we get two at once this year.

Seanan McGuire is probably easily my favorite author currently. I will inhale anything and everything she writes, and I'm especially fond of the Toby Daye series. The characters are some of my favorites ever, I adore the series's overarching plot, and it's so incredibly well written. So, to say I was excited about this book is an understatement. And, for the most part, it delivered.

We meet a very different Toby in this book. After Titania has rewritten reality to suit her wants, the world she has built forms a very different October Daye. She is a meek, subservient changeling servant to her fey family and she's left with very few of her original allies around her, and of course, she remembers nothing of her actual life. It's a pretty somber read for the first half of the book because as the reader everything feels so different and 'off' and we know what Toby is missing but it's not something she herself can comprehend.

My biggest 'complaint' about this novel is probably just the lack of appearances by some of the characters and how a lot of the loose ends didn't really feel like they came together properly at the end. I still had a lot of questions (hopefully they will be answered in the next installment) and I was honestly a little frustrated with Quentin's 'arc' and his story in this. Not in how he was portrayed: that absolutely makes perfect sense because it's definitely who he would be if he hadn't been practically raised by Toby, but because by the end it felt like he and Toby really didn't have any time to talk or resolve any of what was going on and personally I was aching for it but then Quentin is one of my favorites and I was just being selfish, wanting more.

I do love that we got more of Raysel finally, particularly in the bonus story and I really do like her as a character and think her trauma has been done well and her character feels genuine and raw. Also, I don't know why but Dean just amused me in this book, it was good to see more of him as well without him merely being a sort of side character to whatever is going on with Quentin. But there were a lot of characters whose disappearances weren't explained in this unless I somehow missed them completely and it's a personal niggle for me.

Overall, this is a fantastic addition to the series and continues Toby's story with grace and I'm desperate to get my hands on the next book.

In the aftermath of her wedding to Tybalt, Toby finds herself swept into an illusion of Titania's making. Her history is unmade as she returns to her changeling roots, living in her mother's tower and serving as a proper changeling should and never practicing magic. When a chance encounter pulls her beyond the illusion, Toby will need to reconcile two very different versions of reality and make a choice - a choice to stay in the familiar version of Faerie or to reach beyond it and take up the mantle of hero once more. If only that King of Cats would stop glaring at her.

The previous novel ended in a rather frightening cliffhanger for Toby fans. Sleep No More picks up the threads and continues to weave a tale of adventure, of heart and of bravery in the face of the unknown. Another well done book in this series.

I loved this book! I’m obviously preaching to the choir as we’re at book #17, so that means only super fans are still in the club! In this installment, Titania’s curse has landed and we encounter an alternate reality for October and the gang. Some of them are in this reality and others are missing or only come into play at the end. It was such a compelling “what if” scenario where changelings are bred to be the servants of pureblood fae. October was groomed to be her sister August’s helper. Simon Torquill was their loving father and Amandine was the ever aloof/narcissistic mother. Along the way, we see a very different October who has been conditioned to serve and not speak. It was definitely a departure!
When I was listening to Be The Serpent, I felt like October was often going too far in her verbally critical interactions with Oberon and others. It stood out more than previous books. I was still dwelling on that before my reading of Sleep No More, and then we spend almost all of this book with a meek and self-effacing October who doesn’t have any snarky comments or disrespectful jabs!! When October finally goes after Titania during her Ride, she just takes care of business with no additional commentary— even after her memory has been restored. Who is this person? Will this change linger going forward?! I’m also left wondering if I’m always Goldilocks— spend one book feeling like October has pushed too far only to spend the next missing all the witty repartee. Too hot, too cold, and we’ll see if the next books are just right. I said book*s*here because it appears that #18 is all Tybalt so we’ll have a wait ahead of us for the next October POV!!
*Thanks to DAW publishing and NetGalley for this advance reader copy for review.

Set immediately after the dramatic events of the previous book, October is now unknowingly trapped in an alternate reality- one where she never came into her powers, Simon Torquill, is still married to her mother, and Tybalt doesn't exist. This is such a plot-twist filled page turner, I loved it and cannot wait for the next book in the series.

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC of this book available to me.

Even though we knew that Toby would find a way out of her predicament, it was difficult to see her as a meek and subservient changeling. That said, it was fascinating seeing how the author took Toby on this journey, to discover, eventually, that things were NOT alright and that she actually had both the desire and the power to do something about it. It was also quite interesting to see how the author warped so many of the regular support characters in the alternate vision that Titania had for the world of the fae.

And the bonus novella is another gem, as we've come to expect from the author. This time around we get to see Rayseline and Dean dealing with the effects of Titania's actions.

Another fantastic addition to the October Daye series. As always, Seanan McGuire's lyrical prose and engaging storytelling grips reader until the very last page.

Thank you NetGalley, Tor, and most especially Seanan McGuire for this eARC of Sleep No More.

I was a bit nervous to dive into Sleep No More after reading the synopsis and my nerves were not particularly soothed during the first few pages. Everything that makes October October had been subverted; the energy that's kept me in her story was gone. However, I've come to trust Seanan McGuire's decision-making in her worlds and WOW was my trust well-placed. The story unfolded in surprising, trope-breaking ways, Toby retained her core self, and enough behind-the-scenes action was hinted at that I'm already chomping at the bit for The Innocent Sleep.

If you are a fan of the series, get ready to sink your teeth into this gem!

This was such a departure from the previous books. I was a bit hesitant with this one because I thought it was going to be like going back in time...and those never seem to work out well in terms of the storyline. For me anyway. This was not a going back in time perse, more of living a different reality. Not sure how to explain it without giving a lot away. I was just really pleased with the way the story unfolded and I am really anxious to read the next book!

Welcome to Sleep No More, or as I like to call it: October Daye and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Queen. When we last left our intrepid Hero, she had won the day; she solved a murder, brought the guilty party to justice, and was ready to enjoy some well-deserved rest. Alas, it was not to be. Titania arrived, and in the blink of an eye, everything changed.

October is not a Hero! How can she be expected to save the day, when she has so much to do in service to her mother and her sister? Pay no mind to strangers showing up speaking of another world. All is perfect in Titania's Faerie. All is as it should be. Moving Day is approaching, and there's work to be done!

At least, that's the way Toby tells it. We'll have to wait for The Innocent Sleep to get Tybalt's side of things.

Book 17 and this series is still going strong. I have been reading these for years now and the first one Rosemary and Rue hit incredibly hard. It was one of those perfect times in my life with a the perfect book for it. Sleep No More has done the same and I will be thinking about this book for days. Tatiana's back and placed an enchantment over several duchy's that alter the time line as we know it. It shows what might have been were things just slightly different making it both one of the best reads but also hardest. I wanted to scream at the Toby we were shown opposite to who we have come to love in so many ways but who's heart was still that of hero just hidden. There is a lot we don't know and in typical fashion its not all resolved at the end of the book. Seanan McGuire is a master at suspense and planning. Tiny nuggets from past books can be seen and I can't wait to see what comes next.

I received an arc and am leaving this review of my own volition. I would like to thank NetGalley and Daw for the opportunity to read this.

I have been with this series since the beginning, and I’m always amazed at the storytelling abilities of this author. This latest installment in the series has Toby not knowing who she really is, and it was a little painful to see her not as herself., and there are other characters in this same predicament. However, and this isn’t a spoiler, we get to see how this helps with some healing for all the characters in the long run. Speaking of that, make sure to read the novella at the end, too. It was eye-opening. I was mesmerized by the whole book which was written exquisitely with wonderful prose and a very engaging plot. I’m ready to see what’s coming next. Highly recommend.

(I received this book as an ARC, but I also already had it preordered.)

Was I mad when book 16 ended on a cliffhanger? You bet.

Did Seanan McGuire make it up to me (to all of us)? Yeah, I really think she did.

I was leery about how this one was going to go, because the cliffhanger/situation in question touches on one of my least-favorite tropes; it's just an uncomfortable thing for me. But it's handled well and ultimately used to explore sides of these characters we haven't seen before, or have only seen hinted at. At least one gets something very like a redemption arc, which I also appreciated.

Other things I enjoyed: we don't give an undue amount of on-screen time to our antagonist. We get to see some old favorite characters, and they get to impact the story. The ending feels appropriate.

I was left with a couple of questions, though: Where were May and Jaz? Did she say, and I missed it? And Danny?

I received this eARC from Netgalley.com and am providing an unbiased review.

This is the 17th book in the October Daye series, and again, I'm just loving this series. I had thought after the last book, that we may have reached the end of line as far as this story could go, but again I am surprised. I enjoyed this look at how things could have been for October if things had been different growing up. I wonder how difficult some of the writing may have been, to take this well-established character, and write of them as a complete opposite of them self, yet, still being driven to be one's self, though hidden behind 'magic'. Truly a well-written tale, and I hope, hope, hope to see more in this series. I'll add I also enjoyed the novella at the end of the eARC, about a couple other supporting characters viewpoints of events at about the same time of the story.

Titania's twisted world. In this world, Toby isn't the kick-butt person we are used to and it will take her friends from her real world to help unravel the illusion.

The unraveling of the illusion world Toby is trapped in keeps you reading. I have loved this series from the beginning and look forward to the next book in this story arc as this one ends on a cliffhanger and the next is from Tybalt's POV.

This is my favorite ongoing fantasy series and after the (rare) cliffhanger I was pretty desperate to get my hands on the resolution. Sleep No More starts out with October and most of a three kingdom radius living inside Titania's "perfect" version of faerie. October is a changeling who knows her place, born to serve, lucky to have a family (or at least part of one) who love her, and knowing not to hope for anything more. The entire history of faerie has been rewritten to shove aside the children of Maeve. Most importantly, October has no memory of her past as a hero, her hard earned family, or her husband. The first half of the book was actually a little bit hard to read for these reasons. It's still great, and I can see the necessity of the story, but it was incredibly difficult to see October being so much less then herself, and believing that she was lucky to be in her position. Seeing Toby fighting for a reality that we know is false is unsettling, and it takes quite awhile for the illusion to start to break down for her. Luckily, things pick up once she begins to meet former friends and allies lurking on the edges of the illusion.

It's clear that there is a lot going on behind the scenes in this story, and I'm really glad to know that we'll be getting Tybalt's point of view soon as well (though knowing him and the situation this story puts him in, it's going to be possibly even more painful then October's version). I did miss the usual dynamics between Toby and her family and friends, though it was nice to finally see a relationship being built between Toby and August (Amandine continues to be the worst). I am continually impressed with how well Seanan McGuire has plotted this series, where every stunning plot twist is carefully built up and yet still surprising. I'm glad we get a double dose of October's world this year, and I will continue to read these books (and recommend them to everyone I know) for as long as Seanan wants to keep writing them.

(The novella at the end is from Rayseline's point of view, telling her story during Titania's illusion.)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review, "Sleep No More", the 17th book in the incredible October Daye series (this is actually the first time I have been approved for an ARC of the series and I'm most thankful).
I have been following Sir Daye's exploits from the very first book, right up until she finally married the love of her life, Tybalt the King of Cats, in the previous entry in the series..... then all went to s**t.
October is very happy with her life as the second daughter of her pureblood parents, Amandine and Simon Torquill. Born to be the changeling handmaid to her beloved sister August, she spends her days working in her family’s tower, serving as August’s companion, and waiting for the day when her sister sets up a household of her own. Everything is right in October’s Faerie. Everything is perfect.
Everything is a lie.
In retaliation for faerie not being her ideal, Titania - one of the three rulers of Faerie - has re-worked reality; and oh boy, what a reworking!
October is content being a changeling; Quentin is an obnoxious twit; the Caithe Sithe are nowhere to be found... but things slowly begin to unravel.
First, Duchess Zhou requests October's presence in her demesne, as there is a puzzle that only she can solve - turning on a machine. April O'Leary begins the process by which Toby begins to see that things are not what they should be. Then, a bizarre request from Sir Etienne (he has a daughter who is trapped in the mortal world!) pulls her further out of her comfort zone, and she begins to see a strange working that envelops almost everyone. Things go awry (as they always seem to do when Toby's involved) with the 'rescue' of Chelsea and October is plunged once again into peril.
I, like Tybalt, found myself angry a lot during the reading of this book - not at the author, or at the characters, but at the terrible injustice that had been done by a vengeful Titania, and I found myself wishing that October would put everything right post-haste.
But like the great storyteller she is, and true to the characters that inhabit all of these books, Seanan McGuire lets the tale unwind at the pace that it must.
But finally! Finally! With the help of the Sea Witch... the climax is exactly what we loyal readers have been waiting for since page one.
This is the first of a two-book arc and I am going to patiently await the follow up. Cannot wait to see what Toby, Tybalt, Quentin, Dean, and all of the rest get up to in the next one.
Highly recommended, but you must read the entire series in order to grasp a lot of what's going on.