Cover Image: Night and Silence

Night and Silence

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Another great addition to the October Daye series for Seanan McGuire. Lots of interesting stuff happens in this book, so don't miss it. You'll be disappointed if you do!

Was this review helpful?

Toby thought although her life was still in shambles, at least her daughter was safe in the human world with her father and stepmother. At least, she had believed so, until her ex-husband's frantic call that Gillian was missing. He asks her to find Gillian and to also search Faerie. Unfortunately, her search uncovers more than she’s bargained for.

Because of being quarantined, and living through a pandemic that has lasted this long, I’ve been really into epic fantasy novels. This one certainly did not disappoint! Even when you think the mystery is solved, there is yet another twist. I love this series and I suggest you begin with book 1.

Was this review helpful?

I always look forward to reading a new Seanan McGuire/Mira Grant book. I do think she's one of the finest fantasy writers currently working.

October Daye is feeling frustrated at being unable to help the people she wants most to help. Then, to add to her complicated life, her daughter Gillian (with whom she has a struggling relationship), is kidnapped. October's ex-boyfriend and his new wife accuse October of being the kidnapper, but they also aren't behaving in normal (for them) behavior. Are they hiding something?

It's pretty clear to October that Faeries are involved somehow, but she can't imagine any of them would even remember that October had a child and even less likely that they would have any reason to take Gillian if they knew about her.

I haven't read the entire October Daye series (though I'd like to go back and read the first books) but of these that I have read, I felt that this was the darkest (in tone) of them. And I liked that. This gave much more depth to the series (not that it didn't have depth before that) giving October discomfort and anxiety that has built up over the course of the series, and coming to a head with this latest issue. McGuire really captures Daye's sense of hopelessness, which is something she's really not used to.

And, as always with a McGuire story, this is well plotted and executed. We're brought on a journey that is intense and very real.

The last quarter or so of the book features a separate novella, "Suffer a Sea-Change" (though I'm a little confused by this ... in the contents section of the book it says to read "an excerpt from "Suffer a Sea-Change" but at the end of the book it says "Read on for a brand-new novella by Seanan McGuire: SUFFER A SEA-CHANGE" ... is this an excerpt, or is this the novella?).

This novella was really tremendous. Essentially it is Gillian's point-of-view narrative of what has happened to her. Rather than have alternating view-points throughout the book, we get the October Daye story - exciting and intense - and then, if we should read on, we get the story that Daye doesn't know. Really well done!

As usual, I highly recommend this Seanan McGuire book ... but be careful, you may get hooked on what is now a twelve book series!

Looking for a good book? The twelfth book in the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire, <em>Night and Silence</em>, is a dark, thrilling urban fantasy that will have you wanting to read the entire series.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I’ve loved the October Daye series since the beginning, so I’m always up for another adventure. While I highly recommend reading the books from the beginning, McGuire gives you everything you need to enjoy jumping in – or in case it’s been awhile and you’d like a memory refresher. A long time ago, Toby had a daughter with her human boyfriend. That daughter, Gillian, has been raised by her father and stepmother (whose encounters with fae are another story entirely, and not a happy one), is now a college student, and believes Toby abandoned her. Now Gillian’s life is in danger and Toby must not only rescue her but solve a succession of mysteries while convincing her daughter to let her back into her life. It’s just as entertaining and heart-touching as the previous volumes, perhaps more so because of Toby’s intensely personal emotions. Looking forward to the next one!

Was this review helpful?

Night and Silence is the twelveth novel in the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire. And our girl is still getting herself into a whole new world of trouble. It's both impressive and terrifying. But at least it makes for a good story for us all to read.
This novel, like so many previously, brings some of Toby's story full circle. In this instance, she likely would have preferred to leave things well enough alone. You see, once again Toby faces a world in which her daughter has been abducted. Again. And this time around her daughter is wholly human, and not able to defend herself.
So it's up to Toby to find her daughter and find her quickly. The real question is, who is behind it this time? We can only hope it was a human, and not one of Toby's many enemies. But we all know that it's unlikely to be the case.
This novel also follows the tradition of the last few, including a novella at the end. This one is titled Suffer A Sea-Change, and can't really be described without spoiling the conclusion for Night and Silence. So do make sure to read things in the correct order!
“You lost a great deal of blood.” “I didn’t lose it,” I said. “I know exactly where it is.” (Seanan McGuire, Night and Silence).

Night and Silence is an intense read, especially following the events of the previous novel. Toby and her family are still trying to recover, but it's clear that the universe isn't willing to give them that break.
It also seems like Gillian can't catch a break either. First, her mom went missing. Then, years and years later, she got abducted. And now the whole thing is happening all over again. I'd say that I was hoping this would be the last time it happens, but that would feel like I was rooting for her to die (because that's the only way I see this ever ending).
I think, in a way, that Toby needed a quest to distract her. I know that Tybalt did. I don't think either of them wanted a quest quite like this one, however. I know that Tybalt never would have wished this on Gillian, even if it did help him get out of the cycle he had trapped himself in.
On the bright side, this novel does start off on a slightly more cheerful note. I don't think Danny can be involved and not have it be cheerful. Not when little critters running loose are involved, at least. But maybe I shouldn't say that, it sounds too much like a challenge.
The pacing of this novel is pretty fast, and Toby is really put through the wringer in this one. As were all of the people that love and support her. And it was heartwarming to see how many people stepped up in an effort to help Toby. Even if they could only help a little bit – it still clearly meant the world to her.
There were some shockingly emotional revelations in this novel. There were also some unexpected twists, which I won't dig into too much. Let's just say that I've officially found a new character that I love to hate. And I'm not going to feel guilty about feeling that way. Because she deserves it, if you ask me.
The conclusion of this novel was rough. It was beautiful. But it was still rough. There were a lot of things happening, and a lot of people stepping up. I think what the Luidaeg did – at no cost – is what hit me hardest. There was something in it that just really touched me, so I can't imagine how it made Toby feel.
Now there's just one novel left in the series and I'll be caught up. I'm actually more than a little bit sad by that. At least there's the novellas and short stories to read. And the fact that the series is clearly not over yet.

Suffer A Sea-Change is the novella immediately following the conclusion of Night and Silence. Actually, some of the events overlap. So if you don't want spoilers, don't skip ahead and read it. Because it is super spoilery, I'm going to try and be as vague as possible here.
It was interesting to see Gillian's perspective of these events. I wish I could say that I like her more, having seen things from her eyes. But I don't. I don't dislike her, per se, but I don't like her either. I know she's been through a lot though, so I'm willing to give her more benefit of the doubt than I'm inclined to give.
I will say that it's interesting seeing the same events from the eyes of a person who is human. And thus literally can't see some of what was happening. It's an interesting viewpoint to include, and went a long way in reminding us of what happens to humans when the fae chose to target them.
I'm happy that this one got included at the end of Night and Silence. Now nobody will stumble upon it by mistake. And once again, it makes me realize that I really need to read the rest of the novellas for this series.

Was this review helpful?

I received a copy of this book from this publisher in exchange for my honest review.

I started the series by reading "The Brightest Fell" which was the previous book, and I will repeat here that I enjoyed it immensely. That book which I gave 4/5 stars will serve as a point of comparison.

The first couple of chapters which are heavily focused on filling you in on the backstory are a godsend if you are jumping in to a series at book 11. When you go on to read book 12 and the author does the same thing it means a slow start. This is why I stopped reading the book soon after I picked it up. Once I picked it up again I found myself unable to put it down. Just like the previous book, the action never stops and you just can't wait to turn the page. October once again stands out as an unforgettably badass character, however she just doesn't quite hit the high tide mark she did in the previous book.

October probably bleeds about twice as much as in the previous book and pretty much paints the town red with her own blood. Unfortunately once she makes it through all of the villains schemes and traps (by good old fashioned brute force, gotta love how unstoppable she is) the villain ends up mediocre at best and the resolution of the main conflict has to come by way of the Luidaeg mcguffin/goober.

The last part of the book has a very anticlamatic confrontation with the big bad's sidekick which seems wholly unnecessary.

Aside from these negatives what I really loved about this book was the inclusion of references to some celtic myths I have read in the past.

overall the main thing i disliked was worse pacing and not quite as much badassery from the main character as in the previous book (although she had just as good if not a better motivation). I mean she bled a lot, but she didn't have that quentin tarantino-esque baseball bat to the head satisfying revenge moment.

Was this review helpful?

I found the overall experience of reading this book to be enjoyable, with both plot and character elements that unfolded nicely and with forward momentum. While not the best book I have ever read, I would pass this title along to other readers and librarians.

Was this review helpful?

October ‘Toby’ Daye’s fragile self-made family is on the verge of coming apart at the seams and Toby is floundering unable to help the people she loves the most heal. She needs a distraction, but what she doesn’t need is the abduction of her estranged human daughter, Gillian. There’s no question of whether she’ll take the case, the only question is whether she’s emotionally prepared to survive it. With signs of Faerie’s involvement, it’s going to take all Toby’s nerve and all her allies to get her through the web of old secrets, older hatreds and new deceits because if she doesn’t find Gillian before time runs out, her daughter will the pay the price.

This ‘October Daye’ story is engaging with non-stop excitement that has readers bouncing in their seats barely able to contain their delight as the suspense builds. Toby and Tybalt’s romance has hit a road block due to past events and this has readers wondering if their relationship will survive this latest trouble. Meanwhile, other characters are also at stumbling blocks which adds to the emotions that flow from the pages, so readers experience a whole range of feelings throughout this story.

This story is fast paced with lots of twisty turns that keep readers guessing as to who the bad guys are this time right along with Toby and some stunning twists that has readers and characters’ jaws dropping in stunned amazement. This series is full of fascinating characters in an intriguing world with lots of wonderful elements which means that readers want to return time and again to see what else can be discovered and this installment of the urban fantasy series is quite the discovery.

Was this review helpful?

Firstly a special thank you to Seanan McGuire, Netgalley and DAW Books for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

This is my first time dealing with Mrs. McGuire and DAW Books. I was so in awe by this series! I hope this is not the finale. Seanan McGuire is a lovely writer and if the book was not in total sync with its predecessors then McGuire is allowed to make changes in tone as she feels appropriate. Her world building is a staggering achievement, complex, layered, nuanced and replete with integrity. By its very nature, this world will always have need of Knight October Daye and her cohort of lovable and loving warriors.

What a ride!

Between Tybalt's situation is already bad enough, but to learn that Toby's now 100% human daughter has been abducted under bad circumstances? Talk about a moment of emotional roller coaster. I am so glad I decided to try this book on a whim. I'm fairly certain i scared my Fiance with my ugly crying over this novel and him laughing because of me crying due to a novel. He doesn't understand guys...

It's not just the fact that [Spoilers!!!!!!!!]. It's worse because of all the OTHER lies.

Was this review helpful?

Another stunning, heart-wrenching addition to the series. We learn so much more about Toby's history that adds to the lore of the fae and the world as a whole. Excellently executed read!

Was this review helpful?

Sir October Daye is a knight of the realm and a bonafide hero in Faerie. But when her former boyfriend and his wife arrive at her doorstep and want to know if she has kidnapped Gillian, her human daughter, Toby goes ballistic. She soon figures out her primary nemesis, the former False Queen in the Mists, has been rescued from her 100-year slumber by Dugan Harrow, an evil Fae, who wants Toby to return the False Queen to the throne as well as restore her Siren blood, which Toby had stripped from her previously. As Toby investigates, it becomes clear that someone is out to get her and kidnapping Gillian was only a step along the way. More and more machinations come to light and Gillian ends up dead, or is she? This is one of the best series in the fantasy genre. McGuire's writing is consistently good and her plots are well-executed. Recommended, always.

Was this review helpful?

I must admit this is my first book that I have read in the October Day series. It’s book 12 and now I must read the rest. October’s daughter is missing and she has to find her. She may not want anything to do with her but she will do anything for her daughter. Nothing like a love of a mother towards her daughter. I even loved the novella afterwards that is from her daughters perspective. 4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this!

Was this review helpful?

Night and Silence is the twelfth book of the October Daye series and it’s a doozy. This series’ by Seanan McGuire joins a handful of others in being one of the best series in the urban fantasy sub-genre. It’s a series that offers consistent and engaging adventures in which readers can immerse. Night and Silence picks up soon after the previous installment ends and gives readers a chance to witness the fallout of the torture/trauma of The Brightest Fell. As relationships stagger beneath the weight of this stress we see Toby and company face an unanticipated hurdle. A recovering Tybalt is sadly absent as the book embarks when Toby discovers her entirely mortal child Gillian has been kidnapped. Series’ fans will be interested to get another glimpse of Toby’s long-lost sister and to learn more about the human family Toby left behind. While this book lays the groundwork for Gillian to grow as a more three-dimensional character in future and it resolves with Toby’s gang (including Tybalt) back in action it is not ever going to be my favorite of the series’. However, I do look forward to seeing how the events of Night and Silence will influence the next chapter in the adventures of October Daye.

Was this review helpful?

For those who have missed the eighty billion memos I’ve sent out to the internet about how fucking fantastic the October Daye series is, HI IT IS FUCKING FANTASTIC AND YOU SHOULD READ IT ASAP. McGuire’s one of my favorite authors. I’ve hated some of her stuff and been bored by others, but when she writes books that are up my alley (character-driven and bantery), they are absolute gold. She’s just so incredibly, ludicrously talented at all parts of writing: plotting, prose, characterization, world building, twists, tension, and literally any other word you can put here.

<i>Night and Silence</i> is not my favorite of the October Daye series, it but it’s a strong installment. Pretty much every single book after five is pretty close to flawless, and the favorites come down more to my personal taste rather than those books necessarily being less good than the other ones.

Speaking of personal preferences, the opening of <i>Night and Silence</i> is absolutely soul crushing. It’s honestly so sad that I had to take mental breaks before coming back to the book. Seanan McGuire is so good at constantly increasing the tension of the series, but sometimes it’s more through character arc than through the plot of the moment. This one’s very much centered on Tybalt’s emotional development, and it was very hard for me to take early on.

In Once Broken Faith, Tybalt was kidnapped and caged for quite a long time in his cat form. His release, however, did not make everything okay again. He’s freaked out by his cat form now and uncomfortable around Toby, who reminds him of the whole experience which honestly makes me want to sob a lot. Sometimes I have a love/hate relationship with how good Seanan McGuire is at writing because then she hurts me. Basically, though these characters can heal from most things at this point, McGuire does not forget about the emotional toll of the constant huge, scary shit October’s crew faces.

At the beginning of the book, Tybalt’s basically MIA. He and Toby aren’t fighting, mostly because he won’t really talk to her at all. She’s trying to focus on work, but she’s clearly hurting really badly, and literally everyone is super worried about both of them and, like, honestly I’m feeling a bit verklempt just recapping this. McGuire, you cruel genius. It’s a tough book to read in some ways, but I do love that this book is all about beginning the road to recovery, recognizing that it won’t be instant and that it will require trusting your friends and loved ones and being brave enough to ask for help.

The plot deals with October’s daughter, Gillian, who has been living her human life and not talking to October, at the behest of herself and her parents. She’s been kidnapped (again), and October’s on the case. Gillian plot lines have literally never been my favorite. I find her rather boring thus far tbh, and I am crawling through the subsequent novella from her point of view. Maybe in the future, she’ll be in the books more and I’ll learn to love her, but so far she’s basically been this huge brat to October who loves her so damn much. And obviously I love October so damn much, so I find Gillian’s attitude irritating.

In the scope of the series as a whole, it’s definitely a more laidback installment. The stakes are high but they’re not HIGHEST. If you’re here more for plot than emotional development, this may not be your favorite either. Though more minimal, the plot that there is does hang together amazingly well, despite being really surprising. Honestly, it makes me want to go back and reread some stuff because there are a couple of key elements I clearly do not remember well enough.

To conclude, GO READ OCTOBER DAYE. HOW MANY TIMES MUST I YELL AT YOU?

Was this review helpful?

I love Seanan McGuire's writing. She brings the words to life. It is like I am actually there, and sharing in the adventure with them. Toby's relationship has been strained after what her mother, Amandine, did to Tybalt. She hasn't seen him in a while, for he has withdrawn to the Court of Cats. Now just as we think she has a chance catch her breath and process everything that has happened, her ex-husband is at her door telling her that her daughter Gillian is missing from College.  I swear, Toby cannot catch a break. It is like she is a magnet for trouble. This was a great book to read, and cannot wait to read the next installment. I give Night and Silence (October Daye) 5/5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

Seanan McGuire immerses us in another October "Toby" Daye adventure with Night and Silence. Her beloved king of cats Tybalt is still suffering from his confinement by her fae mother Amandine, first born of Oberon, king of the fae. Toby's human daughter Gillian is abducted and Toby and her friends are targeted as she follows the trail of the kidnappers. This is followed by a novella, Suffer a Sea Change which follows Gillian as she adapts to becoming fae again, only as a selkie. Fascinating errantry.

Was this review helpful?

I'm kicking myself for starting the series so late in the game. That said, this was an exceptional book. Engaging, fast paced, and had me on the edge of my seat for almost the entire ride. I think the characters were well-developed and the story line was unique. I'm planning tog o back and start at book 1. I think I would have been more invested in the story and characters had i not started here but the book was captivating enough that the few moments I felt lost weren't too big of a deal. A great read for any fans of dark urban fantasy.

Was this review helpful?

I need to stop thinking that after so many books I know this series and world so well that nothing can surprise me because this book's revelations surprised the hell out of me. With Tybalt, Jazz, and Sylvester still reeling from the previous book Toby is more alone than she's been in a long time. Someone takes advantage of that by kidnapping Gillian, her human daughther, and Gillian's father and his wife blame Toby. In searching for Gillian Toby is steered toward long-hidden secrets that have the power to change nearly everything.

I swear, these books get better and better as the series goes on. It has been a pleasure to watch Toby and everyone else change and mature in response to what happens to and around them. Because of that each book feels fresh. #NightAndSilence #NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

The twelfth book in the Toby Daye series, and shit still manages to get even more serious/game changing, which I continue to be impressed at. The reminders of shit that happened in past books are the least awkward they can be given the nature of the beast. I’m interested in seeing how the new status quo effects the upcoming books, and continue to be surprised at how Seanan works Tam Lin into this. Additionally, the fact that she now gets to add a novella onto the end of the book expanding on things that happen either just outside of the novel's focus, or off screen, is a real value add. Comes out in September, if you’ve been following the series, definitely pick it up.

Was this review helpful?

It seems unfair that while most long-running urban fantasy series stumble and fall into repetitive mediocrity, Seanan McGuire's October Daye continues to thrill and grow with each new installment. NIGHT AND SILENCE is another worthwhile addition to any McGuire fan's collection, and I'll happily continue on my quest to press copies of this series into the hands of everyone I know.

Was this review helpful?