Review of Sleep No More & The Innocent Sleep by Seanan McGuire
*Warning, there will be spoilers for previous books in the series if you read ahead. As this review covers books 17 & 18 in a series, I don’t recommend starting here anyway. Go back and read Rosemary and Rue and you will have a much better understanding of the complicated character relationships.
Hail, 2023, the year of two Octobers! Just like the author decided to publish two October Daye novels back-to-back, this review is a two-for-one special. Why? Because the books are related. They tell the same story, but from different perspectives. In Sleep No More we see October (Toby’s) side, and in The Innocent Sleep we hear from Tybalt, our favorite leather pants wearing cat. Toby and Tybalt are finally, finally married. Too bad October pissed off one of the Queens of All Faerie. Titania, formerly hiding within Toby’s best friend Stacy Brown, re-makes reality into a twisted mirror. Changelings and mixed-bloods are not welcome in Titania's vision, and Toby is thrown back into an altered version of reality. Usually, that wouldn’t be a problem, except for the fact that this time, October is happy to be there. Titania’s re-written world has Toby content playing the dutiful daughter to Simon and Amandine, and the loving companion to her sister August. Titania's illusions make it so she doesn't remember anything else. Not even her husband or the fact that she is pregnant.
I found the beginning of Sleep No More a little boring. The problem with memory erasure is that characters wind up having to discover what they are forgetting at some point, and we readers already know that information, so it gets a bit repetitive. What I did like was a different look at pureblood fae society and customs, which we get courtesy of October’s newly forced role. Even the resolution of the story I thought was a little boring. I thought to myself “Haven’t we done this before?”. Though, in fairness, some of that probably has to do with Titania's lack of imagination and stubborn refusal to believe that she isn’t perfect.
I enjoyed The Innocent Sleep more than Sleep No More mostly because of these criticisms. In Tybalt’s book, there was much less repetition because his experience was so dramatically different from Toby’s. He was shunted out of reality altogether, and had to find allies, his wife, and his way back. Tybalt’s journey took us to places we don’t see much of, like the Undersea and the Court of Cats, and gave more flavor to those places and their inhabitants. There was way less repetition of information we already knew, because Tybalt didn’t lose his memory. Things were only duplicative once his story aligned with what happened in Sleep No More, and that is the price you pay for having an adventure told from multiple viewpoints, even though repeat dialogue is never the most interesting to me. I will be interested to see how some of the breadcrumbs (I think) were dropped in this book play out later in the series. Also, I really enjoyed the novella at the end of The Innocent Sleep, which is about Dianda’s rise to power in the Undersea. Overall, 3 stars for Sleep No More and 4 stars for The Innocent Sleep.

I liked the book but if you have not read the series do not start with this one. It was weird to read his pov instead of hers and I will say though it explained how the undersea is ran different then the land part of Faire. Also the cat courts was pretty awsome this is for the readers that have read the whole series and hives more insight into the side characters and I wish there was more of her aunt the sea witch cause shes my favorite and I'm just really waiting for the next part and hopefully it is more like her usual. I've read the whole series and will continue to keep reading them. Wondering if she is setting it up for a spin off of her daughter or her sister . Worth the read as long as you have read the series other wise would give the wrong impression of how good a series this is .

I was concerned that reading the same story from Tybalt's point of view would be slow or boring. I am relieved to say: it is not. It is not the same story at all. It is exactly as advertised: Tybalt's view of the events of Sleep No More. But, what he experiences and goes through is different enough from Toby that it's a different story all together.

That is a character who can sometimes feel a little stuffy to me. His behavior in Sleep No More was difficult to understand for me. He was stuffy, angry, and aloof in a way I didn't expect. Having his point of view explains it so much better and really makes the entire story line of Sleep No More so much better.

The wedding, When Sorrows Come, made me almost cry in a happy way. Be The Serpent made me incredibly sad. Sleep No More, and The Innocent Sleep both make me almost cry both sad and happy tears. The direction the overall story is headed is one I didn't see coming and is so much richer than I ever could have expected when I first picked up Rosemary and Rue. Hats off to Seanan. Without giving away any spoilers, I can say I'm only more excited for this series than ever.

This is the Author's latest book in her October Daye series and I must say it cannot be read as a standalone
To fully understand the worldbuilding and characters and their interactions I would recommend reading " Be the Serpent " at the very least - which is the latest book that sets the scene before the events in this book and that of "Sleep no more "

Tybalt , current King of Cats , thought he had it all - he had finally married his love , October , despite everything
that was thrown in their path .
Or so he thought - but Titania had her own idea . For although Oberon had forbidden Titania from physically hurting October , her family and friends there was nothing to stop her from setting alternate realities where they would not know the other existed , a world which could harm them through neglect . A world where October still lives with her mother and sister with no memory of any other life : a world where the Cats and "other" fae are constrained by their environments : a world where some do not even exist .
Tybalt's new reality however does not stop him remembering October but does restrict all non-royal cats from travelling the shadow roads - how will he feed them all , how will they survive ?
He needs allies , ones who remember , ones who are prepared to help despite the dangers to themselves - he needs to find October and make her remember . For as time passes fewer and fewer can keep those memories alive .

This is a tale told from Tybalt's perspective and my heart bled for him at times , he was so lost with the wants and needs of others - but what about his needs and wants ? It did seem a little drawn out at times but worth reading non the less .
This series world building is outstanding , the characters complex with ever shifting alliances but at the heart it is a love story between a Cat and a Hero of the Realm . What will come next for our couple and their world ?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Here we are, The Innocent Sleep, or Tybalt's side of things. I was very ready to be mad at Tybalt after Sleep No More, as his behavior comes off as very, what's the word, asshole-ish. But that's Seanan for you, making you love characters one moment, hate them the next, and love them again, because she knows how to play our emotions like a fiddle.

It helps to understand Tybalt after seeing the lengths he goes to just to get through to October, and the hurt he feels when she doesn't just shrug off a spell cast by The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Queen. This entry leaves me wanting more of his perspective from across all of October's adventures, and you might, too.

But that's all for now, until next time which, hopefully, will be These Violent Delights (2024).

As much as I enjoy alternate viewpoints, I’m never quite satisfied when there’s a whole book devoted to it (unless it’s a retelling of a classic by a different author). The Innocent Sleep retells the ending of Be the Serpent and the whole of Sleep No More from Tybalt’s point of view.

I’m a huge Tybalt fan and have been since A Local Habitation, at the very latest. One of the things I’ve most appreciated is how differently he sees things from Toby. But despite my deep and abiding love for everyone’s favorite cat, I was a bit leery of this book.

I shouldn’t have worried. Seanan McGuire shows once again that she knows exactly what she’s doing.

While there are a few places where I got impatient, this remained heartbreaking and perfect and at times surprisingly funny.

I didn't dislike this at all, but all I kept thinking while reading was "this should've been a novella" or "these two books should've been combined."

I enjoyed seeing things from Tybalt's perspective, but a whole book of it may have been too much for me. Again, I think I would have had more fun with it had it been one slightly longer book with alternating PoVs.

My lingering questions: <spoiler>Where the fuck was Jazz? Where the fuck was Marcia? WHO THE FUCK WAS CASSIE?! And WHAT THE FUCK, AMANDINE?!</spoiler>

As always, looking forward to the next book in the series. Nineteen, can you even?

I wish there had been a way to combine this book and the previous into one big book, or two books with alternating chapters. I loved Tybalt’s POV (finally!!) but felt that much of this book was rehash from Sleep No More. I kept comparing this book to the events in the previous one to map the events together. That’s my only complaint. Otherwise, so happy to have early access to check in with October and the gang!!
*Thanks to DAW and NetGalley for this advance review copy.

I was so so very excited for this book. The first full length novel told from Tybalt's view in the October Daye series did not disappoint. This is a companion book to "Sleep No More" which is told from October's view as usual. I don't think it's a spoiler to note that Tybalt and Toby are separated and hence, we get to see what Tybalt was up to during October's adventures in "Sleep No More." Both of them have to play their part to save Faerie as they know it, along with all their friends, and their marriage.

I've enjoyed all the short stories from Tybalt's POV and I genuinely hope we can get more side books like this. Maybe not always from Tybalt because that would mean he'd be separated from Toby and he can't handle too much of that. Haha.

TW/CW: Kidnapping, fantasy violence, brief sexuality, mild language

REVIEW: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily writing an honest review.

The Innocent Sleep is the 18th book in the fantastic October Daye series. One of my favorites, this set of books follows the changeling October Daye as she lives her life half inside Faerie and half outside of it, and the conflicts that arise along the way.

This is the first book in the series to have a narrator other than October, and I loved that part of it. It’s fun to be in Tybalt’s head. I have to admit that once in a while I found myself reading it as if it was from October’s point of view, but mostly that was just because all the others have been!

This book basically follows the story and plot of Sleep No More, but from Tybalt’s POV. I liked the first part – which was very different from Sleep No More. The second half has many more similarities with Sleep No More, but is still fascinating to see from a different perspective.

This was an excellent and fun book, and I would definitely recommend to fans of fantasy and urban fantasy!

The Innocent Sleep (October Daye, #18)
The Innocent Sleep by Seanan McGuire
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

While I generally always enjoy all the October Daye novels, they're usually pretty self-contained (read bite-sized) stories that don't require extra bits to enjoy. I'm not talking about cliffhangers, either.

This one, however, is a bit unusual in the series. We've got Tybalt as our main PoV and it takes place during all of the events of Sleep No More, the previous novel in the series.

On one hand, it feels like a rather interesting side-novel that gives this ex-king of cats a great deal of agency -- something that has been lacking in the rest of the series.

On the other, it absolutely feels like it should have been either a companion novella or interspersed with the OTHER novel as one huge novel instead. Indeed, I would have welcomed a big honker of a novel with October and Tybalt dancing around each other in this otherwise great story. Together, they shine. Separate, it feels like we're just getting the same story again, from very different points of view.

I didn't dislike it, mind you. I just think it could have been given a wonderful shine instead of seeming to re-tread a lot of ground. I would have loved to feel the immediacy of experiencing the same scenes side-by-side.

Still... it was a good novel. Solid, regardless.

I loved this book!! Toby Day is one of my favorite series!! The storyline was interesting and I love the characters!! Another great and entertaining addition to this series! I would highly recommend this book to everyone!!

A parallel book to Sleep No More, telling the ensorcelled four months from Tybalt's point of view. We have never been inside his head before, and the closer look at him and at the Court of Cats is well worth the price of admission, even without the rest of the story. Do read this second, as it will make a bit more sense with the other background.

Recommended.

I of course loved reading this book! Tybalt is a favourite character of mine, and this is some pretty hard times for him, given that his wife, who they just learned was pregnant, was put under a spell by their enemy, and is under her control. Add his past with his first wife and their child, yeah, that was something Tybalt wanted to rectify immediately.

This book spends more time in the early days of Titania's version of the world, because Tybalt knows what's wrong, and boy, is he making attempts at fixing things. But between the Court of Cats, and some particular information, results in waiting until the time started in Sleep No More. But it was really great to see what these characters that weren't in Sleep No More were doing in this one!

We didn't have a lot of overlap between the two books, but the times that we did, oh man, I can understand why the both reacted the way that they did. It still hurt! But oh, it's hard to talk about this one without spoiling Sleep No More, but it was great to see that ending from Tybalt's perspective, too!

Doubtless and Secure was a really great story, we got to see the history of Saltmist, of Dianda's parents, and her childhood, and all the way up to the first beginnings of a reaction to Be the Serpent. So that was really interesting, espcailly with her brother (though I though in The Unkindest Tide, he was older? I'm going to have to do a reread!) and that bit of prophecy, I can't wait to see it come true!

These were both such fantastic reads, and I can't wait to see where the series goes in the future!

This tells the events of Sleep No More but from Tybalts point of view so if you haven't read that yet please do before beginning this. That being said I'm sure fans were over the moon to get their hands on that so I question if this was needed as a whole book and perhaps would have been better as a companion novella ?
Unfortunately the first half kind of dragged for me and I was waiting for Toby to appear. I do hasten to add that the second half was much more what I wanted and of course my favourite character the Sea Witch was there so that's always a win. Which brings me to Tybalt and I'm sorry but he's never been that interesting to me and I kind of find him cold and even though this book tries to show he is fighting his instincts as he truly is desperate to get Toby and their world back to normal I still didn't find him passionate just determined .
This book includes a novella which added to the background of characters in this world so that was very interesting to read. I love this series and look forward to finding out what happens next as there's a huge change about to happen to Toby and Tybalt but my lips are sealed !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Thank you to NetGalley and Daw for a digital Arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Innocent Sleep by Seanan McGuire could have been an interesting idea for a short story in the October Daye Series, but as a full book in the series it was mostly underwhelming. Tybalt is a good side character and love interest for Toby, but a full length novel from his point of view is nowhere as enjoyable as having have another novel with from Toby’s point of view. It does not help that the first half of the book is extremely slow paced and honestly not needed. On the plus side it was much more entertaining to read in the second half, if a bit rushed in the end. However, this just really made my wish for this to be a novella or short story much more solid in my mind.
As for Doubtless and Secure the short story at the end of the book. It was by far the highlight of this installment. It was a bit slow to start, but once it got started it was really interesting backstory into the Undersea. I had a lot of fun with it and honestly this is what I think The Innocent Sleep should have been. A quick, fun, and interesting dive into a story outside of Toby’s point of view.

I knew Innocent Sleep was going to be from Tybalt's perspective, but didn't realize it took place during Sleep No More. I was also curious as to how I would like Tybalt's "narration" style. All other books have been from Toby's perspective. I have to say that Tybalt was a very pleasant surprise. Loved this story! McGuire always manages to go to places in her stories I never expect. Love her and love this series.

The Innocent Sleep begins directly after the cliffhanger events of Be The Serpent. We get it all from Tybalts POV and get to see all the lead-up to the moment when he and October are reunited. It was definitely heart-wrenching as Tybalt is frantically trying to find his lady love, while still trying to keep all the residents of the Court of Cats fed and healthy. Which leads to some hijinks. When he is finally reunited with October and she has no memory of him you could feel how upset he was. I loved seeing all the characters we didn't get to see in Sleep No More like Raj and May, and each book just makes me love all the characters more.

Seanan McGuire writes such a good story, even when the two books meet and were reading it from Tybalt's side instead of October's it still felt fresh and new. And now that I finally have the conclusion to that cliffhanger from both sides I can finally start my reread of the series!!

The Innocent Sleep was absolutely riveting! I was on the edge of my seat seeing what Tibolt went through to get October back and not just Tybalt but all of her closet friends and family as they fight to save the true reality that Titania seeks to rewrite. But can they get Toby and break the spell or will all be rewritten to Titania’s desires?

It lost boggles the mind to know beforehand how a story will play out but rom a different perspective be so invested it is as if you never knew what was to come. The book was incredible and if bonds friendships were strong beforehand they are carved in stone now. To see what the future hold when next Titania meddles will be a fascinating thing because for all she meant to do making unbreakable alliances was probably not one of them. And if she weaves a new future will all be undone?I honestly can’t wait to find out. if you are not an October Daye fan yet you seriously need to be one! Start this series it is dark, harrowing, inspiring and entertaining. A absolute must read from a true master of writing! As I’m sure you can tell I very highly recommend this book and series. And yes it is best red in order to fully enjoy this is not a book you can just pick up and delve into. I suppose you could it is wonderful. However, the complexity of the world is truly something to embrace and so much background and character development is in the books you would be missing so much. Plus soooo many books to catch up on!

The Innocent Sleep by Seanan McGuire, the sidecar book that is neccessary to her other latest novel that is a must read TOO!