I was unaware that this book is from the POV of Tybalt from the book before this, and I don’t like books that are written from a different POV. It doesn’t really matter, though, because just about anything this author writes, I will read. I do admit that this was an interesting take on everything that had happened. Thankfully, it had been a while since I’d read the one before this and, for the most part, it was a fresh look and almost like a different one expect for already knowing how this one will end…another thing I don’t like! LOL! All that aside, this is a well-written, extremely engaging, and well worth reading no matter your opinions. I’m ready to see what’s next in Toby’s world. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

I appreciated the opportunity to see October's world through another set of eyes. Plus we learn more about Tybalt and the world he's giving up for himself and October. I also felt other characters were given more of a chance to express themselves in this book as well.

I felt the story line was a little slow though and didn't grab my attention as much as usual.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, DAW, and most importantly Seanan McGuire for this eARC of The Innocent Sleep.

In a fun change of pace for Ms. McGuire, this alternate perspective on the events of Sleep No More adds depth, understanding, and dimension to the Tybalt - a character I've heretofore found fairly bland and one-dimensional. It's an excellent lesson in realism in writing and the truth that - unless we really know what's going on in someone's head it's nearly impossible to truly understand them.

It's a fun read and worth your time for any fan of Toby's adventures, but definitely a change of pace.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review "The Innocent Sleep", the 18th book in Seanan McGuire's epic 'October Daye' fantasy series. I have been reading since Book 1, and will continue for as long as the series goes on.

In "Sleep No More", Book 17 we were witness to October's experience of Titania's epic 're-write' of Faerie (she had a little hissy fit after the events of the wedding, and decided that if she couldn't punish, she'd just f**k with things).

"The Innocent Sleep" is Tybalt's tail, er tale.

From the moment that the screaming starts and his subsequent sequester in the Court of Cats, Tybalt will spend every waking hour in search of his wife (and child). and must gather allies wherever he can; from his Regent, Ginevra, to Dianda and Patrick Lorden (whose demesne has also been cut off from Faerie), along with one of the First, Ampitrite (or Captain Pete as she sometimes is) to a pair of Gwragens from Sylvester Torquill's court.

It was very interesting to witness this parallel story, having already read how October perceived 'reality' and then to see it through the eyes of her beloved.

The quality of writing never lets up, and even though there is a modicum of repetition (albeit from a second viewpoint) the story never lags.

And, of course, there are the usual comments: "I expect things will get fairly chaotic.” "Please try not to get any blood on the floor.”

Certainly would not recommend as a standalone read - you need to read the whole series.

Thank you Seanan Mcguire, DAW, and Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for a review.

It was really fun to read this story from Tybalts point of view.

The only thing I didn't like is the same as with the other book; Tybalts anger, when he knows Toby is a changeling and couldn't have avoided being put under the spell. But at least in this book, Arden chastises him.

I look forward to the next book next year, where I'm guessing they have the child.

A companion novel to Sleep No More, this book tells Tybalt's side of the story. When Titania casts a spell to rework Faerie in her own image - the undesirables or Maeve's children - are cast out of the illusion of Faerie. Tybalt must gather allies and seek out October in hopes of breaking the spell and saving his family.

This is the first full length tale from Tybalt's perspective and it is wonderful. I love how he is gaining an appreciation for what it means to be a Hero - especially since October's been whammied and can't see the danger she's in. The raids on Costco to feed the cats brought me much joy while Tybalt's pain at October's blindness brought me much sorrow. These two stories will tug on your heartstrings.

I mean, this is SOOOOOOO good and to find out there's a dual release from October's POV? I'm sincerely intrigued since This was told from Tybalt's point of view. And an interesting view it is! I would like to have seen more from our beloved sea witch, as part of this had me quite confused, but I suspect that will be cleared up in Sleep No More.

Just when you think this series CANT POSSIBLY get better, it DOES! Amazing! Thank you!

Another winner in the October Daye series, it had everything that I was expecting from the other entries and from Seanan McGuire. Seanan McGuire always does a great job in creating this world and it had everything that I wanted from this series. The characters were what I was hoping for and glad I got to read this.

Innocent Sleep is the companion of Sleep No More, told from Tybalt’s POV whereas Sleep No More is October’s. It covers the same adventure surrounding Moving Day, but starts immediately after Be the Serpent, as soon as Tybalt is dropped into a changes Court of Cats without Toby.

Innocent Sleep covers the character development for pretty much everyone missed in Sleep No More (Raj, Arden, Nolan, Simon…), but doesn’t add much to the universe other than that because it doesn’t go any further in time than Sleep No More. Sure, it fills in the missing four-month chunk, but not with anything that readers wouldn’t have assumed was happening. Tybalt tested the bounds of Tatiana’s spell, gathered allies, and made sure the cats were taken care of. Readers do not get to see why Arden calls a (at least) seven-month-pregnant October to court.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad installment to the series, but was, perhaps, an unnecessary one.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of THE INNOCENT SLEEP (Book 18 of the October Daye urban fantasy series) by Seanan McGuire in exchange for an honest review. What happens when a fairy queen rewrites the world and the fair folk in that world? Tybalt, king of the dreaming cats, gets really angry. Tybalt’s wife October is missing. When he finally finds her, October doesn’t remember him at all. Since he loves her and since she’s pregnant with their child, Tybalt battles anger and impatience while waiting for the right time to act. This is SLEEP NO MORE told from Tybalt point of view.

I liked this book and enjoy the series. I recommend this book to fans of the series. I recommend the series to fans of urban faerie tales abounding in murder, mysteries, adventure, and so very much bloodshed.

#TheInnocentSleep #NetGalley

Every story has 2 sides and this time the perspective is told from a point of view from one who has not been ensnared by illusion but instead sees all of the negative aspects that affect all those deemed unworthy by Titanias version of Faerie.

The heartbreaking truth is explained in details that are at times difficult to digest without crying for those it affects.

Tybalt has always been somewhat more of a backup for Tobys character for me so to have his perspective is on par for me of an early Christmas gift, sort of.

10% read and already knew just like with Toby in previous book my heart broke for Tybalt many times before done reading this one.

This is not an exact retelling instead we get to experience how much different, and certainly not better, this version of Faerie is for all those whose cause Toby championed.

All the Fae that are second class in Titanias version have been cut off from not only their own family members but some have been eradicated both from memory as well as in fact.

For me this second half of the two-part story was a much easier and faster read, but no less disturbing than previous half.

What is one persons paradise is another's prison and when these prisoners break free what happens next is pure chaos, in other words just Tobys normal methods of winning.

DOUBTLESS AND SECURE
Takes place from 1612-2015 and chronicles how Dianda Lorden came to be the regent for Saltmist and follows along through present when Titania returns to create her illusion of Faerie.

This is a simple breakdown for a short story with so many layers it was a welcome addition to learn more about some of Tobys allies/extended family for me to enjoy before we wait for more full-length books.
[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.

I love Toby and Tybalt, I love this series in general, but I'm just not convinced this and Sleep No More needed to be two whole books.

This alt-perspective book asks the question, "Do we need the events of Sleep No More from Tybalt's perspective?" In this essay, I will argue that we very much do...

Seriously though, perhaps the books shouldn't be read back to back if one reads quickly, because there are times the dialog gets repetitive, but if that's the worst thing in an alt-perspective book, and it's kept to a minimum and without it the book honestly can't be read on its own? Fine. The strengths of the book far outweigh this one easily fixable non-problem (just skim those repeated conversation).

Tybalt's perspective not only accounts for all the missing characters in Sleep No More, but gets us deeper into the Court of Cats, Kingly responsibilities, and Tybalt himself, a character who may be a wife guy but also existed for hundreds of years before his wife came into the picture. The climax of this book isn't about his standing there while Toby does her thing; of the two book's climaxes, I'd say this is actually the better (while giving the every other plot win to Toby). We see how far he has come, and I think a really good perspective on why and ultimately what that means in a way Toby's perspective never could show.

Also, there are a lot of kittens in this book, and I like kittens.

So while we are 18 books into a series, and 17 is the one doing the heavy lifting, 18 is the deepening of the lore, and that's fun too.

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.

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

This is the 18th book in the October Daye series, and closely follows the previous installment, not just in story, but in release date. This tale is told from Tybalt's point of view, of the events we read about in book seventeen.

Overall, I liked this telling of events versus the previous one. There was so much going on 'behind-the-scenes' whilst Toby was ensnared and trying to figure out the enchantment Titiana had done. This truly helped round out how involved the actual story was happening.

With the release of this eARC, there was also a small novella of characters in the same story world.

McGuire has done a wonderful job at continuing the story in this series. I always fear that this 'newest' book will be its last, but so far it has not been true. I am always pleasantly surprised when I hear a new one is coming out, and I wonder where will we go on this ride.

Book 18, The Innocent Sleep, is the same story as told in #17, Sleep No More, except told from Tybalt’s point of view. As I read Sleep No More, I often felt Tybalt was oddly flat- now I know why as he got his own version of the story. Even though I knew how the book was going to end- I still enjoyed seeing the story from Tybalt’s perspective. Maybe I’m just a super fan but still labeling this a great read!

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC- my opinions are my own.

Taking place during the events of Sleep No More, this follows Tybalt, and some of the other characters that we don't see as much during Sleep No More. I thoroughly enjoyed this novella, it was nice to get to know the character of Tybalt in a deeper way, and to see more of the characters that were less present/missing in Sleep No More. It really just makes me impatient for the next novel!

Thank you Netgalley and DAW for the ARC!

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.
The King of Cats and his kingdom broke my heart and I'm truly glad we got an entire book in his POV.

Twice-told tales

In Sleep No More Seanan McGuire tells the story of Toby's fight against Titania's attempt to rewrite all of faerie the way she wants it to be. In Sleep No More this story is told in the first person by Toby herself. The Innocent Sleep tells the same story from the first-person point of view of Toby's husband, Tybalt. (By the way, I assume you have read Sleep No More. If you haven't, this review will contain spoilers.)

McGuire has made rather a habit of writing books in which the essence of the plot and the outcome has been given away prior to publication. For instance, several of the novellas in her Wayward Children series have plots that were thoroughly spoiled in Every Heart a Doorway, the first book of that series. And the most egregious example of this strategy occurs in the Newflesh series (published under her Mira Grant nom de plume). Book four, Feedback, recounts the exact same events as the previous three books, but from the point of view of a different team of reporters.

Of course, McGuire is not the first or most famous of the story-tellers who have used this approach. The idea that a story is different depending on who tells it is valid and often leads to interesting results.

This, in my opinion, is not such a case. Any long-time reader of the October Daye series knows Tybalt quite well and can predict fairly accurately how he will react to the events of Sleep No More. There is a little bit of story that he knows and Toby doesn't, but for the most part the story as told by Tybalt is as a fan of the series would predict. And of course any suspense about outcomes is vitiated by the reader already knowing all the important ones in advance.

Strictly edited, Tybalt's point of view during the events of Sleep No More would have made an excellent bonus novella for that novel. As an entire novel in its own right, it is padded and predictable.

DOUBTLESS AND SECURE

Like all McGuire's novels, The Innocent Sleep is followed by a bonus novella, Doubtless and Secure. Doubtless and Secure is another twice-told tale, but a better one than The Innocent Sleep. It is told from the point of view of Helmi, a Cephali (that's a type of fae that looks like a cephalopod/human chimera). We have long known Helmi as the chief retainer of the Merrow Dianda, the Duchess (i.e., ruling monarch) of the Duchy of Saltmist, an undersea kingdom off the coast of California. We have never heard directly from Helmi before. Also, the story she tells spans centuries and puts together a long list of stories about Dianda, and how she came to be Duchess of Saltmist, and her husbands Patrick and Simon and their children. There is little here that hasn't been told elsewhere, but since much of the tale was scattered in short stories that a reader would have had to seek out, since we've never heard direct from Helmi before, and above all since this is just a novella, and no attempt has been made to stretch it out to a full-length novel, Doubtless and Secure skates clear of the worst problems of The Innocent Sleep.

Such a stunning 18th novel in the October Daye series. Tybalt is finally going to get everything... his wife, his child and happiness finally. But Titania is replacing his world.... He'll have to make his wife remember him all over again....

I have always enjoyed Tybalt and it's nice to see so much of him here! I love the plot and all the little details... A terrific addition to the series!

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.