THE INNOCENT SLEEP - Seanan McGuire

Tybalt, King of Cats, has a perfect life.  Respected by his clan, Tybalt is married to the love of his life - October Daye - a hero of her own time - and they are expecting their first child. A perfect life, that is, until it is ripped away by Titania.

The Mother of Illusions and Queen of Faeries has not been happy with the way things have been going and she does hold a grudge against anyone she feels has wronged her. She has taken control of the Kingdom and altered it to suit her desires. Most in this new reality aren't aware that a change has been made - most, including October - the new reality is as it has always been, as far as they are concerned. But because Titania has no love for Tybalt, she has banished him, and his Court of Cats, from the new reality altogether. Unlike others, for whom reality has simply changed, Tybalt is painfully aware of what he has lost and is determined to get it back.

In my review of the previous October Daye book I noted that the story had taken on a new tone and renewed my own interest in the series.  This book is a follow-up to that story and is quite an interesting departure from what has gone before. The most obvious difference is that this - an October Daye novel - has very little of Toby Daye in it.  This novel is almost exclusively Tybalt's story. And I love it.

What I like is that it's still a about Toby Daye, but because her life has changed so much, the most interesting thing happening in her life is what her husband is doing to get her back.  But going up against Titania isn't easy, and Tybalt also has problems back in his Court that he hasn't had to deal with in a very long time.

It's interesting (and challenging?) that Titania, in all her power, doesn't bring Tybalt and the Court of Cats into the new reality.  Of course leaving anyone out is what brings about her own downfall.

Even though this is a story we just had (book #17), this alternate viewpoint was really interesting to me. I would put this up there as one of my favorites in this series ... but I would NOT want to do this too often.  It was a nice change and it really does show how challenging this world is and how much October means to Tybalt, which is a big part of why I liked it so much.

It was really powerful to get Tybalt's POV as he faces October who has absolutely no recognition for him.

Looking for a good book? The Innocent Sleep by Seanan McGuire is an immediate follow-up (perhaps the same story, just different POV) to the previous volume, Sleep No More, in the October Daye series.  For this reader, it's one of the best of the 18 books.

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

4-1/2 stars

* * * * * *

The Innocent Sleep

author: Seanan McGuire

series: October Daye #18

publisher: DAW Books

ISBN: 9780756416805

hardcover, 368 pages

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