Release Day Review: The Innocent Sleep by Seanan McGuire
Series: October Daye #18
Genre: Urban Fantasy
For one bright, shining moment, Tybalt, King of Cats, had everything he had ever wanted. He was soon to set his crown aside; he had married the woman he loved; he was going to be a father. After centuries of searching for a family of his own, he had finally found a way to construct the life of his dreams, and was looking forward to a period of peace—or at least as much peace as is ever in the offing for the husband of a hero.
Alas for Tybalt and his domestic aspirations, fate—and Titania—had other ideas. His perfect world had been complete for only a moment when it was ripped away, to be replaced by hers. Titania, Faerie’s Summer Queen, Mother of Illusions and enemy of so many he holds dear, has seized control of the Kingdom, remaking it in her own image. An image which does not include meddlesome shapeshifters getting in her way. Tybalt quickly finds himself banished from her reality, along with the Undersea and the rest of the Court of Cats.
To protect his people and his future, Tybalt must find the woman he loves in a world designed to keep her from him, convince her that he’s not a stranger trying to ruin her life for no apparent reason, and get her to unmake the illusion she’s been firmly enmeshed in. And he’ll have to do it all while she doesn’t know him, and every unrecognizing look is a knife to his heart.
For Tybalt, King of Cats, the happily ever after was just the beginning.
Alas for Tybalt and his domestic aspirations, fate—and Titania—had other ideas. His perfect world had been complete for only a moment when it was ripped away, to be replaced by hers. Titania, Faerie’s Summer Queen, Mother of Illusions and enemy of so many he holds dear, has seized control of the Kingdom, remaking it in her own image. An image which does not include meddlesome shapeshifters getting in her way. Tybalt quickly finds himself banished from her reality, along with the Undersea and the rest of the Court of Cats.
To protect his people and his future, Tybalt must find the woman he loves in a world designed to keep her from him, convince her that he’s not a stranger trying to ruin her life for no apparent reason, and get her to unmake the illusion she’s been firmly enmeshed in. And he’ll have to do it all while she doesn’t know him, and every unrecognizing look is a knife to his heart.
For Tybalt, King of Cats, the happily ever after was just the beginning.
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
The Innocent Sleep follows Tybalt, King of Cats, who loses his perfect life when Titania, the Summer Queen, takes over. Banished and unrecognized by the woman he loves, he must convince her to see through the illusion and reclaim their reality. The story delves into Tybalt's struggle for a new beginning after his happily ever after is shattered.
I anticipated a completely new storyline following the events of the previous book, Sleep No More. So imagine my surprise when I discovered that it unfolds concurrently, but from Tybalt's viewpoint instead of October's.
The Innocent Sleep pleasantly surprised me, as I'm typically not a fan of revisiting the same story from a different point of view. However, in this case, the characters were apart majority of the book, giving it a fresh feel akin to a new story altogether.
Exploring Tybalt's perspective while October pursued her own path provided a unique depth to the narrative. It was heartbreaking to see Tybalt powerless to make things right. I could feel his frustration in having to wait for some things to fall into place.
The side characters were a highlight, and their dynamic added richness to the tale. Ultimately, I found myself enjoying this book much more than I initially anticipated.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
SEANAN McGUIRE is the author of the October Daye urban fantasy series, the InCryptid series, and other works. She also writes darker fiction as Mira Grant.
Seanan lives in Seattle with her cats, a vast collection of creepy dolls and horror movies, and sufficient books to qualify her as a fire hazard.
She was the winner of the 2010 John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer, and in 2013 she became the first person ever to appear five times on the same Hugo ballot.
No comments: