I got to read two October Daye books basically at once. Thanks so much Seanan McGuire for doing that just for me personally for this my birthday (I am in no way responsible for any of this).
October Daye is a changeling living in the fair queen Titania’s perfect faerie court. She lives safely nestled in her beloved family’s tower, which is more than most changelings get and October is very grateful for her privilege. Though she and her sister do have to keep chasing that annoying cat away from their garden. Everything is good. Everything is right. Everything is a lie.
These two stories are basically the same series of events being told from two different perspectives. Sleep No More is October’s journey from inside an elaborate illusion back out to her reality. The Innocent Sleep is Tybalt zooming in, out, and all around trying to figure out how best to help.
As these are books 17 and 18 in the series this is not really the place to jump in. You could probably go back a book or two and catch up to this spot but I highly recommend the entire series. I’ve reread it many times by now and McGuire is fantastic at catching you up quickly in each new book without bogging you down. Seeing Toby grow into the agent of chaos we all love and let her guard down for her chosen family over the course of the series is a beautiful feeling. After following the characters since around 2009 (!?!?) they feel like old friends that I just want the best for. The Luidaeg is obviously my favorite, best sea witch ever! **I’ve also got Thoughts about Maeve and if I am proven right will become completely insufferable. I’m quite looking forward to it. You’ve been warned.