A review by bear_ridge_tarot
Sleep No More by Seanan McGuire

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 October Daye is living a happy life as the second daughter of her pureblood parents. Destined to be the changeling handmaid to her older sister August, October doesn’t question her lot in life. She spends her days working in the family’s tower awaiting the day when her sister sets up her own household and takes October with her. This Faerie is perfect. This Faerie is a lie. 

October has been pulled into a terrible and strong illusion that has torn her from the people who love her and whom she loves. She’s been recast into a docile role of acceptance when in her heart she is a Knight of the realm. She must decide whether she can risk everything she knows is based on this fake Faerie to take back what she currently thinks are only the stories of strangers. 

I was skeptical when I read the beginning of this book. I’d picked it up not knowing what was happening, as if I too had forgotten what occurred in the previous books. But at the center of the book is October Daye, and she is essentially unchanged in personality. She’s still brave, a bit reckless, and completely uncomfortable with bleeding to make things right. It was enjoyable to see how other characters were also changed in this “perfect” cleansed Faerie. I was especially horrified to witness Quinten (in a good way) on how he’d be without Toby’s influence on him. I was devastated for Simon; hasn’t the man suffered enough at the hands of the women he surrounded himself with?!

Overall, the idea was good but the pacing was terrible. Too much hurry up and wait in the middle just to rush the ending and epilogue. I have my doubts about whether the next book which is based on the exact same four months, just from Tyblt’s perspective, is even worth reading.

 
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