Publisher: DAW
Author: Seanan McGuire
Released: September 7^th, 2010
Received: Own
Warnings: Kidnapping, magical torture/transformation
Rating:

An Artificial Night is the third novel in the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire. And it’s quickly becoming my favorite fae series out there. And I’m a bit of a fae snob, so I feel like that is actually saying something.

In this novel, Toby comes up against a foe much larger than herself. But it’s a fight she can’t turn away from. When children’s games and rhymes have power, you know you’re well into the world of the fae. But is Toby ready for this?

I actually kind of hate myself for not getting into this series sooner. This series has been amazing! And there’s another novel coming out this fall. With any luck I’m going to read the whole series in time to get to the newest!

Warnings: This is the fae we’re talking about. And while they may be beautiful, they are also dark and sometimes willing to do horrible things. In this novel you’ll find abducted children (a fae specialty). Some of those children are magically transformed, in ways that we could argue are abusive and possibly torture.

An Artificial Night was an absolutely amazing – and chilling – read. I loved every moment of it. In fact, I hardly wanted to put it down. I was enchanted by Toby’s quest, and anxious to see how it would all turn out.

The plot for An Artificial Night sucked me in right from the start. Having it begin on such an emotional level really was brilliant. And evil, don’t forget evil. It started the novel off running though. Even if it did leave me anxious about how it was going to turn out. Honestly, I think I would have been a lot more anxious if I didn’t know how much of the series was left waiting for me to read.

There was just so much to love about this novel. The power of children’s games and rhyming songs, the determination Toby carried to resolve the problem. Even the power of three was a force to be reckoned with, in this novel. Though that element may have been a bit more subtle. I appreciated that touch – the repetition added to the tension and the final impact.

I do feel like a lot of the secondary characters got a moment or two to shine in this novel. And even more characters were introduced along the way. I don’t know how major some of the newer characters will end up being, but I have a feeling they’re going to have a role to play in Toby’s life.

I’ll admit that I was surprised by how much I loved Seanan McGuire’s take on the wild hunt. It was more feral and childlike all in one. It was utterly fascinating, and I love that she wasn’t afraid to make them and their ruler as dark as needed. It was exactly the sort of enemy I think Toby needed to face.

A lot changed for Toby over the course of this one novel. And I’ll honestly be curious to see what the long term ramifications for everything will be. Because some of the changes? They’re not small. And I don’t see Seanan McGuire dropping them.

I’m still mad at myself for being so behind on this series. But on the bright side, I can go right on to Late Eclipses now. No waiting required! Wish me luck.