An Artificial Night (October Daye) Mass Market Paperback – September 7, 2010

*** “Just once, I want to meet the villain in a cheerful, brightly lit room. Possibly one with kittens.” ****

Well, Toby I don’t think that is going to happen any time soon or if you did meet the villain in the brightly lit room, it would be because it was on fire and the kittens would still try and eat you or kill you with their 9 inch claws.

I was on the fence with this series. In my last review I compared reading this series to dating and getting to know the series. Our first date (Rosemary and Rue) was okay, there was stuff I liked about it but it was a little dark and depressing. But since it didn’t break any of my no-no rules I decided to October Skye a second date and (A Local Habitation) was even a little better. I wasn’t ready to make out with it or anything but some hand holding was in order. So date #3 (An Artificial Night), that is the tell tell date isn’t. That is the ‘is this going somewhere, or should I just count my losses and just move on???’.

The verdict is in and October Skye and I are officially dating, there might even be a goodnight kiss in the future. But let’s not get crazy I’m not giving up my other books just yet.

This story had a better overall plotline and some very creeptastic happenings. Anytime an omen of you impending death shows up at your door it is never a sign you are about to have a great day.

*** “What the hell are you?”
“A Fetch. Your Fetch, to be exact,” she said. “You know, the spirits that wear your face when they come to escort you to the lands of—”
“—the dead,” I finished. “Little problem: I’m not dead.” ***

Well if that is a good start to our story I don’t know what is. But there is also the case of the missing children that Toby feels inclined to take no matter the personal cost.

Before this book I was enjoying the world more than the actual characters but now I’m totally on team Toby and hope she makes it through the series alive. It seems a little questionable if that is going to happen because I’m with Lily and the Luidaeg that Toby might have a little death wish going on.

*** Are you going to ask why she drugged you?"
"Allright," I said, narrowing my eyes. "Why?"
"Because, dear October, you're the most passively suicidal person I've ever met, and that's saying something. You'll never open your wrists, but you'll run headfirst into hell. You'll have good reasons. You'll have great reasons, even. And a part of you will be praying that you won't come out again.” ***

I tend to like broken things and Toby is a bit broken. But she does always have pretty good intentions even if she gets carried away in them sometimes.

I’m still longing for a little more on the romance front. I’m definitely hoping for some TnT (Toby and Tybalt) to happen but it seems that we still have to go through Conner to get there and his wife (Conner’s not Tybalts) might be an issue as she is crazy and possible a little jealous of Toby. Still it seems like there is some hope on the Tybalt front but as he is something like a cat I’m thinking he is going to toy with us a little first.

*** “I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“What?” I glanced toward him.
“I said, I didn’t mean to upset you. I didn’t realize my absence would be a problem.” His smile widened slightly. “It seemed you were eternally trying to be rid of me.”
“Yeah, well.” I stopped next to the car, taking my clothes out of his hands. “I guess I wasn’t expecting it to be quite that abrupt. Did I piss you off?”
“Piss me off? No. You didn’t. I’ve been . . .” He paused, sighing. “I’ve been looking for someone. There are questions that trouble me and I’d like to find some answers.” ***

Well color me interested in that for sure. I have all kinds of questions in this series and they are only being partially answered sometimes. But I’m sure that is part of the lure of the more major story arc here. The answers are coming slowly but surely.

I didn’t know much about the fae lore surrounding The Hunt and man it was a bit brutal. But the entire plot line with Blind Michael was really amazing and dark and cruel but fascinating none the less. This was the best plot line so far and I find myself becoming more and more interesting in the world and characters. So here is hoping that on our next date I feel like making out a little with Late Eclipses. Here is me hoping for a kiss from a sexy mancat or catman whatever Tybalt is.

If you have read the reviews listed by others, the common theme is the fact that this book is much better than the previous installments. While the first two were worth reading, this one was a page turner. It seems as if the first book was more of a world builder, the second began to show the promise of what it COULD be, and this one grabbed you from chapter 1. If you like urban fantasy, I would give this one a shot.

Originally posted at Vampire Book Club

Toby’s friends Stacy and Mitch enlist Toby’s help in finding two of their children who have gone missing in the night. They also need help figuring out what is affecting their middle daughter, Karen, who seems to have slipped into a coma. Toby is more than willing to find out what happened to the kids, but when she discovers that more Fae, as well as some human children, have also gone missing, she realizes this is bigger than she could ever imagine.

Right away An Artificial Night separates itself from its predecessors by not being a strict mystery. We are told fairly early on that Blind Michael is responsible for the missing children. Blind Michael is a Firstborn of Maeve and Oberon. About once a century he steals children away (both Fae and human alike) to replenish his riders and make them part of his Hunt. He morphs the children into monstrous creatures corrupting their minds until he seems Godlike. There’s no question in Toby’s mind of whether or not she’s going after the children.

An Artificial Night allows for more character development and gives voice to some internal struggles Toby has been facing since coming back from being a fish just a few months before. Toby’s Fetch, May Daye shows up. A Fetch is a being that, when they show up, signals death is coming to that person very soon. Toby knows that going into Blind Michael’s land to retrieve the children could mean her death, yet she goes without a second thought. Her friends are worried about the fact that Toby willingly goes charging into danger at every turn of the road; always narrowly escaping alive. They know with the appearance of May, Toby’s luck may have run out.

This book really shows how much Toby is cared about by her friends and the extended family she’s built over the years. When she lost those fourteen years naturally her life changed once she returned. The human family she had prior want nothing to do with her, thinking she all but abandoned them (she can’t tell them about her Fae side). She literally comes back to nothing, and wants nothing to do with the Fae realm. In a sense she blames that side of herself for the loss her husband and daughter. She has no qualms about risking her own life because she really doesn’t value it. The fight with Blind Michael is a nice metaphor for Toby’s fight with herself. It would be so easy for Toby to give up, see the Fetch as an opportunity or excuse to let everything end. Her friends know, in the end, Toby has to get through Blind Michael’s obstacles on her own. Each time she’s sent back to his lands she must go alone, and alone she must face her fears. She ultimately has to decide what path to take. Depending on what she chooses, may make Toby that much stronger.

Toby isn’t the only one whose life is impacted by Blind Michael’s thievery. Unfortunately, not everyone comes out on top. There will be repercussions from An Artificial Night that I’m sure we’ll see in books to come. So far, An Artificial Night has been the strongest in the series for me and I look forward to reading more.