An Artificial Night

By: Seanan McGuire

Narrated by: Mary Robinette Kowal

Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's Summary

Changeling knight in the court of the Duke of Shadowed Hills, October “Toby” Daye has survived numerous challenges that would destroy fae and mortal alike.

Now Toby must take on a nightmarish new assignment. Someone is stealing both fae and mortal children — and all signs point to Blind Michael. When the young son of Toby’s closest friends is snatched from their Northern California home and his sister falls into a coma-like state, the situation becomes way too personal. Toby has no choice but to track the villains down, even when there are only three magical roads by which to reach Blind Michael’s realm — home of the legendary Wild Hunt — and no road may be taken more than once. If she cannot escape with all the children before the candle that guides and protects her burns away, Toby herself will fall prey to the Wild Hunt and Blind Michael’s inescapable power.

And it doesn’t bode well for the success of her mission that her own personal Fetch, May Daye - the harbinger of Toby’s own death — has suddenly turned up on her doorstep….

©2010 Seanan McGuire (P)2010 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

The Best Fairy Story I've Ever Read

I purchased "An Artificial Night" after listening to the first two books on my iPod. I loved this book! The characters were well developed and the plot was excellent! The book has strong sequencing and the arc of the story was wonderful. I've read many, many SF-F books from all the highly acclaimed authors and this ranks right up with the best of them.

Purchase this title. You'll be glad you did.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Misleading Description Book 2 / Book 3

I thought I had this book already, because the description noted was for Book 2, A Local Habitation, in which Toby investigates January's problems in the Country of Tamed Lightening. This is Book 3, An Artificial Night. Correct description: Toby is dismayed to encounter her frighteningly upbeat Fetch, May Daye, a magical doppelgänger heralding her imminent demise. Hot on its heels comes the discovery that Blind Michael, lord of the Wild Hunt, has kidnapped a number of fae and human children--including several whom Toby considers family--to replenish his riders. Enjoyable addition to the series.

6 of 7 people found this review helpful

Third in Series and Quite Good

By the time I'm writing this the October Daye series has reached at least 7 books so I'm a bit behind, or I've been reading them out of order, which is entirely possible. Except for some references that I had to look up, the book stands alone pretty well. I generally like Seanan McGuire's writing though and I thought this story about children, Fae and human being stolen from their beds is fresh and interesting.

The story opens with October meeting her fetch-- the look alike who appears to someone before her death. The fetch is named May Daye which is painful given the fact that May is the opposite month from October and the use of May Day as code for a distress signal. Then the children of friends of her is stolen and Toby sets out to rescue them.

While it's not the greatest Urban Fantasy I have ever read it is quite good and entertaining.

Mary Robinette Kowal also does a good job with the narration. I found this an engrossing experience.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

There are more heroes than those named...

My personal rating for this novel: PG13 (violence without gore, for the most part)

I like the main character (Toby Day) more and more with each book. She's coming into her own and developing as a character. I REALLY like Tybalt, King of Caith Sith (Sidhe, in some spellings), playing a more prominent role. (Incidentally, my complaints about the narrator are dwindling with each book, and her voice for Tybalt is becoming more mellow and smooth... Much improved!)

I won't go into the plot, as it's written on the audible page, but I will say that the plot, while interesting, does tend to fold back and forth on itself. I like the explanation of the different roads, and
[!!! SPOILER !!! How the three roads affect the outcome !!! UNSPOILER !!!]

I think the definition of a hero in this novel is a little thin, since several of the characters display their own type of heroism in this tale. Toby isn't the only hero of the book, and it's only *fair* to give them their due. Which brings me to the only real problem I have with Toby... This is the second (and maybe the 3rd, not sure I made note in the first novel) book where we find the main character saying, "That's not fair!" Or "I'm doing my best!" quite a bit. I guess it's a pet peeve of mine, but those sound like childish assumptions or excuses to me. (Like when someone says, "it's not my job!") Life really isn't fair, and much of the outcome of these novels is an explanation of how unfair, unbecoming, and difficult life can be. I like that the main character keeps going and going like the Energizer Bunny, no matter what. It's what makes her so loveable, so it goes against her character to keep saying such things. I hope she outgrows it.

I also like that the author has fun with the writing! I laughed out loud during a couple of the chase scenes. The imagery was hilarious! Could not stop laughing. I can see Seanan McGuire becoming one of those authors whose books I read just because I want to see what fun she had in the writing of them. Sometimes I get lost in the story, a world of its own, but when I laugh so hard, I wonder how much fun it would be to write so much humor into existence.

Oh, and my favorite character in this book: Spike!
Recommend!

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Continued Excellence.

I fell in love with the Seanan McGuire / Mary Robinette Kowal pairing from the first book I listened to. Late Eclipses is a continuation of that awesome pairing. Mary's voice characterizations are just fabulous. I hope she reads my books some day.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Something new

A fun book to listen to, a very captivating and well written piece of fiction.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great urban fantasy

I been looking for a good Urban fantasy while I wait for my next Jim Butcher fix. In this 3rd book the author really hit her stride making a great story.
I highly recommend the series if you are a liver of urban fantasy.

repetitive

For me, this one has the weakest plot in the series. Toby, our hero, is more of a hero/damsel in distress as she races off to rescue kidnapped children. This one just dragged with Toby being one of the least interesting characters. May Daye is Toby's fetch/death omen; an unusual character that was underutilized.

Best of the series so far!

Fantastic. best of the series so far. consequences, surprises. much more character development in this one

May's Delightful!

The way the author interprets the fetch myth is impressive and inspiring. Free will rules!