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An Artificial Night
(October Daye #3)
by
Experience the thrill of the hunt in the third October Daye urban fantasy novel.
October "Toby" Daye is a changeling-half human and half fae-and the only one who has earned knighthood. Now she must take on a nightmarish new challenge. Someone is stealing the children of the fae as well as mortal children, and all signs point to Blind Michael. Toby has no choice but to tra ...more
October "Toby" Daye is a changeling-half human and half fae-and the only one who has earned knighthood. Now she must take on a nightmarish new challenge. Someone is stealing the children of the fae as well as mortal children, and all signs point to Blind Michael. Toby has no choice but to tra ...more
ebook, 352 pages
Published
September 7th 2010
by Penguin Group
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Community Reviews
Showing 1-30
Start your review of An Artificial Night (October Daye #3)
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
4.5 stars
For whatever reason, the third installment is almost always a game changer in an urban fantasy series. Iron Kissed is almost universally acknowledged as being when Mercy Thompson "gets good," Faefever is when Mac finally starts being more kick-ass heroine than TSTL, and Magic Strikes is my favorite UF installment ever.
4.5 stars
For whatever reason, the third installment is almost always a game changer in an urban fantasy series. Iron Kissed is almost universally acknowledged as being when Mercy Thompson "gets good," Faefever is when Mac finally starts being more kick-ass heroine than TSTL, and Magic Strikes is my favorite UF installment ever.
“How many miles to Babylon? It’s threescore miles and ten. Can I get there by candlelight? Aye, and back again. If your feet are...more
May 18, 2016
Anne
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Anne by:
Steven
Ok, Steven...this one wasn't bad at all!

I see some of my friends couldn't get on board with this one, but I feel comfortable planting myself in the group that said this 3d book was a vast improvement in the series. I was sorta meh about the 1st book, and was less-than-meh about the 2nd one, but Ding! Ding! Ding! #3 was a winner for me.

So, in this one Toby goes after a Big Bad that's SO BIG and SO BAD this mission is probably gonna kill her. Like, reallyreallyreally kill her.

But what's a girl go ...more

I see some of my friends couldn't get on board with this one, but I feel comfortable planting myself in the group that said this 3d book was a vast improvement in the series. I was sorta meh about the 1st book, and was less-than-meh about the 2nd one, but Ding! Ding! Ding! #3 was a winner for me.

So, in this one Toby goes after a Big Bad that's SO BIG and SO BAD this mission is probably gonna kill her. Like, reallyreallyreally kill her.

But what's a girl go ...more
Holy repetition, Batman! I'm beyond frustrated with this series. On one hand I love the world and the characters. Her ideas are fantastic, but the way the characters go round and around and back again is ridiculous. How many times can Toby make a trek to the same place? How many times can she almost die? How many times does she have to say she's NOT A HERO? How many times do we have to be told that you're not supposed to say, "thank you," to the fae? Apparently over and over and OVER AGAIN.
So th ...more
So th ...more
Reading with all my other buddy reading addicts at Buddies Books & Baubles
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 ...more
“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 ...more
Ring ring motherfucker, guess who
Its TOBYYYYYYYYY our favorite knight channgeling
Honestly this world is so wondering and interesting. The imagination is actually unique with the hierarchy of fey based on their connection to the land and mythological creatures escpaing to cause chaos in the human world.
These first couple books are some basic intro of learning our MC, the huge world she belongs to, and figurin ...more
Its TOBYYYYYYYYY our favorite knight channgeling
“Now explain why I should let you live.”
“I’m too cute to kill.”
“Try again.”
Honestly this world is so wondering and interesting. The imagination is actually unique with the hierarchy of fey based on their connection to the land and mythological creatures escpaing to cause chaos in the human world.
These first couple books are some basic intro of learning our MC, the huge world she belongs to, and figurin ...more
An Artificial Night (October Daye #3), Seanan McGuire
An Artificial Night is the third installment of October "Toby" Daye series. 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 ...more
An Artificial Night is the third installment of October "Toby" Daye series. 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 ...more
4.25/5
I can wholeheartedly say that An Artificial Night, the third installment in October Daye series, surprised me in a way that I never expected. In fact, I didn’t have high hopes for this one, given that the previous book didn’t impress me much. I even expected Toby to do several stupid things, but thankfully, she didn’t do such things. Anyway, she made some small mistakes but those were minor, which seemed acceptable to me.
A bad day for Toby started with a knock at the door. And when she ope ...more
I can wholeheartedly say that An Artificial Night, the third installment in October Daye series, surprised me in a way that I never expected. In fact, I didn’t have high hopes for this one, given that the previous book didn’t impress me much. I even expected Toby to do several stupid things, but thankfully, she didn’t do such things. Anyway, she made some small mistakes but those were minor, which seemed acceptable to me.
A bad day for Toby started with a knock at the door. And when she ope ...more
Jan 13, 2012
carol.
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
devoted fans of October, devoted FlUF fans
Dear October,
Let me give you some sisterly advice. First, take charge of your life. Admit you are choosing to do what you are doing, not being forced to by Stacy, the Luidaeg, Lily, or Blind Michael, or anyone else. Own it. If you are the only private investigator for the fae, demonstrate some initiative and actually investigate; ask questions and stop acting like a child by whining "tell me, stop giving me riddles!" Since you of all people are constantly telling us such fae generalizations lik ...more
Let me give you some sisterly advice. First, take charge of your life. Admit you are choosing to do what you are doing, not being forced to by Stacy, the Luidaeg, Lily, or Blind Michael, or anyone else. Own it. If you are the only private investigator for the fae, demonstrate some initiative and actually investigate; ask questions and stop acting like a child by whining "tell me, stop giving me riddles!" Since you of all people are constantly telling us such fae generalizations lik ...more
Reread July 2020 4.5 stars
Having now read everything in the series up to date I read this book with fresh eyes because I have a better understanding of Toby’s journey and that of others important to her world. Quentin has to grow up in this book and make tough choices. Toby makes choices I want to slap her for- where is her will to keep safe? Before I took this as Toby just being an annoying character, but now I see this is exactly what makes her a hero: she never gives up. We are also introduce ...more
Having now read everything in the series up to date I read this book with fresh eyes because I have a better understanding of Toby’s journey and that of others important to her world. Quentin has to grow up in this book and make tough choices. Toby makes choices I want to slap her for- where is her will to keep safe? Before I took this as Toby just being an annoying character, but now I see this is exactly what makes her a hero: she never gives up. We are also introduce ...more
Ohh, this one was the most exciting book so far!

Fast paced and fun, that's what you get from this series. And well, so far, people seem to be right. It kind of gets better and better. Can't see what's next! ...more

Fast paced and fun, that's what you get from this series. And well, so far, people seem to be right. It kind of gets better and better. Can't see what's next! ...more
ETA: I've continued reading this series and want to point out I gave books four and five considerably higher ratings. Four stars each.
______________________________________________
“You mean well, but you’ve never been all that bright.”
So the Luidaeg says of Toby, and wow, is she right. She also claims that all heroes are idiots and that October is the most passively suicidal person she’s ever met. The sea witch’s opinions echo my own.
Previous books established Toby as a lousy detective. I’d h ...more
______________________________________________
“You mean well, but you’ve never been all that bright.”
So the Luidaeg says of Toby, and wow, is she right. She also claims that all heroes are idiots and that October is the most passively suicidal person she’s ever met. The sea witch’s opinions echo my own.
Previous books established Toby as a lousy detective. I’d h ...more
Dec 17, 2015
Choko
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
urban-fantasy,
kick-ass-ladies
***4 ***
A buddy read with the coolest UF fans at BB&B!!!
No review - my buddy readers wrote such great reviews, I have nothing extra to say!
Toby, our half Fae-half Human investigator has realy grown on me! She is not very good at her job - she is never prepared for the worst case scenarios, she somehow misses clues, and she tries to keep her distance from the people who love her, and they are usually her biggest help not only in solving cases, but also at keeping her healthy and alive!!!! I mea ...more
A buddy read with the coolest UF fans at BB&B!!!
No review - my buddy readers wrote such great reviews, I have nothing extra to say!
Toby, our half Fae-half Human investigator has realy grown on me! She is not very good at her job - she is never prepared for the worst case scenarios, she somehow misses clues, and she tries to keep her distance from the people who love her, and they are usually her biggest help not only in solving cases, but also at keeping her healthy and alive!!!! I mea ...more
I'm one book away from pronouncing this series my full time obsession. It's just that good. This! This is how you write a fairy world. Gritty, cruel, dark, beautiful and with its own twisted sense of what constitutes as fair.
The only thing missing is Toby and Tybalt finally acting on their attraction and that's something that I think will happen in the next book, or the book after that at most. I'm a patient person when I want to be and for this I am ready to wait. As long as I get what I want.
T ...more
The only thing missing is Toby and Tybalt finally acting on their attraction and that's something that I think will happen in the next book, or the book after that at most. I'm a patient person when I want to be and for this I am ready to wait. As long as I get what I want.
T ...more
So, book three was better. Was it the kind of greatness I was promised and expected? No. But that's okay.
This particular installment weaves in the story of Tam Lin and though I love that story, it didn't make me love the book. The writing, unlike in book two, was much improved. We had a better flow for both the refresher moments and for slipping us into the story itself after the time that has passed since the previous installment. The pacing, everything, it was fine. I was just.. bored.
October ...more
This particular installment weaves in the story of Tam Lin and though I love that story, it didn't make me love the book. The writing, unlike in book two, was much improved. We had a better flow for both the refresher moments and for slipping us into the story itself after the time that has passed since the previous installment. The pacing, everything, it was fine. I was just.. bored.
October ...more
Mar 09, 2016
Jo
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Jo by:
Jessica ❁ ➳ Silverbow ➳ ❁
23/03/2016 Buddy Read with my fellow Daye lovers at BB&B
“He takes them and he binds them. Fae children ride, so they grow strong and fierce; human children are ridden, so they learn the ways of hoof and bridle. And they are changed. Beware Blind Michael’s children, Toby—beware all his children, no matter how honest or honorable they seem. I can’t stop you from trying.
Heroes never listen. That’s why they’re heroes.”
October Daye is once again asked to safe the night. Children, human, change
...more
I have yet to fall in love with this series but I'm determined to continue despite of it! There are so many things I enjoy immensely. I adore all things Fae and fairytales. The world in this is so wonderful and interesting. I love Seanan's imagination. It's mindblowing! Truly.
Her Wayward Children series is fabulous and Incryptid series is one of my favorites EVER💖💖
That being said, I had some issues..
-So much repetition. In everything!
- Back and forth we go in this one xD I was a liiiitle bit f ...more
Her Wayward Children series is fabulous and Incryptid series is one of my favorites EVER💖💖
That being said, I had some issues..
-So much repetition. In everything!
- Back and forth we go in this one xD I was a liiiitle bit f ...more
Oct 23, 2016
Dark Faerie Tales
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
reviewed-by-kristie
Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales
Quick & Dirty: Action-packed urban fantasy where the protagonist learns a huge lesson about her true nature.
Opening Sentence: One thing I’ve learned in my time working as a private investigator-slash-knight errant for the fae community of the San Francisco Bay Area: if something looks like it’s going to be simple, it probably won’t be.
Excerpt: No
The Review:
An Artificial Night is the third in the October “Toby” Daye urban fantasy series by Seanan McGuire. This ...more
Quick & Dirty: Action-packed urban fantasy where the protagonist learns a huge lesson about her true nature.
Opening Sentence: One thing I’ve learned in my time working as a private investigator-slash-knight errant for the fae community of the San Francisco Bay Area: if something looks like it’s going to be simple, it probably won’t be.
Excerpt: No
The Review:
An Artificial Night is the third in the October “Toby” Daye urban fantasy series by Seanan McGuire. This ...more
2.5/5
Okay, so this series is finally getting better. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was miles better than the first two.

I still think the world building is weird and there’s way too many species of fae to remember, but the plot in this one was a lot better. I liked that more of the fae world was involved and I feel like I now have more questions that I want answered, which is a good thing for me as a reader.
The downside was that the pacing was extremely repetitive. Toby had to return ...more
Okay, so this series is finally getting better. I was pleasantly surprised that this book was miles better than the first two.

I still think the world building is weird and there’s way too many species of fae to remember, but the plot in this one was a lot better. I liked that more of the fae world was involved and I feel like I now have more questions that I want answered, which is a good thing for me as a reader.
The downside was that the pacing was extremely repetitive. Toby had to return ...more
4.5 stars
Children both human and faerie are missing. For personal and professional reasons Toby is determined to save them. This quest takes her on a journey to the darker parts of Faerie where powerful fae do demented things to others and are allowed to by the rules of Faerie. On top of all of that, Toby's fetch arrives at her door, meaning that her death is imminent.
It's the characters that make this book. There weren't many scenes with Tybalt, but I loved every minute with him. Every little ...more
Children both human and faerie are missing. For personal and professional reasons Toby is determined to save them. This quest takes her on a journey to the darker parts of Faerie where powerful fae do demented things to others and are allowed to by the rules of Faerie. On top of all of that, Toby's fetch arrives at her door, meaning that her death is imminent.
It's the characters that make this book. There weren't many scenes with Tybalt, but I loved every minute with him. Every little ...more
Apr 16, 2012
Susana
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
urban-fantasy,
2021-re-reads,
2012,
favorites,
dash-of-romance,
seanan-mcguire,
otp,
2021-reads
2021 Re-read
Still one of my faves!
--------------------------------------------------
Amazing story! One of the best urban fantasy books that I've read in a while.
An nightmarish quest, that may just finally be Toby's death.
I love Toby, but she has absolutely no self-preservation instinct, in fact, she borders on the suicidal; but she has this amazing heart that makes her go on, long after all hope is gone.
I love reading about her world, and all her friends, who are so strange, but at the same tim ...more
Still one of my faves!
--------------------------------------------------
Amazing story! One of the best urban fantasy books that I've read in a while.
An nightmarish quest, that may just finally be Toby's death.
I love Toby, but she has absolutely no self-preservation instinct, in fact, she borders on the suicidal; but she has this amazing heart that makes her go on, long after all hope is gone.
I love reading about her world, and all her friends, who are so strange, but at the same tim ...more
Buddy read with the UF maniacs at BB&B
WARNING! UNTAGGED SPOILERS!
Sorry folks I'm too tired to bother. And too annoyed (my Kindle decided to freeze in USB drive mode and most of my books that I wanted to read now are on it).
The third instalment in the October Daye series starts with a bang and then doesn't let you go until the very end. It's darker than it's predecessors and has a strange blend of hope and hopelessness. It was a story of family, friends and lost innocence.
Those familiar with so ...more
WARNING! UNTAGGED SPOILERS!
Sorry folks I'm too tired to bother. And too annoyed (my Kindle decided to freeze in USB drive mode and most of my books that I wanted to read now are on it).
The third instalment in the October Daye series starts with a bang and then doesn't let you go until the very end. It's darker than it's predecessors and has a strange blend of hope and hopelessness. It was a story of family, friends and lost innocence.
Those familiar with so ...more
Mar 15, 2016
Wanda
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
public-library,
female-authors,
read-in-2016,
urban-fantasy,
favourites,
fantasy,
fae-fairy
I’m not sure why I find this series so charming—I think it is because I absolutely adore the world of the Fae that McGuire has created here. I love how complex it is, how many kinds of fae entities exist in it, and learning the rules that govern it.
I’m hoping that the main character, Toby, improves over the arc of the series. I’m tired of her refusing to use a perfectly serviceable brain (although if she experiences too much more head trauma, I’m not sure that it will remain intact). I’m tired o ...more
I’m hoping that the main character, Toby, improves over the arc of the series. I’m tired of her refusing to use a perfectly serviceable brain (although if she experiences too much more head trauma, I’m not sure that it will remain intact). I’m tired o ...more
Don't get me wrong, this novel has its flaws but the imaginative setting, the action scenes, the clever use of the sidhe mythology, the badass faeries and the intensive plots totally suck me in! I'm off to read more books from this series ASAP!
Review for the first book in the series: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more
Review for the first book in the series: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... ...more
Sep 11, 2021
Namera [The Literary Invertebrate]
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
serial
This one gets props for an excellently spooky premise, perfect for reading on Halloween.
How many miles to Babylon?
Three score miles and ten.
Can I get there by candle-light?
Yes, and back again.
If your heels are nimble and your toes are light,
You may get there and back by candle-light.
Someone is stealing children, and it's up to Toby to get them back. Even though the book was insanely gripping, I had to give it three stars for Toby's sheer level of self-sacrifice. She thinks EVERYTHING is her pro ...more
How many miles to Babylon?
Three score miles and ten.
Can I get there by candle-light?
Yes, and back again.
If your heels are nimble and your toes are light,
You may get there and back by candle-light.
Someone is stealing children, and it's up to Toby to get them back. Even though the book was insanely gripping, I had to give it three stars for Toby's sheer level of self-sacrifice. She thinks EVERYTHING is her pro ...more
Man. This series just keeps getting better!
It’s still set up like a crime-of-the-week series, but with more folk / fantasy elements — especially in this book. Toby is on a hero’s quest to take down a firstborn. Some bits remind me of mythology, like a demigod (Kratos perhaps) setting off to take on an impossible battle with a god (in Kratos’ case, Ares). Other elements remind me of Grimm; not that I have any true familiarity with it, but the kidnapping of children to be brainwashed and join a Ri ...more
It’s still set up like a crime-of-the-week series, but with more folk / fantasy elements — especially in this book. Toby is on a hero’s quest to take down a firstborn. Some bits remind me of mythology, like a demigod (Kratos perhaps) setting off to take on an impossible battle with a god (in Kratos’ case, Ares). Other elements remind me of Grimm; not that I have any true familiarity with it, but the kidnapping of children to be brainwashed and join a Ri ...more
The latest book prompted me for a re-read and being contrary I started here on book three. Toby was always a hero, but there is something about the time before she’s fully accepted it that I love. Toby is tasked with finding missing Faerie and human children which sends her to the land of a mad first born who steals children to man his Hunt. And to make things worse before she sets off on this mission her personal Fetch (the harbinger that comes to prepare one for their death) May Daye has arriv
...more
Oct 15, 2012
Heidi
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites,
2012-favorites
4.5 Stars
An Artificial Night, Seanan McGuire’s third installment in the October Daye series is the strongest appearance of Toby yet, with a surprising plot that careens more toward the fantasy than the urban. Drawing as ever from Celtic mythology, McGuire takes this opportunity to introduce us to the Wild Hunt–a nightmarish tradition among the fae that helps to remind us that fairy tales and their heroes are most real in the minds of children.
How many miles to Babylon?
Three-score and ten.
Can I g ...more
An Artificial Night, Seanan McGuire’s third installment in the October Daye series is the strongest appearance of Toby yet, with a surprising plot that careens more toward the fantasy than the urban. Drawing as ever from Celtic mythology, McGuire takes this opportunity to introduce us to the Wild Hunt–a nightmarish tradition among the fae that helps to remind us that fairy tales and their heroes are most real in the minds of children.
How many miles to Babylon?
Three-score and ten.
Can I g ...more
Oct 11, 2017
Rachael (RedRchlReads)
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
2017-reads
5 Stars!
Of course I'm writing this review right now because I decided it's time to read the fourth book. So...here we go!
It's official - I love this series. An Artificial Night is a HUGE improvement over A Local Habitation, which I did not particularly like, and is even better than the first book, Rosemary and Rue, which I loved. The worldbuilding just keeps expanding, growing deeper and more rich with each passing story, and I loved diving back into the world and characters.
This story takes on ...more
Of course I'm writing this review right now because I decided it's time to read the fourth book. So...here we go!
It's official - I love this series. An Artificial Night is a HUGE improvement over A Local Habitation, which I did not particularly like, and is even better than the first book, Rosemary and Rue, which I loved. The worldbuilding just keeps expanding, growing deeper and more rich with each passing story, and I loved diving back into the world and characters.
This story takes on ...more
🔫 "It's Daye season!" BR with the MacHalo Asylum
*loads hunting rifle* 🔫
Great! Vast improvement from the previous two.
So. Much. Foreshadowing!!!
Can't wait for the next one!
*loads hunting rifle* 🔫
I’m not a miracle worker; I’m just a half-blood with a talent for not getting killed. So far. The problems start when people assume that if I can survive, I can do anything. I wish they were right. It would make my life a lot easier.
@12%
Great! Vast improvement from the previous two.
So. Much. Foreshadowing!!!
Can't wait for the next one!
It all felt like the setup for a bad joke. Purebloods, changelings, a Fetch, and th...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nothing But Readi...: McGuire,Seanan--An Artificial Night informal buddy reads starts August 15, 2018 | 45 | 154 | Sep 03, 2018 06:08AM | |
| SF/F Read Alongs: An Artificial Night (October Daye #3) | 37 | 21 | May 01, 2016 09:02AM |
Hi! I'm Seanan McGuire, author of the Toby Daye series (Rosemary and Rue, A Local Habitation, An Artificial Night, Late Eclipses), as well as a lot of other things. I'm also Mira Grant (www.miragrant.com), author of Feed and Deadline.
Born and raised in Northern California, I fear weather and am remarkably laid-back about rattlesnakes. I watch too many horror movies, read too many comic books, and ...more
Born and raised in Northern California, I fear weather and am remarkably laid-back about rattlesnakes. I watch too many horror movies, read too many comic books, and ...more
Other books in the series
October Daye
(1 - 10 of 18 books)
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“Just once, I want to meet the villain in a cheerful, brightly lit room. Possibly one with kittens.”
—
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“Who would come for her?" he snarled, rallying.
Behind me, a voice shouted, "Tybalt, King of Cats. My claim precedes yours.”
—
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More quotes…
Behind me, a voice shouted, "Tybalt, King of Cats. My claim precedes yours.”















