The last volume of the October Daye series (Sleep No More) cooled my love of these books somewhat (despite my irrational loyalty to the authors I love). Although I eventually enjoyed that book, I had no idea why McGuire would write the same story again from Tybalt's point of view. Perhaps because I've had a long break, this installment pleased me the way all the older volumes did. Tybalt made a powerful narrator.
Separated from his new wife, who has just informed him of her pregnancy, Tybalt is beside himself. He wakes in the Court of Dreaming Cats, where all except the royals are confined. The Shadow Roads are closed to those non-royal. There are food and hygiene problems that Tybalt's heir Raj and regent Ginevra have been struggling to deal with. Responsible for both his court and his wife, the King of Cats must work smart and hard to solve things.
I knew from the previous book that they were fighting a massive illusion, put in place by Titania, who has made over Faerie to suit her prejudices. Tybalt starts to chart the edges of the illusion and to gather allies, just as October would if she knew who she is/was. During this mission, he gets clonked on the head in true October fashion, and reflects, My last coherent thought was that I would need to apologize to October: it was much more difficult to carry out heroism-adjacent acts without being knocked insensate than I had ever anticipated.
Now I am caught up and can begin to optimistically anticipate Silver and Lead.
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