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October Daye #11.1
Of Things Unknown
A tale from the perspective of April O'Leary, an electronic dryad and Countess of Tamed Lightning. After events several years back where a number of murders occurred, including that of April's mother, it looks as though there may be a way to bring those whose bodies the Night Haunts refused to take back to life. It's a hope rather than a definite, but it leads to questions from April. If they can be brought back, why can't her mother. April isn't going to let such a small thing as a lack of a body restrict her. After all, she's a Dryad without a tree who lives in the connections of the software of Tamed Lightning. If anyone knows about not having a body, it's her.
61 pages, Unknown Binding
First published September 1, 2016
4 people are currently reading
732 people want to read
About the author
Seanan McGuire
507 books17.1k followersHi! 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 share my house with two monsters in feline form, Lilly and Alice (Siamese and Maine Coon).
I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(
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 share my house with two monsters in feline form, Lilly and Alice (Siamese and Maine Coon).
I do not check this inbox. Please don't send me messages through Goodreads; they won't be answered. I don't want to have to delete this account. :(
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
November 2, 2022
Interesting twist...
May 3, 2020
In most ways this was achingly sad. But with a happy ending.
December 18, 2019
Glad to read the story of April--the first and only cyber-faerie! I'm glad that in the end.
and do allow me to pimp my Christmas drawing here:
and do allow me to pimp my Christmas drawing here:
July 1, 2024
It is always interesting to explore other characters in a well-developed world other than the main character and McGuire does that often in her short stories. In this one, not only do we get to know a little bit more about April O'Leary but we also get to see what happens to those dead bodies that are laying undecaying in Tamed Lighting and the spirits in stasis in a computer network. Only in the world of magic could such things happen.
I only wish that the aftermath of this story would be addressed somewhere. Even in fae, the dead don't come back to living that often and there are repercussions.
I only wish that the aftermath of this story would be addressed somewhere. Even in fae, the dead don't come back to living that often and there are repercussions.
January 31, 2020
APRIL.
March 8, 2021
It’s virtually impossible to pick a favourite book with so very many exceptional works in this series, but the sheer poetic imagery beginning with the very first sentence of this novella? It’s really going to stick with me. “The world sang in a coruscating curtain of colours.” That is just superb.
April 20, 2023
Primary theme is maternal loss, but magic makes it better.
October 14, 2019
A lovely little novella giving some final closure to the locked doors murder mystery of A Local Habitation. April O'Leary is an interesting character, being a Dryad housed in an electronic form after the death of her forest and her adoption by January O'Leary; who also saved her life. She played a pivotal part in lead up to end game of the killing spree, even if by accident, ignorance and naivity. Since then, April has inherited the Countship and has had to juggle responsibilities and roles that it isn't really in the nature of the Dryad to do. This is a really intriguing little tale, because the way April looks on the world is very different to how living, breathing entities do. At the end of the day, she is part of a system and she sees the world in terms of hardware and software; to die is to be offline for example and her way of describing Toby is wonderful:
Sir October Daye is a knight errant of the realm. She is an irregular command in the code, a roving antivirus entering compromised systems and repairing what she can before moving on to the next crisis.
So why should it seem impossible to April to bring the dead back to life? The world looks very different through the eyes of a computer Dryad. Especially one as confused in her identity as April, who is desperately trying to be grown up for the sake of the County, but in reality still feels like a child. Despite the difference in outlooks, the sense of grief felt by the fae with bodies and the one without feel very real here, particularly with the aftershocks of grief, regardless of how appropriate. More importantly still, the reverberations for this series are going to be absolutely huge and I'm interested to see where it goes from here.
It should go without saying that this book should definitely not be read before the end of A Local Habitation for the sake of spoilers. I would strongly suggest not reading before A Red-Rose Chain as the more observant of readers will find more spoilers than they might care for, although less directly obvious.
Sir October Daye is a knight errant of the realm. She is an irregular command in the code, a roving antivirus entering compromised systems and repairing what she can before moving on to the next crisis.
So why should it seem impossible to April to bring the dead back to life? The world looks very different through the eyes of a computer Dryad. Especially one as confused in her identity as April, who is desperately trying to be grown up for the sake of the County, but in reality still feels like a child. Despite the difference in outlooks, the sense of grief felt by the fae with bodies and the one without feel very real here, particularly with the aftershocks of grief, regardless of how appropriate. More importantly still, the reverberations for this series are going to be absolutely huge and I'm interested to see where it goes from here.
It should go without saying that this book should definitely not be read before the end of A Local Habitation for the sake of spoilers. I would strongly suggest not reading before A Red-Rose Chain as the more observant of readers will find more spoilers than they might care for, although less directly obvious.
May 14, 2025
This was a delight to read so soon after reading book 2, which is closely linked to this one, and I enjoyed it so much again!
*Third Read June 18th, 2023*
Loved reading this story, of April dealing with the consequences of her past choices, and it was a fantastic read!
*Second Read July 31st, 2018*
It was a great novella, loved the solutions! Both of these dealt with everything that was kinda left in previous books! So great to read! I need more!
*First Read June 27th, 2017*
Loved being in April's POV, and such a great story! Really enjoyed how it took things from the 2nd book and dealt with them! So great, and I can't wait for more of this series!
*Third Read June 18th, 2023*
Loved reading this story, of April dealing with the consequences of her past choices, and it was a fantastic read!
*Second Read July 31st, 2018*
It was a great novella, loved the solutions! Both of these dealt with everything that was kinda left in previous books! So great to read! I need more!
*First Read June 27th, 2017*
Loved being in April's POV, and such a great story! Really enjoyed how it took things from the 2nd book and dealt with them! So great, and I can't wait for more of this series!
January 31, 2021
Read after the previous book, of course. I need to check my dates. I really like this one - techno-Dryad April effectively comes into her own even while some could say she takes a step backward, and this mini-plot is very important to the future of the series. I also loved seeing from her perspective as we do here.
I could, however, wish that Seanan had mentioned what happened here a little more clearly when making reference to the end result in books 12 and 13, as it's potentially very confusing for anyone who hasn't read this short story. Do read it, if you get a chance.
I could, however, wish that Seanan had mentioned what happened here a little more clearly when making reference to the end result in books 12 and 13, as it's potentially very confusing for anyone who hasn't read this short story. Do read it, if you get a chance.
January 27, 2022
A Scatterbrained CyberDryad
Of Things Unknown is the bonus novella included with The Brightest Fell. The story is unrelated to The Brightest Fell, however. It harks back to A Local Habitation.
In Rosemary and Rue Toby remarks off-hand, "I expect the first pureblood who figures out what a computer is for to have a fascinating time of it." Toby is more often a subject of prophecy than a purveyor, but this instance is the exception. That first pureblood to figure out computers was January ap Learianth, generally known as Jan O'Leary. (Seriously, what is it with Seanan McGuire using the names of months as girls' names? Who does that?) We met Jan in A Local Habitation. (She also appears in some of McGuire's October Daye short fiction) as the founder and head of a computer company ALH computing, which is basically "computers for fae".
I really liked Jan. All fae use magic, but they are magic-takers, in the sense that they use spells that others worked out. Jan is a magic-maker. She uses information technology to do impossible magical things. The most striking of her impossible feats was to rescue a dryad whose tree had been cut down and somehow bring her to life in a server, thus creating a cyberdryad April (again with the month names!), whom she adopted as her daughter. Jan got murdered in A Local Habitation, and April thus inherited her county. She is now the Countess of Tamed Lightning. We saw her in Once Broken Faith exercising her responsibilities as a fae noblewoman by attending Aethlin's convocation.
I really liked Jan. This story is told from April's point of view, and is mostly about coping with her grief over the loss of her mother Jan. Unfortunately, I don't like April as much as Jan. I love the idea of April the cyberdryad. But in practice her personality is off-putting. Still, she does, like Jan, show herself willing to attempt the impossible. And that's all I will say about that.
Of Things Unknown is the bonus novella included with The Brightest Fell. The story is unrelated to The Brightest Fell, however. It harks back to A Local Habitation.
In Rosemary and Rue Toby remarks off-hand, "I expect the first pureblood who figures out what a computer is for to have a fascinating time of it." Toby is more often a subject of prophecy than a purveyor, but this instance is the exception. That first pureblood to figure out computers was January ap Learianth, generally known as Jan O'Leary. (Seriously, what is it with Seanan McGuire using the names of months as girls' names? Who does that?) We met Jan in A Local Habitation. (She also appears in some of McGuire's October Daye short fiction) as the founder and head of a computer company ALH computing, which is basically "computers for fae".
I really liked Jan. All fae use magic, but they are magic-takers, in the sense that they use spells that others worked out. Jan is a magic-maker. She uses information technology to do impossible magical things. The most striking of her impossible feats was to rescue a dryad whose tree had been cut down and somehow bring her to life in a server, thus creating a cyberdryad April (again with the month names!), whom she adopted as her daughter. Jan got murdered in A Local Habitation, and April thus inherited her county. She is now the Countess of Tamed Lightning. We saw her in Once Broken Faith exercising her responsibilities as a fae noblewoman by attending Aethlin's convocation.
I really liked Jan. This story is told from April's point of view, and is mostly about coping with her grief over the loss of her mother Jan. Unfortunately, I don't like April as much as Jan. I love the idea of April the cyberdryad. But in practice her personality is off-putting. Still, she does, like Jan, show herself willing to attempt the impossible. And that's all I will say about that.
April 10, 2025
A Captivating Short Story
The short story at the end of "The Brightest Fell" is a delightful addition to the October Daye series. Told from April O'Leary's perspective, it ties back into the events of "A Local Habitation" and offers a fresh viewpoint on the world of Toby Daye.
A Poetic and Intriguing Tale
The story begins with a stunning sentence: "The world sang in a coruscating curtain of colours." This poetic imagery sets the tone for a narrative that explores April's unique perspective as a Dryad housed in an electronic form. Her experiences and observations are fascinating, particularly her views on life, death, and the world around her.
A Different Worldview
As a computer Dryad, April sees the world through the lens of hardware and software. Her descriptions of Toby are especially noteworthy, portraying her as an "irregular command in the code, a roving antivirus entering compromised systems and repairing what she can before moving on to the next crisis." This perspective adds a rich layer of depth to the story and highlights the complexities of April's identity.
Grief and Reverberations
The story also explores the theme of grief, both for the fae with bodies and those without. The aftershocks of grief are palpable, and the reverberations for the series are significant. I'm eager to see where the story goes from here and how the consequences of April's past choices will unfold.
A Must-Read for Fans
If you're a fan of the October Daye series, this short story is a must-read. However, I strongly advise reading it after completing "A Local Habitation" and "A Red-Rose Chain" to avoid spoilers. The story is a fantastic addition to the series, and I look forward to more adventures with April and the rest of the characters.
The short story at the end of "The Brightest Fell" is a delightful addition to the October Daye series. Told from April O'Leary's perspective, it ties back into the events of "A Local Habitation" and offers a fresh viewpoint on the world of Toby Daye.
A Poetic and Intriguing Tale
The story begins with a stunning sentence: "The world sang in a coruscating curtain of colours." This poetic imagery sets the tone for a narrative that explores April's unique perspective as a Dryad housed in an electronic form. Her experiences and observations are fascinating, particularly her views on life, death, and the world around her.
A Different Worldview
As a computer Dryad, April sees the world through the lens of hardware and software. Her descriptions of Toby are especially noteworthy, portraying her as an "irregular command in the code, a roving antivirus entering compromised systems and repairing what she can before moving on to the next crisis." This perspective adds a rich layer of depth to the story and highlights the complexities of April's identity.
Grief and Reverberations
The story also explores the theme of grief, both for the fae with bodies and those without. The aftershocks of grief are palpable, and the reverberations for the series are significant. I'm eager to see where the story goes from here and how the consequences of April's past choices will unfold.
A Must-Read for Fans
If you're a fan of the October Daye series, this short story is a must-read. However, I strongly advise reading it after completing "A Local Habitation" and "A Red-Rose Chain" to avoid spoilers. The story is a fantastic addition to the series, and I look forward to more adventures with April and the rest of the characters.
September 10, 2021
This is one of my favorite novellas in the series. It's fun to see things from April's perspective. However, I have questions (which will, with any luck, be answered someday in subsequent novels or novellas*):
1. What did Li Qin pay the Luidaeg to learn the "old blood magic ritual?" Do you think it's similar to the payment/promise Arden made to the Luidaeg to maintain her position for a century and stabilize the region? Li Qin holds Dreamer's Glass.
2. What were the repercussions to Li Qin bending the luck to work the blood magic ritual? What was the fallout, and when will it hit them? (October got disemboweled fairly quickly when Li Qin was bending October's luck to chase Chelsea.)
3. Most of all, I want to know, what happens to Colin the Selkie after this resurrection? (In the second novel, A Local Habitation, his Selkie skin was separated from his corpse and burnt up in a car explosion. Would he be human or fae when he was reawakened without a Selkie skin? His inert body had still had webbed fingers and browned eyes. Maybe the magic of the skin went along with his "vitality," magic/soul/memories, into the data storage?... so the skin's demise prevented other characters from learning that its magic and ability to pass it on to another Selkie-in-waiting was gone, anyway, prior to the portcullis incident and car fire?)
*Note: I've read all the novels up until this point and am eagerly awaiting the newest novel and novella being released next week: When Sorrows Come. This is supposed to include the big wedding, though, and plots to overthrow the high king, so I'm doubting it will answer these questions. Maybe the novella will, though? No info on that yet!
1. What did Li Qin pay the Luidaeg to learn the "old blood magic ritual?" Do you think it's similar to the payment/promise Arden made to the Luidaeg to maintain her position for a century and stabilize the region? Li Qin holds Dreamer's Glass.
2. What were the repercussions to Li Qin bending the luck to work the blood magic ritual? What was the fallout, and when will it hit them? (October got disemboweled fairly quickly when Li Qin was bending October's luck to chase Chelsea.)
3. Most of all, I want to know, what happens to Colin the Selkie after this resurrection? (In the second novel, A Local Habitation, his Selkie skin was separated from his corpse and burnt up in a car explosion. Would he be human or fae when he was reawakened without a Selkie skin? His inert body had still had webbed fingers and browned eyes. Maybe the magic of the skin went along with his "vitality," magic/soul/memories, into the data storage?... so the skin's demise prevented other characters from learning that its magic and ability to pass it on to another Selkie-in-waiting was gone, anyway, prior to the portcullis incident and car fire?)
*Note: I've read all the novels up until this point and am eagerly awaiting the newest novel and novella being released next week: When Sorrows Come. This is supposed to include the big wedding, though, and plots to overthrow the high king, so I'm doubting it will answer these questions. Maybe the novella will, though? No info on that yet!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2023
Three and a half stars
There is an aura of deep grief and sadness that pervades this story and it’s well done but really hard to read. There’s a nice ending but there’s some pain getting there, especially for someone like me who lost her daughter. Some excellent ethical questions were brought up that really made me think and I believe my choice would have been different but I don’t know.
Technology is not the author’s skill. The book where these characters were introduced, two or three I think, is probably my least favorite of the series. McGuire takes a lot of artistic license with the technology aspects and that’s fine. But glaring errors that are unnecessary and clearly are due to lack of knowledge are harder for me. I’m too much of a techie to suspend my disbelief when someone tries to save an old laptop battery by plugging in a usb cord, I falter. A simple run by a hardware repair person or even your basic entry-level tech support person would have caught this and other hardware issues and had them made plausible with a few extra sentences.
The other issue I had was the which in every other fantasy novel has unacceptable consequences. I felt uncomfortable with this. It brought up other questions I’ve had from science fiction novels which is only mentioned here in one short sentence.
So while it was fairly well written there were some serious problems I think. Still, a big fan of the series should still enjoy it. I wouldn’t recommend it as a stand-alone though.
There is an aura of deep grief and sadness that pervades this story and it’s well done but really hard to read. There’s a nice ending but there’s some pain getting there, especially for someone like me who lost her daughter. Some excellent ethical questions were brought up that really made me think and I believe my choice would have been different but I don’t know.
Technology is not the author’s skill. The book where these characters were introduced, two or three I think, is probably my least favorite of the series. McGuire takes a lot of artistic license with the technology aspects and that’s fine. But glaring errors that are unnecessary and clearly are due to lack of knowledge are harder for me. I’m too much of a techie to suspend my disbelief when someone tries to save an old laptop battery by plugging in a usb cord, I falter. A simple run by a hardware repair person or even your basic entry-level tech support person would have caught this and other hardware issues and had them made plausible with a few extra sentences.
The other issue I had was the which in every other fantasy novel has unacceptable consequences. I felt uncomfortable with this. It brought up other questions I’ve had from science fiction novels which is only mentioned here in one short sentence.
So while it was fairly well written there were some serious problems I think. Still, a big fan of the series should still enjoy it. I wouldn’t recommend it as a stand-alone though.
June 28, 2022
The focus of this story is April O'Leary. April was used as a pawn to kill several members of her mother's company/kingdom. Toby was called in to help solve the mystery of the first death. Sadly she was not able to prevent some other deaths from happening, including that of April's mother, January.
Now, April's other mother, Li Qin, has come to her with a quest to bring back to life all of those killed, except January. Li Qin doesn't believe January can be brought back because they do not have her body.
April however, has other ideas. When she is reviewing the information Li Qin has provided her regarding the resurrections she realizes something. The killer may have lied to her. Her mother's essence may be backed up. If her mother's essence exists and Li Qin's plan works for the others, all April needs is her mother's body to resurrect her as well.
She turns to the night haunts, as Toby once did before her, she asks them to create her mother's body from blood January had donated. Surprisingly the night haunts agree.
Now, if Toby will agree to help with this blood ritual of resurrection, April may be able to absolver herself of the guilt she feels over being used as she once was. Toby agrees to try and happily the plan is successful. And, Toby doesn't have to sleep for seven years after the ritual!
Now, April's other mother, Li Qin, has come to her with a quest to bring back to life all of those killed, except January. Li Qin doesn't believe January can be brought back because they do not have her body.
April however, has other ideas. When she is reviewing the information Li Qin has provided her regarding the resurrections she realizes something. The killer may have lied to her. Her mother's essence may be backed up. If her mother's essence exists and Li Qin's plan works for the others, all April needs is her mother's body to resurrect her as well.
She turns to the night haunts, as Toby once did before her, she asks them to create her mother's body from blood January had donated. Surprisingly the night haunts agree.
Now, if Toby will agree to help with this blood ritual of resurrection, April may be able to absolver herself of the guilt she feels over being used as she once was. Toby agrees to try and happily the plan is successful. And, Toby doesn't have to sleep for seven years after the ritual!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2021
It's time to dive back into the world of October Daye! Of Things Unknown is another short from this world, and it takes place after The Brightest Fell (it is also included with it, so it shouldn't be hard to find).
April O'Leary is an oddity, even among the fae. I won't go into the details of how she is different, as those that haven't read The Brightest Fell will find those details to be a spoiler. (Here is your notice to go read the book!).
I find her character to be endearing, which in itself should probably be considered an oddity among the fae. So I guess that's one spoiler-free detail I can mention. This is a short that was sorely needed, as it added a sense of closure, not just to the novel it follows but to April's story as well. And yes, it did make me like her all the more.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks>
April O'Leary is an oddity, even among the fae. I won't go into the details of how she is different, as those that haven't read The Brightest Fell will find those details to be a spoiler. (Here is your notice to go read the book!).
I find her character to be endearing, which in itself should probably be considered an oddity among the fae. So I guess that's one spoiler-free detail I can mention. This is a short that was sorely needed, as it added a sense of closure, not just to the novel it follows but to April's story as well. And yes, it did make me like her all the more.
Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks>
November 15, 2023
This novella breaks the short story rule! It's pretty much a MUST READ for the series--maybe not for any major reveals or long-term continuity, but an event we've long been waiting for finally happens--resulting in the return of several characters--and it is NOT something to miss! Read it after The Brightest Fell--lucky eyereaders have it included.
For the story itself--I really liked being able to see into April's mind. I can identify a lot with her logical way of thinking and it was interesting seeing her processes and get a little bit of her history. There are a lot of nods to earlier parts in the series too, but I didn't notice much in the way of juicy secrets. The story had a nice arc to it and was largely forward-moving plot focused. I gobbled it right up.
For the story itself--I really liked being able to see into April's mind. I can identify a lot with her logical way of thinking and it was interesting seeing her processes and get a little bit of her history. There are a lot of nods to earlier parts in the series too, but I didn't notice much in the way of juicy secrets. The story had a nice arc to it and was largely forward-moving plot focused. I gobbled it right up.
August 31, 2020
Story in The Brightest Fell.
A fascinating look at April the cyberdryad. McGuire makes it very obvious that April is unlike anyone else, bound as she is by electricity and coding. April is such a logic-driven, efficiency-loving creature. At the same time - and much to her own consternation - she's also her mothers' daughter. It's that aspect of her that makes her far more relatable than I ever imagined.
I'm thankful that the majority of the Toby-verse shorts appear alongside a primary installment or are available on the author's website. Are they absolutely vital to understanding the greater tale? No. But they add such marvelous bittersweet layers to the personalities we've encountered, enhancing the world as a whole.
A fascinating look at April the cyberdryad. McGuire makes it very obvious that April is unlike anyone else, bound as she is by electricity and coding. April is such a logic-driven, efficiency-loving creature. At the same time - and much to her own consternation - she's also her mothers' daughter. It's that aspect of her that makes her far more relatable than I ever imagined.
I'm thankful that the majority of the Toby-verse shorts appear alongside a primary installment or are available on the author's website. Are they absolutely vital to understanding the greater tale? No. But they add such marvelous bittersweet layers to the personalities we've encountered, enhancing the world as a whole.
September 14, 2021
By the standards of Faerie, Arden Windermere is little more than a child. Yet, despite her youth, she has already lost almost everything of importance: her parents, her brother, the life she expected to lead, the life she built for herself out of the ashes. Now Queen in the Mists, she is still struggling to find a place to stand. It seems impossible. And yet...
When circumstances present her with the chance to have her brother back again, is there any chance she can refuse? But when that restoration proves to come with a terrible price, is there any chance that just this once, she can win?
Heather's Notes
Enjoyed this story.
When circumstances present her with the chance to have her brother back again, is there any chance she can refuse? But when that restoration proves to come with a terrible price, is there any chance that just this once, she can win?
Heather's Notes
Enjoyed this story.
February 14, 2023
An offshoot novella found at the end of the October Daye book #11 The Brightest Fell’: print and eBook. It’s from the POV of April O’Leary, a fae Dryad who was ‘transplanted’ into a computer by the Countess of the small county of Tamed Lightening.
Upon her ‘mother’s’ death, April is now the Countess and tasked to run the computer company that is the county’s main business. But they still have a problem leftover from the circumstances of Duchess January’s death, and her widow wants to call in Toby to help.
Interesting answers to our questions about how she is able to live as she is and her thoughts on the situation.
Fave scene: Li Qin’s library file room.
Upon her ‘mother’s’ death, April is now the Countess and tasked to run the computer company that is the county’s main business. But they still have a problem leftover from the circumstances of Duchess January’s death, and her widow wants to call in Toby to help.
Interesting answers to our questions about how she is able to live as she is and her thoughts on the situation.
Fave scene: Li Qin’s library file room.
December 1, 2020
Holy poop! So good!
I don’t know by I skipped over this novella in my first series read through, but my goodness—as da as “tying up loose ends” novellas go..it’s perfection.
April has always been the most intriguing character to me, and January was always such a huge loss. I feel like the ppl in the freezer were checkhovs corpses or something?
But I love this series and I love discovering so,etching new in a reread!
I don’t know by I skipped over this novella in my first series read through, but my goodness—as da as “tying up loose ends” novellas go..it’s perfection.
April has always been the most intriguing character to me, and January was always such a huge loss. I feel like the ppl in the freezer were checkhovs corpses or something?
But I love this series and I love discovering so,etching new in a reread!
September 6, 2020
This one is a bit crazy pants, things that even in the reality of this book and the world shouldn't have been possible. I loved how April believed, how she made everyone else believe it could happen, so then when it did...everything that April held dear and was missing came back. It really left a person smiling and happy for everyone.
September 14, 2020
This story is contained in the DAW hardcover of "The Brightest Fell".
I copy my review from there:
This book also contains the short story "Of Things Unknown" which deserves 4 1/2 stars . It's about April O'Leary, current countess of Tamed Lightning, and her efforts to set right the bad things that happened recently there.
I copy my review from there:
This book also contains the short story "Of Things Unknown" which deserves 4 1/2 stars . It's about April O'Leary, current countess of Tamed Lightning, and her efforts to set right the bad things that happened recently there.
June 11, 2021
3.5 stars
I'm not the biggest fan of novellas, but when it's part of a series, I feel like I need to read them in case it has info for the next book. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I didn't like the beginning because of all the technical stuff, but when October joined the story it got good.
I'm not the biggest fan of novellas, but when it's part of a series, I feel like I need to read them in case it has info for the next book. I was pleasantly surprised by this one. I didn't like the beginning because of all the technical stuff, but when October joined the story it got good.
August 29, 2021
I’m doubly happy about this novella: first, it’s a pretty good story, closing a gaping wound that we as readers have had to deal with for some time and secondly, because it gets an important part of the side-story out of the way and makes it that much more likely that we’ll finally get closer to the main quest again.
November 1, 2021
I’m an audiobook listener, so I don’t have easy access to the novellas, usually. But I had the brilliant idea to get the hardbacks from the library so I can catch up now. This one was achingly sweet and it’s always fun to get stories from outside Toby’s perspective. April was a fascinating narrator and the ending made me really emotional.
April 3, 2025
It's been mentioned a few times, but things were left in an unfinished state at the end of the second book. This novella, from April's point of view, finally finishes things. McGuire does a good job portraying April's alien state of mind as the world's only Cyber Dryad. This seems to be one of the short stories/novellas that's definite worth reading in publication order.
February 19, 2023
5 short story stars! I wouldn’t have thought that a character who is basically an artificial intelligence could have been brought so well to emotional life. The author managed with April what the Star Trek TNG writers took seasons and seasons to manage with Data.
May 24, 2024
I had a bit of trouble getting into the novella's story; I'm not really tech savvy so a lot of April's musings went way over my head lol
All in all, this was an interesting addition to Toby-verse, and makes me wonder what will happen next
All in all, this was an interesting addition to Toby-verse, and makes me wonder what will happen next
April 24, 2025
Novella in the back of The Brightest Fell, from April O'Leary's point of view. One thing Seanan McGuire is gonna do is she's gonna put you into the point of view of a non-human character and make you understand their feelings and thought processes.
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