An Artificial Night

I am now really into the series. Book 1 was a meh for me, but I wanted to support the author because I heard good things about her as a person and as a feminist. Book 2 was ... better. I really liked this one though and am invested now in continuing the journey.

There are things about Toby that are baked into the cake, or have been so far, which used to drive me mad. She is a half-fae P.I. who really kinda wants answers fed to her – she resents riddles but riddles are what mystical races do, and basically – in a less literal sense – at the heart of investigating. She is tenacious and stubborn and has powerful friends, and eventually the answers do tend to fall into her lap. Since this doesn't seem to be changing, I've learned to deal with it.

But she is told to talk to The Moon, and has someone in her life named Luna. She gave no thought to the riddle until after Luna started giving her answers – but moon, Luna, c'mon!

And I love that this book finally owns she has a death wish which is illustrated in the choices she makes. She cares, and her job is dangerous, but she tends to throw herself into danger with no real plan other than to wing it as she goes. (???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 head-first into hell. You???ll have good reasons. You???ll have great reasons, even. And part of you will be praying that you won???t come out again.???)

Also, she loses consciousness 3 to 4 times per book – blow to the head, blood loss, exhaustion...

That said, I've come to care about Toby and the rest of the recurring characters, and want to spend more time with them, as well as find out if she ever loses the death wish.