Slightly (but only very slightly) less enjoyable than What Moves the Dead. I love the combination of snarky commentary and the foreboding atmosphere.

What Feasts at Night (Sworn Soldier #2) by T. Kingfisher is a great historical fantasy horror sequel. Honestly, I'm just happy to read more to read from this author as she's quickly become a favorite. I didn't quite stick with me and I don't think I quite liked it as much as What Moves the Dead though. It wasn't quite as creepy and it's a bit too slow even if it's a fairly short novella. Either way, if you were a fan of book one you'll have to give this one a chance as well.

I loved being back with Alex and company! This story had some funny cozy vibes which I adore and some dream horror things which was so cool to read. Something about this story didn't quite win me over like the first one did though. I wonder if it's because What Moves the Dead was a Poe retelling that I adored and rereading the twists and easter eggs in relation to the inspired work was what really won me over.
There was also a scene in here where Alex was told straight up about this town legend and when presented with it, they were like "what on earth could this be??" It was so bizarre that it was actually a bit funny, and to be fair Alex ended up making fun of themselves for fumbling that. But still it had me wondering if those mushrooms caused some permanent damage.
That being said, I will definitely be continuing on in this series because T. Kingfisher has such comfy witty characters [Alex is a legend] and the little bite of horror we got here really grossed me out [that is a compliment lol].

I will be including this in an upcoming reading vlog and I will post here once it's uploaded.

I absolutely adore T. Kingfisher and I’m so excited about this sequel. It would be a dream of this series continued and I would keep going with it no matter what. There were many things I enjoyed about this story, most importantly, coming back to Alex. Their humour combined with some real, raw emotions, really worked in this story and made me appreciate them even more. I also loved the setting, the atmosphere and all the side characters. However, I am slightly disappointed with the book. I felt like some of the brilliant horror imagery we saw in the first novel were completely gone in this one. The horror elements didn’t make me feel much. Although the premise was interesting and themes were very well executed, there were many moments where the story stood still and felt as if the content was more of a filler than a valuable element to the story. Overall, 3 stars but I would most definitely still recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley, Tor Publishing, and T. Kingfisher for the beautiful eARC of What Feasts at Night.

In a fabulous next chapter following What Moves the Dead, Kingfisher delivers on the promises made in the first book with this fabulous gothic horror novel. The characters are splendid and the reader puts down the finished novel after having spent time with dear friends, albeit in less-than-desireable circumstances. I look forward to what comes next!

What Moves the Dead was one of my favorite novels of the last few years so I was eager to read the second installment in the Sworn Soldier series. Hmmmm…. How did I feel about it? It was okay. What I loved about the first novel in this series was its brooding gothic atmosphere laced with horror elements. Unfortunately for me, the new book leans more towards fantasy and that just isn’t my thing.
Also, the PTSD element is explored in-depth in this novel and there is nothing wrong with that, but this is a tough subject for me. I have someone close to me that struggles with it and seeing it in real life is enough for me- I don’t want it to invade my happy reading life.
This wasn’t a bad book, I just wanted the magic I felt when I first read What Moves the Dead. Kingfisher has talent but she is often hit or miss for me. Still I’ll be interested to see what she does next.
Thank you to @netgalley and @tornightfire for an arc of this book.

This is a worthy successor to T. Kingfisher's What Moves The Dead. A great read, and excellent use of the main character's PTSD. As always, Kingfisher plots and builds characters brilliantly.

T. Kingfisher is one of my favorite authors and I love everything she writes when it comes to fantasy. I am a bit of a wimp with horror, but I make an exception for Kingfisher, because her writing is so good. This book did not disappoint. I love Kingfisher's sense of humor and that it always comes through even in her horror writing. Alex is one of my favorite main characters that she has written and I enjoyed the side characters in this novella as well.

"What Feasts at Night" is an atmospheric exploration of the unreality of dreams, particularly concerning the traumas of war. The plot drives the reader forward and the final beats are well-foreshadowed. The haunting is intriguing and steeped deeply in the local folklore. It is a testament to Kingfisher's worldbuilding. The final revelation of the ghost feels underwhelming. I think it could have been more compelling if that story had either been more developed or not developed at all and left as a mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Once again, Kingfisher delivers a delightfully creepy, gothic novella. Easton is just as charming as usual, and I found myself chuckling at the dark humor and interactions between the characters.

The overall horror is much lighter than What Moves the Dead, but when it kicks in it kicks in hard. Kingfisher does a good job in keeping the reader guessing between the antagonist being supernatural or not, although the reveal was more anticlimactic than expected.

While enjoyable, parts of it felt rushed and a novella might have been too short for how much Kingfisher was trying to fit. It left me feeling like I'd watched a mid season episode of a series, very much a gap story that some may write off as filler.

All of that being said, I loved seeing Easton, Angus, Ms. Potter, and Hob again. I look forward to the rest of this series and Easton's disturbing adventures!

I received this book in exchange for a honest review from NetGalley.

This second book in the Alex Easton series is just as good as the first. These book totally scratch the itch for gothic horror. I love that these books are relatively short and easy reads but burst with so much beautiful imagery and inventiveness. I have come to love Alex, Angus and Ms. Potter. They are such great characters and their stories are a joy to read.

In a follow up to What Moves the Dead, Alex Easton returns home after the terrifying events of the prior book to find kan lodge abandoned and the former caretaker dead in a way that isn't as cut and dry as his surviving sister says so. But rumors around town speak of a malignant spirit, a moroi, who sits on your chest and sucks out your breaths.

I think lately I'm just in the mood for these tight little novellas, no real dragging on, and building easily from the previous in the series (which I read pretty recently too) and I enjoy this style of, taking a legend and mixing it into something more realistic (and as a personal bonus, the 'gender what gender' of the sworn soldiers of Gallacia). A race against time! A question as to if this is real or not! A knowing nod that perhaps it is!

I'd read more in this series were they to occur, and if not, this is a good sort of continuation of the first one without leaving anything really out into the wind and unfinished either.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group/Tor Nightfire for the eARC in exchange for review!

I love T Kingfisher. She’s one of my auto buy authors! I loved What Moves the Dead so I was super excited when I heard she had a sequel coming out!!!

I really liked it this book! It’s short and it had the great sense of humor that T. Kingfisher is known for! I just wish it had been a bit creepier like the first one. I still liked it and if you’re a fan of the first book, you will like this one too!

This one was so much slower than the first one. I was underwhelmed by the ending of the story, it had so much potential. I felt like when the story was finally beginning it ended. I hope the next one is better!

I am still not convinced WMTD needed a sequel or follow up, but this one was pretty good. TK is an auto buy author for me, and this one is almost as good as WMTD. It's unique and dark, exactly what I hope for in their books. I can't wait to see what they write next!!!

What Feasts at Night is the companion book to What Moves the Dead and is another great read by T. Kingfisher.
Quick and fun this is an eerie book that features the character Alex Easton in another reluctant adventure.

From the description--"In theory, one can find relaxation in even the coldest and dampest of Gallacian autumns, but when Easton arrives, they find the caretaker dead, the lodge in disarray, and the grounds troubled by a strange, uncanny silence. The villagers whisper that a breath-stealing monster from folklore has taken up residence in Easton’s home. Easton knows better than to put too much stock in local superstitions, but they can tell that something is not quite right in their home. . . or in their dreams."

This is an atmospheric novel that creeps up on you.
Thanks to #NetGalley, #Tor Nightfire, and T. Kingfisher for the ARC of #WhatFeastsatNight.

As a lover of What Moves the Dead, I was very excited to read this next installment. While I prefer the fungal horror of the first book, the moroi is unique and creepy. The POV/writing style throughout the story is more stream of consciousness and directly spoken to the reader, which I honestly liked less than the first book. It is very easy to read and keeps you captivated throughout.

My main complaint about this book, which is really a compliment, is that I wish it were longer. I really enjoy reading about these characters and wish we could have a fully fleshed out novel with them and whatever "innocent monster" they're trying to survive. Easton is such a cool and interesting main character, along with Angus and Ms. Potter. I can't wait to read more about them in future installments.

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was a huge fan of What Moves the Dead so I was very excited to read this next installment and it did not disappoint. The horror elements of the story were very well done and the plot was straightforward but still very enjoyable. I will continue to read stories in this series if Kingfisher continues to write them

I loved having another opportunity to spend time with Alex Easton! It felt like the character exploration came first in this novella, rather than the mystery. Angus and Miss Potter were such wonderful additions, and I even enjoyed the Widow and Bor. I kind of wish the mystery was a little more complex. I loved how the revelation is What Moves the Dead was a real-life answer to a paranormal question. This time, it didn't land as well. But the dream scenes were creepy for sure. Overall I enjoyed this!

TL;DR

T. Kingfisher’s What Feasts at Night features the wonderful return of Alex Easton in another atmospheric novel. If Kingfisher keeps writing Easton novels, you bet I’m going to keep reading them. Recommended.

Disclaimer: The publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Any and all opinions that follow are mine alone.

Review: What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

Humans are, by nature, a social animal. We need contact with others to stay emotionally and mentally healthy. It’s also why readers and movie goers attach to characters. We want to find ourselves in characters, but we also want to find our friends and family in characters as well. In character driven fiction, different experiences are available to us. But, in all of these experiences, we can live a life other than our own. We can explore different choices, different thoughts, and even different loves. The best character driven fiction features deep self-reflection and a heightened observation of people and places. What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher sees the return of Alex Easton, who is just such a character. Easton reflects on their life and closely observes those around them to the great joy of the reader.

Alex Easton returns, and the events of What Moves the Dead, Easton feels a debt to Miss Potter. Easton, Angus, and Potter all head to the family hunting lodge in the old country, a.k.a. Gallacia. The lodge needs a lot of work, and Easton and Angus need help. Their old caretaker passed away in, of course, odd circumstances. They enlist the Widow and her grandson, Bors, to help with the place. Soon, Bors comes down with an illness that’s suspiciously like what the old caretaker had. What’s going on with the family hunting lodge?

What Feast at Night is a first person delight. It’s a fast read with wonderful characters. The plot and mystery are easily guessed and not much to get excited about. What Moves the Dead was a retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher. If What Feasts at Night is a retelling, I’m not well-read enough to know what story is being retold. It’s doesn’t matter if it’s a retelling or not because it’s a good story. What stands out is the lovely attention to detail and character that Kingfisher puts into every page. Spending time with Easton, Angus, Miss Potter, Bors, and, yes, the Widow is where the true joy of this story lies. Recommended.

Lovely Characters

Any of the characters in this book are wonderful. The priest who visits occasionally is a good character for the small amount of page time he gets. Alex Easton is wonderful in their way. Kingfishers spends more time ruminating on Easton’s military experiences in this story, and they were lovely. Easton’s reflections on war and the changes wrought by it are sad and all too human. In particular, Easton talks about dwelling in two places at once: the present and the war. This is so insightful and heartbreaking.

The Widow was the character that I liked reading about most, though. That poor, put upon woman. Kingfisher has created a well-rounded individual who made me laugh while also frustrating me. The contrast between her and Bors was an excellent choice, and it was neat to see their relationship through the eyes of Easton.

Setting

Kingfisher excels at setting. In this and the previous book, you really get the feel of the place being described. While reading about the area, I could picture and sense the timelessness of the place. The backwoods of Gallacia is a place of tradition and superstition. It’s a village that one could imagine coming across while hiking in Europe. I hope this series continues, not just because I enjoy reading about Alex Easton’s adventures, but because I want to see where Kingfisher can take us next.

Conclusion

T. Kingfisher’s What Feasts at Night is a short, character driven novel. It features the return of Alex Easton and their friends Angus and Miss Potter. This trio can’t help but get mixed up in supernatural events. What Feasts at Night is no exception. This story features lovely characters in a lively setting. Recommended.