With a minor hiatus in which I read books I had committed to read, since June, when I was introduced to T. Kingfisher, I have binged on all her books that my library has with the only exceptions being the ones that have been on hold and for which I’ve had to wait. She has quickly risen to a top place on my must-read category. Why? Her stories and characters are like no one else’s. In that way, she reminds me of Connie Willis who writes imaginative sci-fi and fantasy (not to be confused with Connie Willis, broadcaster) with smart, quirky characters. And I love smart and quirky!

What Feasts at Night, a novella, is a continuation of the Sworn Soldier series with the first novella being What Moves the Dead. I would not recommend reading What Feasts at Night as a standalone because the first novella provides needed background on retired soldier, Alex Easton; her friend/attendant, Angus; Miss Potter, a mycologist; and almost anthropomorphic horse, Hob and the time and place in which they live. Not to mention the fact that What Moves the Dead is a fantastic take on Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher. If you’re a horror fan, you will love this novella with its dark creepiness.

WHAT FEASTS AT NIGHT
Fresh from the Usher incident, Alex and Angus are on their way to the hunting lodge that Alex has inherited and which she hasn’t been to since she was young. She was attending to war, you know. They want to welcome Miss Potter who will be in attendance while studying mushrooms. While Alex had sent a message ahead to expect them, it seems that the caretaker is not in attendance, which is highly unusual for the conscientious man, nor has the lodge been cleaned or prepared. What becomes apparent after some investigating and attempts at finding a replacement for the caretaker is that the village folk think that there is an evil entity that slowly killed the caretaker. No one wants to take his place. Until, that is, Widow Botezatu and her grandson Bors volunteer.

While What Feasts at Night misses some of the terror of What Moves the Dead, it is still delightfully creepy with a climactic dream (or is it?) scene that I couldn’t/wouldn’t stop reading. Emotions cascade on a roller coaster sequence. And there is, as always, Kingfisher’s trademark sense of humor present. I might not have enjoyed this tale as much as the first but it finished a very close second and I certainly hope that there is more on the way.

Many thanks to Tor Books for sending me a copy!

This novella is the return of the sworn soldier Alex Easton. They are back on their home soil of Gallacia, and at a family hunting lodge which seems to be haunted. The caretaker is dead and the villagers around town are whispering of a being that steals breath in the night. 

I enjoyed this one, but not as much as I enjoyed What Moves the Dead. This one wasn't quite as spooky to me, but it was a quick and interesting read all the same. This is an interesting world that Alex lives in, and I liked finding out the little superstitions around their home country. 

This world having pronouns based on military service as well as other things is quite intriguing too. I'm interested in hearing more about Alex's life with (hopefully) more adventures!

I had 4/5 stars of a good time with What Feasts at Night. Looking forward to more. Fingers (metaphorically - chemotherapy has been the ruination of my fingers lol...) crossed!

4/5 stars

This is the second in T. Kingfishers gothic novella series - and honestly y'all, it's BETTER THAN THE FIRST! (whentheheckdoesthateverhappen)

This is a quick read, so I don't want to give much away- but the quick gist is Easton travels back to their family hunting lodge, and things go wronggggg.

This one has more fairy-tale or folk-tale vibes to me than What Moves the Dead (which was more Usher-esque) and honestly I really loved it. It's atmospheric, spooky, and creepy - and you fall in love with the characters during your short time with them (and I just wanted to yell at the characters the entire time for their choices!).

Note that I would recommend reading the first one before What Feasts at Night; even though I prefer this one, I think it would be confusing without having read the prior book.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. All views expressed are my own.

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐓. 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐫

Once again, Kingfisher weaves a tale filled with creepy atmosphere and a spine-tingling mystery.

If you’ve read What Moves the Dead, then you don’t want to miss out on this second installment featuring war hero Alex Easton.

A new adventure begins. Needing some rest after their last ordeal at the Usher manor, Easton along with sidekick Angus and the intrepid Miss Potter head for the family hunting lodge - only to find the caretaker dead and a rumor of a breath-stealing monster rumored to be haunting the lodge!

This was so much fun with just the right mix of the supernatural, folklore and mystery. Alex and the gang are fast becoming favorites of mine.

Set in the dark and moody autumnal Gallacian forest, it’s the perfect stage for a breath-stealing entity to haunt our-gang.

This novella packs a punch with Kingfisher’s signature gothic horror and friendship blend. If you like odd and creepy, you don’t want to miss out on this story.

I fall a little bit more in love with T. Kingfisher's writing every time I read a new book of hers. Her characters are relatable and perfectly flawed, the dialogue between them is full of wry wit and the settings are usually dark and somewhat whimsical. WHAT FEASTS AT NIGHT, the second installment of her Sworn Soldier series featuring nonbinary, ex-soldier and citizen sleuth character Alex Easton is no exception. Three of my other favorite characters that span these two novellas include Alex's old friend Angus, their horse Hobb, and the amiable and brilliant British mycologist Mrs. Potter, and I was delighted that they all made appearances in this book too! Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publisher, @tornightfire for the e and audio-ARCs.

In this story, Alex returns to see their cousin Codrin(?) at their family lodge in Gallacia and finds that he has died of a sudden illness. As Alex tries to figure out what happened to their cousin, the grandson of the crotchety old widow that works at Alex's lodge also falls ill will a mysterious ailment. The widow talks about the local folklore which starts to become more reality than Alex would like to admit... a gothic, witchy creature of nightmares.

I absolutely love the character of Alex Easton and the somewhat alternative history that Kingfisher has conjured up in this series where storybook horrors are real, nonbinary and other trans folks are commonplace and there are dangerous creatures lurking about. I for one am very interested in the continuation of this series!!

What is your favorite folklore creature? Banshee? Vampire? Chupacabra? Witch? Werewolf? There are so many to choose from!! I want to catch them all!

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All our faves are back in this creepy and wonderful follow up to What Moves the Dead. This was absolutely fantastic!

We are back with Alex and Angus as they embark on a new adventure in this tense, fast paced, gothic tale! I was so excited to jump back into this world, and I was not disappointed at all in the story when I finished. Kingfisher’s beautiful, atmospheric writing really sets the mood for a seriously creepy read. I couldn’t stop turning the pages and stayed up reading this far too late in to the night. I love this series (these characters!), and cannot wait for the next installment.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Tor and Kingfisher for giving me access to this awesome book!

In this sequal, T Kingfisher does not let you down again! I absolutely love this author with all my heart! If you love gothic, dark, fairytales, and just plain creepy, this is for you!

This is not the continuation I was hoping it to be. I really enjoyed the first book but this one had none of the things I liked about What Moves The Dead.

The atmosphere wasn't hitting, and there wasn't any creep factor either. It didn't feel eerie or unsettling at all, in fact, the only thing that it kept pushing was how quiet everything was and I assume that was supposed to make the reader uncomfortable but it was mentioned so many times it became more annoying than anything.

I found myself really bored with this one, it is very slow. Absolutely nothing happens until about the 75% mark and then it just gets a little gross and confusing. The ending was also anticlimactic and not well written in my opinion. This is the first dud I have read by this author and I hate to say this but What Feasts At Night didn't feel like it was written by the same person who wrote WMTD. I'm not sure what happened here.

An incredible second adventure for Easton and a fun little cast of characters was brought together again. I enjoyed the horror, but didn’t’ find it overwhelming (which was great!). I felt like I had the chance to get to know Easton a bit better and I’m excited to keep following along on the horror and misadventures that befall the group! I was surprised there was an all new kind of horror to deal with and it felt disconnected from the first book, but this didn’t take away form the charm of these horror slaying friends (Angus and Ms. Potter are a favourite of mine). Definitely a fun and quirky horror to dive into :)

I didn't expect to get a sequel to the excellent What Move the Dead, but Alex is back again is this great follow-up! I don't think you need to read the first one to understand this one, but I do recommend it. This had more of Kingfisher's excellent atmospheric and creeping horror, with engaging side characters. The queer rep is always a huge bonus for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

In the newest adventure of Lieutenant Easton, they and their friends join together in their home country of Gallacia. With the caretaker of Easton's lodge dead and a story of a ghostly creature roaming around, they find themselves in another adventure of determining what's real and what's story.

I may be in the minority, but I loved this much more than the first book (though I did enjoy that one as well). I can see why some may think the horror wasn't as effective, but I think that just depends on what type of horror scares you. I had a blast with this story. It was creepy and interesting and I loved arguing with myself whether or not anything paranormal was happening or not. Easton is also as great and funny as ever. I would love to read more stories about them!

What a terrifying, gothic novella full of terror about what preys on the vulnerable at night. Alex Easton continues on in this second novella by T. Kingfisher.

This whole story had such an eerie and dark aura to it, similar to What Moves the Dead. With the twist of folklore – a breath-stealing monster with a broken face – this story unfolds darker and darker.

This story will literally give you the chills! Especially when you can't tell what is real and what is a nightmare!

Thank you to NetGalley and TOR publishing for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I hadn't even picked up the first book "What Moves the Dead" before being approved for this one, but T. Kingfisher knows how to write a novella that you will want to devour in one sitting.

As I rushed to read both books in time, I was absolutely blown away to get another installment from Easton, Angus, and Miss Potter. The Gallacia setting and folklore in this sequel is just as humorous and delectable as the first. Now will I be frightened by moths....maybe a bit more now, however that may be the price to pay to read it.

A triumph of a sequel to fuel your nightmares by T. Kingfisher!

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. Once again, I made sure to only read this book in broad daylight, which turned out to be a good plan. While this installment of the duology (yay Alex Easton) lacks some of the visceral wrongness that was the first book, it still had plenty to haunt your dreams. Our beloved cast of characters was transported to a new location and a new set of vaguely unsettling conditions that is up to them to figure out. The author's trademark sense of humor and wordplay kept the story fresh and fun, while still ensuring that I will hold my cat up to every moth that I find in the house. I loved it.

An addictive read, this sequel to What Moves the Dead is complete with Kingfisher’s engaging prose, and it’s a slow and atmospheric novella focusing this time on themes of PTSD.

Equal parts ghost story, historical fiction, and mystery, What Feasts at Night is such a great novella. The first book focused a little on Easton’s past as a soldier, but this one really brought out the concept of “soldier’s heart,” which we now know as PTSD. Yet, it’s woven into the text in a way that feels natural to what’s going on and ties well with the ghost’s powers (if, indeed, it is a ghost - of course, this is part of the mystery, as with all ghost stories).

The characters are great. Non-binary icon Easton is a down-to-earth, seemingly unintentionally hilarious narrator and is immensely likable. The side characters are great, especially the cantankerous housekeeper in this one.

I also really enjoyed the setting. Easton’s home country is a fictional European nation that feels like it should be real. Kingfisher’s small details and worldbuilding gave it a depth that made me want to visit. Likewise, the setting is this hunting lodge in the woods- the perfect place for a haunting.

The novella is short but doesn’t feel too short. The action takes a while to build, but when it does, it really ramps up. It's slow burn, but it's definitely not slow.

Overall, I really loved this and hope we get more of these Alex Easton novellas from Kingfisher!

This was a short little novella sequel to Kingfisher's "What Moves the Dead," and while I liked it, I didn't love it quite as much as the first. I sort of felt like it wasn't creepy enough for a horror book creepy folklore horror moths. Still enjoyable and an additionally interesting look at a soldier's PTSD from serving in war.

After reading What Moves the Dead I didn't expect to get more of Easton but I'm so happy we did! Since there's no rest for the wicked, Easton and Angus got a lot more than they bargained for when they arrived back home in Gallacia. I was as thrilled as Angus that Miss Potter was included in this sequel as well! We get a mystery, some humor (especially liked the cantankerous old school marm-ish interim caretaker vs. Easton), and some creeptastic folklore. Seriously, something extra unsettling about being pursued by a baddie when you're sleeping and at your most vulnerable. It was a pretty quick read that keeps you engaged throughout. I hope to see even more Easton adventures in the future and, as always, I look forward to whatever T. Kingfisher comes up with next!

This is the second novella in The Sworn Solider series. Alex Easton and he is back with another terrifying adventure. When he returns home to his hunting cabin with Angus and Miss Potter, everything isn’t as it should be. It’s to quiet and the person looking after the place is gone.
I love the atmosphere of the deep woods, they are alone and the sense of disbelief as things start to happen. Wives tales of what could be causing the sickness. It was cool seeing all the different beliefs by town. And what you could do to keep those things at night away! Once it ramped up, it did not stop. I would have been terrified to go to bed!

I’m really looking forward to more adventures with this trio!!

Thank you @tornightfire for my #gifted copy!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of What Feasts at Night.

After the frightening events of the first novel, What Moves the Dead, Alex Easton and his faithful friend, Angue, returns to their family hunting lodge in their home country of Gallacia.

When they discover the keeper of thel odge was felled by a strange illness, what the locals believe was caused by a moroi, a ghost who steals your breath in order to live once again, Alex pays no mind to superstitions.

But, they soon discover they're not alone in the lodge, and this uninvited guest doesn't have the best of intentions.

If you haven't read What Moves the Dead, I'd advise you read it first before jumping into this one. It helps to have the background since Alex references previous events and their experiences as a weary soldier.

I was glad to see Miss Potter is back; she's my favorite character and I wished she had more of a role in the second book.

I enjoyed What Feasts at Night, though it's shorter and more contained as a story than What Moves the Dead.

The supernatural and horror elements are my favorite parts and the descriptions of Gallacia was interesting..

I did wish there was more exposition about the moroi; where did it come from? Are there others?

I like how the author incorporates Alex's PTSD and war experiences into daily life because just because the war is over, you never stop being a soldier. Those experiences, both positive and traumatic, shape the person you become and your actions.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this before publication and look forward to the next book in the series.