I received an advanced copy of Foul Days from Netgalley and the publisher and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Did Foul Days take me four months to read? Yes, it did. Did I enjoy every moment I spent reading it, though? Yes, I did. Honestly, I can't tell you why it took me that long. I think I started reading Foul Days when I was in a slump, but I knew I would enjoy it and put it off until I was in the right headspace to finish and appreciate it. And appreciate it, I did.

Was I confused for 90% of this book? Absolutely. There was a lot of fantastical information being thrown at me at once, and, don't get me wrong, I love that kind of stuff, but the explanations were a little, shall we say, lacking in some departments. I was utterly lost in the sauce. However.

That is what made this book great. Did it make sense all the time? Nope. Was it supposed to? I don't think so. Would I have liked it to? Yes. But despite that, I loved it. This book was great. The setting was perfectly dreary and depressing. The characters are well-rounded and just trying to survive in a world that doesn't want them to. The contrasts between Belograd and Chernograd were on point. The monsters are creepy. The magic system is super interesting. The plot would not let me go. Everything about this book was nonsensical yet perfectly appropriate.

My one gripe would have to be that the story is fast. Really fast. Most issues were resolved within pages of finding out it was an issue. There wasn't really anything left to sit and marinate in the plot long enough to care about it. Again, the plot is gripping, but other than the overarching plot point of the Zmey, I didn't find that the subplots had enough payoff because everything was resolved so quickly.

Regardless, Foul Days was a fun read, and I will pick up the sequel. This book is for you if you're looking for a quick, odd, primarily confusing, but also fun fantasy novel.

I found the world of this fantasy so compelling and imaginative. A fast-paced thrilling adventure full of magic and monsters. Loved it!

Set in Chernograd, Bulgaria, FOUL DAYS by Genoveva Dimova (Tor/Macmillan, June 25, 2024) is a fantasy novel with a sassy, rough-and-tumble urban feel (think the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo). Chernograd is split by a Wall in which an evil magical creature is trapped, making passage next to impossible. The Wall also creates a Panem-like divide between rich and poor (our heroine, Kosara, is from the poor side). The Foul Days cause Kosara’s side of the city to be overrun with monstrous creatures. Kosara, a young witch and healer, fights the monsters and heals those attacked by them. An action-packed foray into Slavic folklore, especially if you want to discover (see this cool video by Mythology Unleashed, “Monsters of Slavic Mythology”), more scary creatures than just Baba Yaga.

Kosara gets mixed up with a detective named Asen (who hails from the rich side of the Wall) with an investigation underway. He is mysteriously immune to magic, which makes Kosara suspicious but comes in quite handy at times.

Best of all, there is a Baba Yaga character with a house on chicken legs: a very powerful witch named Vila. This is the first in a series called “The Witch’s Compendium of Monsters,” so hopefully we will see more of Vila in Book 2, MONSTROUS NIGHTS (Tor/Macmillan, October 22, 2024).

I fell asleep reading this novel and woke up and grabbed it; that’s how much I was vibing with FOUL DAYS. As a young girl, Kosara was ensorcelled by the Zmey (the Tsar of Monsters, both human and dragon), and he stalks her during the Foul Days.

Foul Days somehow manages to be a dark and creepy story while also feeling .... cozy? The main character is charming, and juxtaposes nicely with the darkness of the rest of the story. The premise of separating out part of a city to create a utopia for the wealthy is frighteningly plausible.

Book Summary:

Kosara may not be the strongest witch in Chernograd, but at least she pays attention to its history. As such, she knows all about fighting (and surviving) the monsters that lurk in the dark. If only everyone had paid as much attention.

Unfortunately, not even all the knowledge in the world could protect Kosara from her current predicament. On the run from her ex (the Tsar of Monsters), Kosara makes a desperate decision, costing her too much. Now she’s ailing and in need of a solution - and fast.

My Review:

Where has this book been all my life? Okay, that’s an exaggeration, but I feel like I’ve been waiting for something like this since I finished The Chronicles of Amicae series (back in 2021, so three years). Foul Days has the same vibes and absolutely helps to sate that craving I’ve had.

Foul Days is a paranormal fantasy full of witches, beasts, legends, and betrayals. It’s complicated, messy, and so human all in one. I really enjoyed learning about the world and the creatures within.

What I liked the most about this tale is that our leading character, Kosara, is knowledgeable but not powerful. She understands the dangers of the world around her but has been unable to do much about them. This makes for a dark foundation, to say the least.

I will say that I don’t feel like the comps (The Witcher and Naomi Novik) are super accurate. While they share a similar background (Eastern European folklore), that’s about the extent of it. So keep that in mind!

Foul Days ended up being more than I had hoped for, and I can’t wait to dive into the next book in the Witch’s Compendium of Monsters series (Monsterous Nights).

Highlights:
Paranormal Fantasy
Witches & Magic
Beasts & Legends

Trigger Warnings:
Monsters & Magic
Controlling Behavior
Curses & Betrayal

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*Fiasco* by Constance Fay is an engaging and dramatic exploration of personal turmoil and the consequences of poor decisions. The story centers around characters whose lives spiral out of control, each facing the fallout of their actions. Fay's writing is sharp and raw, capturing the emotional depth and complexity of her characters. The plot unfolds with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers hooked as they witness the characters' unraveling. Themes of redemption, failure, and self-realization are thoughtfully explored. *Fiasco* is a compelling read for those who enjoy character-driven stories that delve into human flaws and the messy realities of life.

Truthfully, when I started the book, I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about it, but that feeling didn't last long. Kosara is a compelling protagonist, her world bleak yet beautifully-drawn, and the blending of unique fantastical elements with Slavic folklore is excellently done. While I do feel as if the ultimate confrontation between Kosara and The Zmey was rushed and sort of anticlimactic, I did love the dynamic between Kosara and Bakharov, and the fluctuating alliances among the Chernogradeans. I'm definitely excited to read the sequel, and will be recommending it to folks who love fantasy and folklore with a smidge of horror tossed in.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

The world build was superb and the monsters were brilliantly vivid. I loved the division between the cities and what it meant for the citizens of each was fascinating. I enjoyed the magic and the random hot air balloon trip, plus Davey Jones was a nice touch. Unfortunately, I feel there were just too many pieces, it didn't feel cohesive. It's almost as if it could've been a few separate novels in one. It made it difficult to connect with the character and the ending felt a little rushed for all that built up. Thank you for the ARC opportunity.

"What's so special about him?" the stranger asked. "That Zmey of yours? Is he the biggest and most monstrous of them all?" He giggled nervously.
"No." Kosara gripped the talisman in her pocket even tighter. "He's the most human." —Genoveva Dimova, Foul Days

Rooted in Bulgarian folklore and aptly pitched as The Witcher meets Naomi Novik, Foul Days is set in the secluded city of Chernograd, bordered by a wall of seemingly alive, dense shadows, where New Years Day is not a festive occasion but the beginning of the "Foul Days," the yearly 12-day period when monsters roam free and wreak havoc. We follow a Chernogradean witch/monster hunter named Kosara who, after unwittingly bargaining away the source of her magic, her shadow, to her evil ex, The Tsar of Monsters, teams up with an outsider detective to recover her magic. What they weren’t expecting, however, was to uncover a dark conspiracy whose roots go all the way back in history to the creation of the Chernogradean wall, that might not only be the key to recovering Kosara’s magic, but to defeating the Tsar of Monsters once and for all.

Slavic folklore meets urban fantasy with a dash of mystery in this book that, while gritty and dark, was wildly entertaining and humorous, with immersive, lived-in worldbuilding, writing that is descriptive without feeling “info-dumpy” and a fast pace that keeps you engaged all throughout. We explore themes such as xenophobia through the setting of two cities on opposite sides of the wealth and class spectrum, the struggles of marginalized and underprivileged communities to accept and adapt to the harsh realities imposed upon them by those in power, as well as the topic of trauma after an abusive relationship and how it can affect the human psyche and distort one’s sense of self.

Kosara was a brilliant main character, flawed and stubborn, guarded yet also vulnerable, with insecurities that felt very human and made her search for autonomy and her journey towards figuring out who she is and who she wants to be beyond her past and despite her flaws, incredibly heartfelt and real. I also greatly enjoyed Asen’s character, and I think that in breaking apart from the many romantic tropes that we're used to and opting for taking her time developing and expanding upon both characters separately as the story progresses, Dimova makes their character interactions and their budding relationship more believable and worth rooting for, since they’re fully-fleshed and able to stand out on their own prior to adding romance into the mix.

Foul Days is a book that I’m convinced will delight fantasy veterans and newcomers alike, and I can’t wait to see where Kosara and Asen’s next adventure takes me in its sequel Monstrous Nights, which will be releasing this October 22nd!

This was a good book but not the "next best thing" as one of my trusted booktuber called it. Or rather she thought it was one of her favorite books of the year so far. I did enjoy it but it took way too long to finish it and I didn't feel compelled to finish.

There were great aspects of it. I loved the atmosphere, the monsters, and the setting. The Slavik influences were unique and the world felt similar to one of my favorite authors, Naomi Novik. The main character, Kosara was engaging and realistic. I didn't like the random cliches added to certain scenes that felt very out of character for her and when she acted dumb just for the plot to move certain ways. I thought the chemistry between Kosara and Asen was well done but extremely rushed. It was only a couple of days and suddenly they're into each other that much? I wish this book had time for them to develop that more, but because of plot reasons, it couldn't. This book would have been a lot better if it slowed down and explored the world and the relationships of all the characters.

Overall this book had a very cool world and was enjoyable to read but not my favorite. It would have been better with more time dedicated to the characters less eye-rolling cliches.

Man, this was such fantastic reads! The synopses sounded really good, and once I picked Foul days up, I couldn't stop until I had finished Monstrous Nights! I was thoroughly entertained, and I had to know what was going to happen next in the story!

This Slavic inspired story, with the magic and the history, was really interesting, in the first book, the foul days, where this city has gotten used to the monsters coming, yeah, it was so interesting to read! I loved learning more about it!

Foul Days, I'd read the synopsis, but I didn't remember most of it, so it surprised me when she left Chernograd and pretty early on in the book. Watching her in this new town with new rules-and without her magic, yeah, that was so thrilling to read!

I loved seeing where these stories would go, and how the events for Foul Days changed things for Monstrous Nights, where she has her shadow back, but at what cost? There was just so much going on, and I had to know everything, and had such a great time reading them!

These were so fantastic to read, and I can't wait to read more by Genoveva Dimova!

Kosara is a small time witch with plenty of high powered enemies in the walled city of Chernograd. Of course everyone in the city has to deal with the monsters, the rusalkas, kikimoras, and more. But Kosara is still hunting for a way to defend against her ex the Zmey, known as the Tsar of Monsters. She’s defied him one too many times, and now he’s hunting her. At the start of the New Year, she is forced to bargain away her shadow get away from him. A witch's shadow is the souce of her power, and she knows that without it she will become a shadow herself... wasting away. Her only hope is to win her shadow back.

Why I started this book: Requested an ARC from Netgalley because of the cover and description.

Why I finished it: A tale of magic, monsters and winter set at the start of a new year. I enjoyed the reimagined Eastern European folktales and monsters. And I'm eager for the next book.

While Foul Days failed to really hook me, I appreciated the way that Genoveva Dimova incorporated Bulgarian culture and folklore into the story. Personally, I would have enjoyed the book more if it had a less gritty atmosphere as well as more character development for the protagonists. However, I think this is a book that may appeal to someone who enjoys Slavic folklore and detective/adventure stories with hints of romance.

The Witcher meets Naomi Novik in the first book to a new fantasy series which by the way, all books are releasing this year which is just fantastic. We’re following Kosara who lives in this walled city and unfortunately it’s the foul days which is a period of time where monsters invade and you have to try to survive. Also our main character has some type of shadow magic and a deal with the enemy, her ex. I absolutely LOVED this. Made a whole video about it on my YouTube channel. PERFECT!

"It's the way their magic works. Vila told me all about it. It's nothing to do with you as a person, it's to do with their pharaoh's moans."

"Their what?"

"The way they smell or something."

As you can see, there's plenty of humor in this fantasy tale of one woman's attempt to wend her way through a gauntlet of nasty monsters to get to the creature she fears most so that she can regain her shadow which gives her her witchy powers, all while denying her growing interest in her traveling companion when she'd really rather just be at home with her dead sister's ghost.

Whew!

Yeah, there's a lot going on here, and at times it seems like one of those quest games I used to watch my kids play where you need to retrieve an item for so-and-so, then he'll give you what you need to get to the next part of your journey. In other words, this was sometimes exhausting, but also pretty darned entertaining.

I'm guessing it will appeal to fans of T. Kingfisher and Travis Baldree.

Glad I've got the sequel in my queue.

Fantastic dark fantasy story, based on Slavic folklore. The magic is refreshing and unique and the characters are interesting. This story is a page-turner and I couldn't stop reading it. I can’t wait for the sequel to come out. I would recommend this book for fans of Margaret Owen, Victoria Aveyard, and Maggie Steifvater.

Foul Days was an enrapturing tale from beginning to end. I felt completely pulled into the world, the plot was engaging the entire way through, and I always wanted to know more about the characters, and I mean this in a good way. We got enough nuggets to keep it interesting without ever getting overwhelmed by lore dumps or “pause for character development” moments.

Foul Days is a great pick for fantasy fans and for readers who enjoy the theme of overcoming personal obstacles and doubts to succeed. Kosara is such a relatable character and I loved following her journey as she learned which voices she could trust.

Kosara is quite a force to be reckoned with! She is on a mission to find her shadow, but who can she trust? I found the magic interesting and I enjoyed the fast paced read, with the monsters of Slavic folklore coming to life! This book left me wanting to immediately grab the next, luckily I don't have long to wait! Thank you to Tor Books for an advanced copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own!

When I saw this marketed as "The Witcher meets Naomi Novik" I was immediately sold, and it did not disappoint! An amazing fantasy adventure that will leave you feeling transported and have you rooting for the characters.