I still haven't quite gotten over the delicious disgust and ill-ease from What Moves the Dead when I dove head first into What Feasts at Night... and this one did not disappoint either.
While not totally necessary, I would advise starting with What Move the Dead to better understand some of the references made.

I loved that the backdrop for this novella is Easton's home country, Gallacia. I feel that the terrain and local cast of characters gives us insight into the foundation of Easton's beliefs and character and it sets up the story beautifully. I should have known just by the cover that listening to this on audiobook at the stables in the dark, early hours of the morning was going to make me jump and shiver and constantly look over my shoulder, but alas, I did not give it a passing thought until I was in that exact situation, freaking out a little.
Kingfisher manages to weave her signature style of subtle, creepy, goosebump inducing horror in with a good shake of dry humor that made me laugh more than once and that's what I appreciated so much about this book.
I definitely enjoyed this more than the first in the series and I hope that we get to see the return of Easton, Mrs. Potter, and Angus in some future adventures.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillian Audio for the advance copy of What Feasts at Night.

While enjoyed this book, I didn't find myself as hooked as I did with the first installment.

That being said, I love the creepy atmospheric world that Kingfischer has built. It was fast paced and entertaining and I look forward to future possible installments.

T. Kingfisher has such a way with story telling. This is not my normal genre (horror) but it was done in a way that was not too much for me. I can still enjoy the story but not get too freaked out.
This story follows the same main characters from What Moves the Dead but they encounter something unlike the mushroom menace from the previous book. I really enjoy how in such a short book I connect with the characters so much, they feel so real.
Overall a very enjoyable read and not too gruesome, and the audiobook is fantastic as well.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio production from Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I don’t normally read horror, but I can’t resist anything written by T. Kingfisher, and this book did not disappoint. It was just as funny and quirky as I hoped, and also a fairly spooky ghost story. This is the second book in the Sworn Soldier series; it continues the story of Alex Easton and their friends, introduced in What Moves the Dead, but it’s a complete story that can be enjoyed on its own. (You’d be missing out if you didn’t also read the first book though.)

I love these characters and their sense of found family so much. Some of the imagery here was disturbing enough to make my skin crawl, but the relationships and the humor make it all worthwhile. I highly recommend this series for fans of weird fiction and gothic horror.

The audiobook production was excellent. The intro and outro music perfectly set the mood, and I enjoyed Avi Roque’s narration. Avi has good pacing and pronunciation, distinctive voices and speech patterns to suit each character, and the ability to convey mood and emotion effectively. The story works very well as an audiobook.

I received a free advanced listening copy of the audiobook through NetGalley. I volunteered to provide an honest review.

Sworn soldier Alex Easton is back with more emotional scars following the traumatic events that unfolded at the Usher house. Along with their trusty manservant Angus, Easton heads back to their home country for some rest and to prepare for a visit from Mrs. Potter Just like with What Moves the Dead, we soon come to realize that something is not right. This book was creepy and ambiguous enough to keep you rooted in reality, but still wondering if what is amiss may not be of the natural realm.

While I wasn’t as creeped out with WFaN as I was by WMtD, it definitely had its moments. A big part of the creep factor involved dreams and not being fully conscious, so this was scary in a very different way. This was a solid follow up to WMtD and it fleshed out some of what we already knew from that book. I enjoyed getting to see Easton’s homeland and the addition of a few new characters. Honestly, I feel like I could read a whole novella featuring the Widow and be happy. She was such a hilarious and slightly terrifying addition to The Sworn Soldier series and I hope we see her again.

I’m so glad I was given access to an ALC for this book and ended up listening to this in one sitting. The narrator, Avi Roque, was such a delight and created distinct and unique voices for all of the characters. It was easy to keep track of who was speaking and I never became confused while listening.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this ALC. I’m already a huge T. Kingfisher fan and can’t wait to read what they have coming up next.

Alex Easton returns to the strange town of Gallacia, and finds that the villagers all seem terrified. The family lodge caretaker is missing. It's gothic and atmospheric and also quite funny at times.

What a great sequel to What Moves the Dead. It maybe wasn't quite as amazing as the first (which I gave 5 stars to) but it was still well worth the listen. Definitely check out the first one, or you'll miss out on a lot.

Thank you Macmillan audio for giving me an advanced review copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Christ's Blood!! This gets 3.5 stars.
I was so excited to receive an arc of this novel. After reading What Move's the Dead (and loving it!) I needed to see what was next for Alex Easton. Unfortunately, this book didn't quite live up to the hype. For such a short book, it sure did move slow. I listened to this on audio and it felt so long. There were parts to this story that we very descriptive and disturbing that I appreciated. I also enjoy Alex Easton as a character! Some of the dialogue was very funny, which I think is difficult to pull off in a horror. Avi Roque did a fantastic job narrating What Feasts at Night. I am so picky with audiobooks and was pleasantly surprised.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC.

2.5 stars // I thought that What Moves the Dead was just okay, and this book was a bit better. I did like it, but my main complaint is that it's so short. I feel like it was just starting to get really creepy and then one scene with the ghost and it was over. I want more!

I have already reviewed the e-arc and will attach it at the end of this review as I read both the e-arc and audio-arc interchangeably.

The narrator for this audio was not bad but just wasn't for me. I found the same with the audiobook for What Moves the Dead. I'm particular about voices and how narrators pronounce and enunciate words, so this was just an issue of personal preference. I think another part of my dislike comes from the fact that I had an issue with the humour in this book in general, as I felt it took away from the horror elements and relieved too much tension and anticipation. The narrator's energy matched Alex's voice perfectly, embodying the wink-wink-nudge-nudge feel very well. While I think the narrator did a great job fitting with the text, the lightheartedness took away from the suspense.

E-ARC review:

This sequel to What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher delivered in that it was a quick, creepy tale with the same charming characters you'd come to expect after reading the first book.
For me, What Feasts at Night was a mixed bag of pros and cons. Let's talk positives first. Overall I enjoyed this book. I think Kingfisher is skilled at writing lovable characters and humorous dialogue. The atmosphere was well constructed and I felt myself getting lost in the cozy moments at the lodge. The climax was well written and absolutely made my skin craw, something you want from the horror genre. Now onto my less positive thoughts. As much as I did enjoy this book, it felt like it was confused about its genre. I haven't read any other books by this author other than What Moves the Dead, but I assume the wit, sarcasm, and general humorous writing is probably part of their writing style, which I can appreciate. However I do not think it fit this book. I remember this being a bit of an issue I had with book 1 as well, but I think it was much more pronounced in this one. I think the best horror and thriller books do have an element of humour and wholesomeness to balance out the darkness, but given the genre, the darkness should far outweigh it. I found the narrator's constant 'funny' asides about Gallacian culture or people they've met to be a bit grating. I wouldn't mind it if it had been more sparse, but the frequency in combination with the very slow moving plot made me feel like I was reading a slightly creepy fantasy novella rather than the horror I was expecting. This leads me to the pacing, which was another issue I had. For such a short book the plot should not have taken so long to pick up. I understand the need for exposition and character building, but this is a tricky thing to balance with novellas, especially in the horror genre. All this being said, I still did enjoy the reading experience because I found myself endeared to all of the side characters and the town's culture. I would have liked this book a lot more if it had been a cozy fantasy set in the little Gallacian town, focusing on Easton's internal experience with their Soldier's Heart and tinnitus, and their dynamic with the side characters. I loved the widow, Bors, Angus, Miss Potter, and the priest. I would have loved to explore the superstitious townsfolk even more. Either this or if it had leaned fully into the horror. Less humour, crank up the foreshadowing and spooky set dressing by 100. I just feel that having it be somewhere in the middle didn't really do it for me.
I will be recommending this title to customers who read the first book, and continuing to recommend the series to folks looking for something quick or who are wanting to dip their toes in the horror genre.

Alex Easton is back w/ their trusty sidekick, Angus, hoping for some rest a relaxation after the horror at the Usher mansion. However upon arrival at their family's hunting lodge, they find that the caretaker has died under mysterious circumstances and so the lodge is really not a hospitable place for Miss Potter to visit. However, Angus finds a trusty village woman and her grandson to help with putting the lodge to rights but almost right away, poor Boris (the grandson) succumbs to the same "mysterious illness" that killed the prior caretaker. The villagers whisper that a breath-stealing monster from folklore has taken up residence in Easton’s home. Easton doesn't really believe this local folklore but knows that something isn't quite right at the lodge. Or in their dreams.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

The survivors of What Moves the Dead reunite to spend some time relaxing at a hunting lodge in the quiet, damp and foreboding forests of Gallacia. Our narrator, Alex Easton, reflects on the scars of their experiences both at war and against the fungal growths. Their 'vacation' comes about after some time spent in Paris. Alongside Easton, there is the manservant Angus, and mycologist Miss Potter.

The Hunting Lodge has been in the Easton family for some time, but they are still surprised to find that its caretaker had died not long before their arrival. Adding to the mysterious circumstances, almost no one in the village wishes to take on the position of cook except for one elderly woman with no other options who brings along her grandson, a man of great physical strength but simple needs.

As the caretaker had died there is cleaning to do and a spring house in need of repairs. After bringing the lodge in to a better state and a routine of sorts forming, what at first seemed just the superstitions of the locals and insomnia threatens the health of Easton and other household members. Is it a nightmare? Or another horror that threatens Easton's life?

A short novella of horror and one soldier's continued efforts to survive. The audiobook edition is ably narrated by Avi Roque who gives a strong voice to Easton.

I'm a new fan of T. Kingfisher and working my way through the archive, so it's nice to catch one in the beginning. I'd just read the first book.

This is a fun series, very character-driven, and the characters are a blast. I find the pronoun thing interesting and wonder why we don't have more. I wondered if a pneumonia-like illness sweeping a village was going to feel too soon, but it was not. The paranormal/folktale element was fascinating, given I grew up with Freddy Krueger. I just really like this series and look forward to many more.

T Kingfisher is back at it again with the follow-up to What Moves the Dead. This book was a much more psychological form of terror than the last, with all of the same humor and whimsy. I don’t want to give anything away, but the concept of the moroi was UTTERLY creepy. No one creates an atmosphere of dread quite like Kingfisher; I could feel the dampness of Gallacia as I read through the chapters at breakneck speed. As with the last installment, the building of suspense was masterful, culminating in an unnerving, terrifying dream sequence stand off with the creature. I wouldn’t recommend reading this without first reading What Moves the Dead. You need the context, and also it’s an incredible story! I do hope she continues this series. I can’t wait to see what is in store for our gallant Gallacian hero and his friends.

What Feasts at Night (Sworn Soldier #2)
Written by T Kingfisher
Read by Avi Roque
Book 19/250
Genre: Horror
Format: Audio/Digital, ARC
Pages/Time: 160/5hr 3min
Published: 2024
Rating: 8.5/10
Narration: 8.5/10
Horror: 👻👻👻

"Nature creates horrors enough all by itself."

What Feasts at Night is an intriguing and eerie follow-up to 2022's "What Moves the Dead". Initially, I was expecting WFaN to be another "Sporror" like WMtD, however, Kingfisher instead uses this installment to expand this world and introduce more supernatural and paranormal threats. With the Maroi, Kingfisher takes this book in a different direction but does a fantastic job at making these feel like a part of the same world. The Sworn Solder series is a must read for any fans of gothic horror!

I thought, What Feasts at Night, was a good sequel to What Moves the Dead. I wasn’t as creeped out by this one, but still enjoyed the folklore and exploration of Easton’s PTSD.

A great gothic, supernatural horror mystery and a solid follow up in the Sworn Soldier series.

Our sworn soldier, Alex Easton, and their bestfriend/valet, Angus, uncover another unsettling supernatural mystery in this gothic follow-up to What Moves the Dead. If you loved What Moves the Dead, you'll be happy to be back with Easton and Angus as they return home to Gallacia, only to discover the caretaker of the family home is missing and the house in disrepair. If you haven't read What Moves the Dead first, you'll still enjoy this book, but might miss some significance between the character relationships.

The vibes in this story are everything. The old gothic mansion sits alone, on the top of a steep hill on the outside of town. I felt like I was there, with the floorboards creaking under my feet.

For generations, the villagers believed in a monster from local folklore is responsible for stealing people's breath, which now resides in the mansion. Easton, Angus and Miss Potter (who you may remember from the first book), work to uncover what is really happening as the time starts ticking before the next person's breath is stolen.

I flew through this audiobook in two sittings. When it comes to narration, Avi Roque is back again! They seamlessly slide between genders, accents and pacing that I had to double check there was only one narrator. Between the strength of the story and the amazing narration, any fan of T. Kingfisher will be glad they checked this out.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this advanced listener copy.

This book is best listened to from your bed in the barn while you listen to the storm outside. If the air starts to feel thin, it's already too late.

What Feasts At Night by T. Kingfisher

In the past 3-4 years, I have become a HUGE fan of T. Kingfisher aka Ursula Vernon.

Ms. Vernon is the author of the Hamster Princess books, which both of my daughters have enjoyed (as have I!). Those books were my introduction to her, along with her social media presence, which I found through Seanan McGuire.

Ordinarily, I don’t like horror. I never wanted to watch scary movies as a kid. I got nightmares from E.T. But based on recommendations I read the Twisted Ones and The Holllow Places and I realized that I loved Ms. Vernon’s writing and I could make it through the scary parts unscathed with her as my guide.

I started devouring her back catalog and putting all new releases on hold at the library. I have subscribed to her Patreon and I convinced my wife to read Nettle and Bone, which she loved (as did I).

I really enjoyed What Moves the Dead when it came out - I adored Angus and Ms. Potter and I thought Alex Easton was one of the most interesting, enjoyable protagonists in a Kingfisher book I had ever seen. (Toadling is still my favorite, I think). I didn’t remember the original Poe story that influenced it, but my only complaint about that book was that it was too short.

So I was thrilled when I found out that a sequel was coming and even more thrilled when I got an audiobook eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This new book, I believe, is not based on a Poe story but is an original creation. And it is wonderful! I was so happy to see Ms. Potter and Angus again, the Widow was my new favorite character, and the story was creepy in all the best ways. The descriptions of Alex’s PTSD feel very real. Once again, my only complaint is that it was too short!

I really liked the narrator as well. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

This sequel of What Moves the Dead, T. Kingfisher's novella retelling of The Fall of the House of Usher, goes in a slightly different direction, but brings back a great cast of characters and maintains the same mystical gothic overtones. I really enjoy this creepy little series & this author's books overall. I listened to the audio and what a treat this was during all of my little tasks. Y'all are going to love this one.

<I>Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

What Feasts at Night from Macmillan Audio

Alex Easton returns!

The absolute stand out option of this novella is the way it directly, compassionately , and thoughtfully addresses Easton’s ptsd from the war. It is a masterful balance between using horror to explore and explain the way Easton’s “Soldier’s Heart” manifests the war as a place that follows them and stays with them in a way that more benign memories cannot. The war is a place that you go, a place that is only one wrong turn away from taking you back. You can get lost in a place.

The tail end of the story really sells the atmospheric creepiness of a haunted rural hunting lodge.

I also appreciate the return of the really interesting and prominent use of neopronouns in this series, not just for the protagonist, but for various supporting characters in a way that interacts compellingly with class and social structure in this world.

Avi Roque returns as the audiobook narrator and delivers a solid performance. I read what Moves the Dead as an ebook, rather than audio, but I was familiar with Roque from their narration of Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas. In both instances I was initially a little thrown because their voice is not quite what you’d expect for someone narrating a grumpy and sarcastic main character-with a very light and pleasant delivery in some scenes where I would have expected something sharper-but they grew on me both times.

I really enjoyed this one! A solid sequel to WMTD. I love Kingfisher’s writing, and the world that she’s has created. I love learning about the Gallacian language (with its many nuanced personal pronouns!) and traditions. I really like Easton and Ms Potter and Angus and Hobb the horse, so it was nice to return to that world and see what they’re up to.

I suppose that I was hoping for more suspense, more creepy gothic vibes. It felt like right when things got interesting and really scary, I was 90% done the book.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance listener copy for review.