Lemme tell you that this was a whirl wind of a duology. This book did NOT disappoint and I really loved how it continued with on the edge wanting to know what happens all the way through it. Genoveva absolutely made a very beautiful, but dark, world that really captivates so much of the slavic culture and mythology. I loved seeing the introduction or further interactions of different mythological beings and creatures. This story was so good and the character growth was really solid.

The narrator was absolutely amazing through both ALCs and this one was just the same. They did an excellent performance and the story unfolded so beautifully.

⭐FOUL DAYS & MONSTROUS NIGHTS⭐ by @gen_dimova were a lovely duology filled with danger and magic. Thank you to the author, @netgalley and the publishers @torbooks and @macmillan.audio for the physical and audio-ARCs of FOUL DAYS and the finished copy and audio-ARC for MONSTROUS NIGHTS.

💚💚💚

I was immediately immersed in the story of Kosara, a witch, who we first meet in a pub in Chernograd, drinking the time away and playing cards with monster hunters, scallywags and rogues as the very first hours of the Foul Days begin on New Year's. This means the skies and streets of Chernograd will be filled with monsters of Slavic folklore for 12 full days while neighboring Belograd sits safely behind the magical barrier wall that divides the two cities. This is problematic. Especially since the Zmey, known as the Tsar of Monsters is her ex and is currently trying to get into the pub. To kill her. Even though she has defeated all manner of monsters such as rusulkas, kikimoras and lycanthropes, she knows she is no match for the Zmey.

When a man wearing a necklace with 12 witch's shadows appears in the bar and offers Kosara a way to rid herself of the Zmey for good if she just gives him her shadow as well, Kosara reluctantly agrees and is thrown into a spiral of chaos and betrayal.

✨✨✨

These books totally slapped for me! I read them really close together so nothing was lost in between and it was quite a ride. Full of action, adventure, capers, magic and soaked in Slavic folklore, I gobbled up Kosara's story and even really enjoyed most of the side characters. The writing was full of wit and humor and there were definitely some social justice vibes in terms of exposing the haves vs have-nots.

If you like fantasy adventures fueled by folklore and strong female leads, enjoy an action-packed duology, or are up for some general monstrous shenanigans, pick these books up!

Though not quite as good in my opinion as the first, I still greatly enjoyed this series conclusion. The world was great to return to, and some of the loose threads left behind at the end of Foul Days had satisfying conclusions. It's in the wrapping up of those loose threads where my criticism of this installment lies: I found that the book relied too heavily on tying up those ends, to a point of feeling a bit like it was the leftovers of book one.

That said, I still found the plot engaging, the characters quirky and rootable, and the world easy to fall back into. Definitely excited to see what the author does next.

Really awesome sequel!!

The production quality was excellent, with seamless transitions and no distracting background noise. Whether you’re a seasoned audiobook listener or trying one for the first time, this one is a solid pick for hours of enjoyable storytelling.

Monstrous Nights is an exciting and satisfying conclusion to Foul Days by Genoveva Dimova, picking up six months after the events of Foul Days. Kosara and Asen face the unraveling consequences of their battle with the Zmey. With the barrier between worlds weakening, monsters begin spilling into Chernograd outside of the Foul Days, setting the stage for a high-stakes mystery and intense action.

I loved the blend of Slavic folklore, dark fantasy, and well-developed characters. Kosara’s internal struggle with her newfound power and her growing relationship with Asen added depth to the story. The mystery surrounding the murders and the increasing monster attacks kept the pacing fast and engaging. Dimova’s lush world-building and unique creatures make this series stand out, and the glossary of monsters at the end was a delightful touch. Fans of dark, magical adventures will find this duology a must-read, and I can’t wait to see what Dimova writes next.

A perfect ending to this fun, adventure-filled duology! With witches, betrayal, monsters, and a marriage, we see Kosara navigate her evolving world and her growing power.

I really enjoyed this sequel and end to the duology! It started off a bit slower than book one but I'm happy to say that the same tone, excitement, magic and monster hunting is present! I really enjoyed Kosara's character arc in this one - we can really see how the darkness from her past comes and impacts her. My favourite part is still the world building and the monsters pulled from Balkan folklore. They are used so creatively in the story. That being said, I felt like the narration of the audiobook also added to my enjoyment! I'm excited to see what Dimova writes next.

A big thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved FOUL DAYS and was so excited to waltz back into the city of Chernograd with Kosara and Asen. This time, there are dual points of view which are voiced by two amazing narrators in the audiobook. Y’all already know I’m obsessed with Zura Johnson and Tim Campbell did a wonderful job matching the atmosphere Zura created in book one. Together, this duo brought the characters to life and I was immediately and easily brought back into the story and ended up bingeing it in one sitting. If you’re an audiobook lover, this duology isn’t to be missed!

Now in possession of the shadows of twelve witches, Kosara finds herself with enormous power but sometimes the shadows have minds of their own. The barrier between worlds is thinning and causing odd things to happen. The worst of which is the appearance of monsters who should only be out and about during the Foul Days. Asen is still on the hunt to catch Konstantin Karaivanov and finds himself back in Chernograd. Kosara feels it is her responsibility to fix the barrier and she teams up with Asen again to try and set everything right. But the path they must take is more treacherous than either imagined.

A rare sequel that holds up to the first book! This was just as engaging and adventurous as the first book, and the audiobook narrator did a great job with this again. I felt like the character evolved and all had a significant role, there was no one that was just there to prop up other characters. They all had their storyline and were equally fulfilling to read. We also had Asen’s POV this time and I thought it was a nice addition. This installment felt a bit longer and slower to start and at times I was wondering where we were heading with the plot but we got there in the end. I thought the entire storyline and world building were very strong and equally fun to read. Overall I cannot recommend this duology (and especially the audiobook version) enough!

Thanks to NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for this ALC that I chose to read and review

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC!

A fantasy duology is just such a sweet spot, and Genoveva did an amazing job writing this Slavic-inspired duo! MONSTROUS NIGHTS is the conclusion I was looking for -- expanded world-building from FOUL DAYS and a continuation of the dark atmosphere and romantic subplot. In this book, we get Asen's POV as well, with an additional narrator (Tim Campbell in addition to Zura Johnson). The folklore is so strong, and I loved the variety of monsters, including the “Practical Guide to Monsters” in the back. This is a fantastic audiobook, and I highly recommend this duology!

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for sending me an early copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!

I'm really glad I stuck with these books after book 1 because I feel like this book wrapped the story arc up so well and was a very satisfying sequel. I loved the world and the way that it was showcased through the characters and their struggles. It was a unique world but also did not feel too complicated to understand and feel immersed in.

I love the message in this story of feminine strength not being a solitary idea. There is always a community of women willing to help their sisters and it was such a beautiful story to have that at its heart.

The romance was really cute and the angst of it was perfect for the two of them.

I really enjoyed these books and would definitely recommend it to any fantasy lover out there!

Full transparency, i'd dnfed Foul Days a while back, not really feeling Kosara nor the world Genoveva Dimova had crafted in the 6 chapters i'd read. Luckily i was able to get some audio support this time around, even though it's not my chosen medium, but i heard great things about the narrators, Tim Campbell & Zura Johnson, and YES they were marvelous!!!!

The story itself was dynamic and intriguing, and i did not have any trouble picking up the energy of what went down in book 1 that led to the events in <b>Monstrous Nights</b>. and now i'm actually looking forward to going back to Foul Days at some point in the future to fill in the blank spaces because this was pretty cool.

Keeping it real though, i was NOT a fan of the romance. the MCs catching feelings was so limp and unnecessary, and for me, this story was complex and energetic enough for it to not have been a thing in the first place.

Kosara was one of those characters who crawl for a looooong time before they stand in their power, and because of this she definitely was not a favourite. she just never seemed to learn from the millions of times she got screwed over, and ofc her shadows would act the way they did because she didn't boss up. I'm simply NOT into narrative that takes the FMC 75%+ to throw down top tier skills. But i really enjoyed Asen's flex, and thought he was endearing as a romance reading monster-in-the-making, that gave both cozy and unconventional hero vibes. And so, coupled with my self-imposed ignorance about why this cop was seeking justice for his dead wife, the layers of monsters, witches, vicious villains, an insidious menace trapped in a wall and a lore rich magical world to navigate was an exciting and entertaining add to my headspace whenever my kindle wasn't on hand!

Really enjoyed this fantasy based on Slavic folklore, and really glad i gave this duology another chance because this was fabulous! Looking forward to more from Dimova in the future because this was one of the more unique fantasy reads i've had in a while and i love to celebrate that energy!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy in exchange for an honest review!

I’m surprised at how much I’ve enjoyed this series—it originally was on my radar because I love Rovina Cai’s covers, and I generally really trust Tor as a publisher. In Foul Days, I loved the Slavic folklore and setting, and Monstrous Nights had that same energy. I cared little for the romance, which is still true here, but I did enjoy the character development and a lot of the interactions between characters. This was a very strong sequel and I wasn’t expecting some of the directions Dimova took the story. The monster hunting was excellent and I felt that on the whole, Monstrous Nights was noticeably more polished. The duology is satisfying and I’m glad I picked it up!

Zura Johnson and Tim Campbell were great narrators, and I thought they both did a good job at elevating the atmosphere of the story.

I received the ebook and audiobook as an Arc from NetGalley. Thank you NetGalley!!

This book is the 2nd of a now completed duology that follows a witch and a cop. Our witch / FMC is starting off in a better place with unbelievable power but her past trauma continues to haunt her. Our cop / MMC is still trying to build a case to arrest the man who took something from him that left him a husk of a man. There is still an element of uptown vs the slums with a wall dividing the cities. There are also lots of magical creatures - some are friendly like the house spirits, and some not so much. The audiobook was again very well done and I enjoyed listening to the narrator. Both books are based on Slavic folklore which makes it unique and appealing.

Overall, this was a satisfying conclusion to a fast paced story. I’m giving it a 4!

Once in awhile you stumble upon a series that sets itself apart from the others. This is one of those series. Kosara is back with her twelve shadows in tow. The shadows give her insight into Zmey’s deadly marriages as well as an uncontrollable, immense power. Meanwhile Asen is trying to solve another murder and finds himself one again on Kosara’s doorstep asking for her help. The sexual tension between the two is off the charts as they both try to ignore their feelings. They find themselves once again battling monsters and questioning the intentions of those in their inner circle. No one can be trusted and there are secrets and spells that must be solved in order to prevent the barrier between the world of monsters and their world to vanish.

This is such a good series. The Slavic folklore it’s based on is rich in detail and filled with many interesting monsters, myths and characters. There is magic, mystery, romance, action and really good monsters—🐓 I loved it cans cannot wait to see what is next for Dimova. I will read whatever she writes!!

The audiobook was narrated flawlessly with the accents and authentic pronunciations of names and places. It was narrated with emotion and included two narrators which is always a plus when done well, and this one is done very well!!

5 ⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5/5 Stars | Near Immaculate end to this Duology

What I liked: This was a fantastic sequel and very much built on everything we learned in book 1. I loved the deeper dive into how some of the magic works and a more intentional lens on some of the side characters that we had already known. I LOVE THE GENERAL VIBE BETWEEN KOSARA AND ASEN AND I NEED MORE BOOKS WITH THEM PLEASE AND THANK YOU. Also, the dual narration of the audio book was DELIGHTFUL.

What I didn't like: Not much! I will say that I expected much more from <spoiler>Lamia and the Zmey</spoiler> based on the ending of the first book and the build-up in this one. ALSO, I would have liked a deeper glance into Asen & Kosara (Give the people what they WANT, GENOVEVA).

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the copy of the audiobook!

I actually really enjoyed this audiobook. I did prefer the male narrator over the female narrator but overall so well done. The change in accents to differentiate between character's dialogue was quite helpful. I'm not sure if the audiobook make the book feel longer or if the book was actually long but it was a very lengthy audiobook.

his review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I really enjoyed the first book of this The Witch's Compendium of Monsters series. I seem to enjoy many Slavic mythology fantasy books. I don't want to repeat my review of the first book, so I'll give you a very short recap of the world and characters. I would read these books in order.

I liked Kosara who is a witch living in Chernograd. It is on one side of the wall and has witches, monster hunters, smugglers, thieves and some poverty. During Foul Days around New Year, the monsters come out at night.

Asen is a cop in Belograd. He is a widower, married to the daughter of the biggest crook, who killed his own daughter. Belograd is full of wealth and is safe from monsters due to the wall between the cities. They do have smugglers and thieves, just no monsters.

In Foul Days, Kosara teamed up with Asen to fight the monsters. They were frenemies who fell for each other. I wanted to read more about them working together.

Monstrous Nights starts out about 6 months later, and I was disappointed that Kosara is in Chernograd and Asen is in Belograd, not in contact. Asen starts to go after his FIL, the big crook and is found out by one of his complicit. So he runs for his life, to Chernograd and Kosara.

In Chernograd, the monsters are coming out and it is not the Foul Days! So Asen and Kosara do form a team again feeling the other does not want them. They work to avenge Asen wife and to figure out how to fix the tear and the wall to save people.

I'm leaving out a key component which is Zmey who is a monster who took a witch bride from Chernograd every year, married her and then within a year killed her for her magic and her shadow. Kosara was a possible bride who escaped. Her sister did not. Zmey lived in the monster realm. Another witch who escaped was Vila who is a mentor to young witches.

I enjoyed seeing Asen and Kosara together and solving the world's problems in spite of their doubts. Their doubts of themselves, each other and the strength they would need to defeat the evil and greedy who took and murdered without remorse. Monstrous Nights also had a glossary of sorts at the end about the different types of monsters. I hope this is not the end.

Narration:
I'm appreciating the narrators for this series. There is one for Kosara and the chapters from her point of view and another for Asen and his chapters. The voices felt authentic for the region along with the accents. I am not knowledgeable enough to say they are accurate but were comfortable for me. There were distinct voices for characters. I really enjoyed the emotional tones which added to the performance. I listened at my usual 1.5x speed.

Oh my goodness! I took a few days to try to gather my thoughts after finishing this and I'm just still a bit speechless.
I still can't believe that this is the conclusion but alas, all good things must come to an end. I just have to say that the world building in this series is amazing. I absolutely loved it and I felt like I was there within that town battling all the baddies. Such a good book to get lost in. The banter is my favorite, and I feel like everything that could have gone wrong did. I couldn't help but laugh at some of the scenes with the witty banter. I was completely hooked from the beginning with Tim Campbell's narration. The tones and inflections used were great. A very good conclusion to a fantastic Slavic folklore story.

Monstrous Nights is the conclusion of the Foul Days duology. It is essential to read Foul Days first, and I'd recommend rereading if it's been awhile since you read the first. There is no recap here, and I found it difficult to get reoriented within this world. Part of that is because Dimova has created such a wonderfully complex and unique space here with roots in Slavic folklore. It is not a world I know well, though I appreciate it deeply. I wish this was a trilogy so I could spend more time here.
That being said, I didn't enjoy this sequel as much as Foul Days. In addition to it being harder to get into, I didn't find other elements satisfying. Hugely complicated conflicts felt resolved too simplistically after so much page time, and anticipated character reunions felt flat. The ending was nice, but the wrap up was fast. Some huge elements were resolved in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it sentence.
This is still a worthwhile read, and I'll absolutely be reading this author again.
I listened to the audiobook, and there is something about the way Zura Johnson says the word "cold" that feels perfectly fitting. I really enjoyed listening to her narrate this series. Tim Campbell joined this one to read Asen's chapters (though the entire book is in third person), and he did a great job too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC!