Thank you Netgalley and Tor Publishing Group for this ARC. I thought the cover was interesting so requested the follow-up to T. Kingfisher’s bestselling gothic novella, What Moves the Dead.

My OCD brain wanted to read the first book, but this is described as a standalone novella, so I jumped right in. It became very clear this book was not going to be for me. Had it not been less than 150 pages, it would have been a DNF. I found the story very slow, and unremarkable.

This was a really fun, quick read. It is all about the characters and the interactions.

Kingfisher has really struck gold with Alex Easton. She is a fantastic character that just seems to pull in great supporting characters with some of the best banter that I have ever read. Reconnecting with Alex, Angus and Miss Potter was great; Widow Botezatu and her grandson, Bors, were fantastic additions to the cast.

I love Gallacia, it doesn’t exist, or does it? There is a certain vagueness to it. Kingfisher makes it seem like a possible place that may exist somewhere in Europe, maybe. This allows her to create the culture, have fun with superstitions, and generally make it all up as she goes. The reader never knows what crazy Gallacian quirk is around the corner.

All in all, I had a great time in Gallacia with Alex, and I can envision many entertaining adventures to come.
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*4.5 Stars

Ahoy there me mateys!  Alex Easton wants rest after the horror of the House of Usher.  They head to their Gallacian hunting lodge to recuperate.  However, the time there turns into a literal nightmare out of local folktales.

I thought the first book ended perfectly as a standalone.  I was still excited to get another adventure dealing with Alex. Those readers expecting the horror of the first novella are likely to be slightly disappointed.  There is not a lot of suspense in this story as the reader knows exactly what is happening.  It takes Alex and co. at lot longer to figure it out.  It seemed a bit silly that Alex is so stubborn about the issue.

Ultimately, this book really is about Alex dealing with her PTSD from the war that was exacerbated by the Usher experience.  I really enjoyed this novella despite the very different tone from the first book.  The housekeeper was a great character whose disgruntled state was fun to read about.  Agnus and Miss Potter continue to be lovely.

While this might not have gone in the fashion I would have wanted, the characters still made this read very enjoyable.  If there is ever a third book, I would pick it up too.  Arrrrr!

After rating Kingfisher's "What Moves the Dead" as my top book of the year in 2023, I was excited to read its followup, "What Feasts at Night." I was not disappointed.

Early 20th c. Alex Easton returns from the big city to a hunting cabin passed down to him by his family to find an eerie silence has beset the place and its caretaker has disappeared. While searching for all logical explanations for the disturbing turns of events after his arrival, Easton finds himself threatened by the same forces that overwhelmed the old caretaker.

Kingfisher is a master of mood-setting wordplay, of dark humor and cheery characterization, and of unspooling dream sequences as though I were living them myself. I found myself unsure what was real and what was imaginary, what was rational and what was believable, and what I'd be thinking in Easton's shoes. I finished the short volume quickly and am telling everyone I know to look out for this book.

WHAT FEASTS AT NIGHT follows Alex Easton, the MC from WHAT MOVES THE DEAD, as they return to their (fictional) homeland of Gallacia to host Miss Potter (also from WMTD) at the hunting lodge they inherited. Only, when Easton and Angus return to the hunting lodge, they find that the caretaker has died and there seems to be an odd presence at the lodge.

I basically highlighted the ENTIRE first chapter of this novella. The writing is just insane and so vivid and visceral. The imagery and vibes Kingfisher creates are ominous, dark, and isolating, setting the perfect scene for this haunting tale. Being inside of Easton's head in this story, you get insight into how their experiences in the war shape their experience of the disturbance at their family hunting lodge. However, this does differ a bi from it's predecessor in that this story (SLIGHT SPOILER) does lean more into paranormal/fantasy than science, as WMTD did. Which can really go either way. I really enjoyed that element of science explaining these seemingly paranormal occurrences in WMTD, but I still enjoyed how this story leaned more into folklore of Gallacia.

I also really enjoyed learning more about this fictional country of Gallacia, with the beliefs and customs of the people to the language (Miss Potter's phrase book is perfection!), it's really interesting and brash and such an important element of the story.

I would reread it for the brain-scratching writing alone, but this is a great read for those looking for a story that will give them the creeps, question their reality, and even warrant a couple laughs. I did give it three stars only because I gave WMTD four stars and I did enjoy that read just a bit more than this one, but both are chilling, creepy, visceral, and entertaining.

Thank you to Netgalley & Tor Nightfire for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this novella before publication.

Atmospheric, spooky, creepy, and as Chilling as snow in Gallacia! Alex Easton is definitely one of my favourite heroes. I love them very much lol.

Love to be back with Alex Easton and the gang for another round of Wacky Shenanigans in a Fake European Countryside! Is that not the series name? It should be. Anyway. I just adore the characters and the world, so I was sold. I also won’t say much because look, it’s a sequel novella, and I should not be writing more words than the author, right?

I will say, I did not like the story quite as much as its predecessor. I cannot decide if it is just a personal preference (I personally preferred the environmental mystery to a paranormal one, which is definitely a “me” thing) or if the story didn’t hit as hard. Regardless, the truth is I would probably be totally fine with just reading a hundred or so pages about the characters traipsing through their daily lives, so it wasn’t a huge problem for me. I love learning more about them, and about the world. I also enjoyed the new characters we were introduced to, and thought it was great to see some new viewports from different people and places.

Bottom Line: Still wonderfully weird and full of delightful humor and characters, while this mystery didn’t pull me in quite as much, I still definitely enjoyed the story!

What Feasts at Night is a phenomenal gothic novella by T. Kingfisher.
My fifth novel by this author and I’m convinced she can’t write anything bad!
This was a brilliant and creepy story.
The writing was great, the story super atmospheric & weird.
I fell into this world hard and fast, with the author's incredibly atmospheric prose and witty dialogue. I adored Alex and the other characters, loved their interactions, and could not put the book down.
Gripping, immersive, and absolutely masterful, What Feasts at Night reels you in with the promise of beauty, and holds you tight with Young’s signature grit. I couldn’t turn the pages quickly enough.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

After loving What Moves the Dead in 2022, I eagerly gobbled up What Feasts at Night. T. Kingfisher has once again woven an expertly crafted spooky tale filled with dread, fascinating lore, and her signature dark humor in this novella. These characters are far more compelling, complete, and likeable than many I've read in far longer books. Kingfisher has also written a wonderfully honest experience of PTSD from a perspective that isn't often seen.

I did find myself wishing there was a little bit more after reading What Feasts at Night, which while I commonly feel with novellas, I did not feel that way with this book's predecessor. I wish there'd been a little more lore explained behind the Moroi. I think What Moves the Dead avoided this pitfall by simply being a retelling of a familiar story. What Feasts at Night didn't have that base to fall back on.

All in all, I still absolutely loved my time back with Easton, Angus, Miss Potter, and my favorite Hob, and am looking forward to picking up the hardcover when it's released!

What Feasts at Night is another gem from Kingfisher. Once again following the adventures of Gallacian sworn soldier, Alex Easton, this was a quick and easy read. Easton is a witty, humorous, and interesting protagonist that finds themselves fighting not only a mysterious entity but also "soldiers heart" (PTSD) from battles past. Joining in with Lieutenant Easton are a few past favorites of mine, Angus and Miss Potter, as well as a couple of new characters (I'm partial to grumpy old ladies so Widow Botezatu is my favorite), ensuring this was a fun read with an intriguing mystery

Thanks to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for an ARC!

Alex Easton returns, still reeling from their experience at the Usher manor. This time, as a favour to Angus and new friend Miss Potter, Easton is headed to a family hunting lodge deep in Gallacia. Unfortunately, they arrive to discover that the caretaker has died, and under circumstance a many consider to be supernatural.

This was a 3/5 star read for me. I really loved “What Moves the Dead” and was hoping to experience a similar horror in this novel. Unfortunately I was let down.

Kingfisher’s writing remains solid, with strong descriptions and a clear structure. However, I found the narration style much less charming this time than in the previous “Sworn Soldier” novel. I don’t know if my taste have changed or if it just stuck out more, but I came to find Easton’s tongue in cheek style unnecessary and slowing the story down at points.

The characters in this novel were not as strong as in previous entries, with very little room for character development. The plot also suffered from this, as things proceeded at a formulaic pace. In both cases it was necessarily bad, it just wasn’t nearly as good as I was expecting. This definitely feels like more of a novella, and not full deserving of a full novel consideration.

The horror passages were still well done, with description and the right amount of build to be entertaining. This book lacked the mystery of the previous entry, as the creature is exactly what villagers suspect and tell the characters from the beginning. There is nothing unexpected, and that was where much of the success lied in “What Moves The Dead”. That said, fans of supernatural horror (which I am not) may like this more than I did!

Yet again I am in awe of all the magic and terror that Kingfisher is able to pack into such a short novel. How is it possible to craft such a well paced, thoughtful, emotional story in less than 150 pages. Kingfisher does, in less than 150 pages, what other authors hope to achieve in four or five hundred.
Perfectly blended humor with horror elements, this book had me in a death grip. I couldn’t put it down. I devoured it in one sitting. No regrets. Well, only that I have to wait for the next book.
10/10 highly recommend to anyone looking for something sophisticated, funny, and unsettling.

"What Feasts at Night" by T. Kingfisher continues the chilling journey initiated in "What Moves the Dead," reintroducing us to beloved characters in a nightmarish nineteenth-century Europe. This horror novella delves into the unsettling lore of the moroi, a vampire-like entity that preys upon the vitality of the sleeping. Kingfisher expertly maintains a well-paced narrative, weaving suspense and atmosphere throughout the tale. Particularly captivating are the dream sequences, which add layers of intrigue and mystique to the story. "What Feasts at Night" is a compelling read that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

I loved What Moves the Dead. It was one of my favourite books of 2022. When it was announced that T. Kingfisher would be writing a sequel, I was beyond excited. Thankfully, What Feasts at Night kept all the tonality, dark humour, mystery, imagery, and horror that I loved in the first book, but repackaged it with a brand new, fully developed plot reminiscent of a genre classic.
Having now read both books, I can comfortably say that one of the things I kind of adore with the Sworn Soldier series is how these stories are written. To me, both novels seem to harken back to classic detective fiction. Old favourites like Pierrot, Sherlock Holmes, and even a little Philip Marlowe. Alex Easton feels like one of those characters. This is mostly due to the style of the narrative present in both What Moves the Dead and What Feasts at Night—intensely plot driven murder mysteries that offer a camaraderie with the characters as opposed to an explicit focus on their development in a single novel. I think really the only difference is that while classic detective fiction is a whodunnit, Kingfisher’s more fantastical take brings in an element of what-dunnit? There is an evenly poured mixture of both science and paranormal to offer both a rational and irrational answer to the mysteries encountered, and I like that. It pulls the plot firmly away from clean conclusions and pushes it more in the direction of horror; really allowing the unnerving imagery that T. Kingfisher seems to excel at to shine through.
Overall, I loved this book just as much as I did the first and I fully see it becoming a memorable favourite of 2024 despite the fact it is only February.

(Joint review posted on The Library Ladies blog on February 12)

Kate's Thoughts:

When Serena told me there was going to be a new "Sworn Soldier" story, I knew that I was already game to read it because of how much I enjoyed "What Moves the Dead". I wasn't sure of what to expect, as while the first book in the series was a retelling of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Fall of the House of Usher", I didn't know if Kingfisher intended to do more Poe, or another classic horror author/story. But when I saw the description and saw that it had a 'breath stealing monster', and that the title implied that it was happening at night, I FLIPPED because I KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE A NIGHT HAG!!!

HELL YEAH, one of my favorite folklore beings that fills me with ALL THE DREAD! (source)

Quick folklore lesson: a Night Hag, also known as a Boo Hag, a Mare, Karabasan, Witch Riding, and many other things, is almost certainly sleep paralysis, in which someone wakes in the middle of the night, unable to move, with a feeling of something pressing on your chest making it hard to breathe. I have been obsessed with Night Hag mythology ever since I went to Savannah for the first time and was fully terrified by the idea of a demonic force sitting on your chest and sucking your essence out of you while you slept. So "What Feasts at Night" is one HUNDRED percent up my alley, and I loved what Kingfisher did with it within her fictional setting of Gallacia. The slow build up of Alex slowly realizing that the people in the community they have recently returned to are falling ill by something mysterious and unknown, and starting to realize that perhaps it isn't just superstition, was a great slow burn of eeriness and the exact kind of unsettling atmosphere I would want and expect from a Night Hag story. But Kingfisher always knows how to balance out the scares with some humorous moments as well, and there were PLENTY of moments that I was laughing out loud as well as reveling in the creepiness of the plot. And finally, I liked getting to know Alex a little bit more, whether it's through flashbacks to their time in combat and how they are still coping with that, or with seeing them interact with familiar faces as well as new ones as they try to figure out what killed their old friend, and what may be targeting others as well.

"What Feasts at Night" was another spooky and spirited horror lite story from T. Kingfisher! Love seeing Night Hags in any story, and this one was pretty well done!

Serena's Thoughts

Unlike Kate, I had no idea what type of horror story this was drawing from when reading the description. I've read other horror stories about beings that come in dreams or at night and sit on one's chest (and the connection to sleep paralysis) but I didn't know anything about the history of this type of being or any of its names. That's all to say, even without any background knowledge, man, Kingfisher nailed the creepiness of this creature! I've never had sleep paralysis, but I do have "exploding head syndrome" fairly regularly, so I have a visceral reaction to this sort of story about some nefarious being/thing taking advantage of the vulnerability of sleep. While the horror stuff was definitely a slow burn affair, when it arrived, it was truly creepy. There was one scene in particular with the horses that really stuck with me, both because it was so viscerally horrifying, but also because...never mess with the horses!!

As for the rest of it, like Kate, I wasn't sure what to expect from a return to this world. The first book was so successful on its own, perfectly introducing this character and world and neatly wrapping up that tale by the end in a way that felt complete. But I was pleasantly surprised by what we got here. Alex remains an excellent lead character with a distinct, often hilarious, POV. I also really enjoyed that the story took place in their homeland of Gallacia. We heard a decent amount about this fictional country in the first book, but we got even more here. I loved the whole "lovingly exasperated" take that Alex and the locals seem to have about their own country and its culture and history. Again, lots of laugh-out-loud lines to be found here.

Overall, I loved this book just as much as the first! Sign me up for a return to this world and character at any time! Can't wait to find what other normal life event (like sleep) Kingfisher will manage to make terrifying for me...

Serena's Rating 8: Leave it to Kingfisher to write a book that left me terrified to go to sleep but also cackling my way through the night.

Kate's Rating 8: A fun take on Night Hag mythology and folklore, "What Feasts at Night" is scary, entertaining, and another enjoyable horror lite tale from T. Kingfisher!

I have enjoyed some of the author's previous books so I requested this one. I understood that it was a companion novel but early on I realized that I did not have enough information to properly read and review this title.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

I really enjoyed this follow up to What Moves the Dead! It can work as a standalone, but I say read What Moves the Dead first anyway. I love the lush, atmospheric prose! The setting is perfection. I continue to be impressed by T. Kingfisher's writing and stories!

"Nature creates horrors enough all by itself."

Here's another creepy and atmospheric tale from one of my favorite authors.

Alex Easton, the much beleaguered retired soldier is back. This time his supernatural foe isn't a fungus among us, but a nocturnal visitor who sucks the life out of her unconscious victims. I thought the ghost/demon was a little too easily vanquished, but Kingfisher sure knows how to weave a mesmerizing story.

'What Feasts At Night' is an incredible follow-up to T. Kingfisher's 'What Moves The Dead' and a continuation of the Poe-inspired universe. T. Kingfisher has become my go-to for gothic horrors, the writing in this novella is engaging, visceral and addictive. Truly, the Poe of our generation - I said what I said.

I’m not a thriller/mystery/horror reader, but I think I’d read anything this author would write. I thoroughly enjoyed both books and loved that they were quick reads.