The way I was DESPERATELY checking my Netgalley account each day in hopes that my request would be granted! So, from the jump let's just go ahead and say:
Thank you to Netgalley and Tor Nightfire for my early review copy in exchange for an honest review (and for making my February!).

I just loved this book! I really hope there are more novellas in this Sworn Soldier series because I just love everything about Alex Easton and I'm not ready to say goodbye. We even get the return of Hob (god love this silly horse), Angus, and Miss Potter and like last time, none of them disappointed.

What Feasts at Night moved away from the Poe retelling and told a story that was all it's own and just as wonderful. Alex and Angus arrive at the old Easton hunting lodge only to find that the caretaker is gone, and a rumor about an invisible monster that sits on your chest and steals your breath as you sleep is tearing through town -- but certainly those two things can't be connected!?

What Moves the Dead really seemed to focus on grief and sitting with one's grief throughout the story, while this book seems to have a conversation about the locality of PTSD. This idea that trauma isn't an event as much as a place we often can't help but return to just really stuck with me!

"I sometimes think the fundamental disconnect with civilians is that they think a war is an event, something neatly bounded on either end by dates. What anyone who's lived through one can tell you is that it's actually a place. You're there and the you leave, but places don't stop existing just because you aren't looking at them. The war's still there. I don't live in it anymore, but it's right over there... And sometimes, for a little while, I slip over into that other place. The war." (Chapter 9)

I'm always amazed at how much of a punch Kingfisher is able to pack into such a small number of pages.

What Feasts at Night is the perfect balance of atmospheric horror, suspense, and the horrors of the everyday. It's filled with just the right amount of dread, gore, livrit, and humor. It is both cozy and disturbing; comforting and unsettling.

Kingfisher really is a master of the horror genre! And while I will eagerly read anything that she puts out, I secretly hope we get to return to Gallacia!

Final rating: 4.5/5 stars

I read this twice, once to myself and once out loud to my partner. It wasn't particularly compelling either time; I love Alex and kan's thoughts on the war and kan's relationship to Angus, I like Miss Potter and her stiff upper lip, but would honestly rather read a romantic comedy or some charming misadventures between all of them. The moroi wasn't particularly frightening or compelling, although her physical description toward the end of the book was pretty cool, and while I think I get where Kingfisher was going with the turn this took toward the end re: fighting, it felt like it came out of nowhere and unraveled the story for me.

The nitty-gritty: I wanted the gothic creepiness of What Moves the Dead, but instead this sequel lacked the elements that made the first book so good.

I absolutely loved What Moves the Dead last year, and I was honestly surprised to see Kingfisher had written a sequel. The story felt complete to me, but nevertheless I was excited to read What Feasts at Night. Unfortunately, this one didn’t really work for me, as it was missing some of the key ingredients I’ve come to expect from a Kingfisher book. The story was downright boring for the first half, and it only became interesting once the moroi made an appearance. Yes, there are some sweet, feel good moments between the characters, and I did like the way the author explored the themes of PTSD and trauma, but overall this was a lackluster, disappointing story.

We meet up with Alex and Angus from the last book, as they are traveling home to Gallacia after spending time in Paris. Alex is a sworn soldier, dedicated to dropping everything to go to battle if necessary, but they are grateful to be on leave and able to go home, if only for a brief time. Once they arrive at Alex’s hunting lodge, they are unsettled to find it abandoned. Codrin, the caretaker, is missing, and by the looks of it has been gone for weeks. After asking around in the village, they discover that poor Codrin has died, but the villagers are reluctant to reveal any details about his death.

It isn’t until Bors, the grandson of the village woman they hire to take Codrin’s place, falls ill and complains of strange dreams and a horrible weight sitting on his chest that Alex begins to dig into some of the local rumors and mythologies. A creature called a moroi has made an appearance in the village, a creature taking the form of a moth or a beautiful woman (or both) who comes at night and steals people’s breath. Could Codrin have been killed by the moroi? And how will they help Bors? When Alex starts to dream of moths and women, they realize they might be next.

And that’s the story, pretty much. A lot of time is spent in Alex’s head, reflecting on their experiences as a soldier and the horrors they’ve lived through on the battlefield. Alex suffers from “soldier’s heart,” or PTSD as we would call it, and they see the world through these experiences—although the reader is only left to imagine what they might be. Once Alex starts having weird dreams about the moroi, they are sure the dreams are a result of their affliction and not an actual malevolent creature. But that’s the funny thing about dreams. It’s hard to tell what’s real and what isn’t, which is one reason I don’t get along very well with stories that use dreams as a story device. The moroi here felt insubstantial and, yes, dreamlike, and it just didn’t scare me at all.

And while Kingfisher’s writing is as sparkling and humorous as ever, those passages that made me chuckle were few and far between. The whole story has a ponderous, heavy feel to it, much different from the author’s usual lighter tone. I also missed the Eugenia Potter who was such a delight in the first book. Here she’s really just a side character, obsessed with mushrooms and other fungi but not very interesting at all.

My favorite character by far was a surprise to me: the acerbic Widow Botezatu, who takes over care of the lodge after Codrin dies. She’s a firm believer in the supernatural, especially the moroi, and is convinced it’s the creature who is causing her grandson Bors’ illness. She follows the superstitions of old, like putting knives under your pillow at night to ward off evil. She also clashed horribly with Alex in the beginning, adding some much needed conflict to the story.

And oddly enough, my favorite part of the book was an offhand tale about how the nearby town of Wolf’s Ear got its name. This was the sort of classic Kingfisher I was expecting, and I wanted more of it.

Not my favorite T. Kingfisher story, obviously. But as she’s a favorite author, I will always look forward to whatever she writes next.

With thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

A welcome continuation of what felt like a story that ended too soon. As with other works of T. Kingfisher's that I have read, the devil's in the details, particularly with the atmosphere that Kingfisher is able to create and make you feel wholly a part of the story itself. Having much of the cast of characters that were first introduced in 'What Moves the Dead' be featured again was also welcome. Particularly the lovable Hob and the delight that is Ms. Potter being a nod to Beatrix Potter. I was surprised and delighted to find out that 'What Moves the Dead' ended up not being a standalone retelling and even more thrilled to have the opportunity for an ARC. As with the first, the beautiful cover art cannot be missed either and I will definitely be purchasing a physical copy to go along with its equally beautiful companion on my shelves.

The follow-up to What Moves the Dead.
Did we need this? No
Did it add to the character's depth? yes

T. Kingfisher always does a tremendous slow pace with excellent atmospheric tones to a book and they accomplished this again here.

At its heart, this story held a lot of talk and moments dealing with PTSD and being a soldier. The instances in the past book and in our main character's life before when they were involved in a war were explored more. We actually say it comes to light about their trauma and how terrifying it was. The 'supernatural' part of the story did assist with this but I truly don't think it added more else.

Once again a very good atmospheric short novel by T. Kingfisher. I would definitely continue this series however how long it goes.
I love that it has creepy elements, but it's not overbearing (even though, I thought the first novel was more spooky and I liked it better). It is very slow and the characters are very much importants with good dialogues (but once again, I did prefer the sass of the first one).
And those covers. These books as objects are pure art.

I love T. Kingfisher and this novella is a perfect example of why. The wit in her writing and the spark in her storytelling are paramount to great books. I like that this little book packs a big punch. The characters, old and new, are delightfully real and well developed. The plot felt fresh and well put together. I look forward to more Easton novels as well as anything else this author wants to write.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Tor Nightfiare and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this novel by the one-and-only T. Kingfisher, with the audio perfectly narrated by Avi Roque - 4.5 creepy stars!

In this follow-up to the wonderful What Moves the Dead, a fabulous retelling of Poe's The House of Usher, we once again meet Alex Easton, retired soldier, his friend and groom, Angus, and horse, Hob, return to their family hunting lodge for a much-needed rest. But upon their arrival, they discover the caretaker is dead and the lodge in shambles. Village rumors talk of a breath-stealing creature who has taken up residence in the lodge.

It was wonderful to reunite with these characters. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you really should read What Moves the Dead to get the backstories of the characters. This is less horror and more creepy, spine-tingling, with a touch of Kingfisher's wit thrown in. Interesting thoughts about PTSD and trauma as well. Quick read and the audio narration was great!

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher was such a creepy and atmospheric read and I enjoyed it very much. I know that the first in this series follows the Fall of the House of Usher and I wasn't sure how it was going to continue but I was pleasantly surprised by it. It was more of an original story with characters we met in the first book. As always, T. Kingfisher has such a way of creating a weird atmosphere in her books but it works so well. This was suspenseful and I was flying through reading this because I wanted to know what was going to happen. It was unsettling in the best way possible.

T. Kingfisher does not disappoint with this new installment in the Sworn Soldier series. The first in the series left me wondering about Easton's homeland Gallacia, and I was happy to discover that What Feasts at Night delivers all the worldbuilding info I was so curious about! Gallacian culture and traditions are peppered throughout the text, and built upon in a way that it enriches the plot, which makes for excellent worldbuilding.

As always we are thrown into a dreary scenario, but Kingfisher's humour is always present to pierce through the gloom. Miss Potter, wanting to be a good guest, acquires a Gallacian phrasebook, which leads to many humorous encounters as the phrases in question are for the most part vulgar and outdated. Here too the group is faced once again with a force they cannot understand.

I've come to like how Easton responds to conflict, not quite logically like a detective would, but rational nonetheless. And with heart. The whole cast of characters are charming and absolutely endearing. I am very much looking forward to following Easton's adventures.

Thank you, T. Kingfisher, Tor publishing group, and NetGalley for the ARC.

"The follow-up to T. Kingfisher's bestselling gothic novella, What Moves the Dead.

Retired soldier, Alex Easton, returns in a horrifying new adventure.

After their terrifying ordeal at the Usher manor, Alex Easton feels as if they just survived another war. All they crave is rest, routine, and sunshine, but instead, as a favor to Angus and Miss Potter, they find themself heading to their family hunting lodge, deep in the cold, damp forests of their home country, Gallacia.

In theory, one can find relaxation in even the coldest and dampest of Gallacian autumns, but when Easton arrives, they find the caretaker dead, the lodge in disarray, and the grounds troubled by a strange, uncanny silence. The villagers whisper that a breath-stealing monster from folklore has taken up residence in Easton's home. Easton knows better than to put too much stock in local superstitions, but they can tell that something is not quite right in their home. . . or in their dreams."

All at once everyone I know read What Moves the Dead and now I am among them clamoring for this book.

As with the first in the series, this is a gothic style, slow burn plot. It's creepy, but not your standard horror. There's a good sense of place and folklore. There are small references to the events in the first book and, though not entirely necessary, I would recommend reading it prior to this.

This series follows gender non-conforming former soldier Alex Easton though different horrifying experiences in the fictional country of Gallacia in the late 1800s. While the first book is a retelling of the fall of the house of Usher featuring The Last of Us style mushrooms this novella features a ghost that steals your breath.

While good, its not quite as creepy as I wanted. It could have used more substance to the horror/haunting aspects. I still enjoy T. Kingfishers writing and the characters. Maybe too much because I just wanted more.

T. Kingfisher returns with their Sworn Solider Alex Easton in this follow up to What Moves the Dead. Finally, we get to see Easton's home country as they return to their home country of Gallacia with the intent of hosting Miss Potter, the mycologist, at their family lodge. What follows is a steep decline into the world of Eastern European folklore, ghosts, and just plain old unadulterated horror.

What I absolutely love about Kingfisher's writing is that from the start, I am completely immersed in the worldbuilding. I can feel the moisture in the air and the dark sense of foreboding as Easton comes upon the abandoned lodge. With less than 200 pages, Kingfisher weaves a folkloric tale, that is truly spine tingling. Unlike the first installment in the series that is a retelling of Poe's signature short story, The Fall of the House of Usher, What Feasts at Night is its own tale of ghosts and possession. There is also a lot of references to PTSD, or Solider's Heart during WW1. which makes the events at the lodge straddle the lines between reality, hallucinations, and the supernatural.

What Feasts at Night can be read either as a sequel or as a standalone horror novella. I highly recommend it for lovers of gothic literature and fans of T. Kingfisher's previous works will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tor Nightfire, and T. Kingfisher for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest 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 Tor Nightfire for this e-arc.*

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!

An interesting follow-up to What Moves the Dead, although it fails to grab the reader quite as intensely. The story moves quickly, but didn't make much of an impression overall.

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.

The formatting was broken in the Kindle version, I wasn’t able to read. Leaving five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor for the ARC.