This novella follows Easton and Angus, two soldiers who have returned to Easton's hunting lodge to rest only to find their old friend dead and talk of a moroi haunting(and killing) others. Quick-paced with engaging characters, I did feel like I missed out on the first book though events were referred to in passing.

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

Release Date: February 13, 2024
Genre: Horror

My Thoughts: A cozy cottage horror with a unique take on the night hag. Once again Kingfisher perfectly combines horror and comedy in a quick and easy to read novella. This story meshes well with What Moves the Dead, including the same main characters while introducing some new ones. As always, I appreciate LGBTQIA+ representation in books. The non-binary characters make me happy!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Net Galley and Tor Nightfire for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"What Feasts at Night" is the second adventure of Alex Easton, sworn soldier of Gallacia. After the events of the first book ("What Moves the Dead"), Alex has been in Paris, but is now travelling back to ka's hunting lodge in Gallacia to allow Miss Potter to come study mushrooms native to the area. Upon arriving, Alex and companion Angus find the lodge in disrepair and the caretaker dead. Rumors speak of a moroi, a demon who appears as a woman and sits on your chest and steals your breath, as the cause of the caretaker's death. Initially doubtful of this local superstition, Alex finds that there may be more to it than ka was willing to believe. While this second adventure does not measure up to the first, it is still a quick and engaging read with plenty of horrific imagery and terror. Readers will look forward to a third installment.

A big thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for access to this eARC!

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher solidifies my personal conviction to follow Alex Easton wherever the next spooky thing may take them. What Moves the Dead was a brilliant retelling of Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher, one that proved to be immediately eerie and unsettling. What Feasts at Night operates in a bit of a different manner given this isn’t a retelling of sorts but delivers on the numerous fronts established by its predecessor.

On the whole, the endearing manner in which Kingfisher writes will constantly have me coming back for more. Within each line of prose from Easton’s perspective, it feels as though I’m chatting with a dear friend. There’s a level of subtle humor injected into these stories that, while still frightening, breathes a sense of vitality into the plot. Moreover, Easton’s character is just so likable. I swear if there are twenty of these stories in which Easton encounters a new “monster of the book,” I’ll read them all with immense pleasure.

Speaking of monsters, another brilliant aspect of Kingfisher’s writing (particularly with What Feasts at Night) is the ways in which soldier’s heart (or PTSD) are explored. Easton struggles to remain grounded in the present often having flashbacks to time spent at war, something we commonly know as PTSD today. What really captured my attention was Kingfisher’s extension of this trauma to Easton’s time spent with the Usher family. This exemplifies that PTSD comes in all shapes and sizes in addition to affecting different people in different ways. This demonstration isn’t stated overtly within the story, rather it is laced very skillfully within the confines of this particular plot.

Overall, there’s so much to love about this series and What Feasts at Night in particular. Kingfisher uses a mounting sense of the uncanny and eventual terror to escalate the conflicts Alex Easton faces through discussion of PTSD and sleep paralysis. The ease in which these topics are discussed while expressing humorous dialogue and unique relationships among characters is what really sells this story for me. I’ll follow Easton anywhere.

I just finished reading What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher. I was given an eARC by Netgalley. I have previously read What Moves the Dead which is the first in this series.

We catch up with Alex, Angus, and Miss Potter after the events of What Moves the Dead. This book takes place entirely in the fictional country of Gallacia. When returning to the ancestral Hunting Lodge that Alex inherited from ka father, Alex and Angus are surprised to learn that the caretaker has died suddenly of a lung disorder. The locals are convinced it's the work of a mythical being that steals the breath of the sleeping. Alex must contend with this new evil, while trying to correct Miss Potter's often hilarious attempts at speaking Gallacian, and her insistence in discovering all the local fungi.

I liked this book a lot. It was a great length, and since we were already introduced to the major players we can jump right in to the meat of the story. Alex finds ka-self extremely skeptical of the local folklore, and is trying to keep up appearances for Miss Potter's visit. Kingfisher does an excellent job of keeping the reader in the same kind of is-it-or-isn't-it limbo as Alex, and I love when stories don't make you pick one or the other. Miss Potter gets fleshed out more in this one, and often provides the comic relief-- although I do find the Alex/Angus relationship to be quite funny as well. All of this is woven in with some subtle dread in the background, making for a quick, fun read. Highly recommend.

T. Kingfisher can do no wrong, in my humble opinion, and this is a perfect example of why. A compelling follow up to What Moves the Dead, this is as fantastical, as spinechilling, as gripping, and yet so, so, so, much more.

Given that I enjoyed Kingfisher's WHAT MOVES THE DEAD and how it did a reimagining of THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER, I was very interested to see what she was going to do in her follow up story, WHAT FEASTS AT NIGHT. Was it going to be a Poe retelling? Was it going to retell another famous horror story? I went in not sure what to expect, but when I found that it was a new story with the same characters and it centered on a creature that sounded similar to a hag myth, I was VERY thrilled, as I've been obsessed with the hag myth for years. Kingfisher brings back Sworn Soldier Alex Easton and their various compatriots, who returns to a family homestad, only to find the town haunted by an entity that steals people's breath at night. Easton is still an entertaining and wry protagonist, the scares are still plentiful but not over the top, and the world building of Gallacia and its culture continues in a very satisfying way. The Sworn Soldier series continues to be entertaining, quick to read, and deeply creepy when it wants to be.

WHAT FEASTS AT NIGHT, is the second book in T. Kingfisher's "Sworn Soldier" series. Lieutenant Alex Easton and companion, Angus, are returning to their homeland of Gallacia. Ms. Potter, the mushroom "expert" we first met in WHAT MOVES THE DEAD, has been invited to stay with them in order to study the region's native mushrooms.

This book has Kingfisher's beloved sarcasm and wit, while still delving into even darker--more sinister--areas. In this , we encounter the "superstition" of the Moroi. The atmosphere is perfectly set for this ghastly tale, and the characters were all fully fleshed out, in my opinion.

Another subject that was touched upon to a good extent was that of soldiers and the mental stress that accompanies them after a war. I really felt this was exceptionally well done and a pertinent addition to the book. I felt for the superstitious locals, Easton and Angus, their temporary cook and handyman, and of course, the esteemed Ms. Potter.

Overall, this story delivered in every area! From atmosphere, characterization, and overall horror, each area was given the perfect balance. I hope to read more of Alex Easton in future books.

Highly recommended.

Immediately I found myself pulled yet into into Easton's addictive story. Kingfisher knows how to write an atmospheric horror story and readers who loved What moves the Dead will inhale this next installment. With familiar characters such as Angus, Mrs. Porter and Hob, I found myself unable to put this down as the horror that plagues this story was revealed, and Easton finds himself yet again in the middle of a nightmare. Highly recommended

What Feasts at Night (Sworn Soldier 2)
Pub date: February 13, 2024

Ah, I am happy to be a part of Alex and Angus’s world again, no matter what beasties they’re encountering!

Heading to Alex’s inherited family hunting lodge, Alex and Angus arrive to find that the caretaker never received the letter to prepare for their arrival. When they head to the village to see why, they find some distressing news and superstitious whispering. Even more distressing is that nobody wants to take on the now open caretaker job and Alex soon understands why. Things are strange there – eerily quiet and just off. Angus finds help – a curmudgeonly woman, the widow Botezatu along with her kind-hearted grandson, Bors.

As always, Kingfisher’s descriptive narrative had me right there in Gallacia at the hunting lodge feeling all kinds of creeped out. The return of Miss Potter was a delight and of course, Hob. The characters, each and every one of them, have the most remarkable personalities and backstories!

I can gush for days but really, I think anyone who hasn’t read this series is just missing out on one of the best works of fiction out there.

My thanks to @Tornightfire for this gifted DRC!

For me, What Moves the Dead is peak for horror novellas. What Feasts at Night inherits quite a legacy to live up to. I was hoping it might carry on with the Poe-inspired horror but it does not. Fortunately, each character, old and new, has their own charm and depth, particularly the additions of the widow and her grandson, Bors. Unfortunately, while the plot is good to start out, it quickly becomes predictable and we're left with Easton not doing much until the end. It's only 160 pages and yet it drags on. And delightful as they are, I felt Miss Potter and Angus are there for no real purpose. Its strange, but I think instead of building tension, the book feels almost cozy, and that's not what you want in your horror. There needs to be more build-up in suspense with ominous hints here and there as to what was going on to fix the pacing and keep readers engaged. It's T. Kingfisher so it's perfectly readable, but as a horror fan, I was a bit underwhelmed.

The Sworn Soldier series made me its fan when I started reading 'What Moves the Dead' last year. This perfectly paced novella was a treat to read, with a story that is hooking to say the least. And Alex Easton was a great character to follow. A very good read!

First of all, this cover is just fantastic.

I loved the first installment to this series. What Moves the Dead was so creeptastic! While this one was a fun, quick read, it didn't have the same effect as the first book.

I love Alex Easton and really enjoyed getting more from this character and of course we can't forget Miss Potter. The characters in Kingfishers books always hook me.

As always the vibe that this author delivers is atmospheric with all the creepy undertones she is famous for. I wanted more action though as this was lacking until the last bits of the story. I needed things to get moving a lot quicker than it did.

That said, I'm glad I read it and will continue with more in the Sworn Soldiers!

Alex Easton returns

What Feasts at Night is the second of T. Kingfisher's Sworn Soldier books. It is thus the return of Alex Easton, who is the sworn soldier after whom the series is named. It is also Alex's return to kan homeland Gallacia. (Remember that Gallacian has special pronouns, ka/kan, for soldiers.) Although Alex returns to kan homeland in What Feasts at Night, Gallacia is not kan home. If home is where the heart is, then Alex's home is Paris.

Indeed, the book begins with Alex riding through Gallacia and complaining, which is something of a Gallacian core competence, Gallacia being a nation uniquely suited to the pursuit of complaint as a full-time occupation. Alex and kan batman Angus are on their way to a hunting lodge that Alex owns, having inherited it some years ago. Alex's principle complaint is that ka doesn't want to be here. ka would rather be in Paris, and ka claims that Angus blackmailed kan into this visit. Angus of course stoutly denies this, then proceeds to reapply the blackmail. As we learned in What Moves the Dead, Angus admires Eugenia Potter. Mrs Potter (Beatrix Potter's aunt) is a formidable Englishwoman and avid mycologist. Angus leaned on Alex to invite her to visit kan lodge in Gallacia in order to experience Gallacian misery, molds, and mushrooms firsthand. Potter saved Alex and Angus from a horrible fate at the Usher mansion in Ruravia, so Angus argues that they owe her gratitude.

This plan runs into some hitches, and a plot ensues. You will not be surprised to learn that the plot involves sinister things wot feast at night.

For my money the plot serves mainly as a vehicle to illuminate Alex's character. Alex is a retired soldier. ka fought in a war with Bulgaria. Although Gallacia is fictional, "Alex’s war is a very real one, the Serbian– Bulgarian War of 1885."* as Kingfisher informs us in her Acknowledgments. She adds, "I can’t possibly do it justice in a paragraph, but it’s worth reading about if you ever want an object lesson in how not to invade Bulgaria. (Please do not invade Bulgaria under any circumstances.)"* That sounds like excellent advice to me.

The ambiguity of the preposition in the phrase "fought with Bulgaria" is intentional. As a result of these experiences Alex suffers from Soldier's Heart, an old and more evocative name for what we now call PTSD. The events of What Feasts at Night give Alex cause to display extraordinary courage and generosity, in kan characteristically understated way. To my mind, kan debt to Mrs Potter is paid forward with interest.

If the author were anyone other than Kingfisher, I would describe What Feasts at Night as an unusual combination of sensitivity and humor. But it is not unusual for her -- this is what Kingfisher does!

I thank NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for an advance reader copy of What Feasts at Night. This review expresses my honest opinions. Release date 13-Feb-2024.

*Quotes come from an advance reader copy and may change before publication. This review will be corrected on the release date if necessary.

Time and time again, T Kingfisher solidifies herself as my favorite writer in the genre. A lyrical, haunting return to her Sworn Soldier series, Alex Easton's newest adventure takes place in ka's own home, where another mysterious danger awaits. (And I LOVED the Widow)

Wow. I don’t know what to feel!

I have been looking forward to What Feasts at Night since reading What Moves the Dead last January. And let me tell you. This book serves.

I felt so much reading this story. I laughed out loud, I felt deep personal connections with Alex, my heart pounded with delight and fear. T. Kingfisher's take on the mare folklore was incredible, but honestly more so, the way PTSD was captured and portrayed was heartwrenchingly perfect.

Alex is witty and delightful. To be inside their mind (even as a fictional character) was an honor.

Thank you for allowing me to be a part in the ARC reviews of this book. I hope it will reach as wide, or wider, an audience as its predecessor. What Feasts at Night is plain and simple a horrific and wonderful piece of art.

The writing is downright magical, pulling you into the story effortlessly. My only gripe? It ended way too soon, and I was left craving more. On the bright side, it sets up a solid next chapter in the series. Can't wait to see what comes next! If you're into fantasy worlds and characters that stay with you, definitely give it a shot.

Another Alex Easton story with a dark, suspenseful atmosphere. This story finds Alex returning to Gallacia with Angus and Miss Potter, to stay at their family hunting lodge. The focus is very much on the unfolding events, steeped in folklore and superstition. I was worried this would not be as good as What Feasts at Night, and while I enjoyed the premise and outcome of that first book, this book still satisfied that desire for an eerie read.

It was so good to see Lt. Easton again! Reading this definitely had the feeling of catching up with an old friend, even though it hasn't been that long since I read the prequel, What Moves the Dead. Alex's internal monologue is always so much fun. Ka really tries kan best to get everything right, to fix what ka can about any given situation. You can see that happen again and again, in this book; Alex trying kan best to do what is good and right and helpful. Not to mention the relationship between Alex and Angus, which is always a hoot to read. This book is the perfect combination of funny, moving, and chilling.

As always, T. Kingfisher is a master of creepy and really unsettling imagery. There were things in this book that made me shudder, visions of decay and rot and skin that will never leave my mind's eye. Kudos to her!

I want to see more of Alex, and of Angus and Miss Potter and Hob. I can't say that I wanted this book to be longer, because it was the perfect size, just right to bring me into Gallacia for the first time, introduce me to the flavor of the town of Wolf's Ear and the people who live there, scare the bejeezus out of me when I stayed up too late reading it in bed, and then wrap everything up so perfectly. It was just the right length. But I do want to see more of Alex and Angus and everyone. I can only hope there will be many more Sworn Soldier books to come.

I truly wish I liked this more, but I struggled to get through it—I adore T. Kingfisher's writing style, and Alex Easton's voice is so quirky and funny, but this sequel fell a bit flat for me. What Moves the Dead was such an exceptional interpretation of Poe's House of Usher, this made me wish the author had attempted another Poe retelling instead of writing an original story. The pacing was slow, and while there were some nice key connections between the two narratives and a few fun folkloric elements, this follow-up ultimately felt unnecessary. Gratitude to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.