What a joy to receive another installment of Easton’s Terrible Adventures! This one starts off slowly eerie, and then suddenly kicks things into gear in the second half, much like the first book. I truly admire Easton’s dedication to remaining skeptical even after the events ka experienced in at the Usher house. Would love to see another one of these and explore this world even more!

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Tor Publishing Group, Tor Nightfire for an advanced copy of the second installment of a series featuring a retired soldier just looking for peace and quiet, and some mushrooms for a friend, and yet mysterious incidents surround them constantly.

One sometimes can't go home again, but if one is lucky there might a family hunting lodge that one can travel to, to rest from previous adventures, for sightseeing, and for drinking of local vintages. Even if it is Gallacia at the end of the nineteenth century, in the rainy autumn, and the lodge is not quite like one remembers. A little more rundown, than expected, due to the sad passing of the caretaker. One whose shoes are hard to fill, with people not wanting to stay at the lodge. So begins the second adventure of Alex Easton, in T. Kingfisher's Sworn Soldier series, Alex his servant and friend, and the mycologist Miss Potter, again dealing with strange goings-on, and an enemy that will take your breath away.

Alex Easton is tired, tired enough to journey to his family's hunting lodge in Gallacia during the off months for peace, quiet, and for his friend Miss Potter mushrooms. Easton along with their servant Angus arrive at the lodge to find the caretaker missing, the house disheveled, and the springhouse in ruins. Word comes to them that the caretaker died of an illness, a breathing disorder. Attempts to find a new caretaker come to naught, even in this poor community, except for an older widow with her grandson. Rumors have spread about a nocturnal creature that might be stealing the breath of people, something Alex does not believe, until strange things start happening. A woman's face in Alex's dreams, and a sickness that invades the widow's grandson. Alex is not afraid of a fight, but how does one fight a creature that attacks only in one's dreams?

Another great read from an author that I never doubt I will enjoy. All of T. Kingfisher's stories have been very good, however I really enjoy the Alex Easton stories most of all. Easton is a fascinating character and this book does a very good job of filling in a bit of Alex's life, as well as being a creepy novella. Actually even without the creepy aspect this story works well, as Kingfisher really makes the characters readers want to know more about. The atmosphere, the feeling of the lodge all seem real, even the supernatural creature fits the story well. Plus the humor. One doesn't expect to laugh out loud reading a horror story, but this happened quite a few times. "Does no one sleep with their hands under a pillow?", still makes me smile.

One does not have had to have read the first book, but one would be denied a very good story also. The characters are unique, funny and will quickly become favorites. The story is well written, and very tense near the end, with a lot of moments that surprise, make one laugh, and sniff a little bit. A very good series that I can't wait for further adventures in.

What Feasts at Night is the follow up to What Moves the Dead. Alex Easton and Angus are traveling to Alex's home in Gallacia. Upon arriving they discover the caretaker of the hunting lodge is missing. They are also preparing for a visit from Miss Potter, an academic researching mycology. People local to the village are avoiding the home and Alex while whispering about a creature that can steal your breath. Easton is also dealing with the emotional scars from the war and from their previous experience at Usher manor.

I loved this book so much. It is relatively different from What Moves the Dead. This story is more focused on Alex's personal journey. It is so moody and atmospheric but also very funny. It has really great queer representation. T. Kingfisher is an auto buy author for me and this was another big hit. I would love to get more books about Alex Easton!

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightmare for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What Feasts at Night is the second novella in T. Kingfisher’s Sworn Soldier series. The first book, What Moves the Dead, is a retelling of The Fall of the House Usher. Both follow Alex Easton, a sworn soldier from the country of Gallacia. What Feasts at Night sees Alex returning home after kan* time abroad, only to discover horrors are not the sole province of the English.

*A quick primer if you are new to Kingfisher’s Gallacia: sworn soldiers use the pronouns “ka” and “kan” as opposed to a “he”, “she”, or “they.” Gallacia, due to various laws, has multiple such genders. It’s a complex culture and language in general, which provides many instances of humor thanks to Kingfisher’s wit.


Cover of What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher, book two in the Sworn Soldier series.

Unlike the initial novella, What Feasts at Night is not a retelling. Instead, it leans into folklore. While the term “moroi” does exist, I could not find specific tale references; particularly not including the details we find here. Also, Kingfisher is delightfully open about where she finds inspiration. She is an author I enjoy partially because her works are often in dialogue with others. If this was a retelling, I am confident we’d know.

So, it’s not a retelling. Alex Easton is standing tall on kan own feet, in kan own country. If Kingfisher intends to write more in this universe (and I believe she does) this is an important step. How do these characters and settings hold up without the draw of a beloved classic? What ideas can be explored in Gallacia, with Easton, better than in a new standalone novel? As a reader, I’m thrilled. As far as sequels go, What Feasts at Night established a pattern and opened the door to the unexpected.

That sounds a tad paradoxical, but it’s true. Book series, I find, have two main options. They can follow set characters through an overarching story or through separate formulaic type stories. The Sworn Soldier series is now firmly in the second category. Readers can now expect that one of these novellas will involve a gothic style mystery steeped in nature. But we have also learned the source and location of that mystery can vary from book to book. It feels like a classic monster of the week setup, but in novella form.

Most importantly, we know more of Easton as a narrator. This is someone who survived rather unbelievable events. Yet, when presented with more unbelievable events—ka does not believe. Rather than this being a glossed over plot hole or weak narrative tool, this discrepancy is directly addressed and handled comedically. Looking back on events, Easton knows that ka could have (and should have) handled the situation better. Humans don’t tend to enjoy dwelling on tragedy. Alex Easton is no exception.


Cover of What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher, book one of the Sworn Soldier series.
This brings me to the last point I want to address with this sequel. Soldier’s heart, the Gallacian term for PTSD, colors many of Easton’s responses. We see ka deal with the trauma of the experiences detailed in What Moves the Dead. They aren’t glossed over, they aren’t a new normal. Faced with horrors again, what does our sworn soldier do? Ka goes back to the war. There’s a passage in What Feasts at Night that describes war as a place; a place outside of time. Soldier’s heart, as a condition, is a return to that place. As someone who has never been in a war, it’s the most poignant and succinct empathy I’ve come across.

I’ve addressed all the ways that this sequel furthers and benefits the series as a whole. What I haven’t done is discuss the plot. If you want to see how Alex Easton and friends deal with a creature who steals your breath while you sleep, pick up What Feasts at Night when it is released on February 13, 2023 from Tor Nightfire. In the meantime, you can read (or reread) What Moves the Dead. There are mushrooms, it’s wonderful.

Thank you to Tor Nightfire and NetGalley for the ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was not what I expected. This was leaning more character-driven than plot-driven with the horror, so I kinda grew bored around halfway through. Nonetheless, once the horror came in, I was seated and the novella grew on me. I got to learn more about Alex and their experience with "solider's heart" (aka PTSD). That was the most interesting part of the story. This was a worthwhile sequel, but come into it knowing the novella leans more character-driven.

Content warnings: PTSD, death, war

What a great follow up to 'What Moves the Dead'! I loved the focus on local tradition and superstition (with some extra love for the superstition as I am a big fan of superstitious characters being proven right!) in Alex's homeland, and the final confrontation was perfectly eerie. As usual Kingfisher moves easily between horror and humor, with great character development. I could picture clearly each new character and felt I could understand them deeply even in novella form.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

What Feasts at Night is a worthy follow up to Kingfisher’s gothic novella What Moves the Dead.

This is best enjoyed after reading the first novella because there are relevant parts of the back story which will help you to understand this one.

As can be expected within any Kingfisher novel; a pervasive atmosphere of unsettling dread runs through. Kingfisher knows how to create a creepy story and this is no exception. I never fail to be impressed by how Kingfisher can do this in such a short amount of pages.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for my gifted ARC!

A delightful, dark, gothic creature feature that will make you question what goes bump in the night. Once again, Kingfisher gives readers an atmospheric tale stemming from folklore around the world. It’s cool to learn about different monsters for different cultures. This novella is dripping with gothic vibes. The characters are relatable and there are a lot of supernatural elements that make the story even more interesting, highlighting the authors talents to deliver the creeps in such short amount of pages.

One of my most anticipated releases. Didn't enjoy it quite as much as What Moves the Dead, but I appreciated that this one had a more traditional climax.

Still loving the (more overt in this sequel) queer undertones, the gothic horror, and the tongue-in-cheek humor. Immaculate vibes. Can't wait to see the physical copy.

Will be eagerly awaiting all of Easton's future adventures.

The sequel to T. Kingfisher's "What Moves The Dead" is simultaneously heartwrenching, horrifying, and deeply moving. I couldn't put it down. I felt fully immersed in Kingfisher's latest novel, and was delighted to spend more time with the protagonist of the previous book.

I loved What Moves The Dead and was ecstatic that it was going to have a second book. What Feasts at Night was a great continuation of the first. I only wish there was more that was out right now!

What Feasts at Night is the sequel to What Moves the Dead and I really hope T. Kingfisher continues to write about Alex Easton because I love both these stories so much. T. Kingfisher's writing style shines in this little novella, with her classic mix of humor, compelling characters, and horror that is gruesome without being graphic. The plot takes a little bit to get going, but I thoroughly enjoyed the slower build up, getting to know the characters and the place better.

I think of these books as cozy horror, because the scares are there and the characters do suffer, but there is always the sense that they will make it through somehow. In this book especially since Alex is telling the story to you, the reader, but it's something I love about T. Kingfisher's horror and writing in general. If this is your first foray into her writing I highly recommend giving the rest of her books a chance, she writes across genres but they all have this delightful common element, as well as a bit of weird.

What Feasts at Night was a wonder return to T. kingfishers world of Gallacia. Alex the soldier returns to ka’s (ka is the pronoun used for a soldier in Gallacia) home town, where the town has been nervous about the awakening of a local legend known as the Moroi. After returning to ka’s land and finding the home keeper dead, questions arise as to what really lead to his death.

I genuinely love the cozy horror genre, and I truly believe that Kingfisher is so original in the way she goes about it. The queerness of it all is refreshing, because the characters simply exist. There’s no homophobia. It’s wonderful.

ALSO the pacing of the story is slow. The plot gently builds through character interactions, and the peak of it sort of washed over you. It’s not a heart racing jaunt until the end, it’s a soft sense of closure alongside the unease of it all.

You an always trust T. Kingfisher to consistently bring a cozy and unsettling world, where you can linger and enjoy the characters you meet.

What Feasts at Night is the follow up novella to What Moves the Dead. (Which, fun fact, still makes me shudder whenever I look at or think about mushrooms!) Alex Easton and Angus arrive a hunting lodge in Gallacia with Miss Potter on the way to visit and study the local mycology. But the caretaker is missing, the locals are clearly avoiding them and there are whispers of superstitions and local folklore in the air.

Right away T. Kingfisher sets the mood and atmosphere and I’m instantly transported back into this world and feeling completely uneasy about it, in the best of ways. Fittingly this book has a more dreamlike vibe to it than the first but keeps Kingfisher’s signature humor and spooky vibes. Lines between past and present, and nightmare and reality, blur. The exploration of trauma and the war experience and sense of time and place was really interesting and I really loved the folklore aspects of the story as well. This is a slower reveal but when the horror elements hit, they hit! I really loved this and hope there will be more to come in the future.

A perfect autumn/winter read that suits a chilly dark overcast day. Recommended for lovers of atmospheric horror with folktale vibes!

I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for a copy of this book.

As always, T. Kingfisher delivers - I actually liked this one a bit more than What Moves the Dead, only because that one had a bit of an "author falling in love with the protagonist" feel and therefore a lot of backstory on them, and the second volume feels freer without that. Perfect length, legitimately spooky at times, delightfully small in scope.

I’m going to be honest, i was not completely in love with the first book, so i went into book 2 with very low expectations. I think this helped my appreciation of this book alot. It was not perfect, i still had issues, but it was still overall enjoyable. I liked the vibes of this series alot. It’s eerie, it’s interesting, and it sucks you in. I also really like the characters, both our main characters and our side characters. They make for a fun cast and Alex is a good narrator. It’s when i look at the story itself that i have some issues ; it bored me. Not much happened in the first 3/4 of this book, and the ending left me a little unsatisfied. Everything about the Moroi was great and creepy, but i just wanted more.
And as always ; T. Kingfisher’s writing is fantastic! It reads easily, crafts an excellent atmosphere and i just love it. i want more.

T. Kingfisher is an absolute master and this novella is no different. I absolutely loved What Moves the Dead and I was so excited to have the next book in my hands. All of Kingfisher's work, including this, is masterfully paced. I never feel like anything is too rushed. The characters are compelling and the twists are unpredictable. If you liked the first one, you'll love the second one!

T. Kingfisher you are my favorite. I laughed out loud multiple times. Despite the levity with which it is written, this is distinctly a horror tale. It is the perfect length, and I don't think going into further detail and unraveling the mystery on a deeper level would have done it any favors. 12/10 follow up to What Moves the Dead, and I certainly hope there are more books about Easton & Co. in the future.

In this follow up novel to What Moves the Dead, T. Kingfisher continues the story of Alex Easton in their homeland of Gallacia. This time a new entity plagues Easton, one that is not as visible as before with the Usher family. This makes What Feasts at Night not just a horror novel, but also a psychological thriller blurring the lines between reality and nightmares. Kingfisher delivers with her signature writing style of humor mixed with unpleasantness.

This is the second installment of the Sworn Soldier series of T. Kingfisher. The first one, "What moves the dead" was great and an all time favorite.

Alex Easton is coming back home to a hunting lodge, Alex's only home. Angus is coming as well. They go to the hunting lodge as they need to get it ready for the arrival of Miss Potter who wants to explore the mycology system in Gallacia. The caretaker of the lodge is gone and nowhere to be found. Alex finds the lodge and the grounds in disrepair. The caretaker has deceased and Alex needs someone to help with the preparation for Miss Potter. An old woman and her grandson are hired to do the work.

As time progresses strange things start to happen. There is a spirit, or a moroi, coming in one's sleep to steal their breath. Is this a real spirit or a diagnosable lung illness, is this a dream or reality, what is real and what is not?

This was very fun to read!! Alex's adventures are a staple of creepy, scientific, goth, down to earth, and humorous. Loved the book and am looking forward to T. Kingfisher's next book!!

Thank you, NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group!