Sorry, DNFing because cop romance.

I thought most everything else about the book was great, though!

Fast-paced fantasy of a witch fighting for herself in a world that is against her.

I knew very little about this book other than it's inspired by Slavic folklore, a walled city, monsters, and the main character can't defeat her ex. Going in only knowing that made this journey even more of a wild read for me.

I liked that we jumped right into the action and got to see how Kosara handles herself in intense scenes, it made me think, "ok, anything can happen and Kosara will do what she must." She's a vulnerable character who also has so many flaws. She soon meets Asen. I was surprised by how much we as readers get to know Asen; I'm going to let you discover and learn about him.

This is a debut and Genoveva Dimova surprised me, this did not feel like a debut. This story feels full, that's the best way I can explain it. The plot, character, and magic system all feel well thought out, well rounded. I enjoyed the writing style and will for sure be keeping an eye on Genoveva Dimova and any future books. There are some themes/constant warnings that some readers may need, like abusive/toxic relationships, grief, and more. (Look up if needed.)

A gripping must-read, Slovic-inspired page tuner of a girl fighting to her magic, in a unique world, in this standout debut that you won't be able to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor publishing for giving me an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I unfortunately decided to DNF this one after hitting the 100 page mark. It had an intriguing concept and I admit I was impressed with the first couple of chapters, but regrettably it all went downhill rather fast for me after that. I’ve noticed that this book has been getting rather high ratings on goodreads and social media, so I will definitely keep an eye on it and will perhaps eventually decide to order it for the store.

As a witch in the walled city of Chernograd, Kosara has dedicated her life to fighting the monsters that roam the streets during the Foul Days, that and trying to escape from of the Zmey, the alluring Tsar of Monsters who has a choke hold on her. To escape him Kosara does what a witch must never do—she gives away her shadow—to cross the wall to the peaceful city of Belograd. Without her shadow Kosara is powerless and watches in horror as she becomes a shadow herself. Though all Chernogradians long to cross the wall to safety in Belograd, Kosara finds herself wanting to do the opposite. She seeks the help of smugglers to cross the wall from Belograd back to Chernograd to take back her shadow before she becomes on herself. Kosara is joined by Asen, an earnest police officer wiling to go to the land of monsters to solve a murder. Can they achieve their goals without becoming monsters themselves?
I absolutely loved Foul Days, a mix of crime novel and Slavic Folklore that will appeal to fans of the Witcher, Naomi Novik and Katherine Arden.

This one caught my eyes easily with its arresting cover. It’s not quite like anything I’d seen before, which immediately drew me in. Then, when reading the book description, I had two thoughts: 1.) this story sounds all over the place and 2.) it could be really awesome if it all comes together right! And, to spoil my entire review now, it was definitely the latter!

Let’s start with the world-building and fantasy elements. Right from the start, the atmosphere of this world was pervasive as well as intriguing. We feel the fear and dread of Kosara’s city, a place plagued by monsters for a brief window of time every year. It is cold, grey, but her home, and one that she loves and will do anything to protect. As the book description mentions, she then travels to the city beyond the wall, a place vibrant and full of life, having safely locked away its troubles (and seemingly all thoughts of trouble) behind a tidy wall. The contrast is stark and we feel Kosara’s bewilderment at the difference. I enjoyed the complicated nature of her feelings about these people and this place, comparing and contrasting it with her own home, with its very different culture and priorities. At the same time, the hardships of her home are not romanticized.

I also really enjoyed the various monsters we encounter throughout this book. At first, it felt like we weren’t really getting much page time or action with these monsters, instead hearing more about Kosara’s experiences in the past dealing with these beings. But as the pacing ramps up, about a third of the way into the story, we start to get some truly action-packed scenes, full of horror and excitement. Truly, it’s been a while since I’ve read a fantasy story that so effectively pulled me into these sort of scenes; I often found myself on the edge of my seat, wondering how Kosara and Asen were going to escape.

As for Kosara herself, man, she has to be one of my new favorite leading ladies of the year! On her own right, she’s a strong, independent character who is used to going it alone. Her past is rife with trials and mistakes, all of which have lead her to distrust those around her, sometimes to the detriment of her own situation and any burgeoning relationships she’s trying to form. In this way, her relationship with Asen is particularly interesting. Even as she slowly begins to trust and like him more, the habits of a hard life are difficult to fully shed, and we see her continuously struggle against her own worst tendencies and to have to later deal with the repercussions of these choices. I also really enjoyed the slow-burn romance between them. It’s very, very much a backburner part of the story, however, so readers shouldn’t go into it expecting much on this front. For me, however, this is almost the exact level of romance I look for in my preferred fantasy reads: it’s there, it has sweet moments, it has a lot of potential, but it’s not the main point of the story.

What’s more, much of the character arch of this story is tied up in Kosara’s relationship with the antagonist of the story, her ex, the monster, the Zmey. This was simply fantastic. For one thing, it’s a nice rebuttal (perhaps too strong of word, maybe “counterbalance” would be better) to the many fantasy romances out there where the male love interest can often come across (or actually be!) quite abusive (usually emotionally or verbally). Here, we see the after effects on a woman who escaped an abusive relationship. What’s more, we see the ongoing challenges of being exposed to this sort of person, the way their power over their victim can remain, despite escape, despite “knowing better.” Kosara can recognize the dangers and abusive tactics of the Zmey, but she can also understand why women keep coming to him, and why she, herself, still feels drawn to him, despite all of this. It was all supremely well done, and not a subject I see covered this well very often. This is the dark side of the “but I can change him” story that we often see go the other way.

As you can tell, I loved this book! I started out this review thinking to give it a “9” on my rating scale, but now after writing about it, I realize I haven’t come up with a single criticism, and indeed, spent a good chunk of time talking about how rarely good it is at covering some its themes. If that’s not a “10” rated book, I don’t know what it! I highly recommend this to all fantasy readers, especially those who enjoy Naomi Novik, Margaret Rogerson, or Emily Lloyd-Jones!

Rating 10: Fantastic in every sense of the word, with a world brimming with magic and peopled with characters you can’t but fall in love with!

Link will go live June 18 on The LIbrary Ladies

A fast, easy read, although poorly developed characters and world-building made it rather forgettable.

I absolutely adored my time reading this book. The writing style was just stunning. I could picture everything. It was fluid, and it just kept me captivated throughout. It was such an effortless book to read. I think it’s a book that’ll stay with me for a long time and now I would definitely be on the lookout to read the author’s next book.

Foul Days is a rich fantasy monster-filled world steeped in Bulgarian folklore. It was an unexpected delight of a book — witchcraft, monsters, and bad ex’s. What really drew me in was the trauma both Kosara and Asen have in their pasts and how it reflects on their choices made in the book. I really loved them as a team and how their characters reflected on each other. Is it a romance? No. There’s a potential hint of it, but it’s minuscule. The pacing was well done, the story flowed, and I loved seeing different side characters like Vila and Blackbeard. Foul Days was definitely a hit for me — and for those who love magic, quests, detective stories, trauma, secrets, and the slightest promise of romance — then this one is for you!

Thank you to Tor Books for the chance to read early! I loved it

What a disappointment! Intrigued by the concept - felt like the Witcher mixed with Katherine Arden mixed with Jessica Jones - and always down for a unique fantasy world, I started this one with high hopes. Unfortunately, almost immediately I was met with mediocre writing and an information dump that slowed down every aspect of the plot. Right off the bat we had the protagonist explain the worldbuilding to a stranger unfamiliar with local culture - so clunky and unnecessary. We learned exactly what we needed to know immediately for the next phase of plot, and nothing more. The rest of the book continues in this vein, and although I wound up mostly enjoying it, it was never a book that I felt compelled to pick up; I more finished it to say I did.

I enjoy YA books and I enjoy adult books, and this one felt exactly like when a YA author tries to write an adult book and just can't quite make that transition. A lack of complexity and a tendency to spell out exactly what the main character is feeling/thinking just made it a blunt book with little depth. There's a great idea in here, but the actual execution of it just killed it for me.

4 ★ The synopsis of Foul Days describes Genoveva Dimova as an “assured new voice in the genre” and that is absolutely correct! I’ve been looking forward to this debut for a long time as I love it when books are inspired by folklore.

This book weaves Bulgarian folklore, which I haven’t seen in a book before, with sharp prose and an atmospheric wintery setting. I quickly grew attached to our main character, Kosara, and she was such a breath of fresh air compared to other main characters I’ve read about. She was sly and witty, with a distinct voice that never bored me. The world itself was fascinating and complex. I absolutely loved the various monsters featured throughout the novel. There’s even a monster pamphlet detailing all of the various monsters and important information, which the citizens of Chernograd received (though didn’t read…), from the Witch and Warlock Association featured at the end of the book.

I haven’t read anything like Foul Days before, nor have I read the comp titles, but this book did slightly remind me of another June 2024 release: The God and The Gumiho. Both are folklore-inspired fantasies with a murder mystery at the forefront.

For readers who dislike how romance-driven and trope-filled a lot of fantasy books are nowadays, you’re in luck as romance is not a major element of this story. There is a very minor romantic subplot, however, it does not get in the way of the main plot. I want to mention that there is an abusive romantic relationship portrayed between Kosara and the Zmey and themes of grief and loss of a sister which may be triggering.

Overall, I’m excited for Kosara (and her detective sidekick, Asen’s) adventures in the sequel, Monstrous Nights, and luckily there isn’t a long time to wait! This was a great debut, and I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future.

After following Genoveva’s path to publication on social media I was so, so excited to finally dig into her Bulgarian-folklore inspired fantasy, and needless to say, it didn’t disappoint!

The story follows our remarkably well rounded MC Kosara as she takes and battles monsters, all who fall to her prowess besides one— the fabled Tsar of Monsters, and, unluckily, her ex. He’s hunting her, and her time is running out. After escaping to a city monsters can’t follow and teaming up with a well-meaning detective, she needs to decide who to trust and if she’s going to be the hunted… or the hunter.

I absolutely adored both the pacing and the characters in Foul Days. The story kept my interest the entire time and I truly didn’t see some of the twists coming. I loved how setting and atmosphere played such a fundamental part in the reading experience and how wonderfully wrought the aspects (especially the monsters) inspired by Bulgarian folklore were. It was a perfect mix of historically inspired and strikingly fantastical— the perfect set up for a brilliant fantasy.

I really loved both Kosara and Asen, it’s clear how much time and thought were put into making them fleshed out characters, both together and separately. Their romance was built very convincingly and I enjoyed how their secrets made up such a fundamental part of their dynamic. Couple that will a chilling and skin-crawling villain, and needless to say I was obsessed!

With her debut, Genoveva has definitely set a formidable start to her writing career! I’m delighted to see the sequel will be out very shortly, as I’m eager to learn of the story’s conclusion. Thanks so much TOR for the chance to read!

Young witch Kosara gambles away her magic during the worst time of year to not have magic- the foul days. While monsters run rampant, Kosara must race against the clock to get her magic back and save her city, if she can manage to confront her past traumas and abusive ex. Well paced and action packed from start to finish, this is a thoroughly enjoyable read inspired by folk tales and full of wit.

the cover is what drew me in and glad I was able to read this, it had everything that I was hoping for from the description. It uses the Slavic folklore perfectly and had other elements that I wanted from in this fantasy novel. Genoveva Dimova did a great job in writing this and I enjoyed how it was shown in this world and story. It left me wanting to read more in this universe and was invested in the characters. I thought shadow-less witches were a interesting concept and glad I got to read this.

Foul Days was an unexpected treat. Packed full of monsters from Bulgarian and Balkan folklore, this novel takes place in the twin cities of Chernograd and Belograd, divided in half by a magical wall. In one city, people live ordinary, safe lives and in the other, the people live amongst monsters year round, but during the 'Foul Days' right after New Years, there are more monsters than ever. Kosara, a witch and our intrepid heroine, has lost her shadow and magical powers during the least safe time of year, Teaming up with a cop from the non-magical city of Belograd, she gets pulled into a mystery that is greater than her own problems. This is the first book in a series, so not everything is resolved by the end of the book. My one criticism is the Monster Guide at the end would work better at the beginning, as it is written as an 'in world' text and knowledge of the creatures in the book is necessary to enjoy the plot fully.

Thank you to Tor for the e-ARC!
I won't bore you lot with a lengthy review but all you need to know is it's pitched as if The Witcher was written by Naomi Novik which, even though I've read neither, I can say it's a fairly suitable pitch.
It has everything you want - a cool setting and flawed but over time loveable characters that you grow fond of despite them getting up to all sorts of shenanigans and not being the most moral people in the world. Kosara, the MC, is a grumpy black cat personified and Asen Bakharov, the police officer she's forced to team up with is your next book boyfriend.
I also enjoyed how the emphasis was more on Kosara growing as a character and the world around her changing and moving and her discovering things than the romance for example. She's flawed and brave and occasionally stupid but it makes you want to root for her even more. Asen is like a golden retriever in human form - he's incredibly loyal to those that help him and he proves to Kosara that trust can be good and can help and not always stab you in the back.
I loved, loved, LOVED the inclusion of various creatures from Slavic, and specifically Bulgarian, folklore. It was so cool to see some terms I know such as rusalkas and Zmey reminding me of Zmey Gorynich from Russian Fairy Tales but also learning about new creatures I hadn't heard of because they're not as popular or don't exist in Russian folklore/fairy tales.
I cannot wait for book two, this was absolutely amazing.

Reminiscent of Schwab's Shades of Magic series with the creature-mystery vibes of the X-Files, FOUL DAYS takes us through a fast-paced, magic-infused race against time to save one witch from the shadow that she will soon become. Kosara's banter is funny, and her demons are more than metaphorical. A little chaotic, and highly enjoyable.

I went into this one expecting it to be a fun monster-hunting romp. A palate-cleanser of sorts. It was that type of book in terms of the writing, which felt a little YA at times, and because it was quick and a little bit snarky. It also ended up being a much more substantial book than I anticipated, containing some pretty heavy themes. A huge focus of the book was the FMC's experience recovering from an abusive relationship, and ,in retrospect, I'm not sure how I missed that from the book's synopsis. The allegory is so blunt and in your face-- the entire book literally centers on the FMC taking her power back from her abuser-- but the topic was handled extremely well. The major characters were all very specific and well-developed humans (or in the abuser's case, an actual monster in human form), each dealing with and recovering from trauma. No token characters (or living tropes) to be found. I thought it was very well-done and a fantastic debut.

The book occurs over the course of 12 days, which made it very bingeable. There is ALOT that happens over the course of those days. A running joke throughout the novel is that the Witches Association has created this monster-hunting pamphlet to help everyone survive, but everyone is too lazy to read it. The pamphlet is included at the end of the book. I think I recommend reading that pamphlet before starting the book because it provided (at least for me) some spoiler-free and much needed monster-specific context that I felt was not fully fleshed out throughout the novel.

I saw someone else mention somewhere that they felt like this book is a perfect fit for people who enjoy YA but are outgrowing it. I definitely agree with that. Definitely check triggers, the author posted some to Goodreads. The book imho is definitely a bit dark.

Foul Days is a great beginning to anew series. It has elements of Shadow and Bone or the October Daye series, but is not li j e either story. The world-building is enriching but efficient and the rension between the characters is palpable.

This is a whimsical, fast-paced fantasy novel. This is the 1st book in the series (The Witch’s Compendium of Monsters). Kosara is a witch that lives in a magically confined city called Chernograd. She is forced to trade her powers to escape her ex, whom happens to be the Tsar of Monsters. The story is a race against time to get them back. She will also face some hard truths and will be forced to face many fears. There is even a “Monster Pamphlet,” at the end of the book (this town literally makes them for the citizens). An enjoyable read overall, I will definitely be reading the next book :)

This breathtaking fantasy begins with a high-stakes card game, and by the end of it I was all in. The pacing is shockingly good. It’s always fast, yet it’s never rushed. I’m not sure how Dimova pulled that off, except ‘with extraordinary aplomb.’

Kosara is a compelling, sly, spiky, sympathetic witch, full of flaws and passions, hurts and hopes. She’s brave and clever==and just terribly, constantly outgunned! She’s such a compelling protagonist that of course she needs an equally-compelling foil. And damn, does she get one. The Zmey is proper monstrous. He’s more terrifying that the upirs, rusalkas, and kikimoras roaming the streets—and they’re all terrifying, particularly during the Foul Days …

The side characters are wonderful. Ruksana is great, and Asen is extremely well-drawn, as is his relationship with Kosara.

This is easily a five-star fantasy novel, and that would be true even without the world building. But holy Lamia the world building! It's brilliant. The magic is chef’s kiss, visceral and commanding. The city within a city is a character in itself. There’s a beautiful depth of culture that shines through every page.

Highly, highly recommended.