This might be the best book in the Sworn Soldier series that T. Kingfisher has written to date!

I loved everything about this. The uniquely creepy setting, the depth of the characters and their interactions, the atmospheric writing...I'm recommending this to everyone who wants a good spooky read. It's such an unexpected story, too, with a monster I never would've thought of...or should I say monsters?

Needless to say, if you've enjoyed anything else T.Kingfisher has written, you'll probably also love this, especially if you enjoy her more horror-driven stories. I need so many more of these books!

Safe to say T. Kingfisher can write 100 entries in the Sworn Soldier series and I'd love them all. Alex Easton and faithful aide-de-camp Angus are back at it, facing creepy mysteries with as much bravery and good sense as Easton can muster at any one time (of a varying and debatable quantity), this time helping their friend Dr. Denton in America. Kingfisher's signature humor and eldritch horror blend perfectly into am unsettling yet delightful novella. I'm a huge Kingfisher fan, and while I haven't read all her works, the Sworn Soldier books are some of her best.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for an advanced copy of this book!

T. Kingfisher does it again! We are blessed to have another Alex Easton novella and it does not disappoint. Creepy environs and weird folklore laced with humor that actually made me laugh out loud (a T. Kingfisher specialty), plus a skin-crawling (emphasis on crawling) discovery at the heart of a deep and sinister coal cave. The monstrosity at the heart of this novella made me shudder. It's absolutely perfect. 10/10, no notes, can't wait for the next Alex Easton installment!

The third adventure in the sworn soldier series is just as good as the first two. I was so excited to get an advanced copy, and ended up reading it in a day. It was nice to see this band of characters together again, along with some new faces, to investigate strange goings on in a mine in America. There were fun callbacks to the first two books that are making me want to re-read them as well as a plot that kept me coming back and wouldn't let go until I finished the book.

This series is one of the things I most anticipate in publisher's "Upcoming Titles" lists, and "What Stalks the Deep" was another home run in my book. T Kingfisher does such a good job toeing the line between suspense and humor, I continually find myself laughing out loud reading about Alex Easton's stream of thoughts throughout all these escapades. This book was a return to a familiar character, but an all new plot and story direction for the series. I found it equal parts, suspenseful, mysterious, intriguing, and funny. I absolutely ripped through the 140 pages of this book and cannot wait to read where Alex and Angus end up next.

This was over too quickly.

Just when I think T. Kingfisher can't write anything more perfect for me, she does weird, Appalachian gothic cave horror and I am proven wrong. I'm not sure I can be unbiased about her stuff anymore, because it's all just too good and I love all of it. Honestly, my only complaint is that it was too short and I read it too fast. Ugh.

A perfectly good continuation of the series, but it somehow didn't quite have the usual Kingfisher magic to it. I enjoyed it, I'll read the next one at the drop of a hat, but I don't think it was quite as creepy and disturbing as I expected. As well, I did not get quite get the level of surprise I normally do. This is given that I have absolute ten star expectations from Kingfisher, so getting what is still an absolutely enjoyable 4.5 out of 5 star novella is entirely on me. Alex is still dry and humorous and I want to listen to their stories all the time forever.

I loved this book! Truly another great one to add to the Sworn Soldier series!! Thought provoking and creepy! Definitely gives all the spooky mystery vibes, perfect for Halloween read. Would recommend any day of the week!

Another hit from T. Kingfisher. I really enjoy how they are expanding the Sworn Soldier series, and while I think that the first definitely hits the hardest, this book is a really solid addition to the series. I really enjoyed seeing Alex in America and having to be outside of their comfort zone so heavily, both in terms of culture and what they were asked to do during the actual plot. I struggle to find praises without giving spoilers away, but I will say that they do a great job with the character work for Alex as always, but also the background characters.

What Stalks the Deep is another excellent entry in the Sworn Soldier series by T Kingfisher. Our protagonist Alex Easton is summoned to the United States by an urgent letter from Denton, their friend from the previous novella, What Moves the Dead.

Upon arrival in the US, they journey along with Angus, Denton, and Denton’s manservant Kent, to Elk Hollow, an abandoned mine in West Virginia where Denton’s cousin Oscar has gone missing. As the mystery of what happened to Oscar begins to unfold, Alex confronts the darkness of the deep, as well as their own personal fears.

The author has crafted a good blend of suspense and fear, and I was engaged for the entire novella. I really enjoyed the southern gothic feel of this novella, it made it different enough from the previous installment to keep things fresh and interesting while following the same sort of genre pattern. The “horror” aspect felt lighter than the previous installment, with more tension and suspense versus the truly frightening, and I didn’t feel like I wanted to hide my head under the blanket with the lights on. I’m not typically a horror reader (epic fantasy preferred), with T Kingfisher being my only really exception, so I would say this is suitable reading for those new to the genre as well as veteran T Kingfisher fans.

I adore T Kingfisher’s writing, with its masterful blend of wry humor, fatalism, and wit. The imagery was vivid and I loved the world-building as always.

I enjoyed the discovery process, and really loved the setting of the mine and the subsequent revelations as the characters move deeper and deeper within - a nice patterning of the process and the setting together. There were a few twists to enjoy and the ending resolved nicely. All in all, another excellent addition from T Kingfisher, and I look forward to the next Sworn Soldier novella.

Alex Easton is one of my favorite fictional characters. Ever. Such wit and heroism. And Easton gets involved in the craziest situations ever. What Stalks the Deep is incredibly creative and gross and funny. Kingfisher has a true talent for this type of story telling. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

Thank you, NetGalley and to the publisher (and T. Kingfisher) for the e-reader arc!

I recently read the first two novellas in the Sworn Soldier series, and I was absolutely smitten with Alex Easton and their storytelling, especially in What Stalks the Deep. I couldn't tell if Easton was written as more comedic throughout the third novella, or if the writing was more familiar and I could pick up on that humor more. Overall, I was fully taken in by how Kingfisher portrayed Easton as a story recounter - it felt very personal and much more immersive because of the narrator.

As Easton brings us through their third adventure with the uncanny, this novella was rife with elements of gothic literature - from ruined buildings/tight spaces (old towns/caves), fear and suspense, social dynamic critiques, to that Freudian sense of the uncanny and otherness. By reading these novellas, it felt like such a classic gothic experience and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I particularly liked the symbolism between this novella's "antagonist" and where Easton and his crew parallel with what it means to be a fragment or a whole and how information is transferred. That idea of sharing information and connection really resonated with the Sworn Soldier series, and especially this novel. I hope Kingfisher continues with this novella series in the future!

What Stalks the Deep is another great entry in the Sworn Soldier series. T. Kingfisher once again blends humor with fantastic horror elements to create a highly enjoyable story. The author does a great job merging returning characters with new ones to create a dynamic group of adventurers. Alex and Angus are still an entertaining duo, and I hope to continue to follow their adventures for a long time to come.

T. Kingfisher has created a compelling narrative, one that can just about go anywhere. There is no end to where Alex and Angus could go; who they could meet along the way; and who from their past may cross their paths again. I eagerly await the next instalment of the Sworn Soldier series

Thank you NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for the ARC.

Sworn Soldier Alex Easton is headed to America, specifically an abandoned coal min in West Virginia. They do not want to but Dr. Denton has asked for finding his cousin who has disappeared under mysterious circumstances.
Alex and Angus must once again face something that will test their fears and prejudices. Ingold is a great new character and I quite liked fragment. Alex’s dark humor is always enjoyable and the descriptions of the “squeeze” were dark and ominous.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tor Publishing Group for this DRC.
#WhatStalkstheDeep #NetGalley

Another great installment in the series! I love how Kingfisher handles gender throughout the story and the themes of work and family were poignant. The setting was my favorite part and really set this apart from the other books in the series. The tone manages to have moments of levity and humor despite the horror elements which is very impressive. excited for how the next book was set up and can’t wait to read more!

I got so excited when I saw a new T. Kingfisher book that I immediately requested it without realizing it was part of a series! (My bad.) I was a little lost, but still enjoyed it!

I really enjoyed Kingfisher's latest Sworn Soldier novella. The author has a beautiful way to set the scene and makes the reader feel like they're right there along with Alex. I loved the idea of a haunted coal mine, and the eerie "alien like land jellyfish" we Alex, Denton, Ingold, and Angus encounter in the mine. It was a really interesting read--horror isn't my usual genre of choice but I've really enjoyed all of the Sworn Soldier series.

CW: Claustrophobia, Tight Spaces, PTSD, Body Horror (Mild)

Kingfisher once again creates an exciting adventure for Alex Easton, the nonbinary Sworn Soldier and first-person narrator of the series. This entry uses no mushrooms, which may be a plus or minus depending on your viewpoint, but it does rely on alternative evolution and unusual creatures in an engaging way. The mixture of action and horror remains good as well. Those who enjoyed the other two novellas are likely to enjoy this one as well.

So excited to have a new entry into the Sworn Solider series. This time Kingfisher takes Alex Easton (much to ka's dismay) to America to assist Dr. Denton in finding his cousin....and searching the deep mines of West Virginia for an unknown threat.

I always find Kingfisher's books a joy to read personally and a consistent winner when recommending books to patrons. I found the themes in What Stalks the Deep to be especially moving. In some ways it feels like Denton is the protagonist of this story more than Easton and I really appreciated how Kingfisher shows us his arc through Easton's eyes.

Probably one of the best things I've read this year so far! This series is so fantastic and this entry on the series is just as fabulous! T. Kingfisher is a gem of a human being for creating this series and I am forever grateful for getting to read it!