If you're on the prowl for books featuring female rage, non western settings, an examination of class dynamics, and real bad ex-boyfriends that somehow manage to be sexy without doing what fantasy loves to do which is glorify toxic masculinity, and lots of really fun Bulgarian folklore.... she’s it!!

Loved this and grateful to Tor and NetGalley for the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this debut novel based on slavic folklore. The characters were endearing and fun, there was a lot of snark and humor in a rather dark story, and the plot was very interesting. There were some issues with it, but most of those were minor and didn’t interfere with my enjoyment of the story. I think this will be an author to watch in the future.

Kosara is such a delightful character to spend time with. She is a bit prickly and guarded, but I think that mostly has to do with her hard life. She has a good heart, but her need to prove herself often overshadows this. She also needs a little more confidence in herself and her abilities, but she does begin to see her worth towards the end of the story. She does make decisions that you will wish she hadn’t but she always realizes her mistakes and tries to correct them.

As much as I liked Kosara, I really loved Asen, the do gooder cop she teams up with. He also has a tragic past which he keeps to himself. The two of them make a good team, even when they don’t particularly trust each other. I also really liked the two of them together romantically, although I was very glad that the romance didn’t take over the main story. They are sweet together but they each have so much to over come before that romance can truely blossom.

The monsters were all proper monsters, scary and very terrifying at times. Most of these I hadn’t heard of before. Zmey, the Tsar of monsters, was everyone’s worst nightmare. He is that toxic ex, that continues to be abusive even when he is being charming. Worst yet, he does turn into a real terrifying monster when he is angry. There were some monsters that ended up being somewhat nice and helpful, and of course we have the humans who are at times more monstrous than the monsters.

The plot was well done and fairly original. I really liked the duality of the two cities and how different they were from each other. Kosara losing her shadow and all that that entailed was also a very interesting aspect to the story. The need to want to make things right was also a great storyline. The writing was solid for the most part. Great descriptions of the settings and characters. There were some things that maybe should have been explained earlier than they were and the characters backstories could have been explored a bit more, but overall a very enjoyable read.

I enjoyed this so much that I went to see when the next book was coming out as soon as I was done. I was so happy to see that, Monstrous Nights, is coming out this October, and I have already received the ARC for it. I don’t know if there is a plan for more than two books, but I certainly hope there is. This is a wonderful start, hopefully, to a long series. I highly recommend that you add this one to your TBR and read it as soon as you can get your hands on it.

Thank you Netgalley for this free arc in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book a lot! I’m not super familiar wing Slavic folklore but all the lore in this book was super interesting. I loved learning about the monsters of the story. The explanations for them were very well thought out and interesting to read. The magic was also very interesting. Kosara was an interesting main character and she was funny too 😂 I liked seeing everything from her perspective. Asen was also an interesting character and I hope he is in the next book! I’m very curious to see what will happen in the next book!

Foul Days is a confident debut that delivers my favorites—high tensions, dark magic, colorful characters, and unexpected humor coupled with a healthy helping of snark—alongside the breath of fresh air that is its Bulgarian folklore-fueled setting.

23-year-old Kosara is an easily endearing protagonist, though she is not without her prickles. She’s guarded and impulsive but also lonely and eager to prove herself useful, even as she sometimes refuses to admit her “good” parts even to herself. At times, like the best of flawed characters, she made decisions that frustrated me, but I never doubted her integrity or her intelligence; I only rooted harder for her to right her course. Her unintended companion Asen, a do-gooder copper whose trustingness threatens Kosara’s emotional barriers, contributes equally to propelling the story forward (and adding a romantic subplot).

The two stand alone but not removed from an intriguing smattering of side characters. There is Vila, Kosara’s mentor both in witchcraft and in life who lives in a house with legs; Roksana and Malamir, who are just as young and caught up in forces beyond their control; an array of monsters with their own abilities, weaknesses, and even personalities; and the Zmey abusively residing above them all.

The two cities separated by the Wall, Chernograd and Belograd, are just as distinctive and dynamic. For the most part, they felt historical, with magic as a common replacement for modern technology, but at times the setting felt like it wanted to be that of a modern urban fantasy. Occasionally it made certain items and snippets of dialogue seem out-of-place, though it was generally unobtrusive.

In a genre often driven by tropes and romance, Foul Days is a comfortable dive into a world of clever witches, Bulgarian myths reflecting dark, ever-contemporary fears, and a refreshing optimism that paves the way for an anticipated sequel.

A mix between a small quest and criminal investigation story with fast-paced action, dry humor and bone-chilling monsters from Slavic mythology. I felt thoroughly entertained, enjoyed the tension between Kosara and Asen, and was creeped out by the Zmey. And yet, something was missing for me. Maybe it was the bleak world it’s set in that stopped me from loving it or the fact that I’m generally not that interested in witches or detective stories. It is a solid book nevertheless and I’d recommend it if it sounds interesting to you.

Thank you to Tor Publishing Group and NetGalley for this ARC!

WOW this debut is so original and entirely thrilling! Kosara is witty, brave, and deeply untrusting of those around her. She is a monster hunter who knows how dark the world can be. The plot is a roller coaster that I never wanted to end!

Cannot wait for my upcoming OwlCrate editions and to hand sell this title to fantasy fans!

This one really helped knock me out of a reading slump! It's fast-paced with plenty of twists and turns. The way the book unfolds is just great: it doesn't info-dump or withhold enough to become confusing; there's just enough mystery to keep you reading. Like, there are lots of hints and references to Kosara's sister, Kosara's relationship with the Zmey, and Asen's background before we are actually told what happened with all of them. It's really expertly done. I also loved the addition of the monster guide in the back and that will definitely come in handy when I have a physical copy to reread before the next book comes out. And it can't come soon enough! Foul Days is one of those books where I was constantly saying, "Just one more chapter!" and stayed up late to finish it in two days. Even though this is a duology, the book wraps up nicely, with just enough loose ends for what I'm certain is going to be an awesome sequel!!

That said, even though the descriptions of places were super detailed and atmospheric on both sides of the Wall, my only criticism is that I couldn't quite grasp what sort of time period this is supposed to take place in. Only the rich have landline phones, there are no cars (Kosara doesn't know what a train is before Belograd), there are factories and running water, Kosara wears nail polish and mascara, Asen wears a t-shirt, and there's a few modern-sounding lines (like the Zmey being referred to as Kosara's "ex") - so it's a mix of things that I wouldn't have thought to put together even in a fantasy novel (then again this could be the Tiffany Problem because I know things like t-shirts date back to the 1800s but FEEL modern, and it is, again, a fantasy novel).

BUT anyway, that didn't necessarily distract me enough from the plot that it was a big deal. Still five stars because I enjoyed the heck out of it and will be first in line for the sequel!

Steeped in Bulgarian mythology and folklore, this was a fresh, fast-paced and entertaining fantasy.

This was a good debut, easy to read and entertaining enough, but it was lacking in depth, especially when it came to the characters. As someone who prefers character driven stories this was definitely a problem.

Foul Days is more plot driven — the plot and twists were great. I really enjoyed the way Dimova wove Bulgarian mythology and folk tales into the plot, I really enjoyed that aspect and found it fresh and unique.

However the MCs—Kosara, Asen and even our villain the Zmey were unfortunately lacking, the characterization almost non-existent.

It took reading more than half of the book to find out Kosara is 23yo and she was 16 when she got taken by the Zmey. I don't think she reads like a woman in her 20s, especially one that's been through so much and fights for her life every year during the foul days, but I also don't think she was fleshed out enough.
Asen was even worse, he was so one-dimensional I can scarcely tell you anything about him, I'm not even 100% what he looks like or how old he is. I liked the air of mystery about him but the author made him so mysterious (for whatever reason, who knows, maybe it was on purpose ) he was unknowable. All of this just resulted in making me not really care about these characters or their "romance".
I'm saying "romance" because I can barely even call it that , I'm not even sure Kosara and Asen had any real feelings for each other, especially with what is revealed about Asen's past towards the end. Throughout, there wasn't really any indication of an attraction or pining, I don't know, I definitely didn't feel much of anything.

The Zmey was a good villain, he's like that horrible, toxic ex most of us have with one big difference—he can breathe fire and he's an actual monster so that was an interesting spin. I wished we had learned more about what actually happened with the brides he took. It was explained why he takes human brides and what he does with them but there were definitely questions left unanswered especially after some reveals.

I liked the ending, though the very last confrontation honestly pissed me off a little bit. Given where the characters were at that point of the plot I think they should've known and should've been prepared better . The way their plan foiled yet again and they hesitated or whatever that was , was just annoying.

I definitely wanna see how this duology will end and if the characters are better fleshed out in the sequel.

eternal gratitude to netgalley and the publisher for the arc

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.