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bookishmillennial's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for the e-arc. I’m providing an honest review of my own volition <3
I think I enjoyed this follow up more than the first novella! This story continues to follow Alex Easton as they go home to Gallacia and investigate an alleged moroi (ghost haunting this townspeople’s dreams?! Truly the stuff of nightmares, get it?!).
I thoroughly enjoyed Alex’s self-deprecating humor and their disbelief that this could really be a ghost. Their comparison of a ghost to an ostrich had me ✨howling✨ 😂 I have never heard such a goofy explanation for why someone doesn’t really believe in ghosts and I was cackling.
I also appreciated the way that like Kingfisher created new pronouns for Gallacia, she also created different words for PTSD, as Alex navigates this and panic attacks in the book, due to their past experiences in the war and with the Ushers. It was a poignant questioning that Alex put themself through, wondering if they could trust their brain after everything they endured 😭
The ending was so delectable and honestly, so damn hilarious. I love that Alex simply does not know what was real and what was a fever dream. That’s the fun of ghost stories that surround non-believers, despite what Alex thinks happened with Madeline Usher in the first book.
Anyway, I think this sequel was so much fun and it works fine as a standalone too!
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for the e-arc. I’m providing an honest review of my own volition <3
I think I enjoyed this follow up more than the first novella! This story continues to follow Alex Easton as they go home to Gallacia and investigate an alleged moroi (ghost haunting this townspeople’s dreams?! Truly the stuff of nightmares, get it?!).
I thoroughly enjoyed Alex’s self-deprecating humor and their disbelief that this could really be a ghost. Their comparison of a ghost to an ostrich had me ✨howling✨ 😂 I have never heard such a goofy explanation for why someone doesn’t really believe in ghosts and I was cackling.
I also appreciated the way that like Kingfisher created new pronouns for Gallacia, she also created different words for PTSD, as Alex navigates this and panic attacks in the book, due to their past experiences in the war and with the Ushers. It was a poignant questioning that Alex put themself through, wondering if they could trust their brain after everything they endured 😭
The ending was so delectable and honestly, so damn hilarious. I love that Alex simply does not know what was real and what was a fever dream. That’s the fun of ghost stories that surround non-believers, despite what Alex thinks happened with Madeline Usher in the first book.
Anyway, I think this sequel was so much fun and it works fine as a standalone too!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Body horror, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Mental illness
Minor: Animal death and War
vaguely_pink's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
**Big thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC**
After loving What Moves the Dead in 2022, I eagerly gobbled up What Feasts at Night. T. Kingfisher has once again woven an expertly crafted spooky tale filled with dread, fascinating lore, and her signature dark humor in this novella. These characters are far more compelling, complete, and likeable than many I've read in far longer books. Kingfisher has also written a wonderfully honest experience of PTSD from a perspective that isn't often seen.
I did find myself wishing there was a little bit more after reading What Feasts at Night, which while I commonly feel with novellas, I did not feel that way with this book's predecessor. I wish there'd been a little more lore explained behind the Moroi. I think What Moves the Dead avoided this pitfall by simply being a retelling of a familiar story. What Feasts at Night didn't have that base to fall back on.
All in all, I still absolutely loved my time back with Easton, Angus, Miss Potter, and my favorite Hob, and am looking forward to picking up the hardcover when it's released!
After loving What Moves the Dead in 2022, I eagerly gobbled up What Feasts at Night. T. Kingfisher has once again woven an expertly crafted spooky tale filled with dread, fascinating lore, and her signature dark humor in this novella. These characters are far more compelling, complete, and likeable than many I've read in far longer books. Kingfisher has also written a wonderfully honest experience of PTSD from a perspective that isn't often seen.
I did find myself wishing there was a little bit more after reading What Feasts at Night, which while I commonly feel with novellas, I did not feel that way with this book's predecessor. I wish there'd been a little more lore explained behind the Moroi. I think What Moves the Dead avoided this pitfall by simply being a retelling of a familiar story. What Feasts at Night didn't have that base to fall back on.
All in all, I still absolutely loved my time back with Easton, Angus, Miss Potter, and my favorite Hob, and am looking forward to picking up the hardcover when it's released!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Blood, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, and Animal death
Minor: Confinement, Grief, Chronic illness, Classism, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Cursing, Alcohol, War, and Death of parent
ezwolf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
What Feasts at Night, the sequel to What Moves the Dead follows Easton as they return to their home and a familiar hunting lodge in Gallacia. Right on the heels of their experience with their childhood friend and some horrifying mushrooms, plus the PTSD from their time as a soldier, the story starts off with us already a little on edge.
Between the two I think I liked What Moves the Dead more both as a story and in terms of the horror vibe. But I liked learning more about Gallacian culture and hearing more about Easton's childhood. I was also very fond of the affection and trust that Easton has for their horse.
Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
Between the two I think I liked What Moves the Dead more both as a story and in terms of the horror vibe. But I liked learning more about Gallacian culture and hearing more about Easton's childhood. I was also very fond of the affection and trust that Easton has for their horse.
Thank you to NetGalley for making this available in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Violence, and Body horror
Moderate: Grief and War
Minor: Blood, Alcohol, and Death
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