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elee2013's review against another edition
dark
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? No
5.0
Yessss thank you Ursula for the horses falling apart and the breath stealing and the folk remedies… come for the creepy vibes, stay for the careful, practical reflection on PTSD.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, War, Body horror, Animal death, and Mental illness
onthesamepage's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I don't think it's possible for me to have a bad time with a T. Kingfisher book at this point, but I don't think this is as good as What Moves the Dead. I did like the way the story explores the impact of war on soldiers, and I still really like Alex as a character, but Alex was meandering a lot more in this book. The horror elements didn't really start until I was more than halfway through, and that part was a lot more fun to me compared to the beginning.
I do have a massive soft spot for Alex and Angus, though.
I don't think it's possible for me to have a bad time with a T. Kingfisher book at this point, but I don't think this is as good as What Moves the Dead. I did like the way the story explores the impact of war on soldiers, and I still really like Alex as a character, but Alex was meandering a lot more in this book. The horror elements didn't really start until I was more than halfway through, and that part was a lot more fun to me compared to the beginning.
I do have a massive soft spot for Alex and Angus, though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
shadowspinner's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death and Animal death
gquintana's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Gore
dana_naylor's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
Fun, fun, fun!
I hope there’s another book in this world. I’m enjoying it.
Second in series, but you can read it without reading first book.
I hope there’s another book in this world. I’m enjoying it.
Second in series, but you can read it without reading first book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
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
amandaglowgetter's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this one! A solid sequel to WMTD. I love Kingfisher’s writing, and the world that she’s has created. I love learning about the Gallacian language (with its many nuanced personal pronouns!) and traditions. I really like Easton and Ms Potter and Angus and Hobb the horse, so it was nice to return to that world and see what they’re up to.
I suppose that I was hoping for more suspense, more creepy gothic vibes. It felt like right when things got interesting and really scary, I was 90% done the book.
Thank you NetGalley for an advance listener copy for review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Body horror
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
readingpicnic's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
2.5
I was gifted an ARC of this book by the publisher on NetGalley.
First off, the body horror was excellent as always with T. Kingfisher, especially in the nightmare sequences where flesh and faces fell apart with such ease. So gross, but so captivatingly vivid, especially with the horses and the spirit haunting them. There was quite a bit of lore and backstory for Easton and their time as a soldier, which helped build their character and give context for how they react to certain situations.
I found the first half of the story fairly slow and wasn’t a big fan of the main character breaking the fourth wall to speak to me, as well as some of the humor just not being for me personally. However, I felt similarly during the first novel, so I should have remembered to expect these things. I feel that the story wasn’t as fleshed out as What Moves the Dead and that in comparison to that story, it felt like nothing happened. To me, it felt like the only things of consequence that happened plot-wise was that a few characters got sick, had sleep paralysis, and then recovered. Although there were reappearances of characters who were in the first novel, they felt kind of flat and inconsequential to the story, especially Miss Potter, who seemed to have a lackluster and domestic role compared to how dynamic, independent, and important she was in the first book. It also frustrated me that Easton was so skeptical of anything happening in the novel being due to paranormal causes after everything that happened in the first book, which other characters did bring up, but I think it took way too long for Easton to come around to believing in the supernatural or their townspeople’s beliefs. Overall, I was a little disappointed reading this sequel, and I wish it had more substance to it. If the series continues, I hope that more happens in the next book because I did really enjoy the fungal/body horror and relationships explored in the first book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Body horror, and War