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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
I am more partial to Vernon's fantasy and her contemporary horror than the historical fiction/supernatural stories that she's written in this book and the previous one. The first book was a retelling of [b:The Fall of the House of Usher|175516|The Fall of the House of Usher|Edgar Allan Poe|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1387708966l/175516._SY75_.jpg|15570703] but as far as I can tell this one is just a continuation of the story that isn't based on anything else.
I enjoy Alex as a character, but the tone of the story is a lot more serious than in her other books. Having just read [b:Nine Goblins|18735220|Nine Goblins|T. Kingfisher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403880756l/18735220._SX50_.jpg|26611013], which revolves around war as well, and follows a bunch of soldiers thrown into a dire situation of the magical variety, I missed the dark humour in this one. Still a fantastically written book regardless, just not one I will want to re-read.
I enjoy Alex as a character, but the tone of the story is a lot more serious than in her other books. Having just read [b:Nine Goblins|18735220|Nine Goblins|T. Kingfisher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403880756l/18735220._SX50_.jpg|26611013], which revolves around war as well, and follows a bunch of soldiers thrown into a dire situation of the magical variety, I missed the dark humour in this one. Still a fantastically written book regardless, just not one I will want to re-read.
“Imagine if an architect wanted to re-create Budapest, but on a shoestring budget and without any of the convenient flat bits. While fighting wolves.”
It’s official: T. Kingfisher is an auto-buy author for me. The prose, the atmosphere, the humour! I preferred the first installment, but I still had a great time reading this one. 3,75⭐ rounding up to 4.
Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback.
❤️ Atmosphere
❤️ Skillful and effortless nonbinary and genderqueer representation
❤️ Funny and fascinating narrator
❌ Slow start
❌ Underwhelming ending
Trigger Warnings: alcohol consumption, anxiety, war trauma, blood and gore, misgendering, and magical coercion or possession. Mentioned, off page: potential sexual abuse and murder.
Plot:
Retired soldiers Alex and Angus return to Gallacia, hoping to welcome their mycologist friend Miss Potter in time for mushroom season. They arrive to find the hunting lodge filthy and deserted, soon learning that the caretaker has passed away. But there is something mysterious about the old man’s death, and the way the villagers refuse to talk about it. Joined by a feisty widow and her kind grandson, Alex, Angus, and Miss Potter will try to stop the old evil that’s trying to claim more lives.
Who doesn’t love a good, short creepy folklore tale? The story beings with a rather long description of the story setting. There is a mysterious death, suspicious small-town locals, superstitions, and folk tales. Our protagonists are skeptical at first, but they soon realize that the stories might be true after all. I thought that the story was very slow to start (I remember being 40% in and feeling like the story hadn’t really started), but Alex’s funny and witty narrating made it fun to read nonetheless. There was more humour and less horror than in What Moves at Night, with a lot of emphasis on suspense and atmosphere. For me, the ending was slightly underwhelming. I would have preferred a faster pace with a more impactful climax, but I still had a good time reading it and cackled more than a few times.
Characters:
Such a loveable bunch! Alex is a fascinating and funny narrator, and kan (a nonbinary pronoun that only sworn soldiers can use) interactions with pretty much everyone, and especially Angus and the Widow, are *chef’s kiss*. Miss Potter is, again, my favourite. Such class! I could read stories about them over and over, and I’m quite sad that this was only a 2-book series.
Writing:
Kingfisher’s writing never fails to impress me: elegant and sharp, evocative, complex yet accessible, extremely funny without feeling forced. There are so many details that make me smile or laugh. It’s really refreshing, and I’ll never stop praising and recommending it.
It’s official: T. Kingfisher is an auto-buy author for me. The prose, the atmosphere, the humour! I preferred the first installment, but I still had a great time reading this one. 3,75⭐ rounding up to 4.
Note: I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback.
❤️ Atmosphere
❤️ Skillful and effortless nonbinary and genderqueer representation
❤️ Funny and fascinating narrator
❌ Slow start
❌ Underwhelming ending
Trigger Warnings: alcohol consumption, anxiety, war trauma, blood and gore, misgendering, and magical coercion or possession. Mentioned, off page: potential sexual abuse and murder.
Plot:
Retired soldiers Alex and Angus return to Gallacia, hoping to welcome their mycologist friend Miss Potter in time for mushroom season. They arrive to find the hunting lodge filthy and deserted, soon learning that the caretaker has passed away. But there is something mysterious about the old man’s death, and the way the villagers refuse to talk about it. Joined by a feisty widow and her kind grandson, Alex, Angus, and Miss Potter will try to stop the old evil that’s trying to claim more lives.
Who doesn’t love a good, short creepy folklore tale? The story beings with a rather long description of the story setting. There is a mysterious death, suspicious small-town locals, superstitions, and folk tales. Our protagonists are skeptical at first, but they soon realize that the stories might be true after all. I thought that the story was very slow to start (I remember being 40% in and feeling like the story hadn’t really started), but Alex’s funny and witty narrating made it fun to read nonetheless. There was more humour and less horror than in What Moves at Night, with a lot of emphasis on suspense and atmosphere. For me, the ending was slightly underwhelming. I would have preferred a faster pace with a more impactful climax, but I still had a good time reading it and cackled more than a few times.
Characters:
Such a loveable bunch! Alex is a fascinating and funny narrator, and kan (a nonbinary pronoun that only sworn soldiers can use) interactions with pretty much everyone, and especially Angus and the Widow, are *chef’s kiss*. Miss Potter is, again, my favourite. Such class! I could read stories about them over and over, and I’m quite sad that this was only a 2-book series.
Writing:
Kingfisher’s writing never fails to impress me: elegant and sharp, evocative, complex yet accessible, extremely funny without feeling forced. There are so many details that make me smile or laugh. It’s really refreshing, and I’ll never stop praising and recommending it.
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
I didn't enjoy this as much as What Moves the Dead but this was just as well written.
2.5 stars. Took the format from the first book and did it all again... just not as well. This book was less creepy than the first and it relied more on humor that didn't land for me. The whole dream sequence in the last few chapters was a bit corny. While the first book was perfect as a novella, this entry would've benefitted from being a bit longer to allow for more tension building. I still had fun learning about the moroi though, love a good fictional monster!
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Good story. Really enjoying the characters. Getting used to the narrator, but still not great; mainly bad inflection so that it is sometimes difficult to follow.
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The writing is lovely.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was a little bummed to find out that "What Feasts at Night" wouldn't be another retelling of a gothic classic like "What Moves the Dead." However, that feeling of disappointment was quickly dashed. Romanian folklore, anybody?
Once again T Kingfisher delivered a healthy dose of eerie wonder, spooky delight, and just plain gave me the creeps, lol.
She is very quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
Once again T Kingfisher delivered a healthy dose of eerie wonder, spooky delight, and just plain gave me the creeps, lol.
She is very quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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