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wordsareworlds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
I found myself getting caught up in the way Kingfisher sets this in the fictional country of Gallacia (not to be confused with Galicia, which I did), but plops it down in the middle of real Europe with all its actual history. The myth at play in this book is of the moroi, so there are strong Romanian elements, but honestly the less you think about it the better off you'll be. Vibes only.
This book is also even more self aware than her other works, and I find that the tropes she's using work better when they're not being lampshaded by the character breaking the fourth wall to address the reader to do so. After about the 60% mark she commits to the tone and the entire book gets much better for it.
Overall, I enjoyed it fine but by far not my favorite of Kingfisher's horror works. I'd recommend it for people who want to dip their toe into fantasy horror without being too scared and can be assured of a good outcome.
Graphic: War
Moderate: Chronic illness, Grief, and Death
meltingpages's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Body horror, War, Chronic illness, and Animal cruelty
chelbelle122's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Gore, Grief, Murder, Violence, and War
saltycoffee's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Violence and War
skranz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Chronic illness and Animal death
Moderate: War and Panic attacks/disorders
keiraonyxraven's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Kingfisher as always, created a flawless setting. Their atmospheric and detailed descriptions transported me deep into the wintry Gallacian Forests and inside the creepy hunting lodge. Kingfisher really has a talent for creating endearing and likeable characters, with the return of our favourite foursome and the introduction of several new personalities. I loved the sweet and mild mannered Bors and even the mean old Widow had a likeable quality adding humour and sass to the story. I was completely invested in the fates of each and every character in this novel and that kept me engaged until the end.
Unfortunately, this is where my praise dwindles. Kingfisher is one of my most beloved authors, so I am sad to say that the storyline and plot for What Feasts At Night just didn’t live up to its predecessor. Far too little actually happened to progress the story and the threat was passive at best until the very end. Unfortunately there were no real suspenseful moments for me either and the conclusion left me disappointed and underwhelmed.
That being said, I will still immediately buy anything Kingfisher writes and I still maintain my love for this author and their books. This particular book just wasn’t my favourite.
Graphic: War, Chronic illness, and Animal cruelty
vaguely_pink's review against another edition
- 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
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!
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