Reviews with content warning for Body horror - What Feasts at Night

Reviews tagging 'Body horror'

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

69 reviews

atlas_shruggs's review against another edition

dark funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

"Blessed Virgin, why must you keep sending me innocent monsters?"

This is such a wonderful continuation of Alex's story and I absolutely loved it. It delves so much deeper into Alex's mental state and their experiences in the war, as well as really immersing the reader in Gallacian culture. Alex continues to be an absolutely hilarious narrator, a complete idiot and very aware of it and about as socially awkward as you can get. The folklore woven into the story was also so interesting to me, and I personally liked the slow-burn, except maybe for the fact that everything got resolved in the last 20 pages. I suppose it is hard to make a slow-burn horror novella but I feel that T. Kingfisher did a very good job with this one. Sure this sequel was not nearly as action-packed as the first book, but I feel that it was very atmospheric and focused more on the way folklore can affect cultures as well as exploring the characters themselves.

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leeshajoy's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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netthauser's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

A flawless novella. Kingfisher's precise use of language creates an entire world, people, and history in 150 pages. The narrative arc builds on itself with a very satisfying conclusion.

P.S. I love the allusion to German fairy tales at the end ("und wenn sie nicht gestorben sind, dann leben sie noch bis heute").

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booksthatburn's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Alex is still unsettled by the events at the house of Usher, but is looking forward to a reunion with Miss Potter and a chance to show her their home in Gallacia. Trying to not let their newly-rooted fear of mushrooms damped their joy in the mycologist's company, Alex instead downplays rumors of a breath-stealing being who can be a woman or a swarm of moths. WHAT FEASTS AT NIGHT is a story of haunting and fear, of stolen breath and terrible dreams. It's an excellent sequel to WHAT MOVES THE DEAD, building on Alex's previous experiences but featuring an entirely new disturbance to their life.

This doesn't specifically wrap up something left hanging, but it continues several of the relationships first developed in WHAT MOVES THE DEAD. The main storyline is new, and the breath-stealing threat is both introduced and resolved. Alex's narration somehow contains even more stories of their fondness for and exasperation with Gallacia as a place they don't want to inhabit but can't seem to leave behind. The actual narrative can stand on its own, and Alex conveys the relevant backstory succinctly enough, but certain elements of Alex's fear will resonate much more to a reader who is familiar with the events of the previous book.

I enjoyed this and look forward to where Alex's frightful travels take them next!

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sproutedpages's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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queenkath32's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

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lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad 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

3.5

I read and enjoyed "What Moves the Dead" last year, and I was excited to continue with the story.
"What Feasts at Night" follows Alex Easton, a retired solider just looking for some serious down time. After their wild time at the Usher manor, Alex is happy to return to the family hunting house. Unfortunately, there is something amiss, and Alex will have to investigate to uncover the truth about what is happening.
This was a very short, quick, and gothic story. It is very easy to get into, and I felt like this could be read independently from "What Moves the Dead."
Alex is a strong protagonist, which makes reading from their perspective all the better. Alex is smart, cunning, but has the greatest heart. Alex does not stand for those she loves to suffer, and they stop at nothing to help bring justice.
This story felt very haunting, and I really enjoyed uncovering the mystery of what was happening to the people. I do wish we got more of the story, so that we could appreciate this situation more.
I will definitely continue to pick up and read T. Kingfisher in the future.

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