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A review by tarynimwalle
What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
3.75
A slow-burn atmospheric horror exploring survivor's guilt and class dynamics. A perfect read for a long winter night.
T. Kingfisher's What Feasts at Night is a solid follow-up to What Moves the Dead, though it is quite different in terms of content. The events of the previous title are mentioned and alluded to in the sequel, but the plot does not revolve around the events of What Moves the Dead. This time, Alex Easton finds themself back in their homeland, Gallacia - a laughably dreary place as Alex describes it - a few weeks removed from the Usher House horror. Alex's employed maintenance man working at their inherited lodge has not responded to any of their letters in quite some time, so Alex stops in to find out what happened to the fellow. From here, a mystery unfolds revolving around an Eastern European folkloric monster. Or maybe just pneumonia, for the practical skeptics among us. Silence and moths and iron blades abound.
This is a slow burn horror that explores class dynamics (between Alex and their paid employees) as well as Alex's trauma as a retired soldier who spent many years on the front lines. I am not sure the story succeeded in exploring the former topic, as it didn't feel that Kingfisher dug deep enough to examine the power structures at play. I did like the story's angle on grief, trauma, survivor's guilt, and PTSD.
I would recommend the Sworn Soldier series to horse girls and anyone who enjoyed The Witcher. What Feasts at Night reminded me very much of the short story involving the striga.
T. Kingfisher's What Feasts at Night is a solid follow-up to What Moves the Dead, though it is quite different in terms of content. The events of the previous title are mentioned and alluded to in the sequel, but the plot does not revolve around the events of What Moves the Dead. This time, Alex Easton finds themself back in their homeland, Gallacia - a laughably dreary place as Alex describes it - a few weeks removed from the Usher House horror. Alex's employed maintenance man working at their inherited lodge has not responded to any of their letters in quite some time, so Alex stops in to find out what happened to the fellow. From here, a mystery unfolds revolving around an Eastern European folkloric monster. Or maybe just pneumonia, for the practical skeptics among us. Silence and moths and iron blades abound.
This is a slow burn horror that explores class dynamics (between Alex and their paid employees) as well as Alex's trauma as a retired soldier who spent many years on the front lines. I am not sure the story succeeded in exploring the former topic, as it didn't feel that Kingfisher dug deep enough to examine the power structures at play. I did like the story's angle on grief, trauma, survivor's guilt, and PTSD.
I would recommend the Sworn Soldier series to horse girls and anyone who enjoyed The Witcher. What Feasts at Night reminded me very much of the short story involving the striga.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: War
Minor: Rape