What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher is a tale of mystery, denial, and the desperation one feels when unsure how to help others in the most terrifying of times.
Let’s dive in!
My Thoughts on What Feasts at Night (Sworn Soldier #2) by T. Kingfisher, Narrated by Avi Roque –
Alex and Angus are back on a new adventure, this time visiting a hunting lodge that Alex had inherited to do a favor for Miss Potter in letting her visit and look for mushrooms. Upon arrival though, they find the place in disarray and are distraught to learn that the caretaker had passed. Not only that, but they soon learn from the man’s family that there are rumors that he was killed by a creature who sits on your chest and steals your breath.
Alex wants to brush it aside when Angus explains more about the creature, but neither of them can deny that something feels off within the lodge. When a young man working for them falls ill with the same thing their previous caretaker died from, Alex is desperate to help heal him.
Alex and Angus are such a fun duo! Right from page one, they were already bickering and I couldn’t help but chuckle. I had so much fun reading their interactions, though there seemed to be fewer of them here than in the first book. Seeing Miss Potter again was a treat; her curiosity and the knowledge she shares with the others is always interesting.
In this new adventure, the woman who came to help them clean and cook while they were at the lodge, referred to as “the widow,” is a hoot! Her grumpy and cold demeanor combined with her dry commentary and total lack of fear of stating what was on her mind was so amusing. I loved that she had a soft spot and wanted to keep everyone safe, even if she would never admit it or show that she cared outwardly.
Per usual, the way this author describes the setting is so brilliant. Especially listening to the audio version, I was transported right into the scenery. I loved how quickly things go from beautiful to haunting, for example, vines draped over a tree looking like “spilled entrails.”
Avi Roque does such an amazing job narrating this audiobook! The pacing and flow are wonderful. This audiobook is so easy to listen to! And my gosh, the voices and accents of each of the characters that Avi creates are such a blast!
The one bummer I have to note regarding this tale is how in denial Alex was about what was going on here and how repetitive that got. I could see the character being in denial if there was some new PTSD from what happened in What Moves the Dead that was acting as a mental block, but that wasn’t noted here. So instead, the denial just felt off… like this book should have come before What Moves the Dead. This line especially had me questioning why Alex was so deep in denial: “I have had a great deal of experience with things that I don’t understand.”
My Favorite Quotes from What Feasts at Night –
*Note: I wrote these up while listening to the audiobook, so there may be discrepancies between what I have here and the actual text.*
If this was a fairy tale, it was the kind where everyone gets eaten as a cautionary tale about straying into the woods, not the sentimental kind that ends with a wedding and the words, “And if they have not since died, they are living there still.”
Death no longer shocks me, but I still prefer that it not visit my friends and acquaintances in my presence.
One of the skulls rolled its eyes at me. I was against the opposite wall, heart pounding and spine digging into the plaster before I quite realized what had happened. I stared up at the skull, the empty eye sockets dark as grief. Had I imagined it? Would it be better or worse if I had? A white moth climbed out of the eye socket. I sagged against the wall and made a noise that could have passed for a laugh if you didn’t examine it closely.
If you have ever dealt with the possessions of the dead, you probably know what I mean. You take things away and leave behind emptiness and everything you remove, every sheet and pillowcase, every lost sock and old razor erases a little bit of the person’s footprint in the world.
Nature creates horrors enough all by itself.
I began to apologize, but she gazed down at me with that slight, sad smile and stroked her hand across my cheek. Then her face tore apart.
My Final Thoughts on What Feasts at Night –
If you enjoyed What Moves the Dead, this follow-up will be a fun read if you can look past the main character’s constant denial! I had fun listening to this one and enjoyed immersing myself in this author’s work. I will certainly be looking forward to more in the future.
Preorder your copy of What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher today! This book releases on February 13th, 2024 from Tor Nightfire.
Thanks for reading!
And a shout-out to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an early copy of this audiobook!
Related Reading:
What Moves The Dead by T. Kingfisher is a story of friendship, fungi, and death. If you’re looking for an atmospheric gothic horror novel to sink into, then look no further!
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