Many thanks to my friends at  @macmillan.audio for the free #gifted copy of this book.  

There’s almost always an exception to a rule.  One of my reading “rules” (more of a habit really) is steering clear of short stories and novellas. They just tend to be too short and lacking in the depth I like.  But there’s one exception I always make... T. Kingfisher.  

Somehow Kingfisher always delivers with the wit laced horror that she writes. 

Her reimagining of “The Fall of the House of Usher” in What Moves the Dead was bizarre and creepy and an all-around stellar reenvisioning.  So, when I saw that Kingfisher was returning to that world for a second installment, I knew I needed it.  

Here, we meet back up with Alex returning to the family hunting lodge in Gallacia, the dark and dreary land from the first book.  Soon after arriving, Alex finds the house in disrepair and the caretaker dead.  Rumors abound of moroi stealing people’s breath as they sleep.  But Alex knows... there’s something more at play than mere superstitions.  

Dripping with a sense of Gothic eeriness, What Feasts at Night delivers a creepy atmosphere befitting of the nightmares Alex experiences.  But it’s always the wit and humor- in perfect juxtaposition to the mood- that I find most appealing and unique in Kingfisher’s writing.    

While this was a moody read, I found the horror elements much less terrifying than in the previous installment (or some of Kingfisher’s other books).  That left me wanting in many ways, but with the lighter notes, this book becomes easily accessible for those wanting to dip their toes in something more horror adjacent.

Entertaining and unsettling, I enjoyed reconnecting with these characters and this world.  I’m very interested to see if Kingfisher continues this series.  

🎧Avi Roque narrates both books in this series, and I’ve come to associate their voice with Easton’s. Rocque effortlessly portrays the emotion and humor throughout the read, and the tone and tenor of their voice lends well to the atmospheric mood.