Book Review: “What Feasts at Night” by T. Kingfisher
Håfa adai! Welcome to my review of What Feasts at Night, the second book of the Sworn Soldier Series by T. Kingfisher.
This book review consists of two parts: a spoiler-free plot summary and my thoughts on the story. In the second part, I give my personal rating and break down the setting and worldbuilding, storytelling, cast of characters, and themes. There may be some lightweight spoilers—such as how characters interact with each other and the world around them—but I will not give away any major plot twists or endings. I want to share my opinions of the book and maybe encourage you to purchase a copy of your own.
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Spoiler-Free Plot Summary
Retired sworn soldier Alex Easton would rather be in Paris. Instead, ka (they) and her batman Angus are en route to kan (their) home country of Gallacia. Codrin, the caretaker of Easton’s family’s hunting lodge, has died. According to Codrin’s daughter, the elderly caretaker had succumb to a sudden illness. But that is not what the local villagers claim. If Easton were to ask them, the old man’s life was taken by the moroi, a mysterious entity that kills you in your sleep by sitting on your chest and stealing the air from your lungs. Although Easton is open-minded, ka do not consider kanself to be superstitious.
Easton decides to stay in the Gallacian village for a bit longer after Angus employs the widow Botezatu and her grandson Bors to take over Codrin’s duties as caretakers of the Easton property. Angus’ sentiments about their extended stay turn from obligation to enjoyment when the mycologist Eugenia Potter, who was integral in saving Easton and Angus (and arguably the world) from what occurred at the House of Usher, arrives with an English-Gallacian phrasebook in hand. But Botezatu's fear of the moroi is not subdued by the presence of the former soldiers and the scientist.
Easton, Angus, and Eugenia Potter learn more about the moroi from the local priest, who tells them the entity is said to take the disguise of either a small powdery moth or a beautiful woman and that it may also attack you by entering your dreams. Easton knows that the people of the small Gallacian village hold on to older ways and beliefs and are seemingly reluctant to embrace the modernizations of the approaching 20th century. Yet this knowledge does not answer her questions when strange things begin to happen both throughout the day and when they sleep.
My Thoughts on What Feasts at Night: 5 stars!
The second book in the Sworn Soldier series brings the reader to the heart of Alex Easton’s origins. What Feasts at Night is set in a small village in the fictional eastern European country of Gallacia. The mysterious entity that Alex Easton must face, the moroi, stems from real-life folklore of Hungary and Romania. By establishing a connection to real-world cultures and beliefs, T. Kingfisher adds even more complexity and richness to the fictionalized Gallacian people. The story in What Feasts at Night takes place at some undetermined time after the events of What Moves the Dead. It seems as if someone could read this book without having read the first book in the series, but both installments have been such interesting experiences that I cannot imagine reading one and not the other.
The cast of characters in this story includes Alex Easton, Easton’s horse Hob, Easton’s batman Angus, the mycologist Eugenia Potter, the widow Botezatu, and Botezatu’s grandson Bors. The dynamic between each character deftly reflects the unique relationships that have been fostered over time or are just now taking shape. T. Kingfisher masterfully utilizes these relationships to expand upon and strengthen the worldbuilding within this series. And although each character is complex, I could not say that any of them are unlikable. There were definitely “what the hell” moments in the story, but I could honestly see how that character believed their words and actions were justified.
What Feasts at Night heavily explores living with trauma, particularly how a person stores trauma in their body and mind. For Alex Easton, the horrors of the war they fought in are not left behind in the past but are instead just around the corner, over the hill, or in the next room. Their experience with that event cannot be simplified to a distant time but remain in a place that is always unsettlingly nearby, waiting to be stumbled upon at any moment. Throughout the story, Easton has to consciously remind themself that the images and sounds they are perceiving may not actually be there but are instead their own mind replaying a memory, so to speak. It is apparent throughout the writing that T. Kingfisher approached depicting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with utmost care, compassion, and respect. Most importantly, Easton’s PTSD is framed as an obstacle they must face in order to remain grounded amidst the ongoing horror instead of being used as a plot device for the horror.
That being stated, the horror in What Feasts at Night will leave you gasping for air. What I am about to point out is mentioned in the story blurb on the back cover of the book, so I do not consider it to be a spoiler. The entity that the Gallacian villagers fear attacks people by sitting on their chest and stealing the air from their lungs. The scenes depicting such an attack genuinely seem like an episode of sleep paralysis. Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon that occurs when a person regains some level of consciousness while still in the REM (rapid eye movement) phase of sleep. The REM phase is when you are most likely to experience dreams during sleep. When you enter REM sleep, your brain signals your body to enter a temporary paralysis known as muscle atonia so that you do not “act out” your dreams. In effect, you will remain laying safely in bed even if you dream that you are running at high speeds. But when you experience sleep paralysis, you regain some consciousness while still dreaming and still in a state of paralysis. This can result in you “seeing” and/or “feeling” something near you while you physically cannot do anything to get away. I have experienced sleep paralysis MANY times in my life. It can be absolutely terrifying. And T. Kingfisher does an amazing job of representing that horrifying experience in this story.
In addition to the awful sleep paralysis scenes, What Feasts at Night is filled with eerie suspense and spooky settings. This book is shelved in the subgenre of gothic horror and remains faithful to many of the characteristics of this type of fiction. The atmosphere is brooding, the space feels claustrophobic, there are tones of vengeance, and there is some sort of supernatural presence. The adept writing throughout the story creates an intense sensation that something unsettling is about to happen.
I give What Feasts at Night 5 out of 5 stars! T. Kingfisher uses spooky imagery in a gothic setting to explore the effects of how trauma can be stored in the body and mind. In terms of imagery, I would consider What Feasts at Night to be a low intensity horror. There are scenes that some may find gross, but there is nothing excessively gory or offensive. In terms of setting, the characters are forced to navigate an incredibly spooky environment. I would recommend What Feasts at Night to everyone and anyone who appreciates horror and suspense. Both books in the Sworn Soldier series are great stories to new and lifelong fans of gothic horror. The third book in this series, What Stalks the Deep, is set for publication by the end of September 2025. I cannot wait to read it!
Dångkulo' na' saina ma'åse'! Thank you so much for reading my review of What Feasts at Night, the second book of the Sworn Soldier series by T. Kingfisher.
Rating Cheat Sheet
4.75 - 5.00 stars: Everyone should read this book! (If you’re into that sort of thing.)
4.00 - 4.50 stars: I appreciated many aspects of this book. I recommend it!
3.00 - 3.75 stars: I liked some aspects of this book. I won’t revisit it, but someone else might really like it.
2.00 - 2.75 stars: There were some things I appreciated about this book, but I do not recommend it.
0.25 - 1.75 stars: I do not recommend this book. I did not enjoy or appreciate the experience of it.
Post Date: 17 March 2025
Published: 13 February 2024
Publisher: Tor Nightfire
Audiobook Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Performed by Avi Roque
