In a short period of time, T. Kingfisher has more than proven herself to be a master of the macabre with a firm appreciation for Gothic literature, fantasy and classic storytelling. She follows up WHAT MOVES THE DEAD, her take on Edgar Allan Poe's "Fall of the House of Usher," with an equally compelling tale, WHAT FEASTS AT NIGHT.

Once again we are in the company of retired soldier Alex Easton and their colleague, Angus. Following the action of the prior novel, Alex and Angus are traveling to Gallacia to visit their friend, Codrin, and spend some time at his lodge in the woods outside of town.

"WHAT FEASTS AT NIGHT is a short yet memorable and unsettling read from a writer who is able to conjure up Gothic chills to get under the skin of any reader."

Upon arrival, Alex and Angus find the place abandoned and in poor condition. This does not bode well for Codrin. After investigating the lodge and finding no evidence of what happened there, they head off into the small village of less than 200 souls to get some answers. Alex recalls that a poet once wrote that the woods of Gallacia are as “deep and dark as God's sorrow.” The answers they get about Codrin will play into this myth as the town appears to be in some sort of mass hysteria over what has occurred at the lodge.

Alex and Angus are shocked when a villager informs them that Codrin died suddenly two months earlier, but he is not aware of the circumstances. He then suggests that they speak with Codrin’s daughter, Meriam, who was with him at the time of his death. The creepy village with the apt name Wolf's Ear seems to be filled with people keeping secrets. When Alex arrives at Meriam’s house, she is a bit standoffish and does not invite them in. Alex shares their condolences over the loss of her father. In a curious manner, Meriam gets tongue-tied when Alex asks how he died, and she promptly shuts the door on them.

Meanwhile, Angus goes to the village to find someone who can help him and Alex tend to the lodge. It turns out that only one elderly widow agrees to assist them. She introduces herself as Botezatu and brings along her grown son, Bors, to assist with heavier tasks. She is quite forthcoming when they ask her what she knows about Codrin’s death and promptly tells them that he was killed by a moroi. In various cultures, the moroi is a witch-like creature often depicted as sitting on someone's chest while in bed and stealing their breath from them. She firmly stands by this explanation and lets them know that the moroi is still there.

Seeking more guidance on this matter, Alex and Angus invite the town priest, Father Sebastian, to join them at the lodge. He regales them with local superstitions and indicates how frightened everyone is of the moroi. Even though Father Sebastian appears to be quite practical, he declines an invitation to stay overnight at the lodge and leaves before dark. Needing more assistance with the place and now somewhat skeptical about Botezatu, Alex and Angus call on their old friend from WHAT MOVES THE DEAD, Miss Potter, to join them.

At this point, fear and superstition take firm hold of the entire place, and dreadful things begin to happen. Alex experiences something akin to the moroi in their dreams. They believe it to be the power of suggestion based on the stories that Father Sebastian told them. Bors, however, slips into an inexplicable illness purely driven by the moroi. Alex and their comrades are eager to help, even though Botezatu is deathly afraid of doctors.

The novel takes the requisite dark turn, and T. Kingfisher shows off her firm understanding and respect for supernatural tales fueled by local superstition and uses them to great effect. WHAT FEASTS AT NIGHT is a short yet memorable and unsettling read from a writer who is able to conjure up Gothic chills to get under the skin of any reader.