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The Witch's Compendium of Monsters #2
Monstrous Nights
Dive into the breakneck conclusion to the Slavic folklore-inspired Witch's Compendium of Monsters series, which began with Foul Days
With her magic reclaimed and her role in the community of Chernograd restored, Kosara’s life should finally be back to normal—but, of course, things can’t possibly be that simple.
She is now in possession of twelve witch’s shadows, which belonged to a series of young, magically powerful women lured into the deadly marriage with the Zmey that Kosara only narrowly escaped as a young woman. Holding them may grant her unprecedented power, but that doesn’t mean they’re always willing to do her bidding.
Across the wall in Belograd, Asen chases the only lead on his latest case, one of several unsolved witch murders, even against the orders of his direct superior and the mayor. He’s convinced the smuggling kingpin Konstantin Karaivanov is behind them, and follows his trail to an underground monster auction—which leads him right back to Chernograd.
There, sinister events follow one after snow falls in midsummer, a witch with two shadows is found dead, monsters that should only appear during the Foul Days have been sighted, and cracks appear in the sky that only Kosara seems able to see. The barrier between worlds thins... and Kosara can’t help but feel her actions are the cause.
With her magic reclaimed and her role in the community of Chernograd restored, Kosara’s life should finally be back to normal—but, of course, things can’t possibly be that simple.
She is now in possession of twelve witch’s shadows, which belonged to a series of young, magically powerful women lured into the deadly marriage with the Zmey that Kosara only narrowly escaped as a young woman. Holding them may grant her unprecedented power, but that doesn’t mean they’re always willing to do her bidding.
Across the wall in Belograd, Asen chases the only lead on his latest case, one of several unsolved witch murders, even against the orders of his direct superior and the mayor. He’s convinced the smuggling kingpin Konstantin Karaivanov is behind them, and follows his trail to an underground monster auction—which leads him right back to Chernograd.
There, sinister events follow one after snow falls in midsummer, a witch with two shadows is found dead, monsters that should only appear during the Foul Days have been sighted, and cracks appear in the sky that only Kosara seems able to see. The barrier between worlds thins... and Kosara can’t help but feel her actions are the cause.
339 pages, Paperback
First published October 22, 2024
77 people are currently reading
2243 people want to read
About the author
Genoveva Dimova
5 books446 followersGenoveva Dimova is a Bulgarian fantasy author and archaeologist based in Scotland. Her debut novel inspired by Bulgarian folklore, Foul Days, came out in June 2024, and the sequel, Monstrous Nights followed in October 2024. When she’s not writing, she likes to explore old ruins, climb even older hills, and listen to practically ancient rock music.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 323 reviews
July 5, 2024
this series is just: two people trying to hang out, rest, read some romance novels, and continue to deny their feelings for each other, but they keep getting interrupted by the most absurd things imaginable
honestly a banger of a duology 10/10
Read my review here
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honestly a banger of a duology 10/10
Read my review here
Follow me on Instagram
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September 12, 2024With a little over a month until Monstrous Nights comes out, I thought I should tell you a bit more about it.
While Foul Days was inspired by the early years after the Berlin Wall was built, Monstrous Nights is a very loose interpretation of the time of it falling—but with added magic and, of course, a tonne of monsters. I grew up in the 1990s when my native Bulgaria was opening up to the world for the first time in 40 years, and I clearly remember the turbulence of those times, as we were trying to rebuild our society from the ground up. Another thing I remember, however, is the hope that something better is finally coming – and the freedom, as Western movies, music, and books became widely available. My parents quickly filled our home library with anything and everything, from romance novels with Fabio on the cover to thrillers about aliens kidnapping the American president. Mostly, however, they filled it with fantasy. This was when my love of reading was born.
Monstrous Nights is a book about how there are no simple solutions to complex problems, about how someone can be a hero one minute and become a monster the next—but mostly, it’s about hope.
Welcome back to Chernograd!
As usual, please find the content warnings hidden in the spoiler below:
While Foul Days was inspired by the early years after the Berlin Wall was built, Monstrous Nights is a very loose interpretation of the time of it falling—but with added magic and, of course, a tonne of monsters. I grew up in the 1990s when my native Bulgaria was opening up to the world for the first time in 40 years, and I clearly remember the turbulence of those times, as we were trying to rebuild our society from the ground up. Another thing I remember, however, is the hope that something better is finally coming – and the freedom, as Western movies, music, and books became widely available. My parents quickly filled our home library with anything and everything, from romance novels with Fabio on the cover to thrillers about aliens kidnapping the American president. Mostly, however, they filled it with fantasy. This was when my love of reading was born.
Monstrous Nights is a book about how there are no simple solutions to complex problems, about how someone can be a hero one minute and become a monster the next—but mostly, it’s about hope.
Welcome back to Chernograd!
As usual, please find the content warnings hidden in the spoiler below:
November 12, 2024
Actual rating: 4.99587989648 stars.
unwilling camaraderie in this book! So much reluctant bonding over spilled intestines (dinner is served!)! So many severed heads and ripped-off hearts! There’s a whole bunch of cute, fluffy pets, too! (What do you mean, monsters from Slavic folklore aren’t cute and fluffy? They’re the most adorable bunch ever! It’s not because a cockerel is dubbed the “great harbinger of plague and death” that it’s necessarily evil, you know. So please keep an open mind and don’t be so prejudiced and stuff!) So many murders and deadly dead bodies as well! This really is one of the most heartwarming tales ever!
I’m not even kidding, you know. This book really is despicably cozy despite the death toll and the dark stuff and thedelightfully slightly gory stuff. It’s because of all the thermal underwear if you ask me. It makes you feel warm and comfy despite the sometimes dire challenging circumstances. Oh, and the purring cat ghost probably helps, too. So does the greatest book club ever (smut-reading werewolves varkolaks who get smashed regularly? Count me in!). And let’s not forget to mention the fastest giant cauldron in the history of the West (when it doesn’t fail to take off because of an engine failure, that is). Now if that doesn’t scream Super Extra Cozy (SEC™) to you then you better stick to Anne of Green Gables methinks.
TL;DR: Thisbook duology in a nutshell? A pretty shrimping fantastic world, a scrumptious cast of characters, super cool shadows, a delicious array of lovely monsters, lots of hahahaha, quite a bit of EW, and a house on chicken feet (👋waves at Baba Yaga👋) that kicks serious butt.
· Book 1: Foul Days ★★★★★
· Book 1.5: Ace Up Her Sleeve ★★★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
⚠️ Watch out, all-caps incoming.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS IS A DUOLOGY??!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE WON'T BE A SEQUEL??!! GENOVENA DIMOVA, WE NEED TO TALK.
➽ Review to come and stuff.
“We’re all in this together, tangled like a pig’s intestines.”So much
I’m not even kidding, you know. This book really is despicably cozy despite the death toll and the dark stuff and the
TL;DR: This
· Book 1: Foul Days ★★★★★
· Book 1.5: Ace Up Her Sleeve ★★★★
[Pre-review nonsense]
⚠️ Watch out, all-caps incoming.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS IS A DUOLOGY??!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN THERE WON'T BE A SEQUEL??!! GENOVENA DIMOVA, WE NEED TO TALK.
➽ Review to come and stuff.
January 20, 2025
It's only been like a month since I've read Foul Days, but it seems like I've fallen out of love with this series rather quickly...
August 28, 2025
Every time I sat down with Monstrous Nights, I relaxed. Just like in Foul Days, Dimova delivers a totally immersive and punch story of characters who I could follow forever. Her witch is put-upon and lovable, and her former detective is more conflicted than ever. A dynamic like ill-they/won't-they doesn't usually work on me, but the two are remarkably cute together, and it creates great friction against the sprawling mysteries the witch and copper have to chase down.
Ultimately, Monstrous Nights is tremendous fun. It ends the two-book story well, and I can't wait for whatever Dimova writes next.
Note: I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
Ultimately, Monstrous Nights is tremendous fun. It ends the two-book story well, and I can't wait for whatever Dimova writes next.
Note: I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.
November 1, 2024
4.5 stars / What a fantastic sequel and a great ending to this duology! It was just as fun as the first book; I couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out. If you enjoyed Foul days, you’re in for a treat. This sequel keeps the excitement and heart going strong.
One of the things I loved most was how well the characters evolved this time around. Both Asen and Kosara had great arcs. It felt really rewarding to see them grow. Kosara, especially, stood out to me. The trauma from her time with the Zmey still haunts her, but in this book, we see how that darkness impacts her in more meaningful ways. However, I did wish Dimova had given more direct acknowledgment to the amount of abuse Kosara endured. Still, Kosara's decisions at the end of the book felt earned and organic, full-circle.
The monster hunting part was just as strong and entertaining as before. Dimova has a way of making those scenes thrilling yet effortlessly fun. The book felt like it read itself—easy, fun, and surprisingly touching at times. Considering the heavier subjects it brushes against and the overall setting (Slavic folklore is usually not full of happy-sunshine-moments), it could have easily gone darker. But the author kept the tone light, which I found refreshing, especially after binging a lot of grimdark fantasy recently.
Overall, Monstrous Nights delivered exactly what I wanted. Highly recommend this duology!
One of the things I loved most was how well the characters evolved this time around. Both Asen and Kosara had great arcs. It felt really rewarding to see them grow. Kosara, especially, stood out to me. The trauma from her time with the Zmey still haunts her, but in this book, we see how that darkness impacts her in more meaningful ways. However, I did wish Dimova had given more direct acknowledgment to the amount of abuse Kosara endured. Still, Kosara's decisions at the end of the book felt earned and organic, full-circle.
The monster hunting part was just as strong and entertaining as before. Dimova has a way of making those scenes thrilling yet effortlessly fun. The book felt like it read itself—easy, fun, and surprisingly touching at times. Considering the heavier subjects it brushes against and the overall setting (Slavic folklore is usually not full of happy-sunshine-moments), it could have easily gone darker. But the author kept the tone light, which I found refreshing, especially after binging a lot of grimdark fantasy recently.
Overall, Monstrous Nights delivered exactly what I wanted. Highly recommend this duology!
May 17, 2024
She nailed the sequel *so* hard. Full review to come, thank you Tor for the e-ARC (also can we just give me a round of applause because I am FINALLY getting Tor ARCs cause I FINALLY got through to them?)
December 1, 2025
While I enjoyed the fisrt book same can't be said for sequel. Just so boring.
December 21, 2024
3 ⭐️
This was quite a disappointment for me because I really had quite a good time with book 1, and book 2 was a step down in almost every way which was a huge bummer. I feel like if we had adjusted some things and combined these two stories into a standalone it would have worked better for me because the stakes really feel like they were significantly lessened for the majority of this second and concluding installment. That mixed with some significant hand waving in the lore and worldbuilding just left me a little wanting. This is not a bad duology by any means, if you want a campy monster-filled romp with some creatures from Eastern European folklore this duology might work really well for you!
This was quite a disappointment for me because I really had quite a good time with book 1, and book 2 was a step down in almost every way which was a huge bummer. I feel like if we had adjusted some things and combined these two stories into a standalone it would have worked better for me because the stakes really feel like they were significantly lessened for the majority of this second and concluding installment. That mixed with some significant hand waving in the lore and worldbuilding just left me a little wanting. This is not a bad duology by any means, if you want a campy monster-filled romp with some creatures from Eastern European folklore this duology might work really well for you!
December 31, 2024
Review originally on JamReads
Monstrous Nights is the second instalment on the dark fantasy series The Witch's Compendium to Monsters, written by Genoveva Dimova, published by Tor. An excellent sequel to Foul Days which plays with the world and the consequences of the changes that already happened in the prequel, two cities that are suffering the shock of two cultures merging after the Wall fall, and in the middle of all, our two characters, Kosara and Asen, six months later.
Kosara has returned to her position in Chernograd, after defeating the Zmey, and with her twelve shadows; but the memories of her story with the Zmey are still haunting her. A witch with two shadows appeared dead, monsters are being sighted outside of the Foul Days and Kosara sees cracks in the sky; the barrier between worlds is breaking and Kosara will have to repair it before the monsters invade this world.
Asen continues chasing the last lead in a case of several witches murdered, against the orders of his superior and the mayor; he's convinced that Karainov is involved, and his investigation takes him back to Chernograd, where his path will eventually get interwoven with Kosara's one, restarting the relationship between both while they try to save the cities from the monsters that are threatening their unaware citizens.
While the plot takes a bit more to pick than in the prequel, I personally enjoyed how much growth there's in everything shown in Monstrous Nights: from the cities that are experiencing a cultural shock, with a certain rise of xenofobia and extremism, the own characters, and even the own mythology, as more details about the Zmey and the monsters are explained. The relationship between Kosara and Asen is delicious, even if they get angry sometimes because both are strong characters, but eventually you almost get a cozy feeling from this book (if you ignore the murders, the monsters and the darkness, there's space for laugh and heartwarming moments).
Both cities have changed after what happened during Foul Days, and we can see how greed is also driving the actions of some of the characters, aiming to restore the Wall and keep both cities separated. More monsters inspired in Slavic folklore appear, but Dimova also makes an excellent job of humanizing some of the creatures, going far from the mindless beast idea; in general, Monstrous Nights is more, all built on the foundations of Foul Days.
I loved each single page on the whole duology; if you are looking for a Slavic inspired dark fantasy that also drinks of its story, The Witch's Compendium to Monsters is the perfect election for you. Monstrous Nights is the culmination it needed, but personally, I would love returning to Chernograd at some point!
Monstrous Nights is the second instalment on the dark fantasy series The Witch's Compendium to Monsters, written by Genoveva Dimova, published by Tor. An excellent sequel to Foul Days which plays with the world and the consequences of the changes that already happened in the prequel, two cities that are suffering the shock of two cultures merging after the Wall fall, and in the middle of all, our two characters, Kosara and Asen, six months later.
Kosara has returned to her position in Chernograd, after defeating the Zmey, and with her twelve shadows; but the memories of her story with the Zmey are still haunting her. A witch with two shadows appeared dead, monsters are being sighted outside of the Foul Days and Kosara sees cracks in the sky; the barrier between worlds is breaking and Kosara will have to repair it before the monsters invade this world.
Asen continues chasing the last lead in a case of several witches murdered, against the orders of his superior and the mayor; he's convinced that Karainov is involved, and his investigation takes him back to Chernograd, where his path will eventually get interwoven with Kosara's one, restarting the relationship between both while they try to save the cities from the monsters that are threatening their unaware citizens.
While the plot takes a bit more to pick than in the prequel, I personally enjoyed how much growth there's in everything shown in Monstrous Nights: from the cities that are experiencing a cultural shock, with a certain rise of xenofobia and extremism, the own characters, and even the own mythology, as more details about the Zmey and the monsters are explained. The relationship between Kosara and Asen is delicious, even if they get angry sometimes because both are strong characters, but eventually you almost get a cozy feeling from this book (if you ignore the murders, the monsters and the darkness, there's space for laugh and heartwarming moments).
Both cities have changed after what happened during Foul Days, and we can see how greed is also driving the actions of some of the characters, aiming to restore the Wall and keep both cities separated. More monsters inspired in Slavic folklore appear, but Dimova also makes an excellent job of humanizing some of the creatures, going far from the mindless beast idea; in general, Monstrous Nights is more, all built on the foundations of Foul Days.
I loved each single page on the whole duology; if you are looking for a Slavic inspired dark fantasy that also drinks of its story, The Witch's Compendium to Monsters is the perfect election for you. Monstrous Nights is the culmination it needed, but personally, I would love returning to Chernograd at some point!
November 25, 2024
Audiobook (12 hours) narrated by Tim Campbell, and Zura Johnson
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
The narration and audio were good without issues.
Zura Johnson was especially creative with her tones and voices to match the scenes, making the audiobook version especially enjoyable.
Monstrous Nights is the second book of The Witches Compendium of Monsters duology, the first book Foul Days having been published earlier this year.
This book started out a bit slower than the first, but it didn't take long to pick up and come back into the same tone, revisiting Kosara in her witchy life living in a monsterous world, as in a world filled with monsters.
The adventures and side characters were different, however all of the excitement and entertainment of the first book carried over. This was a great addition to the story.
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
The narration and audio were good without issues.
Zura Johnson was especially creative with her tones and voices to match the scenes, making the audiobook version especially enjoyable.
Monstrous Nights is the second book of The Witches Compendium of Monsters duology, the first book Foul Days having been published earlier this year.
This book started out a bit slower than the first, but it didn't take long to pick up and come back into the same tone, revisiting Kosara in her witchy life living in a monsterous world, as in a world filled with monsters.
The adventures and side characters were different, however all of the excitement and entertainment of the first book carried over. This was a great addition to the story.
December 23, 2024
I adored this duology! I really liked the first book, but enjoyed this one just a little more. I think the pacing was better. The subtle humor in this was right up my alley.
For being endearing and heartwarming, it was still full of doom, gloom, and blood 😂
I loved the plot. I loved the characters. The magic and monsters were also super interesting. I wish there was another book!
For being endearing and heartwarming, it was still full of doom, gloom, and blood 😂
I loved the plot. I loved the characters. The magic and monsters were also super interesting. I wish there was another book!
December 7, 2024
Yes, this is exactly how I like my witchy tales – full of magic, curses, ghosts and murder.
Oh, and don’t forget idiots-in-love, please- I need that yearning in romantasy.
Also- can you give it some mythology-ish vibes please? I never exhaust of houses with chicken legs.
This may not be high fantasy- but its world building is clever and I’m smitten over it.
I don’t know 100% what I would compare this to, because it felt pretty unique. I legit can’t wait to see what Dimova dreams up next for us to gobble up.
To the person responsible for adding the male narrator to book 2, please give them a raise. 🥰
4.5/5
Oh, and don’t forget idiots-in-love, please- I need that yearning in romantasy.
Also- can you give it some mythology-ish vibes please? I never exhaust of houses with chicken legs.
This may not be high fantasy- but its world building is clever and I’m smitten over it.
I don’t know 100% what I would compare this to, because it felt pretty unique. I legit can’t wait to see what Dimova dreams up next for us to gobble up.
To the person responsible for adding the male narrator to book 2, please give them a raise. 🥰
4.5/5
dnf
November 30, 2024Enjoyed the first book so much but this one just isn’t giving me any buzz
November 15, 2024
A great conclusion to this Balkan folklore-based fantasy duology. It was awesome returning to this strange world.
May 13, 2025
4.75
What other people read: love interest doesn’t fit the bill.
What I read: the fmc’s constant battle with herself and letting whats right prevail, even at a cost. She never let her feelings get in the way of her decisions.
It was funny, lots of ups and downs, also a deeper dive into the lore that I truly enjoyed in book 1.
What other people read: love interest doesn’t fit the bill.
What I read: the fmc’s constant battle with herself and letting whats right prevail, even at a cost. She never let her feelings get in the way of her decisions.
It was funny, lots of ups and downs, also a deeper dive into the lore that I truly enjoyed in book 1.
May 14, 2024
E-arc provided by Edelweiss.
I couldn’t download this fast enough! After thoroughly enjoying Foul Days, I’ve been clamoring to get my greedy little bookseller hands on the sequel. It was utterly delightful, full of the same vivid and gritty worldbuilding, delightfully flawed and entertaining characters, and absolute charm. Genoveva Dimova has a fan in me for life.
I couldn’t download this fast enough! After thoroughly enjoying Foul Days, I’ve been clamoring to get my greedy little bookseller hands on the sequel. It was utterly delightful, full of the same vivid and gritty worldbuilding, delightfully flawed and entertaining characters, and absolute charm. Genoveva Dimova has a fan in me for life.
September 9, 2024
3.25 stars
🎧Audiobook🎧 is well-narrated.
OK. First-off, I absolutely loved the first book in this series! The world-building is creative, detailed and so well thought-out. In the first book, I found the characters truly likeable and they pulled on my heart-strings. I dashed through every adventure with them, hoping desperately for a solid (if not truly happy) ending. And though I had only read/reviewed *Foul Days* only ~6 months ago, I reread and re-enjoyed that book before beginning this second installation.
I was SO EXCITED to read this second book by Genoveva Dimova, until.......
The shift from a one-person to two-person viewpoint probably could have worked well in this book - if it wasn't THESE two characters!! Not only did the witch completely lose all of the personal development that she gained in the first book, but now the cop (whose viewpoint we see for the first time in the second book) is just as self-conscious, un-confident and whiny as she had been and now reverts to. I swear that the amount of adventure fades for the first half of this book, only to make way for an onslaught of "I will never be enough", "I'm so stupid" and "There is zero chance that they return my feelings" - from both of them. Honestly, it went on long enough to ruin my love for this series!
I'm glad that I didn't completely give up on reading this audiobook, as things did sort-of pick up in the last half or third. The magic gets more complex, as do the consequences. The reasons that I loved the first book somewhat faded back into the fold. That said, it wasn't a true redemption.
I know from experience that healing and personal growth are cyclical, but both of these characters lost both that and any pull on my heart-strings as they whined their way through the first half of the book. Any balance that may have been an illusion due to the one-person viewpoint disappears. And it created my perception that neither of these people were even mature enough to maintain any kind of relationship whatsoever. Basically taking what I perceived to be more of an adult first book, and reverting the second into the kind of popular romantasy and YA that I thoroughly avoid.
There are so very few fantasy and sci.fi books these days that don't centre on romance, and I was so disappointed to see this series and this author be affected by the market in this way. Let's ditch the washing of all stories with romance to make them sell, and let fantasy and sci.fi maintain adventures, with a possible side of relationships rather than being complete overtaken.
Huge gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for an Audio-ARC of this book, in exchange for my (probably too) honest review. I really WAS so thrilled to receive this audiobook!!
🎧Audiobook🎧 is well-narrated.
OK. First-off, I absolutely loved the first book in this series! The world-building is creative, detailed and so well thought-out. In the first book, I found the characters truly likeable and they pulled on my heart-strings. I dashed through every adventure with them, hoping desperately for a solid (if not truly happy) ending. And though I had only read/reviewed *Foul Days* only ~6 months ago, I reread and re-enjoyed that book before beginning this second installation.
I was SO EXCITED to read this second book by Genoveva Dimova, until.......
The shift from a one-person to two-person viewpoint probably could have worked well in this book - if it wasn't THESE two characters!! Not only did the witch completely lose all of the personal development that she gained in the first book, but now the cop (whose viewpoint we see for the first time in the second book) is just as self-conscious, un-confident and whiny as she had been and now reverts to. I swear that the amount of adventure fades for the first half of this book, only to make way for an onslaught of "I will never be enough", "I'm so stupid" and "There is zero chance that they return my feelings" - from both of them. Honestly, it went on long enough to ruin my love for this series!
I'm glad that I didn't completely give up on reading this audiobook, as things did sort-of pick up in the last half or third. The magic gets more complex, as do the consequences. The reasons that I loved the first book somewhat faded back into the fold. That said, it wasn't a true redemption.
I know from experience that healing and personal growth are cyclical, but both of these characters lost both that and any pull on my heart-strings as they whined their way through the first half of the book. Any balance that may have been an illusion due to the one-person viewpoint disappears. And it created my perception that neither of these people were even mature enough to maintain any kind of relationship whatsoever. Basically taking what I perceived to be more of an adult first book, and reverting the second into the kind of popular romantasy and YA that I thoroughly avoid.
There are so very few fantasy and sci.fi books these days that don't centre on romance, and I was so disappointed to see this series and this author be affected by the market in this way. Let's ditch the washing of all stories with romance to make them sell, and let fantasy and sci.fi maintain adventures, with a possible side of relationships rather than being complete overtaken.
Huge gratitude to Netgalley and the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for an Audio-ARC of this book, in exchange for my (probably too) honest review. I really WAS so thrilled to receive this audiobook!!
November 10, 2024
there's only so much stupidity i can take before it makes me frustrated (rtc, maybe)
October 22, 2024
When it comes to saving the world, you can’t just leave a job half-finished. Half-measures just won’t cut it.
Foul Days, the first half of this duology, was an intriguing surprise from debut author Genoveva Dimova earlier this year. I remarked at the time that it felt like a lot of brilliant ideas that hadn’t been brought together so smoothly but that I was very interested in reading Monstrous Nights because I really wanted to see where the story was going because I truly think Dimova is fabulously talented and very creative. Foul Days was just a bit rough.
You can see in Monstrous Nights that some of that roughness has been smoothed out. There are still some issues with character consistency and there are times when I felt like both of our main characters were being far too melodramatic for both their ages and constitutions, but since the machinery of this book was oiled so well and a lot of the unevenness from the first book seems to have been ironed out in this second half it made that issue much easier to brush away in favor of enjoying the world and story.
I really enjoyed this duology as a whole, especially when it came to worldbuilding, the variety of monsters pulled from Balkan folklore, and the creative ways they are used in the story. It was all really refreshing material that you don’t see much of and I really wish there were more authors out there writing fantastic stories about the lesser-known mythologies.
I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Book Series/Fantasy/Romantasy/Fantasy Series/Urban Fantasy
Foul Days, the first half of this duology, was an intriguing surprise from debut author Genoveva Dimova earlier this year. I remarked at the time that it felt like a lot of brilliant ideas that hadn’t been brought together so smoothly but that I was very interested in reading Monstrous Nights because I really wanted to see where the story was going because I truly think Dimova is fabulously talented and very creative. Foul Days was just a bit rough.
You can see in Monstrous Nights that some of that roughness has been smoothed out. There are still some issues with character consistency and there are times when I felt like both of our main characters were being far too melodramatic for both their ages and constitutions, but since the machinery of this book was oiled so well and a lot of the unevenness from the first book seems to have been ironed out in this second half it made that issue much easier to brush away in favor of enjoying the world and story.
I really enjoyed this duology as a whole, especially when it came to worldbuilding, the variety of monsters pulled from Balkan folklore, and the creative ways they are used in the story. It was all really refreshing material that you don’t see much of and I really wish there were more authors out there writing fantastic stories about the lesser-known mythologies.
I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: Book Series/Fantasy/Romantasy/Fantasy Series/Urban Fantasy
November 15, 2024
Welcome to the conclusion to "The Witch's Compedium".
While I felt a part of the character evolution got lost in the unrelending romantic uncertainty, constant self doubt and lack of mature communication, I still had a pleasant reading time.
I got some glimpses of the author's love for the Eastern European folklore, customs and traditions and I appreciate all the work she put behind this duollogy.
Genoveva Dimova is a promising Fantasy writer who's works I will continue to read in the future.
While I felt a part of the character evolution got lost in the unrelending romantic uncertainty, constant self doubt and lack of mature communication, I still had a pleasant reading time.
I got some glimpses of the author's love for the Eastern European folklore, customs and traditions and I appreciate all the work she put behind this duollogy.
Genoveva Dimova is a promising Fantasy writer who's works I will continue to read in the future.
October 30, 2024
A satisfying conclusion to a rather stellar, underrated Duology.
(Detailed review to come)
(Detailed review to come)
October 7, 2025
3.5. Perfect fun little witchy spewky book for spewky szn
September 21, 2025
Nachdem mich der erste Band schon so begeistert hatte, war ich sehr gespannt wie es mit Kosara und Asen weitergeht. Als Hexe in Chernograd hat sie es nicht gerade leicht, vor allem in den "schmutzigen Tagen", wenn die Grenze zwischen der Welt der Monster und der Menschen durchlässig wird.
Jetzt allerdings geht es auf den Sommer zu, aber das Wetter bleibt kalt und ungemütlich. Außerdem schlüpft ein Monster durch die Barriere und auch der Zmey, obwohl besiegt, lässt Kosara nicht zur Ruhe kommen. Zudem bekommt sie es wieder mit einem Mord zu tun, und gestohlenen Schatten.
Aber auch Asen, auf der anderen Seite der Mauer im sonnigen Belograd hat es mit einer Leiche zu tun; und ein interessanter Aspekt dabei ist definitiv: beide Leichen wurden geköpft.
Kosara und Asen haben sich seit den letzten dramatischen Ereignissen nicht mehr gesehen, aber sie müssen sich zusammentun, um den neuen Schrecken Einhalt zu gebieten - denn der Verdacht fällt schnell auf den berüchtigten Karaiwanow, eine Art Mafia Boss, der seine Finger überall im Spiel hat und bei dem große Mengen Geld und Mord zum Tagesgeschäft gehören.
⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤
Ich mag den Stil der Autorin. Er wirkt erfrischend anders, sehr klar, aber mit originellen Feinheiten und sie bringt viele schräge Ideen mit in die Handlung ein. Neben Werwölfen gibt es eine Menge anderer schauriger Gestalten, hauptsächlich aus der slawischen Mythologie, die nicht selten für den Schrecken oder Blutvergießen verantwortlich sind. Wohl fühlen würde ich mich an den Schauplätzen wahrscheinlich nicht, aber ich konnte sofort wieder in die Geschichte eintauchen und war mit den dunklen Gassen und Orten schnell wieder vertraut.
Wobei hier wirklich der Fokus auf dem Moment liegt, auf dem jeweiligen Schauplatz und den Personen, denn weitreichende Hintergründe zu dieser von Magie durchzogenen Welt gibt es leider nicht. Die Welt der Monster, deren Grenzen immer durchlässiger werden, bleibt geheimnisvoll und auch wenn das nicht wirklich gestört hat, hätte ich gerne noch mehr darüber erfahren.
Kosara ist noch immer eine Einzelkämpferin, die sich keine Schwäche eingestehen will. Ebenso wenig wie ihre Gefühle für Asen. Ihre Macht ist sehr gestiegen, aber alles hat seinen Preis und wenn sie ihre Magie einsetzen möchte, muss sie mit Veränderungen rechnen, die sie mehr kosten kann, als sie zu zahlen bereit ist.
Asen ist ebenso gefangen in seinen Ängsten und seinem Versprechen gegenüber seiner verstorbenen Frau, für ihren Tod endlich Rache zu nehmen. Diese Gefühle stehen ihm sehr im Weg, um sich Kosara anzunähern - wobei dafür kaum Zeit bleibt, denn die Morde haben weitreichende Hintergründe, die die Zukunft der Städte auf den Kopf stellen könnten.
Dennoch raufen die zwei sich zusammen, denn Kosara muss sich eingestehen, dass sie eben doch nicht alles alleine machen kann und muss. Es gibt zahlreiche Kämpfe, blutige Auseinandersetzungen, magische Rituale und kleine Überraschungen - insgesamt ein sehr unterhaltsames Abenteuer, dass mir viel Spaß gemacht hat.
Vor allem die kleinen Zweifel der Hauptfiguren, die anderen Geschichten oft zu sehr fokussiert werden, waren hier angenehm eingestreut ohne zu viel Kitsch - was in die raue Atmosphäre auch nicht gepasst hätte.
Der spannende Showdown hat einen guten und runden Abschluss gefunden - auch wenn ich mir vorstellen könnte, noch ein weiteres Abenteuer mit den beiden zu erleben :)
4.5 Sterne von mir
Weltenwanderer
Jetzt allerdings geht es auf den Sommer zu, aber das Wetter bleibt kalt und ungemütlich. Außerdem schlüpft ein Monster durch die Barriere und auch der Zmey, obwohl besiegt, lässt Kosara nicht zur Ruhe kommen. Zudem bekommt sie es wieder mit einem Mord zu tun, und gestohlenen Schatten.
Aber auch Asen, auf der anderen Seite der Mauer im sonnigen Belograd hat es mit einer Leiche zu tun; und ein interessanter Aspekt dabei ist definitiv: beide Leichen wurden geköpft.
Kosara und Asen haben sich seit den letzten dramatischen Ereignissen nicht mehr gesehen, aber sie müssen sich zusammentun, um den neuen Schrecken Einhalt zu gebieten - denn der Verdacht fällt schnell auf den berüchtigten Karaiwanow, eine Art Mafia Boss, der seine Finger überall im Spiel hat und bei dem große Mengen Geld und Mord zum Tagesgeschäft gehören.
⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤⛤
Ich mag den Stil der Autorin. Er wirkt erfrischend anders, sehr klar, aber mit originellen Feinheiten und sie bringt viele schräge Ideen mit in die Handlung ein. Neben Werwölfen gibt es eine Menge anderer schauriger Gestalten, hauptsächlich aus der slawischen Mythologie, die nicht selten für den Schrecken oder Blutvergießen verantwortlich sind. Wohl fühlen würde ich mich an den Schauplätzen wahrscheinlich nicht, aber ich konnte sofort wieder in die Geschichte eintauchen und war mit den dunklen Gassen und Orten schnell wieder vertraut.
Wobei hier wirklich der Fokus auf dem Moment liegt, auf dem jeweiligen Schauplatz und den Personen, denn weitreichende Hintergründe zu dieser von Magie durchzogenen Welt gibt es leider nicht. Die Welt der Monster, deren Grenzen immer durchlässiger werden, bleibt geheimnisvoll und auch wenn das nicht wirklich gestört hat, hätte ich gerne noch mehr darüber erfahren.
Kosara ist noch immer eine Einzelkämpferin, die sich keine Schwäche eingestehen will. Ebenso wenig wie ihre Gefühle für Asen. Ihre Macht ist sehr gestiegen, aber alles hat seinen Preis und wenn sie ihre Magie einsetzen möchte, muss sie mit Veränderungen rechnen, die sie mehr kosten kann, als sie zu zahlen bereit ist.
Asen ist ebenso gefangen in seinen Ängsten und seinem Versprechen gegenüber seiner verstorbenen Frau, für ihren Tod endlich Rache zu nehmen. Diese Gefühle stehen ihm sehr im Weg, um sich Kosara anzunähern - wobei dafür kaum Zeit bleibt, denn die Morde haben weitreichende Hintergründe, die die Zukunft der Städte auf den Kopf stellen könnten.
Dennoch raufen die zwei sich zusammen, denn Kosara muss sich eingestehen, dass sie eben doch nicht alles alleine machen kann und muss. Es gibt zahlreiche Kämpfe, blutige Auseinandersetzungen, magische Rituale und kleine Überraschungen - insgesamt ein sehr unterhaltsames Abenteuer, dass mir viel Spaß gemacht hat.
Vor allem die kleinen Zweifel der Hauptfiguren, die anderen Geschichten oft zu sehr fokussiert werden, waren hier angenehm eingestreut ohne zu viel Kitsch - was in die raue Atmosphäre auch nicht gepasst hätte.
Der spannende Showdown hat einen guten und runden Abschluss gefunden - auch wenn ich mir vorstellen könnte, noch ein weiteres Abenteuer mit den beiden zu erleben :)
4.5 Sterne von mir
Weltenwanderer
November 20, 2025
On aurait pu croire que le fait que Kosara ait retrouvé ses pouvoirs et qu’elle ait à son actif 12 ombres de sorcières aurait été un plus, mais… notre héroïne n’a jamais été aussi mal en point. Ses rêves avec le Zmei qui est enfermé dans le mur la hantent et la perturbent. Quant à Asen, il a repris sa vie de son côté et continue d’enquêter jusqu’à ce qu’un nouveau meurtre de sorcière le pousse à rejoindre Kosara pour demander son aide. De plus, les monstres sont de sorties alors que cela ne devrait pas être le cas. Un symptôme de la disparition du Tsar.
Pour tout dire, j’ai moins aimé cette suite que j’ai trouvé moins punchie, moins innovante. Elle m’a moins fait vibrer. On a toujours cette ambiance froide et lugubre. Il neige en juin à Tchernograd, tout va bien. Les monstres sont loin d’être disparus et l’enquête est plutôt bien ficelée, mais… Kosara m’a déçue comme son binôme avec Asen que j’ai trouvé plus terne. La jeune femme s’en veut de l’état de ce dernier et malgré ses pouvoirs, je l’ai trouvé moins active, moins sûr d’elle. Et ce n’est pas son ancienne professeure en sorcellerie qui lui dira le contraire.
Ce que j’ai aimé, c’est le suspense bien mené. On a envie de savoir ce qu’il se passe et si c’est bien la faute de l’ennemi juré d’Asen, son ancien beau-père un trafiquant sans foi ni loi, Konstantin Karaïvanov, ou d’autres choses.
Ensuite niveau romance, là encore, on est reparti sur un mega slow burn puisque le fantôme de la femme d’Asen vient perturber ce qui nait entre nos héros. De fait, c’est mou, il ne se passe pas grand-chose. On ne sait pas si Asen ira plus loin que le ressenti de son attirance envers Kosara et si cette dernière osera ou non franchir le pas. Après la fin du tome un, ils ont eu le temps de cogiter durant six mois sans que rien ne se passe. La flamme est quasi éteinte à ce niveau.
Bref. Même si je suis loin d’avoir boudé mon plaisir lors de cette lecture, j’admets que la fin m’a un peu frustrée. Enfin, c’est mon côté romantique qui aurait aimé un peu plus. Cela dit, je ne peux pas reprocher à l’autrice la très bonne construction de son univers ni sa plume tout à fait immersive. Malgré mes bémols, j’ai vraiment aimé cette histoire, cette duologie.
🍂🍄🟫Ma note :⭐⭐⭐⭐/5️⃣
Pour tout dire, j’ai moins aimé cette suite que j’ai trouvé moins punchie, moins innovante. Elle m’a moins fait vibrer. On a toujours cette ambiance froide et lugubre. Il neige en juin à Tchernograd, tout va bien. Les monstres sont loin d’être disparus et l’enquête est plutôt bien ficelée, mais… Kosara m’a déçue comme son binôme avec Asen que j’ai trouvé plus terne. La jeune femme s’en veut de l’état de ce dernier et malgré ses pouvoirs, je l’ai trouvé moins active, moins sûr d’elle. Et ce n’est pas son ancienne professeure en sorcellerie qui lui dira le contraire.
Ce que j’ai aimé, c’est le suspense bien mené. On a envie de savoir ce qu’il se passe et si c’est bien la faute de l’ennemi juré d’Asen, son ancien beau-père un trafiquant sans foi ni loi, Konstantin Karaïvanov, ou d’autres choses.
Ensuite niveau romance, là encore, on est reparti sur un mega slow burn puisque le fantôme de la femme d’Asen vient perturber ce qui nait entre nos héros. De fait, c’est mou, il ne se passe pas grand-chose. On ne sait pas si Asen ira plus loin que le ressenti de son attirance envers Kosara et si cette dernière osera ou non franchir le pas. Après la fin du tome un, ils ont eu le temps de cogiter durant six mois sans que rien ne se passe. La flamme est quasi éteinte à ce niveau.
Bref. Même si je suis loin d’avoir boudé mon plaisir lors de cette lecture, j’admets que la fin m’a un peu frustrée. Enfin, c’est mon côté romantique qui aurait aimé un peu plus. Cela dit, je ne peux pas reprocher à l’autrice la très bonne construction de son univers ni sa plume tout à fait immersive. Malgré mes bémols, j’ai vraiment aimé cette histoire, cette duologie.
🍂🍄🟫Ma note :⭐⭐⭐⭐/5️⃣
September 17, 2024
4.5
"Someone's on the hunt for witches' shadows. Again."
Kosara is back in Chernograd and more powerful than ever, but she discovers that even powerful witches are quite literally, losing their heads.
It is difficult to review a sequel without spoiling both books for those who have not read the first, so I will try to keep this high level.
The first book ended so nicely, I wasn't sure what to expect - but I found the premise intriguing and I didn't want to put it down! I flew through this whenever I had a chance to sit down, and I really enjoyed being back with this crew surrounded by (and including) monsters. There is just the right amount of humor sprinkled in amongst the grief and challenges. I would love a short story of "A Night of Passion With the Upir" and to join the varkolak book club.
I would have enjoyed more challenging "battles" with Karaivanov & the Zemny, but needed to remind myself it is YA. I'm glad the romance remained a very small portion of the book, I think if it played a larger role it wouldn't have felt like a cohesive duology.
This is a duology I will be recommending to friends!
I am definitely interested in reading more from this author!
Thank you, NetGalley for this eARC.
"Someone's on the hunt for witches' shadows. Again."
Kosara is back in Chernograd and more powerful than ever, but she discovers that even powerful witches are quite literally, losing their heads.
It is difficult to review a sequel without spoiling both books for those who have not read the first, so I will try to keep this high level.
The first book ended so nicely, I wasn't sure what to expect - but I found the premise intriguing and I didn't want to put it down! I flew through this whenever I had a chance to sit down, and I really enjoyed being back with this crew surrounded by (and including) monsters. There is just the right amount of humor sprinkled in amongst the grief and challenges. I would love a short story of "A Night of Passion With the Upir" and to join the varkolak book club.
I would have enjoyed more challenging "battles" with Karaivanov & the Zemny, but needed to remind myself it is YA. I'm glad the romance remained a very small portion of the book, I think if it played a larger role it wouldn't have felt like a cohesive duology.
This is a duology I will be recommending to friends!
I am definitely interested in reading more from this author!
Thank you, NetGalley for this eARC.
February 21, 2025
Foul Days was my first read of 2025, but at the time, Monstrous Nights wasn't available through Kindle Unlimited, so I almost forgot about the sequel. I'm so happy that ended up scrolling across the sequel while looking for something to read because I ended up enjoying the sequel even more than the first book. I feel like this book is on the shorter side for a fantasy book, and yet it felt like so much happened. There was so much jam packed into a little over 300 books, and I really appreciated the fact that the book never felt slow or that anything was being dragged out. I really enjoyed the addition of some of the side characters and how there were some lighter, more humorous moments mixed in the book. I love reading about monstrous creatures, so that was definitely a highlight for me. There was a lot that I enjoyed about this book, but it did feel like it was missing something for me. Personally, I prefer more romance in the books I read, so I was missing that in this book. The two main characters do have romantic feelings toward each other, but nothing truly comes of it in the book, and it's only implied that the end that they may seek out a romantic relationship. I just wish the characters got together on page, but again, that's just a personal preference of mine, so others might not be bothered by the lack of romance or even prefer it. All in all, I did like that this duology was a bit different from my usual reads, and I thought it was a pretty fun read.
October 15, 2024
Foul Days walked (sprinted?) so Monstrous Nights could run. Dimova created an enthralling story that was impossible to put down. This was full of dry humor, fascinating Bulgarian folklore/magic, and a pinch of romance. And a freaking giant chicken.
The way I was able to immediately dive into the story without feeling lost speaks volumes to how well developed the characters were in the first book. This book was non-stop plot. One resolution would lead to more questions until it was all tied up nicely in the end. Kosara continued her self-discovery in her journey to find the root of the strange new happenings in Chernograd. Asen’s struggle to reconcile his past was sad but believable. The fantasy (almost gothic) murder-mystery type vibes prevail throughout with just a little sprinkle of a tiny romance sub-plot.
This was a great duology that I will recommend to all fantasy lovers. Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the eARC!
The way I was able to immediately dive into the story without feeling lost speaks volumes to how well developed the characters were in the first book. This book was non-stop plot. One resolution would lead to more questions until it was all tied up nicely in the end. Kosara continued her self-discovery in her journey to find the root of the strange new happenings in Chernograd. Asen’s struggle to reconcile his past was sad but believable. The fantasy (almost gothic) murder-mystery type vibes prevail throughout with just a little sprinkle of a tiny romance sub-plot.
This was a great duology that I will recommend to all fantasy lovers. Thank you NetGalley and Tor for the eARC!
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