What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

We continue to follow retired soldier Alex Easton on their new journey. After their horrifying adventure at Usher Manor with the mushrooms and Madeline, Alex is ready to begin a new chapter. They and Angus travel to Alex’s old family hunting lodge in Gallacia. The lodge is hidden in a damp forest, one that triggers Alex’s PTSD, or as it is called in their world, Soldier’s Heart.

When they arrive, they discover that the old caretaker has passed away. Wanting to do the kind thing, Alex visits the caretaker’s daughter, Marrium, to offer condolences. However, Alex finds it strange that Marrium and the other townspeople will not give a straight answer about how the caretaker died.

The main reason Alex and Angus came to the lodge was to fulfill a favor they owe Mrs. Potter, a British woman who helped them at Usher Manor. When she arrives, they must take precautions due to her status as an unmarried young woman. They hire a housekeeper, a widow who dislikes Alex but is the only local willing to help. Most of the townspeople believe a creature lives in the house. The housekeeper brings along her grandson, Borris, who helps with the yard work.

Mrs. Potter is eager to paint and learn about Gallacia. One of the ways she chooses to learn is by attending church, where she speaks with a preacher. This pleases the housekeeper but unsettles Alex. Mrs. Potter invites the priest to dinner at the lodge, where the group discusses the creature that the townspeople believe resides nearby. Strangely, Alex begins having nightmares of a bizarre creature sitting on their chest and eventually killing them.

Despite the eerie atmosphere, everyone at the lodge seems to get along well. Angus and Mrs. Potter enjoy spending time together, and the widow takes a liking to Alex. However, she begins to act strangely. She refuses to drink spring water, sprinkles salt around the house, and places iron under everyone’s pillows. Then things take a turn when Borris falls ill with a terrible cough. Although the widow insists he is fine, Alex brings in a doctor. The doctor confirms Borris does not have a lung condition but simply needs fresh air. While listening to the conversation, Alex hears Borris describe the feeling of something sitting on his chest.

That night, Alex is pulled into what seems like a dream, but the pain is real. They appear to be dead, living as a ghost, and can see their home and everyone in it. Alex finds this strange, especially since they have dreamed of the creature before, but never with this level of suffering. As Alex moves around the dream, they see the widow offering them to the creature. The nightmare shifts, pulling Alex back into the trauma of war. As the horror continues, Alex realizes that if it is a dream, they should be able to wake up. They shoot the creature that has been tormenting them.

When Alex finally wakes, several days have passed. They were found in the woods, and the doctor says they had pneumonia. It all makes logical sense, but Alex does not believe it. Still, with everyone alive and safe, they choose not to pursue it further. Alex and Angus decide it is time to move on. Angus and Mrs. Potter part ways, and Borris returns to the lodge to become the full-time caretaker.