Monstrous Nights - (Witch's Compendium of Monsters) by Genoveva Dimova (Paperback)

About the Book

""A brilliant modern fantasy that's not afraid to show its teeth."-Ed McDonald, author of The Redwinter Chronicles, on Foul Days 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 another: 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"--

Book Synopsis

"Perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett and Delilah S. Dawson."--Library Journal, starred review

Dive into the breakneck conclusion to the Slavic folklore-inspired Witch's Compendium of Monsters duology, which began with Foul Days

Foul Days featured in Book Riot Apple Books Screen Rant Paste Magazine Parade Polygon io9 Nerd Daily Yahoo Entertainment Reactor Winter is Coming

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. 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 his only lead on the latest witch murder case. He follows the trail of smuggling kingpin Konstantin Karaivanov to an underground monster auction--which leads him right back to Chernograd.

There, sinister events follow one after another: snow falls in midsummer, a witch with two shadows is found dead, and monsters that should only appear during the Foul Days are sighted. The barrier between worlds thins... and Kosara is certain it's her fault--and her job to fix.

Review Quotes

Praise for Monstrous Nights:

"Arriving just a few short months after the first novel in this duology was published, Monstrous Nights feels like the best sort of fast-paced binge."--Paste Magazine

"Perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett and Delilah S. Dawson. Readers will gladly rush back to the grimy streets of Chernograd."--Library Journal, starred review

"A rousing conclusion with a confounding mystery, political conflict, issues of trust and acceptance, appearances by old friends, and more monsters. Fans of Dimova's debut (Foul Days, 2024) will be enthralled by the sequel."--Booklist, starred review

"Grislier than the previous installment, but with the same vivid worldbuilding, colorful characters, and moments of humor, Dimova's fast-paced sequel will keep readers on the edges of their seats. This sends the series out on a high note."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Perfectly suited for spooky season. Witches! Monsters! Magic and mayhem!"--Winter Is Coming

Praise for Foul Days (Featured in Book Riot Apple Books Screen Rant Paste Magazine Parade Polygon io9 Nerd Daily Yahoo Entertainment Reactor and more!)

"Charming, wry, and emotionally resonant. Dimova's propulsive, assured prose captures a fresh, gritty world bursting with wonderful characters--and monsters galore! Get ready to meet your new favorite supernatural crime-busting duo."--Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic

"Sharply written, utterly imaginative, by turns terrifying and hopeful--a wonderful read."--New York Times bestselling author Lilith Saintcrow

"There's no safety when the Foul Days come for you: this book will drag you in and not let you go until dawn."--Marie Brennan, award-winning author of A Natural History of Dragons

"Foul Days is a fast-paced murder mystery in a Balkan-inspired fantasy world where your ex can be a literal monster. Charming, clever, and compulsively readable, this debut is wholly original and monstrously fun."--Rebecca Schaeffer, author of the Market of Monsters series

"A sure-footed, swift-paced race against time, Foul Days brings Slavic folklore to terrifying life. This is a brilliant modern fantasy that's not afraid to show its teeth."--Ed McDonald, author of The Redwinter Chronicles

"The definition of a summer fantasy must-read."--Paste Magazine

"An entirely original world"--Parade

"Mixes intriguing world-building, an entertaining team-up with an attractive cop, gripping action sequences, and Kosara's deeply personal reckoning with her troubled past to keep us turning pages."--Apple Books Review

"Dimova dazzles in her immersive fantasy debut... Dimova's atmospheric worldbuilding and well-shaded cast make it easy to sink into this fantasy adventure. Kosara is especially vividly rendered and her witty narrative voice is sure to get readers on her side. This is a standout."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"Dimova melds Slavic folklore, murder, and mystery into her fast-paced, magical debut, with detailed world-building and thoughtful consideration of matters related to trauma, the immigrant experience, and trust."--Booklist, starred review

"This is a lively and accomplished debut, with an engaging voice and a deft touch with characterisation."--Locus

"Rich with the mythology of [Dimova's] heritage... [it] felt a bit like the world of the Grishaverse by Leigh Bardugo [and] reminiscent of Sapkowski's The Witcher... I'm looking forward to finishing off this story with the second installment, Monstrous Nights."--SFF World

"[An] energetic, witty debut... This twisty, fast-paced fantasy adventure feels like what would happen if Delilah S. Dawson and Naomi Novik teamed up to rewrite The Witcher."--Library Journal

"Foul Days is a phenomenal blend of danger and delight from an exciting new voice in fantasy. The characters, the world, the magic, and the monsters are all compelling, but the deft way in which Dimova brings them all to life while weaving in heavier themes of classism and abuse will leave you breathlessly awaiting the sequel long before you reach that final page." --Kamilah Cole, author of So Let Them Burn

"A fast-paced thrill ride with immersive worldbuilding and a snarky but realistic main character who you just can't help but root for." --Frances White, author of Voyage of the Damned

"An immersive, thrilling read which will stand as a classic of Slavic folklore among the likes of Katherine Arden's Winternight Trilogy."--Laura R. Samotin, author of The Sins on Their Bones

"Delightfully witty and utterly charming, Foul Days is part epic fantasy adventure and part romantic buddy comedy through an engaging fantasy world inspired by Slavic folklore. I couldn't put it down."--Hana Lee, author of Road to Ruin

"Foul Days is an incredible story filled with monsters and magic which deserves not only to be read, but savored." --Maelan Holladay, author of The Storm Gathers

"[V]ivid characters and rich themes, Foul Days is entertaining and compelling"--BookBrowse

"This gritty, atmospheric fantasy brings folklore to life."--Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Genoveva Dimova is a fantasy author and archaeologist. Originally from Bulgaria, she now lives in Scotland with her partner and a small army of houseplants. She believes in writing what you know, so her work often features Balkan folklore, the immigrant experience, and protagonists who get into incredible messes out of pure stubbornness. When she's not writing, she likes to explore old ruins, climb even older hills, and listen to practically ancient rock music.