Monstrous Nights

Starred review from August 23, 2024

Kosara and Asen return in Dimova's follow-up to Foul Days. Readers return to a cast of characters grasping for normalcy after the events of the first novel. Kosara is grappling with the effects of taking on the shadows of 12 witches she inherited from the Zmey, her abusive ex and the Tsar of Monsters, now trapped in the wall between Chernograd and Belograd. In Belograd, Asen is investigating a string of grisly witch murders he believes are tied to crime lord Konstantin Karaivanov. When witches are murdered on either side of the wall, Asen seeks Kosara's help, throwing them into a race to solve the mysterious deaths and shore up the boundaries between realms before it's too late. Dimova leads readers through a warren of twists and turns with wry humor to a satisfying conclusion. VERDICT This title is a crackling cap to the "Witch's Compendium of Monsters" duology that's ultimately about found family and the power of asking for help. Perfect for fans of Terry Pratchett and Delilah S. Dawson. Readers will gladly rush back to the grimy streets of Chernograd for more monstrous nights.--Lacey Tobias

Copyright 2024 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 15, 2024
It's been six months since the shadow witch Kosara escaped the clutches of her nemesis, the Zmey. She made the magical wall separating Chernograd and Belograd permeable by trapping him within the barrier that previously prevented migration between the two cities. Kosara now has twelve witches' shadows in her possession, making her the most powerful witch in Chernograd. However, she can only control her own shadow; the others do not always cooperate, and can extract a heavy toll on Kosara when they do. And although attracted to one another, Kosara and Asen, the Belogradian copper who'd helped defeat the Zmey, have not spoken since that time. This makes matters awkward when he suddenly shows up in Chernograd again, hot on the trail of a murderer who beheaded a witch, only to discover Kosara dealing with a similar case. Their dual investigations involve a powerful enemy from the past who, for nefarious reasons, appears intent on reversing Kosara's spell that weakened the wall. The Witch's Compendium of Monsters duology comes to 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.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from August 12, 2024
Dimova returns to a world of monsters and magic in the knockout conclusion to her Witch’s Compendium of Monsters duology (after Foul Days). Kosara, having trapped her abusive ex, the Zmey, in the wall separating Chernograd from Belograd and regained her shadow magic, now just wants to resume her life as Chernograd’s local witch. But her life is far from normal now that she has the magic of 12 witches’ shadows from the Zmey’s former brides. While Kosara can’t deny how powerful the shadows make her, she fears they’re more than she can handle. Meanwhile, in Belograd, policeman Asen investigates a series of witch murders. Following the trail of smuggler Konstantin Karaivanov, his prime suspect, leads Asen to an underground monster auction, which sends him back to Kosara’s doorstep, seeking her help. The barrier between the human realm and the monster realm is thinning, causing snow to fall in June and monsters to attack. To restore the balance between worlds, Kosara must destroy the Wall, and with it the Zmey, using ancient magic. But to succeed, she first needs to overcome her stubbornness and accept some help. 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.