We are nearly there, dear readers! This is our two-part finale of the mystery thriller series Monastery. While our group of makeshift detectives have gone through some serious challenges in the previous instalments, this one takes them to new heights. Yes, I didn‘t think that was possible either and yet here we are. But that’s enough of me talking, I’ll let the story speak for itself. Let’s dive back in! 

Plot

We pick up right where we left off in the last part. David and Henry are on their way to confront Francis in order to get Rocky back. To no one’s surprise, Francis is not playing around this time. He is willing to kill David so he can get the key to his father’s money. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he’s also holding Nicole hostage.

Speaking of hostages, they’re not the only ones at peril. Rick, who is now a full-on Francis’s sidekick has Thomas and Alfie. It’s not a great way for our protagonists to start the grand finale, that’s for sure. We also have a secondary storyline of Nana Beth, who feels she has had enough of this world. Despite her granddaughters’ protests, she is resigned that her time has come.

Nana Beth’s character is an interesting tool to portray one’s outlook on death. The entire aspect of death is a huge theme of the story, considering Albert narrates it from beyond the grave. Nana Beth knows she has lived a fulfilling life with her soulmate and is meeting death on her terms and with grace. It also adds a bit of breathing room during all the chaos. 

A lot of the story in this instalment takes place during the double hostage situation. This is not the first time we genuinely worry about the gang’s safety but the first time we’re facing the threat head-on. After all, this is the end, and anything could happen.  

It doesn’t mean we don’t get some interesting character exploration. After all, it’s a question we’ve been asking – why do both Francis and Rick act the way that they do? I found that fascinating because the narrative makes it clear that their actions cannot be excused in any way. Despite that though, their dialogues explain how they justify their actions to themselves. It’s so unsettling to stare into the psyches of deeply messed-up people. We know family can be difficult, but Francis’s hatred is on a whole other level.

Fred continues to be the unexpected underdog as he shows up to save David and Nicole. He even ends up taking a bullet for his cousin. I do wonder if we will get some sort of a conclusion to the love triangle mess. I know, I know – it’s not a priority right now but colour me curious.

As for our head detective Thomas, he is not afraid to challenge Rick on his crap, even if that means he gets a head wound. But ultimately, that is not how they escape – Madam Witch happens to come to the rescue. Some could argue that apart from the Monastery werewolf (a completely normal thing within the universe), this has been the first proper face-to-face instance with a supernatural being. Let’s just say I would not want to be Rick right now.

Once Thomas rescues David from joining Fred in the Shot and Tortured Men Department, the group ensues on a car chase as Francis tries to finish the job. This sequence had me on my toes and I could not help but cheer when they managed to escape. The joy makes Martin’s kidnapping shortly after sting even harder. We know that Francis is not afraid to stoop lower if that’s even possible. I am genuinely scared of what is going to happen when the group faces him again. One can only hope that they’re all going to make it out okay. 

We end the instalment with a bit of a bittersweet note as we witness Cassandra suffocating Nana Beth, with her permission of course, so that she could meet Pop Dennis in the afterlife. I found it to be a heartbreaking but beautiful moment and a fitting end to the episode. 

Overall thoughts

A lot has already been said, but this part of Monastery was easily the most spine-tingling tense one yet. It kept me entertained in the best possible way and it made me realise just how much I care for each and every member of the gang. I can only hope that one day they can heal both their physical and emotional scars from this whole ordeal. Provided that they all make it, of course. 

With the next instalment being the last one, I realised that we’re still nowhere near discovering what exactly happened to Albert. The story is now about so much more than that but considering how it was the catalyst event for everything, we have to find out the truth, right? Right? We will see… 

(5 / 5)

More thoughts from the author:

1. Something that happens a lot throughout the episode is David and Thomas trying to rationalise why Francis and Rick are acting the way they are, all while being held hostage. How do you find the balance in putting in that character development/revelation while still keeping the tension? 

Simple – I work the tension into the development and revelations. Or, I use those developments and revelations to further escalate the tension. Francis revealing the motives behind his actions leads to David rebuffing his arguments, which leads to more and more back-and-forth and doesn’t stop till somebody gets shot in the gut. While Thomas realising the role Rick played in the death of a loved one leads to a heated confrontation, which nearly ends with a child getting their throat slashed. That’s the beauty of story serving story – everything comes together, and everyone goes apeshit. 

2. Your take on death and the afterlife in this story is quite beautiful in a bittersweet way, as portrayed by Nana Beth. What inspired you to take this angle and does it ever get uncomfortable writing about death in general? 

Never – it’s a most soothing experience. Truth is, I never met my grandfather – he died the year before I was born. So, to use the character of Albert to put a witty, spiritual, and bittersweet spin on my grandfather’s own tale, based on everything that’s been handed down to me through the years of what his life was like, is almost spiritual. I choose to believe some of Albert’s voice, humour and musings come directly from my grandfather. A few of the other characters who pass away in this book series are modelled after people who have sadly also passed in the real world, so I like to think I’m honouring their memory by addressing both their lives and potential afterlives – my way of ensuring they go on. 

3. Lastly, this is the instalment where we see quite a display of supernatural when Madam Witch saves Thomas and Alfie from Rick. It’s kind of implied that she knew they needed help the whole time but was waiting for the right moment. Is it possible that she knows exactly how everything will play out and the second part of the finale will feature even more supernatural as the gang go to save Martin? 

To the first part of that question – yes, it is heavily implied that Madam Witch knows everything, especially from the chessboard and pieces at her place. The last episode will feature a great deal of Madam Witch (from the very first scene in the teaser) and we will even scratch out an unanswered question that namechecks her… 

As for the second part, while we will see more supernatural occurrences and the gang will rush to save Martin, the two will not intersect – the rescue party will be very grounded in reality. Well, as realistic as the folks in Monastery can get.  

Amazon insert:

I always had a fascination for horror that explores real-life themes against a supernatural backdrop. Courtney Summers is a very versatile author. Her work ranges from horrors of girlhood to cult thrillers to mixed media ventures. This Is Not a Test was published in 2012 and focuses on a group of teenagers amid a zombie apocalypse. As basic as that description sounds, it is so much more than that and you’ll see why soon. Let’s begin! 

Plot

We begin the story with our protagonist Sloane Price. She suffers from extreme depression and suicidal tendencies as a result of her mother’s death and her father’s subsequent abuse. She is at rock bottom when the action kicks off and observes the end of the world quite nonchalantly. This angle is uncommon in apocalyptic media as we usually see forefront characters who have a lot to live for and go to great lengths to find safety. Sloane not only doesn’t want to live anymore herself but is also putting the others in jeopardy because of it. 

The other characters in This Is Not a Test are fellow teenagers from Sloane’s school. While they are more archetypical, their dynamics provide the right atmosphere to the story. You have Rhys, the popular playboy type who pursues a doomed romance with Sloane. You also have Grace and Trace, the good-nature twins, Cary, the self-appointed leader and Harrison, the baby of the group. In true teenager fashion, there is a lot of bickering and pettiness as they struggle to navigate the situation. Then again, who can blame them? 

Sloane never quite lets go of her depressive ideation throughout the novel, however, she does learn to see the meaning in life again through her connections with others. Unfortunately, in a true horror fashion, the characters start dropping off one by one. It’s effective as the story draws you in showing why you should care for these characters before ripping them away from you. It’s quite tragic when you think about it – finding a new purpose in life and then losing it because of your circumstances. The deaths of the characters are also quite gory considering technically this falls under YA age bracket. 

Overall thoughts

There is a lot of ground to cover when it comes to This Is Not a Test. The mental health representation is brilliantly executed, however, that doesn’t mean the novel doesn’t have genre-appropriate atmosphere and scares. The character dynamics definitely betray that this is a YA book, however the writing doesn’t feel juvenile. Overall, it’s definitely one of the books that stuck with me the most out of any in the genre. Considering I read it nearly ten years ago, it’s clearly a sign of its impact. 

Sword Soldier 2: What Feasts at Night, a review.

Published in February 2024, What Feasts at Night is the second book in T. Kingfisher’s Sworn Soldier duology. If you’re curious, you can find my review of the first installment, What Moves the Dead – a chilling reimagining of Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher – here.

What Feasts at Night into Romanian folklore, weaving a tale that grapples with PTSD and the enduring impact of trauma, or what our main character calls ‘soldier’s heart’.

The Plot.

In What Feasts at Night, Alex Easton returns from his unsettling encounter with the Ushers and sets his sights on a quiet retreat to his Galacian cottage. Accompanied by his loyal companion, Angus, and his faithful steed Hob, he arrives to find the caretaker mysteriously deceased and the local villagers shrouded in fear and silence. Undeterred, Alex presses on, enlisting the aid of the superstitious Widow Botezatu to prepare his home for the arrival of his friend, Eugenia Potter.

As the story moves forward, the tranquility of the cottage is disrupted, and a sinister presence begins to cast its shadow. The Widow Botezatu’s son, Bors, begins to exhibit the same disturbing symptoms that the deceased caretakers suffered through. According to his mother, these symptoms align with the terrifying legend of the moroi.

Highlights.

Including the traditional Romanian folklore was a real highlight of this story. This is not limited to the presence of the shape-shifting, nocturnal moroi. Kingfisher has also included various superstitions from this region believed to ward off evil, such as weaving red thread and placing knives beneath pillows.

As a sworn soldier, Alex Easton has played his part in many wars. Kingfisher mentioned ‘soldier’s heart’ briefly in What Moves the Dead, in this installation we are able to see how this trauma response affects Alex. There is a beautiful insight into trauma that should not be left out of any review of this book.

“I sometimes think the fundamental disconnect with civilians is that they think the war is an event, something neatly bound on either end by dates. What anyone who’s lived through one can tell you is it’s actually a place. You’re there and then you leave, but places don’t stop existing just because you aren’t looking at them. The war’s still there. I don’t live in it anymore, but it’s right over there, just on the other side of… I don’t know.” (87)

Drawbacks.

In comparison with the first installment of this series, What Feasts at Night lacked peaks and troughs, feeling like a slow and steady amble to the final scenes. Although Kingfisher manages to pack her pages with atmosphere and a sense of foreboding, there is a lack of solid action here until the last few pages of the story. For those who enjoy a slow burn, this will not necessarily be a drawback, but I have grown to expect a certain level of movement from Kingfisher’s stories and found it was missing here.

The Final Take.

My love of T Kingfisher is no secret. I find her stories engaging, atmospheric and generally a little brain bending. However, What Feasts in the Night is perhaps my least favourite of those I have read. The plot was a little slow and the characters lack luster. I did still enjoy this story, in particular Kingfishers take on PTSD. I cannot say that this is an original idea but traumatic experience as a place rather than a time period is one that really makes sense to me.

There are whispers that suggest this series might grow into a trilogy next year. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing what kind of trouble Alex Easton gets into next. (3 / 5)