Foul Days is set in a world deeply inspired by Slavic folklore, weaving tales of mythical creatures and superstitions.
Book Review: Foul Days
- Author: Genoveva Dimova
- Series: The Witch’s Compendium of Monsters #1
- Format: 359 pages, Paperback
- Published: June 25, 2024 by Tor Trade
- ISBN: 9781250877314 (ISBN10: 1250877318)
- ASIN: 1250877318
- Language English
In her journey to escape the powerful Zmey, Kosara, a witch, heads to Belograd—a forbidden city. Striking a dangerous bargain that strips her powers, Kosara encounters new dangers and finds an unlikely ally in Assen, a policeman. Undeterred, Kosara strives to reclaim her shadow and cure herself of a deadly ailment.
Expectations and Reality
My excitement to enter the world of Foul Days was high, but unfortunately, the book didn’t entirely meet my expectations. Despite my critique, I want to make clear that Foul Days did hold my attention until the end. As a debut novel, it has some distinct strengths. For example, the author’s use of Slavic legends, including mermaids and kikimoras, added authenticity to the world, creating a magical atmosphere that felt quite close and familiar. The creatures and superstitions are well-integrated, adding depth to the story.
The characters, although interesting, could have been developed more fully. The story focuses heavily on Kosara’s traumatic past and her complicated relationship with the Zmey. I would have liked to see more exploration of her inner world and how her past influences her current choices.
The action sequences are fast-paced but lack suspense, as challenges often appear but resolve themselves quickly. This lack of genuine twists or unforeseen developments limited the tension and lessened my engagement. As a result, I sometimes found my interest waning. Furthermore, the romance subplot felt somewhat superficial and lacked chemistry. It seemed underdeveloped, leaving me to imagine how the relationship might unfold on my own.
Rating
My three-star rating for Foul Days reflects mixed feelings. The author’s worldbuilding, with its rich Slavic folklore, is compelling, but certain aspects of the plot and character development didn’t fully resonate with me. While the book is well-written, it didn’t quite match my personal preferences for fantasy.
The Witcher meets Naomi Novik in this fast-paced fantasy rooted in Slavic folklore, from an assured new voice in genre
As a witch in the walled city of Chernograd, Kosara has plenty of practice taming rusalkas, fighting kikimoras, and brewing lycanthrope repellent. There’s only one monster Kosara can’t defeat: her ex the Zmey, known as the Tsar of Monsters. She’s defied him one too many times, and now he’s hunting her. Betrayed to him by someone close to her, Kosara’s only hope is to trade her shadow―the source of her powers―for illegal passage across the Wall to Belograd, where monsters can’t follow.
Life in Belograd should be sweet, but Kosara soon develops a fast-acting version of the deadly wasting sickness that stalks shadowless witches―and only reclaiming her magic can cure her. To trace her shadow, she’ll have to team up with the suspiciously honorable detective investigating the death of the smuggler who brought her across the Wall.
Even worse than working with the cops is that all the clues point in a single direction: one of the Zmey’s monsters has found a crack in the Wall, and Kosara’s magic is now in the Zmey’s hands.
The clock is ticking, the hunt is on, and Kosara’s priorities should be clear―but is she the hunter or the hunted? And in a city where everyone is out for themselves, who can Kosara trust to assist her in outwitting the man―the Monster―she’s never been able to escape alone?
