This one was so close to perfect! Maybe I'm being too nit-picky, but I needed more seige-induced mass panic. There was a brief riot in the beginning, during which the reader is introduced to Ser Voyne, acting as the king's crowd controller and attack dog. But after that, the chaotic swell and the inhumane desperation of the people as a whole, reappears only at "feasting times." There's a late-game scene in the smithy, where the hungry populace comes barging in like zombies, but most of the brutality and tactical coercion happens offstage. At times it gave the impression that this was a small village under attack rather than an entire castle full to bursting.

Starling is an excellent story teller! The Constant Lady and her Saints are certainly inspired by real medieval relic cults that played on the gullibility of pilgrims for profit. However, if you know your folklore, especially the fae, you'll realize the danger our heroes are in. I loved that each character had their own motive. You're never sure who is going to survive at the end, or at least, how. These creatures are much older than they seem, organic, feeding off the weaknesses and baser nature of humans, and best left unexplained. It's repulsive and alluring, shocking and beautiful!

4 1/2 out of 5 on Instagram!

This was weird and I loved it. I don’t normally go towards this type of story but I’m so glad I dad, it was bizarre and dark and intriguing. I also loved the prose, I think this book wouldn’t have worked if someone else had written. I will give this caveat though: this is definitely not for everyone. You spend a lot of the time not knowing exactly what’s going on and you also kind of feel like you’re going crazy along with the characters. However, if you embrace it and go in it for the vibes you’ll really enjoy it.

ARC provided by NetGalley

Wow, this was a wild ride. A special potion of medieval times, a little cannibalism and throw in sapphic lovers. It did take a little bit for the story to get going for me but I love where it went!

I loved The Death of Jane Lawrence and Last to Leave the Room.
And I’m happy to say the same about her newest title.
Immediately after reading the description I knew I had to read it.
The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling is a story that will grab the reader from the first page and continues to build more intrigue up to the last page.
Very well written and an absolutely riveting book.
Her atmospheric and lyrical writing was just amazing. Keeping me glued to the pages.

Oh, how to describe this fever dream within a fever dream? This sapphic, cannibalistic, fuck the patriarchy horror bacchanalia is somehow even more evocative than any of those words can manage to splice together, and I ate it up like honey fed to me on one knee.

As much as reviews can help especially for books like this where at times you're entirely unsure of what's happening, do yourself a favor and go in blind. Granted, this book is not for everyone, but if turning religious iconography on its head while being a female knight with blood of steel, a madwoman who may be a witch, a saint, or something far more wicked, or a woman fueled more by bitterness and vengeance than by air piques your interest, this book will exceed every single one of your expectations.

The more I read the deeper I fell, to the point where as I finished the book I stayed awake the entire night just to ensure I didn't have to fall asleep without knowing what happened. It's an intense character study that delves deep into personal motivations and the idea of evil itself all while not taking itself too seriously.

I cannot wait to read everything Caitlin Starling has ever touched. I hope they all feel as lush and unstoppably unhinged as this.

Thank you truly to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this title!!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of this book! This was a WILD ride. By chapter 2 or 3, I was hooked. I honestly didn’t know where this book was going to go. Absolutely loved the characters and the character development within this book. The author did a good job of making me feel like I was really in the world of the book. I enjoyed the medieval magic system and the ancient magic feeling of the world. Such a great read. Would most definitely recommend this book!

Thank you first and foremost net galley and Caitlin Starling for allowing me to read this book in advance in exchange for an honest review! I loved this book and the atmospheric setting 3.75 stars

I looked forward to this book...but had a really hard time getting into it. I read a lot of horror and love religious horror. With that being said, I am generally not a fan of extreme horror and this book went into that direction too much for my taste.

A fascinating and magical take on what happens when a group of people are faced with the impossible: starve to death or make a miracle happen. This book was a wild journey from start to finish and had a lot of different things that I didn't know I wanted or needed from a book. Some highlights: the banquet reveal, the bees, Ser Voyne (as a whole), and all the intricate and fascinating lore built in. This was a winding journey into a dark pit that I couldn't stop reading and I'm so glad I got to read this ARC. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time!!

The people of Aymar have been suffering for six months—victims of a siege that has forced them into hiding behind the walls of Aymar castle. Food is running low and there has been no sign of rescue. But just as the survivors consider deliberately thinning their numbers, the castle stores are replenished with the sudden arrival of the Constant Lady and her Saints. Their saviors’ intentions aren’t entirely clear, and something far more sinister is happening at castle Aymar.

This book had everything I love in a horror novel: a gothic/medieval setting with dark fantasy elements, complex female characters with sapphic themes, and religious horror with a dramatic splash of cannibalism. This book was an intense experience that gave me whiplash. For about 75% of the book, I had no idea what was happening, and I don’t say that in a bad way. This book was a fever dream in the best of ways.

I love how hunger is the entire theme of this book. It’s threaded through Starling’s beautiful prose, and I loved how each of our three main characters were molded differently by their own hunger. Loved how this was done!

Overall, I really had no idea what was happening most of this book, but I am pretty sure I loved it. It’s one of those books that I feel will either be hit or miss with readers, so I recommend picking it up to see where it lands with you!

Special thanks to NetGalley, Caitlin Starling, and Harper Voyager the approval of this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I loved how dark and gritty this story was. It was so compelling and attention grabbing, it was hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I ultimately did not enjoy this book - however there was so much potential and it is was what kept me reading. The initial horror of a castle starving was a good hook - however I feel there was so much repetitive details that it quickly became boring and lost the eeriness of what was at play. As for the three main characters - again it felt like they just kept running back and forth doing and saying the same thing for 60% of the book so the end did not have the impact I hoped. Yes there is gore and cannibalism but it loses it's effect after you realize there is no point.

This is my first book from this author, while I didn't enjoy the plot in this book - I am interested in checking out her other works.

what happens when strange beings arrive at a besieged palace telling its people they are their saints and they are going to save them from the hunger that's killing them?

well, that's the plot of this story. three different women who are somehow interconnected navigating a new situation they are thrust upon, where they have to be careful of who they trust and what they do, EAT OR BE EATEN.

if you're looking for something with sapphics, a little bit of gore, cannibalism, magical realism, and a female centered book than this is for you!

i'd highly recommend listening to 'prelude to ecstasy" by the last dinner party while reading, it adds to the vibes.

Given the opportunity to read The Starving Saints via NetGalley and HarperCollins, I dove in with high hopes—and Caitlin Sterling did not disappoint. This book is a delicious blend of horror, fantasy, gothic atmosphere, and a touch of romance, all wrapped up in a darkly medieval setting that oozes mystery and dread.

The story introduces us to a world where beings stronger and darker than mortals hunger not just for flesh, but for something deeper—big emotions, raw feelings, and humanity’s messy heart. That concept hooked me immediately. I loved how Sterling explored the idea that these "saints" are after more than just physical needs. The exploration of those hungers—be it for love, revenge, power, or something undefinable—was both unsettling and gripping.

The gothic tone, complete with crumbling castles, eerie rituals, and a world where nothing is ever quite what it seems, worked perfectly. The medieval setting added just enough grit to balance the more ethereal elements of the plot, and it all felt cohesive and immersive.

Overall, The Starving Saints was a compelling read that drew me in and left me hungry for more (pun very much intended). It’s a beautifully layered story that balances horror, fantasy, and human complexity with finesse. Fans of dark, atmospheric reads with rich worldbuilding will devour this one.

Somone recommended this book to me and called it a 'weird girl' book, which is entirely the vibe! I really enjoyed how strange and unique the story was and im a sucker for a sapphic novel with a lot of gore so if youre into that too, this is the book for you! Thanks so much to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc!

DNF @ 36%

I think that a LOT of other people are going to love this book. The writing provokes such vivid atmosphere and you can just feel that something is lurking around the corner. Unfortunately for me, I just couldn't find myself caring about what was going on in the story or with the characters, which is a real bummer cause I've enjoyed other Starling books!

The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling is an absolute medieval horror fever dream! This book is truly disgusting in a good way but also a beautiful, sapphic, cult-ish and powerful story!

Aymar Castle has been surrounded and under siege for six months. The castle is full to bursting with people and the food is running out. Madwoman Phosyne has managed one miracle by producing water but she is having difficulty with creating food. Phosyne is being watched over by Ser Voyne, a lady knight, making sure that she stays on track to feed the people. Eventually salvation comes in the form of The Constant Lady and her Saints. Bringing with them a bountiful feast to replenish the bellies and spirits of the people of Aymar. But that's not all they bring. As the castle slowly descends into debauchery and madness, Phosyne, Ser Voyne and a serving girl named Treila, all can see what is really going on at Aymar. But just because they can see the hedonistic chaos spurred on by the Saints doesn't mean that they are immune to it.

The Starving Saints is such an original and captivating story! For something that is different than what I have been reading, I ate this up! I was pulled into the world of Aymar and I couldn't get out. For not having any world building (we were in the castle the whole time) the setting and atmosphere was seemingly unending with brilliant descriptions! The story is told in three different POVs so you get to experience different perspectives on the same story. Add in a lesbian throuple and you have an absolute standout of a story! Can't wait to read Caitlin Starling's The Graceview Patient!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Caitlin Starling, and Harper Voyager for this ARC!! Publication date was May 20th 2025.

3.5/4 stars for this cannibalistic medieval horror

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc copy.

So I ended up reading this a little while ago, but I felt a little lost and wanted to wait till I had an audio book copy at release to listen to it as well before reviewing.

Let me say, I loved the horror elements in this. They were *chefs kiss* but what kept this book from being a higher rated read for me was at times it just felt long winded and confusing. This felt a little longer than it needed to be, but maybe that was my own descent into madness ;)

Overall though, this was a fun time. I'll be thinking about this one for awhile for sure. Worth a read!

It’s fine. I really wanted to get into it, but parts of the nun character were just wrong, and not in a fantasy way, but in a “cloisters wouldn’t work like this, even in fiction” way. Probably if I knew less about cloisters I would enjoy it more.

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was one hell of a ride! It starts off a little slow, but it is building up to a point and then you're free falling into the madness. I absolutely adored the three main characters. I was pleasantly surprised with the ending and think it ended in a way that could turn into a second novel if the author wanted to do so. There is starvation, hunger, greed, gore, cannibalism, mild torture, mind control, violence, animal violence, but not in detail, magic, bargaining, amputation, mutilation, bees! bees! bees!, romance in a strange way, obsession, and a great sense of unseen terror. Ugh! I absolutely devoured this in a couple of days and it is so worth reading. If this sounds up your alley then check it out! Overall 10/10