Thank you HarperCollins and NetGalley for an E-ARC of The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling in exchange for an honest review.

This book introduced me to another author whose previous works I will be reading because I was stunned. I felt as if I was under siege alongside the townsfolk, growing hungry and desperate for salvation. That was due to the writing allowing me enough space to freely interpret the details left out, unlike what is written in typical high fantasy.

The novel centers on three different characters that are fighting against starvation, cannibalistic saints, dominion, and even one another. The magic system was a complaint from several readers stating it was left undone or underdeveloped. Instead, I found it to be refreshingly simple and accurate to its core when our characters used their elements to fight back. In addition, other readers found it insulting when other characters weren’t fully developed even though it was expected that they’d be torn apart—literally. I think it was enough characters to feel part of a castle.

The three main characters—Phosyne, Ser Voyne, and Treila—each serve a different reason for serving the Aymar castle and find themselves defending it until their last breath. One is loyal, one seeks revenge, and one is forced. Reading about how they frame their plan to save the people that are bewitched by the new guests is worth the read. I enjoyed this worldbuilding and this is not our characters’ first encounter with monsters, and it left me to ponder what other creature lie in the dark.

This one is part medieval fantasy part horror and really trippy. I think I had a hard time getting into it, it was quite complicated to follow and all over the place

I really wish this had clicked more with me. There’s a lot about it I love: the setting, the horror, the way it’s not a traditional romance and more a story of sapphic eroticism between three women with differing power balances which made their interactions incredibly loaded and interesting.

But for all the good, it just did not resonate with me in any way. It’s lacking something grounding, I think— things just seemed to happen and I would just shrug my shoulders like, sure, this seems just as likely as anything else. Oddly I feel like it may have benefited from being longer; the push-and-pull of the Treila/Voyne relationship was one of the most compelling elements of the book to me and even after reading this for two weeks I felt it was resolved too quickly.

I think that this will really work for the people it is for… unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me.

𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔖𝔱𝔞𝔯𝔳𝔦𝔫𝔤 𝔖𝔞𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔰
3.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐

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After reading The Graceview Patient by Caitlin Starling, I was excited to hop into this, but what a slow start for me. If I didn't know that it picked up from so many reviews, I would've set this bad boy down about 25% in. Even after that, I felt lost. Like so many have said, it's like a wild, chaotic fever dream. It definitely delivered on the medieval horror and absolute weird, f*cked up vibes though, which is what I was most excited for.

Aymar Castle is under siege. There's no food left, people are starving, and tension is high. Out of the blue, when it seems like there is no hope left, the Constant Lady and her saints appear out of thin air - nothing short of a miracle - promising feasts and everything they could ever need. We follow three main characters: a knight and war hero, a sorceress, and a servant girl who was formerly a noble. They don't trust the saints - nor each other - but must be dependent on each other to survive.

Idk, something about this just felt all over the place for me, and it took a lot of motivation to finish this. 100% though, if you are in the mood for a medieval, unhinged, cannibalistic adventure that will have you questioning things....please pick this up.

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Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars.

“𝑨 𝒎𝒊𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒓𝒐𝒓.“

My love for this book was a war long fought and hard won. I think it starts off a little slowly, but the tension just builds and weaves itself into one of the most beautifully grim stories I’ve ever read.

The Starving Saints is a bizarre fever dream of a tale, and I can say I’ve never read anything quite like it. Our story starts with a castle under siege, the people trapped inside suffering and slowly starving to death. Haunting, to be sure, but rest assured… Things can always get worse. And they undoubtedly do.

I loved all of the characters, but Ser Voyne was my favorite. An obsession with lady knights has recently risen within me, and I cannot get enough. Once a shining hero, bathed in the blood of those who would threaten those she has sworn to protect, Ser Voyne is nothing more than a glorified lap dog. She now strains against the confines of duty to her king’s orders, for a leash is still a leash, no matter how golden.

While Ser Voyne was my favorite, each character brought their own distinctive voice and complexities to this story, weaving themselves inextricably together.

As gory and unsettling as it is, The Starving Saints is fantastic example of feminine rage and retribution, but it also showcases three women sacrificing themselves upon the altar of the greater good.

These women were absolutely beautiful in their imperfection, fighting battles within themselves just as much as they battle the growing darkness within their castle hellscape.

If you love sapphic romance, body horror, descriptions of gore and food together, and the heavy slow burn of terror and dread, this very well may be the book for you.

Also, bees. So. Many. Bees.

Thank you so much to @netgalley and @harpervoyagerus for providing me with a digital advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Always so grateful! 🖤🫶🏻

I love this book. I think it's so dark and beautifully written and so engaging and I can't stop thinking about it even when I'm not reading it. I read this book slower than I usually read (I've had a lot going on lately and haven't had much time to read) but I've actually enjoying being forced to read it slowly. If it were up to me, I would have devoured it in just a few days, but I've enjoyed savoring it. I feel like reading it slower has made the direness of the situation that much more terrifying and I felt like I could feel the tension radiating off these pages. Absolutely gorgeous book! Can't wait to purchase!

I’ve never read anything quite like this - a Clive Barker-esque medieval bacchanal that disgusts and delights in equal measure. Starling’s language is divine - she knows when to tease and when to reveal, and I’m so grateful that this unfolds the way it does, without too much being spelled out for the reader. It’s very literary, to be sure, but a gnarled page-turner, all the same. One must sink into this, and if they do, I think they’ll be rewarded.

This book was a fever dream that starts fairly normal and transforms into an acid trip. There's a siege at Aymar's castle and they've been holding out for months but everyone knows that food is starting to run out and soon they will have to resort to extremes. What they need is a miracle, which suddenly appears as their worshipped saints show up inside the castle full of food to provide for them. Only things don't feel quite right to some people and some wonder if the saints have ulterior motives.

The three main characters are so different from each other and very interesting to read. I specially love Ser Voyne who is such a great image of a knight. Treila is also wild and lovely, and Phosyne is clever and strange.

The horrors feel feverish and the other characters are so intriguing. I do think at the end of the book it got confusing with what was happening, and it could have used a little bit more explanation of how everything works. Overall loved this book and will be reading another Caitlin Starling book.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I am going to DNF this at 70% in. The premise sounded very interesting. Unfortunately, it was just not executed how I thought it would be. The plot dragged considerably and didn't really pick up until about 18 chapters in, by then I was just so uninterested I couldn't care. I wanted there to be more creepy scenes, especially when it came to the cannibalism. I want to be grossed out, and it just seemed dulled down. The book was atmospheric though and you could get into the medieval feel, I just wish that authors would not take so long in books to build a plot because it really could have kept my attention more if so.

The Starving Saints is a haunting, fever-dream of a novel that lingers long after the final page. Set in a besieged medieval castle, the story follows three women: Phosyne, a former nun turned sorceress; Ser Voyne, a knight clinging to duty; and Treila, a servant with secrets, as they navigate the arrival of mysterious, godlike visitors offering salvation at a steep cost. As the castle descends into madness, these women must confront their own desires and the dark forces at play.

Starling's prose is lush and evocative, drawing readers into a world where the line between salvation and damnation blurs. The narrative unfolds through the perspectives of the three protagonists, each voice distinct and compelling. The slow-burn horror builds with tension, exploring themes of hunger, both literal and metaphorical, and the corrupting power of devotion. While the novel delves into dark and disturbing territory, it does so with a deft hand, crafting a story that is as thought-provoking as it is unsettling.

This is a book that defies easy categorization, blending elements of horror, fantasy, and psychological drama into a singular experience. It's not a tale for the faint of heart, but for those who dare to delve into its depths, The Starving Saints offers a rich and unforgettable journey.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

3.5 stars. Unique, terrifying, and repulsive. It is a fever dream.

Hunger and power, or power and hunger. The Starving Saints is a medieval horror set in a castle under siege. We see this story from three different perspectives—an excommunicated nun, a knight, and former noble woman.

When the food sources deplete, the Saints they’ve prayed to appear with the promise of a feast. Cue the horrors and the fight to stop it.

Review posted to StoryGraph and Goodreads on 5/11/25. Review will be posted to Amazon on release date.

I really wanted to love this book. The concept is so cool and I was excited to get into the action. While I appreciate that in horror you do have to set up tension to achieve terror, this book took entirely too long to get there. My god I spent like 70% of this book waiting for the action to happen. This book was a slog to get through and ultimately I was relieved when I reached the end. The prose was very rich which kept this book a 3 star read for me rather than a 2.5.

This book had everything I love in a story. Body horror, mysticism, sapphic romance, terror, and spoiler, cannibalism.

The Starving Saints is about 3 women who live in a castle and are under attacked and trapped due to a rival kingdom. They are slowly being starved. Phosyne, a heretic and madwoman, is in charge of finding another miracle to keep them all from starving. See Voyne, a strong knight, is in charge of minding Phosyne. And Treila is there, waiting for her chance to get revenge for her father’s death. As each of them suffer from the hunger, 4 saints appear one day, offering food and salvation, but all is not what it seems.

This story is harrowing, fast-paced, and terrifying as you follow the women fight for not only their lives, but the lives of all the people trapped in the castle.

This book is beautifully written, and the story is unique. I loved the medieval elements and the sapphic tension. I love the dive into human desperation when it comes to starving to death and the sacrifices people are willing to make to save not only themselves, but those they are connected to.

I want to thank NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for giving me this eArc. The Starving Saints hits the shelves on May 20, 2025.

This story is a fever dream. It has so many features of horror and fantasy blended together to create a story that you won’t forget anytime soon. Some of my favorite features include:
🗡️ nun turned sorceress
🗡️ mind control food
🗡️ cannibalism
🗡️ knives
🗡️ 3 girls who are very drawn to each other but also hate each other 👀

Once I started reading this book I absolutely could not put it down. The writing is creepy and horrific at times. This was a 5 Star book for me! (Maybe my first this year?!?) Mark your calendars for May 20! This is a must read.

[3.5/5] It's not often I'm left flabbergasted about a book and THE STARVING SAINTS takes the cake for that. As the official blurb touts, this reads like a medieval horror fever dream. Aymar Castle is over capacity and has just two weeks' worth of food left. But no one can leave because Etribia set up camp outside their doors and threatens to lay siege. Phosyne, a nun-turned-sorceress, has been tasked with finding a miracle to solve their hunger crisis. As the last day of food approaches, mysterious guests appear, transfixing the castle's residents and drawing them into ravenous madness.

THE STARVING SAINTS unfolds via three points of view. Phosyne is a former nun who decided to leave her order and instead follow her desire to do magical experiments. Ser Voyne is a female knight, loyal to her mentor and the king, but frustrated because she cannot solve any of their problems. And Treila is a servant girl nursing a grudge and seeking vengeance against Ser Voyne. Each of these POVs are distinct. Phosyne is disorganized and frantic because she doesn't know how she can pull another miracle and solve their hunger. Ser Voyne is restless and internally battles her feelings of loyalty to and frustration with her liege as well as her place in a castle who has no other choice but inaction. Treila is clever, resourceful, and observant, and I liked her POV the best.

It's difficult to review this book without giving away everything. The first third of the book sets the stage and introduces the reader to the main characters and their conflicts. At this point the divine figures of the Constant Lady and her Saints arrive and it starts to get interesting. The progressions seems to slow a bit in the middle and the farther one reads the less clear things become, which fits the bill of a "fever dream." The writing style also lends itself to this feeling of neither heads or tails. Sentences are shorter, which makes for easy reading. The author provides enough detail for the reader to get a sense of things, but not enough to fully explain everything. For those who get squeamish, definitely check the content warnings. I didn't feel as if that graphic aspect of the book was gratuitous, but it is taboo and described in some detail at times.

I think I would've better appreciate THE STARVING SAINTS if I knew more about religious symbolism. Undoubtedly I missed some religious commentary and symbolism. But I'm aware enough to recognize some themes, most of which are challenging to mention without spoilers. Suffice it to say, an important theme is the intermingling of love/devotion and revenge/retribution. One can overshadow the other but also cause internal battle about which one should win out. This is particularly true for Treila's and Ser Voyne's dynamic. There's also the question of how devotion (and desperation) may figuratively blind someone to logic and reality. One of the main characters proves more susceptible to this than the others.

Cleanliness is a metaphor for godliness and the state of one's mind, spirit, and soul. When Phosyne left the nuns and became the resident "madwoman" practicing sorcery, she let herself and her abode become filthy. In contrast, the nuns are fastidious about neatness and order and align themselves with the godly Constant Lady. Perhaps the biggest religious theme (or blasphemy) is turning John 6:53-58 into a very literal interpretation. To quote the Bible verse here is super spoiler-y. But this is where the gore comes in and the roles of worshipper and god flip, in a way.

And with that said, I'll stop there. Someone who wants to read something quite unique and who appreciates horror should pick up THE STARVING SAINTS. Bonus points if you have knowledge of religious themes to supplement one's experience of the fever dream.

What in the heck did I just read 😳 well I should say I read up to 60% and have decided to DNF.

I've given it 3 stars for the part I did read, but unfortunately it just became too much for my little brain to comprehend and I became disinterested not quite understanding what was going on here 😅

What I really enjoyed:
The medieval setting was fantastic as were the characters.
The horror was not too extreme but definitley grotesque enough to fit within the medieval theme.

What I didn't enjoy:
The fantasy elements really had me stumped - I just couldn't quite picture what was going on. How did a voice in a wall biting a finger through a crack transport a girl into a field?? That kinda weird.
The language was a bit all over the place too. There were some modern terms used that just didn't work, like describing someone falling on their ass. I feel like backside would have worked better in the context of the medieval setting 😂

Not a bad book but I dont think I was quite the right audience! Recommend for readers of historical fantasy x horror.

This felt like a lucid dream where I was a passenger in someone’s acid trip. Delving into one of my favorite themes: imperfect sapphics. And well, cannibals and otherworldly cults, too. This book is heavy on trauma and the fissures it causes baked into a medieval fantasy horror.
A stronghold slowly dying from starvation while out waiting the enemy forces outside their doors.
The three main characters are broken and ripe with all our hidden guilty pleasures. This is somehow extremely claustrophobic yet horny.
Most of the book you are stumbling with the characters, feeling out what’s real, what’s in the realm of reality, and if you are the type of person that will give in.
Weird saints cooking up people with all the necessary gore. Hats off.
This isn’t for everyone. But it’s a delicious delve into madness and the fantastical.

Thank you to Harper Voyager for the ARC! This was nothing short of a fever dream to read. There are parts of this book that were a total blur, but lots of amazing imagery to go around. I think this is a turning point for Caitlin Starling. I personally have not liked her past work, but this is such a fresh take on medieval horror. I do think there was something missing to this. I felt a little bereft of something yet unnamed when I finished. However, I think the 3 main characters were fun to read as they unraveled each other. Overall it’s a wild ride that I’d definitely recommend.

Caitlin Starling is a master of creating flawed characters. They don't have flaws, they are flawed. The reader weeps at their mistakes, rejoices at their successes and hopes with baited breath that the flaws don't lead to their own demise.

The interaction of the three heroines is realistic even in the midst of a completely fantastical world. They love, they hate and they fight to persevere.

This is a very dark story without delving so deeply into the darkness as to make it unreadable.

Finally, Ms. Starling's ability to write in such a variety of genres whilst remaining true to her core esthetic makes The Starving Saints another must read for her fans!

Caitlin Starling’s medieval horror The Starving Saints is a sapphic fever dream of a novel. I could not have asked for a more indulgent, strange, and transcendent book. The plot follows three women—Phosyne, Ser Voyne, and Treila—as they try to save their kingdom.

Starvation has descended upon Aymar Castle. On the brink of losing all hope for a miracle, the Constant Lady and other Saints arrive with food aplenty. The long-worshipped figures infiltrate the Castle and its occupants’ minds with ease. Only, the Saints aren’t to be trusted. The food is too good. The adoration too easy. And there is always a cost for salvation.

Perhaps the most intriguing part of this novel is the way it’s written. We as readers unravel the mystery of the Saints and the way their power works along with Phosyne, Ser Voyne, and Treila. As more is revealed, the feverish nature of the prose thickens, and it is to a marvelous effect. The prose will not be for everyone, as it is often laden with mystical imagery and near-nonsensical language, but it was excellent for me. It emphasized the surreal nature of the Saints and the world of Aymar.

The women, though, were the beating heart of the novel. Phosyne is a madwoman who has left her Priory. Ser Voyne is a knight desperately searching for something (or someone) to serve as she begins to question her place. Treila is a young woman set on avenging her father for his execution. Quickly, all three of them are tangled together as each resists the Saints’ salvation, realizing that it is no salvation at all. The relationships that develop between the three women are complicated, delicate, and well-explored. If I had to, I could not pick a favorite character out of the three. Each woman is so well-written, so complex and wholly human, that I came to love one as much as the other. I won’t be forgetting them any time soon.

On a final note, the thematic explorations of power negotiation, religion and faith, and belonging were particularly interesting. It isn’t until the latter half of the novel that power and the way we negotiate it between ourselves and others becomes explicitly explored, but it is nonetheless thought-provoking. This is a novel that will be remembered long after it’s read. If you like strange women and stranger worlds, this novel is for you. I look forward to reading it again someday soon.