I want to thank Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC copy in exchange for my review. This was an incredibly well written story that was hard to put down. It's written in three different timelines, 1750s, 1950s, and 2007. Each timeline centers on women who are oppressed by the men in their lives. In the 1750s, Anne and her daughter being accused of witchcraft makes a deal with an entity that causes a curse to continue on throughout the generations. The rest of the story deals with how this affects the women in all three timelines and how they deal with heartbreaking issues such as sickness, physical abuse, mental abuse, homophobia, and misogyny. All three timelines come together perfectly, which leaves nothing unexplained. However, this is a horror story. It's always a good idea to remember that, "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned." I very much recommend reading this highly entertaining novel.

This was a somewhat enjoyable read, I did feel more invested in one of the three timelines and found one of them to feel a bit lacking.

I don't mean to be overly picky, but the oldest timeline does mention having to flee into the forest and then survive there - the practical part of my mind can't wrap itself around the idea that somehow they took a horse with a wagon into the depths of a forest with no roads or paths... and then the horse disappears and is never mentioned again. I know this is something that most people probably won't be bothered by, but it got under my skin. The characters themselves were decently well crafted but their surroundings fell a bit flat.

As far as books about witchcraft and feminine rage - this was another book I'll recommend to folks looking for those tropes but it doesn't particularly stand out for me.

Kristi DeMeester has brought together a dark imaginings over a length of time with interludes into the lives which discovers how the redirection occurred. Within the connections of the years the quest into all the whys are intense. There where ups and downs but the path was achieved. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Feminine rage is real! This book is a minute between horror and historical fiction and we follow the lives of three oppressed women. I will say the it did take awhile for me to fully engage with the book, but once I was hooked I really enjoyed the store. And the ending was the perfect pay off.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC of Dark Sisters. I appreciate the chance to share my thoughts on the book.

This book was gristly and graphic! I had more than a few moments of borderline gross out at the descriptions of what was happening to a character. As a regular reader of horror and suspense, this is not a task easily accomplished and I welcomed feeling so uncomfortable at the gruesome scenes. Brava! If you are faint of heart, this wont likely be your cup of tea.

I really liked the narrative structure of each chapter featuring one of three time periods / group of character. The pacing was really well handled throughout, even with the added challenge the constantly shifting viewpoint. It felt almost cinematic to have 'cliff hangers' at the end of each chapter and made it really hard to put down as things were ramping up! I'm fascinated by this take on witches / witchcraft and despite my confusion on some the 'rules', I appreciated the world that was built to contain this story.

While I struggled to connect to one of the main characters, the other two leads were complex, flawed, and relatable. Their struggles of self vs community (colored by their specific time period) had me rooting for them (and groaning when they made 'the wrong choice').

Overall, this book was unique, compelling, brutal, and yet somehow also fun (maybe I'm just odd).

I've seen a lot of books recently promoted as tales of 'female rage' — which is great when they deliver. What sucks is when I patiently wait for the rage to come, and it's just...lackluster. Oh, she sends a scathing text and tells him to fuck off? Love that for her, but where's the primal, uninhibited anger? Where's the revenge, the justice?!

All of those are beautifully served on a silver platter in Dark Sisters. As we follow the lives of Anne (1750), Mary (1953), and Camilla (2007), we're thrown into the town of Hawthorne Springs with its defining features: Christianity is king, appearances are everything, and the men — no matter how deceptively kind they may seem — are firmly in charge. The degrees to which each of the three women is cast aside as an outsider from this path varies, but the underlying oppression is the same. The more things seem to change, the more they absolutely stay the same. As Anne, Mary, and Camilla struggle against the restraints of their time, they face a challenge to confront the light and the dark that dwells inside of them before it's too late.

The horror here is perfectly haunting because it's built up of all those little eerie things that could be misconstrued or imagined at first. Like a dream that you can't quite shake throughout the day. But as with any good horror book, the horrors *are* real and they're sinister as hell — just not in the way we might think.

There's also a queer love story that is tender and bittersweet (and all I'm saying is that I'll be forever waiting on a whole book about Sharon, my beloved witchy lesbian!) I actually came to love all of the women and all three timelines were equally as interesting to me.

I did this book the disservice of setting it down for about a week or so, but when I picked it up I finished the rest in an afternoon. Once the pieces are all laid out, the pace moves quickly as you try to form the puzzle. Simply put, if you're looking for a witchy, creepy story with genuine female rage, social commentary, and good ol' gory revenge, go forth and read! (Just beware that you'll never want to come across a tiny strand of hair in your mouth again.)

I'm excited to check out more of DeMeester's work! Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is truly a book of horror, but not the type of horror you’d think. This isn’t Michael Meyers chasing his sister around trying to kill her. Oh no, this is worse. This is real. This horror is alive and well, even today.

People can say look how far we’ve come as a civilization. But in all reality, we are no different or better than we were hundreds of years ago, and this book spells it out so well and so clear. The way women were, and are, still treated is chilling. Women are still second class citizens, at best. Objects. Possessions. This is a man’s world and they will stop at nothing to protect themselves.

Oh, I could go on and on. But please, read this book. I don’t give 5 stars to books lightly. They have to earn it. But I’d give this book 6 stars if I could. Horror, thriller, historical fiction. It’s scary because it’s real, and it’s relatable.

Halfway through and it’s a DNF for me.
There are three different story lines and none of them are pulling my interest. I have no idea if or how they connect and no idea who the dark sisters are. It’s just boring to me.

"Anne Bolton, a healer facing persecution for witchcraft, bargains with a dark entity for protection—but the fire she unleashes will reverberate for centuries. "
This book was absolutely a fabulous horror novel in which the real horror is that of man (e.g. misogyny, homophobia, religious oppression). Three women in three separate timelines show the true horrors of man...with a sprinkling of witchcrafts and a dark being. I ate this up. I have to say that the character development is absolutely phenomenal, and it made these characters relatable. I was absolutely rooting for the women to get revenge in this one!

The tale of the Dark Sisters has been passed down from generation to generation as a means to scare women and girls into complacency and virtue. In the small town of Hawthorne Springs there is a close-knit church, The Path, where men lead the congregation and women are expected to be guided by their husbands and faith. Women fall to a mysterious illness when they have been led astray, boils in their mouths, teeth falling out, and wasting away until death slowly comes. The Dark Sisters are coming. When Camilla sees the Dark Sisters for the first, she starts to wonder why they are there and question Hawthrone Springs honored traditions. With the women so tight lipped about the Dark Sisters and her mother and best friend suddenly falling ill with the mysterious illness that plagues their small town, will Camilla be able to unravel the mystery of her picturesque hometown or will she be led back into complacency by The Path.

Dark Sisters spans across multiple generations and builds up the story of what happens when females do not obey their fathers, husbands, church leaders, and above all, their god. Are women born with the innate ability of witchcraft and do the men in their lives save them from the devil himself, or use it for their own benefit?

I was immediately drawn in to the book with multiple time periods and the tale of the Dark Sisters and how they came to be. From the beginning, Kristi DeMeester takes us into a world where whispers of being a witch is enough to have you hanged and life revolves around the church. Mothers love, daughters love, and love for fellow women. Will it be enough to pull them through?

A beautifully written multiple point of view work of art. The raw emotions in this book were outstanding, I felt so much sympathy towards the characters and feminine rage burning deep within. Thank you @netgalley for the opportunity to read this amazingly dark and empowering tale

💜 Dark Sisters (Pub Date: 12.9.25): This is my favorite horror read of the year my friends. It’s horror meets historical fiction with some witchy women that will pull you in and not let you go. I seriously couldn’t put it down and read it in one day. If you’re into horror and powerful, bad ass women you’ll love this. I can’t wait til I can get a physical copy!

I just finished this book maybe a minute ago and I am reeling with emotions. This book is a beautiful ode to women and the patriarchy and how society always tries to steal power by exploiting women. This book challenges social norms by examining the strict rules religion places on women and how hypocritical religion can be in the roles women and men play in it. I think the author did a beautiful job at connecting all three women that you follow in this story and really connecting the bloodline throughout the book. I felt engaged from beginning to end of this book and never wanted to put it down. To see what each woman faces throughout the years and the “retreats” they’re forced to go though really makes the reader examine the connection to real life and how women are treated. I can’t recommend this book enough. It was beautifully horrific, witchy, and feminist. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for giving me the chance to read this book- easily one of my top reads so far this year.

Wow! New author for me, definitely will be a favorite one. I had a hard time putting this kne down snd stated up way to latecreading. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

Dark Sisters is the perfect blend of historical fiction and horror! This story follows three women as they struggle to be authentic to themselves under the oppression of the patriarchy/organized religion. (Hellooooo female rage!) I really liked the way the story unfolded over multiple timelines—sometimes it can be a bit of a deal breaker, but this author did a good job keeping me hooked!

And that ending? Well, I LOVE that for those men. 😏

Title: A slow-burning, atmospheric tale with haunting ambition

Dark Sisters is an intriguing blend of horror and historical fiction that spans centuries, following three women whose stories are deeply rooted in the consequences of power, patriarchy, and survival. Kristi DeMeester doesn’t shy away from unsettling truths, and there’s a lyrical quality to the writing that creates an eerie, immersive tone.

I appreciated the ambition of the multi-timeline format and how each main character had a distinct voice. The themes—especially those around purity culture and religious control—are sharp and timely. However, despite the premise and some beautifully written moments, I struggled to stay fully engaged. The pacing felt uneven, and the emotional depth didn’t always land for me the way I hoped.

Still, this is a thoughtful and haunting exploration of legacy, womanhood, and resistance. While it wasn’t a personal favorite, I can absolutely see this resonating with fans of slow-building horror and gothic generational narratives.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I haven't enjoyed a book this much in years. Kristi DeMeester has written an incredible story filled with strong women, beautiful relationships and deeply unsettling moments. The three timelines are woven together in ways that continually surprised me, even in the moments that I was able to predict a particular event, there were always elements that took me by surprise. The three main characters are so distinctly written, each with their own voice, cadence and feel that the timelines and stories were able to grow both together and separately without being confusing at all.

This is genuinely a perfect critique on patriarchy, purity culture, and fundamentalism for our time. It was deeply creepy, full of surprising (and sometimes unsurprising) horrors.

This is absolutely a contender for my favourite read of the year, and I am looking forward to reading more from Kristi DeMeester. Thank you so much to the publisher, netgalley and Kristi DeMeester for allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel.

Dark Sisters takes on a roller coaster through the past and present, following three powerful voices of Anne, Mary and Camilla. Residents of Hawthorn Springs and members of the church called The Path, these women share their various stories throughout the decades. Anne in the mid-1700s, during a time when the word “witch” was thrown around like candy, instantly having fatal repercussions to those accused; Mary, in the 1950s, when the majority of women remained behind to care for their homes and children while their husbands worked, playing the subservient wives, home at the beck and call of those they exchanged vows; and finally, Camilla, the youngest of the bunch at 18, wishing to rebel away from her parents, specifically her father, a high-powered member of The Path.
Kristi DeMeester shares with us a true feminist journey in finding yourself, and what power can do to those when it falls into the wrong hands. The horror behind this historical fiction novel is patriarchy, homophobia during the times when having “undo” thoughts could land you in isolation, or worse as well as religion and just how oppressive it can truly get when the church believes they can rule the roost.
The biggest downfall, in my opinion, is the overly long chapters. I often find that I begin to let my thoughts wander the longer a chapter is, which can truly take away from a normally amazing novel. A lot of these chapters could have been broken down into parts, as some span days, weeks and even months from where the chapter began. Yes, it may have made the book longer, but I’d rather have a 400-500 page book to read through rather than a chapter that feels like it lasts an hour vs. quickly getting through the chapter to find out what happens next. It really gave me a sense of dread anytime I had to put the book down, even though I loved the story.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and especially Kristi DeMeester for an ARC of Dark Sisters.

This concept stole my attention from the very beginning: a mix of horror and historical fiction. I loved each perspective in the timeline. The generational fear. These women were wronged and you wanted so badly for them to get justice.

Maybe a few details seemed like they had too much focus but didn't pan out to be anything though. The fact that Sharon was a witch did not come back around, the fact that Vera was friends with both Mary AND Ada. How old was she supposed to be anyway? It seemed like things were adding up to make her a part of it more but that fizzled out.

There were some graphic details, however, I don't think this was too much gore. I will definitely be recommending this one overall. Thanks for letting me read this one, NetGalley!

Unfortunately, this book jumped time periods so much that it took nearly halfway through to begin making connections. It was difficult to care about the characters, and kind of gross in some parts. It was not my cup of tea.