I liked this was about women overcoming the opression they encounter and how it shows up on different ways through the centuries. With that being said i was really drawn to one of the three stories and the other 2 bored me a little. I wanted to love it more then i did

Kristi DeMeester has masterfully woven a tale of bone-chilling horror, religious oppression, and the supernatural that instantly draws you in and doesn't let go. Dark Sisters explores three interwoven narratives following very different women, who battle against patriarchy and religious oppression to reclaim their right to exist - not as puppets or trophy wives, but simply as women.

I made the mistake of cracking this open as a bedtime read, and absolutely had to finish it in one go. Would wholeheartedly recommend to fans of The Handmaid's Tale and The Witch!

First, I want to thank Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the eArc! This is my own honest review.

I felt like this book was so many genre's in one, yet beautifully written. I really liked it. The way it was written with dual timelines caused there to be the right amount of tension. As a woman, the disturbing themes of religious and patriarchal oppression was a bit heavy and frustrating. Especially when seen being practiced by other women. I liked the strong message this book gave of how healing should be looked at and how to tackle it rather than pretending it doesn't exist.

First I would like to thank Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel. I loved it. I grew up in a strict religious home, received a purity ring, and have felt all the female rage that comes with these things. So much of this book rang true for me, and honestly healed me. We are so lucky to be able to read books that speak to us directly and make us as readers feel so seen. I plan to buy a physical copy of this once it is released. Really really highly recommend- female rage, bits of horror, and religious oppression make for a non stop page turner.

This book is a masterpiece. Infuriating, timely and scary, I was enthralled from the first page and it didn’t let up until the final word. This is a book that will have everyone talking and it should. Far more than just a book about the injustices done to women across the history of this country, it’s a testament to their strength and resilience. Just such a fantastic book.

This was a great book. I was given an advanced reader copy through NetGalley. I love books like this that twist a story through multiple generations. DeMeester did a great job with each of the three time periods in this book. Each generation had it's own issues but there were overlapping themes to tie everything together. While the book does flip back and forth through the three stories, you won't have difficulty following. At its core this is a ghost story mixed witchcraft that affects each mother and daughter a little differently and it helps you learn why each pair make the decisions they did.

Amazing!!! I loved every part of this book! When I wasn’t reading it, it was all I could think about! Amazing story line, characters and overall the writing was great. This is one book I wish was longer because I wanted more. I’m so glad I didn’t have to wait until December to read it! I’ll definitely be thinking about this book for a while.

Oooh this is a good one. This is something I truly would love to reread during fall or while camping in the summer idk. It’s eerie and I’m so here for it.
Had me hooked from the start. The change of storyline/timelines kept me entertained and wanting to get through it faster!!

I loved this beautifully written feminist horror novel that explores the lives of Anne, Mary and Camilla through three timelines connected by blood, In more ways than one. Kristi DeMeester does an amazing job of weaving together a story of ancient magic, repression and the subjugation of women by the religious patriarchy. As each one of these women fights to escape her bonds and shape her own destiny, I found myself cheering for them. This novel also reminded me of the fact that women are at their most powerful when they are lifted up and supported by other women.

Dark Sisters by Kristi DeMeester is a chilling, beautifully written feminist horror novel that spans three timelines, connecting the lives of Anne, Mary, and Camilla through a legacy of repression, resistance, and dark magic. Set against the backdrop of religious control and generational trauma, the story explores the horrors women face under patriarchal rule and the strength they summon to fight back.

DeMeester’s prose is lyrical and immersive, blending supernatural elements with emotional depth. With themes of identity, forbidden love, and defiant power, Dark Sisters is both unsettling and empowering—a must-read for fans of feminist horror and historical fiction.

Fierce, haunting, and unforgettable.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this advanced copy!!

I actually found this title while perusing GoodReads about a month ago and was anxiously waiting till December to get my hands on it. The blurb, the cover all of it drew me in instantly.

This was my first approved book since joining this site and wow did we start off strong. DeMeester created one of the most unique feminist horror filled books I’ve read so far. The entire plot of following 3 different women’s life in completely different timelines was SO fun for me. I never once got bored of any of their stories playing out.

I genuinely would not have cared if this book was 200 more pages. I want to know so much more about how we went from Point A to Point C. I want more lore! I want more horror! This was AMAZING, and the radicalized religion was written perfect in my opinion. It’s not everyday you read about the true horror of what religion is for so many people and it was executed in the most chefs kiss way in Dark Sisters and gave us some female empowerment at the same time. I can’t praise it enough. Thank you thank you thank you!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

A reminder of why I don't like men... This book will definitely get you worked up.

Unfortunately, about halfway through I found my interest dwindling on all three timelines. The timeline I cared the least about (a teenage girl in 2007) got the most attention. I'm all for the toxic culture of purity balls but wish this one had played out differently.

Also, I will forever hate men being written to say 'ew' when periods are discussed, even if it's a critique. The teenage friend would have been a perfect character to get away from that stereotype with.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

This story mixes magic, horror, and historical fiction. It dives into the ways women have been oppressed throughout history, and how society continues to benefit from that. I really liked how it didn’t shy away from showing how women have been stripped of their power, and how there's still hope for taking that power back. Dark and twisted throughout.

Dark Sisters tells the story of three different women in three different time periods whose lives and fates intertwine. The author does a fantastic job of weaving together their storylines and revealing the dark history they share. This book brims with feminine rage and makes a strong statement about the dangers of patriarchal, religious zealotry. The plot is compelling, the characters are interesting, and the message is powerful. I found myself racing through the pages to see what happened next, right up to the satisfying (but brutal) ending. Highly recommend for fans of both historical fiction and horror.

This story follows women in 3 different timelines as they encounter mysterious magic in the earth they live on. Think religious extremism, witchy connections to nature, generational trauma and coming into your own power.

I loved it but it absolutely did give me nightmares! The body horror was real.

This book has everything I want in a story - generational trauma, multiple perspectives, and religious criticism. This definitely falls under feminist horror (a perfect genre!) and I loved how DeMeester is able to tell multiple stories and effortlessly weave them into each other. It's not easy to do!
I really enjoyed the story and will pick up DeMeester's other work, but I do think this one could do with a little more backstory. I wish it explained more about how the town and society were built up, and had more information on what happened between Anne and Mary's timelines. When did the town start splitting? How did other descendants fare? How did the church end up with so much wealth and power? It's not really explained and kind of took me out of the story a bit, especially when we jump up to the present and meet Camilla and there's so many designer brands name dropped out of nowhere. I don't often complain that a book should be longer but I would love to be more immersed in this world.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC

Dark Sisters by Kristi DeMeester is a magical and deeply chilling tale.

The story follows the narratives of three women living in different time periods, though somehow connected. Anna, Mary, and Camilla live in vastly different times, but each struggles against the confinement of the narrow gender roles allowed to women in their respective societies. Anna’s story takes place during the 1750’s and explores the anxiety surrounding witchcraft during that time as well as her fractious relationship with her daughter. Mary’s narrative takes place in the 1950’s, where her personality and desires are at odds with the prevailing aspiration of the stay at home wife and mother. Camilla’s part of the story takes place in the 2000’s and follows her coming of age in a strict, fundamentalist religion. Camilla’s portion of the narrative is the largest and most plot driven. All three narratives alternate chapters so as the action takes place in Camilla’s story, the reader gets a sense of scale, clues, and backstory with the other perspectives.

Camilla is a young woman who was born into a fundamentalist religious sect. As the pastor’s daughter she is expected to be modest, submissive, obliging, and thin. From her place of privilege within the church, she is largely untouched by rumors of a mysterious illness which plagues only the women members of the church. This illness is said to be brought on by the “Dark Sisters” as a punishment for unrighteousness. These Dark Sisters are understood by the younger members of the church to be merely a cautionary fairy tale for children. Camilla believes the same until she is visited by horrific visions of these sisters who seem to be calling her, urging them to join them in death. To solve the mystery of the Dark Sisters, Camilla must delve into the dark foundations of her father’s power and her own.

This novel has elements of magical realism, horror, thriller, and historical fiction. There are heavy themes regarding oppression of women through history, and sharp insight into how society perpetuates and seeks to benefit from this oppression. I enjoyed the unflinching exploration of how women have been stripped of their power by society’s expectations, and the hope that they can reclaim it. I would recommend this book to fans of Weyward, and The Handmaids Tale who also enjoy horror.

A beautifully woven tale of what happens when generations of women are forced to become what is expected of them and made to ignore their true desires.

For a debut this is very impressive! I don’t normally enjoy books with a historical tone but this book definitely did it for me! The dual timelines was done so intricately, I never felt lost.

The author did a great job moving between 3 stories, in 3 different generations. That could not have been easy, however I expected more witchy, and less religious. I expected a slightly faster explanation of the dark sisters and their origin. Instead I was left wondering what is going on. So, needless to say, in that regard alone, I was in fact disappointed with the book on a personal level.