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.

I really love a story where men lose in the end, especially THESE kinds of men. I also enjoyed the idea of sisterhood through generations. Camilla Florence and her mom were bad bitches and I enjoyed watching them all realize that embracing both sides of them is what truly made them strong

I found this book to be so frightening that I could not finish it. If you are looking for a terrifying, haunting read that explores the themes of rage and revenge this is the book for you. It is a nightmare that has been painted with such detail and authenticity that it was too much for me, but I know many others are up to the challenge of this female rage-fueld fright.

Dark Sisters is a richly atmospheric novel that explores the lives of three women bound by a powerful, unsettling curse. DeMeester combines gothic horror with emotional depth, creating a tale of generational trauma, power, and forbidden choices. The interconnected stories of Anne, Mary, and Camilla allow the novel to span centuries, but they share common themes of female empowerment and oppression, which resonates throughout the narrative.

The book’s pacing is steady, allowing for slow reveals and a deep dive into each character's psyche. The atmosphere is thick with tension, and the prose is immersive, painting vivid, haunting imagery. The supernatural elements are used sparingly but effectively, leaving enough room for the psychological aspects of the story to shine.

While the characters and their individual struggles are compelling, some readers may find the slow pace challenging. The gradual buildup of suspense and the darker aspects of the novel are effective for the right audience, but could be less engaging for readers who prefer a faster-moving plot. That said, the emotional weight of the story and its well-crafted atmosphere outweigh any moments of slowness.

This is a book that will resonate deeply with readers who enjoy introspective horror and stories that explore the darker facets of human nature, especially as seen through the lens of women's experiences. Fans of slow-burn gothic horror will appreciate Dark Sisters’ unsettling tone and its exploration of generational curses.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This was an ok read it was different than I normally read so I gave it a chance I would recommend… I will look into other books like this thank you for allowing me to read

Wow, I read this in one day.

I love books that intertwine horror and religion. It's done often enough, yet I still jump at the chance to read another.

So we have religion, moreso religious oppression--bring in some witchiness, misogyny, a dash of cult-y stuff and centuries of female rage and you get Dark Sisters

This was a book equivalent of a primal scream followed by a little tenderness.

I literally just finished this and had to get my thoughts down immediately! I loved this so much. The writing is amazing, the characters so incredibly fleshed out it felt like I knew them. Dark Sisters reads like Rosemary’s Baby via the Salem Witch Trials. Just incredible.

Wow, what a debut! This novel gave me a good fright I have not had in a long time. If you enjoy tales regarding the complications of girlhood, female rage, and vengeance- this is for you! Captivating story with each character POV being equally as interesting as the prior or the next. Well-written.

In the small town of Hawthorne Springs, everyone must conform to the norm. Belong to the local mega church, be pure of heart and mind until marriage, forsake the occult. Talk of the “Dark Sisters”, is used to scare children into conforming into their beliefs through fear. “Two sets of eyes. as pale as milk…creeping along the ground…forced to wander the earth as ghosts of demons or the smeared remainders of a sinful heart”. But is it all just a story…

After finishing this book all I can say is wow….
The story is self was so beautiful and dark. It sucked you in and let you see every aspect of the three various intertwined timelines seamlessly. It was truly a story of female rage and taking back your personal power.
**A must read**

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for access to this arc!

"Such things were typically done in darkness, but when those who deem themselves favored by the Lord discover a witch, a delay in punishment is akin to the profane" (page 6).

In a tri-timeline book, readers immerse themselves in the stories of women who are learning what it means to be a woman, challenge and accept themselves, and work within, against, and around systems that seek to oppress them. The story telling is dark, but fun. I found that while sometimes I disagreed with the character's actions, each action made sense for the character.

Small warning to readers, if you have issues with eating certain textures... this one might not be the book for you. A weird warning, I know, but potentially necessary for some. But if that doesn't bother you, I definitely recommend this book. A good read for a dark winter day.

I love a multi-generational, time-spanning horror novel, so I was super happy to pick up Dark Sisters. We find ourselves in the same creepy town of Hawthorne Springs in three different eras: 1750, 1953, and 2007. In each era, there is a mysterious affliction affecting women.
Of course the women of 1750 are most explicitly considered witches, but the misogyny of the 1950s and 2000s is just a slightly different flavor. Bound up in the fear of women is a cult-y religious faith called The Path, which is honestly the scariest part. Camilla, the protagonist of the 2007 storyline, is the preacher's daughter, and her proximity to the religion makes this storyline the most discomforting.
There's suspense, homophobia, and plenty of body horror (losing teeth makes me sooo squeamish). The switching timelines keep things very interesting. I'd suggest this one for fans of Once and Future Witches or Bad Heroines.

Witches, a generational curse, an almost cult-ish religious town, and some horror. This was an interesting read and easy to binge. It follows 3 women, alternating between each timeline with each chapter. This set up made it hard to put the book down as I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened to each woman. I felt for each character as they felt out of place in their society. I liked the writing style and how it varied slightly for the different women. The horror aspects were genuinely creepy. Sometimes it felt a little repetitive, but it also kind of helped to show how ingrained certain ideas were in the characters' lives. You have to suspend your disbelief at times, but it is basically a speculative fiction.

This slow burn kept me engaged and continuing to want more! Loved it! This multi-timeline story kept me engaged with all the different timelines!