Caitlin Starling will forever and always have my heart and soul. The Luminous Dead cemented her as an insta-buy author for me, but Milkteeth really reminded me why I love her novels so much.

In Milkteeth, you follow Beatrice, a broodmother to two unruly vampires. When she takes on a third fledgling, things start to unravel, and she turns to a human OBGYN to make sense of her changing body. What follows is a wild ride from start to finish - it's dark, gritty, and wildly creative. It’s hard to do something truly new with vampires, but Starling absolutely pulls it off, delivering something that feels fresh and exciting.

Beatrice is a fantastic character, and I was instantly invested in her story, completely captivated by her transformation over the course of the novel. There’s a strong cast here, with plenty of characters to love and enough momentum to keep you hooked all the way through. I was especially drawn to the dynamic between Beatrice and Dr. Bajracharya.

There were moments when I was reading this in bed, kicking my feet and cackling at whatever unhinged thing had just happened and honestly, I know I can count on getting that exact feeling every time I pick up a Caitlin Starling novel.

I loved it!

Milkteeth by Caitlin Starling
Release Date: October 20th, 2026

Birth. Transformation. Broodmother. Two vampire fledglings are born and need a mother to nourish and guide them through their new beginnings.

Milkteeth is a fast-paced new take on vampire mythology and motherhood. I was skeptical at first but I am happy I gave this one a try. The idea to bring motherhood, pregnancy and nursing into the vampire lore is genius. The way it is done is not what you expect and it's very unique. There’s a lot of commentary here about the fear of motherhood and the way others fear motherhood. No character is completely innocent in this book as well. So expect some moral ambiguity.

I’m sure I will be thinking about this one for months to come. I will definitely be putting this on people’s radar come release day.

A bit of a trigger warning: There is a lot of gore in this as well. I felt a bit squeamish a few times.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing this free Advance Reader’s Copy via NetGalley.

Weird and interesting and very different from any vampire horror book I've ever read where the protagonist is a vampire. I love how alien and bestial and, well, horrifying these vampires are. Very bloody, very fleshy, very gross, very different, but I liked it.

I have read all of Caitlin Starling's books to date. Each time I brace myself for an absolutely bonkers read, and somehow it ends up being more bonkers than I ever could have imagined (complimentary, because that means nothing in her work is ever predictable and If you ask me, that is true skill). Like, I'm not even that big of a horror fan, but somehow her genre-bending books keep me hooked from start to finish. I have always been impressed with the flow of her prose and her ability to build an atmosphere that makes my skin crawl, but MILKTEETH takes that craft to the next level by incorporating themes of motherhood, transformation, and sacrifice that fit so beautifully, horribly well together in this context (vampires! like, who would have thought?). Caitlin Starling is hands-down one of the best writers today in any genre, period.

This is a lush, stunning, sinister, compelling, blood-soaked novel. It introduces a fresh approach to the classic vampire narrative and presents a richly layered examination of how far a mother is willing to go—or how much she is willing to change—for the sake of her children. Milkteeth doesn't shy away from the grotesque; if anything, it embraces the necessity for unsavoriness. There's some excellent body horror throughout, both done to others and experienced by Beatrice herself.

4.5 stars

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of Milkteeth!

This was my first book by Caitlin Starling, and I am officially hooked. From the very first page, I was completely drawn into Beatrice’s dark, chaotic, and deeply human world. Starling’s take on vampires is unlike anything I’ve read — visceral, eerie, and unexpectedly emotional. I found myself rooting for Beatrice even as she did terrifying things, and the way she navigates motherhood, hunger, and her own identity is absolutely haunting.

The horror is real and unflinching, but so is the tenderness underneath it all. I was on the edge of my seat, but also thinking about the characters long after I closed the book. This is the kind of story that sticks with you. I can’t wait to read more of Caitlin Starling’s work — she’s officially on my must-read list.

I don't typically read horror, but the idea of "breastfeeding vampires" was way too intriguing to pass up! I'm so glad I decided to read this book. It's a very refreshing take on the vampire genre, and I absolutely devoured this book! Currently navigating my own postpartum journey, I could relate to many of the ups and downs of Beatrice's relationship with motherhood, especially the impact of sustaining the lives of her nurslings. Sometimes it can feel impossibly difficult to find one's own power and strength in motherhood, an issue that becomes even more challenging without a good support system. I also liked the intertwining of medical science and anatomy throughout the story as Beatrice seeks answers and support in her nursing journey.

Additionally, I really enjoyed the different characters of Beatrice's nurslings, and the dynamics that came with them each being in different stages of their young vampirism. I also enjoyed the writing style and the general haunting and eerie vibes of the story. This is my first book by Caitlin Starling, and I will be picking up more in the future!

I ended up doing a Caitlin Starling double feature (I had just finished The Graceview Patient when I saw that Milkteeth had been posted on NetGalley) and oh my gooooodddddddd!! I need more!!

I love Caitlin’s Starling’s writing and my mind has been racing since I finished Milkteeth. I love her stinky little characters, I love women that are monsters and are honestly fine with it, I love the codependency but this time it’s actually valid and nutrient dense, I NEEEED to find myself a freak like Dr. Bajracharya 🫡

10/10, I’m obsessed

✨✨Finally a truly unique new vampire story!! ✨✨

Milkteeth is such a unique take on vampires. As soon as I saw this was about a vampire broodmother, I was like SAY LESS!!!!!

I really enjoyed Beatrice’s character and it’s great how as a mother there is actually some things I can relate to in this story. There is some body horror in this one so just FYI if you’re squeamish. The world building left a lot unknown, but also at the same time it was done really well! This story has a lot to say about motherhood and how it’s perceived as well. Love that!

THE ENDING!!! 👩‍🍳 😘 So good!!! A new favorite read for me!

I LOVED The Graceview Patient by Caitlin Starling when I read it last year (it became a new favorite for me) and I see that she has written some other books. I need to check those out also!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released October 20, 2026 .