Where to even begin with this book? I was really hoping this was going to be something else. What it is though is boring and massively confusing. I consider myself a well-read individual, but I am genuinely so confused about this book.

Here’s the pitch: A castle is under siege and starving when four divine Saints arrive and replenish the castle’s storehouses from an unimaginable origin. Only Phosyne, an ex-nun turned witch, Voyne, a female knight, and Trelia, a castle servant, are capable of seeing the truth behind the madness. They must band together to save themselves and the cattle. Sounds super cool, right? Well, guess again. What I was hoping for was a super gritty book where people make increasingly disturbing sacrifices to the saints in return for sustenance. What I got was a weird metaphor for a sapphic, BDSM relationship. Maybe, I still don’t really know.

Overall, I’m very unhappy with my reading. Sure, not every book needs an underlying message, but some certainly benefit from it. This book didn’t have the vibes or the horror to sustain itself on plot alone. Ultimately, the real horror of this book is that it’s a full-length novel instead of a short story.

1.5 stars. 1 star for book as a whole, and a half star for one particularly gory scene.

One of the most brilliant books to be released in 2025. This book uses religion and spirituality to construct an awe-inspiring and harrowing novel that toes the line between fantasy and horror.

Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling is a mesmerizing and deeply unsettling medieval horror novel that immerses readers in a suffocating atmosphere of desperation and decadence. Starling's prose is as intoxicating as the mysterious feasts within Aymar Castle, painting a vivid picture of a besieged world teetering on the edge of madness. The three central characters—Ser Voyne, Phosyne, and Treila—are richly developed, their complex motivations and shifting loyalties adding layers to the tense and eerie narrative.

The interplay between divine adoration and horrifying corruption is masterfully handled, though the dense, atmospheric writing may feel overwhelming at times. The story’s descent into chaos is both compelling and terrifying, with themes of survival, faith, and morality woven seamlessly into the fabric of the tale.

A gripping and thought-provoking read, Starving Saints will captivate fans of dark, character-driven horror. A must-read for those who appreciate their scares laced with rich storytelling and psychological depth.

This book was absolute madness, but in the best way. Very fast-paced and exciting, and I found myself so engaged with the plot and characters throughout!

I have not a clue what I have just read but it doesn’t matter because it was so good. Treila and Voyne and Phosyne are all wild and feral and cruel and selfish— and so good. They’re compelling, with intertwining stories and motivations and cravings. This is a story about hunger, about hunger for food and for power and for love and for revenge and for freedom.

“How do you untangle madness from reality?”
“It is eat or be eaten.”

That was wild! The setup took a bit of time, but once you're a bit through, it's fast paced with no holding back!!
Women taking control of their power and their lives through some of the most insane struggles are some of my favorite reads.
Adding some bone chilling horror never hurts either!
Thank you to netgalley for the arc!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the arc. This was a wonderfully sacrilegious read full of horniness, memorable characters, an unpredictable plot, cannibalism, and haziness. It’s a pure fever dream. Here are some thoughts:

The atmosphere in this book is to die for. It’s a bacchanalian hallucination full of rot and opulence. It’s gothic, it’s sinful, it’s sensual, and it’s delicious. Of course, the prose is lovely. It’s indulgent and haunted and erotic. This book is just so horny and heady in general, despite the fact it contains no sex; that’s how you know the atmosphere is incredible.

This is for the Ethel Cain fans. That’s all.

The characters in this book were messy and memorable, their arcs satisfying. I will say that I loved Ser Voyne and Treila far more than I did Phosyne, but all were well written. Treila might be my favorite character. She’s feral, selfish, scrappy, cruel, sharp, and her character arc is wonderful. If you loved Abatha from Slewfoot you’d love Treila. Voyne, on the other hand, has my favorite character arc. God I love a lady knight. And the arc of the relationship between the 3 fmcs? Chef’s fucking kiss. Likewise, the side characters were also memorable and well written. What does it say about me mentally that my favorite is the loving saint? I love an erotic and charming villain; I can’t help myself. Treila and him had incredible chemistry, and I loved their plot line and banter. Good shit!

The one massive draw with this book is how muddled it can be. Maybe it’s because I’m mainly a fantasy reader, but I was a little put off by the lack of explanations and haze. I was still scratching my head at the end, even if it otherwise was satisfying

The plot was unpredictable and engaging. Just when you think you know where the book is going, it throws you for a loop and then some. The ending itself was very satisfying, with character arcs concluded nicely, even if I was irked by a lack of explanations.

Loved the themes in here. The main theme of hunger was fascinating, and I loved the book’s commentary on it. We’re all hungry, bitch! The theme of hierarchy and territory was intriguing as well. Basically, most these themes can be linked back to bees, and I love me some bees. Of course, all the praise to my girl depravity. Humans are adaptable, and will do and justify the most insane things to survive, and we most definitely see that here in a variety of ways. Get ready for numerous descriptions of human meat! Yummy!

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. The themes, the atmosphere, the lady knights, the depravity, the opulence, the rot, the gothic atmosphere, the sin… yes. Just yes, and I need to devour similar books like Aymar’s residents devour human corpses. In sum: buzz buzz bitch -4 stars

What a wild book! For the first handful of chapters I was worried the characters would play straight to high fantasy tropes and get bogged down in world-building details, but I was quickly disabused of those concerns. Christopher Buehlman's Between Two Fires crossed with Layla Martínez's Woodworm. My favorite kind of weird and scary and I'm looking forward to reading more of this author's work.

I LOVE THIS BOOK. This is immediately in my top 5 reads of the year.

I feel like a lot of fantasy books tend to give me a bit of a slump in the beginning getting used to a new world and characters and such but from the very first page of the Starving Saints I was hooked. Phosyne, Ser Voyne and Treila are such interesting characters and the way they intertwine throughout the story was so satisfying to me. Also, very very gay.

There is a surrounding theme of cannibalism which usually I would avoid because while I think it's a really interesting concept actually reading about it tends to make me feel sick but the approach to it in this book really set itself up well for me. I think part of that is the way the main characters reacted to it.

I enjoyed how fast paced the story was, especially considering the fact that it all takes place in one castle over possibly a small time span… it's not really clear but either way it feels like it goes reasonably fast and there's always something going on, even if it's just the characters own thoughts.

Overall, very fun, very gross, very very gay and I absolutely loved every second of it. I want to reread it immediately and read nothing but this for the rest of the year. I won't because it might drive me crazy but I'll miss these girls so much.

*Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review :)*

The Starving Saints by Emily Twombly is a dark, atmospheric fantasy that weaves together elements of religious mystery, political intrigue, and personal conflict. Set in the besieged Aymar Castle, the story begins with the dire straits of the castle’s inhabitants—food is scarce, morale is low, and rescue seems increasingly unlikely. But just as hope seems to fade, divine figures—the Constant Lady and her Saints—arrive, offering salvation in exchange for unwavering devotion. The entire castle, once on the brink of starvation and madness, falls under their spell, partaking in strange and intoxicating feasts that mask the sinister origins of their gifts.

At the heart of the story are three women, each struggling with their own desires, secrets, and allegiances. Ser Voyne, a war hero, aligns herself with the Constant Lady, while Phosyne, a paranoid former nun turned sorceress, desperately works to uncover the truth behind the Saints’ miraculous arrival. Meanwhile, Treila, a serving girl with a thirst for vengeance against Voyne, is torn between escape and the pull of the intoxicating ecstasy that seems to pervade the castle.

Twombly's writing is immersive, though it may take a while to fully engage with the complex dynamics and the slow-burning tension of the plot. The pacing is deliberate, and the novel can feel dense at times, but the payoff is worth the effort. The blending of religious fervor and hedonism, the examination of power dynamics, and the gradual unraveling of the castle’s descent into madness create a rich and unsettling atmosphere that keeps readers on edge.

The characters themselves are compelling, each driven by their own internal struggles and desires, making their shifting alliances and betrayals all the more impactful. As the stakes rise, the tension between the characters—especially as they wrestle with their complicity in the madness—adds layers of psychological complexity to the narrative.

The Starving Saints is not an easy read, but for those who enjoy slow-burning, character-driven fantasy with dark themes, it is a rewarding experience. Twombly's exploration of power, temptation, and the blurred lines between salvation and destruction is both chilling and thought-provoking. It’s a book that demands patience but ultimately delivers a gripping, transformative narrative. For readers willing to immerse themselves in its intricacies, this novel earns a solid 4/5, offering a haunting look at the cost of devotion and the lengths people will go to in the name of survival.

The Starving Saints is a medieval fantasy horror about three women trapped in a besieged castle along with a king and a great number of people who descend into a hungry madness upon the arrival of three godlike strangers. I wanted to read this because the reviews said it was a historical horror (a blend of genres that I love!) and atmospheric. Also, I thought The Death of Jane Lawrence was pretty good. This book felt like a second-world fantasy, which I don’t usually read, but it was well-written with a slightly fevered dream quality. It was slow at the start but picked up just before the 25% mark with the arrival of the three strangers. Then it was different iterations of cannibalism and magic, which I did not understand, especially near the end. Maybe I misunderstood the story or misread it, but I was left with lots of questions. It got confusing, and it was difficult to follow what was happening. It had strong claustrophobic vibes though, being set in a castle. Overall, this is for fans of fantasy. Thanks to Avon, Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel.

Absolutely wild and unhinged, and it's gonna really grab a lot of people. Very gay, very gross, very out-there and unique. There were points where I had a really difficult time continuing, but I'm incredibly glad I did, because this is one of the most uncomfortably unique books I've read all year. I'm gonna try to recommend this a lot next year (to people who I think can handle it, lol), and I feel like we're gonna be hearing a lot about this blowing up.

Starving Saints was a weird read for me. Initially, the chapters grabbed me and I was excited to see where this tale was going, but the further along I read the less excited I became. I can’t pinpoint what exactly went wrong for me, but I had to force myself to keep reading. Each time our main characters were in certain peril, poof, they were easily snatched from it and round and round we went until the ending neatly wrapped everything up in a pretty bow.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early peek.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for this E-arc. All thoughts expressed in this review are my own.

To sum it up I have never never read a book like this and I mean that in the absolute best sense of a way possible. I chose this book because medieval horror is not usually in my bingo card- but the element of religious mysticism intrigued me. Basically, the luscious world building, the imagery, mysticism and the symbolism got me in a choke hold. I could not put this book down and that's not hyperbole, I stayed up late to an embarrassing hour in order to finish the Starving Saints.

I am in awe of the twists and turns. I found all three of the narrators compelling, with their motivations interesting and sometimes surprising. I enjoyed not knowing what was going to happen next and I really enjoyed reading Mx. Starling's writing style. If ever there is a book to turn into a graphic novel or to have a TV adaptation it would be this book because truly the imagery of the bees, saints and feasts took my breadth away. My only complaint is that I wish there was more! I am not the type to buy a physical book after reading an ebook- but the starving saints may have to be an exemption.

This book stressed me the hell out in the best possible way.

The slow burn? Excruciating and exciting
Trying to figure out everyone’s intentions and back-stories? Stressful and confusing
The war and time moving so slowly? Numbing
The cannibalism? The DEFINITION of insanity and the will to survive

The gore was perfectly placed and described in a way that made you feel equally as sick and amazed as you are drawn in on the definition of a nightmare scenario.

TBH, I would have been out long before it got to this!

This is my first book by this author and I will be reading others. All you need to know about this book is body horror, castles, and lesbians. Lord, the lesbians(me) really won with this one. The castle is icky, I can smell the mold and the unwashed bodies, the starvation and these sweaty hot women being super into each other. ;) I loved this book!!!! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!!!!

The Starving Saints is disgusting, weird, creepy, and gory…and I absolutely LOVED IT. You’ve got women being toxic, body horror, cannibalism, and absolute utter depravity. I was into it from start to finish. Give. Me. More!!! I thought the pacing was really good, and I loved the imagery - very visceral and addictive. Well done, Caitlin Starling!

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's eat or be eaten.

It is months into the siege of Aymar Castle. The people are starving and resources are dwindling. As all seems lost, four myterious Saints appear at the castle gates with the promise of feast and abundance, but not all is as it seems.

The Starving Saints is a medieval fantasy horror story that follows three terrible women, who are extraordinarily different in so many ways, yet fit together so perfectly despite their jagged edges.

In the midst of the siege of Aymar Castle, as the people are starving and the resources are dwindling, four Saints mysteriously appear at the gates

Phosyne, a former nun turned madwoman sorceress who is tasked with the impossible, to find a way to feed the starving population of Aymar from nothing. After all, she has already conjured a miracle to cleanse the castle's water, defying all possible science.

Ser Voyne, the war hero who delivered the region of Carcabonne from Etrebian plunder, decorated evenly in atrocities and honors, all in the name of her king. Now, she serves as nothing more than King Cardamir's glorified lapdog, and most recently, Phosyne's reluctant minder.

Treila de Batrolin, a noblewoman fallen from grace after the execution of her father, holding herself together with nothing but spite, rage, and a thirst for vengeance. She holds self-preservation above all, but that craving for survival at all costs does not satisfy her.

As the Saints tempt the populace of the castle into supernatural hedonism, Phosyne, Voyne, and Treila find their fates entwined as the world they know begins to crumble around them.

I'm not typically a huge horror fan, but the premise of The Starving Saints had me in a chokehold that only grew tighter as I kept reading.

At its heart, this is a story about hunger. Hunger for food, for longing, for lust and fear and ecstasy. So, there's a lot of cannibalism. Cannibalism as a metaphor for. Cannibalism. But also as a metaphor and conduit for power, loyalty, and ownership. Hierarchy and dominion are heavy themes in this novel, and from the get go we see how each of our three protagonists is a victim to this system of authority.

Phosyne is only granted the resources she is because she is directly useful to the King. Voyne is the King's left hand man and has little autonomy and is constantly at the discretion of her liege. Treila has had her entire life ripped away from her and survives at the lowest rung of the ladder.

And letting things stay that way will spell the end for them.

So in turn, we see a lot of bargaining and sacrifices, really hammering in the notion that nothing is ever free because everything has a cost, even if we don't realize it. There is a lot of focus on the exchange of knowledge, power, and ownership and how those three things are interchangeable in ways and static in others. The Starving Saints plays around with the concept of a deal with the devil and amplifies it tenfold. What if you don't realize it's the devil? What if you only realize your mistake when it's too late? What if you're the devil?

Despite all this talk around equivalency and value, this isn't a story where every detail is fleshed out with a clear explanation and purpose. It is messy but captivating. Reading it genuinely feels like a fever dream and that isn't an exaggeration. That's not to say that the more solid parts of the world like the bee/honey centric religion and history of battles aren't fascinating, because they definitely still bring a lot to the table. But generally, the world and its rules quite literally shift as you're reading and there were parts where I had to go back and go over again and again because I genuinely could not fully conceptualize what was happening on first read.

The Starving Saints is dark, gorey, and intoxicating. While it is not a romance story, I would say that it is incredibly lesbian. Its storytelling is striking, yet fluid, with a strong core plot thread and interesting and unique characters that just made me feel, in the rawest way. This book will not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'd highly recommend it regardless, for fans of The Locked Tomb in particular.

All in all, The Starving Saints is a beautifully haunting tale of hunger, devotion, and transformation that will leave your stomach churning and mind scrambling while you can't help but crave the taste it left in your mouth.

I think that it is unfortunately time that I have to hang up my hat on trying future Caitlin Starling books. I was fully blown away by her debut, The Luminous Dead, but everything I’ve read since just hasn’t been up to par. This, like many others, I found to be just bland and lacking.

3.5 stars rounded up

I have to admit that I only really skimmed the summary of this book, so when I started I only had the vaguest idea of what I was walking into. Honestly, I saw the medieval Europe-esque setting and the possibility of cannibalism and I was sold.

This book was quite good. It's chaotic and has a lot of different threads to keep track of, what with the three main characters who keep getting separated from each other. It was, overall, an interesting and fun read. I thought the author did a good job of establishing the stakes, first from the siege and then from the Saints' appearance.

The characters were pretty solid, but I think Phosyne was lacking a little something in backstory that Voyne and Treila had. Because the latter two have a shared past, we do learn more about them as people and what led them to Aymar, but I can't really say the same for the former. We are told why Phosyne left the order briefly, but I don't feel like the explanation of her turn to "heresy" felt quite as fleshed out as Voyne's guilt or Treila's quest for revenge.

I also thought this book skimped a bit on the worldbuilding. Everything outside of Aymar feels hazy and unclear, down to the political situation and the religion of the Constant Lady and the other Saints. I can kinda forgive not learning more about the war and the story behind the siege, since that isn't the main focus of the book, but I really wish the religion of this world was explained more. Like, the nuns play a big role in part of this book (Phosyne used to be one), but I didn't think they were explained very well.

I also found the lack of folklore, parables, and myths kinda strange considering the central role religion/supernatural beings plays in this book. We aren't really told who the Constant Lady and the Saints are, and when the Saints arrive at Aymar and chaos ensues the main characters don't have any theories as to what these creatures could be. It felt strange since, in most instances like this, people will make some sort of connection to religious or folkloric figures in their attempts to understand what's happening. That never really happens, and I personally find it hard to believe that there's a culture that mirrors out medieval Europe yet doesn't have any weird creatures that people tell stories about like demons, fae, or vampires.