This is an incredible book. It has everything I’ve ever wanted in a book and I obsessed with it!! Medieval nuns, magic and miracles. A must read.

An atmospheric and desperate medieval fantasy that explores what survival means from three equally compelling main characters.

I was nauseated with some of the descriptions but was too intrigued to stop.

A medieval castle has been under siege for six months and they are estimated to run out of food within two weeks. An excommunicated nun, who previously performed a miracle, is forced to perform another: conjure up food from nothing. A devout lady knight is tasked with minding this heretic madwoman, while a former noble turned servant seeks revenge against her.

THE PERFECT HALLOWEEN BOOK.

I just wished I read this earlier in the year, preferably with my halloween candy stash

I was instantly intrigued by the concept of this book, and I did end up enjoying it overall. The Starving Saints was a very eerie and atmospheric read with may unexpected and unsettling moments that had my jaw on the floor. I also enjoyed the medieval setting. Each point of view felt unique and balanced, and I was able to feel the suffering and deprivement of the characters as much as is possible through story. Phosyne, Voyne, and Trelia were such interesting protagonists, each of them flawed and troubled because of their circumstances.

There were certain aspects that I wish were delved into more. I enjoyed following the three main characters as the story unfolded, and there were times where they would vaguely think about their pasts. I would have appreciated learning more about the histories of these characters in order to better understand their motivations as the story is happening. The relationships between the characters also felt underdeveloped, and there weren't many moments where I felt they were truly getting to understand one another. Additionally, even though what is going on inside the castle is more important, I would have liked to know more about the conflict between Aymar Castle and Etrebia. I also think the religion could have been more detailed seeing as the saints are important to the story. Lastly, I felt that the plot was at a standstill around the middle of the book where not much progress was happening.

Overall, this book felt very unique, and I would recommend it to those wanting a dark and sinister story.

This novel felt like a fever dream from beginning to end. I wasn’t always sure what was happening, but the characters were an anchor for me throughout the text.

Describing this book as a fever dream of a medieval horror story is very accurate. There was a pretty big plot hole near the end but otherwise this book sucked me in and held me riveted. There was gore and violence and desperation and sacrifice, and there were scenes that were so very primal held parallel with the beauty and order of the royal court.
This story follows three women trapped in a castle, first by an opposing army, and then by some horrific saints. The characters are all interesting, all have different motivations, and are all flawed. I loved the flow of their relationship as they all learned to wade through their feelings and doubts and trust and mistrust of themselves and one another.
While the writing style is unique and enjoyable, it is written in 3rd person, which made for some confusing moments that pulled away from the story where I was trying to keep track of whose pov we were in and what they do/don't know.
Overall it was a wonderful read!

Caitlin Starling’s The Starving Saints is a chilling, hypnotic dive into madness, faith, and power. Set in a besieged medieval castle on the brink of starvation, the story follows three women—Ser Voyne, a hardened war hero; Phosyne, a frantic sorceress; and Treila, a serving girl with a vendetta—whose lives become entangled as mysterious, godlike visitors arrive, offering salvation in exchange for worship.

At first, the castle’s miraculous recovery seems like a blessing. Food reappears, the sick are healed, and life seems to improve. But as lavish feasts with sinister origins take hold and hedonism consumes the castle, the line between salvation and damnation blurs. Voyne swears loyalty to the enigmatic Constant Lady, Phosyne searches for the truth behind the visitors, and Treila is torn between revenge and survival.

As alliances shift and secrets surface, the three women must navigate a crumbling reality, where trust is scarce, and the cost of resistance is steep. Starling masterfully weaves horror with intricate character dynamics, creating a story both grotesque and mesmerizing.

The Starving Saints is a dark, unforgettable tale of transformation and survival, perfect for readers who crave something haunting, strange, and entirely gripping.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for an advanced copy of The Starving Saints for a fairf and honest review!

Rating: 4.75 stars
Pub Date: May 20 2025

“‘She said a faithless tongue was worth more as food than to eat food.’”

Having read The Death of Jane Lawrence, I was ready for Starling’s twisting, vivid language layered with uncomfortable dread and horror– and BOY, was I not prepared well enough.

The Starving Saints is a masterpiece of silent terror, raw desperation, and tooth and nail survival only for those hopes to quickly be swallowed up–literally.

Something Sterling does so well in her writing is how startling and casual the violence is. Many times I found myself gasping and pausing to reread what had been so nonchalantly placed before me. Like lifting the cloche to discover stomach-curdling gore only for the waiter to say, “Ah, my bad,” and deliver me my soup but now I really don’t want to know what’s in that soup.

Each protagonist had such distinct voices, and usually I’m not a fan of books that shift perspectives eavery chapter. But this was done perfectly. While Starling’s writing is confusing and hazy and hard to get a grasp on, her characterization, settings, and tension are wonderfully executed.

The only complaint I have is that at times it was a bit confusing to figure out key plot points. Like, yes, I don’t want the monsters over-explained and ruined for me, but some of their actions were confusing and I had to reread sections to understand the lore of the world.

Overall, I loved this book! I’ve never read any other medieval horror, and The Starving Saints has set the bar incredibly high for me.

If Gideon the Ninth and Tender is the Flesh had a baby, it would this book! This was a fever dream rollercoaster in the best way possible! It was so atmospheric and gripping and I couldn’t get enough! I didn’t know I needed a fantasy horror genre, but I need more now! 10 out of 10!

hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooly shit dog what a book to read as my second book of 2025. homoerotic relationships full of violence and yearning; cannibalism; "hey did anyone else notice the divine seems awfully fucked up?"; what if The Terror was more of a fever dream and was about women during a siege.

We follow a madwoman and heretic, a knight impossibly tangled in the leash of duty and loyalty, and a young woman with a bloody past and indomitable will to survive. There is a lot said about each of them, each character is fully constructed, clearly motivated, but Starling is an author who trusts the reader. So much is also left just unsaid, just out of sight, not in a frustrating way but in the way that you would say something to a loved one with a significant look and they'd understand exactly what you mean. The knight is never called a dog or a hound directly...Starling doesn't need to do that. The metaphors are enough.

Starling trusts readers to a degree that I found thrilling, though to talk about it in detail is a spoiler. Never once are the not-saints named as fae or fairy, even though that is clearly either what they are or a strong influence on the type of creature they are. It's not necessary. All the pieces are on the table for the reader to understand what's happening, and the characters are too busy living the story to stop and name anything, they've got to stay alive, after all. It's a marvelous bit of complete trust in both her ability as an author and readers' ability to comprehend what she's doing and I wish more authors would be so brave! Nothing at all is lost, in fact much is gained.

Having read this and The Death of Jane Lawrence by Starling as well, I can really see her craft improving (Jane Lawrence is a good book, this imo is a great book) and I'm excited to continue reading her books!

I wasn't sure about this book as I was reading it, but then once I decided to read it as an R rated Doctor Who episode without the Doctor coming to save the day I started liking it more. It was a definite fever nightmare with A24 vibes. Such a trip.

Where to start... this book was so interesting! It felt fresh, but only once finished. In the beginning, it was so slow. The writing style is not for me, and the situation being confusing and fantastical of course doesn't help. However, it is this plot that really saves it. Because once I was hooked (40%) I was HOOKED. The latter half of the story was so engaging and fast! The pacing with this one gave me a little whiplash but ultimately I am so glad I finished it!
The uniqueness of the setting and the characters really breathed life into this book. It was disturbing and thought provoking. I loved that and if you are not into horror or gore (cannibalism) this is not for you. As most other reviewers have stated it feels like a fever dream but that is what I think we are meant to feel. These characters are starving, they are stuck, and to them, life has turned into a fever dream where the impossible becomes possible.
I will say the lack of world building is something I really missed. However, like the characters, we are stuck inside this castle with them. They do not know what is going on in the outside world just as we do not. This does give an interesting dynamic to the story and that will be very much other readers thing, just not my preference.
Overall, I give this a 3/5 star review because it did engage me, shock me, and make me think. Definitely worth branching out to try this even if this story does not sound like it is in your usual wheelhouse.
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyage for this advanced copy of The Starving Saints.

They say you cant tell a book by its cover but this one struck me in a way I knew I’d have to read it.
I took my time with this one, devouring each page like a sapphic taste of honey. The rare and magnificently done medieval fantasy horror, not simply a grimdark tale. Trifecta of feminine leads each character fully developed though not too closely leaning towards the knight the rouge the wizard. The story seemed to me a combination of Jodorowsky’s Santa Sangre with Clive Barker’s Hellraiser crew. Mindbending, horrific psychedelic and beautiful. I loved it. Thank you Netgalley, Harper Voyager, and Caitlyn Starling! I will be preordering my hardcover copy right away

If you enjoy feeling like you’re stuck in a terrible nightmare plagued by bees and cannibals, boy do I have the book for you. This story contains the pov’s of 3 different women. The first, a knight, desperately tries to protect her people. The second, a madwoman, only wants to find a miracle. And the third, a glove making/rat killer, seeks out to get her long overdue revenge. These 3 alone must defeat the starving saints to save the castle. I found certain parts of the story to be a little confusing. It starts out a little slow, but quickly builds up momentum until everything is happening all at once. There’s quite a bit of body horror in this and absolutely revolting imagery. I loved the story, even though at times it could be a bit stomach-churning. Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

It's really annoying to have already read one of my favorite if not my favorite horror of 2025 in January.

We follow:

Phosyne, an ex-nun who has fallen out with the church, but is still the king's special weirdo because she's given them the miracle of clean water. Now she must produce another miracle if she wants to continue living her ... comfortable life style.

Voyne is a gruff, grumpy, and oh so buff knight, the right hand woman to the king. She values honor above all else, and is begrudgingly tasked with ensuring Phosyne will produce a much needed miracle. If her hands must circle Phosyne's throat every once in a while, so be it...

Treila is an young, unassuming servant girl. At least in everyone else's eyes. Her internal monologue is sharp, cunning and she'll stop at nothing to get revenge on the knight that killed her father. Unfortunately she might need some help in the form of miracles.

This book has everything I love and more. A messy sapphic throuple, cannabalism, and religious & rot horror

I'm enjoying this emergence of religious horror in today's fiction and I'm happy to recommend this title with the rest of the ever-growing genre !

Decadent, queer, dark, and very horny (complimentary). Horrific events transpire in a medieval setting featuring a pantheon of saints, heretical magical experiments, and beekeeping engineering nuns. Characters are complex and operate in morally grey spaces. Not for the faint of heart but very engrossing if you vibe with what it's doing.

I've never had a book put in me a grave, dig me up, and kiss me with a rotting lips before but CAITLIN STARLING DID THAT. Please go into this book blind, such a fantastic read.

The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling was one of the most disturbing books I have ever read. At the same time, I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what was going to happen even if I was reading with one eye closed. The Starving Saints is definitely one of the most unique stories I have read and thought that the aesthetic of the book was unmatched. The storyline was interesting, and I thought the pacing worked for most of the story. There were parts were I felt like it dragged a little but I was able to get past it very quickly. Overall, a fantastic book but one that made me realize that medieval horror might not be for me.