The Starving Saints

A Novel

By: Caitlin Starling

Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik

USA Today Bestseller!

“As brilliant as it is bizarre. From the very first page you know you are in the hands of an author at the height of their abilities. . . . This is the unhinged cannibal book of my dreams—and my nightmares.” —Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning

“Enthralling, weird, and brilliant. A medieval pseudo-historical horror tale that explores what happens when our prayers are answered but we’re not sure what has answered them, or what it will demand of us in return. There’s no other story like this, and I mean that in the best possible way.” —Christopher Buehlman, bestselling author of Between Two Fires

From the nationally bestselling author of The Luminous Dead and The Death of Jane Lawrence, a transfixing fever dream of medieval horror following three women in a besieged castle that descends ravenously into madness under the spell of mysterious, godlike visitors.

Aymar Castle has been under siege for six months. Food is running low and there has been no sign of rescue. But just as the survivors consider deliberately thinning their number, the castle stores are replenished. The sick are healed. And the divine figures of the Constant Lady and her Saints have arrived, despite the barricaded gates, offering succor in return for adoration.

Soon, the entire castle is under the sway of their saviors, partaking in intoxicating feasts of terrible origin. The war hero Ser Voyne gives her allegiance to the Constant Lady. Phosyne, a disorganized, paranoid nun-turned-sorceress, races to unravel the mystery of these new visitors and exonerate her experiments as their source. And in the bowels of the castle, a serving girl, Treila, is torn between her thirst for a secret vengeance against Voyne and the desperate need to escape from the horrors that are unfolding within Aymar’s walls.

As the castle descends into bacchanalian madness—forgetting the massed army beyond its walls in favor of hedonistic ecstasy—these three women are the only ones to still see their situation for what it is. But they are not immune from the temptations of the castle’s new masters… or each other; and their shifting alliances and entangled pasts bring violence to the surface. To save the castle, and themselves, will take a reimagining of who they are, and a reorganization of the very world itself.

Medieval setting and unsettling characters

This was an enjoyable read. The writing was good. I found the constant changing perspective a little hard to follow at first. Especially since the names are kind of bizarre (phosythe?) and keeping track of who made the first 1/4 feel a bit like a chore. Once you get into the meat (lol) of it though, it’s a fun horror fantasy.

A horrifying gothic fantasy read- in a good way!

I absolutely loved this book. The three main characters are very well fleshed out and have great character development. The horror feels very of this world- as well as out of it, and the antagonist are really compelling. There was also a couple “spicy” sapphic scenes, but nothing too crazy. I loved this book, and will absolutely be looking more into this author going forward!

The foreboding tone

The character interactions and their tribulations I found deeply disturbing and entertaining. can't wait to recommend it!

loved the concept, execution kept me waiting

The pitch had me ready to delve in. The start was pretty good, but cool stuff wasn't teased but brought up front very fast! While I can appreciate the "let's get the ball rolling, you know the basics" it just left me feeling nothing for the goings-on.

I look back and think on the main plot points and can't recall how that took up nearly 14 hrs. I can only think the rest was full of metaphors/analogies on each woman, all of which was pretty good with poetic prose but I just didn't care.

Honestly i didn't care any of the three, the prioress was the only one I wanted more of but spoke too soon there and she never did again. It also felt like characters switched up way too fast several times, Mild spoiler, but I cant believe she'd come back only to be like "AAAAAND IM OUT AGAIN"

I dont understand how I could feel nothing was going on and still feel like I was loosing track of questions toward the end.

last bits... this book was soooo Horny, which ya know I won't kink shame but it felt just like therapy to get it all out there. As Horny as it was I didn't think it was really all that terrifying. I think this is cuz it felt like everyone was more anxious than terrified of the circumstance.

Excellent performance, Medievalisim & Sappgic Understones

It’s not often sapphic readers get a heart throb butch of a shield maiden, and I think that’s incredibly fun here. I also appreciate the commitment to Catholic folk language around offerings, intercession, saints and spirit communication.

However, the character arcs at the end (for me) lacked narrative and emotional pay off. A good deal of the time throughout the plot, I found myself unsure of the nature of the antagonists and wish there was more to grab on to, so to speak. Big chapter highlight for me was when the”darkness” saw itself mirrored in virtuous, confused knight — super compelling chapter!

I really want to love this book but I find I only like it. 6.8/10