Aymar Castle has been under siege for six months. Food has run out, the animals are gone, and desperation is sinking in. Just as all hope seems lost, a miracle arrives: the Constant Lady and her Saints, a mysterious trio offering food, healing, and salvation in exchange for worship. What follows is a feverish descent into madness, mysticism, and monstrous appetites.
There’s Ser Voyne, the loyal war hero clinging to duty. Phosyne, a wild-eyed sorceress with chaotic hunger. And Treila, a serving girl caught in a bloody tangle of revenge and survival. Part medieval horror, part dark fantasy.
This book? It’s a trip. Like, an actual “did I fall into a hallucination?” type of experience. The premise was super intriguing. I mean, female saints descending into a besieged castle with food and promises? Sign me up. But… I’m not sure about the execution.
I listened on audio, and while the narrator did a solid job, I kept losing focus. This is one of those books where the vibes are strong, but you really need to be in the right headspace to stick with it. I was sick, juggling some family stuff, and honestly, probably not in the right mental space for a book that reads like a fever dream wrapped in medieval horror and queer chaos.
The writing had flashes of brilliance, but I also noticed moments where it slipped into oddly modern slang for a supposedly medieval setting, which threw me off. I didn’t dislike it, but I didn’t love it either. I think it’s a “right book, wrong time” situation. Or maybe just a “right book for the right reader.”
If you like feeling unmoored and weirded out in the best possible way, this is your book. This one’s for the gothic fantasy lovers who enjoy their horror served raw, bloody, and unapologetically unhinged. The jury is still out on how much I enjoyed it.
TW: Gory and yes some cannibalism.
AMAZON | GOODREADS | BOOKSHOP | ★★★
The Starving Saints comes out May 20, 2025. Huge thank you to Harper Voyager for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.
