The Starving Saints

A Novel

De: Caitlin Starling

Narrado por: Barrie Kreinik

USA Today Bestseller!

“As brilliant as it is bizarre. From the very first words 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.

©2025 Caitlin Starling (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

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.

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

Wow…just wow!

I really enjoyed this book. I honestly had not read anything lately, quite like this. The story kept me interested and I was invested in the characters. I don’t usually write reviews (I’m a terrible writer), but I would highly highly recommend this book!!

Different

Well I liked the book. Some of it was alil difficult to follow but mostly it was ok. But I liked the storyline and how it was definitely different.

Great Medieval horror

Great story with great characters. Only complaint is it gets randomly kinky but to each his own I guess.

Original & Harrowing

I really enjoyed this story. There were a few things that felt rushed or confusing to follow, which is the only reason it wasn’t a 5-star listen. The narrator is perfect for these characters. I recommend it if you enjoy fantasy & horror.

Cannibalism

This was a really well-written and interesting story. I will warn there is a lot of cannibalism in this book. It did make me queasy at times, which is what a good horror book is supposed to do. The characters were interesting and seemed messed up in many ways. They made this story entertaining.

Wild ride

Full of beautiful, strange imagery the entire way through, often blurring the lines between horrors and miracles.

Such delicious storytelling

Another book that fits what I have come to expect of Caitlin Starling. Gripping plot, twisted characters, sapphic romance, and something akin to the taste of honey on the tongue.

For the girlies

I loved this book. It's a fae story I'm pretty sure although not explicitly. It's also a sapphic love story so if you're small minded and are going to complain just don't even read ts.