Hi everyone! I hope you are all doing well. The weather is finally nice, and I am eager to begin my summer reading. There are a ton of books coming out this year that I am so excited to read. Before I get to those, though, I must get through what I have. This is now the second time I have reviewed a novel by Caitlin Starling. You can check out my review for The Death of Jane Lawrence. Now, its time to talk about her newest novel: The Starving Saints.

Content Warning: Violence, Gore, Disturbing Imagery, Sexual Content

It has been six months since Aymar Castle has been under siege. Food has become scarce, and people are growing desperate. Phosyne, a young and skeptical nun, has been tasked by the king to perform a miracle to feed his people. The king’s most loyal knight, a terrifying woman named Voyne, doubts that this nun can accomplish such a feat but must watch her to ensure that she at least tries to help them. Meanwhile, a young woman named Treila is torn between escape and vengeance. Just as everything seems entirely hopeless, the most divine Constant Lady and her fellow saints arrive at Aymar. They promise salvation and relief from the famine. Phosyne, Voyne, and Treila all suspect that this is not the miracle that the people have sought for so long. As the castle descends into madness, the women must figure out if they can save everyone or else be consumed by the darkness spreading throughout the land.

Let me begin with a few compliments. The Starving Saints has such an interesting concept and aesthetic that immediately intrigues the reader. The novel was well-written, doing an excellent job capturing the visceral horror of cannibalism. I like the religious aspect of the horror, too. With all of that being said, I simply couldn’t enjoy The Starving Saints. It felt entirely too long for me. All of the interpersonal drama was entirely too dragged out and the horor wasn’t showcased in a way that made it interesting. For me, the novel was missing out on plenty of key moments that needed something shocking. I also felt that the novel was lacking the necessary ambiguity that comes with horror. It was immediately apparent that the saints were the villains, and it took away any suspense. They were also entirely too corporeal as antagonists. There was nothing compelling about them and I was mostly annoyed at how cartoonishly evil they were at times. The protagonists weren’t much better. I enjoyed the dynamic between Phosyne and Voyne, but Treila felt superfluous to me. There was a romance subplot that felt too forced to me. It just muddied what could have been a compelling storyline about being torn between duty and survival. I was also annoyed by world buildig because there was no real explanation or speculation as to who or what actually showed up at castle. Overall, I wasn’t satisfied with The Starving Saints. I am not going to say to not read it, but just know that I didn’t feel it was an enjoyable reading experience.