The Starving Saints: A Novel

Caitlin Starling

May 2025 · Sold by HarperCollins

About this ebook

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

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. 

Ratings and reviews

A nun turned sorceress Threatening religious icons a hungry, unnamed malevolence beneath the castle A really tall lady knight YEARNING Cannibalism An vengeful girl dynamics of messy, codependent women Kiss or Kill how do we decide Power exchanges As the saints continue to grow in power, all three women are on the brink of confronting their pasts while facing a future filled with uncertainty. Will they manage to stop the saints before the people of Aymar are lost to madness forever? Or will the allure of the Starving Saints pull them deeper into a chaos that feels all too tempting? this story speaks volumes about desire and human nature. It’s set against a backdrop of dire desperation, where survival leads to unimaginable choices. What’s truly gripping is how, even within the confines of a castle, the world of Aymar feels vast and immersive thanks to the vivid descriptions. The plot is shaping up to be highly unique; I’ve encountered stories featuring dangerous “visitors” before, but this narrative hints at a profound depth that is worth exploring. The graphic portrayal of desperation is just the beginning. Each character is driven by different motivations: Treila’s fierce survival instinct, Ser Voyne’s unwavering loyalty and bravery, and Phosyne’s complex relationship with value—both nothing and everything at once. With intriguing elements like lady knights, cannibals, and a complicated lesbian throuple, I can’t help but feel drawn in. The tension and depravity add layers to an already captivating atmosphere, making me hopeful for what lies ahead. the emotions this book will evoke—laughter, tears, gasps, even moments of frustration from interruptions during gripping chapters. This queer medieval fever dream is set to be full of gore, magic, and heart. I absolutely suggest this book. Think game of thrones brienne of tarth, meets Lord of the rings galadriel, meets yellow jackets Tai & Van. Truly stunning writing, visual and visceral.

it was a fast page turner.

About the author

Caitlin Starling is the nationally bestselling author of The Death of Jane Lawrence and the Bram Stoker-nominated The Luminous Dead. Her newest novels, The Starving Saints and The Graceview Patient, epitomize her love of genre-hopping horror; her bibliography spans besieged castles, alien caves, and haunted hospitals. Her short fiction has been published by GrimDark Magazine and Neon Hemlock, and her nonfiction has appeared in Nightmare, Uncanny, and Nightfire. Caitlin also works in narrative design, and has been paid to invent body parts. She’s always on the lookout for new ways to inflict insomnia.