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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
What can be worse than what we are driven to, when all else is lost?
The Starving Saints is atmospheric, beautiful, and horrifying — a novel that I enjoyed from beginning to end. The themes of hunger and desperation were wonderfully woven into the narrative, and when combined with descriptions that lean into the macabre, it was as delightful as it was disturbing.
This being said, I do wish that the depictions of religious fervour before the arrival of the saints had gone a little further, especially considering the situation that they were in. I think that it would have led to the state that things reached being all the more believable, especially since so much about the context behind the castle's situation was left vague already.
There's a lot that The Starving Saints doesn't explain — especially when it comes to magic and the strange beings that we encounter — and while I desperately would like some confirmation to my theories, I think that the vagueness serves the plot and the setting well, frustrating as I might have sometimes found it.
As for the characters themselves, I enjoyed the three protagonists individually, but I wish that the relationships between them had been developed a bit more, especially with the level of closeness and trust that exists between them by the end.
All in all, definitely one that's enjoyable for those in the mood for a bit of a darker and more gruesome read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Cannibalism
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: War
This is one of the most unique books / plot premises I have read in a long long time, it felt (to me at least) incredibly original. It is also incredibly INCREDIBLY dark (so check your triggers), I’m not sure where this sits in terms of ‘genre’ but I’m guessing there must be an element of horror assigned to it. Regardless of all of that, it’s a fever dream of a story 😂
All those things being said, this was a slog and a half to get through, the middle part especially, for what is a relative average sized book page wise. It felt like everything and nothing was going on / happening all at the same time.
The characters felt very two dimensional and I didn’t find myself really caring about any of them or the outcome for any of the three POV particularly. I spent a lot of the book confused (which is the point so that’s fine), but not in a satisfactory way (which again may be the books point so fine), which I think added to the issue of it being a slog.
Would I recommend? Possibly if you’re into mediaeval type fever dream fiction and horror ‘vibes’ more than application. It was a miss for me, but, that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate what the author was trying to do and I respect them for that.
All those things being said, this was a slog and a half to get through, the middle part especially, for what is a relative average sized book page wise. It felt like everything and nothing was going on / happening all at the same time.
The characters felt very two dimensional and I didn’t find myself really caring about any of them or the outcome for any of the three POV particularly. I spent a lot of the book confused (which is the point so that’s fine), but not in a satisfactory way (which again may be the books point so fine), which I think added to the issue of it being a slog.
Would I recommend? Possibly if you’re into mediaeval type fever dream fiction and horror ‘vibes’ more than application. It was a miss for me, but, that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate what the author was trying to do and I respect them for that.
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This... was a wild story. I did not expect it to be so... graphic... I'm not sure what I expected at all out of the novel honestly. It sounded interesting so I took a chance on it. I don't know if I really liked it or just feel indifferent about it. The characters were interesting and so were their backstories but I felt overall confused by the plot. what was the creature in the wall below the castle? Where did those "saints" actually come from? Was Phosyne some kind of magical being too? The "saints" said she was like them so does that mean she'd become corrupted like them too eventually? Ser Voyne's "death"?? Was also a confusing moment. I was glad she wasn't actually dead because I loved my big strong knight but I was still confused. Also, was Phosyne's little beasties ever explained? Did I miss that while I was reading? Overall, way more death and gruesome imagery than I imagined.
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As someone who has previously DNFed a book by this author and also quite enjoyed another one, I feel like I usually know what to expect from a book by Caitlin Starling, I'm just not always sure how I'm going to feel about it. And honestly, even after finishing The Starving Saints, I'm still not entirely sure how I feel.
This book is an absolute fever dream of a story, following three very messy, complicated people with their own (sometimes conflicting) desires and allegiances and walking that web with them was alternately intriguing and exhausting. Starling does a superb job of building the atmosphere of a medieval inspired setting and the claustrophobia of a siege, complete with a type of magic that feels otherworldly and alchemical. This is more fantastical than historical but it has a lot of the feel of a medieval setting, complete with a strong focus on fealty and hierarchy.
I liked how Starling delved into the bonds created and broken between characters and how that web of allegiances can shift and change who they are as people. I found all three characters to be deeply fascinating with all of their flaws and the way that the horror focused on how their desires and drives led them in and out of trouble. And I appreciated there wasn't really any easy answers, even by the end, though I could see that frustrating readers that want clear answers.
However what dragged down the experience of this book a bit for me is that it was bone deep exhausting at times. Because Starling builds that sense of dread and claustrophobia so well, I was very ready to be done well before the story was wrapped up. Outside of my own emotional experience, I think the ending is well written and about as satisfying as you can expect from Starling, who seems to go in for the wild, barely explained endings. But as much as I liked the thematic and character explorations, the drag of the dread makes me feel like I might have enjoyed it more had it been shorter and less indulgent.
If you like stories filled with violence, toxic desires and the push and pull of allegiances, you might check this one out. I'm not sure I can see myself rereading it but the cover is incredible and I liked the themes and characters enough that it'll probably stay on my shelves and in my brain.
This book is an absolute fever dream of a story, following three very messy, complicated people with their own (sometimes conflicting) desires and allegiances and walking that web with them was alternately intriguing and exhausting. Starling does a superb job of building the atmosphere of a medieval inspired setting and the claustrophobia of a siege, complete with a type of magic that feels otherworldly and alchemical. This is more fantastical than historical but it has a lot of the feel of a medieval setting, complete with a strong focus on fealty and hierarchy.
I liked how Starling delved into the bonds created and broken between characters and how that web of allegiances can shift and change who they are as people. I found all three characters to be deeply fascinating with all of their flaws and the way that the horror focused on how their desires and drives led them in and out of trouble. And I appreciated there wasn't really any easy answers, even by the end, though I could see that frustrating readers that want clear answers.
However what dragged down the experience of this book a bit for me is that it was bone deep exhausting at times. Because Starling builds that sense of dread and claustrophobia so well, I was very ready to be done well before the story was wrapped up. Outside of my own emotional experience, I think the ending is well written and about as satisfying as you can expect from Starling, who seems to go in for the wild, barely explained endings. But as much as I liked the thematic and character explorations, the drag of the dread makes me feel like I might have enjoyed it more had it been shorter and less indulgent.
If you like stories filled with violence, toxic desires and the push and pull of allegiances, you might check this one out. I'm not sure I can see myself rereading it but the cover is incredible and I liked the themes and characters enough that it'll probably stay on my shelves and in my brain.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the beginning quarter or so of this book and then I just got really confused.
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
The story-telling is very convoluted and difficult to get through. Such an interesting concept ruined by pompous writing.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
such a good book, i was honestly having a hard time getting into it at first because i couldn’t stop confusing the characters but i really liked it after. some good themes about self-worth and purpose while still being uncomfortable and thrilling
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Torture, Cannibalism
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes