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paracosim 's review for:
The Starving Saints
by Caitlin Starling
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
So, in my excitement for a new lesbian horror novel, and with such an amazing cover at that, I kind of forgot that I despise medieval settings. I loved them as a preteen, right up until the moment I began doing research into the era and realized nobody bathed. The lack of hygiene (this book was gross lol), the food descriptions, and just the overall sense of uncleanliness had me genuinely gagging at times. It detracted from the horror for me.
But putting that aside, this was a solid book. Caitlin Starling is a good writer and I’ve enjoyed her work previously, and this was no different. I didn’t find the characters very lovable, but they were good characters all the same; the pacing was a little off at times, but it might just be because I’m more used to her slower-paced novels. The setting is where this book shone. The castle felt like its own character at times. And the weird shadow creatures? Beautiful. Amazing. I wanted more of them.
I wish the horror had been more prevalent. It felt a little lacking and didn’t scratch the itch nearly well enough. What there was, was amazing, but it just wasn’t enough. And at this point I think it’s time for me to accept that I just won’t find what I’m looking for in Starling’s writing. This is in no way a fault on her end, because what she writes is very good, but I need something a little more.
Thanks again to Netgalley. If you like softcore horror and religious imagery gone rotten, toxic sapphic romances, and weird creatures in caves, this is the book for you.
So, in my excitement for a new lesbian horror novel, and with such an amazing cover at that, I kind of forgot that I despise medieval settings. I loved them as a preteen, right up until the moment I began doing research into the era and realized nobody bathed. The lack of hygiene (this book was gross lol), the food descriptions, and just the overall sense of uncleanliness had me genuinely gagging at times. It detracted from the horror for me.
But putting that aside, this was a solid book. Caitlin Starling is a good writer and I’ve enjoyed her work previously, and this was no different. I didn’t find the characters very lovable, but they were good characters all the same; the pacing was a little off at times, but it might just be because I’m more used to her slower-paced novels. The setting is where this book shone. The castle felt like its own character at times. And the weird shadow creatures? Beautiful. Amazing. I wanted more of them.
I wish the horror had been more prevalent. It felt a little lacking and didn’t scratch the itch nearly well enough. What there was, was amazing, but it just wasn’t enough. And at this point I think it’s time for me to accept that I just won’t find what I’m looking for in Starling’s writing. This is in no way a fault on her end, because what she writes is very good, but I need something a little more.
Thanks again to Netgalley. If you like softcore horror and religious imagery gone rotten, toxic sapphic romances, and weird creatures in caves, this is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Excrement, Vomit, Cannibalism