The Starving Saints

Be prepared to immerse yourself in a medieval mystery drenched in gothic horror and cannibalism. Three very different women are our guides as the crumbling fortress of Aymar Castle comes under a six-month siege by their forbearing foes. As starvation sets in, the women must navigate despair, danger, and dread.

Ser Voyne is a seasoned soldier and heroine of past wars. Her loyalty is beyond reproach as she positions herself to defend the king and his people. Phosyne, holed up in her tower, is desperately trying to achieve another miracle—make food from nothing. Somehow, this sorceress has scientifically discovered a process to make the rancid water potable. How hard could it be to discover another miracle? The king is growing impatient with the lack of progress. Phosyne, once a nun under Sister Jacynde, was excommunicated for her independence of thought and action. Under relentless pressure, she may be descending into madness.

Finally, there is Treila, certainly more than her status as a servant girl suggests. Motivated by vengeance after witnessing her father’s beheading, she maintains a laser-sharp focus while others spiral into delusion. The interactions among these three women shape the response to a monstrous event.

Seemingly out of thin air, The Constant Lady and her angelic core of three saints appear, offering boundless food, healing, and divine guidance. Some even believe Phosyne conjured them into existence. But there will be a grotesque price to pay. The people of Aymar, in a bacchanalian feast, gorge themselves—unaware of the terrible cost and the true origin of the food.

Starling masterfully weaves this tapestry of horror with escalating tension and dread. She constructs a menacing poetry as the hypnotic forces of temptation clash with the actions of our three protagonists. Her prose drips with mystery and desperation, evolving into a chilling denouement.

During the final half of this tale—steeped in corruption and haunted by hope for redemption—I found myself glued to the audiobook, narrated by professional actress and writer Barrie Kreinik. It was astonishing how she effortlessly shifted between accents and dialects, fully bringing this novel to life in the theater of my mind.

Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Voyager, and Harper Audio for providing an Uncorrected Proof and Advance Audiobook in exchange for an honest review.