The hungry saint is a deeply unstable novel that blends medieval environments, gothic horror, psychological suspense and cannibalism. It is the world of madness and decadence of Bacchanalia. Needless to say, it was on my most anticipated list of 2025. We, our readers, are transported to a musty castle filled with increasingly claustrophobic, dark magic, shapeshift saints, fuzzy creatures and lesbian longings. Ah, honey bees, lots of honey bees. One of the main themes of this story is hunger in all forms. Physical, mental, emotional, showing what people endure to fill the void left by isolation, loss, demands of institutional faith, and literally starvation. So when food is served, they eat it…Let’s talk about it.
At Aimer Castle, there is a hidden religious group that worships constant women, and respects her sacrifice and the suffering she had. Her body is a symbol of purity and connection to God. Sterling’s prose faces the topic of ritualized pain and the way devotion becomes a tool for control and manipulation. Destroying yourself is a sacred act. The hungry saint It starts with Aymar Castle being surrounded for six months. It is not clear that the horrifying army that appeared around the walls of the castle wants from Aymar, but this story is not about the influence of these appearances. The hungry saint It focuses on events inside the castle itself and how those who live there fall into hedonism and dul when these saints arrive. These saints have food, and the Aimer people are hungry… so hungry. No one will even stop wondering, where did this food come from? Why did these saints enter the castle? What do they want to save everyone? Sterling answers all these questions and more.
During the novel process, we follow three perspectives. Phosyne is a nun on the verge of excommunication. Through her knowledge of alchemy, she is able to ensure a relatively safe place in the castle and hierarchy. The king offers his protection in exchange for what she can do. Her next task is to evoke food from nothing. As her life is at stake, she is going to do just that. However, after that, the saint arrives and her world soon becomes a fever dream. Ser Voyne is one of the king’s most trusted knights. She has served the kingdom for years, proving herself to be reliable and useful. The king asks Vagne to watch over Fosin and make sure he is working hard on magic so that he can feed the inhabitants of Eimar Castle. Our third perspective comes from her wit and incredibly original servant girl, Treila. She also holds a deep, dark secret. These three women’s paths are quickly intertwined as the events of the castle reach a hot pitch. Looking at these three intricate and layered relationships, it really shines and is a real ode to Sterling’s skill. It’s extremely difficult to leak any more about the main character without spoilers. It’s a “you need to read for yourself” situation.
The hungry saint The horror aspect does not rely on jumping horrors or overly extreme images. It constructs in a slow, insidious way, showing how obedience and faith are twisted into mechanisms of control. Sterling creates an atmosphere of funny horror, smoldering and waiting for an eruption. There is a broad sense of impending fate due to extreme hunger and terrifying explosive scenes. This book is slowly burned, but it’s the best kind. However, there is no mistake as this novel is truly dark, unsettling and devastating. I was very invested. I cared about the characters. I absolutely loved it.
The hungry saint It puts me in a state of provocation. That made me think: how desperate does a person need to be to succumb to the despair that is found in this book? Grab it blindly and wander around anything that is given to you from terrible anguish and misery? And what about you, dear reader? If you love style books Between the two fires By Christopher Bealman, you absolutely need to read this novel. Thank you to Harper Voyager Harper Voyager Please send us a completed copy. This book was dropped on May 20, 2025, so don’t miss it!
Caitlyn Sterling He is the national bestseller author of Jane Lawrence’s deathwas nominated for Bram Stoker The bright deadand Finally leave the room. Included in her upcoming novels The hungry saint and GraceView Patient. Her bibliography spans besieged castles, alien caves and haunted hospitals. Her short fiction has been published by Grimdark Magazine and Neon Hemlock, and her non-fiction has appeared in Nightmare, Uncanny, and Nightfire.
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