I picked this up after seeing it recommended on Reels as medieval/religious horror, basically living in the same space as Between Two Fires. That book left a mark on me (in a wow, that was incredible but I don’t think I ever need to experience that again kind of way), so I figured I’d roll the dice on this one. Or cast lots? Idk.
The premise is strong, and within a few chapters I was locked in. There’s something deceptively simple about Starling’s writing style. short, almost stripped-down sentences, but it works. It gives the story this quiet, creeping momentum that fits the tone really well. It feels intimate. Personal. Almost gentle at times, which makes the darker elements hit harder.
The characters are another highlight. Their motivations feel grounded, even when the world around them starts getting… not so grounded. You understand why they make the choices they do, even when things spiral.
But here’s where it gets a little weird. When the Saints show up, the book takes a sharp turn into something I genuinely wasn’t expecting. I’ve read a decent amount of horror, but I don’t think I’ve ever read something that blends religious dread with this much sexual tension. At times, it straight-up borders on bisexual erotica. Not necessarily a bad thing, but definitely not what I was expecting going in.
It creates this strange push-pull feeling. On one hand, it’s unsettling and unique. On the other, it caught me off guard enough that I wasn’t always sure how I felt about it.
End result: It’s unique. It’s unsettling in its own way. And it’s definitely going to stick with me.
Would I recommend it? …carefully. Probably not to most of my friends in real life.
But hey, this is Reddit. We’re all anonymous here.
If medieval religious horror with a heavy dose of sexual tension sounds like your thing, then yeah, you should absolutely give it a taste. After all, it’s eat, or be eaten…
by Caffeine_And_Regret