zoeyreadsbooks 's review for:

The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling
3.0
dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I was instantly intrigued by the concept of this book, and I did end up enjoying it overall. The Starving Saints was very eerie and atmospheric, with may unexpected and unsettling moments that had my jaw on the floor. I also enjoyed the medieval setting. Each point of view felt unique and balanced, and I was able to feel the suffering and deprivement of the characters as much as is possible through story. Phosyne, Voyne, and Trelia were such interesting protagonists, each of them flawed and troubled because of their circumstances. 

There were certain aspects that I wish were delved into more. I enjoyed following the tree main characters as the story unfolded, and there were times where they would vaguely think about their pasts. I would have appreciated learning more about the histories of these characters in order to better understand their motivations as the story is happening. The relationships between the characters also felt underdeveloped, and there weren't many moments where I felt they were truly getting to understand one another. Additionally, even though what is going on inside the castle is more important, I would have liked to know more about the conflict between Aymar Castle and Etrebia. I also think the religion could have been more detailed seeing as the saints are important to the story. Lastly, I felt that the plot was at a standstill around the middle of the book where not much progress was happening. 

Overall, this book felt very unique, and I would recommend it to those wanting a dark and sinister story.