Thank you to Bindery Books and NetGally for an ARC of this book!

As soon as I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I would love it. I have been struggling with a short reading attention span lately but as soon as I started this book I truly could not put it down; I finished it within two days! 

Vita was such a gripping main character and I enjoyed seeing her grow throughout the book as she comes to realize what she is capable of. Maren Chase has such a way with words that had me constantly highlighting sentences which moved me. The writing style had me feeling Vita’s anger, sadness, and hope alongside her. The way Vita’s father and Ardaric were depicted made me truly hate them and root for Vita to be their downfall. On a different note, the romance between Vita and Soline was lovely and heartfelt, and I wished for nothing more than for them to get their revenge and be happy. Vita’s friendship with the crows was also so endearing. There was a dark tone present throughout the book, but the sweet moments really shone through. 

My only minor gripe is that I wish there was more alchemy within the story. Ultimately, I think it was used in a satisfactory way, but it would have been nice to uncover more about its mysteries and the different ways it could be used.

Overall, I think this is a satisfying revenge story with a sprinkle of magic. I am eager to see what Maren Chase writes in the future. 

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.