Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Caitlin Starling is known for creating intense, claustrophobic atmospheres. How did the siege setting in Aymar Castle affect your reading experience, and did you find the psychological horror more unsettling than the graphic body horror?

2. The novel shares a theme of extreme isolation with Starling’s other works, like The Luminous Dead. If you’ve read her other books, how did the dynamics of isolation in a besieged castle compare? If not, what did you think about the way the siege mentality was used to explore the characters’ inner fears?

3. What was your reaction to the novel’s final scene?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Voyne often experiences conflicts between a sense of duty and her own desires or sense of self-preservation. Have you ever had to choose between what you wanted and what you felt responsible for doing?

2. Phosyne operates on intuition, which puts her at odds with the Priory’s rigid dogma. Have you ever felt that your own intuitive way of knowing clashed with a more structured approach?

3. Honey is first a symbol of hope and divine blessing, but it becomes an instrument of control. Think about a time a symbol or ritual that was once meaningful to you changed its significance.

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The guide notes the novel was drafted during the 2020 lockdowns. In what ways does the “siege mentality” in Aymar Castle mirror the breakdown of social norms that can occur during widespread modern crises?

2. What does the conflict between Phosyne’s alchemy and the Priory’s religion suggest about how societies treat knowledge that exists outside of established systems?

3. King Cardimir’s leadership fails when he grasps for a miraculous solution to a crisis. What does his character arc reveal about the dangers of desperate leadership and the appeal of easy answers in times of social turmoil?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Why do you think the story is told through the distinct perspectives of Phosyne, Voyne, and Treila? How does each woman’s approach to narration differ?

2. Beyond the claustrophobic castle, what other Gothic elements did you notice in the novel?

3. The plot conveys urgency (food supplies are on the verge of running out). Did the novel’s pace mirror that urgency for you? How does a distorted sense of time reflect the overall atmosphere of claustrophobia?

4.The style of the novel is sometimes deliberately confusing. Choose one scene that was ambiguous or initially difficult to understand and analyze what this narrative style contributes.

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. What do you think would have happened if Treila had accepted the Loving Saint’s offer of protection?

2. If you were designing a new cover for The Starving Saints, what single image would you choose to represent its core horror?

3. If Aymar Castle were to be rebuilt, what new tradition would you establish to protect against future supernatural threats?