Extasia by Claire Legrand

Haven. A safe village, with elders who will anoint the fourth saint of the village. We meet her on her day of anointing, where her name is unimportant, as she will be given her new name, her Saint name. She has endured the trials, extra to make up for her mother's wickedness. She will become a saint for the village and don the red hood, be marked by the elders, join her sisters, the other saints. Today she will become Saint Amity. Together they will save the village from the evil that invades their village, nine men dead already.
 
But after her anointing, men still die. Amity still sees the faceless gray women, the black birds, the white-eyed beasts... Maybe to save the village, she will have to raise the devil and make a bargain...

This relatively slow paced supernatural/paranormal horror gives The Village (movie by M. Night Shyamalam) vibes along with powerful feminism movement vibes. Much of the 484 pages was given to the religious zealousness of the cult, with men being the authority and the 'saints' being the 'honoured' members of the village - who were to be beaten by the villagers. Somewhat strange interpretation of sainthood, much of the writing was to fuel the rage against men - not sure it's really needed, there is an entire history of men treating women poorly available, though it does build an aspect of the story. Ending was short given the length of the book, suggesting perhaps another to come. It would suit fans of horror, supernatural or those who have read the series by Suzanne Young, Girls with Sharp Sticks. 

Themes: Supernatural, Paranormal, Dystopian, Fantasy, Witches, Cults, Saints, Spells, Witchcraft, LGBTQIA+, Horror, Religion, Feminism.

Melanie Pages