Saint Grit

by Kayli Scholz

One brooding summer, Nadine Boone pricks herself on a poisonous manchineel tree in the Florida backcountry. Upon self-orgasm, Nadine conjures a witch that she calls Saint Grit. Pitched as Gummo meets The Craft, Saint Grit grows inside of Nadine over three decades, wreaking repulsive havoc on a suspicious cast of characters in a small town known as Sugar Bends.

Genres: Horror, Fiction

98 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2023

About the author

Author of Yeehaw Junction, Black Rain Season, Saint Grit, and various short stories.

Reviews

[Teresa Ardrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I say "I'm gonna be honest here" you will think my other reviews are lies, which they aren't. But, as a saying that's ingrained in (at least my) culture, I'm gonna be honest here. Upon reading the description of Saint Grit and based on the cover, even the SFW one, I thought this book would be too spicy for me. Please don't @ me lovers of erotica, I am happy you are happy with it, it just isn't for me. BUT, that being said, I am so glad I gave Saint Grit a chance despite my concern for the spicy level, because, let me tell you, it is a great book. I mean, damn. And it IS spicy, but in a self-fulfilling, self-satisfying way. Because is isn't really about the sex, but getting out from under an oppressive small town where women are meant to be seen and not heard. Nadine takes her power and wields it with a heavy hand.
This novella packs a punch in a small space. There are scary moments, filthy moments, off-putting moments, all delivered in a wry, fresh way. I didn't particularly even like Nadine, but I couldn't stop reading. WHAT WAS SHE GOING TO DO NEXT?
I say I don't usually like comps, but I know I have written at least three reviews lately where I added them, so, guess I won't stop now. I got shades of Come Closer by Sara Gran and The Low, Low Woods by Carmen Maria Machado and Dani. The former because it is an interesting take on possession, and the latter because there is definitely something wrong with the town of Sugar Bends.

[Claire Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an advance copy of this book and it was everything I could ask for! Nadine Boone is a sexy, sinister witch in 1970s rural Florida who makes a deal with a ghost to fulfill her darkest desires. Nadine's wickedness taints everything she touches, including her children's psyches and the very land she lives on. Saint Grit takes on themes of inherited or generational trauma, twisted feminism, and revenge for sexual harms. Above it all are Florida's manchineel trees, practically a character in themselves.

The descriptions are sultry and the book's scenes are crisply written. Like Nadine, the narrative slides effortlessly between the perverse and the gruesome. Reading, I can't believe that Saint Grit is a first novel. The quality of the writing, its pacing, and the sophisticated layers of the novel are the work of a seasoned author. Kayli Scholz is poised for a great debut, and hopefully many more horror stories in the years to come.

[Horror Bookworm Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Horror Bookworm Recommendation
Saint Grit by Kayli Scholz
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/

As we enter the good ol’ Satanic Panic era of the late seventies and early eighties, the sadistic physical and sexual rituals are in full swing as Nadine Boone summons her inner demon. This self-possessed guidance of controlled chaos is non-other than Saint Grit, an evil spirit that controls values, beliefs and characteristics of spirituality and the subconscious mind.

Saint Grit by Kayli Scholz conjures up a bizarre reading experience of ritualistic principles and an oath of allegiance. We follow main character Nadine, into a rabbit hole of symbolic charred branches of witchcraft and magic. From her nightmarish confrontations to genuine parenthood, the sexual woodsy unbridled behavior seems to effect all of those who come in contact with her.

Written with wicked dark symbolism, this devilish little ditty does not hold back on graphic violence and sexual exploits. Ceremonial nudity, goblets of blood and shocking misdeeds are only some of the sinister sacraments held within these primal pagan pages. Scholz’s written work successfully conveys that black mass old-time religion. Its river of pleasure and brutality doth flow evenly and unobstructed.

Welcome to the book of author Kayli Scholz. Saint Grit is the ultimate offering of dark and disturbing fiction. Grab your Devil Mask and prepare for one Hell of a good time. A five curved horn Horror Bookworm Recommendation.

[Stay Fetters · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I was rotten inside but not because I made Roger wait to screw me. I was rotten because of the witch growing inside of me, getting stronger every day."

Gummo meets The Craft with a tad bit of smut throw in for good measure.

Let’s get this out of the way. The cover is very misleading but it’s definitely what made me read this book. I didn’t need to know anything else about it after I spotted the uncensored version. I was already throwing my money at the author and I’m proud to have it be part of my collection.

The story was hit and miss for me. I enjoyed some parts while others I had found boring. There were parts I had to reread because I thought I had missed something but it was just the way it was written. Not sure if I’m a fan. I did find myself enjoying the first half more than the second even though it was a really short and quick read. Overall, it was okay and I’m glad I read it.

The book will be on display in my house because there’s nothing like that cover.

[Jeff Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was completely fucked. Five stars.

[Chris Bigelow · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting tale of witch smut. Who would have thought where the power of evil lived.
The ending was far less than expected.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Saint Grit was a bit of a weird book for me, Its almost like an interlinked series of stories from Nadine's life as she and Saint Grit, the witch conjured from the Manchineel tree in the garden, become more powerful and take revenge on the characters of the small town of Sugar Bends rather than a traditional novel. There's a kind of dreamlike structure to the writing which I really liked and there were a number of sections that I enjoyed. But overall the book struggled to keep my attention and I found myself getting confused with who certain characters were at times.

The issues I had with the book were certainly more a me issue rather than the book and I would certainly be interested to see what Kayli Scholz writes next

[Brooklyn Attic Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy oh Boy was this book creepy AF!!!! Nice job. Just when I thought it was going in a certain direction, the story changed gears.

And it escalated and escalated quickly! I loved how creepy, eerie and strange the whole premise was. Florida witch, born evil, born attached with a demon in tow? I was a bit unclear what made this woman so evil to begin with, the story explanation was just that she was born that way. And then started to summon the demon Saint Grit. But why, I have no clue. And why the woman stayed bound to serving this demon unsuspecting innocent lives, no idea. Hence the 4 stars. Otherwise it is a brilliantly creepy read.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Ravven White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was beyond excited to read this book by author Kayli Scholz.

What a ride! Witchcraft, feminine sexuality, sacrifices and sacraments, spooky covens that end up in blood...this book has it all and then some. If you're looking for something weird and horrific, I highly suggest this novella. It's a quick read, I finished it in one sitting which I appreciated.

Kayli Scholz is clearly an up and coming author with lots to offer!

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Saint Grit has very witchy vibes and is told from a very unique POV. It is a quick entertaining read.
I will be looking for more from Kayli Scholz in the future.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd never read a book written in the style that "Saint Grit" was - so I did enjoy that. It was partly first-person-POV, and partly narrated.
Some scenarios were a bit confusing and weren't explained, meaning I had to rely solely on context clues to come to a conclusion.

I LOVED the witchcraft aspect, especially since it's set in the early 80s through the mid-90s. It was nostalgic for me, in a way.

I'm excited to see more from this author!

I received an Advance Review Copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Vicky Lutes · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC, thank you for the opportunity to read.

I went into this book blind, not reading what the story was about. It is not something I would typically read - it was good to read something different for a change.

It's a perfect story for this time of year, and a quick read. It packs a lot of information about the main character without feeling like it's being dumped. It is seamless in the development of the story. Loved the 70's witchy vibe of setting and characters.

[Jen Self · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a weird, vicious little tale! This one was a well written read, however I couldn't quite connect with such a hateful main character. I will be on the lookout for more by this author, though!

** I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Lady MacDeath]

DNF at 33%

Didn’t know what was going on, and when I got to the part with the pig being butchered, I’d had enough…no thank you!!

[Charles Belvideer · Rating 2 out of 5]

This really feels more like an outline for a book than an actual book it’s self. Confusing at times and huge gaps in story flow. Can be read in a couple of hours so not much mix time is invested.

[Books For Decaying Millennials · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Saint Grit is a Filthy Book, and I mean that in the best way. When I say Filthy, I mean it's caked with Mud, with blood Sap and mashed up meat. I will freely admit that the cover art grabbed my attention, which if anything, adds to the power and energy in this book. This is a Tale of revoking toxic masculinity and patriarchy as a whole. Refusing what is expected to be human, and entering into ones own power, leaning into the transformation regardless of the cost.
Kayli delivers a fast moving story that at times gave nods to films like season of the witch but with a brutal impact, and splashing of gore that gives it more of a grindhouse sensibility. Through-out the story is punctuated with periodic illustrations that almost harken back to the block print images of past centuries, illustrating reports of witchcraft and the like in pamphlets and broadsheets.
Saint Grit is not a book to take lightly, it speaks to traditions old, and the gnarled roots of folk horror in the western world.

[Aaron Guzzwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not a go-to genre for me, but on the heels of Crime and Punishment I needed something light and fantastical.

This read like an 80s occult horror film and I loved it!

[Cameron · Rating 3 out of 5]

chaotic, gory

[achilles · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I was given an eARC of this book by BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.)

It was a quick and fun read that felt like finding and watching an unknown 80s horror movie. The writing style was casual yet had a really good build-up that made things very creepy often times. It is short and enjoyable if you like early 80s horror films especially.

[Dex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Saint Grit in exchange for my honest review. I was intrigued by this book admittedly because of the cover which is fantastic!

Content Warning
Saint Grit is a horror novel told through the eyes of the “monster”
Scenes include graphic violence, murder, child abuse, disabled parent abuse, misogyny and domestic abuse, animal death, sacrifice, sex, and more.

I love a good witch story! Saint Grit was as the title suggests – gritty. The gore, the deaths, the horror were all visceral, exciting, and filthy. It reads like a memoire of a bad witch – focusing on her relationship with a possible demon (or her own madness) and through her eyes we see the horror take her loved ones.

So often when we see movies or read books about evil witches, possession, demons, etc we see it through the eyes of the victims. Here we get it through one of the “baddies” and in such a way that she never sees herself as evil or wrong which, to me, is even better.

I loved Saint Grit and will probably come back to read it again in the future. It certainly will be on my mind for a long time to come.
The one thing that I would have changed is the ending. I felt like there should have been more to it. I hope there will be a follow up book to carry on the story of Nadine or Saint Grit. I just feel like it ended without closure and found that frustrating.

Fans of Jennifer’s Body, Ginger Snaps, and The Love Witch or perhaps if you are a horror fan that is ready for a woman in her witchy Villain Era
Saint Grit is the book for you!

Check out my full review on SmallTownCreepy.com where I geek out about folk horror, witches and plants, and more.

[Kayla Brabant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve fallen prey to my curse of consuming any media set in Florida once again. Much like the book itself, my review will be short. I could absolutely see this being adapted into an A24 movie. I don’t know if I can say that I didn’t like Saint Grit, but I certainly didn’t get it. Sometimes stories exist only to be told, not to necessarily have a “point,” case in point with this novelette here. I wish I could rate this higher, but I just didn’t get anything out of reading it, although I would be more than willing to read any other books by this author.

Edit - 11/29/23: Honestly? I keep thinking about this book, and while I still don’t think I quite “got” it, it’s enough to make me change my rating. I can’t deny the prose was well-written, and there’s something strangely charming in a story with an unlikable protagonist. A well-deserved 4/5 stars that I should’ve given in the first place.

[Douglas Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ya’ll remember that line in Lucio Fulci’s classic, City of the Living Dead, when the medium prophesizes “horrendously awful things are happening, things that would shatter your imagination”? Well, she might as well have been describing Kayli Scholz’s brilliant Saint Grit, a 2023 novella from Ghoulish that reads like some gloriously misshapen thing that crawled directly from the fetid Florida soil. It’s a glimpse into a world that looks an awful lot like ours, but still rejecting its rules and sense of order in favor of something entirely different. This is a bold, transgressive book, an earthquake in the fields of horror and weird fiction. The fact that Scholz writes about the Florida I know, with its truly odd and ethereal landscape, only endears it to me more.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was an entertaining read, even if a little outlandish at times. Was easy to read and kept me amused and interested throughout. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Tiffany Meuret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book delivers everything it promises, and I guarantee you will not see it coming. The protagonist, Nadine, is one of the most vicious characters I have ever seen and that is saying something. Keep being evil, Nadine. You are iconic.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! Definitely weird and creepy awesome.

[Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

OBSESSED with the uncensored cover. Couldn't put it down. Kept my adhd hooked from beginning to end. Really like nothing I've ever read before which I love. 5 stars :)

[Brian Shevory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Big thanks to Ghoulish Books and Book Sirens for making Saint Grit available to read, especially after its publication. I was so excited to find this book since it has been on my to read list even before publication. I think that I read about it in an email list of upcoming small press horror books. However, I think that I also read about Betty Rocksteady’s artwork somewhere else, and Saint Grit features some really cool artwork from Rocksteady. Her artwork along with Alejandra Oviedo’s amazing cover were really appealing to me. I was also attracted to the story about conjuring a witch that grows inside the narrator and leads her to act out. Nadine Boone is a typical 70s teenager who shows a burgeoning interest in witchcraft. The book starts out in the mid/late 70s in Florida, right around the time when the Satanic Panic may have begun, and follows Nadine and the witch she calls Saint Grit that grows inside her. Nadine was an interesting and attractive character, one who grows distrustful of others around her and can only seem to find satisfaction through herself. I loved how her interest in witchcraft ran much darker than some of the others in the book, like Cassidy and Elliot, who attend a kind of pagan/Wiccan festival. Nadine becomes acquainted with Saint Grit through a personal encounter in her backyard by the moonlight. She encounters a poisonous tree, yet after calling on Saint Grit, isn’t affected by the burning sap the way others are. Also, after conjuring Saint Grit, Nadine begins to emit leaves from her body. I loved this kind of imagery and how it connected Nadine more with nature than with evil. This was also around the time that Nadine met a boy, but their first encounter left her feeling somewhat dejected. Roger, her boyfriend at the time, disrespected her and didn’t really understand how to please her, so this also seemed to be what started Nadine on not relying on others for her own satisfaction. As Saint Grit begins to grow within her, Nadine begins to take revenge on the boys and men (as well as complicit women) who are in her life. Her haunting of Roger’s dreams in class was both humorous and reminiscent of the dream sequence from Hereditary. Nadine also has an older brother who is a football star, who seems to garner much of her family’s attention. Saint Grit also helps Nadine regain the power imbalance in her family. The fear that Nadine’s new spirit and being present to the men in her life (her brothers Hatch and Davey, her father George, Roger) was important to consider in the book as well. It seemed like the men feared empowered women who were not dependent upon them to provide financially or dictate their work around the house. Maybe this was also why Nadine was resentful of her mother, Louise, as well. She frequently disparaged her, especially after Louise confronted Nadine about her nightly rituals under the tree with Saint Grit. This was an interesting theme throughout the book, where Nadine was dismissive of these kinds of social mores and expectations for women, often following her own path of self-empowerment. Even after she marries Elliot, she begins to assert more agency and autonomy in her relationship, declaring that Elliot would provide her with 3 daughters. Elliot, like the other men in the novel, isn’t really that likeable of a character, so I enjoyed reading what eventually happens to him. Nadine also begins to raise her daughters, hoping for the day they hear the call of the witch’s horn, when she can initiate them into the ways of Saint Grit. Nadine’s parenting was kind of humous in ways, but nothing compared to how she managed to deal with Elliot. This was a short, but fun read. Some of the details were graphic and gross (especially Nadine’s last child to be born, Beckett). However, it was also a clever and creative Satanic/Witchcraft tale that also told of female empowerment and self-determination. I loved how Nadine’s story spans the late 70s through the 80s and 90s, a period when I grew up, and also coincided with the Satanic Panic and resurgence of conservatism. Nadine’s story and actions offer a tale of resistance to the patriarchy and domesticity that dominated this era. I hope to read more of Scholz’s books since Saint Grit’s horror was the kind that appeals to me. I also am excited to read more books from Ghoulish Publishers, glad to discover this horror publishing house.

[Ange ⚕ angethology · Rating 2 out of 5]

"I didn't believe in a lot of things. I believed I wanted to feel good all the time."

This novella centers witchcraft and a feminist perspective that showcases the way a lot of women are dismissed and unheard whether in the domestic atmosphere, at work or in bed. Love the premise and the cover leads you to believe that it's much more NSFW than it really is, even if sex as a theme is integral to the plot. 

Where it falls flat to me is how it's kind of anti-climactic overall; it feels like we're mainly following Nadine for a couple of shortlived adventures instead of a main conflict that makes me eager to keep reading, and the pacing as a result of that is also off. 

It's not badly written but just doesn't match my preference when it comes to these types of plotlines. 

Thank you BookSirens and Ghoulish Books for the review copy, I'm leaving this review voluntarily. 

[Mindy Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

in the late 1970s a young woman, fed up with bullshit, flippant 'witchcraft' that's become trendy in the wake of the hippie movement summons a powerful witch via, mainly, a lot of jacking off underneath poisonous trees in the forest, and with the entity's help she spends the next couple of decades wreaking comeuppance and savagery on the locals. this was good, but not what i was expecting, which i think diminished my enjoyment a bit, unfortunately. though there was a lot of empowerment and satisfying revenge, i found the story as a whole to be quite bleak, which is not my jam, though i respect it. def recommend if you don't mind some bleakness in your vengeful witch horror. 3/5.

[Aiden Messer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a weird and intriguing short book. Between witchcraft, horrifying sex, and gore, there's never a dull moment. It's sometimes funny, sometimes disgusting, sometimes both, but never boring.