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Saint Catherine
A relatable adult graphic novel about a woman who skips Sunday mass for the first time in her life only to discover she's possibly being possessed by a demon.
As a recovering Irish American Catholic, she has mostly traded the world of communion and confessionals for the “city-girl” struggle of work-life balance, family, and her relationships. The only thing she has not been able to shake is her fear that something bad will happen if she misses Sunday mass.
But her fears become a reality when she skips mass for the first time and discovers she is now being possessed by a demon claiming to be the prince of hell. As she takes matters into her own hands and attempts to exorcise these demons (both the paranormal and emotional kind), Catherine must face her buried guilt and what it truly means to be good.
A cathartic and engaging view into the messy life of an urban women in her early twenties, Anna Meyer's Saint Catherine is truly a story of letting go of guilt and taking responsibilities for your desires, hopes, and mistakes.
As a recovering Irish American Catholic, she has mostly traded the world of communion and confessionals for the “city-girl” struggle of work-life balance, family, and her relationships. The only thing she has not been able to shake is her fear that something bad will happen if she misses Sunday mass.
But her fears become a reality when she skips mass for the first time and discovers she is now being possessed by a demon claiming to be the prince of hell. As she takes matters into her own hands and attempts to exorcise these demons (both the paranormal and emotional kind), Catherine must face her buried guilt and what it truly means to be good.
A cathartic and engaging view into the messy life of an urban women in her early twenties, Anna Meyer's Saint Catherine is truly a story of letting go of guilt and taking responsibilities for your desires, hopes, and mistakes.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published April 29, 2025
20 people are currently reading
2497 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 277 reviews
July 24, 2025
A woman in her twenties grapples with the Catholic guilt her mother instilled in her and the secrets she has been keeping in her romantic relationship with a man of whom her mother disapproves. And just when she thinks she is making progress, well, she gets possessed by a demon. Oops.
I found this highly relatable, as I was an altar boy and lector growing up and attended mass for years past the point when it meant anything to me, all for the sake of pleasing my mother.
Oh, and I've been possessed by demons.
Wait, wait, no, no. Dogs. I've possessed dogs. Nevermind. Different thing.
I found this highly relatable, as I was an altar boy and lector growing up and attended mass for years past the point when it meant anything to me, all for the sake of pleasing my mother.
Oh, and I've been possessed by demons.
Wait, wait, no, no. Dogs. I've possessed dogs. Nevermind. Different thing.
October 27, 2024
"What do you want from me?
Seriously, kid? I want your soul. What did you think?
Damn!"
It may come as a shock to all of you but I was raised Roman Catholic. Can you imagine that this heathen was baptized? Went to church every single Sunday. It didn’t matter if there was a foot of snow outside or if I was sick, there was no missing Sunday Mass. This graphic novel hit very close to home for me.
The instant I started to read this, there was an instant connection with the main character and myself. I saw a lot of myself in her and that was one of the main reasons why I enjoyed this. The story was unique. The entire idea about a demon haunting someone who missed mass was very entertaining and oh so bizarre (in the best way)
Saint Catherine was a great story that was very imaginative. The art was soft and beautiful. I really enjoyed everything about this. You’ll never guess how this one ends and it makes you enjoy this story a lot more.
Seriously, kid? I want your soul. What did you think?
Damn!"
It may come as a shock to all of you but I was raised Roman Catholic. Can you imagine that this heathen was baptized? Went to church every single Sunday. It didn’t matter if there was a foot of snow outside or if I was sick, there was no missing Sunday Mass. This graphic novel hit very close to home for me.
The instant I started to read this, there was an instant connection with the main character and myself. I saw a lot of myself in her and that was one of the main reasons why I enjoyed this. The story was unique. The entire idea about a demon haunting someone who missed mass was very entertaining and oh so bizarre (in the best way)
Saint Catherine was a great story that was very imaginative. The art was soft and beautiful. I really enjoyed everything about this. You’ll never guess how this one ends and it makes you enjoy this story a lot more.
March 11, 2025
As someone who was also raised religious and then dropped it, I can relate a lot to this story. It's actually really well done. Dialogue that works almost all the time, with some excellent imagery and a cool "guilt" is the "demon" idea that actually worked well for the story being told. I liked all the characters, as they were all flawed in some way. I also appreciated the realistic ending, and the unsureness of it all, only made it hit more powerful. A little wordy at times, but overall very much enjoyable read.
March 23, 2025
Saint Catherine by Anna Meyer is a visually stunning graphic novel with a compelling premise, but it doesn’t fully deliver on its potential. The artwork is rich and atmospheric, though storytelling sometimes feels rushed. While the main character is intriguing, some supporting characters feel underdeveloped, making it hard to fully connect with the story. It’s an enjoyable read for fans of graphic novels, but it leaves you wishing for a bit more depth.
***Thank you Netgalley and First Second Books for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.***
***Thank you Netgalley and First Second Books for providing an eARC in exchange for my honest review.***
October 23, 2024
This was fun! thank you netgalley for the arc
December 12, 2024
First off, many thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this book as an ARC! I greatly appreciate it!
I've been on a weird graphic novel kick lately, so I thought I'd give this a shot! It wasn't quite what I expected, as the cover makes it seem more horror-leaning than it actually is, but I had a good time with it. It was an interesting take on Catholic guilt.
Three-and-a-half stars to Saint Catherine!
I've been on a weird graphic novel kick lately, so I thought I'd give this a shot! It wasn't quite what I expected, as the cover makes it seem more horror-leaning than it actually is, but I had a good time with it. It was an interesting take on Catholic guilt.
Three-and-a-half stars to Saint Catherine!
May 2, 2025
Illustration: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Wow—I loved this. I ate it up. The author did an incredible job crafting an accessible, relatable, and honestly refreshing graphic novel. If you grew up in a very religious household and are currently on a spiritual journey, reestablishing what faith looks like for you, I think Saint Catherine will really speak to you.
The author explores these themes in a way that’s playful, real, and emotional. So much of this story is about growing up, navigating everyday struggles, and figuring out what’s next. But it’s also deeply about guilt—the weight of it, how it festers when left unresolved, and how it can manifest in our lives, especially when tied to religious trauma. Catherine, our main character, lives in the city and feels awkward and unsure of herself. She finds joy in her friendships and relationship, but she’s constantly questioning whether she deserves happiness, whether she’s good, and how her upbringing is shaping her current emotional landscape.
One of the highlights of this book is how diverse the cast is—Catherine’s friend group is filled with rich, authentic characters who each feel like someone you could call up today. It was honestly amazing seeing a friend group that reminded me so much of my own. Catherine stands out as the most religious of the group, so when she misses Sunday mass for the first time in her life, everything changes. That choice sets the story in motion. Suddenly, Catherine finds herself haunted, possibly possessed, by a demon calling himself the Prince of Hell, and he’s made it clear he wants her soul.
What makes this so entertaining is Catherine’s inner dialogue and banter with the demon. She stumbles through trying to figure out what she’s done wrong and how to fix it, and it’s darkly funny but also profound. The author delivers a story that is deeply human while illuminating heavy topics with heart and humor.
And the illustration—chef’s kiss. The artwork perfectly matches the energy of the story. It amplifies the pacing and emotion, especially through the use of color. The story begins mostly in black-and-white, reflecting the rigid structure Catherine has boxed herself into. As the story progresses, color starts seeping in, until the whole book bursts into vibrancy—mirroring Catherine’s emotional transformation.
I also loved the relationship dynamics, particularly between Catherine and her boyfriend. Every relationship felt realistic and thoughtfully developed. The ending doesn’t tie everything up neatly, but it gives us closure, growth, and real emotional payoff. It’s cheeky, sharp, and clever in how it approaches religious trauma, guilt, and forgiveness—especially in showing how we can give power to something when we leave it unexamined. This is absolutely a graphic novel I’ll be buying, and I can’t wait to see what this author does next.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and 23rd St. for this great graphic novel!
Overall: 5/5
Wow—I loved this. I ate it up. The author did an incredible job crafting an accessible, relatable, and honestly refreshing graphic novel. If you grew up in a very religious household and are currently on a spiritual journey, reestablishing what faith looks like for you, I think Saint Catherine will really speak to you.
The author explores these themes in a way that’s playful, real, and emotional. So much of this story is about growing up, navigating everyday struggles, and figuring out what’s next. But it’s also deeply about guilt—the weight of it, how it festers when left unresolved, and how it can manifest in our lives, especially when tied to religious trauma. Catherine, our main character, lives in the city and feels awkward and unsure of herself. She finds joy in her friendships and relationship, but she’s constantly questioning whether she deserves happiness, whether she’s good, and how her upbringing is shaping her current emotional landscape.
One of the highlights of this book is how diverse the cast is—Catherine’s friend group is filled with rich, authentic characters who each feel like someone you could call up today. It was honestly amazing seeing a friend group that reminded me so much of my own. Catherine stands out as the most religious of the group, so when she misses Sunday mass for the first time in her life, everything changes. That choice sets the story in motion. Suddenly, Catherine finds herself haunted, possibly possessed, by a demon calling himself the Prince of Hell, and he’s made it clear he wants her soul.
What makes this so entertaining is Catherine’s inner dialogue and banter with the demon. She stumbles through trying to figure out what she’s done wrong and how to fix it, and it’s darkly funny but also profound. The author delivers a story that is deeply human while illuminating heavy topics with heart and humor.
And the illustration—chef’s kiss. The artwork perfectly matches the energy of the story. It amplifies the pacing and emotion, especially through the use of color. The story begins mostly in black-and-white, reflecting the rigid structure Catherine has boxed herself into. As the story progresses, color starts seeping in, until the whole book bursts into vibrancy—mirroring Catherine’s emotional transformation.
I also loved the relationship dynamics, particularly between Catherine and her boyfriend. Every relationship felt realistic and thoughtfully developed. The ending doesn’t tie everything up neatly, but it gives us closure, growth, and real emotional payoff. It’s cheeky, sharp, and clever in how it approaches religious trauma, guilt, and forgiveness—especially in showing how we can give power to something when we leave it unexamined. This is absolutely a graphic novel I’ll be buying, and I can’t wait to see what this author does next.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and 23rd St. for this great graphic novel!
January 17, 2026
This book made me feel emotions that are far too complex for a Goodreads review. Just know that as someone who went to Catholic school for 10 years, Catholic church for 20 (both named after St. Catherine of Siena btw), had a Catherine as a patron saint, was at one point genuinely convinced they were possessed by a demon, and still frequently feels intense ~Catholic Guilt~ despite having not been Catholic for years... yeah this one definitely did something for me
May 7, 2025
I LOVEDDDDD THIS WOW. the illustration is so gorgeous and the story was so well done I read this whole thing in one sitting.
also, the demon growing legs to go to work made me snort out loud
also, the demon growing legs to go to work made me snort out loud
November 16, 2024
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!
this was a fantastic graphic novel from start to finish. i loved the art style, and especially loved the color palette.
saint catherine is extremely multifaceted and will probably hit close to home to those raised in a religious catholic household. there is fear of god, hell, and being a bad person, as well as weaponizing that guilt/fear. while this graphic novel is very religious-centric, there are also a lot of non-religious aspects that many readers can relate to such as uncertainty of the future, indecisiveness about careers, cheating partners, suicidal ideologies, and overbearing family members. BUT! there is also a lot of positivity: platonic love, caring friends, and the love of mothers.
i am very interested to see what anna meyer creates next!
this was a fantastic graphic novel from start to finish. i loved the art style, and especially loved the color palette.
saint catherine is extremely multifaceted and will probably hit close to home to those raised in a religious catholic household. there is fear of god, hell, and being a bad person, as well as weaponizing that guilt/fear. while this graphic novel is very religious-centric, there are also a lot of non-religious aspects that many readers can relate to such as uncertainty of the future, indecisiveness about careers, cheating partners, suicidal ideologies, and overbearing family members. BUT! there is also a lot of positivity: platonic love, caring friends, and the love of mothers.
i am very interested to see what anna meyer creates next!
January 2, 2026
When in doubt, blame a squirrel
November 12, 2024
Saint Catherine by Anna Meyer is a coming-of-age tale of a young woman who is convinced she is possessed after skipping Sunday mass for the first time in her life. This event, while seemingly harmless to Catherine and she loves, actually is the catalyst for Catherine confront the things she has been avoiding. This was a page-turner; every situation Catherine ever tried to avoid snowballed into an avalanche Catherine couldn't outrun--which made me forget a very important event that happened early in the story. I appreciated the natural meeting the supernatural, and the function of the two aspects combined—and the study of Saint Catherine herself as a last resort for learning to "be good" as well as to deter her internal demon from ruining her life.
The art was great, and the boyfriend is hot. I recommend.
Thanks, NetGalley and First Second Books/23rd St., for the opportunity to read this work!!
The art was great, and the boyfriend is hot. I recommend.
Thanks, NetGalley and First Second Books/23rd St., for the opportunity to read this work!!
June 14, 2025
4.5 stars. Saint Catherine is a standout graphic novel tailor-made for Irish Catholic women still haunted by guilt over doing the most ordinary things—things others breeze through without a second thought.
Trying to make it in the city with close old college roomies and a new boyfriend, Catherine checks in with her mother a lot. Or rather, her mother checks in with her way too much.
At its heart, this is a story about the exhausting tightrope walk between pleasing others and living freely for yourself—a struggle that, for many, is tangled up in a co-dependent relationship with the Catholic Church. Honestly, even God would probably advise some looser healthy boundaries. At least I like to think so.
The art is clean and understated, letting the story take center stage. Despite its length, the theatrical pacing pulls you through in a single sitting. A thoughtful, sharp, and darkly funny exploration of faith, guilt, and the holy mess of trying to break free.
Trying to make it in the city with close old college roomies and a new boyfriend, Catherine checks in with her mother a lot. Or rather, her mother checks in with her way too much.
At its heart, this is a story about the exhausting tightrope walk between pleasing others and living freely for yourself—a struggle that, for many, is tangled up in a co-dependent relationship with the Catholic Church. Honestly, even God would probably advise some looser healthy boundaries. At least I like to think so.
The art is clean and understated, letting the story take center stage. Despite its length, the theatrical pacing pulls you through in a single sitting. A thoughtful, sharp, and darkly funny exploration of faith, guilt, and the holy mess of trying to break free.
October 14, 2024
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this and have read it three times since then. As with most graphic novels it is a quick read but one that has been sitting on my mind in the best way. As someone who grew up religious and feels very comfortable in my relation to it I truly appreciate how easily the author demonstrates religious trauma, How approachable the story and theme is doesn't take away from the impact at all though, instead adding to it. Anna does a fantastic job balancing the seriousness of the subject matter and Catherine's various failing relationships with a sort of tongue in cheek comedy from the demons that are possessing her. I also appreciated how she choose to make the demons usually small, cute, and quippy with them only occasionally becoming towering beasts that she fears. It helps paint the contract to how Catholicism was a byline constant in her life that she could roll with until it became a larger issue. The artwork complimented the story well and was visually engaging with background varying in level of details depending on where the attention should be drawn. Aside from the stories the characters were all believable and relatable if not as flushed out as the could have been, which is understandable in the restraints of a shorter graphic novel. Anna does a good job switching between Catharine's past and present without confusing the reader adding a dynamic level to the story telling as well. The ending is the only thing keeping me from giving the book a 5/5. While I do appreciate how it calls back to a scene early in the book it still felt slightly anti climatic and that it didn't quite fit into the dramatic build up that it was following. It wasn't a bad ending it just felt too convenient and easy for what the story deserved.
November 2, 2024
Got an E-ARC from NetGalley. I didn’t grow up Catholic but I still really relate to the feelings of shame the main character felt about whether she was a good person or not. I really appreciate graphic novels that follow adult characters with complex relationships and the art style was very appealing. My only critique is that I felt a bit confused by the timeline and how long her possession lasted.
February 5, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Catherine, the main character, was raised Catholic and despite having distanced herself from religion, has never missed Sunday Mass
Until she does.
And almost immediately she starts seeing a demon who says he is a prince of hell, here to claim her soul.
As someone who was raised Catholic but left the church as a young adult after a LOT of existential turmoil, I was very drawn to this graphic novel and did, in fact, get emotional over it.
And if you or a loved one have struggled with Catholic Guilt despite being agnostic or an atheist, Saint Catherine might be the right read for you.
I found Catherine's struggle between what she feels is right and good versus what the church tells her is right and good so very real. She had her flaws, but that really drove home her struggle - even if one of her biggest mistakes did feel a little out of nowhere for me. I can't discuss that too much without getting into deep spoilers, but I felt shocked (not in a good way) that she would go so far. Still, I do think her having done something truly considered Bad added to her character arc. She felt like a very real, very human young woman who is trying to find what really matters to her in this world.
Her friends and boyfriend were also fun and I enjoyed their relationships with Catherine. I understood how and why she really cared about this group of friends.
I also appreciated the tension between Catherine and her mother (who means well, but really believes faith in the church's teaching is all you need to be "Good"). How do you connect with a family member who is so religious when you're trying to distance yourself from that same faith? How do you be true to yourself when that means your family thinks you're on a one-way track to hell?
The art in this is great - I absolutely loved the blobby demon haunting Catherine. As said in the comic, he's actually kind of cute. The sloshy, oozing aura of the demon that often shadowed Catherine also looked amazing and did a great job evoking Catherine's internal state without narration (with how it would twist and spike and consume her).
Overall I thought this was a great graphic novel and I'd love to read more from Anna Meyer.
Catherine, the main character, was raised Catholic and despite having distanced herself from religion, has never missed Sunday Mass
Until she does.
And almost immediately she starts seeing a demon who says he is a prince of hell, here to claim her soul.
As someone who was raised Catholic but left the church as a young adult after a LOT of existential turmoil, I was very drawn to this graphic novel and did, in fact, get emotional over it.
And if you or a loved one have struggled with Catholic Guilt despite being agnostic or an atheist, Saint Catherine might be the right read for you.
I found Catherine's struggle between what she feels is right and good versus what the church tells her is right and good so very real. She had her flaws, but that really drove home her struggle - even if one of her biggest mistakes did feel a little out of nowhere for me. I can't discuss that too much without getting into deep spoilers, but I felt shocked (not in a good way) that she would go so far. Still, I do think her having done something truly considered Bad added to her character arc. She felt like a very real, very human young woman who is trying to find what really matters to her in this world.
Her friends and boyfriend were also fun and I enjoyed their relationships with Catherine. I understood how and why she really cared about this group of friends.
I also appreciated the tension between Catherine and her mother (who means well, but really believes faith in the church's teaching is all you need to be "Good"). How do you connect with a family member who is so religious when you're trying to distance yourself from that same faith? How do you be true to yourself when that means your family thinks you're on a one-way track to hell?
The art in this is great - I absolutely loved the blobby demon haunting Catherine. As said in the comic, he's actually kind of cute. The sloshy, oozing aura of the demon that often shadowed Catherine also looked amazing and did a great job evoking Catherine's internal state without narration (with how it would twist and spike and consume her).
Overall I thought this was a great graphic novel and I'd love to read more from Anna Meyer.
January 11, 2026
Sounds a bit funny phrasing it this way, but this was a sweet little possession story lol. The premise of a woman who skips church for the first time in her life, only to be possessed by a demon, is something that I think a lot of us church-going kids thought could happen growing up. There is a certain level of fear that is instilled in kids sometimes that they have to attend church every Sunday or they aren’t a good Christian which can lead to some unhealthy expectations of who you should be and I think this graphic novel really did a great job of working through that with the main character and her story arc.
Beyond that, the artwork is very well done and the dialogue between the characters is just deep enough to help a pretty deep story get fleshed out. I found myself really wrapped up in the MC and her struggles and how she was going to solve her predicament and loved how the story wrapped up.
Very well done graphic novel!
Beyond that, the artwork is very well done and the dialogue between the characters is just deep enough to help a pretty deep story get fleshed out. I found myself really wrapped up in the MC and her struggles and how she was going to solve her predicament and loved how the story wrapped up.
Very well done graphic novel!
March 20, 2025
This was a phenomenal graphic novel. Our protagonist Catherine—named after the patron saint—struggles to define what it truly means to be good.
In her twenty years of life, she's never skipped mass. She fears that something terrible will happen once she finally does, because every "first" she's ever had has ended terribly.
Despite her crippling guilt, she does miss Sunday mass, instead spending the day with her boyfriend. She's then possessed by what she sees as a demon, who proposes stealing her soul.
I don't know if it's because of how I was raised, but this story packed a punch and I definitely ugly cried towards the end. There was something about it that resonated so deeply with me, and I really saw myself in Catherine.
The art was cute, but also very impressive! I loved how Catherine's demons were portrayed, and all of the religious imagery was beautiful.
Sending a big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
In her twenty years of life, she's never skipped mass. She fears that something terrible will happen once she finally does, because every "first" she's ever had has ended terribly.
Despite her crippling guilt, she does miss Sunday mass, instead spending the day with her boyfriend. She's then possessed by what she sees as a demon, who proposes stealing her soul.
I don't know if it's because of how I was raised, but this story packed a punch and I definitely ugly cried towards the end. There was something about it that resonated so deeply with me, and I really saw myself in Catherine.
The art was cute, but also very impressive! I loved how Catherine's demons were portrayed, and all of the religious imagery was beautiful.
Sending a big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
December 18, 2025
I feel like I cannot put into words how this book made me feel. Despite the mc being my age, I really saw a younger version of myself with her. I feel like I can’t write this review without getting wayyyy too personal lol but this book just made a big emotional impact on me.
It was also crazy reading the authors note and finding out the author is also Irish Catholic and from my hometown so we were drinking the same lake eerie catholic kool aid growing up for sure 🙏🙏🙏
It was also crazy reading the authors note and finding out the author is also Irish Catholic and from my hometown so we were drinking the same lake eerie catholic kool aid growing up for sure 🙏🙏🙏
October 13, 2025
Perhaps the best book about Catholic scrupulosity I’ve ever read, and certainly the best graphic novel I’ve read on the topic. I related to it thoroughly and still loved it, so much. Thank you, Anna Meyer.
June 18, 2025
I loved this graphic novel. The art, the character design and story beats were all well done. Great coming of age story about growing up in a religious household and finding yourself.
July 26, 2025
visually stunning, catholic coded, highs and lows, red headed main character energy—what more could I want?
October 10, 2025
Best graphic novel I have read this year . The art is gorgeous and effective for the story it’s telling . The story is a classic horror inspired tale about catholic guilt . INSTANT CLASSIC.
December 25, 2025
Even though I'm Jewish, I grew up really religious and I definitely relate to a lot of what was in this graphic novel. Loved the art!
October 25, 2025
Catholic guilt in graphic novel form! Is Catherine possessed because she skipped church for the first time in her life? I enjoyed the relatability of Catherine and the creativity of this book.
February 26, 2025
I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I selected this book from the catalog because I was drawn in by the artstyle and color palette. Saint Catherine follows the story of a young woman wracked with religious guilt, primarily from her mother. She forces herself to Catholic mass every week, despite not feeling a sense of enjoyment from it. I am a Protestant and have no understanding of the ins and outs of Catholicism. My dad was a former Head Deacon and has been Associate Pastor for the last 15 years. I'm not guilted into attending church and I enjoy it for the most part. I like my Sunday School and learning more about the Bible each week. I'm secure in my faith and haven't experienced Catherine's doubts about her belief. The insidious presence that magnified the heroine's guilt was an interesting touch, even if the denouement was a joke. Despite not relating to the protagonist's plight and judging her past decisions, it was a unique graphic novel. I loved the illustrations, even if I can't say the same for the plot. Saint Catherine may resonate for other people, but I'm not in that particular audience. I'm not perfect myself and I'm certainly no saint!
I selected this book from the catalog because I was drawn in by the artstyle and color palette. Saint Catherine follows the story of a young woman wracked with religious guilt, primarily from her mother. She forces herself to Catholic mass every week, despite not feeling a sense of enjoyment from it. I am a Protestant and have no understanding of the ins and outs of Catholicism. My dad was a former Head Deacon and has been Associate Pastor for the last 15 years. I'm not guilted into attending church and I enjoy it for the most part. I like my Sunday School and learning more about the Bible each week. I'm secure in my faith and haven't experienced Catherine's doubts about her belief. The insidious presence that magnified the heroine's guilt was an interesting touch, even if the denouement was a joke. Despite not relating to the protagonist's plight and judging her past decisions, it was a unique graphic novel. I loved the illustrations, even if I can't say the same for the plot. Saint Catherine may resonate for other people, but I'm not in that particular audience. I'm not perfect myself and I'm certainly no saint!
October 14, 2025
This is a fun story with a pretty clever twist, built into the mix, which I never really saw coming. Meyer also has a nice style of drawing which works well with the tone and feel of the story, and I'd definitely recommend this.
December 20, 2024
It wasn't quite what I expected. I thought the graphic novel would be more focused on horror, but it ended up being a mix of horror and a look into Catherine's mind.
Just like Catherine, I went to church every Sunday unless I was sick, and I feared what might happen if I didn't go. This story hit close to home, and I greatly enjoyed it! The story follows Catherine when she decides to skip mass to spend time with her boyfriend then after that moment she starts experiencing a demon. Well, not just one demon "You're currently hosting my twenty-seven legions of hell". She's freaking out, and thinks her world is ending! This is an interesting one that gets you to think but the storyline isn't exactly what I expected. However, the ending is good! The ending made me happy!
The graphics were good, and the characters were really neat! This is overall a good graphic novel with a story that I not only enjoyed but could relate to as well! Thank you Netgalley and 23rd Street Books for the opportunity to read and review this one! It was an exciting treat!
Just like Catherine, I went to church every Sunday unless I was sick, and I feared what might happen if I didn't go. This story hit close to home, and I greatly enjoyed it! The story follows Catherine when she decides to skip mass to spend time with her boyfriend then after that moment she starts experiencing a demon. Well, not just one demon "You're currently hosting my twenty-seven legions of hell". She's freaking out, and thinks her world is ending! This is an interesting one that gets you to think but the storyline isn't exactly what I expected. However, the ending is good! The ending made me happy!
The graphics were good, and the characters were really neat! This is overall a good graphic novel with a story that I not only enjoyed but could relate to as well! Thank you Netgalley and 23rd Street Books for the opportunity to read and review this one! It was an exciting treat!
July 21, 2025
A story about how religious scruples backfire.
Christianity preaches a God of eternal and unconditional love, one that never gives us what we deserve. However, many Christians think that God punishes the bad and rewards the good, making God a satanic judge with a clipboard. Sin makes us guilty, and we project our guilt onto God and turn him into a demon from hell, gleefully ready to smite. This is exactly what the heroine of this graphic novel does, and as a result she loses her faith. Who would worship God if that's all He is?
The supernatural is played with here, but only as the result of hallucination, and not as a serious view of the universe. One of those, "the monster was inside you all along" stories.
Christianity preaches a God of eternal and unconditional love, one that never gives us what we deserve. However, many Christians think that God punishes the bad and rewards the good, making God a satanic judge with a clipboard. Sin makes us guilty, and we project our guilt onto God and turn him into a demon from hell, gleefully ready to smite. This is exactly what the heroine of this graphic novel does, and as a result she loses her faith. Who would worship God if that's all He is?
The supernatural is played with here, but only as the result of hallucination, and not as a serious view of the universe. One of those, "the monster was inside you all along" stories.
February 5, 2025
Actual rating 3.5ish stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Saint Catherine is Anna Meyer's debut graphic novel. In this book, Catherine, an emerging adult, is living a pretty solid life in the big city--she has a job she thinks about quitting, friends she adores, and a sweet and caring boyfriend. But Catherine, who was raised Irish Catholic, has a secret--she has never missed a Sunday Mass and is terrified of the consequences if she does. Then, the one day she decides to skip church, she wakes up host to a demon prince and his 27 legions of Hell, sparking an existential crisis about herself, her loved ones, and the role of religion in her life.
Like Catherine, Meyer was raised Catholic and also had an existential crisis as a young adult, so although this story is fictional, it draws on the author's personal experience. Historically and sociologically, there is a lot that can be said about the Church and how it has influenced/affected believers, but the book focuses mainly on one's personal connections to family and faith, rather than on any particular scandal, as well as the general culture of Catholicism (particularly, Catholic guilt), which I found interesting. It also points out the potential generational and cultural differences in terms of connections to religion and the Church as well--Catherine's mother views religion differently from her children, and while there are commonalities in beliefs and practices between Catherine and her Russian Orthodox friend, her boyfriend's family--also Christian--views religion much more loosely than she does. These nuances, if brief, offer layers to the book as Catherine quite literally struggles with her own demons. The book does have an overall positive ending, though I'm kicking myself a bit over the plot twist at the end. Meyer's art is also very well rendered, with color-coded flashbacks and flowing panels. Her depiction of Vassago, Prince of Hell, was also quite fun--who knew that a blob could be both so cute and so scary?
While I generally felt this graphic novel to be engaging and an interesting read, I did feel that there were some questions left unanswered, possibly due to space/focus constraints. Catherine's complicated relationship with her mother didn't feel full addressed to me, even though it seemed to be a significant element in her existential crisis. Also, though she mentions siblings casually and there are visuals of them depicted in the book, I found it curious that she didn't reach out to them during her struggles with faith and found family--surely, as the author suggests in the Acknowledgments, they would best understand/be most familiar with what Catherine was facing? (Of course, sibling relationships can also be very complicated--it was just that there was so little mention of them that it would almost make more sense if Catherine was an only child.) Finally, there were points where Catherine's drama felt a bit frustrating and circuitous--if her usual fallbacks weren't working, why not try alternatives, like therapy (for example)? But, as an outsider to this particular demographic, I acknowledge that there might be something here that I am missing, and am curious to hear what those more connected to religion think of this book. I would still recommend it to interested parties, and will look forward to more of Meyer's work in the future!
Readers who enjoy this graphic novel may also enjoy: Visitations by Corey Egbert, Covenant by LySandra Vuong, Fun Home and Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel, and Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H., among others.
Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Saint Catherine is Anna Meyer's debut graphic novel. In this book, Catherine, an emerging adult, is living a pretty solid life in the big city--she has a job she thinks about quitting, friends she adores, and a sweet and caring boyfriend. But Catherine, who was raised Irish Catholic, has a secret--she has never missed a Sunday Mass and is terrified of the consequences if she does. Then, the one day she decides to skip church, she wakes up host to a demon prince and his 27 legions of Hell, sparking an existential crisis about herself, her loved ones, and the role of religion in her life.
Like Catherine, Meyer was raised Catholic and also had an existential crisis as a young adult, so although this story is fictional, it draws on the author's personal experience. Historically and sociologically, there is a lot that can be said about the Church and how it has influenced/affected believers, but the book focuses mainly on one's personal connections to family and faith, rather than on any particular scandal, as well as the general culture of Catholicism (particularly, Catholic guilt), which I found interesting. It also points out the potential generational and cultural differences in terms of connections to religion and the Church as well--Catherine's mother views religion differently from her children, and while there are commonalities in beliefs and practices between Catherine and her Russian Orthodox friend, her boyfriend's family--also Christian--views religion much more loosely than she does. These nuances, if brief, offer layers to the book as Catherine quite literally struggles with her own demons. The book does have an overall positive ending, though I'm kicking myself a bit over the plot twist at the end. Meyer's art is also very well rendered, with color-coded flashbacks and flowing panels. Her depiction of Vassago, Prince of Hell, was also quite fun--who knew that a blob could be both so cute and so scary?
While I generally felt this graphic novel to be engaging and an interesting read, I did feel that there were some questions left unanswered, possibly due to space/focus constraints. Catherine's complicated relationship with her mother didn't feel full addressed to me, even though it seemed to be a significant element in her existential crisis. Also, though she mentions siblings casually and there are visuals of them depicted in the book, I found it curious that she didn't reach out to them during her struggles with faith and found family--surely, as the author suggests in the Acknowledgments, they would best understand/be most familiar with what Catherine was facing? (Of course, sibling relationships can also be very complicated--it was just that there was so little mention of them that it would almost make more sense if Catherine was an only child.) Finally, there were points where Catherine's drama felt a bit frustrating and circuitous--if her usual fallbacks weren't working, why not try alternatives, like therapy (for example)? But, as an outsider to this particular demographic, I acknowledge that there might be something here that I am missing, and am curious to hear what those more connected to religion think of this book. I would still recommend it to interested parties, and will look forward to more of Meyer's work in the future!
Readers who enjoy this graphic novel may also enjoy: Visitations by Corey Egbert, Covenant by LySandra Vuong, Fun Home and Are You My Mother? by Alison Bechdel, and Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H., among others.
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