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Carrion Saints: A Sapphic Fantasy Romance
“Now reach back,” she said, “and tear off your wings.”
Carrion Saints is a sapphic enemies-to-lovers romance between an immortal saint and a severed head.
Crow can pass for human. She may come off as eccentric, but she’s good at hiding her wings. As a saint, she’s devoted her endless life to protecting humanity from other immortals: the ones they call monsters. She’s finally ready to take on the worst monster of all, a great evil sealed at the edge of civilization.
Magnolia is the worst monster of all. A villain who amuses herself by preying on valiant heroes. At first glance, she looks powerless. She looks, in fact, like a decapitated head (a very chatty one). But her magic lets her issue absolute commands to humans and immortals alike. She’s been waiting centuries for a challenger powerful enough to break the seal binding her in the wilderness. In other words, she’s been waiting centuries to magically seize control over someone like Crow.
Crow has always been patient and forgiving. Sadistic, remorseless Magnolia awakens new depths of loathing in her—a hatred of frightening intensity. And now, she's forced to use her full power to grant Magnolia’s one heartfelt wish: to see the rest of the world. To make up for all the years she spent trapped alone with only trees for company.
What follows is an ultra slow-burn romance between true enemies. Between good and evil. Between a winged woman and a talkative severed head (who occasionally sprouts the rest of her body, just to keep things lively). They travel together across a post-apocalyptic landscape marked by strange magic and scattered human settlements. Yet the apocalypse happened a long time ago, and eons will pass before their gradually fading world dies for good.
In the meantime, these immortals are stuck with each other. Even a saint and a monstrous villain might eventually fall in love—but the path there will be dark, crooked, and sometimes surprisingly cozy.
This standalone fantasy novel can be read without prior knowledge of the author’s other work.
Carrion Saints is a sapphic enemies-to-lovers romance between an immortal saint and a severed head.
Crow can pass for human. She may come off as eccentric, but she’s good at hiding her wings. As a saint, she’s devoted her endless life to protecting humanity from other immortals: the ones they call monsters. She’s finally ready to take on the worst monster of all, a great evil sealed at the edge of civilization.
Magnolia is the worst monster of all. A villain who amuses herself by preying on valiant heroes. At first glance, she looks powerless. She looks, in fact, like a decapitated head (a very chatty one). But her magic lets her issue absolute commands to humans and immortals alike. She’s been waiting centuries for a challenger powerful enough to break the seal binding her in the wilderness. In other words, she’s been waiting centuries to magically seize control over someone like Crow.
Crow has always been patient and forgiving. Sadistic, remorseless Magnolia awakens new depths of loathing in her—a hatred of frightening intensity. And now, she's forced to use her full power to grant Magnolia’s one heartfelt wish: to see the rest of the world. To make up for all the years she spent trapped alone with only trees for company.
What follows is an ultra slow-burn romance between true enemies. Between good and evil. Between a winged woman and a talkative severed head (who occasionally sprouts the rest of her body, just to keep things lively). They travel together across a post-apocalyptic landscape marked by strange magic and scattered human settlements. Yet the apocalypse happened a long time ago, and eons will pass before their gradually fading world dies for good.
In the meantime, these immortals are stuck with each other. Even a saint and a monstrous villain might eventually fall in love—but the path there will be dark, crooked, and sometimes surprisingly cozy.
This standalone fantasy novel can be read without prior knowledge of the author’s other work.
587 pages, Paperback
First published January 2, 2025
35 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Hiyodori
10 books265 followersHiyodori is not a bird. But she is dearly fond of her namesake, a plain-looking brown-gray bird that likes to perch near her Tokyo apartment and unleash the most incredible primal screams. Hiyodori (the human author) loves stories with fantastical settings and complicated, difficult-to-define relationships. All of her books take place in the same shared fantasy universe. Her latest novel is A Chalice for a Kraken, a new entry in the Clem & Wist series.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 22, 2025
5/5
Funnily enough, Carrion Saints came out right as I was about to dig into The Reverse Healer Case Files . I didn’t want to put Clem and Wist on hold, but I love myself a good standalone novel. Carrion Saints is set in a dying world, and if anything is going to set the tone for a novel, the slow-death of existence is going to do it, along with immortal main characters who have far too much time on their hands to contemplate the nature of existence. Crow and Magnolia are not humans, and they don’t pretend to have human problems or human relationships. Carrion Saints is another intense Hiyodori enemies-to-lovers narrative, but it’s a different flavor of crooked than The First and Last Demon. Carrion Saints is more like a road trip with the coworker you really want to shove in a pit (or kill) whereas The First and Last Demon is like a bad break-up you need to exorcise with violence. But Carrion Saints is delicious in its own way and gloriously existential—a completely different take on the enemies-to-lovers dynamic that is just as captivating in some areas and exceeds in others.
Funnily enough, Carrion Saints came out right as I was about to dig into The Reverse Healer Case Files . I didn’t want to put Clem and Wist on hold, but I love myself a good standalone novel. Carrion Saints is set in a dying world, and if anything is going to set the tone for a novel, the slow-death of existence is going to do it, along with immortal main characters who have far too much time on their hands to contemplate the nature of existence. Crow and Magnolia are not humans, and they don’t pretend to have human problems or human relationships. Carrion Saints is another intense Hiyodori enemies-to-lovers narrative, but it’s a different flavor of crooked than The First and Last Demon. Carrion Saints is more like a road trip with the coworker you really want to shove in a pit (or kill) whereas The First and Last Demon is like a bad break-up you need to exorcise with violence. But Carrion Saints is delicious in its own way and gloriously existential—a completely different take on the enemies-to-lovers dynamic that is just as captivating in some areas and exceeds in others.
March 7, 2025
I don't think i've read anything quite like this. The slow burn and build up was so worth it
Everything about this from the countless monologues/philosophical discussions Magnolia and Crow had to the adventures they took throughout multiple towns and landscapes were something i fell in love with.
It's not a conventional romance by any means but that's to be expected with them being immortal, i just loved the idea of everything changing but not them. Felt very magical and it's having their own little bubble.
Also, the last parts were to die for!!! I love them so much. The writing just pulled everything together and was perfect.
5++ stars 🌟
Everything about this from the countless monologues/philosophical discussions Magnolia and Crow had to the adventures they took throughout multiple towns and landscapes were something i fell in love with.
It's not a conventional romance by any means but that's to be expected with them being immortal, i just loved the idea of everything changing but not them. Felt very magical and it's having their own little bubble.
Also, the last parts were to die for!!! I love them so much. The writing just pulled everything together and was perfect.
5++ stars 🌟
December 14, 2025
This book showed up on a rec list I saw somewhere and when I saw that the romance involved one character who was just a severed head I knew I'd have to check it out. I haven't read any of this author's other books, but it works well enough as a standalone (though the crossover character probably hits harder if you know who she is).
The world was interesting, the character interactions were fun, and I liked the thought put into what immortal morality at the end of the world would actually look like. I do think a few parts were a little too easy and I wish we had seen more of the wild conflicts that started between the characters in the lead up to the end, but overall I'm really happy with this book, and will definitely be checking out more works by Hiyodori.
The world was interesting, the character interactions were fun, and I liked the thought put into what immortal morality at the end of the world would actually look like. I do think a few parts were a little too easy and I wish we had seen more of the wild conflicts that started between the characters in the lead up to the end, but overall I'm really happy with this book, and will definitely be checking out more works by Hiyodori.
February 6, 2025
my GOD i love hiyodori
reading this like hm sensing some frieren and elden ring inspo maybe
ANYWAYS ANYWAYS I LOVE THESE TWO. Magnolia and Crow are just AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. I love their dynamic, Magnolia the cheeky yapper and Crow trying to straight-lace it...
I genuinely genuinely love real honest to god enemies who want to kill and maim each other throughout the book. That is, without some stupid misunderstanding motivating the hostility.
love the setting too, took a little bit to locate where exactly we were in the Wist&Clem world, and to place myself mentally but quite comfy!
also oml.. we weren't even like 100 pages in, we're given: "like she knew exactly how her bare wrist looked in the feathery outer rim of torchlight", and I just had to HOLD THAT in my BRAIN throughout the entire thing AAAAAAAAAA
reading this like hm sensing some frieren and elden ring inspo maybe
ANYWAYS ANYWAYS I LOVE THESE TWO. Magnolia and Crow are just AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. I love their dynamic, Magnolia the cheeky yapper and Crow trying to straight-lace it...
I genuinely genuinely love real honest to god enemies who want to kill and maim each other throughout the book. That is, without some stupid misunderstanding motivating the hostility.
love the setting too, took a little bit to locate where exactly we were in the Wist&Clem world, and to place myself mentally but quite comfy!
also oml.. we weren't even like 100 pages in, we're given: "like she knew exactly how her bare wrist looked in the feathery outer rim of torchlight", and I just had to HOLD THAT in my BRAIN throughout the entire thing AAAAAAAAAA
September 30, 2025
she makes you rip out your wings? that’s okay! attempt to murder her multiple times! no harm done!
an immortal winged monster-slaying saint and her immortal monstrous talkative severed head 😛😛
an immortal winged monster-slaying saint and her immortal monstrous talkative severed head 😛😛
May 16, 2025
I LOVE Hiyodori's writing style so much. It's like fantasy for litfic lovers.
I do think this book kind of feels like 6 novellas stitched together. Crow and Magnolia just kind of meander about and talk, but I loved it. I really love how a character will discover something in the modern day, and then we'll get a flash back later that shows signs that Crow just looked over at the time.
I do think this book kind of feels like 6 novellas stitched together. Crow and Magnolia just kind of meander about and talk, but I loved it. I really love how a character will discover something in the modern day, and then we'll get a flash back later that shows signs that Crow just looked over at the time.
November 30, 2025
Finished this yesterday. I read this one more slowly than I think I’ve read other Hiyodori works…not a criticism. It was kind of nice to have it last for more than one work week, and I read it primarily during lunches at work. Hiyodori writes primarily enemies to something more…actually I don’t think I’ve read a book of hers that followed a different trope - even established and committed Clem and Wist have managed to revisit being enemies more than once through their series. Confession: it’s not my favorite trope. I’m fine with it done well - Hiyodori does it very well - but I don’t go out of my way to read books just because they have that trope in them. And I struggled some with the beginning of this one. Fantasy or science fiction can allow for such inimical enmity and truly awful happenings in the name of enemies doing whatever they feel they need to do for the sake of whatever is guiding them, grounding them, or causing the enmity. I also struggled a bit with the characters, who seemed so similar to Wist and Clem - in particular Magnolia was so similar to Clem I kept expecting her to turn out to be Clem in some fantasy novel way that didn’t ultimately happen. But I also enjoyed the story. I enjoyed experiencing the world and the journey that these two take both physically and philosophically. Once I got past the stuff I struggled with at the beginning, I was able to settle in and just let the story unspool and go along with it. I was probably a bit like Crow…mostly okay with my life just moving onward and now and again jerked back to the fact that everything was not okay and could not continue as it was. I liked the way it wrapped up and I liked the way it tied into the rest of the Clem and Wist universe. It was actually a story I hadn’t consciously been aware I wanted (not for the specific characters, but for the part of the universe their story lets us explore).
June 26, 2025
Hiyodori nunca decepciona. Sin lugar a dudas la autora con la mejor fantasía épica y protagonistas sáficas que hay hoy y por siempre. Es que no sé cómo lo hace para crear mundos tan llamativos con personajes complejos y bien pensados. Siempre seré su fan y a la espera de cualquier libro que saque.
Este libro fue un viaje hermoso, un viaje al fin del mundo de una forma cozy y graciosa. Uno podría pensar que tener a 2 inmortales viajando por un mundo que está muriendo sería triste y desolador, pero no lo es. Se siente como una tranquila caminata al atardecer. Como dice la parte final del libro: una ruta escénica hacia el fin del mundo.
Y me encantó la dinámica de las protagonistas, su humor seco y directo, sus peleas de matrimonio que lleva casado 1000 años, sus grandes diferencias en moral y cómo se complementan a pesar de todo. Crow seria y con una mirada muchas veces en blanco y negro, y Magnolia con sus palabras ingeniosas y haciendo sus propias reglas.
Por último, apenas apareció “The Devil” sabía quién era, y chillé. Estaba en el suelo. Eso fue un regalo que no esperaba, saber realmente las consecuencias (para otros) de lo que hizo Wist. No daré detalles porque es un spoiler gigante. Amo que los libros de Hiyodori se conecten y aún así los puedes leer en cualquier orden. De todas formas, como fan, recomiendo comenzar con la saga de Clem & Wist, mi ship que nunca voy a superar, mis favoritas.
Este libro fue un viaje hermoso, un viaje al fin del mundo de una forma cozy y graciosa. Uno podría pensar que tener a 2 inmortales viajando por un mundo que está muriendo sería triste y desolador, pero no lo es. Se siente como una tranquila caminata al atardecer. Como dice la parte final del libro: una ruta escénica hacia el fin del mundo.
Y me encantó la dinámica de las protagonistas, su humor seco y directo, sus peleas de matrimonio que lleva casado 1000 años, sus grandes diferencias en moral y cómo se complementan a pesar de todo. Crow seria y con una mirada muchas veces en blanco y negro, y Magnolia con sus palabras ingeniosas y haciendo sus propias reglas.
“You’re selfish. You’re sadistic. And you never know when to shut up.”
“No one has ever known me as well as you.” Magnolia agreed.
Por último, apenas apareció “The Devil” sabía quién era, y chillé. Estaba en el suelo. Eso fue un regalo que no esperaba, saber realmente las consecuencias (para otros) de lo que hizo Wist. No daré detalles porque es un spoiler gigante. Amo que los libros de Hiyodori se conecten y aún así los puedes leer en cualquier orden. De todas formas, como fan, recomiendo comenzar con la saga de Clem & Wist, mi ship que nunca voy a superar, mis favoritas.
“That woman is devilish to the bone.”
August 20, 2025
Wow! This was extremely good! It's among my favourites of Hiyodori's alongside The Reverse Healer Case Files and The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage. I'm in awe of Hiyodori's worldbuilding skills; with every book in this shared universe the worldbuilding gets better and better and it was pretty great to begin with. So creative and immersive and beautiful and strange and unique. Crow and Magnolia were such compelling protagonists too. I loved them as separate individuals, but I also really liked their dynamic and the way they changed each other . They reminded me a little bit of Aziraphale and Crowley, another pair whose dynamic I very much enjoy. Their banter was really funny, but I also enjoyed it when their conversations would take a philosophical turn. The ending was very gratifying, it left me with a very nice feeling.
Hiyodori was already an auto-buy author for me and this book only cements that fact.
Hiyodori was already an auto-buy author for me and this book only cements that fact.
June 20, 2025
Hiyodori takes an enemies-to-lovers morality chain on a leisurely roadtrip through a dying world. I appreciated how the characters really were enemies, the morality chain relationship really did not fit either of them comfortably, and the way their relationship changed ... no spoilers but it required them to challenge their instincts and their societal roles (this is me being snarky about 95% of so-called "dark romance").
She comments in the author's note that Frieren came out when she was mostly done writing this; I'm sharing this so when I say that the vibes are very Frieren coded, I don't mean that this is fan fiction. The severed head feels a lot more Undead Murder Farce.
Anyway, if you like thoughtful fantasy with slowly unfolding worldbuilding, a small cast of characters, romantic elements that are heavily focused on emotion, and are ok with some violence and body horror, this is for you.
“You wished I would trust you, against all reason,” she said at last. “You wished for the ability to crush my whole heart in your hand. You would hold it carefully, because once you crushed it, you would never be able to destroy it again. You would lovingly cultivate your potential to ruin me—and you would strive to preserve that potential for some unfathomable length of time. Till everything ends.”
She comments in the author's note that Frieren came out when she was mostly done writing this; I'm sharing this so when I say that the vibes are very Frieren coded, I don't mean that this is fan fiction. The severed head feels a lot more Undead Murder Farce.
Anyway, if you like thoughtful fantasy with slowly unfolding worldbuilding, a small cast of characters, romantic elements that are heavily focused on emotion, and are ok with some violence and body horror, this is for you.
Read
December 10, 2025I don't know the literary definition of stand-alone, but in my layperson opinion a stand-alone would not include a lengthy cameo, leading to pivotal plot points, by a main character of another of the authors' series.
At first I thought the cameo contained spoilers too, and got really mad, but then I had a rethink and now I believe I've figured out that there were not in fact spoilers. And if I'm wrong, please don't elucidate me.
But to the actual story itself: it was very, very good. Intricate and interesting, solid yet unfathomable. A little confronting. I've never read a more convincing hate-to-love, and it took me on the same journey alongside Crow. In the end, Magnolia is fundamentally unchanged but everything is different and I love her too.
At first I thought the cameo contained spoilers too, and got really mad, but then I had a rethink and now I believe I've figured out that there were not in fact spoilers. And if I'm wrong, please don't elucidate me.
But to the actual story itself: it was very, very good. Intricate and interesting, solid yet unfathomable. A little confronting. I've never read a more convincing hate-to-love, and it took me on the same journey alongside Crow. In the end, Magnolia is fundamentally unchanged but everything is different and I love her too.
February 14, 2025
As always Hiyodori delivers a delicate and complicated love story set against the most sumptuous of world building. The sprawling universe she describes makes me feel as if I’ve been immersed in some kind of studio ghibli-esque dream, albeit more violent. The characters in this stand alone were perhaps a little harder to relate to than Clem & Wist, but I loved them all the same. I hope there might be more adventures in store for Crow and Magnolia
March 10, 2025
Interesting, thought-provoking, entertaining. The main characters are immortals who, according to the story, don't really experience erotic desire, so this is not the usual enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance (if that's what you're looking for). It's more about the relationship between two beings who have very opposed philosophical viewpoints on how to interact with humans, and who, despite everything, begin to not want to annihilate each other.
August 16, 2025
I cannot believe I fell for Mag. She did to me exactly what she did to Crow and I cannot believe it! She's like a fungus, she grows on you. But the worst, I only realised it when that one scene with the pike happened. I was so taken aback and sad. But luckily Magnolia didn't hold onto it, so I tried not to be so sad. And that ending, waouh! Couldn't have spelled love better than that for these two.
October 4, 2025
I really enjoyed the additions to the world building in this story, the immortals, the long term effects of the vorpal holes and whatnot, the question of where in the multiverse we are. I enjoyed Crow very much but had a hard time warming up to Magnolia, though Magnolia was very funny and I liked her severed-head tree-creature monsterness very much. I think I just had a difficult time getting invested in their relationship. Very fun story though!
May 31, 2025
A wonderful, thought provoking story.
It took me a little longer to finish than expected. It felt more like a long conversation about philosophies which is why it took me longer. I had to stop and actually think about the discussions. Which was great because I personal love that kinda stuff.
It took me a little longer to finish than expected. It felt more like a long conversation about philosophies which is why it took me longer. I had to stop and actually think about the discussions. Which was great because I personal love that kinda stuff.
January 19, 2025
3.5
just as good as hiyodoris other books but in this one i didn’t vibe with the two main characters as a couple and i preferred them as separate entities
just as good as hiyodoris other books but in this one i didn’t vibe with the two main characters as a couple and i preferred them as separate entities
March 19, 2025
3/5.
bueno. ponele
bueno. ponele
May 15, 2025
like planting something bright inside you.
September 4, 2025
ME AND WHOOOO
November 9, 2025
Beautiful.
January 26, 2025
I feel that I have to start this review by pointing out that if this had been any other author, I never would’ve picked up this book. It is not my normal type of read, but I trust this author and have pretty much decided to read anything that they put out. and I’m glad I did, because even the standalone novels feel like they’re adding little pieces to a bigger puzzle. anyway, I didn’t love this book. I had difficulty relating to the main characters, which I guess makes sense all things considered. I also didn’t quite buy the romance, although there were definitely a few really good scenes in the back half of the book that made me come close. However, I do think this book was insanely well written, it flew by and I enjoyed reading it overall. I also think the world building was fantastic. in short, I didn’t think it was a bad book at all. it just wasn’t quite for me. I still don’t regret reading it though.
September 20, 2025
severed head hell yeah
April 8, 2025
Another banger from Hiyodori!
Crow is a saint, a godlike being that sustains itself on magical cores and hunts monsters. She's lived for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and after the death of her last human companion, she has only one calamatous enemy left to vanquish : 'The Woman of the Hills'. This creature has slaughtered countless and has gathered a large amount of power from an endless stream of heroes who come to kill her. Crow arrives to dispatch her and finds that the Woman of the Hills is nothing more than a severed head: a head with the ability to control Crow with only her voice.
Rating: 4/5
Writing Quality: 9/10
Pacing:8/10
Plot Development: 7/10
Characters:9/10
Enjoyability:8/10
Ease of Reading:7/10
Ending:9/10
Crow is a saint, a godlike being that sustains itself on magical cores and hunts monsters. She's lived for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and after the death of her last human companion, she has only one calamatous enemy left to vanquish : 'The Woman of the Hills'. This creature has slaughtered countless and has gathered a large amount of power from an endless stream of heroes who come to kill her. Crow arrives to dispatch her and finds that the Woman of the Hills is nothing more than a severed head: a head with the ability to control Crow with only her voice.
Rating: 4/5
Writing Quality: 9/10
Pacing:8/10
Plot Development: 7/10
Characters:9/10
Enjoyability:8/10
Ease of Reading:7/10
Ending:9/10
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews