Mother of God: A Novel

by Sara Peters

A landmark literary novel of psychological horror from the author of I Become a Delight to My Enemies .

Marlene calls herself a psychic wound healer, but really, her paranormal abilities are restricted to visions.

In fact, they’re restricted to visions of just one person.

Her mother, Darlene.

The visions started when Marlene was a symbol and a symptom of an unfathomably deep maternal connection; a mental and emotional escape hatch; evidence of a bond so intense that a rupture was perhaps inevitable.

And yet, years of estrangement later, when Marlene receives a message from Darlene asking her to come home, she packs up her life in Vancouver and drives across the country to small-town Nova Scotia. It’s a trip fraught with vivid, oppressive memories—of childhood betrayals, the distant decades that followed, and the malevolent presence of Darlene’s on-again-off-again boyfriend, Ed. Still, the opportunity is overwhelming—the chance to become the centres of each other’s universes once again.

But when she arrives, Darlene is not where she should be.

Figures from the past materialize as reality’s thin membrane begins to give way, and Marlene is forced to confront the incomprehensible as she is sent down a path of terrors, to the very end of human feeling, to the very end of her mind.

Sinister and surreal, ghastly and full of grace, Mother of God is a monumental step forward from one of the great writers of her generation.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Canada, LGBT

224 pages, Hardcover

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

Sara Peters was born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia in 1982. She completed an MFA at Boston University, and was a Stegner Fellow in poetry at Stanford University from 2010 to 2012. Her poems have appeared in Poetry Daily, The Threepenny Review, and The Walrus. She lives in Toronto.

1996 was her first book.

Reviews

[jocelyn • coolgalreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

holy shit

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow wow wow, what an incredible work of art about ugly and dark subjects. I don't know if I've ever read a work of fiction that was so densely poetic. Content warnings about childhood sexual abuse and suicide, but if you can read about those topics, this is such a thoughtful and insightful book with prose unlike anything I've ever read. So emotionally true, even while so little is "happening." Slow moving. Canadian author. Bisexual main character.

[audrey claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

they’re for sure both scorpio moons


thank you netgalley for the arc! full review after release

[Brandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was dark, eerie, and uncomfortable. I finished it in a weekend, because it was just addicting, and WTF, and I just needed more.

Thank you Random House & Net Galley for an advanced copy of this ebook.

[eurydice · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was just so... disjointed? not my thing, unfortunately

[Susan M. · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I requested this book, it was because the premise was an interesting one and I’m generally a fan of thrillers. Mom goes missing and daughter who has a psychic connection is the only one to find her? Sign me up. Or so I thought.

This may be my fault in a way, because going back and reading the description, there were signs that this book might be more than I am normally up for. However this book was definitely not for me. I knew from the moment I read “then I poured Pepsi into the holes in my face” that this was not going to be something I would enjoy. I couldn’t help roll my eyes and say “the word is mouth.”

The prose is definitely unique. As other reviews I’ve seen on Goodreads say, I had a hard time following the writing at times, but unlike others I didn’t find it charming. For me, it’s more important that I get fully immersed into the world the book is portraying and that’s hard to do when as a reader I wasn’t always certain what I was reading. While the author took a lot of time referencing and quoting other authors, that effort was lost on me. I never really cared for Marlene (or Darlene), and if without that it made working my way through to the end painful.

For those who prefer trying niche writing styles, you may want to give this a go. For me, it was not something I could get over and enjoy.

** Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. I appreciate the opportunity.**

[ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content Warning (if you are sensitive to the following, you may want to skip this one): Childhood SA (mentioned), grief, complicated family dynamics.

A very strange, tense, and dreadful feeling book. That might seem like a bad way to describe a book I enjoyed, but I mean it in a good way. The entire book is disjointed, intentionally - to build up the tension through the entire novel. It’s intense and does not follow rhyme or reason. Our narrator is unreliable both in narration and in her own life, and we follow her from Vancouver to Nova Scotia to see her mother after they’ve both experienced breakups.

I went from confused to disgusted to angry to sad - sometimes from sentence to sentence. When I hit the last page I sat still for awhile, asking myself, “What the f- did I just read?” A perfect way to start the spooky season and crisp nights, I’d recommend reading it in one sitting.

I received an e-arc in exchange for an honest review and I’d like to thank NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada, McClelland & Stewart, and Sara Peters for the advance copy and opportunity.

[Syd (Sydsbooked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin Random House Canada for the opportunity to read this eARC!

I requested this ARC because I liked the premise, but I completely forgot it before picking it up. I think it was good to go in blind. I had no idea what was going on most of the time, but it was good to let the story lead me and not question anything.

This book was simultaneously anxiety-inducing and cathartic for me. This plot has an interesting paranormal vibe that I’m not entirely sure is real. I can’t quite understand if this is a case of an unreliable narrator, the paranormal, or both.

The writing was beautiful and poetic. Upon seeing the notes at the end of the book where the author points out where she calls back to other poetry and prose, I understood how much care was put into the author’s words.

If you are particularly sensitive to complex family relationships, child sexual abuse, or grief, I recommend preparing yourself before you decide to read this novel.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mother of God by Sara Peters defies genre in its poetic exploration of trauma, grief, and love. This book straddles the crossroads of horror and lit fic. Its categorization as psychological horror isn't a misnomer but may mislead and disappoint plot-driven thriller lovers. In a voice all her own, Peters alludes to literary giants including Virginia Woolfe, T.S. Eliot, Franz Kafka, and Shakespeare. I love her nods to the classics while forging a path of authorial identity entirely her own. This book left me reeling. I have never read anything quite like it. Peters delivers a beautifully crafted reflection on the processing of trauma while neither tiptoeing around nor capitalizing on the "taboo" nature of themes of childhood sexual assault. That said, be sure to check out the content warnings before reading. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the arc in exchange for my honest review :)

[Olivia Adrianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oooh this was a fun writing style to read, and a treat. The stylistic way of writing made it both even more in the “horror” genre than originally anticipated. The story told was not linear and that made it at first hard to convey but definitely won me over. I think the reader was meant to feel erratic and uncertain.

Marlene… and Darlene (lol) were fascinating. The visions were captivating but lengthy and took your attention for a time. The inclusion and description of their life in Blackwood and Marlene returning with so many mentions of “Mother of God” and the “Virgin” tied it to Acadian religious towns that would still have many Mary statues. I also felt so much of that came from the horror Marlene felt having to carry the same sense of Darlene’s visions and spiritual connection.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[mads · Rating 4 out of 5]

oh! this one was such an unexpected treat, I absolutely devoured it. the writing style was pretty experimental and hard to follow at times (it hopped around a little and felt pretty fever-dream-y) but also so beautiful and poetic and heart-wrenching. it was v dark and a little creepy at times, but not horror at all imo.

I loved the themes it explored -- life and death and motherhood and trauma. some trigger warnings for sure as the subject matter is a Lot but I just loved it and also really loved Marlene, even though she was such a tragic little weirdo. I wanted to hug her. I thought this was a super unique read about the ghosts we carry around with us, the way we haunt ourselves, the devotion and intensity that can exist between mother and daughter. just a really special lil book!

[Kaya :) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very weird without a satisfactory payoff. Not a poetry book, not a diary entry style book, and not written in the traditional style of a fictional novel either. I’m sure others can love the more contemporary writing format but it’s not for me. It’s is also listed as a horror genre book depending on where you look for it, but I didn’t think it fit in this category which was disappointing. It barely had the vibe of a creepy/gothic/suspense book. Somehow it kept my interest all the way through until the end though because I enjoyed the style of writing.

Also, had no idea that the book talks about CSA. Didn’t love that at all.

[ELIZABETH · Rating 3 out of 5]

“She has always kept part of herself in reserve. She is waiting, she says, for the right man, the man who can receive this part. She is forever poised behind a length of white gauze stretched between her and the world. Does the gauze cover a bride, or a wound? Is she the bride, or is she the wound?” (23)

I think “Mother of God” is almost interesting enough at its best to make up for how exhaustingly pretentious it is at its worst — but not quite. I liked the parts about the statue in the living room the most.

[Emily Reid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I barely even know what I just read but goddamn was it addictive. There is some stunning writing in this book. I simply can’t decide if I spent a few days reading the unhinged ramblings of a madwoman or something flew completely over my head.

There are some astute observations about how Freud and trauma impact us. How they feel.

The pacing is also tough to keep up with.

Something about the writing makes your skin crawl but you want more.

Idk it’s definitely a strange one.

Thank you netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Bean · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
The writing style was great and I found this super easy to read. This was good but I can confidently say anyone who has a complicated relationship with their mother would love this book more than I did. Certain instances in this book had me relate this to friends I have who have strained relationships with their mothers and I could tell the points in the book when things would hit hard, I just don’t have the lived experience to be fully engulfed. Overall I did like this and look forward to more releases by this author

[Virginia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A women who styles herself a psychic has visions of her estranged mother; that's about all I understood of this story. The writing is great, the characters are interesting, and I followed the plot up to a point; but I'm at a loss to describe this whole thing. Some terrible things happen to a child and I wasn't in a state of mind to read too deeply after that. This is definitely a me problem and I may pick the book up again in the new year and go at it fresh. Cheers for Canadian authors and Canadian characters and settings!

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5

I understand the story trying to be told but I just don’t know how to feel about this book. It felt very disjointed and that it jumped around a lot. Very sporadic story telling. It’s a heavy story surrounding grief, childhood sexual trama, and parental neglect. It’s a very interesting story and very deep I just didn’t enjoy the writing style too much.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not supernatural like I expected from the synopsis, but I was still captivated by the story. It has the winding and gritty prose of Sophia Mackintosh’s CURSED BREAD. Everything was raw, real, and sinisterly enthralling.

[Brieanna Mielnik · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting and heartbreaking read. Loved the way this was written, the different timelines had me feeling just as lost as the main character.

[Saoirse Albanach · Rating 5 out of 5]

not really horror inasmuch as a supernatural look at grief, complex mother/daughter relationships, and childhood trauma. it was atmospheric, beautifully written, and so enjoyable.

[Shanae Blaquiere · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was absolutely incoherent. There were moments of enjoyable prose, but I don’t think I have done enough drugs to know what the heck was going on.

[Chanel Chapters]

DNF

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5?

[prescribed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book slowly and read many paragraphs over and over again. It is beautiful and true and so ugly.

[Bookish Babe53 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author. I will admit what drew me in was the title. I found the writing style to be interesting and fun. It was the writing style which spurred me on, even when I felt lost. The relationship of mother and daughter was interesting, and one that I could relate to. This story took me through emotions that ranged from intense to light. I do not know if it was due to my experiences with my own mother, or Mother of God itself. The the mentioning of Marlene's experiencing childhood SA and the complicated family dynamics took me on a roller coaster. At certain points in the book, I felt sorry for Darlene. 3.5 🌟

Thank you Sara Peters, NetGalley, Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC!