The Patron Saint of White Menageries: Stories

by Lauren T.Davila

In her debut magical-realism collection The Patron Saint of White Menageries, Pushcart-nominated author Lauren T. Davila cracks Los Angeles open to reveal a kaleidoscope of unlikely heroines, talents, and dreams.

In a sticky diner, a waitress fits wisps of cloud into coffee mugs, trying to solve her patrons' problems. A motherless girl defies her father's rules, rubbing fish scales from her eyes and learning her mother's half-remembered Spanish. Spectral ballerinas haunt alleys and dance studios, and red bumps rise on the arms of an assistant whose employer has been alive too long. The prophet Cassandra, exhausted from reincarnating and never being believed, tries one last time to escape her fate.

For lovers of White Cat, Black Dog and whoever haunts the Pacific Coast Highway, The Patron Saint of White Menageries is a guide to magical LA by one of its native daughters.

Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy, Fiction

264 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2026

About the author

Lauren T. Davila is a Pushcart-nominated, Latina author, anthologist, and acquisitions editor.

Her debut magical realism short story collection, THE PATRON SAINT OF WHITE MENAGERIES, is forthcoming from Creature Publishing on September 1st, 2026 2026.

She has edited multiple short story anthologies. including TO ROOT SOMEWHERE BEAUTIFUL: AN ANTHOLOGY OF RECLAMATION (Outland Entertainment 2024) and WHEN OTHER PEOPLE SAW US, THEY SAW THE DEAD (Haunt Publishing 2022)

Her poetry and short fiction has appeared online at Granada Magazine, The Paragon Journal, Ghost Heart Literary Magazine, Peach Velvet Mag, Voyage Journal, Second Chance Magazine, Headcanon Magazine, In Parentheses, and Poets Reading the News.

Lauren has an MA in English from Claremont Graduate University and an MFA in Fiction Writing from George Mason University. Besides her personal creative work, she is the Acquisitions Editor at Inked In Gray Press and is actively acquiring genre fiction from historically marginalized writers. She is also the Assistant Director at PocketMFA, an online writing and mentorship program.

She lives in the greater Los Angeles area where you can find her swimming, walking her golden retriever, and drinking one too many lattes.

You can find her on Instagram and Threads @laurentdavila.

For inquiries regarding invitations to anthologies, international rights, or IP work, please reach out to her literary agent– Susan Velazquez Colmant at JABberwocky Literary: https://awfulagent.com/agents/susan-v...

Reviews

[Rachel Lea]

This was a very fun and digestible read! I received the ARC on a long drive home from vacation and ate it all up in one sitting. Each story was unique and a very fun individual ride. The writing is really beautiful without being too much or over-flowery. If there were standalone specifically written for the 2nd and 3rd story I would devour them!

[Di]

✨ Magical Realism • 📖 Short Stories • 👻 Supernatural Elements • 🌴 Magical Los Angeles • 🔮 Mythology • ♻️ Reincarnation • 🌙 Strange & Eerie

🎧 Narrator: Victoria Villarreal
⏱️ Runtime: 7 hrs 14 mins

This was such a quick, easy collection of magical-realism short stories. Each story gives you something a little different, with supernatural, strange, and occasionally eerie elements woven into everyday life.

This would be perfect for a road trip! 🚗🎧 The shorter stories made it really easy to listen for a while, stop, and pick it back up without having to remember one huge ongoing storyline.

Victoria Villarreal did a great job with the narration and kept the collection easy to listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley, Tantor Media, Lauren T. Davila, and Victoria Villarreal for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review! 🎧📚

[Lilah]

Thank you very much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Patron Saint of White Menageries is an anthology of ten short stories leaning into speculative fiction and magic realism. All of the stories are set in Los Angeles, and all of them feature women protagonists. It also features retellings and reinterpretations of popular stories and themes, such as Giselle, the myth of Cassandra, and the Hotel California.

I would like to preface by saying that I’ve always been fond of magic realism; it was a genre I studied all too briefly at university and one that has always permeated my thoughts. To me, these stories were as true as any other account, simply because there will always be a woman whose imagination connects her so strongly to the invisible that it becomes her reality.

Author Lauren T. Davila is an expert at combining brilliant imagination with excellent writing technique. Her dedication to the craft of writing is palpable in how deliberately she employs all the tools in her arsenal: syntax, vocabulary, tense, and even form, among many others. With this anthology, she showcases the beautiful power of short fiction. It takes immense skill to make full use of the required brevity and work with it, not against it, to truly enchant a reader.

Overall, this anthology was a delight to read. It honoured womanhood and girlhood in equal measure; it depicted vulnerability, pain, and suffering with no judgement or contempt. The women in this anthology are all united in their womanhood. Some are differentiated by their upbringing, others by social class or time period. All of them are women, and all of them are connected by an invisible string that transcends time and space.

Below are my (brief and spoiler-free) reviews of each short story.

Of Oil and Seafoam
The first story is a heart-wrenching and profoundly layered exploration of grief, the desperate need for stability, and the lengths we’d go to if only to avoid losing any more than we already have. Perhaps the speculative aspect was a little too vague for my preference, but that’s a subjective matter. The father was beautifully written, and even after finishing the anthology, this story was the one that stayed with me the most.

Of Gold and Ghosts
This story is a beautiful examination of how cycles can be broken and how some bonds are stronger than blood. I found some parts slow and others rushed. I would have liked for the spectral aspects to be introduced a little sooner to allow them more room for expansion and to be more present (perhaps even as present as they were in Of Satin and Daisies!).

Of Hemlocke and Marble
This is an excellent retelling of Cassandra’s myth. Many women readers will find mirrors of themselves in Cassandra or Elaine, and the ending is as brilliant as the concept. I’m personally unfamiliar with US university culture so I can’t speak for how realistic the depictions are, but my one gripe was that Brad was a bit too caricatured in his introduction and design. While the plot twist surrounding him was certainly much more insidious than I’d expected, I am curious if the choice to make him such an obvious jerk (in lieu of being a seemingly doting and respectful partner in public) was deliberate.

Of Blood and Lace
As a mystery, I really liked this story. The clues are laid out neatly, and I appreciate the role of intuition and instinct in the story. Its structure truly is impeccably executed. The ending, however, seemed somewhat abrupt for my tastes. The location at which Vera decided to make her big decision/change of heart seemed weak and could’ve packed a bit more of a punch, in my opinion. That said, I very much liked the blend of folkloric themes, particularly those surrounding doctors.

Of Satin and Daisies
This is a beautiful retelling of Giselle that plays very nicely with the phrase, “protect your heart.” The story is simply heartwarming, demonstrating the awkwardness and vulnerability that comes with being a young adult. Its endearing characters and sweet story more than make up for the few instances of stilted dialogue. The protagonist in this story showed incredible wisdom and compassion, and I absolutely adored the more comedic scenes with the ghosts.

Of Clouds and Venom
I’ll admit the very last part of the ending on this one confused me a fair bit. I’m not quite sure what to make of it, but the rest of the story was a sweet and whimsical take on life as a barista in a small town café. I enjoyed it, and it was short and sweet, but I did feel like it could have been a little more. Nevertheless, episodic style of the earlier portion, wherein each client was served differently, was beautifully done and very enjoyable.

Of Keys and Colitas
I really like how the author reimagined the Hotel California in this story. The idea itself is beautifully novel. That said, the story felt drawn out and didn’t feel as deliberately written as some of the others. It was good, but it could have been significantly better, in my opinion. The conversations between Bianca and Sebastian felt overlong while I would have loved for Peg to be more fleshed out.

Of Fire and Poppies
This is a beautifully surreal yet somehow completely natural tale. The story is structured wonderfully, and the fire is as much a powerful character as any other. A breathtaking spin on the phrase, “from ashes to ashes; from dust to dust.” The stylisation of journal entries may seem an optional aspect, but the difference in sentence length and structure between entries is deeply evocative.

Of Metal and Citrus
I thoroughly enjoyed and related deeply to this story. The slow, gentle pacing mirrors how the world seems to turn for the protagonist, and so it places the reader firmly in her shoes. It’s rare for stories to depict matters of race with such nuance and care. There’s a specific kind of alienation that comes with being the only person of colour in a group of White people; a shame, an ingrained need to conceal and shrink that which is foreign. This story does a brilliant job of illustrating that feeling, and how internalised shame can become a lingering, eternal weight, alleviated only by the joy of knowing that someday, we won’t be quite so ‘foreign’ anymore.

Of White Menageries
The anthology ends with a lovely story that sums up what it is to be a modern girl: to seek freedom and fear it, to struggle and navigate and long for nature, to beckon that which may never heed the call, and in the end, to hope. Some women find freedom, others remain captive to free more women. All of them are beautiful. This story also features masterful employment of tense as a narrative tool; the alternation between past and present is masterfully executed and prevents any confusion in the reader when going between flashbacks and current events.

[Kate]

This was a powerful collection of short stories of amazing women.

Each one felt beautiful, somehow nostalgic and were oddly comforting to me, due to their low stakes and hopeful, albeit abrupt endings.

My absolute favourites were "Of Satin and Daisies", "Of Keys and Colitas", and especially "Of Metal and Citrus". These stories are surely going to be in my mind for a very long time.

Overall, this collection was a beautifully strange and memorable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and creature Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Alu]

The Patron Saints of Menageries is a collection of weird short stories. Each one felt beautiful and called out to me. Lately, I have been reading books about magical realism and weirdness, and this book presented me with what I enjoy the most.

The author's writing style was bewitching and carried a surreal quality. I also loved how each of the stories revolved around women finding themselves despite the strangeness that surrounds them.

Of Oil and Seafoam - 4 This story is written in 2nd POV, which I feel added depth to the strangeness. The story is similar to The Song of the Sea movie. The story is about a girl who feels the most at home in the ocean and swears there is a huge whale near the shore, and maybe her mother might not even be human.

Of Gold and Ghosts - 5 I liked this one a lot. It's about a woman who is given custody of her friend's daughter after the friend dies. She soon finds that her friend's grandfather is a famous film star, and the friend's family might have secrets.

Of Hemlock and Marble - 5 I loved it. The story follows Cassandra, the cursed Oracle. Cassandra has been living different lives to make people believe her visions of the future. However, her curse prevents people from doing so. Tired of this endless cycle of lives, her brother decides to call it quits and enjoy a normal life. Can Cassandra make people believe her visions without his help?
I loved that this was based on Greek mythology, and I think this would have been a great standalone book.

Of Blood and Lace - 4 The story felt similar to something I read long ago, but this was still good. Vera is broke and she needs money—a lot of it, if possible—so when she sees a mysterious job on Craigslist, she jumps into it, unaware that she is going to suffer from possible mosquito bites and maybe even death.

Of Satin and Daisies - 3 This might be my least favourite. It is about a girl who sees the ghosts of women who died of failed love. Are the ghosts here to take her, or are they here to make her see that her childhood crush is not unrequited?

Of Clouds and Venom - 3.5 This is a feel-good story about a girl who can call down clouds and make coffee with them. But she could never bring down a cloud for herself. Maybe to bring one down, all she needs is a story about someone she saved years back.

Of Keys and Colitas - 5 I loved this one so much. It's about a girl who works at a magical and magnificent hotel for the dead. It has become her home even though it's been years since she felt another human touch. Is she living her life here, or is she trapped?

Of Fire and Poppies - Another 5 stars Surely one of the best. The story is told in the form of journal entries by a woman who inherits a lodge from a mysterious benefactor. However, there are some strange things, like poppies turning up everywhere and those dark watchers outside the lodge who seem to be watching her.

Of Metal and Citrus - 5 Wow, loved it so much. It's about this girl who gets stuck on a bench and stuck in time after a breakup. She has been in the same position for years, even after the sea rose and swallowed her and everything around her. Will she ever be able to move from that bench and grow old?

Of White Menageries - 3.5 This story was good. Adriana's best friend is missing, other students in her school are avoiding her, and the school is overrun by peafowls. Adriana questions her future and her freedom. Sometimes, being a peafowl is much better than being a human.


Overall, this collection was a beautifully strange and memorable read.

[celestialpixels_]

🌀 Where the Strange Becomes Familiar 🪞

Sometimes it takes the impossible to make sense of what is real.

That was the thought I kept returning to while reading “The Patron Saint of White Menageries” by Lauren T. Davila, a collection where ghosts walk alongside the living, old myths find their way into modern lives, and the surreal becomes a language for experiences that aren't always easy to name.

Across ten stories set throughout Los Angeles, Davila moves between women of different cultures, generations, and circumstances, each carrying her own history into the strange world she inhabits. Grief, family, identity, loneliness, desire, and belonging surface again and again, sometimes in ways that feel familiar and sometimes in ways that are wonderfully bizarre.

The speculative elements never feel like they're there simply to make these stories unusual. Instead, they give physical form to things that are much harder to hold. Grief can become a haunting. The stories we inherit can take on the weight of mythology. Loneliness can distort the world around us until the unreal somehow feels like the most honest expression of it.

Davila extends this idea into the stories we inherit from the world around us. Mythology, folklore, and familiar pieces of popular culture appear throughout the collection, often from unexpected angles. She isn't simply retelling old stories. She's interested in who has traditionally been allowed to tell them, whose perspective has been pushed to the margins, and what changes when those women are given the center of the page.

Part of the pleasure of reading the collection was never quite knowing where the next story would take me. It can be tender in one moment and unsettling in the next, then unexpectedly funny or delightfully weird a few pages later. Davila plays with form and voice in ways that keep each story distinct without making the collection feel disconnected. That's a difficult balance in short fiction, where every new story asks us to enter another world and care about another life in only a handful of pages.

The collection also finds a sense of continuity in Los Angeles itself. This isn't simply the glossy, cinematic city so often captured in fiction. Davila's Los Angeles feels lived in, shaped by neighborhoods, communities, histories, cultures, and contradictions. The city shifts depending on the woman moving through it, eventually becoming a thread between these otherwise separate lives.

For all their differences, the women themselves carry small echoes of one another. They aren't meant to represent a single experience of womanhood. They have different histories, fears, desires, relationships, and ideas of home, but many are wrestling with similar questions: what they've inherited, where they belong, what they owe the people who came before them, and what they're allowed to leave behind.

And somehow, in a collection filled with impossible things, so much of it feels recognizable. Grief can make the absent feel present. Memory can collapse years in an instant, while family stories are told and retold until fact and mythology begin to blur at the edges. Davila takes these familiar experiences and allows them to become something more literal, and a little stranger.

“The Patron Saint of White Menageries” is imaginative, unsettling, tender, and occasionally very strange. But underneath its ghosts, myths, and impossible things, it's deeply interested in the ordinary, complicated business of being human.

Thank you to Lauren T. Davila, Creature Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

[Joyce]

*Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC*

What an absolute ode to Los Angeles and Southern California.

Not the version sold on postcards or tucked behind Hollywood lights, but the one stitched together by the people who breathe life into it every single day. The one that smells like saltwater and citrus, where folklore lingers just beneath the pavement and magic slips so effortlessly into the ordinary that you stop questioning where reality ends and wonder begins.

This collection felt like wandering through a city with your heart wide open.

Lauren T. Davila understands something that I think the very best magical realism always knows…magic isn’t there to distract us from being human. It’s there to reveal the parts of ourselves we’ve been carrying all along. Every story reaches into something achingly familiar, grief, longing, identity, motherhood, memory, belonging, love, and gently turns it until it catches the light in an entirely new way.

I found myself slowing down as the stories bloomed quietly. They ask you to notice the small things. A glance, a neighborhood, and a family tradition. A ghost that feels no less real than the person standing beside it. There is something deeply comforting about a world where the impossible exists simply because someone’s heart needed it to.

What I loved most was how fiercely this collection celebrates people. Women from different backgrounds, different cultures, different histories, all carrying their own quiet universes. No two stories feel the same, yet they’re connected by invisible threads that remind us we’re all searching for many of the same things: to be seen, to belong, to be loved without having to become someone else first. One more time for those in the back- WITHOUT HAVING TO BECOME SOMEONE ELSE FIRST.

As someone who grew up surrounded by cultures, stories, and traditions that were woven into everyday life, this collection felt wonderfully familiar. It understands that myths don’t always live in books. Sometimes they live in families. In neighborhoods. In recipes. In the stories we’re told as children that somehow become the truest things we know.

And Los Angeles itself… it isn’t simply where these stories take place, it feels alive. The city breathes alongside every character until it becomes one of them, flawed, beautiful, sprawling, contradictory, and endlessly alive.

This is the kind of book that reminds me why I love magical realism so much. It gives language to things that reality alone sometimes can’t hold. It reminds us that there is extraordinary beauty tucked inside ordinary lives if we’re willing to look closely enough.

The Patron Saint of White Menageries quietly reminds you that the world has always been a little more magical than we’ve been taught to believe.

[Roslyn Bell]

Okay, this collection of stories, The Patron Saint of White Menageries by Lauren T. Davila, was such an unexpected little gem. I went into this book not really knowing what to expect from Lauren T. Davila, but her writing has this dreamy, slightly eerie vibe that pulls you in without trying too hard. The stories blend magic, folklore, horror, and emotion in a way that feels both soft and sharp at the same time. Must note that I received this book as an arc from Netgalley!
Here are the stories really stuck with me:
The cloud bending waitress: This one was just so so lovely. A diner waitress who can manipulate little wisps of cloud to help her customers and it sounds whimsical, but the author uses it in this quiet, tender way. It’s less “look at this magic trick” and more “look at how women carry everyone else’s weather.” It’s sweet, a little sad, and surprisingly grounding. I really liked this one and please give me more whimsy! The girl with fish scales in her eyes: Now, this story hit me really emotionally. A motherless girl secretly learning her mom’s half remembered Spanish while literally rubbing fish scales from her eyes and the symbolism is gorgeous. It’s about identity, heritage, and the small rebellions we make when we’re trying to figure out who we are. I loved the tension between her and her father, and how reclaiming her mother’s language becomes its own kind of magic. Chef’s kiss! “Of Blood and Lace”: This one lean more gothicy. A young woman becomes the companion to an ancient woman, and the whole thing has this slow burn dread that creeps up on you. The sacrifices that are both literal and metaphorical are unsettling in the best way. It’s one of those stories that leaves you thinking about power dynamics long after you finish. “Of Satin and Daisies” : A softer, more emotional story about a ballet star facing a mysterious illness. I really liked how the author handled the fear and frustration of losing control over your own body. There’s love, hope, and a sense of rebuilding yourself from the inside out. It’s tender without being overly sentimental. Overall, The Patron Saints of White Menageries is a beautiful and unusual collection of stories. This author’s writing feels fresh, and I’m glad NetGalley helped me discover her. #netgalley #thepatronsaintsofwhitemengeries

[Lisa Ann]

Although I resolved to listen to the rest of the book, I didn’t get past 45% of it before the file disappeared from my NetGalley app, and since the title had already been archived, I could not download it again. Even after contacting the helpdesk, I was told there was no way for me to get the file back so that I could finish it before writing this review.

Lauren T. Davila’s collection of short stories started strong with dark magical realist plots that draw on folklore and mythology set primarily in Los Angeles. Imagine my surprise, then, when I immediately recognized the plot of the fourth story “Of Blood and Lace.” In fairness to the author, I kept listening with growing shock and dismay as I recognized the entire plot of Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s short story “Good Lady Ducayne,” originally published in The Strand Magazine in 1896. To do my due diligence, I skipped immediately to the final track to see if there was an author’s note that mentioned her debt to Braddon, but it turned out to be another story. Finally, after looking it up on Google books and doing a search for Braddon, I discovered that Davila calls it a "retelling" of the earlier story. It's not much of a retelling, though. Only a few minor details were changed; instead of going to Italy, the old woman and her young victim travel to Southern California, and it’s set in the twenty-first century rather than the fin de siècle. The transplanted story lost much of its bite since when it was written it played on fears about a new medical technology – blood transfusions. In a contemporary context it’s just a twist on a vampire story.

As far as the narrator Victoria Villarreal is concerned, she did a good job with the stories that I listened to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for an advance listener copy in exchange for this review.

[The Sassy Bookworm]

Book Review: The Patron Saint of White Menageries by Lauren T. Davila

Rating: ★★★★☆

What an eye-catching cover—and the stories inside are just as thoughtfully assembled. Lauren T. Davila’s debut collection opens up Los Angeles as a strange, dreamlike place filled with magic, loneliness, and people carrying more than they can say. These stories feel rooted in the city while also drifting into the surreal, creating a version of L.A. that is both recognizable and wonderfully uncanny.

The collection follows a wide range of unusual heroines and troubled dreamers. In one story, a diner waitress places small pieces of cloud into customers’ coffee as she tries to help fix their lives. Elsewhere, a girl with no mother challenges her father’s restrictions while confronting fish scales in her eyes and fragments of her mother’s Spanish heritage. There are ghostly ballerinas appearing in unexpected places, an assistant whose skin begins to reveal the horrifying cost of working for someone who has lived far too long, and a weary reincarnation of Cassandra searching for a way out of her endless cycle of prophecy and disbelief.

I enjoyed every story, though some stayed with me more strongly than others. The writing is packed with vivid details, and the atmosphere is one of the collection’s biggest strengths. Davila makes the ordinary feel enchanted and the magical feel strangely intimate. The stories can be eerie, melancholy, and occasionally playful, but they all have a strong emotional core.

Overall, this is a beautifully crafted debut with an imaginative take on magical realism and Los Angeles. Fans of surreal, mythic, slightly unsettling fiction will likely find a lot to appreciate here.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[jay]

4.25 || adventurous challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

What use is it trying to fight something whose only purpose is to burn? How can you have enough pride to try and control it? Control what consumes?

A stunning debut on magical-realism, The Patron Saint of White Menageries is a collection of the surreal, interconnected lives of Latine women around the West Coast. Each story, although separate in time and theme, explore the dreams and challenges of our heroines as they navigate a world where magic bleeds seamlessly into everyday life. This collection is an enchanting and poignant letter, exploring identity, longing, and the real thrum of magic beneath the grit and grime of real life.

I haven't had the best luck with short story collection lately, however this was such a blast to read through. I have my favorites that I know will stick with me for a long time, but there's barely any story here that was not well written and impactful. The writing style was distinct in each story, but there was an an undercurrent of continuity that made it so each one flowed well with the other.

If you enjoy atmospheric magical realism with lyrical prose, this book is a perfect fit. Such a great debut, and I'm excited as to what the future has in store for Lauren T. Davila's writing career.

Big thanks to the author and publisher for providing me this ARC via NetGalley. All quotes are taken from the uncorrected proof. This does not in any shape or form influence my review on this book.

[Sally]

Thank you very much to the publisher and to NetGalley for this advance copy!

The Patron Saint of White Menageries is a collection of speculative fiction short stories.

I really liked the ideas and themes in these stories; friendship, family, culture, race, womanhood; these threads are carried through the collection. I also very much enjoyed the speculative fiction elements in each; they were kept light but always served a purpose and were varied. My favourite was the ability to pull or conjure clouds as a barista to make the perfect drink, which I found very heartwarming.

This is an overall well-written collection, although the author's grasp on the craft of writing varied throughout. I appreciated the inclusion of the second person perspective in Of Oil and Seafoam and it was well executed for such a difficult perspective to write. I didn't feel like the dialogue in Of Gold and Ghosts was very realistic, but this was drastically improved in stories later in the collection. The final story, Of White Menageries, was my favourite by far; the themes and messaging were understated but clear, the prose was lovely, and the dialogue felt much more natural.

My favourite stories were those where the messaging was more subtle, though there were stories where it was so subtle as to pass me by entirely. For example, I wasn't sure what the message was in Of Keys and Colitas, and as someone not well-versed in American cinema, music, or famous people generally, those references went over my head.

Overall, I feel this collection is very much worth your time. It has clearly been written with a lot of heart and emotion, and it's overall executed well. I look forward to seeing what author Lauren T. Davila writes in the future.

[L ✨]

Thank you Netgalley and Creature Publishing for this e-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

You know how sometimes a cover and/or a title intrigues you so much you have to pick up the book? That's what happened to me with The Patron Saint of White Menageries . I went into it not knowing if the story would be connected but I found a book full of love for L.A. and it's surroundings, and especially self-love. All the characters experience hard truth and they have to go on and learn to love themselves but especially learn to love where they come from. I thought it was beautiful.

My favourites were:

Of Hemlock and Marble
Cassandra (from the myth) is forced to be reincarnated again and again until she successfully manages to save someone. I really like the idea and the modern setting, it was the one that I liked the most so far. But the ending fell short. Still I really enjoyed it.

Of Satin and Daisies
I didn't think I would love it so much! I could have read a book with this concept: a fragile ballerina haunted by ghosts as she navigates her love for her best friend who's now a famous singer. Yeah, she has a lot on her plate.

Of Keys and Colitas
My favourite so far! I don't want to give too much away but it's about a sentient magic hotel where the main character takes refuge in. And then found family ensues.

Of White Menageries
I didn't think to include it at first, but it really haunted me, days after I finished it. Set in an all girl school from privileged families, one girl is grieving her best friend. She's trying to find freedom, which gives meaning to the title and also this entire collection.

Last but not least; Lauren T. Davila has a wonderful imagination and I can't wait to read what she published next!

[MadReads]

This is an interesting and poetic collection of short stories. It got off to a slow start but there were a number that really spoke to me. There is a through line of magical realism as well as a number of other elements that connect the collection together, and a general macabre vibe. From characters, locations, and physical traits to the entertainment industry, careers and more, the collection felt very cohesive. The stories were snapshot scenes, featuring an open ended moment in time. My favorites were Of Clouds and Venom, where a young woman has the ability to pull clouds from the air and infuse them into drinks to heal emotional and physical wounds, and Of Keys and Colitas, featuring a young woman who as a teen finds a magical hotel for lost souls. I also really enjoyed Of Satin and Daisies, as I could tell just from the description what the medical condition was. It’s one I have and my issue is that it was referred to many times as a heart condition when it is really a nervous system condition and causes no physical issues with the heart. I really wish the description was more accurate as it felt like it was trying to fit a metaphor about love. The actual description of the disability experience was done very well and represented accurately. Overall there was so much emotion packed into this collection and important examinations of identity, heritage, gender, dreams, power, control and love. The evolving themes were always wonderfully woven through metaphor and symbolism. Lauren T. Davila is clearly a talented writer and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

Thank you to Creature Publishing and NetGalley for the arc.

[Josie]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC.

"The Patron Saint of White Menageries" is a short story collection that centers women and their curiosity, freedom, choice, and more. This collection took me by surprise, and only in a good way.

Each story was enjoyable to read, and not a single one bored me. A select few stood out to me, such as "Of Gold and Ghosts", about a woman who ends up adopting her secretive college roommate's daughter (may have made me tear up), "Of Hemlock and Marble", where the prophetess Cassandra lives multiple lives only to give warnings always gone unheard, and "Of Keys and Colitas", a fun spin on the Hotel California and how a girl navigates her life there.

Being a woman is hard. Expectations are set upon us from childhood, choices are made for us without our input, our own bodily autonomy is always under scrutiny, and yet we persevere. I guess what I'm trying to say is that even throughout all that women endure, hope is always held in our hands, and this book gave me that exact feeling as I read it.

While this is obviously a collection of short stories, some still felt a bit rushed in their conclusions. I would have loved to see some fleshed out a bit more, but that may just be a personal wish as someone who usually doesn't dabble too much in collections. Even so, I thought this was a joy to read and I ate it up.

4.25/5 stars. This is one I'll be revisiting when a man yet again tries to tell me I can't do something because of my gender :-)

[Tinashe]

ARC received from NetGalley

A 'menagerie' is a collection of captive animals, often rare or foreign, kept for display.

That definition perfectly captures this collection of stories, both literally and metaphorically. Each story felt like a psychedelic ride because there was no way of predicting what strange, fantastical, or otherworldly occurrence would come next. Every time I thought I had a grasp on where a story was heading, it surprised me.

My favorite stories were Of Clouds and Venom and Of Keys and Colitas, both of which stayed with me long after I finished reading.

The magical realism was one of the strongest aspects of this collection. It blended the ordinary with the extraordinary so seamlessly that even the most bizarre events felt believable within the worlds the author created. There was a dreamlike quality to the stories that made them immersive, unsettling, and fascinating all at once.

While some stories resonated with me more than others, I appreciated the creativity and imagination woven throughout the collection. Overall, it was a unique reading experience that constantly kept me curious about what would happen next.

[ava]

I really really loved this collection of short stories. They were lyrical with rich settings, deep characters, and complexly unique plots.

Each story was unique in its own melancholic way, and though a lot of endings were ambiguous, they still felt complete. These short stories make you reflect on your identity, nostalgia, and how you interact with your environment. They added tension and lyricism in the right places without feeling too heavy or drawn out. Added onto the feelings of surrealism and deep, emotional descriptions leads to a wonderful read.

I especially appreciated how each story featured a woman of color and her journey through life. This anthology shows women in all walks of life, of different backgrounds and upbringing, and with varying levels of their own personal magic. These stories excelled at not making these women victims despite their circumstances. There’s an overarching theme of independence and redemption despite the darker tones.

I want to read this one again and again and again. Highly recommend.

* I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[prettysureannereads]

The Patron Saints of Menageries is a beautifully strange collection of weird short stories, and honestly, it was exactly my kind of read. Every story had its own unique charm, and the author's writing was absolutely bewitching, surreal, and atmospheric. I especially loved how the stories centred on women discovering themselves while navigating worlds filled with magic, darkness, and the wonderfully bizarre.

Some stories stood out more than others, with Of Hemlock and Marble, Of Gold and Ghosts, Of Keys and Colitas, Of Fire and Poppies, and Of Metal and Citrus being my favourites. I loved the mix of mythology, ghosts, magical places, strange creatures, and women trying to find their place in the world, and several of these honestly could have been expanded into full-length novels. Overall, this was such a memorable collection, and if you love magical realism, literary weirdness, and stories that feel a little unhinged, this is absolutely worth picking up.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[✩｡°⋆ Lala ⋆｡°✩]

•ARC 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝘄•

[Patron Saint Of White Menagerie]
🔥 Release Date: [Sep 01 2026] 🔥
Thank you to Creature Publishing, Lauren Davila, and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
★★★★½

Patron Saint of White Menagerie is such a strong, imaginative collection. I really enjoyed the variety here. Every story feels distinct, and Lauren Davila’s writing is consistently sharp, atmospheric, and emotionally layered. Even the pieces that didn’t hit quite as hard for me were still unique and interesting in their own way.

Some stories absolutely stood out: Of Keys and Colitas and Of Clouds and Venom were my personal favorites, with Of Metal and Citrus close behind. Others landed a bit softer, but the collection as a whole never lost my attention. I loved how each story carried its own tone and texture while still feeling like part of a cohesive thematic world.

Overall, this was a beautifully written, compelling set of stories with a lot of range. I’m really glad I picked it up, and I’d happily read more from Davila!

[Huyen Tran]

Fellow readers,

Be prepared for interesting premises, great hooks, and cozy endings. Davila's debut short stories collection is full of gems. At the center of each story, there lays an emotional core and relationship. Mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, family that goes beyond blood and lifetimes. The dialogue is at times too on-the-nose, the descriptions occasionally too much or too little, but the emotional arcs are clear and compelling. The title and book cover is incredibly eye-catching and I loved the first story's use of second-person and the magic realism tone it immediately sets.

Across ten stories, I got to experience slices of life in California. The scent and sound of the sea, the palm trees and orange blossoms, the glamour and dark sides of being human. If this is Davila's debut, I'm looking forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Creature Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy. Thank you Lauren, looking forward to your next story.

[Tim]

This is a fine debut collection of short stories in the Californian Gothic style, tales of the strangest state in the Union, operating in the grey zone between occult horror, weird fiction and urban fantasy.

Davila shows us young women – generally young Latino women – experiencing the mysteries of the Pacific Ocean, confronting the secrets of Old Hollywood, facing intolerance and lack of understanding. Sometimes the magic is within them, sometimes it is they who encounter the numinous outside themselves.

The collection is bookended by the two best stories – Of Oil and Seafoam is a memorable take on the mermaid myth, while the title story is a slow-building take on transformation horror at an elite girls school. The remainder still have much to commend them.

Overall, a enjoyable read, and a welcome change in setting and characters to my usual fare. I’ll be keeping a look out for Davila’s next literary move.

Advance review copy of this book obtained via NetGalley.

[Lee]

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3, which might seem low but that doesn't mean this is a bad collection. There was some really interesting ideas and a great sense of 'place' in the South Californian setting. I love the title! Other reviewers have mentioned some of the stories felt almost like traditional fairy tales, and I would certainly agree with that. As with any collection, some of the stories were more interesting and memorable than others. Many of the stories had low stakes and I found the writing style rather more cosy than I think magical realism should be. But it's a debut collection, and I expect the writer will grow more into her ideas. Ultimately it was rather more YA in tone than I was expecting.

[Bookish Londoner]

A collection of tales with an almost eldritch vibe. The short stories complement each other well, with strong thematic coherence throughout, although each with its own unique magic flair.

All 10 stories have intriguing premises and plenty have ambiguous endings, leaving you longing for more, while others round off nicely in a full condensed storyline. You really cannot predict what the next story will be so for me it was a nice surprise each time. All do focus on an individual woman and their very intimate experience with some strange occurrence of the supernatural.

Very re-readable too, you can pick your favourite or try to understand a piece that didn’t quite resonate with you the first time, as it might surprise you!

[Coralie]

(3.5 stars)

Really enjoyed these short stories, they felt like modern fairy tales reflecting on womanhood, with each story centring latine women. As with most anthologies, there were some stories I liked more and some I liked less, and despite each story having a very specific atmosphere and touching on different topics, this collection stayed cohesive all throughout. I was captivated by Lauren T. Davila’s writing style and characters and I hope she writes a full length novel soon! My favourite stories were Of Gold and Ghosts, Of Hemlock and Marble, Of Clouds and Venom and Of White Menageries.

thank you to netgalley + creature publishing for this advanced review copy ◡̈

[∆×Neromi×∆]

The Patron Saint of White Menageries is an anthology of stories set in Los Angeles, where the protagonists are Latina women, or have a strong connection to their roots, and blend magical realism with the search for identity and the struggle to make their way in the world.
The stories are quite varied, so it’s anyone’s guess where the current story and the next one will take you.
The writing is very atmospheric and ornate, conjuring up a very vivid mental image.
I could have read it in an afternoon, but I made it last longer because I felt each story deserved its own moment of enjoyment and reflection; in fact, I couldn’t say which one is my favourite.

Thanks to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for the eARC.

[Sam Rude]

This was an unexpected treat! I really enjoyed the evocative writing style throughout this collection and the stories throughout. The stories kind of run the gamut inspiration-wise from Greek myths to Hotel California but the connective tissue is a delightful touch of whimsy throughout. I enjoyed them all immensely from plot to writing style. As an LA native I did also appreciate all the of the LA and SoCal moments but I think they can be enjoyed . I look forward to reading more from Lauren T. Davila in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and creature Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Ash Aycock]

Gorgeous, haunting, and heartfelt, Lauren T. Davila is who I’d like to be when I grow up. This beautiful collections of short stories left me thinking deeply about myth and memory, womanhood, and familial history. Here are tales that make you believe in the day-to-day “other”, and the liminal spaces where our lives create possibility. The variety of stories within the collection is impressive, filled with stunning prose and characters that linger in your mind long after you’ve finished reading. A near perfect debut!

Thank you to NetGalley and Creature Publishing for the eARC and opportunity to review.

[Aly Knight]

4.25 stars

One of the most cohesive short story collections I've had the pleasure of reading. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys gothic literature, literary fiction, and short stories. If you enjoyed Mexican Gothic, pick this up.

A couple of the stories lost me - too many characters or not enough exposition, but several of the stories made me ache. It's hard to create deep characters in a short story. I'm impressed.

I really enjoyed the small connections woven into multiple stories. It tied the collection together in a satisfying way.

Advance reader copy received in exchange for review.

[Angi]

I belatedly realized this was a book of short stories rather than a novel, and deeply enjoyed them (after I stopped trying to figure out how on earth they were connected!)

The stories are beautiful, wistful, suspenseful, and hopeful. They made me think about the meaning of family, what it means to support friends, and the different ways one can pursue meaning and direction in life. It's ultimately hopeful, though more in a sense of "brightness despite pain" than "coziness." Recommended.

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NOTE: I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review expressing my personal opinions.

[Shell]

I was given an audiobook arc copy of The Patron Saint of White Menageries: Stories by Lauren T Davila in exchange for an honest review. I have really been into short stories lately. I picked up this book because I was hoping for some weirdness, some fantasy and something addictive to listen to. I enjoyed this collection. Like all short story collections some hit better than others. A few of these would have been great as longer novellas or novels. The narrator did a wonderful job conveying the emotion behind the words. I’d recommend this to short story lovers.