What do you think?
Hail Holy Queens
It’s 1887. High in the snow-swept Berkshires sits an old Romanesque convent where the nuns turn out
bottles of their potent Italian amaro. They pray. They work. They pray some more. It's an isolated place
where little gets in the way of the sisters' devotion.
Until now.
From a cavern lair far above the convent comes a predatory beast that stalks the good The Gulo.
The Hellish thing resembles both wolf and wolverine, with a massive maw of long, curved incisors and a
thick hide covered in deadly quills. In a hideous pack, the creatures ravage some of the holy women and
stalk off into the freezing forest hillside, but not before the nuns themselves manage to slay one of them.
Rather than risk the return of these fiends, the sisters decide to hunt them down. Fortified by their own
powerful amaro—and by the bloodlust rising in them—they march into a raging gale of wind and snow with
only makeshift weapons and a powerful medieval crucifix with a fire-hardened tip.
It's long odds for the brides of Christ.
But the appearance of a mysterious character turns the tide in their favor. The nuns can hardly believe it . .
. but there she stands, a tall, striking woman who claims to have vanquished werewolves and other vicious
bêtes in her native France. The strange warrior-saint gains the trust of the sisters who dub her the Long
Nun. Though some think she hides a dreadful secret, too.
One thing’s for sure, this Long Nun knows how to bring forth death.
She trains the sisters in the ways of the hunt, encouraging them to heed their darker impulses, to abandon
their churchly humility, and to seek violent vengeance against the Gulo. With their pagan and carnal senses
heightened, the sisters take on the pack, becoming savages themselves, creatures bent on bloody
revenge.
It’s a true holy war, and a young postulant named Henrietta Q. documents all the grisly details in her battle
book. But whether anyone will read it depends on the outcome of the fight… and on the mystery of the
Long Nun.
Robert Eggers meets Emerald Fennell and Tarantino in the gothic horror thriller HAIL HOLY QUEENS.
bottles of their potent Italian amaro. They pray. They work. They pray some more. It's an isolated place
where little gets in the way of the sisters' devotion.
Until now.
From a cavern lair far above the convent comes a predatory beast that stalks the good The Gulo.
The Hellish thing resembles both wolf and wolverine, with a massive maw of long, curved incisors and a
thick hide covered in deadly quills. In a hideous pack, the creatures ravage some of the holy women and
stalk off into the freezing forest hillside, but not before the nuns themselves manage to slay one of them.
Rather than risk the return of these fiends, the sisters decide to hunt them down. Fortified by their own
powerful amaro—and by the bloodlust rising in them—they march into a raging gale of wind and snow with
only makeshift weapons and a powerful medieval crucifix with a fire-hardened tip.
It's long odds for the brides of Christ.
But the appearance of a mysterious character turns the tide in their favor. The nuns can hardly believe it . .
. but there she stands, a tall, striking woman who claims to have vanquished werewolves and other vicious
bêtes in her native France. The strange warrior-saint gains the trust of the sisters who dub her the Long
Nun. Though some think she hides a dreadful secret, too.
One thing’s for sure, this Long Nun knows how to bring forth death.
She trains the sisters in the ways of the hunt, encouraging them to heed their darker impulses, to abandon
their churchly humility, and to seek violent vengeance against the Gulo. With their pagan and carnal senses
heightened, the sisters take on the pack, becoming savages themselves, creatures bent on bloody
revenge.
It’s a true holy war, and a young postulant named Henrietta Q. documents all the grisly details in her battle
book. But whether anyone will read it depends on the outcome of the fight… and on the mystery of the
Long Nun.
Robert Eggers meets Emerald Fennell and Tarantino in the gothic horror thriller HAIL HOLY QUEENS.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
June 7, 2026
Voicey, bloody, unhinged, unapologetic, vivid and visceral. If Robert Eggers made The Ghost and the Darkness, it might come close to McGinley’s period horror story about 19th century nuns in the Berkshires fighting off beats of undetermined origin. A wild, harrowing ride.
August 15, 2026
❄️ 🐺 Hail Holy Queens by Chris McGinley 🐺 ❄️
An epistolary novel recounting the attack of wolf like creatures on a convent of nuns during an isolating snow storm.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. It’s a tale of feminine rage and taking back autonomy. It’s also told by an unreliable narrator. We’re left to wonder, did the events described truly happen? Or are they made up by our narrator who loved to write spooky stories?
A few complaints I had were the overuse of the term Reader. It took me out of the story several times. I also felt like the story dragged a bit and became repetitive by the end.
Story vibes:
❄️ Winter
🐺 Isolation
❄️ Nun Horror
🐺 Creature Feature
An epistolary novel recounting the attack of wolf like creatures on a convent of nuns during an isolating snow storm.
Overall, I enjoyed the story. It’s a tale of feminine rage and taking back autonomy. It’s also told by an unreliable narrator. We’re left to wonder, did the events described truly happen? Or are they made up by our narrator who loved to write spooky stories?
A few complaints I had were the overuse of the term Reader. It took me out of the story several times. I also felt like the story dragged a bit and became repetitive by the end.
Story vibes:
❄️ Winter
🐺 Isolation
❄️ Nun Horror
🐺 Creature Feature
August 6, 2026
Hail Holy Queens | Chris McGinley
When an evil creature attacks a convent, the nuns seeks vengeance with the help of a new comrade.
What did I just read???
This book is the epitome of feminine rage. I grew up Catholic, so the lives that nuns commit to living is something I'm familiar with. I adored how the depiction of Christ's brides was turned upside down. Yes, they are pious. Yes, they are devout. However, they are enraged. Typically nuns are depicted as sweet and humble or stern and strict. This book depicted them as people with very real feelings, behaviors, and actions. It paints a picture that anyone, religious or otherwise, can react with violent vengeance when they, or their loved ones, are threatened.
The FMC was unreliable, and the story is told as a written collection of her experiences while staying at the convent. She was diagnosed with a "nervous condition" and was sent away to rest. The bloody, gory, unbelievable tale I questioned throughout. Was it real, was it in her head, was it one of her stories she sold to the papers?
The ominous vibes start on page 1 and build throughout. The growing comraderie between the women was beautifully written. Uniting against evil to vanquish it - joining forces despite differences to keep evil at bay. This is a powerful message and one that was written very well. The theme of retaining faith through hardship was prevalent.
This story was incredible. It was a nightmare on paper and the atmospheric way in which it is written transports the reader. Highly, highly recommend.
When an evil creature attacks a convent, the nuns seeks vengeance with the help of a new comrade.
What did I just read???
This book is the epitome of feminine rage. I grew up Catholic, so the lives that nuns commit to living is something I'm familiar with. I adored how the depiction of Christ's brides was turned upside down. Yes, they are pious. Yes, they are devout. However, they are enraged. Typically nuns are depicted as sweet and humble or stern and strict. This book depicted them as people with very real feelings, behaviors, and actions. It paints a picture that anyone, religious or otherwise, can react with violent vengeance when they, or their loved ones, are threatened.
The FMC was unreliable, and the story is told as a written collection of her experiences while staying at the convent. She was diagnosed with a "nervous condition" and was sent away to rest. The bloody, gory, unbelievable tale I questioned throughout. Was it real, was it in her head, was it one of her stories she sold to the papers?
The ominous vibes start on page 1 and build throughout. The growing comraderie between the women was beautifully written. Uniting against evil to vanquish it - joining forces despite differences to keep evil at bay. This is a powerful message and one that was written very well. The theme of retaining faith through hardship was prevalent.
This story was incredible. It was a nightmare on paper and the atmospheric way in which it is written transports the reader. Highly, highly recommend.
August 22, 2026
Holy awesome read. A blend of faith and foul, a taste of blood and drink, an adventure so pure and yet most heinous. Dear Reader, if you are truly brave, read this book. TONIGHT.
July 28, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Wow! This book was something else! I knew from the description it was going to be crazy, but I didn’t expect the level of crazy.
From the beginning, we are transported into the story of a group of nuns who are ravaged by a beast that is spreading psychosis and death among the nuns. They embark on a journey to hunt and kill the beasts, and what follows is 200 pages of batshit crazy, gore, religious fervor and female rage.
They are transformed, enraged, they become the animals they hunt, they blend religious rites with pagan ones, finding their true selves in the process, liberating themselves from the constraints of religion, society, patriarchy. They are Christian Maenads/Bacchae following a female Dionysus/Bacchus on as much of a spiritual journey as a physical one, fighting the elements and the beasts that surround them, and I loved every moment.
Thank you NetGalley, Fringe Press, and Chris McGinley for the ARC!
Wow! This book was something else! I knew from the description it was going to be crazy, but I didn’t expect the level of crazy.
From the beginning, we are transported into the story of a group of nuns who are ravaged by a beast that is spreading psychosis and death among the nuns. They embark on a journey to hunt and kill the beasts, and what follows is 200 pages of batshit crazy, gore, religious fervor and female rage.
They are transformed, enraged, they become the animals they hunt, they blend religious rites with pagan ones, finding their true selves in the process, liberating themselves from the constraints of religion, society, patriarchy. They are Christian Maenads/Bacchae following a female Dionysus/Bacchus on as much of a spiritual journey as a physical one, fighting the elements and the beasts that surround them, and I loved every moment.
Thank you NetGalley, Fringe Press, and Chris McGinley for the ARC!
August 4, 2026
if Sister Act, The Shining, The Witch, The Nun, and feminism had a baby in a horror movie set in a creepy forest, it would be this amazing piece of literature. I can’t remember the last time I was this sad to finish a book, even though I refused to pace myself.
August 10, 2026
An isolated 19th century convent is attacked by strange possibly supernatural creatures. A mysterious nun appears with knowledge and fighting skills. What happens is a mad mix of violence, religious fervor & homemade wine.
I was looking forward to this one & it did not disappoint! It delivered & went down like that homemade wine. I found myself finishing it the next day.
Highly recommended for some pulpy fun.
I was looking forward to this one & it did not disappoint! It delivered & went down like that homemade wine. I found myself finishing it the next day.
Highly recommended for some pulpy fun.
August 1, 2026
I was looking forward to this, and at its core is a thrilling, visceral look at the battle between good and evil, with a dose of church politics. But the period tone is shrouded in a self-conscious veneer, as in the too-modern “Still I persisted” and the narrator’s far too frequent direct pleas to the reader. And then there’s the nunsplaining.
August 24, 2026
Hail Holy Queens takes place in a convent in the Berkshire Mountains circa 1896. There is something from the dark, something horrifying and haunting that is murdering the nuns there and making them go into a collective psychosis. This book is gory, vivid, and so incredibly good! It’s full of feminine rage, religious horror, and the unraveling of society’s standards on women as they dive deep into their baser instincts on their holy mission to defeat this beast.
I love the way it’s written as a story Henrietta is telling us, quite literally, by saying “Dear Reader” etc. and yet it isn’t quite a story told in letters. I loved the background of our narrator and her desire to write stories. It makes everything feel a little more questionable: did this really happen? What was real and what was just a story? She’s unreliable and yet you can’t help but believe every word she’s writing, maybe because you can tell she herself believes it.
I loved the collectiveness of the woman, especially when the priest shows up. I won’t say more for the sake of spoilers, but seeing how their mindset evolves was so well done.
For some reason, however, I kept picturing this as medieval Europe? I have absolutely no idea why except every time Boston, Salem, Gloucester etc. was mentioned I kept going “wait what??” I do believe that is entirely my own fault though.
Overall, this was a fantastic book to read and I’m really glad I did.
Did Not Finish
September 14, 2026I’m DNFing this one because of a scene of violence and sexual assault against the women in the book at the hands of a man. It goes on way too long, and I found the choice incredibly frustrating.
Especially because this is, at least in part, a book about feminine rage. (Written by a man, btw)
So I genuinely don’t understand the decision to have these women, who have already fought, killed, and liberated themselves from violence, armed with weapons and fully capable of fighting back, stand there and let this man continue to brutalize them and their sisters.
I’m not interested in watching women be brutalized for pages only for the story to suddenly decide their vengeance has gone too far when it comes to a man, even temporarily.
Especially because this is, at least in part, a book about feminine rage. (Written by a man, btw)
So I genuinely don’t understand the decision to have these women, who have already fought, killed, and liberated themselves from violence, armed with weapons and fully capable of fighting back, stand there and let this man continue to brutalize them and their sisters.
I’m not interested in watching women be brutalized for pages only for the story to suddenly decide their vengeance has gone too far when it comes to a man, even temporarily.
August 2, 2026
Setting and atmosphere, for me, are this book’s strength. I felt like I’d been transported to this claustrophobic, isolated convent in the mountains.
The first half held me riveted. But the repetition of events got to me in the second half, which was unfortunate. It was blood and gore, rinse (maybe) and repeat, without much to differentiate one battle from the next. I would have liked a better understanding of the demon beasts, and more focus on the women finding their independence.
If you love horror and don’t mind the repetition, this book might be the perfect read for you.
The first half held me riveted. But the repetition of events got to me in the second half, which was unfortunate. It was blood and gore, rinse (maybe) and repeat, without much to differentiate one battle from the next. I would have liked a better understanding of the demon beasts, and more focus on the women finding their independence.
If you love horror and don’t mind the repetition, this book might be the perfect read for you.
August 19, 2026
I loved this read! It was a mix of “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Lord of the Flies, and Kill Bill. It is all about woman fighting each other but also fighting for each other. The setting and time period creates the feeling of isolation that permeates throughout the novel. McGinley mixed both creature feature vibes with psychological and social horror.
August 23, 2026
I really liked this one. Great novel about women embracing and owning their power!
September 22, 2026
Wild ride. Great concept. Outstanding writing.
August 15, 2026
Well I was only maybe 25% into Hail Holy Queens
and I went immediately to Amazon and bought Chris McGinley’s other novel and short stories collection. I read probably 75% Noir/Crime fiction and lately have focused on Settings in Appalachia, The Ozarks, Rust Belt cities and some Southern settings like Landsdale’s East Texas. I was expecting crime noir and what I got was 1/2Pagan 1/2 Catholic 100% feminist Holy Wars against evil terrifying creatures that are obvious stand ins in one sense for men keeping women down. I’m a middle aged white cisgender dude who LOVED IT. Of course I have always considered myself a feminist-which is simply someone in favor of equality in all rights and freedoms for women and men and equality in responsibility too. You can miss me with all the “Man’s Movement” “Trad Wife” nonsense. Sorry to be political in a book review, but the book makes no secret of female empowerment being its guiding light.
and I went immediately to Amazon and bought Chris McGinley’s other novel and short stories collection. I read probably 75% Noir/Crime fiction and lately have focused on Settings in Appalachia, The Ozarks, Rust Belt cities and some Southern settings like Landsdale’s East Texas. I was expecting crime noir and what I got was 1/2Pagan 1/2 Catholic 100% feminist Holy Wars against evil terrifying creatures that are obvious stand ins in one sense for men keeping women down. I’m a middle aged white cisgender dude who LOVED IT. Of course I have always considered myself a feminist-which is simply someone in favor of equality in all rights and freedoms for women and men and equality in responsibility too. You can miss me with all the “Man’s Movement” “Trad Wife” nonsense. Sorry to be political in a book review, but the book makes no secret of female empowerment being its guiding light.
August 27, 2026
“Oh, heavens,” she said, smiling wide. “I’ve ruined my habit.”
Medieval monasteries were always something of a fascination for me in my history studies, so dangle some 19th century nuns protecting their monastery from demon-wolves and I was all in.
Biblical, bloody, and bizarre, I have to say I really enjoyed this novel. And the longer I’ve waited to review, the more this story has had me ruminating.
I’ve been musing on the idea that the Gulo were a manifestation of the patriarchy and the misogynistic world that nuns were forced to live in. Sister Henry was sent to the monastery by her husband because she wrote books, and the initial encounter with Father Doherty demonstrated that she didn’t escape that world when she entered the convent. Whether we believe the Long Nun was real or not, we learned that her life before was filled with very masculine experiences - she appeared to help the nuns find their feminine power and defeat the forces of evil (i.e. the patriarchy) with a little help from their trusty amaro.
“Was this irreverence? No, Reader, it was liberation.”
I also think it’s worth noting that from the very start the Reader is invited to question the legitimacy of the account written by Sister Henrietta. She’s been sent to the convent by her husband for her “desire to write shadowy tales” - is this one of them or is this an accurate account of the Sisters who were martyred in their battle against evil?
Highly recommend this for your spooky season tbr; it was the perfect foray into horror - thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this fantastic arc.
Medieval monasteries were always something of a fascination for me in my history studies, so dangle some 19th century nuns protecting their monastery from demon-wolves and I was all in.
Biblical, bloody, and bizarre, I have to say I really enjoyed this novel. And the longer I’ve waited to review, the more this story has had me ruminating.
I’ve been musing on the idea that the Gulo were a manifestation of the patriarchy and the misogynistic world that nuns were forced to live in. Sister Henry was sent to the monastery by her husband because she wrote books, and the initial encounter with Father Doherty demonstrated that she didn’t escape that world when she entered the convent. Whether we believe the Long Nun was real or not, we learned that her life before was filled with very masculine experiences - she appeared to help the nuns find their feminine power and defeat the forces of evil (i.e. the patriarchy) with a little help from their trusty amaro.
“Was this irreverence? No, Reader, it was liberation.”
I also think it’s worth noting that from the very start the Reader is invited to question the legitimacy of the account written by Sister Henrietta. She’s been sent to the convent by her husband for her “desire to write shadowy tales” - is this one of them or is this an accurate account of the Sisters who were martyred in their battle against evil?
Highly recommend this for your spooky season tbr; it was the perfect foray into horror - thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this fantastic arc.
August 21, 2026
When I got to see the monster as early as the first handful of chapters, I knew I was in for a ride. Our (unreliable?) narrator is introduced as somewhat of an outsider, but is quickly drawn into this community of nuns as the Sisters bond over their holy hunt.
The middle part of the novella was more repetitive. It only stays fresh so many times to witness the loop of irritation/paranoia to reconciliation, to channelling bloodlust into holy fervour and finally losing inhibitions in drink, profanity and general norm breaking. The blurred lines between religious fervour and female rage emanated from the pages wonderfully, although there were moments that made me wonder whether the book would've been better served with a female author.
One achievement of the book may sound paradoxical: McGinley manages to give the nuns so much character with so little characterisation. We know so little about the sisters, but their interactions are meaningful. A nun without even a name ('the young postulant') nevertheless is central to several touching interactions.
The novella ends on a -for horror- rare note of happy ending. The monster is vanquished, and with it are all secondary problems. And that - that was satisfactory.
The middle part of the novella was more repetitive. It only stays fresh so many times to witness the loop of irritation/paranoia to reconciliation, to channelling bloodlust into holy fervour and finally losing inhibitions in drink, profanity and general norm breaking. The blurred lines between religious fervour and female rage emanated from the pages wonderfully, although there were moments that made me wonder whether the book would've been better served with a female author.
One achievement of the book may sound paradoxical: McGinley manages to give the nuns so much character with so little characterisation. We know so little about the sisters, but their interactions are meaningful. A nun without even a name ('the young postulant') nevertheless is central to several touching interactions.
The novella ends on a -for horror- rare note of happy ending. The monster is vanquished, and with it are all secondary problems. And that - that was satisfactory.
August 27, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and Fringe Press for the ARC.
3.75/5
This truly aided in filling the the 'Between two Fires" hole I've been trying to fill for this entire year, so finding this book was a lovely surprise for me. Quintessential winter horror vibes throughout, with events described via personal journal entries and additional post insights. Great descriptions of gore and violence, with a large cast of supporting characters [some ended up with more characterization than other, but it wasn't a huge drawback] Where things started to weaken for me, was the last quarter or so, when things got a tad bit too repetitive, and things kind of came to a grinding halt at what was supposed to be the climax of the entire novel. I would have loved a entry or two more about our MC before she entered the convent, as I found those sections very integral to building out more of her character, and the stopped quite abruptly and were not mentioned again.
3.75/5
This truly aided in filling the the 'Between two Fires" hole I've been trying to fill for this entire year, so finding this book was a lovely surprise for me. Quintessential winter horror vibes throughout, with events described via personal journal entries and additional post insights. Great descriptions of gore and violence, with a large cast of supporting characters [some ended up with more characterization than other, but it wasn't a huge drawback] Where things started to weaken for me, was the last quarter or so, when things got a tad bit too repetitive, and things kind of came to a grinding halt at what was supposed to be the climax of the entire novel. I would have loved a entry or two more about our MC before she entered the convent, as I found those sections very integral to building out more of her character, and the stopped quite abruptly and were not mentioned again.
August 24, 2026
What a ride! I did not have “nuns hunting a wolf demon” on my 2026 reading bingo card but here we are.
What I liked: imagery and descriptions of the atmosphere and the battles. The story wasn’t blasphemous, which I was worried about going into it!
What I didn’t like: the hunting and battles got kind of repetitive.
What I would change: add a little more demonic to the creatures. Sometimes it seemed like they were hunting really big wolves.
I recommend to those that don’t mind war gore and like their nuns badass.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!
What I liked: imagery and descriptions of the atmosphere and the battles. The story wasn’t blasphemous, which I was worried about going into it!
What I didn’t like: the hunting and battles got kind of repetitive.
What I would change: add a little more demonic to the creatures. Sometimes it seemed like they were hunting really big wolves.
I recommend to those that don’t mind war gore and like their nuns badass.
Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!
September 22, 2026
Nuns trapped in a cloister because of a monster in the woods.
August 15, 2026
I have learned that I don't like how Dime Novels break the fourth wall, which in turn means I don't really like this book. However, I appreciate the commitment to sticking with the time-period accuracy of how authors would write Dime Novels. I just felt that, at times, the narrator's interjections and complete switch in topic to her life before being sent to the convent were redundant, especially since the switch occurred during moments when tension was building. It just broke that tension completely.
What I really appreciate is the good representation of female rage, and this novella is full of it. I feel like the setting of a convent and the specific time period, as the women's suffrage movement was gaining traction, was perfect. It feels far back enough in time that stories of unknown monsters lurking in the New England woods were still a real thing, but still modern enough that it doesn't feel completely out of touch. The monster's descriptions were awesome and disturbing. It really reminded me of Annihilation's monsters, but it still felt unique.
Thank you, Netgally for the advance copy in exchange for my own opinion.
What I really appreciate is the good representation of female rage, and this novella is full of it. I feel like the setting of a convent and the specific time period, as the women's suffrage movement was gaining traction, was perfect. It feels far back enough in time that stories of unknown monsters lurking in the New England woods were still a real thing, but still modern enough that it doesn't feel completely out of touch. The monster's descriptions were awesome and disturbing. It really reminded me of Annihilation's monsters, but it still felt unique.
Thank you, Netgally for the advance copy in exchange for my own opinion.
August 4, 2026
In 1887, nuns in a Berkshire convent hunt predatory beasts called Gulo after an attack, aided by a mysterious warrior who trains them in violent vengeance.
💭💭🤔
📚2.5 stars.
📚 Thriller
📚Netgalley via Kindle
A MARRIED woman gets sent to a convent after her husband discovers she writes in a journal and writes novels. The husband throws several journals into the fire in front of her and decides she is mentally insane.
she sees multiple doctors and goes to multiple asylum and eventually The convent.
outside the snowy mountains the sisters must navigate the internal animal instincts (peeing outside and being naked ) etc... and get down to business to defeat the Gulos.
what is a Gulo im glad you asked.. its a black dog like beasts with long quills and a black tongue.
A sister show up right when they need her to help hunt the wild pack. The Gulo has eaten and hurt multiple nuns and young children. They must attack back!
2.5 stars because the ending is the only part worth it.
the middle is .. mid and uneventful.
however the concept is cool and it is something different. This is a very unhinged and graphic book which I don't mind.
0 spice but strange.
🧮
Stats: july 28th 2026 (Out now)
pages : 228
book 491 logged on my Goodreads
#netgalley #goodreads #bookgirlies #sisternun
#newthrillerbook
💭💭🤔
📚2.5 stars.
📚 Thriller
📚Netgalley via Kindle
A MARRIED woman gets sent to a convent after her husband discovers she writes in a journal and writes novels. The husband throws several journals into the fire in front of her and decides she is mentally insane.
she sees multiple doctors and goes to multiple asylum and eventually The convent.
outside the snowy mountains the sisters must navigate the internal animal instincts (peeing outside and being naked ) etc... and get down to business to defeat the Gulos.
what is a Gulo im glad you asked.. its a black dog like beasts with long quills and a black tongue.
A sister show up right when they need her to help hunt the wild pack. The Gulo has eaten and hurt multiple nuns and young children. They must attack back!
2.5 stars because the ending is the only part worth it.
the middle is .. mid and uneventful.
however the concept is cool and it is something different. This is a very unhinged and graphic book which I don't mind.
0 spice but strange.
🧮
Stats: july 28th 2026 (Out now)
pages : 228
book 491 logged on my Goodreads
#netgalley #goodreads #bookgirlies #sisternun
#newthrillerbook
July 31, 2026
Loved it! Adventure, excitement, blood, gore, holy women kicking ass!
August 8, 2026
A big thank you to NetGalley and Fringe Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Hail Holy Queens is a journal-style story written by Henrietta, who addresses the reader throughout her tale. Henrietta finds herself at a convent as part of her doctor and husband’s treatment plan for her behavioral problems, with her writing dark tales as the biggest problem. At the beginning of her stay, she keeps to herself, writing away in her cell and participating in convent life as little as possible. On the eve of her release, a snowstorm hits, and with it comes evil creatures and the Long Nun to guide the convent in a holy war.
What follows is a wild tale of battle nuns, wolf monsters, sisterly bonding, and a lot of blood and violence. Did I mention the blood? It's a crazy fun ride with some minor issues.
This first issue is definitely a me thing. This is a Catholic convent filled with nuns, so there are a lot of references to rituals, rites, and articles of clothing I had to look up just to understand the story. As a newcomer telling her story to readers who may or may not know what these things are, I think Henrietta should have explained these better.
Henrietta sounded a bit too modern at times when talking to the reader. The Long Nun did as well, but it felt different when she did. I got the feeling that she might have been an angel in disguise or something along those lines, so her speech didn’t bother me. Henrietta, on the other hand, was supposed to be a society woman, and her wording sometimes felt more modern than the late 1800s.
Lastly, when the nuns went on the hunt for the devil/demon (?) monsters, the story became a bit repetitive. This isn’t a long book so I feel like it shouldn’t have felt like it was dragging. But it did. Maybe the repetition was intentional, mimicking the nuns’ daily rituals? If so, I missed that.
Still, it was an interesting tale that danced the line of classic pulp horror and modern-day horror.
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a short, Catholic-themed pulp horror story.
Hail Holy Queens is a journal-style story written by Henrietta, who addresses the reader throughout her tale. Henrietta finds herself at a convent as part of her doctor and husband’s treatment plan for her behavioral problems, with her writing dark tales as the biggest problem. At the beginning of her stay, she keeps to herself, writing away in her cell and participating in convent life as little as possible. On the eve of her release, a snowstorm hits, and with it comes evil creatures and the Long Nun to guide the convent in a holy war.
What follows is a wild tale of battle nuns, wolf monsters, sisterly bonding, and a lot of blood and violence. Did I mention the blood? It's a crazy fun ride with some minor issues.
This first issue is definitely a me thing. This is a Catholic convent filled with nuns, so there are a lot of references to rituals, rites, and articles of clothing I had to look up just to understand the story. As a newcomer telling her story to readers who may or may not know what these things are, I think Henrietta should have explained these better.
Henrietta sounded a bit too modern at times when talking to the reader. The Long Nun did as well, but it felt different when she did. I got the feeling that she might have been an angel in disguise or something along those lines, so her speech didn’t bother me. Henrietta, on the other hand, was supposed to be a society woman, and her wording sometimes felt more modern than the late 1800s.
Lastly, when the nuns went on the hunt for the devil/demon (?) monsters, the story became a bit repetitive. This isn’t a long book so I feel like it shouldn’t have felt like it was dragging. But it did. Maybe the repetition was intentional, mimicking the nuns’ daily rituals? If so, I missed that.
Still, it was an interesting tale that danced the line of classic pulp horror and modern-day horror.
I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a short, Catholic-themed pulp horror story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5/5 stars
Hail Holy Queens grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go. Honestly, it's still hanging on a good few hours later after finishing it, which is usually the mark of a fantastic book in my experience.
This book starts with a bang and it never lets up. When I thought the stakes couldn't get any higher, they continued to be raised in the most brutal, gory fashion and I loved every minute of it. I never knew how much I needed some beast-killing nuns in my life until now, but I'm so glad I found out. There's no hesitation or skirting around the bush to be found here; everything is laid out in intricate, nasty detail--and that's a good thing. I wouldn't have felt so strongly about this novel if it shied away from the blood and guts of it all.
Henrietta (or Henry, as the sisters call her) was a great protagonist, but where Hail Holy Queens really shines is with the other characters. Even ones that only show up for a few brief sentences were great and felt like that had meaningful impact on the story as a whole. Setting the giant hunt in the middle of the winter during a blizzard was also a great choice. Every moment felt like a life or death scenario and there were real consequences to be felt throughout.
I really enjoyed my time with this novel, but the only thing holding it back from a true 5 star rating is the epilogue. The ending of the story itself was well done and felt like the perfect stopping place, so the epilogue felt a little unnecessary. I say it often when it comes to horror books, but it's something that remains true: sometimes (most of the time, even) keeping a little of the mystery around is better than trying to explain things. Still, I loved the book enough that I didn't let this change the way I saw the rest of it.
My thanks to Fringe Press and Netgalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
Hail Holy Queens grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go. Honestly, it's still hanging on a good few hours later after finishing it, which is usually the mark of a fantastic book in my experience.
This book starts with a bang and it never lets up. When I thought the stakes couldn't get any higher, they continued to be raised in the most brutal, gory fashion and I loved every minute of it. I never knew how much I needed some beast-killing nuns in my life until now, but I'm so glad I found out. There's no hesitation or skirting around the bush to be found here; everything is laid out in intricate, nasty detail--and that's a good thing. I wouldn't have felt so strongly about this novel if it shied away from the blood and guts of it all.
Henrietta (or Henry, as the sisters call her) was a great protagonist, but where Hail Holy Queens really shines is with the other characters. Even ones that only show up for a few brief sentences were great and felt like that had meaningful impact on the story as a whole. Setting the giant hunt in the middle of the winter during a blizzard was also a great choice. Every moment felt like a life or death scenario and there were real consequences to be felt throughout.
I really enjoyed my time with this novel, but the only thing holding it back from a true 5 star rating is the epilogue. The ending of the story itself was well done and felt like the perfect stopping place, so the epilogue felt a little unnecessary. I say it often when it comes to horror books, but it's something that remains true: sometimes (most of the time, even) keeping a little of the mystery around is better than trying to explain things. Still, I loved the book enough that I didn't let this change the way I saw the rest of it.
My thanks to Fringe Press and Netgalley for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.
September 4, 2026
Hail Holy Queens? Hail Holy Sh!t more like. This is a taught, atmospheric horror tale set (very effectively) in the 1890s. A Robert Eggers A24 film put to paper. The imagery, the feel of the story and its setting is every bit as vivid and all-encompassing as such a film would be.
We have nuns trapped inside their convent, during a winter storm, beset by evil beasts that are kind of like enormous badgers, with rows of sharp teeth, sharp quills, and the ability to manipulate human thoughts. The action starts early and doesn’t let up. Especially as the sisters decide the best defense is a good offence. They set out from the relative safety of their convent walls, armed with mostly homemade weapons, to find the beasts and finish them off. There is violence, blood, death, dismemberment and the drinking of large quantities of amaro. Along the way the group of nuns transform, bit by bit, from devout followers of church rules and expectations to a bunch of warriors who won’t take sh!t from anyone, beast or priest.
All of this is told to us in an epistolary format, the main narrator being a high society Gilded Age wife who’s been sent to the convent to cure her of her desire to write tawdry tales for pulp publications. This choice of narrator is highly successful. The author, Chris McGinley, nails the tone of late 19th century women’s literature, reader. And, the narrator is just unreliable enough to make us question the reality of the story, if not wholly, at least in some of the more ephemeral facts..
I don’t read a ton of horror, but picked this one up because of the number of recommendations from folks whose opinions I trust. Glad I did. It was a terrific read.
We have nuns trapped inside their convent, during a winter storm, beset by evil beasts that are kind of like enormous badgers, with rows of sharp teeth, sharp quills, and the ability to manipulate human thoughts. The action starts early and doesn’t let up. Especially as the sisters decide the best defense is a good offence. They set out from the relative safety of their convent walls, armed with mostly homemade weapons, to find the beasts and finish them off. There is violence, blood, death, dismemberment and the drinking of large quantities of amaro. Along the way the group of nuns transform, bit by bit, from devout followers of church rules and expectations to a bunch of warriors who won’t take sh!t from anyone, beast or priest.
All of this is told to us in an epistolary format, the main narrator being a high society Gilded Age wife who’s been sent to the convent to cure her of her desire to write tawdry tales for pulp publications. This choice of narrator is highly successful. The author, Chris McGinley, nails the tone of late 19th century women’s literature, reader. And, the narrator is just unreliable enough to make us question the reality of the story, if not wholly, at least in some of the more ephemeral facts..
I don’t read a ton of horror, but picked this one up because of the number of recommendations from folks whose opinions I trust. Glad I did. It was a terrific read.
September 9, 2026
NUNS. FIGHTING. DEMON. WOLVES. 🗡️
absolutely sold on the premise alone, and thankfully this was every bit as wild and bizarre as i wanted it to be. snowy convent, murderous creatures, holy vengeance and a group of nuns gradually becoming less interested in behaving themselves. say LESS.
a diary POV was such a fun choice bc the prose isn’t especially neat or tidy, there’s repetition (the narration wanders and the rhythm occasionally loops back on itself, but honestly… it’s a diary). i didn’t need it to sound polished, and personally i thought that slightly chaotic structure suited everything getting progressively more unhinged.
we’ve got a little too used to expecting every story about women to deliver biting relevant commentary. sometimes that lens is useful, sometimes it isn’t, and medieval nuns fighting demons are probably not the place to start demanding a perfect third-wave feminist manifesto lol (as some arc reviewers critiqued). women are allowed to exist inside the beliefs, limitations and realities of their own world without needing to perform empowerment in a way that feels recognisably modern to us, and i actually appreciate that a lot. 🤍
wild, bloody, weirdly joyful and honestly just a refreshing read. not polished in the conventional sense, but i don’t think i wanted polished from a book about battle nuns hunting hell-beasts through the snow anyway.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅
🩸 nuns vs demon wolves!!
❄️ snowy convent chaos
🕯️ diary POV + increasingly unhinged narration
🐺 messy, wild and weirdly refreshing
🙏 women allowed to exist naively and without ticking boxes
── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──
4 stars from me.
tysm to the author and publisher for the ARC. 🤍
absolutely sold on the premise alone, and thankfully this was every bit as wild and bizarre as i wanted it to be. snowy convent, murderous creatures, holy vengeance and a group of nuns gradually becoming less interested in behaving themselves. say LESS.
a diary POV was such a fun choice bc the prose isn’t especially neat or tidy, there’s repetition (the narration wanders and the rhythm occasionally loops back on itself, but honestly… it’s a diary). i didn’t need it to sound polished, and personally i thought that slightly chaotic structure suited everything getting progressively more unhinged.
we’ve got a little too used to expecting every story about women to deliver biting relevant commentary. sometimes that lens is useful, sometimes it isn’t, and medieval nuns fighting demons are probably not the place to start demanding a perfect third-wave feminist manifesto lol (as some arc reviewers critiqued). women are allowed to exist inside the beliefs, limitations and realities of their own world without needing to perform empowerment in a way that feels recognisably modern to us, and i actually appreciate that a lot. 🤍
wild, bloody, weirdly joyful and honestly just a refreshing read. not polished in the conventional sense, but i don’t think i wanted polished from a book about battle nuns hunting hell-beasts through the snow anyway.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅
🩸 nuns vs demon wolves!!
❄️ snowy convent chaos
🕯️ diary POV + increasingly unhinged narration
🐺 messy, wild and weirdly refreshing
🙏 women allowed to exist naively and without ticking boxes
── ⊹ ࣪ ˖♡˖ ࣪ ⊹ ──
4 stars from me.
tysm to the author and publisher for the ARC. 🤍
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Let’s set the stage: 1800s snowed in nuns vs. otherworldly, wolverine-esque creatures who can induce madness
What comes from this is an insanely wild, grotesque ride that did not let up 😮💨 This book is so much more than just a creature feature though. It’s filled with female rage. The rage towards the creatures for harming their own, rage towards the men in their lives, and rage towards the system that treats women like they should be meek and submissive and anything other is wrong. The nuns themselves turned just as animalistic as the creatures they hunted, and the growing camaraderie amongst them was delightful to witness.
The book itself felt like a fever dream. It is told as a written recollection from one of the nuns who was present, but I felt she was very unreliable. Considering why she was in the nunnery, I won’t spoil that 🤭, I really questioned if the story being told was the actual reality. That mixed with the madness the Gulo could induce, it was very hard to distinguish reality from illusion. It added another depth to the story, and I love an unreliable narrator.
Overall, I felt this was a fantastic horror and I enjoyed my time with these warrior nuns. Definitely recommend to those who love creature features and female rage 🙂↕️
Thank you NetGalley, Fringe Press, and Chris McGinley for the ARC! 🫶🏼
What comes from this is an insanely wild, grotesque ride that did not let up 😮💨 This book is so much more than just a creature feature though. It’s filled with female rage. The rage towards the creatures for harming their own, rage towards the men in their lives, and rage towards the system that treats women like they should be meek and submissive and anything other is wrong. The nuns themselves turned just as animalistic as the creatures they hunted, and the growing camaraderie amongst them was delightful to witness.
The book itself felt like a fever dream. It is told as a written recollection from one of the nuns who was present, but I felt she was very unreliable. Considering why she was in the nunnery, I won’t spoil that 🤭, I really questioned if the story being told was the actual reality. That mixed with the madness the Gulo could induce, it was very hard to distinguish reality from illusion. It added another depth to the story, and I love an unreliable narrator.
Overall, I felt this was a fantastic horror and I enjoyed my time with these warrior nuns. Definitely recommend to those who love creature features and female rage 🙂↕️
Thank you NetGalley, Fringe Press, and Chris McGinley for the ARC! 🫶🏼
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Fringe Press, #partner for the advanced copy of Hail Holy Queens in exchange for my honest review.
This is the 1st book to be published by Fringe Press, a small press that is publishing stories at the edge…well they certainly nailed it with this one!!
This story is one wild ride…and I was totally there for it!! It’s gory, it’s dark, it’s incredibly vivid and yet I could not put it down. This one got under my skin unlike anything else. Who knew a group of beast-killing nuns would end of being such an all-consuming book?
I loved the main protagonist, Henrietta, or Henry, as she ends up going by. Her character arc might be one of my favorites I’ve read in a long time…and I refuse to spoil it in any way. All I’ll say is I love that the book is written via her diary entries and that is how we “meet” the other characters, but they still are as vivid as Henry.
I loved this one and cannot wait to see what both the author and the publisher do next!!
My reviews can also be found on my blog: Always With A Book
This is the 1st book to be published by Fringe Press, a small press that is publishing stories at the edge…well they certainly nailed it with this one!!
This story is one wild ride…and I was totally there for it!! It’s gory, it’s dark, it’s incredibly vivid and yet I could not put it down. This one got under my skin unlike anything else. Who knew a group of beast-killing nuns would end of being such an all-consuming book?
I loved the main protagonist, Henrietta, or Henry, as she ends up going by. Her character arc might be one of my favorites I’ve read in a long time…and I refuse to spoil it in any way. All I’ll say is I love that the book is written via her diary entries and that is how we “meet” the other characters, but they still are as vivid as Henry.
I loved this one and cannot wait to see what both the author and the publisher do next!!
My reviews can also be found on my blog: Always With A Book
July 14, 2026
NETGALLEY ARC, publishing July 26, 2026
From the synopsis of this book, I knew I was going to have a good time. And I did. But the repetition dragged this down for me. Way down.
I was 💯invested until around 70% when everything kept repeating itself along with gratuitous blood and guts.
The author is on to something. (Was on to something?) Because this could have gone in SO MANY incredible ways and it just didn’t for me.
I wanted so badly to rate this higher because, on paper it’s everything I want. And I am all for a story of a woman liberating herself.
One thing I DID appreciate about this story is that it never went into sexual acts. Sexuality was hinted at but never explicitly detailed.
If you’re into warrior nuns, fell beasts, snowy landscapes, and feminine rage, you will love this. But be ready for the repetition.
QUOTE: “Cosmopolitan society, she archly explained, is not necessary to the cultivation of true intelligence.”
From the synopsis of this book, I knew I was going to have a good time. And I did. But the repetition dragged this down for me. Way down.
I was 💯invested until around 70% when everything kept repeating itself along with gratuitous blood and guts.
The author is on to something. (Was on to something?) Because this could have gone in SO MANY incredible ways and it just didn’t for me.
I wanted so badly to rate this higher because, on paper it’s everything I want. And I am all for a story of a woman liberating herself.
One thing I DID appreciate about this story is that it never went into sexual acts. Sexuality was hinted at but never explicitly detailed.
If you’re into warrior nuns, fell beasts, snowy landscapes, and feminine rage, you will love this. But be ready for the repetition.
QUOTE: “Cosmopolitan society, she archly explained, is not necessary to the cultivation of true intelligence.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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