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Sweet Saints
Not yet published
Expected 30 Mar 27A cozy fantasy in which a former princess, now bounty hunter, unexpectedly finds herself raising a selkie pup.
As a bounty hunter for animal wives, Sister Hound makes her living rescuing selkies, fox-brides, and other enchanted creatures who have been kidnapped by human men and kept, often against their wills, as wives. Hired by their kin, she hunts down the men who keep them and brings the stolen sisters home.
One morning, a selkie leaves a baby on her doorstep. Reluctantly, Sister Hound takes the child in, and begins raising it as her own—until she meets a former selkie, now a human woman, who offers to take the baby off her hands.
When the baby’s true mother returns, Sister Hound faces an impossible which of the women should keep the baby?
As a bounty hunter for animal wives, Sister Hound makes her living rescuing selkies, fox-brides, and other enchanted creatures who have been kidnapped by human men and kept, often against their wills, as wives. Hired by their kin, she hunts down the men who keep them and brings the stolen sisters home.
One morning, a selkie leaves a baby on her doorstep. Reluctantly, Sister Hound takes the child in, and begins raising it as her own—until she meets a former selkie, now a human woman, who offers to take the baby off her hands.
When the baby’s true mother returns, Sister Hound faces an impossible which of the women should keep the baby?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 30, 2027
About the author
Cassandra Khaw
127 books3,241 followersCassandra Khaw is an award-winning game writer.
Their recent novella Nothing but Blackened Teeth was a British
Fantasy, World Fantasy, Shirley Jackson, and Bram Stoker
Award finalist. Their debut collection Breakable Things is now
out.
Their recent novella Nothing but Blackened Teeth was a British
Fantasy, World Fantasy, Shirley Jackson, and Bram Stoker
Award finalist. Their debut collection Breakable Things is now
out.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
CASSANDRA KHAW HAS WRITTEN A COSY FANTASY?! *SCREAMS IN BOOKWYRM*
GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME!!!
After reading: AND IT’S PHENOMENALLY EXCELLENT, GOOD GODS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rtc when I'm allowed talk about it!!!
GIMME GIMME GIMME GIMME!!!
After reading: AND IT’S PHENOMENALLY EXCELLENT, GOOD GODS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
rtc when I'm allowed talk about it!!!
September 30, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for my advanced digital arc.
Sister Hound, former princess, makes a living as a bounty hunter and wife rescuer. Selkies, fox-brides, crane-wives, and more, Sister Hound is tasked with hunting down the human men who kidnap all kinds of enchanted creatures. But one morning, the enchanted creature finds her. A baby selkie is left on her doorstep, and Sister Hound is left no choice but to begrudgingly take the child in. But the child’s appearance, or perhaps existence, causes a stir among the enchanted creatures, drawing danger to Sister Hound’s home that she must decide whether to face for the child’s sake, or abandon the child and save her own skin, no pun intended.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I read that the Cassandra Khaw had written cozy fantasy, but I knew I had to find out immediately. A short read, but full of the liveliest world, I enjoyed every minute. The story was different from Khaw’s usual, darker stories, but not entirely. There was a lot of hope, and a lot of light, but monsters and gore still happily made this story their chew toy. Sweet and only mildly disturbing, I think I would be happy to read it again.
Sister Hound, former princess, makes a living as a bounty hunter and wife rescuer. Selkies, fox-brides, crane-wives, and more, Sister Hound is tasked with hunting down the human men who kidnap all kinds of enchanted creatures. But one morning, the enchanted creature finds her. A baby selkie is left on her doorstep, and Sister Hound is left no choice but to begrudgingly take the child in. But the child’s appearance, or perhaps existence, causes a stir among the enchanted creatures, drawing danger to Sister Hound’s home that she must decide whether to face for the child’s sake, or abandon the child and save her own skin, no pun intended.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I read that the Cassandra Khaw had written cozy fantasy, but I knew I had to find out immediately. A short read, but full of the liveliest world, I enjoyed every minute. The story was different from Khaw’s usual, darker stories, but not entirely. There was a lot of hope, and a lot of light, but monsters and gore still happily made this story their chew toy. Sweet and only mildly disturbing, I think I would be happy to read it again.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I'll never feel qualified to review a Cassandra Khaw novel, as reading her work often makes me feel more complexly than I could ever articulate with my own words. It feels inadequate to try to follow up intelligent writing with, "I loved it", yet here we are.
Cassandra Khan often writes incredibly dark and haunting stories which stick with you after you've finished. In this instance, this surprise 'cozy fantasy' is a unique blend of Khaw's signature darkness, with a hopeful touch of light. From the time I learned of selkies and their burden of non-consensual ownership through the loss of their pelts, I felt outraged on behalf of them. "Sweet Saints" allows me the peace of a community which protects their own, a community of similar beings who are also at risk of being taken for brides without their approval. Sister Hound is a reluctant hero, a kind of 'bounty hunter' for this community, and she was a delight to be able to spend time with.
The writing in "Sweet Saints' is beautiful, and at times tragic. I found myself emotionally tied to these characters from the first page. I thought Cassandra Khaw had me with her previous oeuvre, though now I crave more of this new world she has created.
Thank you to Cassandra Khaw for sharing your feelings and experiences with the world. Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read, and love, this eGalley early (Publication: March 30, 2027 - I'll be on the pre-order list). Thank you to Union Square & Co (a subsidiary of Sterling Publishing) for the opportunity to read this incredible fantasy by an amazing author.
Cassandra Khan often writes incredibly dark and haunting stories which stick with you after you've finished. In this instance, this surprise 'cozy fantasy' is a unique blend of Khaw's signature darkness, with a hopeful touch of light. From the time I learned of selkies and their burden of non-consensual ownership through the loss of their pelts, I felt outraged on behalf of them. "Sweet Saints" allows me the peace of a community which protects their own, a community of similar beings who are also at risk of being taken for brides without their approval. Sister Hound is a reluctant hero, a kind of 'bounty hunter' for this community, and she was a delight to be able to spend time with.
The writing in "Sweet Saints' is beautiful, and at times tragic. I found myself emotionally tied to these characters from the first page. I thought Cassandra Khaw had me with her previous oeuvre, though now I crave more of this new world she has created.
Thank you to Cassandra Khaw for sharing your feelings and experiences with the world. Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read, and love, this eGalley early (Publication: March 30, 2027 - I'll be on the pre-order list). Thank you to Union Square & Co (a subsidiary of Sterling Publishing) for the opportunity to read this incredible fantasy by an amazing author.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was such an interesting book to review because I’ve never quite read anything like it before. I’ve encountered a few stories about the women who are taken to become brides, but this one felt especially unique in its execution. The story has a distinct tone and rhythm that set it apart, and I really appreciated how seamlessly everything flowed from beginning to end.
It was a relatively quick read, but that didn’t make it feel any less meaningful. In fact, the shorter length complemented the story beautifully. I absolutely loved the cadence of the writing, it was lyrical, whimsical, and wonderfully playful. There was something almost dreamlike about the way the tale unfolded, making it feel both enchanting and easy to lose myself in.
While I didn’t necessarily feel an overt connection to the individual characters or the world itself, I still found the central idea incredibly moving. At its heart, this is a simple yet beautiful tale about loving something so deeply that it inspires invention. There’s something profoundly heartfelt about that kind of devotion, and I admired the way the story explored it without becoming overly complicated.
The book’s charm comes from its simplicity, its unusual premise, and the warmth woven throughout the narrative. It felt like the kind of story that can be read quickly but linger in your mind long afterward. Beautiful, heartfelt, and wonderfully distinctive, this is a book I could easily see myself returning to again and again.
This was such an interesting book to review because I’ve never quite read anything like it before. I’ve encountered a few stories about the women who are taken to become brides, but this one felt especially unique in its execution. The story has a distinct tone and rhythm that set it apart, and I really appreciated how seamlessly everything flowed from beginning to end.
It was a relatively quick read, but that didn’t make it feel any less meaningful. In fact, the shorter length complemented the story beautifully. I absolutely loved the cadence of the writing, it was lyrical, whimsical, and wonderfully playful. There was something almost dreamlike about the way the tale unfolded, making it feel both enchanting and easy to lose myself in.
While I didn’t necessarily feel an overt connection to the individual characters or the world itself, I still found the central idea incredibly moving. At its heart, this is a simple yet beautiful tale about loving something so deeply that it inspires invention. There’s something profoundly heartfelt about that kind of devotion, and I admired the way the story explored it without becoming overly complicated.
The book’s charm comes from its simplicity, its unusual premise, and the warmth woven throughout the narrative. It felt like the kind of story that can be read quickly but linger in your mind long afterward. Beautiful, heartfelt, and wonderfully distinctive, this is a book I could easily see myself returning to again and again.
September 29, 2026
Odd but definitely a sort of cozy mystery.
Sweet Saints brings us Sister Hound , a forgotten princess who spends her days rescuing brides of folklore and fairytales whose skins have been stolen by mortal husbands. When a transformed child ends up at her doorstep she is on the lookout for its skin and its creator but she’s not the only one searching and with the Wild Hunt eager to right what appears to be a magical wrong, the stakes have never been higher.
I did not expect this to be so short so a lot of the world is thrown at you quickly and as someone who only knows the selkie myth I was a little lost and there wasn’t much time for catching up. I really enjoyed the foxes I thought they were hilarious adding levity with their genuine humor to Sister Hounds more blunt like attitude.
I wish ultimately this was long so we got to fully sink into this world that seems so much grander than the snapshot were given. Being able to see more of her rescues and the development of this sort of found family would have really helped me connect to the story and make a bigger impact but it’s still accomplished in the short time we have.
This is very different than Library which I didn’t even put together was the same author which is an absolute credit as I felt like I was in a cloudy coastal town wrapped in blankets for this and horrified at the other so definitely find yourself a writer who can do both!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**
Sweet Saints brings us Sister Hound , a forgotten princess who spends her days rescuing brides of folklore and fairytales whose skins have been stolen by mortal husbands. When a transformed child ends up at her doorstep she is on the lookout for its skin and its creator but she’s not the only one searching and with the Wild Hunt eager to right what appears to be a magical wrong, the stakes have never been higher.
I did not expect this to be so short so a lot of the world is thrown at you quickly and as someone who only knows the selkie myth I was a little lost and there wasn’t much time for catching up. I really enjoyed the foxes I thought they were hilarious adding levity with their genuine humor to Sister Hounds more blunt like attitude.
I wish ultimately this was long so we got to fully sink into this world that seems so much grander than the snapshot were given. Being able to see more of her rescues and the development of this sort of found family would have really helped me connect to the story and make a bigger impact but it’s still accomplished in the short time we have.
This is very different than Library which I didn’t even put together was the same author which is an absolute credit as I felt like I was in a cloudy coastal town wrapped in blankets for this and horrified at the other so definitely find yourself a writer who can do both!
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review!**
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Cassandra Khaw proves again why I will read anything and everything they write.
In less than 150 pages, Khaw has crafted a richly beautiful tale about belonging, devotion, and the stubborn refusal to give up on the people around you. It is a story not about a found family, but a found community - about the bonds that form by choice and how home is built, one cup of hot chocolate or simple conversation at a time. This theme echoes throughout the book, from the brave yet occasionally oblivious Sister Hound who spends her time tracking down men who capture selkies to make their unwilling brides, to the anxious local tanner who only wants to do right by his wife.
Khaw's writing is as gorgeously lyrical as always, capturing so much emotion into every word. I cared about these characters from the first time I met them and found myself tearing up at certain sentences near the end. Daji will probably remain my favorite, but even side characters like the crane wives (who are only featured in one scene) stuck in my mind after finishing. I cannot recommend this book enough.
In less than 150 pages, Khaw has crafted a richly beautiful tale about belonging, devotion, and the stubborn refusal to give up on the people around you. It is a story not about a found family, but a found community - about the bonds that form by choice and how home is built, one cup of hot chocolate or simple conversation at a time. This theme echoes throughout the book, from the brave yet occasionally oblivious Sister Hound who spends her time tracking down men who capture selkies to make their unwilling brides, to the anxious local tanner who only wants to do right by his wife.
Khaw's writing is as gorgeously lyrical as always, capturing so much emotion into every word. I cared about these characters from the first time I met them and found myself tearing up at certain sentences near the end. Daji will probably remain my favorite, but even side characters like the crane wives (who are only featured in one scene) stuck in my mind after finishing. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Want to Read
August 30, 2026I think this book looks good, and I'm interested in reading it when it comes out. However, there is an error that is bothering me terribly in the description. If the author or someone from the publishing company reads this, please fix this error, especially if it's to be printed on the book. It seems to be present on other sites listing this book as well.
"Sister Hound must make an impossible decision: to whom does this singular/peculiar, occasionally skinless baby belong to?" should read, "Sister Hound must make an impossible decision: to whom does this singular/peculiar, occasionally skinless baby belong?" No need for that second "to." :)
"Sister Hound must make an impossible decision: to whom does this singular/peculiar, occasionally skinless baby belong to?" should read, "Sister Hound must make an impossible decision: to whom does this singular/peculiar, occasionally skinless baby belong?" No need for that second "to." :)
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you netgalley for the arc of this book 🦭🏹🤍
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This was such a beautiful read honestly, i am in awe how talented the author is, how they were able to create an atmosphere that was so enchanting and our fmc she is badass, the story was dark, yet there is hope in how she saves the creatures, the forced brides remind of me real word, the women and their lack of autonomy and being send as bride to men they never knew in old times, if this was even the metaphor but I saw it like that, all in love an amazing read this was.
»»——— ᢉ𐭩 ———««
This was such a beautiful read honestly, i am in awe how talented the author is, how they were able to create an atmosphere that was so enchanting and our fmc she is badass, the story was dark, yet there is hope in how she saves the creatures, the forced brides remind of me real word, the women and their lack of autonomy and being send as bride to men they never knew in old times, if this was even the metaphor but I saw it like that, all in love an amazing read this was.
Review of advance copy received from Author
LOOK I WILL ONE HUNDRED PERCENT BE WRITING A MORE THOUGHT OUT REVIEW IN THE FUTURE BUT ONCE AGAIN CASSANDRA HAS KILLED IT AND IDK HOW TO BE NORMAL ABOUT IT
I LOVE PEST I WOULD DIE FOR PEST!!!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an arc for not just a review but also to destroy my brain :)
I LOVE PEST I WOULD DIE FOR PEST!!!
Thank you to the author for providing me with an arc for not just a review but also to destroy my brain :)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews