Book: Milkteeth by Caitlin Starling
Reviewed by Weird | weird.reads.books
Rating: 4.25/5
This is such an interesting take Caitlin Starling took for the concept of a broodmother. When I hear the term, I always think of the broodmothers in Dragon Age where they are female captives transformed into a cannibalistic monster that births darkspawn. Here, they are vampires who feed newly turned fledglings their own blood to ease them into immortal life, helping them adjust to the taste long before they ever hunt humans on their own.
At its core, Milkteeth is a visceral exploration of motherhood, physical transformation, and the exhausting, complex dynamics between a parent and child. Beatrice, our main character, is a broodmother who takes on too many fledglings at once and soon starts to crave something more than blood.
The vampire hierarchy and lore Starling builds here are completely fascinating. Undiluted human blood is simply too overwhelming for a fledgling, and once they’re fully weaned, they enter a structured society with distinct roles. I really want to spend more time in this world to see how these vampires function above ground.
I had the privilege of experiencing both the eARC and ALC for this release. Stevi Incremona’s narration carries such a warm, soothing tone that you feel almost coddled by a loving mother, which makes the absolute brutality of certain scenes feel ten times more eerie. It’s an absolutely fantastic vocal performance.
I would recommend this read for anyone who loves horror surrounding motherhood and body horror. Milkteeth had me squirming in my seat, but I couldn’t put it down.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the eARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.