“Welcome, Dear Visitor, to my humble little museum of medieval oddities. I am the Curator. Care to join me for a little spin through these echoing halls? I have such sights to show you, if only you think you’re brave enough. Follow me—but be mindful not to leave the lighted path. I cannot guarantee your safety should you stray into the shadows.

My thanks to HOWL Society Press for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Howls From the Dark Ages
An Anthology of Medieval Horror’.

This is a collection of historical horror stories published by the HOWL Society (Horror-Obsessed Writing and Literature Society). The anthology is edited by P.L. McMillan and Solomon Forse with a Foreword by Christopher Buehlman.

As the publishers describe it: ‘Uncover the secret annals of untold history in these eighteen medieval manuscripts. Each tortured scribe will bring you face to face with ancient horrors lurking in cursed castles, wild woodlands, haunted hamlets, and mysterious monasteries.’

I appreciated Christopher Buehlman foreword titled: ‘Writing Medieval Horror Fiction for Fun and … Well, Mainly for Fun’. He writes of the painstaking research he undertakes in order to get the small details about a culture, landscape, architecture, and the like historically accurate. He also writes of the importance of religion and the perceived reality of demons and Hell to those living during those times.

While these issues might not matter to all readers they are important to me as when reading historical fiction of whatever sub genre I seek an immersive experience and don’t like my attention being pulled away by glaring anachronisms.

It did seem that the editors approached the anthology in this spirit and curated this collection accordingly. They have structured each story as part of a tour with a Curator providing a short introduction to each tale along with an illustration of a corresponding artefact. I felt that it gave the anthology a sense of flow as well as introduced a touch of humour into the darkness.

As with any collection of stories there were ones that stood out more than others for me. Still, they all provided a consistent level of writing and excellent storytelling that held my attention throughout.

I will admit that I did find the degree of body horror in some tales rather strong for my taste, though I continued reading. I had to wonder if those contributors were seeking to outdo one another in producing the grossest scenes? Certainly memorable!

I loved the way the anthology was presented with striking cover art that set the stage for the contents. The book was rounded off with short biographies for each contributor, including the artists. Each was accompanied by a cartoon portrait with the subject dressed in medieval garb.

I would definitely recommend ‘Howls From the Dark Ages’ to all readers of horror fiction.

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley but it has not affected my review of the contents.

I'm on record as a fan of horror, fantasy, and Middle Ages history, so this seemed like an easy-A from me, but I still went in skeptical. I'd seen the blurb that this was in the vein of Christopher Buehlman's Between Two Fires, yet I hadn't gotten to that book of his yet (that blasted TBR pile is huge!), though I'd read his other works. I was so relieved as I traversed the pages inside this book to find that it was beyond my hopes in its delivery. Each tale was evocative and unique from anything I'd read previous.

Each tales of the 18 included nailed an atmosphere of realism in the settings - ancient castles, misty villages, several non-"traditional European" medieval locales - along with a spot on sense of dread as the tales unfolded. I hadn't read anything like this beforehand, and I didn't know what a void I'd had in my library to-date. I'd quite like to see more of this.

Standouts from the book for me were: The Crowing, Angelus, Brother Cornelius, In Every Drop, The Mouth of Hell, and The Final Book of Sainte Foy's Miracles. But it's important to note that every tale delivered on its promise, these just led the pack. The one exception for me - and this is just a personal preference, as I've never been a fan of poetry - was the story "The Lai of the Danse Macabre" (written in octameter). A bit of a plonk as it was the sole break from standard prose, but still managed to stick the landing.

This book was such a breath of fresh air as a new genre (to me) and so well done that I consider myself a new devotee, and I'll look for more like it, and not only from these editors/authors.

Grade: A

This is a collection of twenty-two medieval-themed short horror stories, assembled over the pandemic and certainly flavored by that.

I wanted to love this. I wanted so badly. I love good horror and I am an early career researcher in the field of medieval history. I'm particularly interested in how we as modern people form our ideas of the Middle Ages. Then the foreword said that "The Strain" was brilliantly understated. I recoiled. The editor boasted about his undergraduate major in French and that he'd read A Distant Mirror. He proclaimed that feels the need to embroider his writing with details that don't add anything to the story but are merely there to show off his knowledge. He continues this over the collection by interspersing Cryptkeeper-level asides between the stories.

Mostly these stories seem like audition pieces for a novel, endings hastily arranged to keep word count. And, as the editor has promised, they're buried in unecessary details, as if the authors are afraid that the reader hasn't realized that this takes place in a time not our own. Prithees and yes and gads about. Despite all that, nothing feels authentic.

As for the horror: there isn't much. There are some scenarios that, in the hands of more skilled writers, would be anywhere from spooky to terrifying. Unfortunately everything is so overwritten, so overexplained, that there is no chance for the atmosphere to breathe. Multiples of these stories have philosophical arguments about the nature of medieval society. There are crones and knights and reliquaries and reciting of Wikipedia'd regions of France and it's just so hollow. Endless gore, no fright. This unfortunately remains true in the three stories set outside of medieval Europe. The best of that lot - and the collection - is C. B. Jones' The Forgotten Valley: it's spare enough to build a little tension.

It is editorial misconduct that Jessica Peters' work of faux-medieval doggerel was allowed into the collection, let alone to close it.

Two stars, to be polite. I do want to read some of the novels that these short stories want to be. C. B. Jones was all right. I am begging everyone else to stop preening over how much they googled.

To be honest, I'm not that interested in anthologies. This one, though, seems to be the exception. All of the stories were written well, and will definitely send you down a Medieval-Age rabbit hole. Would recommend :)

If you’re interested in horror and medieval stories then this anthology is perfect for you. Medieval settings aren’t really my go to when choosing books to read, but I will pick them up from time to time. I did enjoy my time with this book; the stories were interesting and I was thoroughly creeped out by the end! Below I’m going to dive a little bit deeper with three of my favorite stories from the bunch.

The Crowing / Caleb Stephens
Cateline was taken by the Crows when she was five. Thirteen years later she is set to be sacrificed to the Black Well. Will she be saved or can she save herself?

I loved the outcome of this story. I think it was a great way to end, and I was really interested in reading to find out what would happen to Cateline. I would love to read more of her story!


In Every Drop / Lindsey Ragsdale
People have been disappearing from the village, only to be found later bloody and slashed apart. Something is stalking the village. What lengths will a mother go to to protect her child?

I was invested in learning more about the monster, and what the mother and daughter would do since they didn’t seem to be able to leave the village. I loved the story element of it being too hot during the day to do errands, so the villagers were basically forced to do things during the night when the monster was active.


A Dowry for your Hand / Michelle Tang

Lu Xian and his parents are finally meeting with his potential bride and her parents at his home. They are meeting to talk of their potential marriage, but what if Lu Xian had promised himself to another?

This story creeped me out a bunch. I loved the concept of Lu Xian being betrothed to another, something tragic happening to her, but then there are still consequences of breaking that promise. Almost like Corpse Bride, but with a much more sinister theme.


Thanks to HOWL Society Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

This anthology sent me down all kinds of Medieval rabbit holes. Most books don't make me trot off to do research, but Howls from the Dark Ages had me looking up everything from fashion to musical instruments. To me, a book that makes you want to know more is a good thing.

Although the stories were nice in their gory ways, some of them didn't feel too Medievally,, almost like they could have been set anytime, anywhere, but hey, this is a Dark Age anthology so let's throw in men in tights.

Speaking of tights, that's what Errol Flynn wore in The Techicolor Adventures of Robin Hood. What the guys wore way back yonder were hosen, two separate pieces tied to baggie underpants called braies. So yeah, their underwear did show between the pair of hose, but what the hey. They had good ventilation. Later, the codpiece was invented because too often the men's privates were public. Anyway, a story or two had men wearing tights, but they wouldn't have been tights as we know them.

And, the only musical instruments mentioned were trumpets. No! The Dark Ages had such good instruments even if they made you want to cover your ears and scream. The sackbut, the bombard, the racket. Yes, we got the word racket (as in "stop making that racket) from this loud instrument.. The stories would feel more Medievally if things peculiar to that time were mentioned.

A few stories were set in other continents besides Europe. Asia and the Anasazi in southwest North America were featured. Of course, the so-called Dark Ages weren't dark for China and the Americas. China was flourishing and the Anasazi were remarkably healthy compared to their European counterparts.

Enough of my being too picky. I had some favorites that did feel 900 years old.. My favorite was The Final Book of St. Foy's Miracles by ME Bronstein. The patron saint of thieves! What's not to like? Another standout was Schizzare by Bridget D. Brave. Purple mushrooms! I also enjoyed The Fourth Scene by Brian Evenson. Very imaginative.

Shout out to the fantastic artwork and amusing cover, all done by varying artists, but all very cool.

If you're a medievalist you might be disappointed at the numbers of real horrors of the Dark Ages that were left out., but they are still interesting and scary stories. Thanks to Netgalley and the Howl Society for allowing me to read and review a copy of Howls from the Dark Ages.

This collection had a very high bar for writing quality. Even the first story, The Crowing, which was written in present tense which I generally abhor, was well done and I got into the story. This one concerned the nature of sacrifice. I found it very original and it kept my interest all through.

We had sorcerer monks and other very atmospheric Dark Age themes, which I love. Even the ones that got more graphic than I usually like were so well-written that I couldn't help but enjoy them, each for their own unique qualities.

Original ideas were very prevalent which made the reading experience a journey through dark places not to be forgotten. I will definitely be following up on some of the contributing authors to see what else they've written.

I enjoyed this collection. As with any anthology there were certain stories I enjoyed more than others and these will of course be different for every reader. The stories I enjoyed most were:

In Every Drop by Lindsey Ragsdale
Lady of Leer Castle by Christopher O’Halloran
Schizzare by Bridget D. Brave
White Owl by Stevie Edwards
The Lai of the Danse Macabre by Jessica Peter

These were the ones which stood out for me but, if I had to choose, I would say The Lai of the Danse Macabre was my favourite. I think putting this lyrical/poetic story at the end helped to bring my journey through the museum to a close. The museum setting was a really great idea and brings the stories together cohesively in a fun and immersive way.

Although there were some very engaging stories, I did find some quite difficult to get through. I admittedly don’t have much experience with medieval horror as a genre, however I think my struggle came from the repetition of themes in some of the stories. I really enjoyed when ‘the curator’ led us towards the more unique stories vs the larger number of religious/crusader themed ones.

That said, the majority of these stories only took me around 15 minutes to read. Personally I think this is perfect for an anthology as it meant that I was able to read a story or two during my lunch breaks at work and it didn’t take me too long to read the stories I found less engaging. Reading this as a digital copy also meant that the built in dictionary feature came in very useful for a quick check on words or phrases I wasn’t familiar with!

Overall, I liked this book and will look out for more from HOWL Society Press, perhaps with a slightly different focus.

Any horror anthology is a mixed bag, and in this one the mixture just wasn’t to my taste. Quite a few of the stories featured gross body horror and/or blasphemy (of the “God is evil / indifferent / non-existent” variety), and I’m a fan of neither. That said, there are definitely some well-written stories here, and it was interesting to see how the various authors play with elements from the life and religious practices of the whole Medieval time period (the stories are not strictly confined to the early-Medieval “Dark Ages”).

Your enjoyment of the book will depend a lot on your taste in horror. I think that someone from a Roman Catholic background might have even more problems with the book than I did, and someone who likes “gross horror” would probably enjoy it a lot more.

Every single story was wonderfully done. This is an anthology full of epic action and adventure, fantasy, and horror! No matter what you are looking for in a book, this has it. I loved how the editors included a narrator, it made the flow of reading addictive. This is one that's difficult to put down once it's opened and will offer every reader something that will stick with them long after the final page.

5/5 stars.


A little bit about me. I took a lot of Old English courses in undergrad, Beowulf is one of my favorite works of literature ever, and I love, love, love illuminated manuscripts (my username is Liber Monstrorum, after the catalogue). I love monsters, and I love the different ways in which different cultures approach and interpret and place them. Yet most of the fiction (even the horror fiction) I've read previously based on medieval-era art and folklore are dry and boring and not fun at all. I went into this collection hopeful but prepared to be disappointed.

But this anthology. Y'all.

I devoured this all in one sitting. Was not expecting to, was bored and in a bit of a slump and figured I'd muddle my way through some of my Netgalley reads so I could petend to be productive.

But Y'ALL. The stories were interesting and fresh and fun. I was over the moon to see a story about a Blemmya and it actually being interesting. They're such funny little guys in concept but that illustration of the Blemmya clutching the illuminated frame of its illustration is one of the most terrifying things I have ever seen."The Fourth Scene" took that concept of imprisonment and breaking boundaries and did something new and cool with it. I genuinely did not expect the story to go where it did--the twist came out of left field and it was so well-executed.

I also really appreciated the diversity. So often medieval-inspired fiction only looks at or derives inspiration from extremely specific parts of the world (and even then, only specific parts of those specific parts). They forget that other parts of the world existed then, too, and that people traveled. And that queer people existed, not just in reality but in literature and folklore as well.

The quality of writing is exquisite. I had to force myself to slow down and actually read sections of "The Dark Quadrivium" because I was so eager to know what happened, and boy was I glad. The tenseness? The pacing? Avoiding spoilers here, because you (yes, you) should absolutely read it, but the imagery as the main character progressed is a masterclass in cosmic horror.

For those who love gore and guts and blood, there's plenty of that and it is gorgeous. Plenty of body horror, too. The scene at the end of "Deus Vult" was so, SO beautifully written. The final scene of "The Dark Quadrivium", are you kidding me? My favorite horror image is (I know I said no spoilers but I really want to talk about this) are flesh churches and flesh portals, and the ones we get in "The Dark Quadrivium" are only of the highest quality cuts.

I'm used to having at least one or two short stories that I really just don't like in a collection, but I can't say that here. I do have some favorites, don't get me wrong, but as a whole there was not a single story I disliked.

Even if you aren't into medieval literature/folklore, this collection doesn't require you to know it. If you do, it does add to the experience--the realization of what "Brother Cornelius" was pulling from almost bowled me over because I wasn't expecting it and I had no clue why the author chose it but goddamn did he knock it out of the park--but the knowledge certainly isn't required for it.

Anyway, I'm off to look into joining the HOWL society. If they have taste this good in horror I simply have to join the book club ASAP.

Engaging selection of the supernatural and mystical based in the dark ages - a good variety of suspense to horror all based in a dark time period of superstition and corruption. Highly recommended!

This collection of horror stories set in medieval times was everything I could have wanted in a quick and entertaining read! Each of the characters depicted in the short stories were perfectly flushed out. The setting descriptions were also so intricately portrayed that I was completely submerged in the gothic atmosphere of the stories. So to that I say well done!!

This book officially got me out of a reading slump.

Howls From the Dark Ages is an macabre anthology of medieval horror stories and it was such an excellent read.

Each story was unique, chilling, grotesque - and I finished wanted more. I also likes how each story was presented as exhibits with a ‘guide’ leading you between each story to the next one.

I’ll be keeping an eye out for other stories from the HOWL Society in the future.

The stories in this anthology are consistently excellent. The content is simply superlative. Given the incredible list of authors in the table of contents, I wasn't surprised.

What I wasn't expecting was the attention to detail in the art and presentation of the book. The cover art looks just like the covers of several of the medieval history and medieval literature books on my shelf. The pictures with the authors bios is also a nice touch.

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced e-copy. I will be purchasing the print version anyway because I will read it again and I want to have it on my shelves. It will just be a matter of deciding, does it go on the horror anthologies shelf or does it belong with my medieval literature books?

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I didn't enjoy reading this as much as the previous HOWL, and the medieval theme is the reason why. I just couldn't get into any of the stories; I found myself being impatient while reading, and spacing out. No disrespect to the authors, but I feel it's really because I'm not into howlies of ye olde times.

I want thank HOWL Society Press for sending me this book for an honest review

What I loved about this book is that it was like you were visiting an museum with haunted artifacts and with the curator telling you about each artifact that sends you back in time. When I was reading their part I kept picturing demonologist John Zaffi, like his aunt and uncle Ed and Lorraine Warren has a haunted museum, plus he had a show called Haunted Collector.

Rated 5
“Palette” by J.L. Kiefer
“In Every Drop” by Lindsey Ragsdale
“White Owl” by Stevie Edwards
“The Lai of the Danse Macabre” by Jessica Peter

Rated 4
“The Crowing” by Caleb Stephens
“Deus Vult” by Ethan Yoder
“A Dowry for Your Hand” by Michelle Tang
“The Forgotten Valley” by C.B. Jones

Rated 3
“Angelus” by Philippa Evans
“Brother Cornelius” by Peter Ong Cook
“In Thrall to This Good Earth” by Hailey Piper
“The Lady of Leer Castle” by Christopher O’Halloran
“Schizzare” by Bridget D. Brave
“The Fourth Scene” by Brian Evenson
“A Dark Quadrivium” by David Worn

Rated 2
“The Final Book of Sainte Foy’s Miracles” by M.E. Bronstein

Rated 1
“The Mouth of Hell” by Cody Goodfellow
“The King of Youth vs. The Knight of Death” by Patrick Barb

I am going to look up other writings from every author in this book, even the ones I rated lower. I really can't wait to read more from HOWL Society Press. Again I want to thank them for sending me this book.

HOWLS FROM THE DARK AGES -what a super collection of stories based in the dark ages. In this book you are able to tour the world, not just Europe, as there are settings all over the globe.
In between each story there is a museum curator showing off relics from the stories and discussing them.
Travel back with the HOWL Society to feel like you are there, reliving history. There are so many great stories in here I couldn’t list all my favorites. Some were humorous, some make you tense, some brought awe, and all of them were entertaining.
I do have to mention one story. The whole book ends with a lyrical poem by Jessica Peter that I have fallen in love with. It is absolutely morbid but fascinating story that you could hear the minstrels singing and even the musicians playing along. I wanted to get up and dance a jig while I was reading it.
I learned from the biography at the end of the book that Christopher Buehlman toured with renaissance festivals with his show Christophe the Insultor, Verbal Mercenary. It is our duty to get this show back in action and invite him to every con to perform

What a devilishly fun collection! These pages are filled with witches and demons, priests and paupers, angels and monsters, and more, and none of them should be trusted to be what they seem! What is exciting, as evidenced in this collection, while there are certain anxieties and motifs that serve as a throughline in medieval horror, making it a proper genre and not just a setting, as a genre it is also wonderfully expansive and inviting. In this collection, under the medieval horror tent, are wonderful stories that could easily be recognized as folk horror, spiritual horror, revenge horror, and body horror, as well as a little fantasy and maybe even a touch of sci-fi, too! And yet this collection is tight and well-edited and feels cohesive and of a piece, even as the individual stories feel distinct. There are stories that will make you gasp, and some that will make you squirm and itch, and others that will really force you to wonder just who listens to your prayers and supplications.

Any collection of this many stories will contain some that are stronger than others, of course, but overall I enjoyed every story included. They were truly short stories, easy to read a few in a sitting if you choose, and yet they were all still able to create compelling characters and deeply believable atmospheres, begging you to linger over them. No words were wasted, and each author was able to offer a distinct voice that really added to a grisly, fantastical, heretical whole!

I want to thank NetGalley and HOWL Society Press, who provided a complimentary eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A very quirky book. Perfect for anyone who is in to history and anything macabre. I enjoyed it. Thank you NetGalley for approving me.