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triangulartoaster's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
winterdevil's review against another edition
5.0
acornsbooksandcoffee's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Regardless of your preferred genre of horror, there is a story here for you, from body horror to ghost stories, to horror with a religious undertone, Howls From the Dark Ages has you covered. The collection of stories is diverse, with stories set all over the medieval world. It was especially exciting to see a number of stories featuring queer characters.
A few of my favorite stories are:
- Angelus
- Brother Cornelius (my personal favorite)
- A Dowry for Your Hand
- The Forgotten Valley
- The White Owl
Each story is well crafted and well written, and I feel there is a new favorite story waiting for everyone in these pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and HOWL Society Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
rachelunabridged's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
~ ~ ~
I absolutely loved everything about this anthology! I haven't read very many medieval horror stories before, but I'm now realizing what I've been missing. Every story in this collection was such a solid pick, and I thought the overall framing was really fun. Having each story introduced in connection to a museum piece was neato; I enjoyed trying to predict how each piece would factor into the upcoming story.
As for the stories themselves, I found every one of them to be interesting and horrific in their own way. Most of them are very similar thematically since they take place in the same time period and reflect the historical context of the time, but each story played out so different from the last, it never came across as predictable or boring. I was also really pleased to see some stories take place in non-European cultures!
Some of the stories that stuck out to me the most were Angelus (Philippa Evans), Brother Cornelius (Peter Ong Cook), Deus Vult (Ethan Yoder), The Lady of Leer Castle (Christopher O'Halloran), Schizzare (Bridget D. Brave), and A Dark Quadrivium (David Worn). But again, they were all fantastic stories.
If you enjoy historical horror of any kind, I would definitely recommend this book. There are touches of various subgenres among the stories, from religious and cosmic horror to body horror to supernatural horror, even some comedy at times! I truly think there's something in this collection for everyone.
Graphic: Body horror, Religious bigotry, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, Animal death, Blood, and Child death
bookivore's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
screamdogreads's review against another edition
4.0
Of course, as with any anthology, some stories will stand out more than others. While every story here is brilliantly written, and there isn't a single story that could be considered a flop, naturally, some stood out above the rest. The Fourth Scene and Brother Cornelius were my favorites, but of course, this is personal preference.
Everything about this collection is utterly fantastic, the stories, the execution, how it's all tied together, even the illustrations, there's nothing here that you can't love.
readthesparrow's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
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 are
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.
Graphic: Violence, Physical abuse, Murder, Grief, Death, Blood, Body horror, Animal death, Child death, Child abuse, War, Xenophobia, Torture, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Cannibalism, Colonisation, Gore, Torture, War, Confinement, Excrement, Genocide, and Sexual content
Minor: Vomit and Infertility
freezeme's review against another edition
4.0
I'm truly thankful to NetGalley for sending me this book for an honest review :)
beersbooksandbooos's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
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.
enchantressreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Some of my favorite stories include:
- Angelus by Philippa Evans
- Palette by J.L. Kiefer
- In Thrall to This Good Earth by Hailey Piper
- A Dowry for Your Hand by Michelle Tang
- The Lady of Leer Castle by Christopher O'Halloran
- Schizzare by Bridget D. Brave
- White Owl by Stevie Edwards
- A Dark Quadrivium by David Worn
There are all kinds of themes featured in these stories, including religion, warfare, Crusades, folklore, mushrooms (!!!), and sacred texts. Don't forget the butt trumpet.
There are many talented authors in this anthology, many I haven't read before. I can't wait to check out more of their work.
Thank you to Howl Society and Solomon Forse for sending me a copy of Howls from the Dark Ages for my honest review. This anthology releases on May 12th.
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Domestic abuse, Animal death, Body horror, Cannibalism, and Sexual assault