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emilyyjjean's review against another edition
4.0
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!
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!
maxprovo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
maria_oris's review against another edition
3.0
Howls from the Dark Ages is exactly what you would expect. These are tales of monks, knights and kings. Some are delightfully mysterious, some full of gore and stories that are more disgusting than terrifying.
I am not a fan of the way every story is accompanied by a foreword as I would prefer a short passage or quote from the story itself. That said, I see how it helps set the mood for tales from times long forgotten, and some might rely on them to choose the stories they’re more interested in reading than others.
I don’t want to give it a star rating as I absolutely loved some of the stories while others couldn’t keep my interest or seemed anticlimactic in one way or another. All in all, this is a fun book to keep on your nightstand for an occasional spooky read before bed. You will definitely find a few stories to enjoy and maybe even discover a new author that speaks to you.
I am not a fan of the way every story is accompanied by a foreword as I would prefer a short passage or quote from the story itself. That said, I see how it helps set the mood for tales from times long forgotten, and some might rely on them to choose the stories they’re more interested in reading than others.
I don’t want to give it a star rating as I absolutely loved some of the stories while others couldn’t keep my interest or seemed anticlimactic in one way or another. All in all, this is a fun book to keep on your nightstand for an occasional spooky read before bed. You will definitely find a few stories to enjoy and maybe even discover a new author that speaks to you.
mjtucker's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.5
kjbreton123's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
travelling_bookworm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
“So what is above, we send below, for the life that is hers, we shall reap with a crow.”
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A fantastic collection of horror-infused, strange and blood-chilling stories inspired by the dark, dark time that is the Middle Ages. The whole thing really does not shy away from the horror or the gore, and truly lives up to its medieval name.
From the fantastic introduction to the bite-sized horror interludes and on to the gripping stories, this collection was a winner from the get-go. After many a story, I found myself wanting more; I could have easily read the longer, book versions of several stories. It was so atmospheric that even though I read it in the middle of summer, it gave me the creeps and the spooky atmosphere of a chilly October evening.
Overall, definitely recommended for horror-lovers.
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A fantastic collection of horror-infused, strange and blood-chilling stories inspired by the dark, dark time that is the Middle Ages. The whole thing really does not shy away from the horror or the gore, and truly lives up to its medieval name.
From the fantastic introduction to the bite-sized horror interludes and on to the gripping stories, this collection was a winner from the get-go. After many a story, I found myself wanting more; I could have easily read the longer, book versions of several stories. It was so atmospheric that even though I read it in the middle of summer, it gave me the creeps and the spooky atmosphere of a chilly October evening.
Overall, definitely recommended for horror-lovers.
flybyreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Thumbs all the way up for this mind-blowing medieval horror anthology. This is by far one of the best horror collections I have ever read. Each story brings a new element into the mix, creating a nerve-shredding insomnia-triggering collection recommended not for the faint-hearted. Imagine all the gruesome side of Middle Ages mixed with all the sensitive content you know of and you may get a glimpse of this abomination. The level of creativity and gore is unparalleled, lurking to haunt you in your dreams. I buddy-read this anthology and everyday we read just one story at midnight before bedtime and it created the best effect. Definitely recommended!
ashlawson09's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
readbyashleyd's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
This collection of short stories is absolutely PHENOMENAL! I got a copy for review from @howl_society and I’m so glad I did so that I could discover these stories. Out of the whole collection there was one, MAYBE two stories that I didn’t absolutely love and the rest all knocked it out of the park! I really loved that there were a lot of diversity in this collection, quite often they tend to be white, straight male centric and while I have nothing against these kinds of writers, it’s nice to see some diverse representation. I discovered SO many new authors who’s work I want to look into as well and that’s always exciting! My two favourite stories and authors I’m most excited to delve further into are by far Palette by JL Kiefer and Deus Vult by Ethan Yoder, both were very different but sent shivers down my arms and chills down my spine. This collection really has it all when it comes to horror stories, from gruesome and gory to just downright bone chilling. Horror fans, you don’t want to miss out on this collection!