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Reviews tagging 'Violence'
Howls from the Dark Ages: An Anthology of Medieval Horror by P.L. McMillan, Solomon Forse
4 reviews
sheriffrockyraccoon's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
I was pleasantly surprised by this collection! I had read Between Two Fires and loved it, so when I saw Christopher Buehlman had written the foreword, I trusted it would be interesting.
What I liked most about this collection was that it extended beyond the traditional European Medieval culture and engaged with other stories around the world. This gave a better idea of what the world was like then, and expanded what it means for a story to take place in the “Medieval” era. I especially enjoyed “The Forgotten Valley” by C.B. Jones, as I’m always looking for more North American Indigenous literature. My other favorites included “Schizzare” and “The Lai of the Danse Macabre”.
I finished this book in a little over a day, it was nice to be able to digest many stories at once (although I do feel some were better formed than others). It’s definitely great if you’re looking for a fast or non-committal read.
What I liked most about this collection was that it extended beyond the traditional European Medieval culture and engaged with other stories around the world. This gave a better idea of what the world was like then, and expanded what it means for a story to take place in the “Medieval” era. I especially enjoyed “The Forgotten Valley” by C.B. Jones, as I’m always looking for more North American Indigenous literature. My other favorites included “Schizzare” and “The Lai of the Danse Macabre”.
I finished this book in a little over a day, it was nice to be able to digest many stories at once (although I do feel some were better formed than others). It’s definitely great if you’re looking for a fast or non-committal read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Sexual violence, Death, Sexual harassment, Body horror, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Child death, Blood, Excrement, Violence, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Murder, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, and Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, Misogyny, Torture, Cursing, Alcohol, Kidnapping, and Vomit
leveledmouse's review
I got the audiobook version and there's one narrator who does multiple stories (Beatrix Pandora) and her voice is so genuinely uncanny to the point that I can't keep listening because if they decided to hire her--with a voice that is genuinely uncomfortable to listen to--then I dont want to sit around and see what other weird narrator choices they decided to make when recording this.
The stories were all fine though, and I would give it another shot without the bad narrator(s) or in a print format.
The stories were all fine though, and I would give it another shot without the bad narrator(s) or in a print format.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Violence, Gore, War, Vomit, and Body horror
Moderate: Child abuse and Child death
rachelunabridged's review
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC!
~ ~ ~
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.
~ ~ ~
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Religious bigotry, Death, Gore, Misogyny, Murder, Violence, Animal death, Blood, and Child death
readthesparrow's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
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 areflesh 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.
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.
Content Warnings
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
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