A review by braynard
Howls from the Dark Ages: An Anthology of Medieval Horror by P.L. McMillan, Solomon Forse

adventurous 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

4.75

 I first heard about this collection when it was announced on Twitter a few years ago (back when I still liked and regularly used Twitter). I was not a huge horror reader at the time, but I was scheduled to take a class on Horror Literature and decided that my love for historical fiction could overcome any issues I had with the horror aspects. 

And let me assure you, it was totally worth it. 

First off, the book is set up as a museum tour—as though the reader is being shown these strange objects with horrifying histories behind them. I love a fun writing conceit, so this drew me in instantly. The first story was a normal horror fantasy, which was not my favorite, but I can understand the editors’ decision to put it first. It does serve as a good basic introduction to horror. 

The next few stories are what really cemented my opinion, however. Stories about amoral monks and strange magic traditions. A fascinating dissection of beauty standards as a medieval woman destroys her skin with cosmetics. A first person account of the ‘miracles’ of a saint with an unsaintly temper. They were strange and engaging and wonderful to read. 

Obviously, like all collections, not every story is a perfect story. Some of them were a bit too strange for my tastes, or seemed more like a straight fantasy story than a horror story. One was just confusing and I even attempted to dissect it for one of my college essays. That said, none of these ruined my reading experience. Not every story is for every reader, and I can respect the time and effort put into them. The stories I loved, I really loved. 

As much as it pains me, I do have to give this collection a 9/10. While it is a 10/10 in my heart, in reality, I have to acknowledge that there were parts I did not love. Still, a fantastic collection for anyone who loves horror or obscure medieval history.