Howls From the Dark Ages is a good collection of short horror with an interesting drop-in to medieval life throughout the world. I was impressed that I didn't find a single story to be bad. Most of them were pretty darn good, so kudos to writers and editors.
I was also impressed by how varied the stories were. There was so much imagination and obvious research done to fuel that imagination. There are stories from multiple cultures, with multiple problems, motivations, etc. I'm gonna have to go back and bookmark a lot of these authors for future reading.

I'd recommend Howls From the Dark Ages to all horror fans and some adventuresome fans of historic fiction.

This was a fun read. Once I saw Christopher Buehlman's name, I immediately snatched this book from NetGalley, and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised with the diversity of the stories and how each author tackled the medieval horror genre. It would've been so easy for each of them to steer the tried-and-true path of European folklore/adventure tropes (which are great) but the anthology cast a much wider net with diversity in cultural settings and horror subgenres.

Anthologies are a bit of a double-edged sword. With such diversity means we will like some stories more than others. I have plenty of good things to say about the stories in "Howls from the Dark Ages", but I think my favorite was "The Mouth of Hell" by Cody Goodfellow. This author did such a great job of abruptly throwing readers into a whirlwind of madness and confusion. I adored this story.

Some of my honorable mentions are---

"The King of Youth VS. The Knight of Death" by Patrick Barb. This story is so fucking brutal it should be a Berserk-style anime. Imagine "Lord of the Flies" meets "Friday the 13th." If slasher films are your jam, but you think they'd be better with a fantastical twist and medieval setting, you'll enjoy this.

"A Dark Quadrivium" by David Worn was a beautiful piece of esoteric horror. This story contains an interesting premise involving the Cathars and dualistic Gods. The way David Worn implemented Cathar history into his story and made it so dark and cerebral and Lovecraftian was worth a standing ovation. Things get so gruesome and so weird it felt like being in a butcher shop after eating a fistful of cubensis.

All in all, this collection is like a box of chocolates, so I would recommend it to anyone looking for a variety of bite-sized horror.

Thank you to NetGalley and HOWL Society Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Within this latest incantation of Howl, are 18 stories, all set in medieval times. Each tells a tale of some kind of horror, some more gruesome than others but all unforgettable.

We are treated like visitors to a museum and happily follow along as our guide shows us artifacts from the days of castles, moats, haunted hamlets, witches, cursed woodlands, and Monistaries that are not what they seem.

Like the first Howl collection, I was unfamiliar with most if not all of the writers who contributed. But I love a good anthology and something that is not just a regurgitation of whatever best seller is out this month. We have a rich array of not just original stories, but in a manner that is not often seen in the genre of horror, or any other these days.

These tales come from a dark and forbidden place, the settings unusual to the casual reader of horror. And more importantly, each author uses all the brilliance of their talents to give a tale that is not just set in medieval times but makes you feel as if you are stranded in a twisted Arthurian tale.

I chose to read this simply because the premise sounded interesting. I'm not the biggest fantasy fan, and I haven't read anything medieval in decades. I am so glad I took the gamble, though I may now be on the hunt for more like this. I had no idea horror set in these times could be so interesting.

If you like dark relationships, angry and petulant gods, witches, and vengeful spirits, Howl from the Dark Ages is for you. Each tale is creepy, eerie, and sometimes gross but never a waste of time. Highly recommended'

Thanks to @netgalley, Howl Society Press, Independent Book Publishers Association, Member Titles, P.L. McMillan, Solomon Forse, and Christopher Buehlmanfor the opportunity to read this eArc in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Ok so I am a huge fan of an anthology done right. And boy did this deliver. I wish I hadn't let it sit on my kindle for so long, because this hit alot of my boxes for good horror! This had stories for everyone who enjoys a little darkness in their books- from fairy tales to demons this delivered hit after hit. Kept me entertained for the entirety of the book. 4⭐️

This was a pleasant diversion from other books I've read recently. It felt like the theme, which all 18 authors took very seriously, fit perfectly with the various styles and themes. No shining armor or damsels saved by princely heroes. These stories are dark, evocative, and well-meshed. One thing I am particularly pleased to see is a book where the editing is immaculate. It's hard enough to do that when the language is modern.

Standout stories for me include Hailey Piper's darkly carnal "In Thrall to This Good Earth," where a haunted cry leads three hunters to a jutting stone and goes in very unexpected directions. "Schizarre," by Bridget D. Brave - a very symbolic story of two monks, love, lust and loss, "The Fourth Scene," by Brian Evenson, which is a very Dark Ages style tale that would have fit right into Arthurian legends, and the ending poem, "The Lai of the Danse Macabre," which is likely the most ambitious work in the book and handled with style, bringing a voice that might well have come from another time and place to modern pages.

Dark relationships, murder, petulant gods, Howls from the Dark Ages has all of that and more. Very highly recommended.

"Howls from the Dark Ages" has some really unique and unsettling stories within its pages. Each horror story is framed with a narrator introducing some item with a dark history, setting the tone wonderfully (and reminded me of old-school television like The Cryptkeeper). The stories ran the gamut from eerie to dripping with gore; while I enjoyed some more than others, on the whole there were far more hits than misses. I really enjoyed that it wasn't just European Dark Ages - other areas of the world were represented within this collection.

Shout out in particular to Hailey Piper, Stevie Edwards and Christopher O'Halloran; their works were among my very favorites.

An anthology of horror stories set in medieval times, Howls From The Dark Ages is that one book that needs to be bought and kept on your shelf permanently if you are a fan of the genre. From the mesmerizing cover image to the foreword written by Christopher Buelhman, the story unfolds in a peculiar fashion inviting the readers to walk thru a collection of artifacts in the museum. Amazingly well done, the image of the artifact and its short introduction is more than enough to scare the living daylights out of anyone, my imaginative mind playing havoc with the galloping heart.

Like Howls From Hell, the first anthology from Howl Society Press, this anthology offers something for everyone who loves horror; fairy tales and fantasy; ghosts and witches; monsters and demons; the priests and knights; all 18 stories make for some addictive reading. As expected from the era Howls From the Dark Ages is set in, most of the stories are focused on the church and Christianity and the themes of priests, knights, and a general sense of doom and gloom.

1. "The Crowing" by Caleb Stephens- A fantastic opening short story with a fantasy element of witches and otherlings, NOW this is a story that I wished was a full-length novel by itself coz of the beautiful imagery of the woods and the darkness and cruelty of the witches that was conveyed with some brilliant creepy writing.
2. “Angelus" by Philippa Evans – A story that explores the dark side of magic and religion.
3. "Palette" by J.L. Kiefer- The author has done a terrific job in this horror story capturing the need to look perfect and with the kind of dyes and chemicals that should never be used for personal experimentation.
4. "Brother Cornelius" by Peter Ong Cook – The only story in this anthology that had a bit of lighter moments what with the confusion of identity between the monks Kevin and Ronald, and the ancient horror that has to be contained.
5. "In Thrall to This Good Earth" by Hailey Piper – I loved the theme of hunting for ghosts in the forest and the price to be paid for its discovery; the mystery element of the story wraps up this brilliant narrative.
6. "In Every Drop" by Lindsey Ragsdale – A harrowing story that tore me to pieces depicting a mother's intense love amidst a drought in the village.
7. "Deus Vult" by Ethan Yoder – A knight, the horrors of war, and a medieval castle that hides its true intentions, I felt a little out of depth with the ending of the story.
8. "The Final Book of Sainte Foy's Miracles" by M.E. Bronstein – Another favorite of mine in this anthology with history coming alive in the writing.
9. A Dowry for Your Hand" by Michelle Tang – Centered around betrayal, the ghostly element was excellently done by the author.
10. "The Mouth of Hell" by Cody Goodfellow – Heaven and Hell, oh my, the story just exploded into a purgatory of horror.
11. "The Lady of Leer Castle" by Christopher O'Halloran – Sinister and creepy, the Lady of the Leer Castle was another story that would have made for a captivating full-length novel.
12. “Schizzare” by Bridget D. Brave – Mushrooms and I believed, I couldn’t hate them more.
13. “The King of Youth vs. The Knight of Death” by Patrick Barb – Power games and gritty action, this was intriguing.
14. "The Forgotten Valley" by C.B. Jones – The price of desire and wants and an ancient spear, this was a gritty horror.
15. "The Fourth Scene" by Brian Evenson – A missing image in a tapestry with a demon at its end, a plot brilliantly conceived by the author.
16. "White Owl" by Stevie Edwards – Another favorite of mine in this anthology centered on a witch and the plight of the women in the medieval times and flawless rich atmosphere.
17. "A Dark Quadrivium" by David Worn – Questioning the very creation of the world, A Dark Quadrivium was disturbing, to say the least.
18. "The Lai of the Danse Macabre" by Jessica Peter – I am not sure I’m the right audience for this story in poetic form, though the horror did come thru nicely.

Highly recommended for all fans, Howl From The Dark Ages, is sure to leave you with goosebumps and an intense desire to turn all the lights on!

First I'd like to thank The HOWL Society for reaching out and letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.

This book is everything you want in medieval horror AND MORE! I never knew how obsessed I was with medieval horror until I finished this book and was surprisingly sad it was over...I just wanted MORE! Howls From the Dark Ages starts out with an amazing forward by Christopher Buehlman, author of Between Two Fires, a staple to the medieval horror genre. You get to learn a little of his process when writing, and then before you know it the book starts.

I really enjoyed how this book is setup. There are a number of short stories, each by different authors with different writing styles, shown to the reader as a "museum tour" of sorts. Each story was delightful to read, but some definitely stand out more than others. Unlike some short story compilations, I did not feel like any of these stories were lacking (or skipable/boring/etc). There were quite a few I wanted MORE from! They are lovely little vignettes that you can easily read one right to the next, or as a "break" or "treat" for having a little time off.

All in all, this is wonderful book if you want to read some creepy, sometimes gory, sometimes psychological, always horror stories all set in the medieval time period. I did not realize how much I would enjoy this piece, and I cannot wait for the next one. Even the author biographies and their illustrations all fit well into this piece, and I am excited to see what's next! Incredibly well done !!!

Howls from the Dark Ages was a pretty decent read, there were definitely some stories that were more interesting than others which is one of the reasons I find it kind of tricky to rate collections and often end up settling at an average of all stories in the collection. I wouldn't say that any one story was bad but there were some that I would have rather skipped although I decided not to so this review could be completely honest. I don't want to give too much away about the contents given how each story is only a few pages long, but I did thoroughly enjoy the grimey, dark atmosphere that stayed consistent throughout the collection, as well as the narrated sections from "the Curator" between each story that in a way reminded me of The Crypt Keeper from the classic Tales From The Crypt.

Medieval horror is a wonderful subcategory that most everyone can appreciate. Though the tales are terrifying at times, there is relief in the knowledge that we aren’t reading modern day horror.

A long time fan, I’ve recently read “His Black Tongue” by Mitchell Lüthi, and “Between Two Fires” by Christopher Buehlman (who also intros this collection), so this collection immediately caught my eye.

Our perspective is of a visitor to a medieval museum of mysterious and mystical objects. Each item comes with a story; all you d them macabre and potentially deadly.

My favourite tales were:

“Angelus” by Philippa Evans- Good vs evil get a bit muddied in this submission. Perfect for fans of “His Black Tongue”.

“Our Brother Cornelius” by Peter Ong Cook- The banter between the two postulates was a clever way to lighten a demonic tale.


Overall this excellent mix of stories will appeal to a range of reader categories: horror, thriller, historical fiction, etc. Many, if not all, will captivate; good luck trying to stop once you’ve started reading.

Good survey of medieval body-horror. Gory and pustulant filled - liked it quite a bit. Well written and easy to read beach or airplane book. The anthology is connected by a Tales from the Crypt narrator. The stories felt like WIPs, very promising stories with no payoff.

When I think of the 11th, 12th, and 13th centuries, darkness comes into my mind. I imagine the whole time must have been dark. Not surprising that there are dark thoughts too.

Howls from the Dark Ages is an anthology of solid, good old ghost and monster stories. People indulging in pagan worship (gasp!) during and after the Crusades. Mysterious plants growing out of walls. Intricate patterns inside a bell that incurs the wrath of God.

There are 18 stories, each as different from the others as chalk and cheese. Yet, each of them has an undercurrent of terror. No, I did not stay awake at night quavering under my blanket but these stories disturbed me on a deeper level. There was something terrifying about normal humans (Fathers and Bishops, in some cases) descending to the level of monsters. And worse.

4 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and HOWL Society Press for the ARC.

Horror? Short stories? The Middle Ages? Anthologies? Sign me up!

This book features about 18 pieces of fiction from different authors, all quite good but from the pieces Angelus, In Every Drop and the poetic The Lai of the Danse Macabre were my personal favourites. I was overall pleasantly surprised by this anthology of modern creepy short stories, I usually prefer classics but this collection however worked well. If you love the macabre, the middle ages and short stories give this book a go!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. My thoughts are still my own.

I love stories from and about the middle ages. I also love a little bit of terror (specifically of the gothic variety). This made it easy for me to want to read this collection of stories. However, it also means that my bar was set very high from the get-go.

There are already a number of long reviews detailing the best parts of each story, so I will simply add this: I was worried that this collection wouldn't hold up against some of the other amazing stories I've read in these genres. In fact, though, each story was amazing for a different reason and I was not left wanting at all. If you're considering picking this up to read, just go for it! I promise you won't regret a single second you spend with this unique collection of amazing stories.

It is always a bit tricky to review an anthology, especially one by different authors. Some stories will inevitably work better than others, and of course our own personal preferences will influence how that works.
In this case, I'm basing my star score on the best stories, and trying not to let what I see as the worst stories influence me.
Taken as a whole, the anthology is an interesting idea. It collects stories from a seemingly arbitrary "Medieval" period in the dark fantasy/horror genres, which is a great idea both despite and because of the undefined nature of that period. Predictably, most of these are set in a vaguely "Medieval" Europe. I say "vaguely" because, for example, the first story--"The Crowing" by Caleb Stephens--is a dark fairy-tale-like set in a Europe that had been covered by literal fog for 1,000 years. That itself sends the whole concept of timelines and history out the window.

There is also an admirable, if somewhat strained, attempt to move beyond the Western milieu with three stories set outside Europe. Two, "In Every Drop" by Lindsey Ragsdale and "The Forgotten Valley" by C.B. Jones, are set in the pre-modern Americas and "A Dowry for Your Hand" by Michelle Tang is set in China. The best of these is, by far, the last, primarily because it is just a good, creepy ghost story, while also engaging in the actual horror of the setting.

This is where this concept--horror set in pre-modern times--gets really great. They layer supernatural horrors over natural ones, and the medieval age had plenty of those. "Deus Vult" by Ethan Yoder is a prime example. In it, a knight returning from the Crusades brings the terrible sin of that time back, to find that there is no solace in returning home. "Palette" by J.L. Kiefer engages with the grotesque demands of feminine beauty, which went so far as to demand women literally poison themselves for beauty. The aforementioned "A Dowry for Your Hand" uses the form of traditional Chinese ghost stories (which are a genre in themselves throughout east Asia) to examine the pressures placed on women in that time and place, and the price of placing family honor over love.

Some other stories tended to just be "creepy stuff in a monastery." Some of those were a lot of fun, while others were kind of tedious.

But, overall, the best of these stories were very good, and the worst were not terrible, so the anthology is well worth a read!

Disclosure: this review was based on a free NetGalley copy.

Like any anthology, there are hits and misses here. As a medieval historian, I found some especially insightful about medieval worldviews, while others fell flat, seeming to be more the Game of Thrones Middle Ages. There is much wrangling with faith and God in these pages, as is befitting, so be aware of that going in. White Owl by Stevie Edwards was my favorite in this category. The question of men's knowledge and women's knowledge is an important one that is dealt with beautifully here.

I specifically study hagiography - stories about Saints. The Final Book of Ste Foy's Miracles by M.E. Bronstein wonderfully captured the playfulness of Ste Foy and how miracles could upend social norms with a lot of repercussions.

I also appreciated the diversity of location. Chinese, Maya, and Pueblo each have a story here. These were some of the best offerings in this work, with the Maya one being my hands down favorite (In Every Drop by Lindsey Ragsdale)

I would love to use this collection to talk about medievalism - our modern views of and relationship to the Middle Ages - in a classroom.

Thank you to the authors, HOWL Society Press, and Netgalley for an advance ecopy

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.

Horror Bookworm Reviews
https://horrorbookwormreviews.com/

- An unusual stone is found inside a deserted remote cave. It embellishes beauty as well as an unseen curse. It lies dormant and waits for its chosen one.
- A holy tome shrouded in unusual markings, scriptures and secretive messages translates into pure evil and wickedness.
- A monastery’s forbidden basement holds dark rumors of magic and necromancy. Upon further investigation, enhanced sacred writings of blasphemy chronicles a deadly risk for those who are lured within.

Welcome to Howls from the Dark Ages, a medieval horror fiction anthology. Join the appointed curator to this Museum of Medieval Oddities as he provides a tour of castle predators, mercenaries driven by bloodlust and dark woods where ageless creatures are rumored to dwell. Editors P.L. McMillan & Solomon Forse have gathered a select group of armored authors and sword wielding storytellers to form a primitive skill like no other.

The originality of blending horror with the Middle Ages is successfully achieved by talents such as Hailey Piper, Lindsey Ragsdale, Cody Goodfellow and Christopher O’Halloran among many other amazing members of the HOWL Society. An honorable mention must be made to Jessica Peter’s communal offering of unbelievable poetry. The forged bell tolls loudly with this codex as sounds of frightful foreboding fiction ring true.

Dearest Reader,
Go thy way and fare ye’ the casting out of demons and the mar of beauty within. Retain services to help defend thy king and castle against nightmarish hostile invaders. Behold giant cannibals that desire the taste for human flesh. Within these perverse yellowed parchments, Howls from the Dark Ages has something for every god fearing Lord and Lady.
Your most loyal servant,
Horror Bookworm Reviews.

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.

Howls from the Dark Ages opens as the Curator welcomes you to his museum of medieval oddities, where he then guides you through the museum artifact by artifact, portrayed by 18 beautiful illustrations and accompanied by 18 terrifying stories. The layout is very unique and makes for a really fun reading experience.

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.