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TORMENT: A Gothic Anthology
TORMENT: A GOTHIC ANTHOLOGY comes to you from a creative collaboration of authors sharing gothic stories ranging across the genre from the horrific to the romantic.
The Gothic: Having a prevailing atmosphere of mystery and terror, characterized by grotesque, macabre, or fantastic incidents.
Featuring:
Our Cavalier Consecrate - DemonApologist
The Rot Beneath -Marat Earendel
Emerge - Bailey Elizabeth
Omen - Juniper Lake Fitzgerald
Just Like Old Times - Tyler Isaac
Ichor - Artemy Mandus
Dance Macabre - T. L. Morgan
Nothing But the Blood - Tabitha O'Connell
Where the Stars Have No Reach - Bay Shuford
Best and Brightest - W. Payne Sillavan
A Bloom of Daffodils - Ezra Wren
The Gothic: Having a prevailing atmosphere of mystery and terror, characterized by grotesque, macabre, or fantastic incidents.
Featuring:
Our Cavalier Consecrate - DemonApologist
The Rot Beneath -Marat Earendel
Emerge - Bailey Elizabeth
Omen - Juniper Lake Fitzgerald
Just Like Old Times - Tyler Isaac
Ichor - Artemy Mandus
Dance Macabre - T. L. Morgan
Nothing But the Blood - Tabitha O'Connell
Where the Stars Have No Reach - Bay Shuford
Best and Brightest - W. Payne Sillavan
A Bloom of Daffodils - Ezra Wren
Published March 10, 2026
About the author
Juniper Lake Fitzgerald
9 books35 followersJuniper Lake Fitzgerald is an author of Queer Dark Fantasy & Gothic tales.
She is also an illustrator with a passion for bringing characters to life.
Her work focuses on the raw, tragic and complex nature of being alive.
She can be found through ardentgrove.carrd.co
She is also an illustrator with a passion for bringing characters to life.
Her work focuses on the raw, tragic and complex nature of being alive.
She can be found through ardentgrove.carrd.co
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was a fantastic anthology. I loved the variation in the stories and how some left me with more questions than answers given.
I would mention each story individually but I was so invested I forgot to make notes as i read 😅 . But they were all amazing and drew you in in very different ways.
I would mention each story individually but I was so invested I forgot to make notes as i read 😅 . But they were all amazing and drew you in in very different ways.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I recieved this book as an ARC and thank you very much for that.
Torment has everything I love--a dark, gothic, queer anthology. I enjoyed it though I'm still not quite sure what I think about it.
In the end, I think this wasn't really my cup of tea but I see and appreciate all the love and work that was put into each story.
All the stories are very well done but I can't give it more stars because I feel there was something missing. Or maybe I'm missing something. I'd still recommend reading it.
The drawings/paintings were a really nice touch.
Consecrate
This story feels like a part of something bigger. I was confused at first with both the wording and the worldbuilding. I liked this kinda dynamic, a saint in love with a demon, very much.
At times it came off more like a comedy, especially in the dialogue.
Vera seemed evil for the sake of being evil, ignorant, uninterested in actually being a scientist, and I like my villains better with more substance.
Rot Beneath
I liked the style of writing in this story a lot though at the beginning the main character confesses they are not very good with words which came of kinda jarring.
The revalation of Abaś being a vampire was repeated like three times, lessening it's impact and adding into the melodrama.
Emerge
Edith was probably my favourite character of the bunch. The other characters were well characterized though they appeared only briefly and the revalation of them being apparitions was greatly done.
Omen
A grounded look at battlefield. The supernatural was very present but subtly implemented and I loved it. It all felt very natural.
Just like old times
This one remined me of that one Gravity Falls episode.
Ichor
Interesting ideas, nice setting. Good level of disgust witin the body horror, not over done but disturbing. I had a hard time getting interested into both the main characters though.
Dance Macabre
I think the bigotry of the other characters was kinda forced and the main character seemed very child-like to me (even if on purpose.) The dancing scene was beautiful and compelling, clear highlight of the story, absolutely deserves to be the focal point of it.
Nothing But The Blood
I loved this story from the beginning to the end. And what a brilliant end. The mindset and faith of the main character was passed on very well, I think.
Where the stars don't reach
This was completely different from what I would expect in a gothic anthology but it is one of my favourites. I loved the world building here, it wasn't overwhelming and felt very natural. And the imagery from Anna's alien eyes to the planet in forever dusk was really cool (though i gotta say the visual violet sky was repeated too many times.)
Best and Brightest
This one was tough for me to ge into, then when all that weird stuff started happening I started enjoying it and I'm not sure what to think about the end.
A Bloom of Daffodils
This one was a doozy. Good choice to leave it as the closing one. What kinda thew me off was what things the main character could name and what they could not.
Torment has everything I love--a dark, gothic, queer anthology. I enjoyed it though I'm still not quite sure what I think about it.
In the end, I think this wasn't really my cup of tea but I see and appreciate all the love and work that was put into each story.
All the stories are very well done but I can't give it more stars because I feel there was something missing. Or maybe I'm missing something. I'd still recommend reading it.
The drawings/paintings were a really nice touch.
Consecrate
This story feels like a part of something bigger. I was confused at first with both the wording and the worldbuilding. I liked this kinda dynamic, a saint in love with a demon, very much.
At times it came off more like a comedy, especially in the dialogue.
Vera seemed evil for the sake of being evil, ignorant, uninterested in actually being a scientist, and I like my villains better with more substance.
Rot Beneath
I liked the style of writing in this story a lot though at the beginning the main character confesses they are not very good with words which came of kinda jarring.
The revalation of Abaś being a vampire was repeated like three times, lessening it's impact and adding into the melodrama.
Emerge
Edith was probably my favourite character of the bunch. The other characters were well characterized though they appeared only briefly and the revalation of them being apparitions was greatly done.
Omen
A grounded look at battlefield. The supernatural was very present but subtly implemented and I loved it. It all felt very natural.
Just like old times
This one remined me of that one Gravity Falls episode.
Ichor
Interesting ideas, nice setting. Good level of disgust witin the body horror, not over done but disturbing. I had a hard time getting interested into both the main characters though.
Dance Macabre
I think the bigotry of the other characters was kinda forced and the main character seemed very child-like to me (even if on purpose.) The dancing scene was beautiful and compelling, clear highlight of the story, absolutely deserves to be the focal point of it.
Nothing But The Blood
I loved this story from the beginning to the end. And what a brilliant end. The mindset and faith of the main character was passed on very well, I think.
Where the stars don't reach
This was completely different from what I would expect in a gothic anthology but it is one of my favourites. I loved the world building here, it wasn't overwhelming and felt very natural. And the imagery from Anna's alien eyes to the planet in forever dusk was really cool (though i gotta say the visual violet sky was repeated too many times.)
Best and Brightest
This one was tough for me to ge into, then when all that weird stuff started happening I started enjoying it and I'm not sure what to think about the end.
A Bloom of Daffodils
This one was a doozy. Good choice to leave it as the closing one. What kinda thew me off was what things the main character could name and what they could not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I've already read works from 6 of 11 contributors, so I knew this anthology wouldn't disappoint - and I was right. Every story has its own unique flavor, coming together as a wonderful mix of gothic literature.
Our Cavalier Consecrate - DemonApologist
Sesteranth deserves better 😭 Love the setting & prose, how gloomy and destroyed the world is. Also, such a satisfying end.
The Rot Beneath -Marat Earendel
F* Abaś (he does not deserve the "Master"). Absolutely love the diary recount of how life led to being turned, it's the perfect way to tell this tale.
Emerge - Bailey Elizabeth
My favourite piece from the Bailey yet! Edith is a fascinating character, and I love how the reader can't be sure what's real and what's not
Omen - Juniper Lake Fitzgerald
Love how there's nothing truly named. Not the soldier, the omen, or the battle. It's all ominous and yet so clear.
Just Like Old Times - Tyler Isaac
Not sure what to think. Quite different to the previous stories in a more modern-day setting. Begs to be interpreted?
Ichor - Artemy Mandus
Love this. The setting. The eeriness. The whole relationship and regrets. The eye-stuff. It's always the eye stuff.
Dance Macabre - T. L. Morgan
Exquisite gothic vibes, just as expected. Yes, please.
Nothing But the Blood - Tabitha O'Connell
Misogynistic oppression clad in religious "devotion" is extremely hard to read for me, but the discomfort while reading also means a lot of emotions are transported.
Where the Stars Have No Reach - Bay Shuford
Surprisingly different. Space and aliens? Fascinating!
Best and Brightest - W. Payne Sillavan
I am, once again, utterly confused after reading Payne's work. Which is honestly what I love about these stories. Visceral, mind twisting, and this time, with creepy children.
A Bloom of Daffodils - Ezra Wren
A nod to the tale of Narcissus, of seeing and describing the environment with other (or no) words we know, and a protagonist who's as tragic as they're pitiful.
Our Cavalier Consecrate - DemonApologist
Sesteranth deserves better 😭 Love the setting & prose, how gloomy and destroyed the world is. Also, such a satisfying end.
The Rot Beneath -Marat Earendel
F* Abaś (he does not deserve the "Master"). Absolutely love the diary recount of how life led to being turned, it's the perfect way to tell this tale.
Emerge - Bailey Elizabeth
My favourite piece from the Bailey yet! Edith is a fascinating character, and I love how the reader can't be sure what's real and what's not
Omen - Juniper Lake Fitzgerald
Love how there's nothing truly named. Not the soldier, the omen, or the battle. It's all ominous and yet so clear.
Just Like Old Times - Tyler Isaac
Not sure what to think. Quite different to the previous stories in a more modern-day setting. Begs to be interpreted?
Ichor - Artemy Mandus
Love this. The setting. The eeriness. The whole relationship and regrets. The eye-stuff. It's always the eye stuff.
Dance Macabre - T. L. Morgan
Exquisite gothic vibes, just as expected. Yes, please.
Nothing But the Blood - Tabitha O'Connell
Misogynistic oppression clad in religious "devotion" is extremely hard to read for me, but the discomfort while reading also means a lot of emotions are transported.
Where the Stars Have No Reach - Bay Shuford
Surprisingly different. Space and aliens? Fascinating!
Best and Brightest - W. Payne Sillavan
I am, once again, utterly confused after reading Payne's work. Which is honestly what I love about these stories. Visceral, mind twisting, and this time, with creepy children.
A Bloom of Daffodils - Ezra Wren
A nod to the tale of Narcissus, of seeing and describing the environment with other (or no) words we know, and a protagonist who's as tragic as they're pitiful.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I received an ARC copy of this anthology in exchange for an honest review. Being familiar with the works/online presence of a majority of the authors included here, I expected a fascinating collection, and it did not disappoint! It's difficult to even pick a favourite story; each time when I finished one of them, I was thinking to myself "I think this will be my number one", and then I started the next one only to find myself engrossed in it, reconsidering my previous stance. Each story created its own microcosm that caused me to exist in it as I was reading — the characters are wonderfully diverse and twisted, and each author builds the atmosphere in their personal, yet equally gripping way.
If I were to pick three favourites, though, I would go for "Ichor" (problematic protagonist and a combination of religious and medical horror, always a dear combination to me), "Best and Brightest" (a somewhat meta narrative that recreates the feeling of old-school gothic without becoming trite), and "A Bloom of Daffodils" (interesting, experimental character perspective, a dark exploration of desire and isolation, AND a wonderful retelling of the myth of Narcissus??? Sign me up!), but every other one left its mark on me (my reading app can attest, I have so many quotes highlighted).
Overall, a stellar collection, and I feel honoured for having read it, especially considering that I'm generally a picky reader!
If I were to pick three favourites, though, I would go for "Ichor" (problematic protagonist and a combination of religious and medical horror, always a dear combination to me), "Best and Brightest" (a somewhat meta narrative that recreates the feeling of old-school gothic without becoming trite), and "A Bloom of Daffodils" (interesting, experimental character perspective, a dark exploration of desire and isolation, AND a wonderful retelling of the myth of Narcissus??? Sign me up!), but every other one left its mark on me (my reading app can attest, I have so many quotes highlighted).
Overall, a stellar collection, and I feel honoured for having read it, especially considering that I'm generally a picky reader!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2026
TORMENT: A GOTHIC ANTHOLOGY is a very unique collection of stories, and I am grateful for it broadening my definition of what “gothic literature” can be. There are definitely some real standouts in its pages, but also a few stories that needed more refinement. I am overall glad I read it, as it has introduced me to some new authors whose work I would love to read more of in the future.
I did an extremely detailed review (over 7k words) of the anthology and its stories here: https://norbezdoes.wordpress.com/2026...
I did an extremely detailed review (over 7k words) of the anthology and its stories here: https://norbezdoes.wordpress.com/2026...
Review of advance copy received from Author
Disclaimer: I have a story featured in this anthology. My review is based on the collection as a whole.
This is a truly excellent selection of Gothic fiction. Ranging from contemporary to sci-fi to just plain bizarre, each of these stories hits the mark of the Gothic genre with creeping dread and unique spins. I loved them all.
This is a truly excellent selection of Gothic fiction. Ranging from contemporary to sci-fi to just plain bizarre, each of these stories hits the mark of the Gothic genre with creeping dread and unique spins. I loved them all.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews