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Unearthed: New Horror of Ancient Ruins
Nineteen original horror stories exploring ancient sites, uncovering forgotten histories and prising open the tombs of the past, from award-winning authors and editors Dan Coxon and Philip Fracassi.
Perfect for fans of Ellen Datlow.
Unearthed digs beneath these crumbling structures to reveal their archaic pasts, and their darkest secrets. Featuring the best modern writers of horror and dark fantasy, these stories explore the caverns and the catacombs, the ruined temples and the monoliths – and drag an ancient evil back into the light.
Featuring stories
Tananarive Due
Christopher Golden
Josh Malerman
Tim Lebbon
Eric LaRocca
A.M. Shine
Jonathan Maberry
Hildur Knútsdóttir
Ai Jiang
A. G. Slatter
Mark Chadbourn
Priya Sharma
Benjamin Percy
V. Castro
Gemma Amor
Cavan Scott
Premee Mohamed
Hache Pueyo
Steve Toase
Perfect for fans of Ellen Datlow.
Unearthed digs beneath these crumbling structures to reveal their archaic pasts, and their darkest secrets. Featuring the best modern writers of horror and dark fantasy, these stories explore the caverns and the catacombs, the ruined temples and the monoliths – and drag an ancient evil back into the light.
Featuring stories
Tananarive Due
Christopher Golden
Josh Malerman
Tim Lebbon
Eric LaRocca
A.M. Shine
Jonathan Maberry
Hildur Knútsdóttir
Ai Jiang
A. G. Slatter
Mark Chadbourn
Priya Sharma
Benjamin Percy
V. Castro
Gemma Amor
Cavan Scott
Premee Mohamed
Hache Pueyo
Steve Toase
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 15, 2026
About the author
Dan Coxon
50 books87 followersDan Coxon is an award-winning editor and writer based in London. His non-fiction anthology Writing The Uncanny (co-edited with Richard V. Hirst) won the British Fantasy Award for Best Non-Fiction 2022, while his short story collection Only The Broken Remain (Black Shuck Books) was shortlisted for two British Fantasy Awards in 2021 (Best Collection, Best Newcomer). In 2018 his anthology of British folk-horror, This Dreaming Isle (Unsung Stories), was shortlisted for a British Fantasy Award and a Shirley Jackson Award. His short stories have appeared in various anthologies, including Nox Pareidolia, Beyond the Veil, Mother: Tales of Love and Terror and Fiends in the Furrows III. His latest anthology - Isolation - was published by Titan Books in September 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
October 17, 2026
Based on my average rating of each story, this anthology gets 3.5 stars. I thought it was a decent collection of stories. Quite a few of them weren't particularly memorable though, but there was only one story that I didn't like of the nineteen. My favourites were Radio Kraken by Christopher Golden, The Bridegroom of Cumae by A.G. Slatter, ReHistory by Cavan Scott, AI Cathedral by V. Castro and None Went Out by Premee Mohamed.
Want to Read
September 2, 2026ARC received! Thank you so much, Titan Books!
I've had my eye on this anthology for so long. I can't believe it's almost here. Goodbye preexisting weekend plans. I know what I'm doing!
I've had my eye on this anthology for so long. I can't believe it's almost here. Goodbye preexisting weekend plans. I know what I'm doing!
September 10, 2026
I read about 50% of the stories. I didn’t rate any of those more than a three star, but the reason why I’m giving this one star is that one of stories involved graphic description two little girls, one of which sexually abuses the other. Not only do I think descriptions of that or not necessary, but they were also not written by a woman which makes it feel even more icky. I’m a big fan of horror however I don’t think gratuitous sexual violence, especially regarding children is necessary.
I received an e-arc copy of this book in return for an honest review. This is not a paid ad.
I received an e-arc copy of this book in return for an honest review. This is not a paid ad.
October 4, 2026
Anthologies are always iffy to rate, as it comes with the territory that you will inevitably like some stories more than others. To me, an anthology is good if it’s well curated, consistent in its theme and preferably inspires me to pick up at least one new author’s work because of their story.
Unearthed is unfortunately the first anthology ever that I rate 1-star. This collection contains 19 stories across 400+ pages, and I didn’t enjoy a single one of them…
The stories here all had me feeling one of three ways:
1. “That was fine”. 2.5-stars, will probably never think about it again, though…
Examples include: Lost out Here in the Stars by Mark Chadbourn and ReHistory by Cavan Scott.
2. Big nothing-burger that fizzled out into nothing. E.g. the ones by Josh Malerman, Tananarive Due and Steve Toase
3. I hate this, what the heck were the editors thinking when they included this?!
Don’t worry, Grasshopper, we’ll get to you in a bit…
Although the theme of ancient ruins is present in all of theme, I felt like many of the stories were ones that the authors already had lying around somewhere, that were adapted to include a ruinous setting to fit the theme, rather than having been inspired by the theme from the start. The all-star line-up of authors who contributed is obviously impressive, but it also gave me the feeling that editing and curating may not have been as rigorous as it should’ve been. In other words: whatever these authors sent in was included, on the merits of the author’s name alone. Whereas none of them would’ve made the mark had they been sent in anonymously, or by indie-authors.
Finally, there’s the story that truly made me wonder what lapse in judgement made Fracassi and Coxon want to include it. Grasshopper by Eric LaRocca read as tasteless, exploitative and written with nothing but shock-value in mind. It also had nothing to do with the theme of ancient ruins, and felt like the author had only retro-actively changed the setting, to be able to send it in for this collection.
Trigger-warning:
The entire “horror-element” of this story is the inclusion of repeated sexual violence committed by one child upon another child. Needless to say, none of it was appropriate, nor handled with the respect and care a topic like this deserves. It is 2026, we should know this by now: just because something is horrific, does not make it a suitable horror-topic to exploit in fiction. Someone else’s trauma is not your profit-model, Eric.
Thanks regardless to Netgalley and Titan Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Unearthed is unfortunately the first anthology ever that I rate 1-star. This collection contains 19 stories across 400+ pages, and I didn’t enjoy a single one of them…
The stories here all had me feeling one of three ways:
1. “That was fine”. 2.5-stars, will probably never think about it again, though…
Examples include: Lost out Here in the Stars by Mark Chadbourn and ReHistory by Cavan Scott.
2. Big nothing-burger that fizzled out into nothing. E.g. the ones by Josh Malerman, Tananarive Due and Steve Toase
3. I hate this, what the heck were the editors thinking when they included this?!
Don’t worry, Grasshopper, we’ll get to you in a bit…
Although the theme of ancient ruins is present in all of theme, I felt like many of the stories were ones that the authors already had lying around somewhere, that were adapted to include a ruinous setting to fit the theme, rather than having been inspired by the theme from the start. The all-star line-up of authors who contributed is obviously impressive, but it also gave me the feeling that editing and curating may not have been as rigorous as it should’ve been. In other words: whatever these authors sent in was included, on the merits of the author’s name alone. Whereas none of them would’ve made the mark had they been sent in anonymously, or by indie-authors.
Finally, there’s the story that truly made me wonder what lapse in judgement made Fracassi and Coxon want to include it. Grasshopper by Eric LaRocca read as tasteless, exploitative and written with nothing but shock-value in mind. It also had nothing to do with the theme of ancient ruins, and felt like the author had only retro-actively changed the setting, to be able to send it in for this collection.
Trigger-warning:
The entire “horror-element” of this story is the inclusion of repeated sexual violence committed by one child upon another child. Needless to say, none of it was appropriate, nor handled with the respect and care a topic like this deserves. It is 2026, we should know this by now: just because something is horrific, does not make it a suitable horror-topic to exploit in fiction. Someone else’s trauma is not your profit-model, Eric.
Thanks regardless to Netgalley and Titan Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received an e-ARC and am giving my honest review.
DNFed around 25%
I was really looking forward to this, I love horror around ancient ruins (like The Ruins lol) and this author list was stacked. But the story "Grasshopper" was not one I could find myself finishing, and made me not want to finish the rest of the book. The extremely detailed COCSA between 2 girls in that story was, to put it lightly, disgusting. I've read the author's work before, I'm aware of his content. But this was a lot even for him, but especially with the stories leading up being no where near as triggering, and the lack of trigger warnings in general. Really disappointed.
DNFed around 25%
I was really looking forward to this, I love horror around ancient ruins (like The Ruins lol) and this author list was stacked. But the story "Grasshopper" was not one I could find myself finishing, and made me not want to finish the rest of the book. The extremely detailed COCSA between 2 girls in that story was, to put it lightly, disgusting. I've read the author's work before, I'm aware of his content. But this was a lot even for him, but especially with the stories leading up being no where near as triggering, and the lack of trigger warnings in general. Really disappointed.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(I received this book from the editor and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review)
Who am I to say no to an anthology about cursed or mysterious ruins, one where I could find amazing authors doing what they do best?
Bearing in mind that all anthologies are kind of irregular (not in quality, but in whether you like that specific story or not), this had some amazing stories and some OK ones. And these were my favourite:
Priya Sharma’s Oku-no-in, slow burn, very eerie. I had never heard of Koyasan but the author made it really easy to see myself in the place. Very atmospheric.
A.M. Shine’s Life Forever, about the Céide Fields. Ok, he is one of my top five favourite authors, but this was a-ma-zing: buried stone-walled field systems, habitation evidence, enclosures, and megalithic monuments preserved beneath blanket bog (Wikipedia dixit).
A.G. Slatter’s The bridegroom of Cumae. Another place I’ve never been. I wanted to scream at all the characters, but hey, that is sometimes horror for you.
H. Pueyo’s Son of the Earth, about catacombs in Perú. I know I am repeating myself, but atmospheric. So, so, atmospheric.
And finally Cavan Scott’s ReHistory, who caught me off guard with the narration style (TV news segment). I really liked how everything went from kind of normal to what on earth is happening almost without noticing.
To sum up, this is an intriguing anthology who mixed very historian-like narration with the kind of story where you just know people should get out as soon as possible but will not do that. Some of these would make amazing short movies, by the way.
Who am I to say no to an anthology about cursed or mysterious ruins, one where I could find amazing authors doing what they do best?
Bearing in mind that all anthologies are kind of irregular (not in quality, but in whether you like that specific story or not), this had some amazing stories and some OK ones. And these were my favourite:
Priya Sharma’s Oku-no-in, slow burn, very eerie. I had never heard of Koyasan but the author made it really easy to see myself in the place. Very atmospheric.
A.M. Shine’s Life Forever, about the Céide Fields. Ok, he is one of my top five favourite authors, but this was a-ma-zing: buried stone-walled field systems, habitation evidence, enclosures, and megalithic monuments preserved beneath blanket bog (Wikipedia dixit).
A.G. Slatter’s The bridegroom of Cumae. Another place I’ve never been. I wanted to scream at all the characters, but hey, that is sometimes horror for you.
H. Pueyo’s Son of the Earth, about catacombs in Perú. I know I am repeating myself, but atmospheric. So, so, atmospheric.
And finally Cavan Scott’s ReHistory, who caught me off guard with the narration style (TV news segment). I really liked how everything went from kind of normal to what on earth is happening almost without noticing.
To sum up, this is an intriguing anthology who mixed very historian-like narration with the kind of story where you just know people should get out as soon as possible but will not do that. Some of these would make amazing short movies, by the way.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I adore a good anthology, and Unearthed is exactly the kind of collection that reminds me why. Nineteen horror stories centred around ancient ruins, forgotten places, buried secrets and things that really should have been left alone? Yes, please.
There’s a great variety here. Some stories are slow, eerie and wonderfully atmospheric, while others are much more unsettling in a visceral, what-the-hell-is-happening-here kind of way. Not every story worked equally well for me, but that’s always part of the gamble with an anthology, and there were more than enough standouts to make this a thoroughly enjoyable read.
There were several stories I particularly enjoyed, and I liked that they approached the central idea in such different ways. Some drew me in through atmosphere and a strong sense of place, while others surprised me with their structure or took things in directions I wasn't expecting. A few were genuinely creepy, and there were definitely moments when I found myself thinking that certain characters really should have known better.
What really makes the collection work is the sense of discovery running through so many of the stories. Archaeologists, academics, explorers and curious people stumble across places and histories that have been forgotten for a reason. You can practically see the terrible decision coming: we should probably leave now. Of course, they don't.
With such a strong lineup of authors, there’s plenty here for horror fans, but I particularly enjoyed the way the ancient-history element gives the stories an added layer of mystery. There’s something wonderfully creepy about uncovering something that has been hidden for centuries and discovering that perhaps it was better left buried.
Dark, atmospheric, strange and occasionally downright disturbing, Unearthed is a very satisfying collection. A few of these stories would also make brilliant horror films.
Definitely one to dig into when you're in the mood for something creepy.
Thanks to NetGalley, Titan Books and the author for an advance copy.
There’s a great variety here. Some stories are slow, eerie and wonderfully atmospheric, while others are much more unsettling in a visceral, what-the-hell-is-happening-here kind of way. Not every story worked equally well for me, but that’s always part of the gamble with an anthology, and there were more than enough standouts to make this a thoroughly enjoyable read.
There were several stories I particularly enjoyed, and I liked that they approached the central idea in such different ways. Some drew me in through atmosphere and a strong sense of place, while others surprised me with their structure or took things in directions I wasn't expecting. A few were genuinely creepy, and there were definitely moments when I found myself thinking that certain characters really should have known better.
What really makes the collection work is the sense of discovery running through so many of the stories. Archaeologists, academics, explorers and curious people stumble across places and histories that have been forgotten for a reason. You can practically see the terrible decision coming: we should probably leave now. Of course, they don't.
With such a strong lineup of authors, there’s plenty here for horror fans, but I particularly enjoyed the way the ancient-history element gives the stories an added layer of mystery. There’s something wonderfully creepy about uncovering something that has been hidden for centuries and discovering that perhaps it was better left buried.
Dark, atmospheric, strange and occasionally downright disturbing, Unearthed is a very satisfying collection. A few of these stories would also make brilliant horror films.
Definitely one to dig into when you're in the mood for something creepy.
Thanks to NetGalley, Titan Books and the author for an advance copy.
September 15, 2026
'Unearthed' is unlike any anthology I've encountered before. Yes, it looks at ancient ruins, jungles, Indiana Jones-type Stuff - but it also looks deep into the human spirit. This book takes individuals and explores what drives them, what inside us makes us curious, the urge to quest and seek out what's gone before and beyond our experience.
The editors say that they sought pieces which 'set fire to the author's imagination', and in so doing, I'd say they set fire to the reader's as well. I was caught by almost every tale here, and found myself pausing between several chapters to take a breath, to reorient myself in my own Here and Now. These tales take you deep, and they don't necessarily hold your hand as they do so. From ancient history to the stars, this book is a universe that contains the multitudes beyond human knowledge - and it is glorious.
I particularly appreciated the stories which tied modern folks like me into Something Beyond. I've always loved that idea that just a tiny scrape on reality can take you elsewhere, and whether by scientific - archaeological, geological, forensic etc - means or just simple curiosity, these protagonists find themselves in that space that they've unearthed. What next?
Long-time favourite authors of mine such as Gemma Amor and Mark Chadbourn rub shoulders with new names that I'm now seeking out, and I know that I'll be returning to this anthology again. An absolute diamond of a book.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
The editors say that they sought pieces which 'set fire to the author's imagination', and in so doing, I'd say they set fire to the reader's as well. I was caught by almost every tale here, and found myself pausing between several chapters to take a breath, to reorient myself in my own Here and Now. These tales take you deep, and they don't necessarily hold your hand as they do so. From ancient history to the stars, this book is a universe that contains the multitudes beyond human knowledge - and it is glorious.
I particularly appreciated the stories which tied modern folks like me into Something Beyond. I've always loved that idea that just a tiny scrape on reality can take you elsewhere, and whether by scientific - archaeological, geological, forensic etc - means or just simple curiosity, these protagonists find themselves in that space that they've unearthed. What next?
Long-time favourite authors of mine such as Gemma Amor and Mark Chadbourn rub shoulders with new names that I'm now seeking out, and I know that I'll be returning to this anthology again. An absolute diamond of a book.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the publisher, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
If you like your horror ancient, atmospheric, unsettling, and buried somewhere it absolutely should NOT be, you need this anthology on your radar.
Unearthed is a fantastic collection of nineteen horror stories centered around ancient sites, forgotten histories, ruins, tombs, caves, and the kinds of things humans probably should have left alone. And with authors like Philip Fracassi, Josh Malerman, Tim Lebbon, Eric LaRocca, A.M. Shine, Jonathan Maberry, A.G. Slatter, Mark Chadbourn, and Priya Sharma involved, there was no shortage of imagination here.
What I really enjoyed was the variety. Some stories were more atmospheric and slow-burning, while others went straight for the throat. There were stories that gave me that creeping sense of dread I love, and others that left me thinking, “Nope. Absolutely not. We are NOT going down there.” 😂
The ancient-history element was probably my favorite part. There is something inherently terrifying about discovering something that has been hidden for centuries—or realizing that maybe it was hidden for a very good reason.
A few stories hit me harder than others, which is always going to happen with an anthology, but the overall collection was incredibly strong. There are some genuinely creepy images and concepts here that are going to stick with me.
And honestly, this is exactly why I love horror anthologies. You never know what kind of nightmare you're going to get next.
Dark, creepy, imaginative, and packed with things that should have remained buried.
If you're a horror reader who loves ancient ruins, supernatural evil, archaeological nightmares, dark folklore, and atmospheric scares, absolutely pick this one up.
5 stars from me. 🖤🏚️🩸👁️
If you like your horror ancient, atmospheric, unsettling, and buried somewhere it absolutely should NOT be, you need this anthology on your radar.
Unearthed is a fantastic collection of nineteen horror stories centered around ancient sites, forgotten histories, ruins, tombs, caves, and the kinds of things humans probably should have left alone. And with authors like Philip Fracassi, Josh Malerman, Tim Lebbon, Eric LaRocca, A.M. Shine, Jonathan Maberry, A.G. Slatter, Mark Chadbourn, and Priya Sharma involved, there was no shortage of imagination here.
What I really enjoyed was the variety. Some stories were more atmospheric and slow-burning, while others went straight for the throat. There were stories that gave me that creeping sense of dread I love, and others that left me thinking, “Nope. Absolutely not. We are NOT going down there.” 😂
The ancient-history element was probably my favorite part. There is something inherently terrifying about discovering something that has been hidden for centuries—or realizing that maybe it was hidden for a very good reason.
A few stories hit me harder than others, which is always going to happen with an anthology, but the overall collection was incredibly strong. There are some genuinely creepy images and concepts here that are going to stick with me.
And honestly, this is exactly why I love horror anthologies. You never know what kind of nightmare you're going to get next.
Dark, creepy, imaginative, and packed with things that should have remained buried.
If you're a horror reader who loves ancient ruins, supernatural evil, archaeological nightmares, dark folklore, and atmospheric scares, absolutely pick this one up.
5 stars from me. 🖤🏚️🩸👁️
October 1, 2026
One of my favourite things in books is when the characters stumble on the unknown ruins of a lost civilization. From The Magician's Nephew visiting the oddly static and dying world of the witch, to the uncovered technology of the previous race in The Will of the Many that's then repurposed by the current government in power... this is a trope that always delights me. So I was immediately smitten with the idea of this anthology.
Overall I don't think many of these stories were Horror, and even fewer felt related to Ancient Ruins in a meaningful way (or sometimes in any way at all). So while I enjoyed this on the whole significantly more than the last Titan anthology I read, I still find myself somewhat disappointed on the final product.
Below you'll find my breakdown for each of the individual stories.
-------------------------
The Obsession of the Adversary:
by Josh Malerman
I know Malerman is an immensely popular author but I've read from him a few times and so far just don't really think he's for me. This first story was so blink and you miss it that I actually didn't clock that I was already reading the second story for a bit. I imagine this is here mostly for the author's name recognition. nothingburger/5
Burial Rights:
by Benjamin Percy
Too much emphasis on a boring, social-climbing dude, not enough emphasis on the ancient ruins. 1.5/5
The Empire Beneath His Feet:
by Ai Jiang
I previously read and enjoyed Linghun from this author. Terracotta warriors, a demanding emperor, and unsettling archaelogical finds. 4/5
Under Water:
by Tananarive Due
I've read a few of Due's works and they're a very competent writer who I have a lot of respect for, even if I don't love/resonate with their works. This was mostly just racism in the film industry and didn't feel connected to the theme of ancient ruins for me. 2/5
Grasshopper:
by Eric LaRocca
I read one of his anthologies before and I don't think I get the appeal personally. I guess this story is ruins adjacent in that the family is vacationing, but it didn't really impact the plot. Mostly just a girl getting sexually abused while worrying about her mother's terminal illness back home. 1.5/5
Oku-no-in:
by Priya Sharma
A man visits a shinto shrine and graveyard. This one had interesting bones but they felt very bare and undeveloped. 2.5/5
The Angel of Time:
by Tim Lebbon
A creature hibernates and waits out the horror of humanity as they encroach on the world of supernatural creatures. 2.5/5
Live Forever:
by AM Shine
A decent little story of two friends, one whose mortality is imminently approaching. Who wants to live forever? 3.5/5
TW: spiders
Radio Kraken:
by Christopher Golden
A woman gets contacted by her unborn child (only recently learned she's pregnant) to save their dad as an old god approaches from the sea. 2.5/5
The Bridegroom of Cumae:
by AG Slatter
One of my all-time favourite authors. An old timey setting, a colony of vampires. 3/5
note: this is the story where I started listening to the audiobook, so I can comment on narrators from here onward
Composite:
by Steve Toase
I already forgot this one by the time it finished. unrated/5
Best Foot Forward:
by Gemma Amor
A woman looks to Eat, Pray, Love her life in Machu Picchu. [side note: despite dreaming her whole life of going there, she barely speaks a few words of Spanish to communicate with her guides] She's haunted by a specter of herself struggling beneath the mountain of her responsibilities. Mostly felt like a basic metaphor and not enough about the ruins. 1.5/5
Son of the Earth:
by H Pueyo
Another story of a pregnant woman. This time it's a nun whose been impregnated by one of the Fathers who seems to force himself on her. She travels into the earth for the Father, to find a monster who grants wishes. 4/5
Dog's Paw Drift:
by Hildur Knútsdóttir
A young woman finds a weapon in the snow and a voice that follows her after. 3/5
The Devil's Sigh:
by Jonathan Maberry
My god this is a lot of telling instead of showing. Also the audiobook narrator for this one is particularly bad to be worth noting. Some folks realize there's a creature that's killing people trying to work here. 1.5/5 for the story, 0/5 for the audiobook
ReHistory:
by Cavan Scott
Set in the present day at Stonehenge. A modern billionaire is doing something to disrupt the stones in the name of preservation, science and progress. A news team reports on the event as a crowd of protesters gathers. 2/5
AI Cathedral:
by V Castro
I will never forget reading the scene in their vampire book where she butters her asshole. A woman investigates what a murdered man discovered before his AI company had it covered up; the old gods awaken. 4/5
None Went Out:
by Premee Mohamed
One of my all-time favourite authors. A tribe is forced to flee from their homes until they come upon an ancient city and foolishly believe their forturnes have changed, disregarding caution. 3.5/5
Lost Out Here in the Stars:
by Mark Chadbourn
This didn't hold my attention, but the narrator was alright. unrated/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Overall I don't think many of these stories were Horror, and even fewer felt related to Ancient Ruins in a meaningful way (or sometimes in any way at all). So while I enjoyed this on the whole significantly more than the last Titan anthology I read, I still find myself somewhat disappointed on the final product.
Below you'll find my breakdown for each of the individual stories.
-------------------------
The Obsession of the Adversary:
by Josh Malerman
I know Malerman is an immensely popular author but I've read from him a few times and so far just don't really think he's for me. This first story was so blink and you miss it that I actually didn't clock that I was already reading the second story for a bit. I imagine this is here mostly for the author's name recognition. nothingburger/5
Burial Rights:
by Benjamin Percy
Too much emphasis on a boring, social-climbing dude, not enough emphasis on the ancient ruins. 1.5/5
The Empire Beneath His Feet:
by Ai Jiang
I previously read and enjoyed Linghun from this author. Terracotta warriors, a demanding emperor, and unsettling archaelogical finds. 4/5
Under Water:
by Tananarive Due
I've read a few of Due's works and they're a very competent writer who I have a lot of respect for, even if I don't love/resonate with their works. This was mostly just racism in the film industry and didn't feel connected to the theme of ancient ruins for me. 2/5
Grasshopper:
by Eric LaRocca
I read one of his anthologies before and I don't think I get the appeal personally. I guess this story is ruins adjacent in that the family is vacationing, but it didn't really impact the plot. Mostly just a girl getting sexually abused while worrying about her mother's terminal illness back home. 1.5/5
Oku-no-in:
by Priya Sharma
A man visits a shinto shrine and graveyard. This one had interesting bones but they felt very bare and undeveloped. 2.5/5
The Angel of Time:
by Tim Lebbon
A creature hibernates and waits out the horror of humanity as they encroach on the world of supernatural creatures. 2.5/5
Live Forever:
by AM Shine
A decent little story of two friends, one whose mortality is imminently approaching. Who wants to live forever? 3.5/5
TW: spiders
Radio Kraken:
by Christopher Golden
A woman gets contacted by her unborn child (only recently learned she's pregnant) to save their dad as an old god approaches from the sea. 2.5/5
The Bridegroom of Cumae:
by AG Slatter
One of my all-time favourite authors. An old timey setting, a colony of vampires. 3/5
note: this is the story where I started listening to the audiobook, so I can comment on narrators from here onward
Composite:
by Steve Toase
I already forgot this one by the time it finished. unrated/5
Best Foot Forward:
by Gemma Amor
A woman looks to Eat, Pray, Love her life in Machu Picchu. [side note: despite dreaming her whole life of going there, she barely speaks a few words of Spanish to communicate with her guides] She's haunted by a specter of herself struggling beneath the mountain of her responsibilities. Mostly felt like a basic metaphor and not enough about the ruins. 1.5/5
Son of the Earth:
by H Pueyo
Another story of a pregnant woman. This time it's a nun whose been impregnated by one of the Fathers who seems to force himself on her. She travels into the earth for the Father, to find a monster who grants wishes. 4/5
Dog's Paw Drift:
by Hildur Knútsdóttir
A young woman finds a weapon in the snow and a voice that follows her after. 3/5
The Devil's Sigh:
by Jonathan Maberry
My god this is a lot of telling instead of showing. Also the audiobook narrator for this one is particularly bad to be worth noting. Some folks realize there's a creature that's killing people trying to work here. 1.5/5 for the story, 0/5 for the audiobook
ReHistory:
by Cavan Scott
Set in the present day at Stonehenge. A modern billionaire is doing something to disrupt the stones in the name of preservation, science and progress. A news team reports on the event as a crowd of protesters gathers. 2/5
AI Cathedral:
by V Castro
I will never forget reading the scene in their vampire book where she butters her asshole. A woman investigates what a murdered man discovered before his AI company had it covered up; the old gods awaken. 4/5
None Went Out:
by Premee Mohamed
One of my all-time favourite authors. A tribe is forced to flee from their homes until they come upon an ancient city and foolishly believe their forturnes have changed, disregarding caution. 3.5/5
Lost Out Here in the Stars:
by Mark Chadbourn
This didn't hold my attention, but the narrator was alright. unrated/5
Thank you to NetGalley and Titan for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 19, 2026
A short horror story anthology centered around the idea of haunted ruins. The contributor list is strong, but each of these comes to the theme in their own unique way, and the result is a collection that sticks with you. Standouts: the Ai Jiang, Tanarive Due, Eric LaRocca, Priya Sharma, AG Slatter, H. Pueyo, Premee Mohamed, Cavan Scott, and Steve Tose stories.
October 14, 2026
Unerthed is a collection of horror short stories, packed with big names in modern horror. It is conceptually focused around ruins and historic places, and each contribution was supposed to be inspired by a particular location. I loved the idea of the collection but the execution did not live up to my expectations.
Some of the stories written by the biggest names on the list (eg Tananarive Due) kinda went nowhere. Most of the stories paid lip service to the 'ruins' concept and had very little in terms of developing a sense of place. Most of the stories also were quite boring and very few of them delivered any sense of unease or foreboding - I was reading a Robert Aickman collection in parallel with this, and despite some problematic themes in it, none of the stories in this book came anywhere near the level of atmosphere he could conjure.
In addition to boring and underdeveloped stories and a lack of care put into connecting them to the collection theme (with a couple of rare stand outs, like the Jersey Devil one, which, tbf, was mostly carried by the legend itself), this volume contains Eric LaRocca's Grasshopper, which in my opinion should not have been published at all. It tells the story of one prepubescent girl sexually abusing another. I can imagine that only the author's relative fame and standing in the genre enabled the story to be published - the theme of abuse was used for shock value and not treated with care at all. Written by an adult (and an assigned male at birth one at that) it reads like an excuse to write child pornography. I can see how that story in itself would immediately put this volume in the 0 star category for many readers.
Some of the stories written by the biggest names on the list (eg Tananarive Due) kinda went nowhere. Most of the stories paid lip service to the 'ruins' concept and had very little in terms of developing a sense of place. Most of the stories also were quite boring and very few of them delivered any sense of unease or foreboding - I was reading a Robert Aickman collection in parallel with this, and despite some problematic themes in it, none of the stories in this book came anywhere near the level of atmosphere he could conjure.
In addition to boring and underdeveloped stories and a lack of care put into connecting them to the collection theme (with a couple of rare stand outs, like the Jersey Devil one, which, tbf, was mostly carried by the legend itself), this volume contains Eric LaRocca's Grasshopper, which in my opinion should not have been published at all. It tells the story of one prepubescent girl sexually abusing another. I can imagine that only the author's relative fame and standing in the genre enabled the story to be published - the theme of abuse was used for shock value and not treated with care at all. Written by an adult (and an assigned male at birth one at that) it reads like an excuse to write child pornography. I can see how that story in itself would immediately put this volume in the 0 star category for many readers.
October 23, 2026
Favourites:
"The Bridegroom Of Cumae" by A.G. Slatter
"Dog's Paw Drift" by Hildur Knútsdóttir
"The Bridegroom Of Cumae" by A.G. Slatter
"Dog's Paw Drift" by Hildur Knútsdóttir
October 22, 2026
I really struggled with this collection. Most stories were just ok for me...none of them will be memorable for me in either a good or a bad way. Lots of authors i love are in this collection but i found it to be pretty boring overall.
November 2, 2026
IT took me a month but that's to be expected as there are a lot stories within.
First of all, allow me to say that not all stories worked for me and to be fair some of them I don't understand the connected with Ancient Ruins. Interesting or not the ones flagged on the Story page are probably the worst.
So let's start with my favourite
Cavan Scott - This is told to be a audiobook - and I know the author is famous for that. I would say this is probably my favourite story. There is a billionaire that buys Stonehedge and tries to remake it as it was thousand of years ago. Some people are against and some are in favor and now we are set on the opening day and while the last stone is going to be put in place stuff starts to happen. 5 Stars
Hache Pueyo - One of the best stories of the bunch. Worth reading about the life of a woman who is going to be a nun while investigating a place trying to find the "Son". And who or what is it? 5 stars
Some stronge ones
Mark Chadbourn - I really love this kind of stories about the discovery the purpose of a old monument that even today archaeologists don't really know the purpose. Just theories. 4 Stars
A.M. Shine 4 stars A great tale as expected. AM Shine really can delivered a punch."
Ai Jiang - 4 stars Empire Beneath the feet is set in China , on the Terracota armers and we've got a brief introduction to the discovery and then we've got two timelines , one in the past when it was built and now. I enjoy the past stuff more.
Benjamin Percy Burial Rights is a very interesting take of the catacombs of France. Made me wonder where he was going with it. Really enjoy it. 4 Stars"
Eric LaRocca - Haha this makes me laugh. The author is one of those they\them and does something here that make me wonder if some stuff has a fundament behind. So basically you've got a young 12y girl that is travelling in Italy with a family's friend (who has a girl of 13). The latter is abusing sexually the younger.. Of course this shocked a lot of people. It's kind of weird scenario. The story itself it's good. 4 stars
Some just okay
Hildur Knútsdóttir - The finding of a sword will lead to ghostly apparations. 3.5 stars
Steve Toase -This story was interesting , but I didn't understood the finale. 3 stars
Gemma Amor - This one deals with Machu Pichu and I was reading eagerly to see what was the punch. To be fair it was a bit disappointed. 3 stars
Josh Malerman - 3 stars. "The obsession of the adversary is a story is set in Brazil and it was kind of weird to be honest. Why did Maria becomes Marcia. Why Francoise for a Portuguese name?"
Some are just not for me or just bad
Priya Sharma 1.5 stars - Oku-no-in is set in japan and it was very confusing tale. Not to my liking
Tim Lebbon - 1 Star Another weird story that I didn't understood.
Premee Mohamed - Not for me (will not rate - suffice to say I didn't enjoy)
A. G. Slatter - not for me (will not rate - suffice to say I didn't enjoy)
Jonathan Maberry - not for me. (will not rate - suffice to say I didn't enjoy)
Worst
Tananarive Due - 0.5 to 1 Star - "Under Water is a tale that as soon as I started I role my eyes. I've never heard of the author BUT we know the type of person it is. All of the story is boring and just bland. It focus more on the poor black queer people being double marginalized. I mean I kind of understand the black part but Queer? Why that's something you do on your bedroom not workplace. Workplace is to... WORK! it felt preachy, pretentious and arrogant and a person who uses wtf handicaps they think they have to explain why they are just bad workers or beings in general. For a company it doesn't matter your skin or sexuality (this one It shouldn't even be a problem as you do sex at home not at work). The story then just exists. Everything good it may had it's engulf on this crap.
Of course, on all of these, this is my opinion- take it as it will.
First of all, allow me to say that not all stories worked for me and to be fair some of them I don't understand the connected with Ancient Ruins. Interesting or not the ones flagged on the Story page are probably the worst.
So let's start with my favourite
Cavan Scott - This is told to be a audiobook - and I know the author is famous for that. I would say this is probably my favourite story. There is a billionaire that buys Stonehedge and tries to remake it as it was thousand of years ago. Some people are against and some are in favor and now we are set on the opening day and while the last stone is going to be put in place stuff starts to happen. 5 Stars
Hache Pueyo - One of the best stories of the bunch. Worth reading about the life of a woman who is going to be a nun while investigating a place trying to find the "Son". And who or what is it? 5 stars
Some stronge ones
Mark Chadbourn - I really love this kind of stories about the discovery the purpose of a old monument that even today archaeologists don't really know the purpose. Just theories. 4 Stars
A.M. Shine 4 stars A great tale as expected. AM Shine really can delivered a punch."
Ai Jiang - 4 stars Empire Beneath the feet is set in China , on the Terracota armers and we've got a brief introduction to the discovery and then we've got two timelines , one in the past when it was built and now. I enjoy the past stuff more.
Benjamin Percy Burial Rights is a very interesting take of the catacombs of France. Made me wonder where he was going with it. Really enjoy it. 4 Stars"
Eric LaRocca - Haha this makes me laugh. The author is one of those they\them and does something here that make me wonder if some stuff has a fundament behind. So basically you've got a young 12y girl that is travelling in Italy with a family's friend (who has a girl of 13). The latter is abusing sexually the younger.. Of course this shocked a lot of people. It's kind of weird scenario. The story itself it's good. 4 stars
Some just okay
Hildur Knútsdóttir - The finding of a sword will lead to ghostly apparations. 3.5 stars
Steve Toase -This story was interesting , but I didn't understood the finale. 3 stars
Gemma Amor - This one deals with Machu Pichu and I was reading eagerly to see what was the punch. To be fair it was a bit disappointed. 3 stars
Josh Malerman - 3 stars. "The obsession of the adversary is a story is set in Brazil and it was kind of weird to be honest. Why did Maria becomes Marcia. Why Francoise for a Portuguese name?"
Some are just not for me or just bad
Priya Sharma 1.5 stars - Oku-no-in is set in japan and it was very confusing tale. Not to my liking
Tim Lebbon - 1 Star Another weird story that I didn't understood.
Premee Mohamed - Not for me (will not rate - suffice to say I didn't enjoy)
A. G. Slatter - not for me (will not rate - suffice to say I didn't enjoy)
Jonathan Maberry - not for me. (will not rate - suffice to say I didn't enjoy)
Worst
Tananarive Due - 0.5 to 1 Star - "Under Water is a tale that as soon as I started I role my eyes. I've never heard of the author BUT we know the type of person it is. All of the story is boring and just bland. It focus more on the poor black queer people being double marginalized. I mean I kind of understand the black part but Queer? Why that's something you do on your bedroom not workplace. Workplace is to... WORK! it felt preachy, pretentious and arrogant and a person who uses wtf handicaps they think they have to explain why they are just bad workers or beings in general. For a company it doesn't matter your skin or sexuality (this one It shouldn't even be a problem as you do sex at home not at work). The story then just exists. Everything good it may had it's engulf on this crap.
Of course, on all of these, this is my opinion- take it as it will.
October 10, 2026
2 ⭐️ | This was such a disappointing collection, and I’m genuinely so bummed! 😭
I bought this on publication day and immediately dove in, only to be met with one letdown after another. I LOVE short stories. I love discovering new authors, and I especially appreciate the challenge of telling a compelling, complex story within such a limited space. Unfortunately, this collection fell flat for me.
The overarching theme is “ancient, unburied horror,” yet so many of these stories felt disconnected from that premise. Not all of them, certainly, but enough that I found myself questioning what tied this collection together in the first place.
This next opinion might be unpopular, but I found Eric LaRocca’s contribution particularly upsetting.
Horror is subjective, of course, and I recognize that my reaction is shaped by my own reading preferences. But there’s a difference between exploring disturbing subject matter with purpose and simply presenting something disturbing. A story centered on the sexual abuse of a young girl by another young girl, with little meaningful exploration of the subject and no real resolution, felt deeply irresponsible to me.
I don’t need horror to be comfortable, and I certainly don’t expect every story to offer closure. But when tackling something this sensitive, I want to feel that the subject matter serves a purpose beyond simply making the reader uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I didn’t find that here.
Ultimately, I wanted so much more from this collection, especially given how excited I was to read it.
I bought this on publication day and immediately dove in, only to be met with one letdown after another. I LOVE short stories. I love discovering new authors, and I especially appreciate the challenge of telling a compelling, complex story within such a limited space. Unfortunately, this collection fell flat for me.
The overarching theme is “ancient, unburied horror,” yet so many of these stories felt disconnected from that premise. Not all of them, certainly, but enough that I found myself questioning what tied this collection together in the first place.
This next opinion might be unpopular, but I found Eric LaRocca’s contribution particularly upsetting.
Horror is subjective, of course, and I recognize that my reaction is shaped by my own reading preferences. But there’s a difference between exploring disturbing subject matter with purpose and simply presenting something disturbing. A story centered on the sexual abuse of a young girl by another young girl, with little meaningful exploration of the subject and no real resolution, felt deeply irresponsible to me.
I don’t need horror to be comfortable, and I certainly don’t expect every story to offer closure. But when tackling something this sensitive, I want to feel that the subject matter serves a purpose beyond simply making the reader uncomfortable. Unfortunately, I didn’t find that here.
Ultimately, I wanted so much more from this collection, especially given how excited I was to read it.
September 29, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley and Titan Books, for sending me a digital copy of this book.
Unearthed is a fascinating collection of short stories written and compiled by a variety of authors. These stories feature archaic ruins and sites of mysterious folklore. Each story reimagines the history of the ancient ruin or tells of a modern-day adventure.
I’ve read a lot of short story collections; however, I’ve never read one with such interesting locations. As someone who particularly enjoys learning about history and visiting some of the historic places featured in these stories, this was right up my alley. I loved diving into well-known, or in some cases lesser-known, relics of the past and reading the fantastical versions of their history. Now, as is often true with short story collections, I enjoyed some of these stories more than others, but overall, I will say that it is a strong collection. The stories were diverse in that some took place in the past and others in the modern day. There were also a lot of creative, fantastical ideas that were unique, and even some original writing formats were utilized. I think this collection would be a very engaging read for anyone wanting to travel to the age-old past this fall.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Unearthed is a fascinating collection of short stories written and compiled by a variety of authors. These stories feature archaic ruins and sites of mysterious folklore. Each story reimagines the history of the ancient ruin or tells of a modern-day adventure.
I’ve read a lot of short story collections; however, I’ve never read one with such interesting locations. As someone who particularly enjoys learning about history and visiting some of the historic places featured in these stories, this was right up my alley. I loved diving into well-known, or in some cases lesser-known, relics of the past and reading the fantastical versions of their history. Now, as is often true with short story collections, I enjoyed some of these stories more than others, but overall, I will say that it is a strong collection. The stories were diverse in that some took place in the past and others in the modern day. There were also a lot of creative, fantastical ideas that were unique, and even some original writing formats were utilized. I think this collection would be a very engaging read for anyone wanting to travel to the age-old past this fall.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
October 20, 2026
Star rating is the average rating for the stories here, ad that average score was nuked by one specific story.
Short stories are always a mixed bag, and this most certainly was, with a couple of stories really stretching the premise of the books themes.
The highlights
- Burial Rights by Benjamin Percy
- Live Forever by A.M. Shine
- The Bridegroom of Cumae by A.C Slatter
- The Devils Sight by Jonathan Maberry
- Best Foot Forward by Gemma Amor
- ReHistory by Cavan Scott
- Composite by Steve Toase
Most of the rest of the stories were still decent, however as mentioned above, one story really left a bad taste with me, and the story was Grasshopper, plenty of other reviews have gone into the issues with this one, and I am not going to go into any detail here as I don't wish to give the story any extra oxygen, just be aware going in that if ANY story needed content warnings, something I am less bothered about in horror, then it's this one.
With that said, I now have some more authors to check out, so yay for my ever growing TBR!
Short stories are always a mixed bag, and this most certainly was, with a couple of stories really stretching the premise of the books themes.
The highlights
- Burial Rights by Benjamin Percy
- Live Forever by A.M. Shine
- The Bridegroom of Cumae by A.C Slatter
- The Devils Sight by Jonathan Maberry
- Best Foot Forward by Gemma Amor
- ReHistory by Cavan Scott
- Composite by Steve Toase
Most of the rest of the stories were still decent, however as mentioned above, one story really left a bad taste with me, and the story was Grasshopper, plenty of other reviews have gone into the issues with this one, and I am not going to go into any detail here as I don't wish to give the story any extra oxygen, just be aware going in that if ANY story needed content warnings, something I am less bothered about in horror, then it's this one.
With that said, I now have some more authors to check out, so yay for my ever growing TBR!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Oh I loved this anthology.
The Obsession of the Adversary by Josh Malerman ( not new to me but one of my favorites) I had no clue where this one was going and some how that made it so much more tense, what was the issue, where would the horror pop up and then, it did and the eye and everything else that followed, just a haunting thought to think about by the end.
Underwater by Tananaribe Due was also amazing, I also felt that very first kind, I hate those stupid keypads that NEVER work. Also I do love a good fucked up rental story and this involves a retreat?? 👀. And then Lake Lanier pops up, this is going to be so fucked up. Don't get attached to anyone 😂 loved this one.
Cavan Scott ( new to me author) and ReHistory was so good and had me sucked in with the odd formatting and the way the story was told, and the slow spiral of chaos..
Not a bad set of stories and something for everyone in this, check it out.
The Obsession of the Adversary by Josh Malerman ( not new to me but one of my favorites) I had no clue where this one was going and some how that made it so much more tense, what was the issue, where would the horror pop up and then, it did and the eye and everything else that followed, just a haunting thought to think about by the end.
Underwater by Tananaribe Due was also amazing, I also felt that very first kind, I hate those stupid keypads that NEVER work. Also I do love a good fucked up rental story and this involves a retreat?? 👀. And then Lake Lanier pops up, this is going to be so fucked up. Don't get attached to anyone 😂 loved this one.
Cavan Scott ( new to me author) and ReHistory was so good and had me sucked in with the odd formatting and the way the story was told, and the slow spiral of chaos..
Not a bad set of stories and something for everyone in this, check it out.
September 28, 2026
I'm so happy that A.M. Shine was included in this collection because, when I saw the theme, I immediately thought of Stay in the Light - which I loved! 'ReHistory' was probably my favorite of the bunch though (such a good idea and I loved the framing of it so much) and by an author I've never read before (and now must stalk)! Tananarive Due's 'Under Water' was, predictably, fantastic and I feel like it whetted my appetite to start Mazywood soon. Unsurprisingly, I enjoyed V. Castro's 'AI Cathedral' too - zeitgeist-y and terrifying. Other authors I didn't know well before this collection but whose stories were wonderful were 'The Bridegroom of Cumae' by A.G. Slatter (I wasn't expecting a Holmes-adjacent story but it didn't detract from anything for me), the characters here were the best of the bunch! - and Gemma Amor's 'Best Foot Forward' - the suspense was really, really well-done!
Read
September 15, 2026I love a good anthology, especially one filled with horror stories, and "Unearthed: New Horror of Ancient Ruins" delivers plenty of creepy tales from places best left undisturbed.
This collection takes readers into ancient ruins, catacombs, and other eerie places where the past may not be quite as buried as we'd like. While not every story has been a favorite of mine, there's a great variety of horror throughout the collection, with enough different settings, styles, and scares that you're bound to find something that gets under your skin.
If ancient places, buried secrets, and things that should have stayed forgotten are your kind of horror, this anthology is worth unearthing. 🪦🏛️
Thank you to editors Dan Coxon and Philip Fracassi, NetGalley, and Titan Books for the advance copy in exchange for a review.
This collection takes readers into ancient ruins, catacombs, and other eerie places where the past may not be quite as buried as we'd like. While not every story has been a favorite of mine, there's a great variety of horror throughout the collection, with enough different settings, styles, and scares that you're bound to find something that gets under your skin.
If ancient places, buried secrets, and things that should have stayed forgotten are your kind of horror, this anthology is worth unearthing. 🪦🏛️
Thank you to editors Dan Coxon and Philip Fracassi, NetGalley, and Titan Books for the advance copy in exchange for a review.
September 20, 2026
As always, multi-author collections produce mixed results. The prompt for this collection was a good one, but the success rate wasn’t great.
Of the 19 stories, there are 7 good reads, and only two that stand out as truly great tales. I loved the idea of Horror stories connected to ruins, and most of the stories did appear to understand the assignment. But a lot of them feel thin and like nothing we haven’t seen before, and there isn’t much here that is truly scary.
Worth a read are Tim Lebbon’s The Angel of Time, Christopher Golden’s Radio Kraken, Hache Pueyo’s Son of the Earth, Jonathan Maberry’s The Devil’s Sigh, and Cavan Scott’s Rehistory.
The two truly excellent stories included in the collection are The Bridegroom of Kumai by AG Slatter and Best Foot Forward by Gemma Amor.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Of the 19 stories, there are 7 good reads, and only two that stand out as truly great tales. I loved the idea of Horror stories connected to ruins, and most of the stories did appear to understand the assignment. But a lot of them feel thin and like nothing we haven’t seen before, and there isn’t much here that is truly scary.
Worth a read are Tim Lebbon’s The Angel of Time, Christopher Golden’s Radio Kraken, Hache Pueyo’s Son of the Earth, Jonathan Maberry’s The Devil’s Sigh, and Cavan Scott’s Rehistory.
The two truly excellent stories included in the collection are The Bridegroom of Kumai by AG Slatter and Best Foot Forward by Gemma Amor.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I adore anthologies - I get to read short stories from familiar authors and discover new ones, and in this case, I found a delightful collection of horror tales based around places from long ago. Ruins, catacombs, places left to rot, etc.
I'm always happy to read V. Castro's work, she has the ability to bring lore and raw horror together so well. Tananarive Due's story was another fun one. Another favorite, because it's set in a place I've known well, was H. Pueyo's story. It is set in the Convent of Santo Domingo in Peru, and as a young girl educated in a Catholic school In Peru, it was an obligatory field trip to go see the remains of our most famous saint, Santa Rosa de Lima.
All in all, a great compilation to start the spooky season, I hope you will give it a try.
I'm always happy to read V. Castro's work, she has the ability to bring lore and raw horror together so well. Tananarive Due's story was another fun one. Another favorite, because it's set in a place I've known well, was H. Pueyo's story. It is set in the Convent of Santo Domingo in Peru, and as a young girl educated in a Catholic school In Peru, it was an obligatory field trip to go see the remains of our most famous saint, Santa Rosa de Lima.
All in all, a great compilation to start the spooky season, I hope you will give it a try.
September 24, 2026
Quite a hard read for me (bit of a simpleton) given my ignorance of ancient ruins and geography/history in general, but I did very much enjoy the stories by Priya Sharma, Josh Malerman, Christopher Golden, Steve Toase, Gemma Amor, and V. Castro.
The majority of the stories in Unearthed are action-packed monster/old gods horror-adventure type tales and I have to admit I did skim through some of these rather fast because I prefer to read more emotionally driven, poetic, dark/speculative fiction.
However, if you're a fan of horror and fast-paced action movies like Indiana Jones, you'll probably love this book.
For those who welcome trigger warnings, a couple of tales within this book feature sexual abuse of children/ young women.
The majority of the stories in Unearthed are action-packed monster/old gods horror-adventure type tales and I have to admit I did skim through some of these rather fast because I prefer to read more emotionally driven, poetic, dark/speculative fiction.
However, if you're a fan of horror and fast-paced action movies like Indiana Jones, you'll probably love this book.
For those who welcome trigger warnings, a couple of tales within this book feature sexual abuse of children/ young women.
September 30, 2026
Although I came in expecting stories more on the level of "The Ruins," some of these shine, like ReHistory (though I may be biased because I love epistolary horror). In the end, I can't rate too highly mostly due to the inclusion of Grasshopper.
I'm keeping the book because some stories have a re -read value for me, but I ripped Grasshopper out. I've never done that before. I'm confused as to why it was included because it has the weakest connection to the theme and I can't fathom why the story had to include COCSA. Maybe I'm missing a deeper meaning, but all I got was a sad story about a lonely girl who goes on a vacation where she's taken advantage of/abused and eventually tricked into being left for dead. Maybe it fits elsewhere that I can't imagine, but not in this collection...
I'm keeping the book because some stories have a re -read value for me, but I ripped Grasshopper out. I've never done that before. I'm confused as to why it was included because it has the weakest connection to the theme and I can't fathom why the story had to include COCSA. Maybe I'm missing a deeper meaning, but all I got was a sad story about a lonely girl who goes on a vacation where she's taken advantage of/abused and eventually tricked into being left for dead. Maybe it fits elsewhere that I can't imagine, but not in this collection...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2026
I was looking forward to this anthology for months and it did not disappoint. The stories are all original and unique, but share the same ancient, archeological, folk horror vibes. They're all highly atmospheric, unsettling and genuinely creepy. My favorite was Rehistory by Cavan Scott, the way it was written, the dread building up, the setting. Excellent story. I'll definitely look up this author.
Live Forever by A.M. Shine and The Bridegroom of Cumae A.G. Slatter are in the top three for me as well.
Highly recommended if you love horror about ruins, ancient buildings, mysterious landmarks and places best left undisturbed.
Live Forever by A.M. Shine and The Bridegroom of Cumae A.G. Slatter are in the top three for me as well.
Highly recommended if you love horror about ruins, ancient buildings, mysterious landmarks and places best left undisturbed.
October 10, 2026
Unearthed: New Horrors of Ancient Ruins is a 19-story anthology edited by Dan Coxon and Philip Fracassi. The collection focuses on historical sites and ancient ruins and contain elements of folk horror like archaic rituals and supernatural local lore. There’s just something about fall and cooler weather that makes me crave creepy, short stories. Unfortunately, most of this collection was a disappointment and missed the mark. The handful of stories I did enjoy, easily maintained my interest from start to finish. My five favorites:
*Son of the Earth, by H. Pueyo
*ReHistory, by Cavan Scott
*Live Forever, by A.M. Shine
*Under Water, by Tananarive Due
*The Bridegroom of Cumae, by A.G. Slatter
*Son of the Earth, by H. Pueyo
*ReHistory, by Cavan Scott
*Live Forever, by A.M. Shine
*Under Water, by Tananarive Due
*The Bridegroom of Cumae, by A.G. Slatter
September 18, 2026
An inexplicable Brazilian giant, the creepy catacombs beneath the streets of Paris, giant arachnids, a Sherlock Holmes adjacent mystery, cryptids and much more.
Folklore, mythology, and legend are all rooted in location, and this spectacular collection of short stories explores them all in captivating and horrifying ways.
A massive thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley for the early access and the book is now available for all.
Titan has been on fire recently with some fantastic releases so I’d highly recommend giving them a follow!
Folklore, mythology, and legend are all rooted in location, and this spectacular collection of short stories explores them all in captivating and horrifying ways.
A massive thanks to Titan Books and NetGalley for the early access and the book is now available for all.
Titan has been on fire recently with some fantastic releases so I’d highly recommend giving them a follow!
September 14, 2026
Unfortunately, and probably by no means the fault of the book itself, this just didn't really work for me.
I got about 4 stories in, and had to DNF, as none of them hooked me in any way, and I just felt like I was battling through it a bit.
Again, may be a personal taste thing rather than the fault of the book - I read a lot of horror and anthologies, but I think the mix of the two may not be my cup of tea!
I got about 4 stories in, and had to DNF, as none of them hooked me in any way, and I just felt like I was battling through it a bit.
Again, may be a personal taste thing rather than the fault of the book - I read a lot of horror and anthologies, but I think the mix of the two may not be my cup of tea!
October 23, 2026
I am so busy this time of year! Short stories are the perfect remedy. I can enjoy spooky stories without a huge time commitment. Each of these stories is based on an ancient ruin. While all the tales are fiction, the AI Cathedral story especially gave me pause. Kudos to Dan Coxon for assembling this thought-provoking collection.
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