Unearthed: New Horror of Ancient Ruins

by Dan Coxon (Editor), Philip Fracassi (Editor), Josh Malerman

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

Genres: Horror, Short Stories, Fiction, Anthologies, Adult, Short Story Collection, Collections

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2026

About the author

Dan 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.

Reviews

[megs_bookrack]

ARC 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!

[Becca]

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.

[AitziST]

(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.

[Brian Stabler]

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.

[Tanya]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc of Unearthed. 2.5*.

I was really excited about this anthology as I love ancient ruins and archaeology. I was hoping for plenty of folk horror, atmosphere, and chills down my spine in the run-up to Halloween. However, I'm afraid the collection didn't live up to my expectations.

My individual story rankings range from 1 to 4 stars, with a couple of DNFs. A lot of the stories felt clichéd and overly predictable, and I was surprised by how many of them were about being a tourist in a foreign country. Compared to other short story anthologies, there was also a surprising repetitiveness to the voice and tone of many of the stories. That isn't the fault of the authors, but it's a shame the editors hadn't curated the collection to avoid this.

Like some other reviewers, I particularly disliked Grasshopper and how it handled CSA. I'm definitely not saying writers shouldn't write about CSA. But, I didn't feel that this story handled it well at all. It also had the weakest connection to the anthology's theme so I'm surprised by its inclusion. (I also DNFd another short story due to racial fetishisation of sexual partners. It may turn out that this author handled this well, but coming so soon after Grasshopper, I decided I'd rather just move onto the next story.)

On the other hand, there were some stories that I liked. A M Shine's Live Forever and Cavan Scott's ReHistory were the standouts for me. I also enjoyed A G Slatter's The Bridegroom of Cumae as a fun, old-fashioned Sherlock Holmes meets vampires type of story.

Hildur Knútsdóttir's Dog's Paw Drift was predictable and I would have liked it to go a little further, but I enjoyed the feeling of the horrors that lie undisturbed underneath our feet even when we're "safe" at home. Premee Mohamed's None Went Out had a delicious sense of increasing tension. While I found Tananarive Due's Under Water slightly too predictable, the horror of Lake Lanier will stay with me.

[Rudi McKay]

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. 🖤🏚️🩸👁️

[Cat Treadwell]

'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.

[ScarlettAnomalyReads]

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.

[Bob | Cemetery Chapters]

I 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.

[claudia reads it all]

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.

[Charles]

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.

[Gregor Miller]

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!

[Moth]

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!

[Natalie all_books_great_and_small]

Review to follow

[Kyuu]

2.75