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Of Plagues and Blasphemy: A Medieval Horror Anthology
Sharpen your sickles. Say your prayers. The Dark Ages have only just begun.
In this unflinching medieval horror anthology, descend into an age of pestilence and prophecy--where hunger becomes holy, bodies betray their hosts, and devotion rots from the inside out. These tales exhume the darkest corners of history and dare you to look inside.
Featuring stories by Ashley Graves, Amanda Havill Adgate, Julia Jackson, Teagan Olivia King, Briana Morgan, Saratoga Schaefer, M. Stevenson, and C.J. Subko.
In this unflinching medieval horror anthology, descend into an age of pestilence and prophecy--where hunger becomes holy, bodies betray their hosts, and devotion rots from the inside out. These tales exhume the darkest corners of history and dare you to look inside.
Featuring stories by Ashley Graves, Amanda Havill Adgate, Julia Jackson, Teagan Olivia King, Briana Morgan, Saratoga Schaefer, M. Stevenson, and C.J. Subko.
155 pages, Paperback
Published May 5, 2026
About the author
Amanda Havill Adgate
4 books6 followersAmanda Havill Adgate is a writer and therapist whose work explores the dark intersections of trauma, memory, and the supernatural. With a background in mental health and a passion for gothic storytelling, Amanda weaves narratives that are both emotionally resonant and hauntingly atmospheric. Her fiction often centers on women navigating grief, isolation, and inherited horror, drawing inspiration from folklore, cult psychology, and feminist theory. She has published short horror stories in Gone By Morning, an independently published international horror anthology with proceeds going to We Need Diverse Books (2022), Exquisite Poison, an anthology from Phantom House Press (2022), and the medieval horror anthology Of Plagues and Blasphemy with Grave Belles Press (May 2026). She works with Kristin Dwyer on Breaking The Story retreats, and is co-founder of the woman-forward horror press Grave Belles. She’s also a member of the Horror Writers Association. She lives near the Appalachian Mountains with her feral children and the love of her life, where she balances writing with wild, wonder-filled chaos.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This anthology was so good with so many talented authors featured! And I’m not just saying that because I have a story featured in this one! Be sure to preorder 🥰
August 5, 2026
This was such a fantastic collection of horror stories with a strong theme. I loved how it centered women, nonbinary, and queer people in medieval times, empowering them through the horror genre. It opens with an amazing forward from the editors the really sets the tone for the tales to come. And I loved each new story even more than the last. The historical setting was so strong, and the horror elements beautifully interwoven. Of course, each piece was unique, with original ideas that blew me away. I do want to call out my very favorite story: “The Beast and the Maid” by Teagan Olivia King, which read like a Grimm’s fairytale, beautiful and dark and haunting. And some honorable mentions: “The Heart, the Hunt” by M. Stevenson, which had the most satisfying ending filled with promises of violence and vengeance; and “La Maldit-Comiat” by Briana Morgan in which the vengeance played out musically across the pages, culminating in hard-won love. So overall I highly recommend this anthology!
August 24, 2026
As is often the case with short story anthologies, this one was a mixed bag, but it definitely has enough interesting thoughts and concepts for me to recommend it to anyone interested in historical horror stories. “Of Plagues and Blasphemy” brings together some interesting authors, and I hope there will be more historical horror anthologies by Grave Belles Press in the future!
In my opinion, the strongest story in this anthology was “Death Rites of an Anchorite” by Saratoga Schaefer. I found the part in which the author described the life of the anchorite and why they chose to seclude themself from society well-researched and convincing. The horror elements felt a little tacked upon—they might have interwoven with the anchorite’s story better in a novella—but the writing style makes me want to come back to this author and give their trad wife horror book a shot!
“Blood and Pestilence” by Ashley Graves was the story with the strongest and most convincing plot, in my opinion. What threw me out of it a little was the description of a plague doctor costume—those belong in the early modern period! While the setting itself is vague enough to be read as early modern, this is still a medieval horror anthology and I am still a person with a history degree who can’t quite get out of her own skin.
The other stories in this anthology are average or a tad better than that, except for “La Maldit-Comiat” by Briana Morgan, which I found implausible and unconvincing. In “The Heart, the Hunt” by M. Stevenson, I did not understand why Agnès and Isabeau don’t simply finish Robert off and make it look like an accident when they get the opportunity. Both stories lean more towards the fairytale-like, as medievalisms go.
“There Will Be Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth” by Amanda Havill Adgate was fine, in my opinion, but I found the exploration of the main character a little surface-level. The story might have benefitted from some more paragraphs. “A Tale of Two Monks” by C.J. Subko was also fine, but neither the description of the Teutonic Knights nor of the Pagan Polish villagers fully convinced me (and I do know a little about that subject matter).
“With the Tongue” by Julia Jackson and “The Beast and the Maid” by Teagan Olivia King employ a similar structural device. The weakness, as I see it, of “With the Tongue” is that a modern reader is easily able to understand what is actually going on while “The Beast and the Maid” had some repetitive passages that I found a little tedious, particularly since a perceptive reader is able to glean what is actually going on about halfway through the story.
In my opinion, the strongest story in this anthology was “Death Rites of an Anchorite” by Saratoga Schaefer. I found the part in which the author described the life of the anchorite and why they chose to seclude themself from society well-researched and convincing. The horror elements felt a little tacked upon—they might have interwoven with the anchorite’s story better in a novella—but the writing style makes me want to come back to this author and give their trad wife horror book a shot!
“Blood and Pestilence” by Ashley Graves was the story with the strongest and most convincing plot, in my opinion. What threw me out of it a little was the description of a plague doctor costume—those belong in the early modern period! While the setting itself is vague enough to be read as early modern, this is still a medieval horror anthology and I am still a person with a history degree who can’t quite get out of her own skin.
The other stories in this anthology are average or a tad better than that, except for “La Maldit-Comiat” by Briana Morgan, which I found implausible and unconvincing. In “The Heart, the Hunt” by M. Stevenson, I did not understand why Agnès and Isabeau don’t simply finish Robert off and make it look like an accident when they get the opportunity. Both stories lean more towards the fairytale-like, as medievalisms go.
“There Will Be Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth” by Amanda Havill Adgate was fine, in my opinion, but I found the exploration of the main character a little surface-level. The story might have benefitted from some more paragraphs. “A Tale of Two Monks” by C.J. Subko was also fine, but neither the description of the Teutonic Knights nor of the Pagan Polish villagers fully convinced me (and I do know a little about that subject matter).
“With the Tongue” by Julia Jackson and “The Beast and the Maid” by Teagan Olivia King employ a similar structural device. The weakness, as I see it, of “With the Tongue” is that a modern reader is easily able to understand what is actually going on while “The Beast and the Maid” had some repetitive passages that I found a little tedious, particularly since a perceptive reader is able to glean what is actually going on about halfway through the story.
July 31, 2026
TL;DR The most disappointing book I've read this year.
So much potential, but nearly all the stories felt very amateurish. The first 2 in the anothology were unequivocally the best, I'd give them both 3 stars.
In addition to the quality of the stories being poor, the editing also needed to be much tighter. There was a plethora of spelling errors, repeated adjectives and adverbs (used without intent, kinda like how Mia Ballard uses the word sharp lol), and anychronisms (corsets and plague doctors, amongst many more).
I can't help but feel that none of the writers feel any passion for historic writing, let alone historical horror. Perhaps a dark fantasy theme would have been better?
I've given 2 stars for the queer representation- we need so much more of it. But as a queer woman, I can't help but feel disappointed over what could have been. Our community deserves good writing.
If you want queer medieval spookiness, you should read Mere by Danielle Giles. For more true-horror medieval, read Between Two Fires, or Pilgrim.
So much potential, but nearly all the stories felt very amateurish. The first 2 in the anothology were unequivocally the best, I'd give them both 3 stars.
In addition to the quality of the stories being poor, the editing also needed to be much tighter. There was a plethora of spelling errors, repeated adjectives and adverbs (used without intent, kinda like how Mia Ballard uses the word sharp lol), and anychronisms (corsets and plague doctors, amongst many more).
I can't help but feel that none of the writers feel any passion for historic writing, let alone historical horror. Perhaps a dark fantasy theme would have been better?
I've given 2 stars for the queer representation- we need so much more of it. But as a queer woman, I can't help but feel disappointed over what could have been. Our community deserves good writing.
If you want queer medieval spookiness, you should read Mere by Danielle Giles. For more true-horror medieval, read Between Two Fires, or Pilgrim.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Simply blown away by every story in this anthology...and that's not an exaggeration!
Of Plagues and Blasphemy, A Medieval Horror Anthology, by Grave Belles Press is a force to be reckoned with. Featuring exclusively female and non-binary authors, it is a mixture of history and horror, and every story evokes a different emotion. From demonic forces, to supernatural beings, to the literal plague, you will be horrified, riveted, enthralled.
The marginalized and oppressed are given voice through this stellar lineup of authors.
Featuring Saratoga Schaefer, Ashley Graves, M. Stevenson, Briana Morgan, CJ Subko, Teagan Olivia King, and editors Amanda Havill Adgate and Julia Jackson, this is not one to pass up!
On shelves May 5th, 2026 - pre-order now! You won't regret it!
Thank you to Grave Belles Press for the #gifted copy!
Of Plagues and Blasphemy, A Medieval Horror Anthology, by Grave Belles Press is a force to be reckoned with. Featuring exclusively female and non-binary authors, it is a mixture of history and horror, and every story evokes a different emotion. From demonic forces, to supernatural beings, to the literal plague, you will be horrified, riveted, enthralled.
The marginalized and oppressed are given voice through this stellar lineup of authors.
Featuring Saratoga Schaefer, Ashley Graves, M. Stevenson, Briana Morgan, CJ Subko, Teagan Olivia King, and editors Amanda Havill Adgate and Julia Jackson, this is not one to pass up!
On shelves May 5th, 2026 - pre-order now! You won't regret it!
Thank you to Grave Belles Press for the #gifted copy!
June 11, 2026
”She would raise her child, boy or girl, not to swallow their pain like she had. She would teach them that sometimes, the only way to build a new world is to burn down the old one.”
When Saratoga Schaefer mentioned they were going to have a story in this book, I knew I had to read it! I feel like horror and the medieval era go hand in hand so well so I knew the stories were going to be really good! There’s 8 stories in this anthology, I had my favorites and some were ok but overall it was a good collection of stories. I also really liked that all the stories were written by female and non-binary authors. They did the damn thing with their stories!🖤
When Saratoga Schaefer mentioned they were going to have a story in this book, I knew I had to read it! I feel like horror and the medieval era go hand in hand so well so I knew the stories were going to be really good! There’s 8 stories in this anthology, I had my favorites and some were ok but overall it was a good collection of stories. I also really liked that all the stories were written by female and non-binary authors. They did the damn thing with their stories!🖤
Review of advance copy received from Author
I don’t read many anthologies but when Julia Jackson writes something, I read it! And I’m so glad I read this because I loved it. Every story in here was amazing, written by badass authors. It was my first time reading anything written by Ashley Graves and wow - her story was SO GOOD!!! I’m looking forward to reading more by her. This anthology is a quick read; I finished it in a day and I’m obsessed with the cover and can’t wait to have a physical copy for my shelves! Highly recommended and this is coming from someone who usually doesn’t love anthologies! It’s that good! 🖤
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
So incredibly honored to be among fellow authors Teagan Olivia King, Saratoga Schaefer, M Stevenson, Julia Jackson, CJ Subko, Ashley Graves, and Briana Morgan in this anthology!
July 23, 2026
Every story has its own religous or faith related story and its own monsters to enjoy and fear
August 28, 2026
it’s alright,, nothing remarkable
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews