The Devil Take You is an anthology of medieval horror comprising 14 tales set in the world Rome left behind. Join us in the plague-infested streets of London and the howling expanse of the Carpathian Steppes. Explore the once-hallowed halls of fortified monasteries and bear witness to the sacrilegious Vikings who would plunder them. From the macabre corpse collectors of Al-Waset to vicious highwaymen and their blasphemous secrets, The Devil Take You offers a delicious glimpse into the hellish world of the Middle Ages. Within these pages, life is fleeting, but death is never slow.
Featuring tales by C.L. Werner, Coy Hall, Anya Leigh Josephs, Benedict Anning, Phil Keeling, Brent Salish, Amanda M. Blake, Stephanie Ellis, R.T. Wenzel, Morgan Melhuish, Gerald Jensen, Justin Fillmore, D. Thomas Minton, and Brian Crenshaw.
Available to order August 21st.
Rather Unto Moses by Anya Leigh Josephs
In “Rather Unto Moses”, Anya Leigh Josephs weaves a macabre tale, drawing inspiration from a dark incident in England’s blood-soaked history. At times philosophical and curious, and at others grim and melancholic, Rather Unto Moses delves into the deep-seated fears rooted in the horrors of the 13th century. It poses a question that remains relevant even today: Will the sins of the past continue to haunt the present and shape the future?
The Hungry Sand by C. L. Werner
In “The Hungry Sand” by C. L. Werner, we are plunged into the heart of a Hulegu Khan warband as they journey south following a great victory over the Nizari. But their work is not yet complete. Led by Kekchu, the warband embarks on a perilous hunt for the Assassins. Their pursuit takes them across the treacherous Dash-e Kavir, a vast desert that few dare to traverse, and with good reason. For in this desolate expanse, it is not only men and their beasts who roam…
The Threefold Man by Morgan Melhuish
In the small hospital outside Pelusium, three identical men unexpectedly find themselves under the care of a serving girl whose pregnancy appears to be… accelerating. And then things get really weird.
Morgan Melhuish’s “The Threefold Man” draws from a rich tapestry of pagan, Christian, Islamic, and Jewish lore to create a glorious tale in which monotheism clashes against old gods long thought dead. Amidst this conflict, an unlikely group of heroes emerges as the last defence against impending chaos and the void.
Winter-Man by R. T. Wenzel
Is disease merely the symptom of a corrupted soul? Is there a dissonance between our innate nature and the moral order we are meant to abide by? In “Winter-Man”, Wenzel skillfully navigates these philosophical inquiries, inviting readers to contemplate the nature of transgression and the intricacies of the human condition while exploring the strange contradiction in man’s desires and the will of our maker—from whose image we were all created, no?
The Devil’s Horsemen by Benedict Anning
"The Devil's Horsemen" takes us to the fringes of the western frontier, where ambitious Khans and their tribes journey across a new land, conquered by the might of their bows and the strength of their arms. Yet, in this vast and unfamiliar territory, they discover that not all adversaries can be vanquished by the sword... At its core, Benedict Anning's tale is a story of convergence, of worlds colliding and the fate of individuals and their beliefs when swept up by the storm.
Can you hear the Devil’s hooves?
Anatomists of the Chitinous Wing by Coy Hall
What kind of man lurks in the shadows of a city where corpses are traded like fresh meat and a man’s soul is worth only as much as the contents of his pockets? What kind of man finds more intrigue in a body now that it is dead than when it was alive? Journey with us to the hidden depths of 12th-century Luxor, Egypt, where the enigma unravels, revealing the secrets of such men and the profound revelations they profess to know. Explore the twisted paths of this underworld, where the boundaries between life and death blur, and the true nature of humanity is laid bare for those brave enough to delve into its depths.
In "Anatomists of the Chitinous Wing," Coy Hall further establishes himself as a force to be reckoned with in the realm of historical horror. With his unique style and gripping storytelling, he has not only arrived but has already made the genre his own!
The Blasphemy in the Box by Phil Keeling
In the scorching heat of the road to Cologne, Wulfric stumbles upon an irresistible opportunity: a priest and his cart, ready for the taking. Is it faith he sees in the frenzied priest's eyes before dispatching him, or is it something else? And what's in the box stowed in the back of the cart?
In Phil Keeling’s “The Blasphemy in the Box”, the genre of “medieval horror” is scintillatingly distilled, illuminating all that we love in the genre in one delicious tale!
The Eye of Odin by Stephanie Ellis
The Priory of Lindisfarne holds riches beyond measure, which is why Sigurd and his band of Vikings have come to sack it. And sack it they have. But Lindisfarne holds a dark secret, one that Sigurd comes to obsess over, until even the deaths of his men won't sway him from uncovering the truth. Is this Niflheim? And whose voice is that screaming his name in his dreams?
Stephanie Ellis’s “The Eye of Odin” is a blood-curdling tale of Vikings and mayhem, of greed and the dangerous allure of the unknown.
April with Her Showers Sweet by Brent Salish
"They say you're a witch." Words to turn the blood cold of anyone who hears them. But when they come accompanied by a desperate plea for help, it might do to throw caution to the wind. Besides, why would anyone need a witch?
In “April, with Her Showers Sweet”, Brent Salish delves into the plague-riddled streets of London, where a volatile blend of superstition and religious zealotry threatens to ignite at any moment. What follows is a dark and twisted tale that might just swallow you whole.
Caveat Canem by Gerald Jensen
Andre Rout has a dangerous secret, one that most people don’t survive learning. But when he comes upon a desolate stone tower occupied by an enormous monk, he finds himself on the other end of a mystery he cannot solve - what sin the monk has committed to earn his solitary penance. As the mystery unravels,, the nature of both of their sins comes to the fore, with deadly consequences.
Gerald Jensen’s “Caveat Canem” is a delightful tale that explores the duality of sin - a boon for some, a curse for others. You’ll want to sink your teeth into it.
The Nightman’s Assistant by Justin Fillmore
With echoes of Gormenghast, Justin Fillmore’s “The Nightman’s Assistant” follows the grim trail of Rhett and his assistant after they uncover something at the bottom of the keep’s cesspit. Something that wants to come out.
Manu Dei by D. Thomas Minton
On the fringes of the Holy Roman Empire, Brother Alberto finds himself entangled in a web of deceit and treachery among the Magyar tribe. In “Manu Dei”, Alberto’s mission to bring Christianity to the tribe becomes intertwined with a deadly game of deception, one that only becomes more complicated when the Chieftain, László, is killed under mysterious circumstances. In a desperate bid for truth, Alberto faces a chilling revelation and his own mortality.
D. Thomas Minton’s wonderful tale of treachery and murder on the fringes of the Holy Roman Empire encapsulates the conflict between the old faiths and the new, as well as the violence that followed the imposition of one over the other.
The Plank in Thine Own by Amanda M. Blake
Driven by intellectual and spiritual curiosity, a heretical monk engages in forbidden research and readings to prove the impact of the spiritual plane on the physical. Faith alone is not enough to save the soul of the damned. One must turn to acts too horrific for the sane to contemplate, and yet, if we could save a fallen angel from their own damnation, should we not? But what if we risk our own soul in the pursuit?
Amanda M. Blake’s The Plank in Thine Own delves into the depravity humanity is willing to plummet to in exchange for just a glimpse at the divine, even if it means turning into a devil yourself…
Hag’s Haggle by Brian Crenshaw
When Lubohr takes his youngest son up the burning mountain to win the witch's fabled gold, he will be confronted by vicious rivals, the elements, and his own aging body, not to mention his own dark thoughts. But it will all be worth it when he reaches the summit… won’t it?
Every good thing comes at a price, but the true measure lies in how much one is willing to pay. In “Hag’s Haggle”, Brian Crenshaw takes this question to its limits and beyond.