Books reading recommendations Five Horror Stories Set During the Medieval Period Given all the plague, war, and famine, the Middle Ages seem like an ideal setting for horror fiction. By Lorna Wallace | Published on February 24, 2026 “Knight, Death, and the Devil” by Albrecht Dürer Comment 0 Share New Share “Knight, Death, and the Devil” by Albrecht Dürer I’ve found that certain historical periods seem to inspire more horror stories than others. For instance, I don’t think I’ve ever read a horror novel set during the Renaissance (though it should be noted that the playwrights of that time were absolutely writing horror—no one can convince me that Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus isn’t horror, with all of its mutilation and cannibalism). On the other hand, many authors have chosen to set scary stories during the medieval era. I can’t deny that it’s a period rich in potential horrors—from brutal wars to deadly diseases—and the five works below take full advantage of those dark and disturbing possibilities. “A Dog in Dürer’s Etching ‘The Knight, Death and the Devil’” by Marco Denevi (1966) (Translated by Alberto Manguel) Knight, Death, and the Devil (1513) is an engraving by German artist Albrecht Dürer which depicts a proud knight on horseback being shadowed by Death upon his own pale horse. Hundreds of years later, Argentine writer Marco Denevi was asked to contribute to a collection of stories that took the artwork as inspiration and the resulting work was (and is) haunting. Denevi keeps the nameless knight an opaque figure who is returning from a purposefully unnamed war in order to cast him and the conflict as representatives of all soldiers and wars. As the knight makes his way back to his castle, the story ruminates on the death and destruction that is wrought by war and on its ultimate futility. The entire story is written as one breathless sentence. While that might sound like it would be hard to follow, the narrative not only flows seamlessly, but also only takes around 10 minutes to read. The stylistic choice to omit full stops perfectly plays into the tale’s theme too—time marches on mercilessly, regardless of human actions or desires, just as the story does. Between Two Fires by Christopher Buehlman (2012) Between Two Fires is set in 1348 in a plague-ravaged France. The few who haven’t been killed by the Black Death are lucky to be alive, but they’ve been left in dire straits, with famine and violence now widespread. Thomas is a knight-turned-brigand whose rumbling stomach has led to him (largely) abandon his previous sense of honor. But the already warped path of his existence takes another sharp turn when he meets—and saves—a girl who has recently been orphaned. The pair are soon joined by a priest, and the trio set off on a journey across France that brings them face to face with a variety of grotesquely creative supernatural horrors. There’s no escaping the fact that this is a brutal story, but the darkness is somewhat lightened by the humorous dialogue and the heartfelt relationships that develop between the characters. Come for the demons and monsters, stay for the thoughtful reflections on faith, friendship, and redemption. “Palette” by J.L. Kiefer (2022) Unrealistic beauty standards for women are ever changing, but also ever present, which means that “Palette” will resonate with modern readers, remaining deeply relevant despite being set during the medieval period. The unnamed main character is a fabric weaver who is obsessed with her appearance. In order to achieve the smooth porcelain skin that society deems so desirable, she slathers her face in concoctions that are laced with ingredients that we now know are deadly, such as lead and mercury. The body horror that results from her primping and preening is stomach-turning. But beyond the gruesome descriptions of the woman’s body and her accompanying mental decline, it’s also unsettling to observe just how little has changed over the hundreds of years that separate us from her. We’ve just swapped quicksilver for injectables. “Palette” was originally published in Howls From the Dark Ages: An Anthology of Medieval Horror (which is on my TBR list!), but it can also be read for free at the link above. Once Was Willem by M.R. Carey (2025) Once Was Willem is what you get if you take Seven Samurai (1954), shift the setting to 12th-century England, and add a hefty dose of fantasy horror. The titular Willem dies near the beginning of the story, but is resurrected via magic, only to be cast out by his village as a monster. Not long afterwards, an opportunistic bandit and an evil wizard take advantage of the chaos caused by civil war to seize a nearby castle. When this villainous duo abduct the local children (for reasons I’ll leave a mystery to avoid spoilers), the villagers enlist Willem and his newfound monstrous friends to save them. The story leans into the elements that make Seven Samurai (and all of the works it has directly inspired) so effective—primarily found family and the fight for justice. Everything in Once Was Willem feels richly drawn, from the worldbuilding to the characterizations to the language. And while it might take a little bit of time to get used to the archaic vocabulary that Carey sprinkles into his prose, once you’re in, it feels incredibly immersive. The Devils by Joe Abercrombie (2025) The Devils is another tale of monstrous characters coming together for a worthy purpose, but it’s more Suicide Squad than Seven Samurai. The story is set in an alternate version of Europe in what I’m pretty sure is the medieval era (it’s never explicitly stated, so I’m just going off of context clues). A group of unwilling villains—from a cursed knight to a cocky necromancer—are forced to escort a thief, who is believed to be a lost princess, to Troy so that she can take her rightful place on the throne. The Devils is packed full of blood-slicked brutality and action-packed mayhem, but the book’s heart lies with its eclectic and chaotic cast of characters. Although none of them want to be on this mission, their chemistry is clear from the outset and watching as their bond slowly develops is heartwarming. The story is also riddled with Abercrombie’s delightful brand of dark humor, which perfectly matches the gritty and gory world he’s crafted. There are plenty of other medieval-set horror stories out there that I haven’t gotten around to reading yet, so let me know which ones you most recommend in the comments below. And I’m all ears if anyone has any suggestions for horror set during the Renaissance—I’m sure there are good examples out there![end-mark] The post Five Horror Stories Set During the Medieval Period appeared first on Reactor.