An Epic Medieval Horror Story

Two years ago, I read Christopher Buehlman's "Between Two Fires" and fell in love with historical horror. That novel remains one of the most thrilling literary experiences of my life, and I've never stopped chasing that fantasy-horror "high" since closing its covers.

That's why I was so excited to get my hands on Mitchell Luthi's medieval fantasy tale, "Pilgrim." I had heard wonderful things about this novel from fans of Buelhman's work, and I'm happy to confirm that we have a real contender for Buehlman's blockbuster. 

"Pilgrim" offers a sweeping journey into history and horror, plunging us into a clash of religious cultures and the darkest corners of hell. The novel is remarkably well-researched and well-written. Weighing in at 700+ pages, this is an ambitious project similiar to King's longer epics. Thankfully, Luthi has the writing chops to keep things fresh with engaging characters, witty dialogue, and imaginative monsters. I tore through this behemoth book in 2 weeks, and I haven't had this much fun in a long time.

In the story of "Pilgrim," we follow the tale of a band of misfit Crusaders hauling a holy relic to Antioch. They set off on the road from Jersalem, where they are beset by a fierce desert storm. When the dust settles, they find themselves in a parallel world—in a nightmare landscape laden with hellish monstrosities. Their odyssey then becomes a dark journey through an Arabic version of hell.

The landscapes in the book are fascinating. The heroes journey from wooded temples to cursed cities to tempestuous seas, all of which have some bearing in Middle Eastern religious culture. In these strange places, they encounter bloodthirsty monsters from Arab and Islamic mythology. The story presents a true cultural melting pot with western and eastern tradition. The influence of Dante's "Inferno" is evident here, but Luthi also leans heavily on elements of "cosmic" Lovecraftian horror and even “Dark Souls”-like aberrations. If you're a history nerd, this book will teach you a few things about the Crusades. But if you're just looking for violent and disgusting monsters--or you're just curious about the darker parts of Middle Eastern mythology--this book won't disappoint you, either.

For new readers, I have one important caveat. The early novel moves very slowly. In the first 7 chapters, you'll encounter detailed depictions of medieval Jerusalem, quarreling factions at Court, and many characters of minor significance. I found some of these passages overwhelmingly dense -- and even tangential towards the later story. Maybe you'll love the rich history of the city...but don't be discouraged if you aren't "vibing" with the early book. The horror adventure picks up around Chapter 8, and the story's speed picks up substantially then.

"Pilgrim" is available on Amazon and audio book.

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*Disclaimer : I do not get paid or compensated for promoting fictional works. All reviews on this webpage are written of my own accord.