Strange Ways to Die in the Dark Ages

Out now!

The second book in our Strange Ways to Die series, Strange Ways to Die in the Dark Ages, is now available online or at your local bookstore. Click here to order it now directly from the publisher and save 20% off the cover price! ~~RRP £25~~ Now £20

Strange Ways to Die in the Dark Ages takes an amusing yet grim dive into the bizarre, unexpected, and downright ridiculous ways people met their untimely ends in early medieval Europe. Join us as we recount tales of battles gone awry and tell the stories of monarchs who demonstrated they might not be all that fit for the throne. Together, we will uncover what weird and wonderful ways our ancestors attempted to cure themselves or the awful inventions created to torture and execute each other. Tread carefully in the past, though, as you never quite know what perils are lurking.

From Viking warriors felled by cheese to kings who perished in toilet-related mishaps, this book uncovers the strange, often absurd realities of life and death in an age of superstition, blood feuds, and very questionable medical advice. Packed with dark humour, historical oddities, and stories so strange they simply must be true, this is history as you’ve never read it before — deadly, disturbing, and delightfully ridiculous!

Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Welcome to my new favorite reminder that humans have always been a disaster. This book is basically a medieval “Darwin Awards: Special Edition,” except with more chainmail, questionable hygiene, and approximately 400% more death-by-cheese. And yes, I absolutely cackled my way through every single page like the respectful little gremlin I am. This was the perfect blend of grim history, unhinged humor, and “wow, our ancestors really said YOLO but in Latin.” The stories range from monarchs who died in ways that could only be described as “unfit for the throne and the toilet,” to doctors whose medical advice was essentially, “have you tried bleeding about it?” Every chapter had me alternating between horrified fascination and laughing like an absolute menace. And somehow, despite the chaos, it still manages to be respectful to the real people involved (which I appreciate because I may be feral but I’m not heartless). If you love learning, laughing, and whispering “there’s no way that really happened” while knowing full well it DID… this one delivers. I inhaled it, giggled, winced, and immediately wanted to tell everyone around me about the weirder deaths like it was medieval gossip hour. Highly recommend if you like your history with a side of existential dread and unholy giggles.

Courtney Aldrich Netgalley

Review: 5 out of 5 stars

This was a wild and amusing romp through the dark ages learning about the strange ways people died - either through wars, famines, plagues, proofs of witchcraft or crimes - often convoluted ways warped minds with no scientific information to bolster the methods chosen as proof the method worked - or just crazy theatrics the Vikings, Romans, Celts or other dark age groups thought up. It was great fun to read. I’m a history nerd and enjoy unusual adventures into the past. This book certainly supplied a lot of these for me. As I read, whenever the Vikings came to be discussed, I thought of the epic Netflix series, The Lost Kingdom (the Bernard Cornwall series, The Saxon Tales, on which the series is based is equally good) and these sections of the book really came to life for me. Plus, all the “tongue in check comments” (like the heading Tormod Kaldrunarskald: The Poet Warrior Who Died Like A Drama Queen -LOL- to mention but one humorous moment). These were so snarky I just grew to love this book more. I also enjoyed the Richard the Lionheart section (reminded me Kingdom of Heaven, historically inaccurate movie but great scenes of Jerusalem - much better is James Reston, Jr’s, Warriors of God, great book about the 3rd crusade). That’s what I loved about this book - it brought history to life - as gruesome as the topic was. And, I loved whenever “whilest” appeared - as an American this is not frequently used. The book is very historically accurate, which makes it an especially good read. Highly recommend.

Janine Skavnak Netgalley

Review: 5 out of 5 stars

Really enjoyed this book…the facts and learning strange ways that people passed in the dark ages was really enjoyable. Would definitely purchase and read again.

Amber Ward Netgalley