November Book Pick: Pilgrim by Mitchell Luthi – A Journey of Faith, Fear, and the Unknown

This Thanksgiving, if you’re looking to escape the traditional tales and get a bit more introspective (and a whole lot more terrified), Pilgrim by Mitchell Luthi is the dark medieval horror that’s sure to chill and captivate you. Luthi creates a rich, unsettling world that draws readers deep into a terrifying desert filled with monstrous landscapes, chilling creatures, and an eerie sense of doom that hangs over every page.

At the heart of this terrifying pilgrimage is a group of weary travelers haunted by their own beliefs. Much like the Mayflower Pilgrims, who came to the New World convinced they held the truth, the characters in Pilgrim are sure of their faith, only to find it twisted by the horrors that lurk in the sand and the oceans they cross. Led by a cursed, rotting hand that serves as both a guide and an omen, they encounter trials that make them question everything they know about God, good, and evil. Is this demon-driven journey truly divine, or has it always been a path into darkness?

Luthi’s world-building is nothing short of stunning—an eerie, immersive landscape of strange beasts and ominous omens. From fissures in the ground that echo with voices to birds with leathery wings and jaws like monkeys, the world of Pilgrim feels genuinely alive with threats, both physical and spiritual. Dietmar, our protagonist, is slowly corrupted by a creeping evil within, a transformation Luthi paints with horrifying detail. It’s this deep world-building that makes the terror feel palpable; you can almost taste the dust, feel the blistering sun, and hear the whispers of long-dead spirits haunting the sands.

Throughout the journey, the travelers grapple with complex questions of faith, struggling against the notion that God could allow, or even create, the evil they face. Like the historic Pilgrims, they confront unfamiliar territory with rigid beliefs, only to realize their certainties might be leading them astray.

Pilgrim is a masterful blend of medieval horror and theological dread, perfect for the reader who wants to dive into something both chilling and thought-provoking this Thanksgiving. So if you’re up for a truly terrifying pilgrimage that will leave you questioning good and evil, pick up Pilgrim—a story that, much like history, reminds us how dangerously blind belief can be.

Happy Holidays!