Viktor Athelstan--Decessit Vita Matris out now!
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Viktor Athelstan--Decessit Vita Matris out now!
@viktorathelstan.bsky.social
470 followers 95 following 220 posts
Shirley Jackson Award Nominated Author | MA in Medieval History | Freelance Historical Consultant | he/him
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viktorathelstan.bsky.social
me every time i look at the news
October 29, 2025 at 9:23 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
me while job hunting
October 29, 2025 at 9:20 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Sir Thierry and Brother Gilbert from my novel Decessit Vita Matris!
October 19, 2025 at 7:40 PM
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THE COMPLETELY UNEROTIC ADVENTURES OF BROTHER CELLANUS
A transfemme viking sex worker
A bisexual monk who loves his vow of chastity
A long lost sister
A lustful priest
Various supernatural creatures
An avenging angel with a penchant for spiritual castration
Lots of chaos
#DVpit #A #HF #F #LGBT #TV
October 8, 2025 at 6:52 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Day 2 of #DVparty
Meet Cellanus! He's a 9th century monk who is slightly fanatical in his beliefs. He's dedicated to the Lord & his vow of chastity. But will also steal money (that his abbot accidentally gave to him) & use that money to preach at a brothel, but does not manage to convert anyone.
October 3, 2025 at 8:11 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Another drawing of Brother Cellanus for #dvparty for #dvpit. This time he is trying to convince his abbot he is going to a house of ill repute for perfectly holy reasons. (His abbot does not believe him for one moment.)
October 2, 2025 at 8:24 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Some art of my novel, The Completely Unerotic Adventures of Brother Cellanus! Here Master Hob confronts Brother Cellanus after the hapless monk kicks a rock and accidentally hits him. #dvparty
October 2, 2025 at 4:49 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Enjoy my (purposely) poorly done photoshop for Brother Cellanus, featuring Father Abbot, Hervör, Master Hob, the Angel, and Brother Cellanus himself. (Or at least stock photos that were in Canva a few years ago when I made this.)
September 29, 2025 at 2:12 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
I'm very excited to announce that I will be in @conquestpublishing.bsky.social 's charity anthology for the Avian Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Freedom, Maine! My story is about a merciful angel....merciful in the way an avenging angel can be....
September 28, 2025 at 7:33 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
John and Gilbert in chapter 6 of Decessit Vita Matris. (Pose by mellon_soup on Pinterest.)
In the book they are wearing their habits but I simply could not figure out how to draw the hoods and make it still look good, so you get them in their underwear instead. (No drawers as they ARE Cistercians.)
September 28, 2025 at 7:02 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Read Fortunes and Misfortunes at Saint Gall a while ago & still pondering this. I'm not quite sure what to make of it, as I've been unable to find any academic articles & lost library access. Curious if any medieval scholars have any insight or can point me in the right direction? #medievalsky
September 14, 2025 at 12:01 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Monk x Knight
A traumatised Cistercian monk learns how to be happy again after being attacked by a demon with the help of a dashing knight. However, he is haunted by his past and what he did to the last man he loved….
#questpit #P #A #F #HF #S
Self pub but willing to pub traditionally
Text reads: 13th Century Devon. Demons roam the earth, looking for prey to create half demon children, called cambions. They transform their victims’ bodies and do unspeakable things to them. Brother Gilbert of Buckmoor Abbey is one such man. After his brutal attack and subsequent postpartum psychosis, Brother Gilbert is sent to his cousin’s castle to recover. While there, Brother Gilbert’s cousin puts him under the care of Thierry, a noble and incredibly handsome knight. Thierry doesn't really know what to make of the emotionally and physically scarred monk. Brother Gilbert suffers from melancholy and disgust at his new body, causing him to lash out at those around him. Even so, Thierry is determined to help Gilbert heal from the mysterious and horrible demonic attack he suffered less than a year ago. However, Gilbert’s feelings regarding Thierry are complicated. And they are made even more complicated when he knows what he did to the last man he loved… A book cover with a beige background, fingerprints, a medieval style rabbit with the text Decessit Vita Matris Viktor Athelstan
August 6, 2025 at 3:34 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Monk x Knight = Decessit Vita Matris
A traumatised Cistercian monk, Gilbert, learns how to be happy again, after being attacked by a demon, with the help of a dashing knight. However, Gilbert is haunted by his past and what he did to the last man he loved….
#BluePit 📖 #A #P #LGBT #TR #F #HS #D
Text reads: 13th Century Devon. Demons roam the earth, looking for prey to create half demon children, called cambions. They transform their victims’ bodies and do unspeakable things to them. Brother Gilbert of Buckmoor Abbey is one such man. After his brutal attack and subsequent postpartum psychosis, Brother Gilbert is sent to his cousin’s castle to recover. While there, Brother Gilbert’s cousin puts him under the care of Thierry, a noble and incredibly handsome knight. Thierry doesn't really know what to make of the emotionally and physically scarred monk. Brother Gilbert suffers from melancholy and disgust at his new body, causing him to lash out at those around him. Even so, Thierry is determined to help Gilbert heal from the mysterious and horrible demonic attack he suffered less than a year ago. However, Gilbert’s feelings regarding Thierry are complicated. And they are made even more complicated when he knows what he did to the last man he loved… A book cover with a beige background, fingerprints, a medieval style rabbit with the text Decessit Vita Matris Viktor Athelstan
July 13, 2025 at 4:16 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
9th century monk, Brother Cellanus decides to minister to the local sex workers. With his handy pastoral manual and a whole lot of optimism, Brother Cellanus is sure he can help his new lady friends embrace modesty and religion.
He can't.

#BluePit 📖 #A #webnovel #LGBT #TR #HU #F #HS
An illustration of an older monk with a gold cross looks mildly concerned at a younger monk who is smiling. Text reading: In 9th century Jorvik, after failing to convert various pagan creatures, Brother Cellanus decides on an easier goal: ministering to the local prostitutes. With his handy pastoral manual and a whole lot of optimism, Brother Cellanus is sure he can help his new lady friends embrace modesty and religion. It is harder than he anticipated. Text reading: “Welcome to my bible study!” I say, “I’m Brother Cell–” “Shut up,” the demon says, “Is there anything here that isn’t blessed?” “I’m afraid we blessed the food before everyone arrived. But if you stay I will get you–” The demon scoffs, rolls her brilliant yellow eyes, flips her black hair, and walks very quickly out of the church muttering about how free food doesn’t count as free if people can’t even eat it. Which is very true, and I do feel bad. I run after her. “Wait! If you stay for the event, I’ll get you some unblessed food!” “Brother Cellanus!” Father Radbod shouts after me, “Do not try to bribe demons with food! Not when we have other people here!” Drawing of a smiling monk with heart eyes covered in a comical amount of blood spatters.
July 13, 2025 at 11:50 AM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
PENTIMENT X THE OFFICE

Medieval monks try to buy expensive pigment through unscrupulous means, including seduction, threats, and begging the elven Queen of the Forest!

Lapis Lazuli is a webnovel currently available to read for free on AO3.

#BluePit 📖 #A #W #LGBT #TR #F #HS #HU
A comic featuring several monks discussing a situation. One monk suggests they kill someone. The abbot says no.
July 13, 2025 at 10:29 AM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Monk x Knight = Decessit Vita Matris

A traumatized Cistercian monk, Gilbert, learns how to be happy once more with the help of a dashing knight. However, Gilbert is haunted by his past and what he did to the last man he loved….

#BluePit 📖 #A #P #LGBT #TR #F #HS #D
A beige book cover with a medieval style drawing of a rabbit and fingerprints on it. The text is in a medieval style font. Text reads "Decessit Vita Matris Viktor Athelstan" The back cover of a book. Beige background with rabbits and finger prints. The text reads "After being attacked by a demon, Brother Gilbert is sent to his cousin’s castle to recover. While there, Brother Gilbert’s cousin puts him under the care of Thierry, a noble and incredibly handsome knight. Thierry doesn't really know what to make of the emotionally scarred monk. Even so, he is determined to help Gilbert heal from the mysterious and horrible demonic attack he suffered less than a year ago. Viktor Athelstan is the author of the 2022 Shirley Jackson Award nominated story “Brother Maternitas.” His short story “Okehampton Fog” can be heard on the Creepy Podcast. When Viktor isn’t writing short stories, he writes webnovels about medieval monks."
July 13, 2025 at 9:43 AM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Qualifications: Master’s in Medieval Studies from the Uni of Exeter
Specialties: Monastic life, necromancy, magic, university life, saints, gender, sexuality, manuscript production
#medievalsky #medieval #historicalfiction #author #writersky #writingcommunity #5amwritersclub
July 11, 2025 at 5:04 AM
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Monk in cave.
A photo of myself dressed as a 12th century Benedictine monk in a cave. A halo emoji covers my face.
May 26, 2025 at 5:40 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Why should you hire a historical consultant? Finding reliable sources is hard and trained historians help make sure your work is accurate.
We also help creatives craft interesting stories that make logical sense for the time period.
3 slots available! Email me today!
#historicalfiction #writing
May 23, 2025 at 10:07 AM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Currently unemployed and wanting to get my freelance historical consultant work off the ground! If you are creating anything medieval, want assistance in crafting historically accurate stories and want to hire a #trans historian living in the UK, please do get in touch. #medievalsky #writing
April 22, 2025 at 7:07 AM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Currently unemployed and wanting to get my freelance historical consultant work off the ground! If you are creating anything medieval, want assistance in crafting historically accurate stories and want to hire a #trans historian living in the UK, please do get in touch. #medievalsky #writing
An ad with a cream colored background, red rubrication and brown pointing manicules. The text reads: Need an historical consultant? Qualifications: Master’s in Medieval Studies from the University of Exeter Specialties: Monastic life, necromancy, magic, university life, saints, gender, sexuality, manuscript production Services: Fact checking Finding anecdotes to inspire new plots Revising dialogue and plots for historical accuracy Archival research Transcribing manuscripts Contact: viktorathelstan [at] gmail [dot] com
April 18, 2025 at 9:45 AM
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Looking for a #historicalconsultant for your work? I specialise in medieval monastic life, necromancy, and gender! I've worked with a video game studio, authors, and YouTubers in the past! #medievalsky #writing #historicalfiction
An ad with a cream colored background, red rubrication and brown pointing manicules. The text reads: Need an historical consultant? Qualifications: Master’s in Medieval Studies from the University of Exeter Specialties: Monastic life, necromancy, magic, university life, saints, gender, sexuality, manuscript production Services: Fact checking Finding anecdotes to inspire new plots Revising dialogue and plots for historical accuracy Archival research Transcribing manuscripts Contact: viktorathelstan [at] gmail [dot] com
April 16, 2025 at 8:42 AM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
I drew Gilbert and Thierry from #DecessitVitaMatris a while ago. It was really fun drawing in a simplified style and playing around with paper and marker textures on procreate. Here Gilbert is furious at Thierry. (Thierry is the knight and Gilbert is the monk.)
A drawing of two men in a boat. One man is blonde and in a red tunic. He is rowing the boat. The other man is a monk in a white and black habit and brown hair. He is angry.
April 14, 2025 at 6:56 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
I figured I post this just in case....
April 5, 2025 at 2:17 PM
viktorathelstan.bsky.social
Looking for an April read? #decessitvitamatris is available now as a #paperback and #ebook!

If you already have a copy, I'll be at Exeter Pride on May 10th selling chapbooks and watercolours. I’ll be more than happy to sign your book!
April 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM