| Title | : | Freaky Folklore: Terrifying Tales of the World's Most Elusive Monsters and Enigmatic Cryptids |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 157715441X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781577154419 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 256 |
| Publication | : | Published July 16, 2024 |
Accompanied by illustrations of each beast, Freaky Folklore is your guide to the world’s most terrifying beings, from ancient times to today. Hosts from the leading horror podcast network, Eeriecast, present the most frightening—and entertaining—tales of these mysterious creatures, revealing everything you need to know.
This beautifully creepy collection is filled with wicked monsters,
Freaky Folklore has the stories, culture, and illustrations for you to be on the lookout for these beasts. Dive into the world of mythology and find what makes each creature unique.
Freaky Folklore: Terrifying Tales of the World's Most Elusive Monsters and Enigmatic Cryptids Reviews
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It gets one star as I couldn’t give zero
Really hate books that talk about how native tribes had a long history of certain cryptids and brasts but base the first sighting date on when a white invader saw it
Terrible -
As someone who is obsessed with cryptids, creepy folklore and all things of that nature, this was the perfect read for me. This book features truly terrifying tales of some well-known creatures and some whom I've never heard of from each continent.
Each cryptid comes with a brief history, a spooky tale and my favorite part, an illustration of the otherworldly being. The book is well written, descriptive even without the illustrations and very easy to follow and read. I had a good time with this one.
Thank you to netgalley, publishers and the author for the opportunity to read and review this title.
Pub date July 16th, 2024. -
thank you netgalley for this eARC. this is an honest review.
I enjoyed getting to read about these cryptids but I feel like there were so many inconsistencies that it took away from all of the stories. I do give a 5/5 for the amazing artwork -
**Thank you to NetGalley for providing the eARC!!**
Freaky Folklore is an encyclopedia-esque collection of folklore creatures from around the world, like America’s Bigfoot, Europe’s Baba Yaga, and Asia’s Yeti. Included in each entry along with facts are a short fictional story and wonderfully rendered artwork of the creature.
I was pleasantly surprised at the variety this book has. I read a lot of books like this in my cryptozoology-obsessed youth, and they mostly stuck to the Americas and maybe a few from the UK area. This one, however, has more than a handful of entries from Asia, Africa, and even Australia and New Zealand. The lesser-talked-about mythos are the ones that intrigue me most, because I know the least about them.
That being said, I saw some other reviewers bring up points about some entries being possibly culturally insensitive/speaking over marginalized groups. I can’t speak on that front, but I believe it’s best to listen to the groups affected. I looked over the references list (which is always a good thing to include) and most are websites rather than published articles. Those sites could very well be reputable, but just don’t give me a lot of confidence as a reader.
While the little stories were entertaining, I sort of wish each entry was longer in its information rather than every one have a story with it. I agree with one reviewer over on NetGalley that the stories could have been more informative/entertaining if they were of a real-life alleged encounter with the creature.
I haven’t heard of the podcast this is from? Written by? But I would think fans of it would enjoy this book too. It’s a nice introduction to what cryptozoology can offer, and I think it gives a lot of things for anyone interested to do future research on. -
I am doing a gentle peruse now and good god these illustrations are gorgeous!!
-
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Wellfleet Press for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
I thought this was a cute little cryptozoology book for the most part. The illustrations were really cool but I guess I expected something more on the encyclopedia side than like a scrapbook of cryptids. I just found the little blurbs and occasional short story kind of boring and annoying. If I wanted that, I’d watch some Destination Nowhere or something. Anyways, I will say that the variety in this was super cool as it wasn’t just Western countries-focused. Of course, that said, I understand that some early readers took issue with how the author/s (I have no idea what the podcast is and who the podcasters are lol) handle cryptids from non-white communities, which I do think is a fair criticism. Especially because when I looked at the references cited, the vast majority of which were contemporary websites. Some people are okay with that level of research, but I think if you’re going to creat an encyclopedia-adjacent type book, it looks and reads much better to cite research by actual folklorists and scholars in the field.
Overall, I think kids will like this but if you actually like cryptozoology, I’d say that there are better out there. -
An ARC from Netgalley.
I went into Freaky Folklore a little bit concerned by the title, in all honesty. As a historian and lover of anthropology, with a specific interest in the folklore and mythology of cultural circles, hearing the word freaky be used next to folklore set off some red flags. However, I feel like this book approached the subject of mythology with a delicate and mindful approach. I especially enjoyed how they accredited folklore creatures from Indigenous circles to their specific peoples and didn't lump them under the title of cryptid.
Freaky Folklore has beautiful illustrations and is an excellent coffee table book to flip through. Sitting at a solid 4/5 rating, I wish the book had included excerpts or interviews from real "witnesses" of some of the folkloric figures, rather than fictionalized short stories. These short stories grew repetitive, and largely followed the same pattern of: [person] is in [situation] where [bad thing happens] because they see [folklore figure]. I felt like I started skipping over the short stories after a few of them. -
Thank you Quarto Publishing Group – Wellfleet Press and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book for review.
3.5 stars
This was easy and fun! Freaky Folklore is actually the first compendium of creatures/cryptids that I’ve read. It was super easy to follow and I LOVE the illustrations (props to the artist) Strzyga is so cute!!! Something this book has that my other mythology/folklore books don’t have is that it’s not specialized to one location/belief and I loved that. Cryptids worldwide! I liked the descriptors for each but I did find myself not super interested in some of the stories that went along with each one. Overall pretty solid though, makes me want to dig deeper.
Thanks again! -
I thought this was a very well done manual on cryptids and monsters from around the world. I loved the illustrations for each one and learning about what each culture/continent around the world finds scary. I’d definitely purchase a copy of this for myself or loved one who’s into folklore and cryptids.
Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. -
Freaky folklore is an encyclopedia like collection of monsters and cryptids (many well-known but also some that were completely new to me), with facts, short stories and beautiful illustrations to go along with each creature.
I really enjoyed pretty much everything about this collection, it was just so beautifully illustrated and featured creatures from all over the world.
However, I did feel like that the short stories became a little repetitive after a while and towards the end I did end up skimming through those sections.
As a big supernatural fan, it did give me some of the same vibes as John Winchester’s journal.
Highly recommend this book to lovers of folklore and weird creatures. (Also recommend the podcast with the same name from the same creators)
Big thanks to Netgalley, Wellfleet Press, Darkness Prevails and Carman Carrion for allowing me to read an E-Arc of this collection. -
I have mixed feelings about this book.
The good: not North America centric, and included cryptids from all around the world equally. The artwork is interesting- I found some of the illustrations really fascinating, but others were a little underwhelming. For example, reading a detailed description of the Vodyanoy and having a vivid picture in mind, then turning the page to see a man-toad with a pot belly and a little beard was not what I was expecting. Most of the artwork is pretty accurate and interesting though. This book is a good place to start as a list for further reading.
The bad: Each cryptid has a very short blurb with a description and a depiction of it, and then a short fictional story about an encounter with it. I feel like if the stories weren’t included it would have been a very short book and they were added to increase the length. At first I thought they were based on real encounters but then realized after a few they were just short stories. If you like short stories that follow a basic theme with no real character exploration then that works. It’s not my thing. I wanted more exploration into actual sightings.
Other reviewers have mentioned that many of the blurbs talk about Indigenous histories and folklore of these creatures, but then focus on Euro-centric invader information about them. I agree with those reviewers, and I found that aspect frustrating and disappointing.
I think the reasons for the short descriptions and lack of depth into the background of the cryptid stories is because of the appalling research that was done for this book. While reading I encountered a cryptid I’d actually not heard about before, so I paused to do a quick search for more information. I was appalled to find the exact, word for word, description in Wikipedia. Wikipedia listed books as sources for the information, so I jumped back to the book’s sources to see if either those sources or Wikipedia was mentioned. Instead, there was a list of blogs. So essentially this author pulled information about these cryptids from bloggers who may or may not have been copying information from Wikipedia. I didn’t dive into the blogs to try to find their sources, but I find it incredibly lazy and even inaccurate for a blog to be used as a source for information for a book. A blog should be a starting point if anything, to find the sources used and verify them. Not as the start and finish of compiling information.
So basically the author got some good artwork, copied information that other writers may have just copied from Wikipedia, and wrote a bad short story about each of the cryptids included.
It would have been a 3 star book had I not found the exact word-for-word description in Wikipedia and the author had actually gone back to the sources and done their own research. As it is, I find it helpful in having a starting point to do my own further research into some cryptids I didn’t know about, but this should have been a blog instead of a book because none of the information cited was properly vetted as I would expect a book to have done. At best, lazy research, at worst, obvious plagiarism. -
1 Star – Visually appealing but skewed towards sensationalism
Thank you to NetGalley and Wellfleet Press for providing me with an ARC of “Freaky Folklore: Terrifying Tales of the World’s Most Elusive Monsters and Enigmatic Cryptids” by Darkness Prevails in exchange for an honest review.
Folklore has been one of my down-the-rabbit-hole obsessions since I was a kid, and Japanese folklore in particular ended up being a big part of my postgraduate research. So, I have a near unhealthy compulsion to check out any book that makes claims of being about or inspired by folklore. What that means is that I’m also (inadvertently) more critical when it comes to these books.
“Freaky Folklore” feels like your average coffee table book in everything from the trim size and layout to the content selection and depth. Which isn’t to say that’s a bad thing; but, for me, it was at best unsatisfying and at worst annoyingly skewed towards sensationalism.
From the introduction alone I became a little skeptical about the framing of the book. The word ‘monster’ is explained as originating from the Latin ‘monstrum’—which is true enough. However, I take issue with the choice to present the etymology as “godlike premonition, unbelievable phenomenon,” while entirely ignoring the older roots in “admonishment.”
Cryptids aside, folklore has never been just about the dread of the unexplained. I think a large part of my dissatisfaction is rooted in this conflation of cryptids, monsters, and folklore, while emphasizing a “whether they’re real or not” campy atmosphere.
What irked me the most though is the way the introduction led me to believe there was going to be some substance in the representation of “culture, values, and beliefs” from the regions the “creatures” originate; when in reality, the stories and informational blurbs are all positionally removed from those cultures and beliefs. Not to mention, they are at times so generalized as to be inaccurate. When you spread your net so wide, and try to do so much, there will inevitably be details sacrificed and areas overlooked. Still, there are literally Wikipedia pages that contain more substance and nuance than some of these monster bios—and those you can read for free.
The writing was also rather bland and the stories formulaic. I expected more than the kind of late 90s I-heard-from-a-friend-of-a-friend-of-mine type of encounters.
But the illustrations are nice. So, there’s that, I guess.
“Freaky Folklore” would likely appeal to fans of the podcast it’s derived from, urban legend type storytelling, and B-movie horror.
But if you want culturally resonant explorations of folklore figures from around the world, you’re not going to find that here—I severely doubt I'm the target audience anyway. -
Clearly I can’t get enough cryptids in my life. This is the second book today I’ve read where they’re featured. I was drawn to this one because of its cover.
This book takes you on a whirlwind trip around the world, introducing you to some of the locals. The local monsters, anyway. Sections are divided by geography: Americas, Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, and Asia.
For each entry, you’ll learn the name of the cryptid, monster or urban legend, where it’s found, when it was first sighted (usually by a white person) or mentioned in literature, its classification (eg, bogeyman), a few descriptors for its personality and some general information. This is accompanied by an illustration and a short, fictional account of a close encounter.
There were a bunch of familiar faces but also some that were new to me. I’ve chosen to mention three of them.In Scandinavian folklore, the Myling is considered one of the most disturbing spirits. This legend revolves around children who were either abandoned or murdered. The souls of these unbaptized children are doomed to wander the Earth, seeking someone who can provide them with a proper burial. They are believed to be particularly dangerous, possessing the ability to harm and even kill people.
Drop Bears are carnivorous koalas found all over Australia. They’re bitey and will drop on you from above when you’re out in the bush. They’re also an urban legend but they’re as Aussie as Vegemite and I can’t get enough of them.
The Manananggal is said to look like a beautiful woman by day but by night, when she feeds on her victims, she transforms into something else entirely.When night falls, the Manananggal grows bat-like wings, detaches her upper torso from her lower body, and takes flight in search of her next victim. As she soars through the moonlit sky, you may catch a glimpse of her intestines dangling from her split body.
Beware beautiful women, I guess?
I enjoyed a lot of the illustrations but wasn’t as enthusiastic about the text. I would have much preferred to have been given more information about each monster or cryptid, or read an account of someone who swears they have encountered it instead of stories that weren’t based on real people or experiences.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wellfleet Press, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group, for the opportunity to read this book.
Blog -
https://schizanthusnerd.com -
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This in no way impacted my opinions.
‘Freaky Folklore’ by Carman Carrion is an intriguing dive into the eerie and enchanting world of folklore. This book explores various myths and legends, providing readers with a fascinating glimpse into different cultures and their stories.
Accuracy: ★★★★★
The accuracy of this book is commendable. From what I know of the folklore featured, Carrion has done an excellent job of staying true to the original tales. The details and narratives are presented with a high degree of authenticity, ensuring that readers get a genuine sense of the folklore’s essence.
Perspective: ★★★★☆
The perspective offered in ‘Freaky Folklore’ is decent. Carrion approaches the stories with a respectful and informative tone, providing background and context that enhance the reader's understanding. While it may not delve deeply into analysis, it serves its purpose well as a collection of folklore.
Relevance: ★★★★☆
While folklore might not be the most sought-after genre, this book remains relevant for those with an interest in myths and legends. It serves as a valuable resource for readers looking to explore cultural stories and traditions, even if it’s not a mainstream topic.
Engagement: ★★★★☆
The engagement level of ‘Freaky Folklore’ is average. The stories are captivating and well-told, but the book might not hold the attention of all readers, particularly those who aren't already interested in folklore. However, for those who appreciate this genre, it provides a satisfying read.
Readability: ★★★★☆
Readability is generally good, though it feels a bit lacking at times. The writing is clear, but there are moments where the pacing or structure could be improved to maintain reader interest. Despite this, the book is still accessible and enjoyable.
Enjoyment: ★★★★☆
Overall enjoyment of ‘Freaky Folklore’ is quite good. The collection of stories is diverse and well-curated, offering a delightful mix of the eerie and the enchanting. It’s a book that can be savoured by folklore enthusiasts and casual readers alike.
‘Freaky Folklore’ by Carman Carrion is a well-researched and engaging collection of myths and legends from around the world. While it may not appeal to all readers, it stands out as a valuable addition to the genre for those interested in exploring the rich tapestry of cultural stories. With its accurate portrayals and intriguing narratives, it’s a book that offers both education and entertainment. -
Book Review: Freaky Folklore: Terrifying Tales of the World's Most Elusive Monsters and Enigmatic Cryptids by Darkness Prevails with Carman Carrion
Rating: 4 Stars
Freaky Folklore by Darkness Prevails and Carman Carrion is a spine-chilling compendium that delves into the history and culture of over 50 terrifying mythical creatures that have haunted human imagination for ages. As a folklore enthusiast, this book was an absolute delight for me.
From the blood-draining Chupacabra to the curse-spawned Jersey Devil, and from the shape-shifting Kelpie to the aggressive Moehau, each monster is brought to life with vivid descriptions, eerie tales, and captivating illustrations. The book also introduces us to the haunting Kuchisake-onna from Japanese folklore and the elusive Dogman reported in Michigan.
I was particularly drawn to the "freaky facts" accompanying each creature, providing intriguing insights into their origins and characteristics. The stories shared in the book were both frightening and entertaining, keeping me engaged from cover to cover. The illustrations added an extra layer of spookiness, enhancing my reading experience.
One of the standout features of Freaky Folklore is its accessibility and readability. The writing is clear, descriptive, and easy to follow, making it a perfect choice for both casual readers and enthusiasts of the macabre. The book strikes a great balance between informative content and entertainment, ensuring that readers not only learn about these beasts but also enjoy the journey through folklore.
Overall, I had a fantastic time exploring the world of mythology through the pages of Freaky Folklore. It's a must-have for anyone intrigued by the darker side of folklore and mythical creatures. I highly recommend this book to those who are looking for a bone-chilling yet captivating read that will leave you wanting more.
⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️ -
QUICK TAKE
Freaky Folklore is an essential compendium for anyone interested in creepy worldwide folklore – including monsters, cryptids, and beasts. The book features gorgeous illustrations and excerpts on various beings sorted by their country of origin. It is truly a masterpiece!
TELL ME MORE
I’ve always been extremely into folklore and cryptids, so when I discovered Freaky Folklore, I was beyond ecstatic. I love how the book covers folklore and beings from various countries, as well as gorgeous illustrations. Each excerpt is fairly short but covers the essential history and lore of each being. The beauty of this is that the book does not need to be read from cover to cover, but can be read in pieces, depending on which beings you would like to study.
Every highlight features quick facts, as well as the history of the being. This compendium is not meant to dive deep into the various monsters, cryptids, and beasts, but to gain quick insight into each of the beings, which can help guide you into studying more about them on your own.
This collection is essential for authors looking to incorporate folklore into their writing, or for anyone interested in learning more about folklore and monsters that have become a part of our collected consciousness. It is a treasure for folklore fans everywhere, and it is sure to keep you up at night!
Thank you so much to Lydia of The Quarto Group and Wellfleet Press for the ARC! -
Ever wanted to read about the Bray Road Beast, the Canadian Waheela, the Zulu Tokoloshe or the Impundulu, or perhaps the South African Grootslag? Or maybe you want to know all about the Wendigo or the Yuki-onna of Asia, the Cherokee Spearfinger or U'tlun'ta', or the Yara-ma-yha-wo of Aboriginal folklore?
If so, this is the Beast Compendium you need!
It contains a brief history of each creature, followed by a short story about someone encountering one. Only a small proportion of the regional legendary beasts or cryptids from around the world have made it into this compendium.
(For a reference book with more creatures, I recommend the Elemental Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures: the Ultimate A-Z fantastic beings from Myth and Magic, but it lacks the stunning illustrations this one has).
With stunning illustrations of the monsters themselves, each beast comes with a description of its location, sightings, characteristics and classification, followed by a short story about someone who may have encountered one of the beasts.
This beautifully illustrated bestiary has 129 pages and is a treasure to have. It will be in stores on 16th July 2024.
I have the Elemental Encyclopedia of Magical Creatures & will definitely be buying this one.
Beautifully illustrated and a must have! -
**I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**
Darkness Prevails presents Carman Carrion's creature anthology, Freaky Folklore. Carrion organizes the encyclopedic entries by continent, drawing on cryptids and monsters from various myths and legends around the globe. Following each entry is a short story which features the creature discussed. Each entry is also accompanied by a beautiful (horrific) illustration of the creature.
While I have read many creature anthologies, Carrion's stands out due to the short stories that follow. Some are, admittedly, a little cheesy, but they're certainly fun. The art featured is certainly lovely as well. The other thing that stands out here is the true variety of cultures featured. While many cryptozoology collections are heavily European-centric, Carrion's deliberately highlighted stories from around the globe. Now, the representation isn't equal, but it is certainly more than what is common.
I think the most contentious part of this collection will be the short stories. If you prefer to not have the little short stories after, you can skip them (or skip the book, should you choose), but this collection has a good variety and solid informational blurbs.
Overall, I had a fun time with this one and am grateful to have read it early. -
2.5 stars - As a lifelong fan of the folktales, mythology, and straight up ghost stories, I was so excited to dive into Freaky Folklore! Comprised of a collection of stories from around the world - including Latin America's La Llorona, the Strzyga of Poland and Ukraine, the Tokoloshe of South Africa, and the Philippines' Manananggal, to name a few. This book introduces the reader to many well known creatures and cryptids, as well as a few that might not be as familiar.
Entries are paired with a colorful illustration of the monster, as well as a short fictionalized encounter. I appreciated the number of creatures included in this work, but I would have loved to see more background and a longer story for each entry. Perhaps even stories of actual encounters? Though a fun addition, the fictionalized tales were often a bit too short to build up any true terror or horror, and ended up feeling flat.
Freaky Folklore is a broad, though not exhaustive, compilation of monsters and their tales from a variety of different cultures. While an interesting concept for a book, I do wish it had lived up to it's claim of "terrifying tales."
Thank you to Wellfleet Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own. -
As a lover of all things spooky & strange, I was immediately attracted to Freaky Folklore. We all say we don’t judge a book by a cover but this one is truly amazing. This book breaks down various folklore creatures by continent, sharing the origins & legends behind each one. It also includes beautiful artwork, which is sometimes beautifully horrifying (looking at you, the section on Asia’s folklore). But what I really enjoyed about this book were the short fictional stories that were included with each entry. The stories add a unique element that help to bring the creatures to life & are truly anxiety-inducing despite only being a few paragraphs long each (well done!).
This book also introduced me to many legends & creatures I had never heard of before! I might have been today-years-old when I learned that Drop Bears weren’t real… Look, I never looked into them fully & Australia has birds that dive-bomb your head (Magpies), so Drop Bears sounded plausible if all you know is the name ha. So Freaky Folklore gets extra points for the educational value!
Thank you to NetGalley & Quarto Publishing Group/Wellfleet Press for sharing an advanced digital copy for review. All thoughts & opinions expressed are my own, especially my Drop Bear ignorance. -
Freaky Folklore is a cryptid lovers dream. An extremely well illustrated coffee table style book about cryptids from around the world that breaks down each one with a page that types them, a brief description and background lore, then an illustration and short story of someone encountering them.
This book toes the line between horror and non-fiction and was clearly written by someone who lovers monsters. The writing itself is clear and descriptive in the more non-fiction style sections with it relaying the facts of the folklore in an easy-to-understand manner and in the more horror-based sections is descriptive and reads like a horror podcast brought to life.
The art work however is really where the book shines, I would myself skipping ahead when reading about a new cryptid to first look at the artwork for it prior to reading and being invested in the book in part out of excitement to see each new piece.
I would recommend this book those looking for:
- A cryptid coffee table read
- A well illustrated book about monsters
- Any monster or cryptid lovers
- And those who are fans of the spooky and morbid
I received an advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased. -
This is an unusual book. If you didn’t know any better, it looks like a beautifully illustrated storybook for children but it’s soon evident that the pictures are not of cute furry creatures, but horrific monsters. Reading the text dispels all doubt. These are the monsters of our nightmares. Divided by continent, it includes all the usual suspects, like Bigfoot or the banshees, along with many others that will only be familiar to local people. All entries include basic information as to where these monsters are located, where they were first sighted (even if many predate written history), what they are, what they do and a short history of each one, as well as a fictional story featuring the monster. I obviously liked some better than others, as is normally the case with such collections, but they are all entertaining. But the cherry on top are the beautiful and horrifying illustrations, that are esthetically pleasing but very scary. The quality of the book itself is remarkable, flawlessly formatted and full of surprises.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Quarto Publishing Group – Wellfleet Press. -
This ended up not being quite what I was expecting, but it was still a decent read. Many of the cryptids I had heard of before but there were many I hadn't yet, so learning a little about those was fun. But when I say a little, I mean a little. Each creature had a small little backstory to it, but it was only one page max. Usually less. Was this because there were dozens of them in this book and they didn't have the time/space or something? I guess I was expecting more of an encyclopedia type book with this and not just blurbs to whet your appetite with each one. And while the very short stories also included with each were interesting, they too just seemed too short to really get into that creature's myth. I'm not saying any of this was bad, I just wanted more.
As more of a side note, I can see this making a really pretty print book with all the pictures and the great cover.
-
Freaky Folklore was a collection of entries on cryptids/creatures from across the globe. Sections are broken down by world region and each entry has a physical description of the creature, a bit of the creature’s history or sightings, a drawing, and then a short story using the cryptid.
I enjoyed the bits of history that we were given, but I do wish they were more thoroughly researched and expanded on. The pictures were a great addition and fun to see. I found the short stories boring and quickly began to skip reading them. It would have been great to have more space used to talk about the traditions around the cryptids or be given specific sightings from history. Overall I don’t feel like a got much from this work and was looking forward to the end.
I think if you’re interested in learning about cyrptozoology, there are better compendiums you can turn to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wellfleet Press for access to this eARC in exchange for an honest review! -
*Thank you, Quarto Publishing Group, for allowing me access to this e-ARC via Netgalley*
I can only review this book from my layman's point of view, but the critical reviews regarding research and sensitivity towards Native Peoples does give me pause.
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A nice amount of creatures with just enough information without being overwhelmed. The styled layout and illustrations complement this perfectly. It definitely gave me the "feels" I was looking for.
99% of the creatures are malevolent. I love how cultures have their own version of the boogeyman, and that most stories reflect their homeland.
Bigfoot Personality: Extremely Shy
..well, bless his big cotton socks. He warms my heart.
Who I'd most like to encounter: Big Foot, Werewolf
Who I'd rather not: Wendigo, Pishtaco, El Culebron
New Favourite: Adze
Not featured in this book but absolutely terrifying: Onryō (Japan) -
Freaky Folklore is a collection of stories about legendary and mythical creatures spanning the globe.
Each creature includes the history, location, spooky tale, and illustrations. I was aware of most Americas-based creatures, but loved reading about all of them. I was aware of a few of the international creatures and found myself immersed in those that I'd not heard about before.
I do wish there was more information about each creature. An interview with someone from the culture in which these creatures hail would be great, as well. I love reading folklore told by those that know about them the best.
Freaky Folklore is well-written and visually appealing. Lovers of mythological folklore will enjoy Freaky Folklore: Terrifying Tales of the World's Most Elusive Monsters and Enigmatic Cryptids. -
Freaky Folklore: Terrifying Tales of the World's Most Elusive Monsters and Enigmatic Cryptids by Darkness Prevails is a fantastic book and a must-have for anyone interested in scary folklore from around the globe. This book is right up my alley and is a great resource for those seeking eerie tales from different continents.
I love reading folklore from various parts of the world. Often, books focus on just one story or one region. However, Freaky Folklore covers the continents comprehensively, from Bigfoot to Australia's drop bears. The layout is wonderful, with illustrations scattered throughout, making it a delight to read.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in global folklore, and I look forward to adding a physical copy to my home library.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Wellfleet Press for gifting me the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review. -
Rating: 4/5
I received a eARC for my honest opinion.
I love all things that have to do with folklore, mythology, and anything that is just creepy. So when I saw this book I knew that I had to read it. I liked that each Cryptid/Monster had a brief history about the creatures and where they’re located. I liked that the author had sections of different creatures for the different continents. Some of the creatures you will read about you might already know about them and their stories, but I even found some that I didn’t know about and found their history to be interesting.
I liked that each creature had their own fictional stories, and I thought the illustrations were well done and fun to look at. I would read another book written by the author again.
I want to thank NetGalley and Wellfleet Press for the opportunity to review this book. -
Freaky Folklore is a beautifully illustrated book about monsters and cryptids all over the world. The book combines freaky facts, fantastic illustrations and short stories.
For me this is a great start for a cryptid / monster encyclopedia type of book but sometimes I did miss a bit of a deeper explanation than the small piece of text about the cryptid but ofcourse, there's not always a lot of information. I also did miss a few cryptids from the list. The references where mostly websites and just a few books. I think this has potential, but it does need a bit more.
I haven't listened to the authors podcast as I'd rather read horror stories than listen to them.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wellfleet Press for the early digital access in exchange for an honest review!
