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!

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.

This is a wild detail of monsters and mythical creatures from all over the world. This details all kinds of freaky creatures, from the chupacabra to Big Foot and Nessie.

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.

As someone new to this topic I enjoyed going through each of the monsters. The book is organized by location and includes a drawing of each monster to give you a visual. I do think this is a book for beginners. I was getting a high school library, first introduction to this world kind of vibe from it.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC of Freaky Folklore by Darkness Prevails, releases 7/16/2024. This book goes through various monsters and the regions they are from with a story of each. It’s a good book if you’re new to monster territory or want to learn new ones. I only knew a few from my territory. I mostly knew Europe's monsters, which I found interesting. The physical book will be stunning with all the Illustrations. This book is for just for fun, full of knowledge, and short stories.

This book was a fantastic read. The information about each creature was incredibly interesting, providing a captivating glimpse into the diverse world of folklore. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a broad knowledge of folklore, whether a casual reader or a serious enthusiast.

One of the most impressive aspects is the extensive range of monsters and mythical beings covered, from well-known creatures like vampires to lesser-known entities from various cultures. Each entry is meticulously researched, offering rich details about the origins, characteristics, and cultural significance.

The narrative style is engaging, making it easy to immerse oneself in the stories and legends. The illustrations are also noteworthy, adding a visual dimension that enhances the experience. The book is well-organized, allowing easy navigation through different sections.

In summary, this book is a treasure trove of folklore, offering a comprehensive and engaging exploration of mythical creatures from around the world. It is a must-read for anyone interested in the fantastical and mythical, and serves as a valuable resource for both personal enjoyment and academic study.

The illustrations in this perfect little book brought to life creepy monsters from all around the world. Accompanied by delightful story details, each image was a treat to behold.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the perfect book for scary stories to read around a campfire!

If you know me you know I HATE horror but something about the creepy stories just interests me for some reason and this was the perfect book os creepy stories (I know it scared me for a few days and nights!). If you are looking for an easy read about the creatures that haunt the night and the things that go bump in the night.


Note - this book is not for kids who get scared easy

3.5
Summer is the perfect time to share spooky stories around a campfire. Let this chilling collection of mythical creatures enhance your knowledge of legends and folklore and bring a shiver to your spine. The authors introduce each creepy creature with a fact sheet, illustration, and an eerie tale. Readers will recognize some of the more famous entries (Mothman, Bigfoot, and Chupacabra, among others) but there’s plenty of lesser-known beings from across the globe to discover.

This is a fun blend of nonfiction information and fictional spooky stories! I loved the concept of this book, but wasn’t sure of the intended audience. As a children’s librarian, it was almost mild enough for upper elementary or middle school, but not quite and definitely not scary enough for adults. I would have a hard time placing this one.

This was such an interesting read. I love any kind of history or eerie folklore and Freaky Folklore definitely delivered. The illustrations were a nice touch too! Highly recommend checking this one out.

I actually really love the podcast this book comes from and they did an amazing job wi the this book. The illustrations are beautiful and terrifying and the information is plentiful and interesting. I will definitely be buying a physical copy to look at all of the illustrations they way they are meant to be seen.

I am very much in my cryptid era right now so this book was exactly in my lane. I don't know anything about the podcast or any background on this book other than the synopsis so I went into this straight forward. I liked that the book was sectioned off into continents. I really enjoyed the fictional stories that accompanied each one. I also enjoyed the illustrations and the index in the back. Over all this is good little coffee table book that i think would be a great conversation starter.

I'm a big fan of the podcast and I'm so happy about this book.
The illustrations are amazing, and I loved the detail that went into all of the research and information. Combined with scary stories, this is just a perfect asset for the lovers of the podcast.

This book was an incredibly fun exploration of legends surrounding cryptids and monsters from around the world. I was excited to see there were quite a few more obscure creatures that I hadn’t heard of before. The book divides the folklore into different continents, using a brief introductory page to provide context of where the tales come from. Each creature section includes a selection of “freaky facts” before giving a description of the legend and its history, followed by a short story that shows the being in action. This structure gives the book a quick pace that keeps the reader interested in seeing what comes next. Another aspect of the book that really shines is the artwork by Gunship Revolution’s Jen Santos, Marcus Reyno, Timothy Terrenal, and Mara Miranda-Escota. The illustrations are gorgeously done and bring each of the creatures to life in haunting detail. You’re not going to get a deep dive into the lore of the legends in these pages, but it will give you a great introduction to some unique myths. Reading this book left me excited to learn more about the folklore presented and I will definitely be checking out the shows on the Eeriecast Network to explore these topics further.

Thank you Quarto Publishing Group – Wellfleet Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book was a great way to be introduced to cryptids and other scary folklore worldwide. I loved that it shared a bio of each creature (including location, classification, first sighting, and personality), a great graphic, and a story of an individual or group interacting with the creature. Each story helped show how eerie or scary the interactions could be.

This could be a great way to start someone's passion for learning about this topic!

A comprehensive collection of monsters and other creatures around the world. I enjoyed the collected information (paired with illustrations) and the short stories accompanying them.


Thank you #NetGalley and Wellfleet Press for giving me the opportunity to read this!

Per my 14 yr old: This book was awesome. The pictures were cool and the informative was good” he found it highly rereadable

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.