‘Yokai Bestiary’ is a fascinating exploration of Japanese folklore, blending mythological lore with practical drawing techniques. The book offers readers the chance to delve into the eerie and enchanting world of yokai while learning how to depict these supernatural creatures with artistic flair. It’s a unique mix of cultural education and creative guidance, perfect for artists and mythology enthusiasts alike.

Accuracy: ★★★★★
The book beautifully captures the essence of traditional yokai, providing accurate descriptions and historical context for each creature. This attention to detail ensures that readers not only improve their drawing skills but also gain a deeper appreciation for the cultural significance of these legendary beings.

Perspective: ★★★★☆
The author’s approach is balanced, combining reverence for the subject matter with practical advice for artists. While the focus is on drawing, the narrative occasionally leans too heavily on artistic techniques, which may slightly overshadow the rich cultural narratives behind the yokai.

Relevance: ★★★★☆
In a time when interest in Japanese culture and art is surging worldwide, this book is a timely addition to the shelves. However, its niche focus may appeal more to specific audiences, such as illustrators and fans of Japanese folklore, rather than general readers.

Engagement: ★★★★☆
The vivid illustrations and step-by-step instructions are captivating, encouraging readers to actively engage with the content. While the format is highly effective, a few more interactive elements, such as prompts or practice pages, could have made the experience even more immersive.

Readability: ★★★★★
Clear, concise instructions paired with stunning visuals make this book easy to follow. The organisation of content - from detailed lore to step-by-step tutorials - ensures a seamless reading and learning experience for beginners and experienced artists alike.

Enjoyment: ★★★★☆
The combination of storytelling and artistic instruction makes Yokai Bestiary a thoroughly enjoyable read. While the artistic focus might limit its appeal to some, anyone with an interest in Japanese culture or art will find plenty to love.


‘Yokai Bestiary’ by Lance Red is a remarkable guide that bridges the gap between mythology and art. With its rich lore, stunning visuals, and accessible instructions, the book is a treasure trove for anyone intrigued by Japanese yokai or looking to enhance their drawing skills. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or a folklore enthusiast, this book offers a captivating journey into the world of supernatural Japan.

This was an intreasting book on all the yokai and their attributes and i really liked the way it was laid out. i would reccomend if you like these types of beast books as it is a simple fun book to read

So many interesting yokai. I think my kids would love this book. The art is beautiful. I can't wait to see it in its physical form.

4 stars

This book is a great introduction into Japanese yokai and a wonderful how to draw book. The step by step instructions are easy to follow and the illustrations are wonderful.

This seems like a delightful book for fans of anime or mythology or any level of artistic ability. The instructions and illustrations were easy to follow and the added info about each creature was a nice touch.

The Yokai Bestiary is exactly what the title suggests, providing details on various supernatural beings, with how-to-draw instructions for each entry. It’s pretty thorough, and I’m probably going to show this to my kids around the time they get interested in Pokemon and other little monster stuff!

The actual step by step drawing tutorials are easy to follow and the parts that tell you a bit about Yokai are interesting. If you like to draw this is a fun one to work on less conventional designs, and an added bonus if you like to draw and are a fan of wither anime, Japanese culture, mythology, paranormal or all of the above.

This was such a fun book to read. It was truly a one off f a kind. I loved it! It surpassed my expectations

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The art style was extremely beautiful and I found the steps for drawing easy to understand and to follow. I wish there were more in-depth descriptions of the yokai as well as more of their stories to truly understand their nature. Another note I would have loved a page after each yokai depicting it in different poses or its different incarnations.

Amazing - beautiful illustrations with great lore and instructions. Adore this book and will be buying a hardcopy

This book is not just a drawing guide. And it is also not just a book about Yōkai which are a big part of Japanese Culture. It is both.
While learning how to draw each and every Yōkai, the reader gets educated on their origin and meaning. The Drawing instructions are concise and easy to follow. However they only show the sketching and general building without any coloration and shading which on one hand gives total freedom however it would have been amazing to have some pages showing different textures one could add (ie scales, hair etc)
Overall it’s a great book to learn the basics of drawing without the pressure of perfect proportions which come with human anatomy.
A gorgeously fantastical take on a „Learn how to draw“ book.

Get ready for the weird and the wonderful with Yōkai Bestiary, a book that teaches the reader about Japanese mythological beings and how to draw them. I was immediately intrigued since I both love yōkai and enjoy drawing. This is a unique approach to the topic. Each yōkai (Japanese for "strange apparition") is given an introductory page and then a set of guided instructions on how to draw them. Like most how to draw books, it focuses on step-by-step tutorials built around basic shapes that are refined into the final product. Nothing too groundbreaking in the world of art books, but the information about the yōkai makes it special. Red is an experienced fantasy artist perhaps known for his art for the table top RPG Pathfinder, and his style brings a bit of Western fantasy to the Eastern beasties he discusses. This book will appeal to fans of Japanese folklore and those looking to draw unique fantasy art.

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the earc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really cute and fun to read/ look at! I really enjoyed the format of the book (which I can obviously tell would look much better in a physical copy over digital), although the patterned background was a bit too much for my eyes personally.

As it is a how-to drawing book, the amount of text and background information on the creatures that they are teaching us how to draw makes sense, but I personally would have preferred a bit than what seemed like the bare bones introduction.

A fun beginner's "how to draw" book, focused on yokai.

I wish I had more books like this growing up. Rather than focusing solely on the drawing aspect, the book seconds as informative and entertaing giving profiles and background on the yokai it's teaching you to draw. Lite level, of course, but enough to draw pique interest, and inspire the desire to research more.

My only criticism, is much like most "how to draw" books, even as a novice level book, it's a bit lite on direction and technique. That said, i do appreciate that, unlike many others, it makes a point that you need very little to draw, something to mark with and something to mark on, rather than bombarding new artists with "here are 100 different tools pro artists use". I love that approach. Pencil? Paper? You're perfect!

*ARC provided by NetGaalley & Quarto Publishing Group*

Yoaki Bestiary: How to Draw Eerie and Enchanting Japanese Ghouls and Monsters is a great drawing book on, you guessed it, how to draw yokai! Not only is there a really plain and easy to follow step by step instructions, ranging from easier to much harder, on how to draw these Japanese creatures and beings of legend, but also information on each one -- the origins, if known, the cultural relevance, what they do, if they're goofy or spooky...

A neat little book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Wellfleet Press | Wellfleet Press for the eARC in exchange for review!

Thank you so much for letting me read/look trough this book. This is such an entertaining drawing guide. And I was even able to learn something new about the creatures I learned to draw.

Gorgeous, as well as creepy art, coupled with stories, matching this exact vibe.
I went into reading this book with no expectations and am glad I picked this one up.

As a fan of Japanese yokai, this was an auto-request for me, even as I don't draw. It is a good step-by-step drawing guide for some of the more well-known yokai. Unfortunately, I'm sorry I just really really wasn't a fan of the art style.

Макар че това е книга от серията "Как да рисуваме...", подборът от йокаи, информацията за тях и цялостната ѝ визия са страхотни. Аз лично не мога да нарисувам и една права линия, но ми беше доста интересно, дори и авторът да е избрал да представи някои от йокаите с не толкова зловещите им истории. Повечето йокаи така или иначе не са винаги непременно зли, така че не е направил нищо лошо, ами напротив. Успява да привлече интереса дори към всекидневните и най-често безвредни създания, които правят само бели.
От дълго време си търся хубав справочник за йокаите, така че тази книга е доста добро начало, нищо, че не разполага с неограничено количество информация. И без това трудно може да се обхване всичко, след като основната идея е рисуването. За съветите за пресъздаването на образите не мога да кажа нищо, защото нямам идея дали са лесни за изпълнение. За мен всичко е трудно :D

Yokai Bestiary is a collection of Japanese Yokai (Demons). Lance does a stellar job of balancing the drawing guide with the informational portion about each creature. I didn't know much about yokai going into this book, but I enjoyed the snippets of information! The book starts with creatures that are easy to draw and slowly ramp up to more difficult ones, which is a great format for people who are just starting out. The gradual increase in difficulty helps build confidence and it makes each upcoming drawing less intimidating.

Though it seems to be targeted towards middle-grade readers, it's a guide that all ages can reference