LOVE this one! For the past two years, I've noticed kiddos in my library have increased interest in cryptids and monsters but I've yet to find as comprehensive (and newish to this decade) a guide as Freaky Folklore. The illustrations are so detailed (and rather creepy) and the information is plentiful. I've also been able to read about so many cryptids and monsters I've never heard of before!

I can't wait to order a few copies of this one for my shelves and I know it'll be adored by monster and cryptid-loving patrons.

3.5 stars
This is an encyclopedia-style book that has entries on cryptids, beasts, and creatures from folktales and urban legends from around the world. It has little illustrations of creatures and a two- or three-page short story about an encounter with the monster (fictional, not from the author’s experience or any recorded account). It seems like the author runs some sort of podcast that talks about cryptids.

I’ve loved mythical creature type encyclopedias as a kid, so this felt like something I’d like, and for what it was, I enjoyed it. The short stories grew a bit repetitive, just because there’s only so much detail you can add about mythical creatures that don’t have a lot of available info so a lot of them ended in the same way. Fifty percent of the story was focused on the Americas and Europe but I appreciate how they got entries from around the world. The references at the end were various internet sites and books, so I don’t think the info here was particularly unique.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC!

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!

I love anthologies about folklore and creatures, so I had to take a look at this one. The cover is eye catching and the title of Freaky Folklore makes it just right for spooky season.

The cryptid collection, organized by Carman Carrion, is sorted by continents all over the world and takes it's picks from mostly well known creatures to some lesser known beasties.

An absolute highlight for me is how each creature is presented starting with creepy facts which are followed by a short story which depicts each creature's mythology and is rounded up with an amazing illustration, bringing them to live.

As I mentioned above, most of these cryptids are well known if you have a fable for these spooky things but nonetheless I think the beautiful makeup of this book is well worth it to add it to any mythology collection.

Thank you to Wellfleet Press, Darkness Prevails & NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Fun little book. I enjoy reading about cryptids and other spooky things. This book was very much enjoyable.

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 inconsistent’s that it took away from all of the stories. I do give a 5/5 for the amazing artwork

**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.

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.

I really liked the illustrations but overall this wasn't for me. It was all very surface level, and while I liked how there was a diversity in the stories it felt wrong and insensitive to centre a white invader when talking about cultures that are not white. Overall this book was very misleading and didn't live up to what it promised, Wikipedia has more substance than this

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.