This book is well done. It is a well researched, well structured primer of major, and not so major, world myths. The writing style is conversational rather than academic, making an accessible entrée into the world of myth and legend. It’s well laid out. Beginning with creation, following with the gods who came out of those creation myths, and then the heroes that followed, providing a general map of the steps of the origin story of almost any culture.

This book also strives to point out the similarities in stories being told at different times in all corners of the world. Another great touch point for the modern reader is interludes explaining the ways in which these stories remain part of the cultural consciousness today, either in festival, or comic book, or even candy.

I almost gave this book 5 stars. There are a few things that I wish had been different. While giving examples from a huge portion of the world, it would have been nice to have seen some Polynesian representation, and more Native American representation than just a mention of Sasquatch.

Additionally, following the section on heroes, we dive into their villains. While the book does a good job of contextualizing some villains who in a modern context, probably wouldn’t be considered such (Medusa), I don’t agree with a section called “straight-up villains”, where the author states that there isn’t nuance to be found in their motivations or stories (Hades).

This doesn’t mesh with the fact that in other places, the author says there may be stories lost to history and we likely don’t have full context.

Villains are followed by a section on monsters, not even mythical beings more generally. If anything, this section felt out of place, not particularly relevant, and like it could have been the beginnings of a completely different book.

I also think it could’ve been more interesting to give more time to the current place and interpretation of myths in culture today, rather than the asides used throughout each section.

Despite some disagreements, this is still a really good book, written in such a way as to be just as accessible and engaging for a child as for an adult.

This book is something else. The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends is a book that everyone must read asap. I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good.

The Encyclopedia of Epic Myths and Legends is a vibrant and captivating journey through world mythology, connecting ancient tales to modern pop culture in a way that feels both enlightening and fun. Arie Kaplan seamlessly blends history with contemporary references, showing how figures like Beyoncé and Superman draw from age-old myths. With a global perspective, Kaplan touches on a variety of cultures, from Greek and Roman gods to Yoruba deities and beyond, weaving them into a colorful tapestry of human storytelling. The book’s illustrations and well-organized format make it an easy, enjoyable read for mythology lovers and curious minds alike, while the thoughtful connections between past and present breathe new life into these timeless legends.

A fine collection of myths and legends, which is enriched by enchanting illustrations and gripping storytelling. If anything, this book could've benefited from a wider selection of stories. All in all a solid book.

I tend to like mythology books, and this one still managed to surprise me. I loved the clean design and illustration style, though I was surprised at some of the contemporary 'masters' and movies that were referenced (The Last Knight? Gods of Egypt?) but this is a great primer for learning a bit about a broad set of stories. It's also nice that this isn't just a book about Greek myths, though there is plenty of that. I recommend this book for anyone who particularly likes contemporary adaptations of myths and creation stories, and would like a little more background on where those stories originate. And most importantly, there's a SHOUTOUT TO THE SHOW SUPERNATURAL at the very end.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Finally, a good kid friendly mythology book that does it by not watering everything down to nothing, but by putting it in accessible language and making interesting connections. It's also incredibly diverse, covering the classic Greek and Egyptian myths, along side pantheons as widespread as the Inca empire to Japan, making stops across Africa and Asia. It also does a really good job explaining the concepts surrounding myths and the historical context. It's very well done. I may get a copy or five for my mythology classes.

This is a fantastic book to gift to anyone who is interested in mythology and folklore. As a child I would have eaten this one UP!
Instead of focusing on just pantheon / country this book gives a wide overview which I appreciate a lot. Another aspect that I find interesting and think makes this encyclopedia quite unique are the parts where the author goes into the definition and creation of myths, why they are created and what purpose they serve.
Every chapter / story is engaging and leaves the reader in awe.

In my opinion this should be included into general education, as it is both extremely educational as well as entertaining. Everyone would gain a lot from reading this book and thus learning more about other countries and their myths, legends and folklore.

This was great and full of knowledge, the only thing I think would make it that much better if it had more illustrations to capture your eye. But if you love learning more about myths, legends, and gods definitely pick this one up.

I read this courtesy Net Galley and Wellfleet Press. Myths and legends are all around us! Arie Kaplan’s book tells us that we can find reminders of those stories from everywhere around the world, ranging from the planets named after the Roman gods (Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, et al.) to Greek Nike and Achilles (of heel fame) to Hermes, whose image represents a particular floral delivery service and whose name inspired a way to make sure your seal is securely closed, to Osun, the Yoruba goddess of love, who is referenced by Beyonce in her music. And there’s more, much more, not just gods. Kaplan talks about Bigfoot (aka Sasquatch) and its origins, the differences between myths and religions (a notable distinction), why societies create myths, and even goes into smaller-detailed myths like the tooth fairy. So many myths, so many legends. This is an enjoyable read and instructional, too.
#TheEncyclopediaofEpicMythsandLegends #NetGalley

5⭐️/5
This is a book that I'd gift my children and grand-children. It's that good. The book is an inkling into the world of myths and folktales. It delves into myths from across the world from roman, greek myths to Egyptian, Japanese and South American tales. The common fabric that binds all the myths is captivating. It begins with myths about the creation of the universe and moves into stories of heroes and monsters. Every story leaves the reader wonderstruck and wanting to know more. The stories of heroes like Chi Li is awe-inspiring and teeming with bravery, courage and sinew. I'd highly recommend this book for those who love good stories and are curious about the universe.

This encyclopedia is so cool. I absolutely love learning and myths and legends to begin with but the detail and ease of reading is amazing. I love the colors and illustrations. The set up is perfect and I can easily read the stories and flip through to find one to learn about. I come from Greek heritage so that God's chapter was my favorite to read, short simple stories with the perfect amount of details! I would read another book like this in a heartbeat.

This is a very informative book on the topic, complete with stylish illustration. It covers a wide range of myths, including those from Africa and Asia, and that makes the book all the more interesting.

I almost immediately had to put this book down. I love the concept and I can't wait to read it when it comes out but the way it downloaded from my net galley shelf, the print was super tiny and hurt my eyes. Will pick back up when published.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an E-ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. I really loved this book. In general I love myths and legends so was excited about the concept. I felt like Kaplan did a good job at trying to vary the stories from different countries and cultures. Of course many were missed but I do believe that this book is a good stepping stone for people to begin their journey. I really loved how this book was presented. I thought the font style, colouring, and illustrations all worked super well together and made it an enjoyable read. I also appreciated how Kaplan went into more detail with certain stories making note of how the story has changed through different pop culture moments such as Percy Jackson, Lord of the Rings, and What We Do In The Shadows. I would wholeheartedly recommend this!

It was a refreshing change to have a book on myths and legends that doesn’t solely concentrate on Greek, Roman, and Norse myths, but instead, also incorporates Egyptian, Indian, Ghanaian, Nigerian, English, & Japanese to name but a few others. The author also mentions famous films and tv shows, and how they link to the mythology. The book is sectioned according to, for example, heroes, monsters, vampires etc, but I feel it would’ve been better if it had been sorted according to location, as I would’ve preferred to skip the ones from countries I’d already studied previously, which I couldn’t due to the layout. Some parts were written in such a way to be dull, yet I appreciated the few moments when the authors humour and observations came into play. Overall a great book, which would make an excellent gift for anyone interested in myths and legends

I went to university to study classical studies and this book was a fun, nostalgic read for me. The illustrations are simple and bright and the author makes myths easier to read than any textbook I've had to deal with. Though it was easier to read in a more informal presentation of material, it still felt like many words had been substituted via thesaurus, leaving the book a little word-y.

Honestly I wish there were more illustrations!

I love studying myths, so I was excited to receive a copy of this book. While most of the information was things that I was already familiar with, I still enjoyed the book. The layout and style are easy to read. The information is interesting. The graphics were nice, although I would have loved to see more. I know that the wealth of myth and legend in our world make it nearly impossible to include everything, I do wish that a book with the title 'Encyclopedia' would have had a bit more of the less popular. So many books include Greek/Roman, Egyptian, and Norse and very little of the other myths and legends that are out there. Still, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to any fellow myth lover.

This is a very informative and descriptive book with lots of great myths and legends and lovely artwork

Thank you, Wellfleet Press, for the ARC.
I love how detailed and fun it is to read this book!

It explains well what myths really or could mean and it is done well.

However, considering the audience of this book I would say the content looks dull with minimal illustrations.

Such books read better with visuals that would strike the audience.

But I would totally recommend this book for the knowledge and information it provides.

3.5 stars
A quick and inspirational resource on myths and legends.
The prose, the level of details and the art style were not always my cup of tea, yet, I genuinely recommend this title.