Author: Nicholas Kotar
Publisher: Waystone Press
ISBN: 1732087342
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 79
Book Description
From the author who bravely faced down a seven-headed, fire-breathing, riddle-speaking dragon... and got eaten for his pains. The realm of Russian fairy tales is perilous. You might think you know who’s friend, who’s foe. But you’d be wrong. Wolves might be friends. Old grandmothers might be cannibals. And the idiot might be the wisest man in the room. So say you find yourself at the waystone, a boundary between the real world and the world of story. Every road you take from the waystone leads to danger and the potential of great rewards. But you could end up being eaten, chopped into little pieces, or even turned into a goat. This book is a short guide for your survival. At the end, you’ll find the fountain of youth, riches unimaginable, the man or woman of your dreams…and maybe something even more lasting. But getting there is the real pleasure. Buy this book today to enter the weird and wonderful world of Russian fairy tales.
How to Survive a Russian Fairy Tale
Author: Nicholas Kotar
Publisher: Waystone Press
ISBN: 1732087342
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 79
Book Description
From the author who bravely faced down a seven-headed, fire-breathing, riddle-speaking dragon... and got eaten for his pains. The realm of Russian fairy tales is perilous. You might think you know who’s friend, who’s foe. But you’d be wrong. Wolves might be friends. Old grandmothers might be cannibals. And the idiot might be the wisest man in the room. So say you find yourself at the waystone, a boundary between the real world and the world of story. Every road you take from the waystone leads to danger and the potential of great rewards. But you could end up being eaten, chopped into little pieces, or even turned into a goat. This book is a short guide for your survival. At the end, you’ll find the fountain of youth, riches unimaginable, the man or woman of your dreams…and maybe something even more lasting. But getting there is the real pleasure. Buy this book today to enter the weird and wonderful world of Russian fairy tales.
Publisher: Waystone Press
ISBN: 1732087342
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 79
Book Description
From the author who bravely faced down a seven-headed, fire-breathing, riddle-speaking dragon... and got eaten for his pains. The realm of Russian fairy tales is perilous. You might think you know who’s friend, who’s foe. But you’d be wrong. Wolves might be friends. Old grandmothers might be cannibals. And the idiot might be the wisest man in the room. So say you find yourself at the waystone, a boundary between the real world and the world of story. Every road you take from the waystone leads to danger and the potential of great rewards. But you could end up being eaten, chopped into little pieces, or even turned into a goat. This book is a short guide for your survival. At the end, you’ll find the fountain of youth, riches unimaginable, the man or woman of your dreams…and maybe something even more lasting. But getting there is the real pleasure. Buy this book today to enter the weird and wonderful world of Russian fairy tales.
The Song of the Sirin
Author: Nicholas Kotar
Publisher: Waystone Press
ISBN: 0998847917
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 423
Book Description
An evil omen clouds the sky. A song of power returns. Can one man's quest save the world? Voran, a young warrior of Vasyllia, lives in a dying world. As blight ravages the countryside and darkness covers the sun, he can't avoid hearing the rumors of an ancient spirit that devours souls. He feels powerless to fight the oncoming devastation until a mythical creature entrusts him with a long-forgotten song. Legend has it that such a song can heal the masses, overthrow kingdoms, and raise humans to divine beings… Armed with the power of the song, Voran must hunt down the dark spirit before it achieves its goal of immortality. His quest takes him through doorways to other worlds and puts him on a collision course with seductive nymphs and riddling giants. With each step of the journey, the strength of the villainous spirit grows, as does Voran’s fear that the only way to save his world… is to let it be destroyed. The Song of the Sirin is an epic fantasy retelling of the Russian fairy tale Prince Ivan and the Grey Wolf. If you like complex characters, creative twists on mythology, and cinematic world-building, then you’ll love Nicholas Kotar’s sweeping tale. Buy The Song of the Sirin to begin the journey today!
Publisher: Waystone Press
ISBN: 0998847917
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 423
Book Description
An evil omen clouds the sky. A song of power returns. Can one man's quest save the world? Voran, a young warrior of Vasyllia, lives in a dying world. As blight ravages the countryside and darkness covers the sun, he can't avoid hearing the rumors of an ancient spirit that devours souls. He feels powerless to fight the oncoming devastation until a mythical creature entrusts him with a long-forgotten song. Legend has it that such a song can heal the masses, overthrow kingdoms, and raise humans to divine beings… Armed with the power of the song, Voran must hunt down the dark spirit before it achieves its goal of immortality. His quest takes him through doorways to other worlds and puts him on a collision course with seductive nymphs and riddling giants. With each step of the journey, the strength of the villainous spirit grows, as does Voran’s fear that the only way to save his world… is to let it be destroyed. The Song of the Sirin is an epic fantasy retelling of the Russian fairy tale Prince Ivan and the Grey Wolf. If you like complex characters, creative twists on mythology, and cinematic world-building, then you’ll love Nicholas Kotar’s sweeping tale. Buy The Song of the Sirin to begin the journey today!
The Rider in the Night
Author: Brendan Noble
Publisher: Brendan Noble
ISBN:
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 136
Book Description
One rider’s journey will save his tribe or end it forever. Andrij has guarded the cold slopes of Perun’s Crown for years. Though he longs for home, his service pays for his father’s debts to the Astiwie king. He just needs his chance to earn his freedom. When the horsemen of the east come with tidings of war, he sees exactly that. Facing his tribe’s destruction, the king commands Andrij to ride for his western allies. If Andrij succeeds, his debts will be forgiven. If he fails, his tribe will surely fall. Set in the days before A Dagger in the Winds, enter The Frostmarked Chronicles’ world of Slavic mythology with the journey that begins it all. Note: This novella can be read before The Frostmarked Chronicles or at any point during it.
Publisher: Brendan Noble
ISBN:
Category : Young Adult Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 136
Book Description
One rider’s journey will save his tribe or end it forever. Andrij has guarded the cold slopes of Perun’s Crown for years. Though he longs for home, his service pays for his father’s debts to the Astiwie king. He just needs his chance to earn his freedom. When the horsemen of the east come with tidings of war, he sees exactly that. Facing his tribe’s destruction, the king commands Andrij to ride for his western allies. If Andrij succeeds, his debts will be forgiven. If he fails, his tribe will surely fall. Set in the days before A Dagger in the Winds, enter The Frostmarked Chronicles’ world of Slavic mythology with the journey that begins it all. Note: This novella can be read before The Frostmarked Chronicles or at any point during it.
Creatures of Slavic Myth
Author: Dmitriy Kushnir
Publisher: Dmitry Kouchnir
ISBN: 1505628024
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 67
Book Description
In this volume of The Slavic Way series, creatures, beings and spirits of Slavic mythology are presented and described. If you ever wondered about the noises you may hear around your home, about why sometimes you wake up in cold sweat, or about the visions you may see or noises you may hear around the forest; this book is an essential read for you.
Publisher: Dmitry Kouchnir
ISBN: 1505628024
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 67
Book Description
In this volume of The Slavic Way series, creatures, beings and spirits of Slavic mythology are presented and described. If you ever wondered about the noises you may hear around your home, about why sometimes you wake up in cold sweat, or about the visions you may see or noises you may hear around the forest; this book is an essential read for you.
Slavic Witchcraft
Author: Natasha Helvin
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1620558432
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 294
Book Description
A practical guide to the ancient magical tradition of Russian sorcery and Eastern Slavic magical rites • Offers step-by-step instructions for more than 300 spells, incantations, charms, amulets, and practical rituals for love, career success, protection, healing, divination, communicating with spirits and ancestors, and other challenges and situations • Reveals specific places of magical power in the natural world as well as the profound power of graveyards and churches for casting spells • Explores the folk history of this ancient magical tradition, including how the pagan gods gained new life as Eastern Orthodox saints, and shares folktales of magical beings, including sorceresses shapeshifting into animals and household objects Passed down through generations, the Slavic practice of magic, witchcraft, and sorcery is still alive and well in Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus, as well as the Balkans and the Baltic states. There are still witches who whisper upon tied knots to curse or heal, sorceresses who shapeshift into animals or household objects, magicians who cast spells for love or good fortune, and common folk who seek their aid for daily problems big and small. Sharing the extensive knowledge she inherited from her mother and grandmother, including spells of the “Old Believers” previously unknown to outsiders, Natasha Helvin explores in detail the folk history and practice of Russian sorcery and Eastern Slavic magical rites, offering a rich compendium of more than 300 spells, incantations, charms, and practical rituals for love, relationships, career success, protection, healing, divination, averting the evil eye, communicating with spirits and ancestors, and a host of other life challenges and daily situations, with complete step-by-step instructions to ensure your magical goals are realized. She explains how this tradition has only a thin Christian veneer over its pagan origins and how the Slavic pagan gods and goddesses acquired new lives as the saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church. She details how the magical energy for these spells and rituals is drawn from the forces of nature, revealing specific places of power in the natural world as well as the profound power of graveyards and churches for casting spells. She explores the creation of amulets and talismans, the importance of icons, and the proper recital of magical language and actions during spells, as well as how one becomes a witch or sorceress. Offering a close examination of these two-thousand-year-old occult practices, Helvin also includes Slavic folk advice, adapted for the modern era. Revealing what it means to be a Slavic witch or sorceress, and how this vocation pervades all aspects of life, she shows that each of us has magic within that we can use to take control of our own destiny.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 1620558432
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
Languages : en
Pages : 294
Book Description
A practical guide to the ancient magical tradition of Russian sorcery and Eastern Slavic magical rites • Offers step-by-step instructions for more than 300 spells, incantations, charms, amulets, and practical rituals for love, career success, protection, healing, divination, communicating with spirits and ancestors, and other challenges and situations • Reveals specific places of magical power in the natural world as well as the profound power of graveyards and churches for casting spells • Explores the folk history of this ancient magical tradition, including how the pagan gods gained new life as Eastern Orthodox saints, and shares folktales of magical beings, including sorceresses shapeshifting into animals and household objects Passed down through generations, the Slavic practice of magic, witchcraft, and sorcery is still alive and well in Russia, the Ukraine, and Belarus, as well as the Balkans and the Baltic states. There are still witches who whisper upon tied knots to curse or heal, sorceresses who shapeshift into animals or household objects, magicians who cast spells for love or good fortune, and common folk who seek their aid for daily problems big and small. Sharing the extensive knowledge she inherited from her mother and grandmother, including spells of the “Old Believers” previously unknown to outsiders, Natasha Helvin explores in detail the folk history and practice of Russian sorcery and Eastern Slavic magical rites, offering a rich compendium of more than 300 spells, incantations, charms, and practical rituals for love, relationships, career success, protection, healing, divination, averting the evil eye, communicating with spirits and ancestors, and a host of other life challenges and daily situations, with complete step-by-step instructions to ensure your magical goals are realized. She explains how this tradition has only a thin Christian veneer over its pagan origins and how the Slavic pagan gods and goddesses acquired new lives as the saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church. She details how the magical energy for these spells and rituals is drawn from the forces of nature, revealing specific places of power in the natural world as well as the profound power of graveyards and churches for casting spells. She explores the creation of amulets and talismans, the importance of icons, and the proper recital of magical language and actions during spells, as well as how one becomes a witch or sorceress. Offering a close examination of these two-thousand-year-old occult practices, Helvin also includes Slavic folk advice, adapted for the modern era. Revealing what it means to be a Slavic witch or sorceress, and how this vocation pervades all aspects of life, she shows that each of us has magic within that we can use to take control of our own destiny.
Slavic Soul Myths and Legends
Author: J L Jaroslavs
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 64
Book Description
What distinguishes "Slavic Mythology" from other books of this type available is the user-friendly language of the stories presented, devoid of scientific, often difficult to understand terms. This publication is a collection of fictional stories illustrating the content of Slavic myths, but all the cultural and historical components of the texts contained therein - the names of deities and demons, their attributes and behavior - are consistent with scientific knowledge. In conjunction with an attractive and transparent form of narration, this makes this book attractive not only to researchers of the history of the Slavs, but also fans of fantasy literature, computer games and all activities that reconstruct the past.The book contains over 30 legends, tales and myths from Polish, Czech and Russian Ukrainian Slovak mythology.Based on the beliefs of the Slavs.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 64
Book Description
What distinguishes "Slavic Mythology" from other books of this type available is the user-friendly language of the stories presented, devoid of scientific, often difficult to understand terms. This publication is a collection of fictional stories illustrating the content of Slavic myths, but all the cultural and historical components of the texts contained therein - the names of deities and demons, their attributes and behavior - are consistent with scientific knowledge. In conjunction with an attractive and transparent form of narration, this makes this book attractive not only to researchers of the history of the Slavs, but also fans of fantasy literature, computer games and all activities that reconstruct the past.The book contains over 30 legends, tales and myths from Polish, Czech and Russian Ukrainian Slovak mythology.Based on the beliefs of the Slavs.
Forests of the Vampire
Author: Charles Phillips
Publisher: Time Life Medical
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 152
Book Description
It's the cultural information that never seems to make it into history books: strange stories, mystic rites, angry gods, vision quests, magic symbols. This series captures, culture by culture, the intersection of imagination, history, wisdom, dream, and reality.
Publisher: Time Life Medical
ISBN:
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 152
Book Description
It's the cultural information that never seems to make it into history books: strange stories, mystic rites, angry gods, vision quests, magic symbols. This series captures, culture by culture, the intersection of imagination, history, wisdom, dream, and reality.
Myths and Folk-tales of the Russians, Western Slavs, and Magyars
Author: Jeremiah Curtin
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
ISBN: 1465604340
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 595
Book Description
ÊI remember well the feelings roused in my mind at mention or sight of the name Lucifer during the earlier years of my life. It stood for me as the name of a being stupendous, dreadful in moral deformity, lurid, hideous, and mighty. I remember also the surprise with which when I had grown somewhat older and begun to study Latin, I came upon the name in Virgil, where it means the Light-bringer, or Morning-star,Ñthe herald of the sun. Many years after I had found the name in Virgil, I spent a night at the house of a friend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, right at the shore of Lake Michigan. The night was clear but without a moon,Ña night of stars, which is the most impressive of all nights, vast, brooding, majestic. At three oÕclock in the morning I woke, and being near an uncurtained window, rose and looked out. Rather low in the east was the Morning-star, shining like silver, with a bluish tinge of steel. I looked towards the west; the great infinity was filled with the hosts of heaven, ranged behind this Morning-star. I saw at once the origin of the myth which grew to have such tremendous moral meaning, because the Morning-star was not in this case the usher of the day but the chieftain of night, the Prince of Darkness, the mortal enemy of the Lord of Light. I returned to bed knowing that the battle in heaven would soon begin. I rose when the sun was high next morning. All the world was bright, shining and active, gladsome and fresh, from the rays of the sun; the kingdom of light was established; but the Prince of Darkness and all his confederates had vanished, cast down from the sky, and to the endless eternity of God their places will know them no more in that night again. They are lost beyond hope or redemption, beyond penance or prayer. I have in mind at this moment two Indian stories of the Morning-star,Ñone Modoc, the other Delaware. The Modoc story is very long, and contains much valuable matter; but the group of incidents that I wish to refer to here are the daily adventures and exploits of a personage who seems to be no other than the sky with the sun in it. This personage is destroyed every evening. He always gets into trouble, and is burned up; but in his back is a golden disk, which neither fire nor anything in the world can destroy. From this disk his body is reconstituted every morning; and all that is needed for the resurrection is the summons of the Morning-star, who calls out, ÒIt is time to rise, old man; you have slept long enough.Ó Then the old man springs new again from his ashes through virtue of the immortal disk and the compelling word of the star. Now, the Morning-star is the attendant spirit or ÒmedicineÓ of the personage with the disk, and cannot escape the performance of his office; he has to work at it forever. So the old man cannot fail to rise every morning. As the golden disk is no other than the sun, the Morning-star of the Modocs is the same character as the Lucifer of the Latins.
Publisher: Library of Alexandria
ISBN: 1465604340
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 595
Book Description
ÊI remember well the feelings roused in my mind at mention or sight of the name Lucifer during the earlier years of my life. It stood for me as the name of a being stupendous, dreadful in moral deformity, lurid, hideous, and mighty. I remember also the surprise with which when I had grown somewhat older and begun to study Latin, I came upon the name in Virgil, where it means the Light-bringer, or Morning-star,Ñthe herald of the sun. Many years after I had found the name in Virgil, I spent a night at the house of a friend in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, right at the shore of Lake Michigan. The night was clear but without a moon,Ña night of stars, which is the most impressive of all nights, vast, brooding, majestic. At three oÕclock in the morning I woke, and being near an uncurtained window, rose and looked out. Rather low in the east was the Morning-star, shining like silver, with a bluish tinge of steel. I looked towards the west; the great infinity was filled with the hosts of heaven, ranged behind this Morning-star. I saw at once the origin of the myth which grew to have such tremendous moral meaning, because the Morning-star was not in this case the usher of the day but the chieftain of night, the Prince of Darkness, the mortal enemy of the Lord of Light. I returned to bed knowing that the battle in heaven would soon begin. I rose when the sun was high next morning. All the world was bright, shining and active, gladsome and fresh, from the rays of the sun; the kingdom of light was established; but the Prince of Darkness and all his confederates had vanished, cast down from the sky, and to the endless eternity of God their places will know them no more in that night again. They are lost beyond hope or redemption, beyond penance or prayer. I have in mind at this moment two Indian stories of the Morning-star,Ñone Modoc, the other Delaware. The Modoc story is very long, and contains much valuable matter; but the group of incidents that I wish to refer to here are the daily adventures and exploits of a personage who seems to be no other than the sky with the sun in it. This personage is destroyed every evening. He always gets into trouble, and is burned up; but in his back is a golden disk, which neither fire nor anything in the world can destroy. From this disk his body is reconstituted every morning; and all that is needed for the resurrection is the summons of the Morning-star, who calls out, ÒIt is time to rise, old man; you have slept long enough.Ó Then the old man springs new again from his ashes through virtue of the immortal disk and the compelling word of the star. Now, the Morning-star is the attendant spirit or ÒmedicineÓ of the personage with the disk, and cannot escape the performance of his office; he has to work at it forever. So the old man cannot fail to rise every morning. As the golden disk is no other than the sun, the Morning-star of the Modocs is the same character as the Lucifer of the Latins.
Slavic Traditions & Mythology
Author: Stefan Cvetkovic
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 552
Book Description
"Slavic Traditions & Mythology" is the fourth book by Stefan Cvetkovic which sums up his research in the field of Slavic mythology. The book explores the pre-Christian Slavic customs, symbols and myths from the deepest parts of prehistory up to our contemporary folklore. As such it is a book valuable not only to people of Slavic descent who wish to find out more about their roots, but to all European people as it shows that most of the symbols and mythical motifs are actually common to all of Europe, and stem from the same prehistoric root. It is a book which explains all the essential symbols related to the Slavic pre-Christian culture and separates them from the many New Age inventions. Furthermore, this book can serve as a practical tool to anyone who wants to apply the knowledge in his daily life, going through all the major festivals of the calendar and showing how to properly celebrate them, as our ancestors once did. The deities are also explored, clearly defining those of them which were really honoured by the ancient Slavic people, and which ones are results of the misinterpretations of various scholars through history. The myths related to the deities and other mythical beings are explained in detail through a microcosmic and macrocosmic perspective, with a special emphasis on the Slavic ancestral cult as an inseparable element from them. It is a book full of illustrations representing the different chronological variations of the symbols, archaeological finds related to the Slavic cultures, embroidery motifs, tombstones, representations of the deities, and much more. It is not a book which leaves open questions and doubts regarding the Slavic mythology, but provides insight, depth and meaning for one who truly wishes to know the primordial culture of our forebears.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 552
Book Description
"Slavic Traditions & Mythology" is the fourth book by Stefan Cvetkovic which sums up his research in the field of Slavic mythology. The book explores the pre-Christian Slavic customs, symbols and myths from the deepest parts of prehistory up to our contemporary folklore. As such it is a book valuable not only to people of Slavic descent who wish to find out more about their roots, but to all European people as it shows that most of the symbols and mythical motifs are actually common to all of Europe, and stem from the same prehistoric root. It is a book which explains all the essential symbols related to the Slavic pre-Christian culture and separates them from the many New Age inventions. Furthermore, this book can serve as a practical tool to anyone who wants to apply the knowledge in his daily life, going through all the major festivals of the calendar and showing how to properly celebrate them, as our ancestors once did. The deities are also explored, clearly defining those of them which were really honoured by the ancient Slavic people, and which ones are results of the misinterpretations of various scholars through history. The myths related to the deities and other mythical beings are explained in detail through a microcosmic and macrocosmic perspective, with a special emphasis on the Slavic ancestral cult as an inseparable element from them. It is a book full of illustrations representing the different chronological variations of the symbols, archaeological finds related to the Slavic cultures, embroidery motifs, tombstones, representations of the deities, and much more. It is not a book which leaves open questions and doubts regarding the Slavic mythology, but provides insight, depth and meaning for one who truly wishes to know the primordial culture of our forebears.
Mythical Creatures and Magical Beasts
Author: Zayden Stone
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 186
Book Description
What made Athena furious with a local weaver that she transformed her into Greek mythology's first spider woman, Arachne? What is the tall tale behind Filipino folklore's sea serpent Bakunawa, who flies through the night skies devouring moons? What is the symbolism behind French folktale's infamous night rider, Cheval Mallet? We have all been exposed to a mythological beast in one form or another. Whether it is the three headed guard dog Fluffy in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, or even the story of Smaug in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth in The Hobbit; all these pop culture mythical creatures have a deep connection to the mythologies and folktales of ancient cultures. Where did they come from? What relevance do they serve in mythology? Why are some so obscure, while others become pop-culture enigmas? Get the answer to these questions, and learn about beasts from different world cultures. Folklorist Zayden Stone dives deep into the stories of these magical beasts and provides a fictional anecdote, a retelling of the original myths, an analysis of the symbolism and relevance of the creatures, and then pairs it with some beautiful black and white illustrations reimagined by artist Herdhian. In the Mythical Creatures and Mythological Beasts book, the illustrated guide takes you through six themes that have been specifically chosen since they are consistent across cultures. The categories include: arthropods for insects, crustaceans, and arachnids; avian for birds; canines for wolves and dogs; serpents for snakes and dragons; ungulates for hooved animals like horses and cows; and aquatic for water dwelling beasts. Presenting the creatures in categories makes it easier to see what the beasts have in common. You will find some overlapping themes across ancient cultures that point to universal ideas in how humans perceive the world. If you wonder where your favorite creature is, you will probably find them within these pages, even if they do not have their own chapter. For example, the ever-popular Pegasus can be found in the tale of the Gorgon sisters. He also had a half-brother, Arion, who features in the ungulates section. There is also a brilliant white-winged horse from Islamic tradition which may sound very familiar to Pegasus as well. If you have a love for the myths and want to learn about the unique beasts that dwell within them, this book is a great way to do it. Not only will you learn about ones you may have never heard of, but you will also be able to draw parallels between cultures and see how they interpreted their surroundings through stories of mythical creatures and magical beasts.
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 186
Book Description
What made Athena furious with a local weaver that she transformed her into Greek mythology's first spider woman, Arachne? What is the tall tale behind Filipino folklore's sea serpent Bakunawa, who flies through the night skies devouring moons? What is the symbolism behind French folktale's infamous night rider, Cheval Mallet? We have all been exposed to a mythological beast in one form or another. Whether it is the three headed guard dog Fluffy in J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, or even the story of Smaug in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth in The Hobbit; all these pop culture mythical creatures have a deep connection to the mythologies and folktales of ancient cultures. Where did they come from? What relevance do they serve in mythology? Why are some so obscure, while others become pop-culture enigmas? Get the answer to these questions, and learn about beasts from different world cultures. Folklorist Zayden Stone dives deep into the stories of these magical beasts and provides a fictional anecdote, a retelling of the original myths, an analysis of the symbolism and relevance of the creatures, and then pairs it with some beautiful black and white illustrations reimagined by artist Herdhian. In the Mythical Creatures and Mythological Beasts book, the illustrated guide takes you through six themes that have been specifically chosen since they are consistent across cultures. The categories include: arthropods for insects, crustaceans, and arachnids; avian for birds; canines for wolves and dogs; serpents for snakes and dragons; ungulates for hooved animals like horses and cows; and aquatic for water dwelling beasts. Presenting the creatures in categories makes it easier to see what the beasts have in common. You will find some overlapping themes across ancient cultures that point to universal ideas in how humans perceive the world. If you wonder where your favorite creature is, you will probably find them within these pages, even if they do not have their own chapter. For example, the ever-popular Pegasus can be found in the tale of the Gorgon sisters. He also had a half-brother, Arion, who features in the ungulates section. There is also a brilliant white-winged horse from Islamic tradition which may sound very familiar to Pegasus as well. If you have a love for the myths and want to learn about the unique beasts that dwell within them, this book is a great way to do it. Not only will you learn about ones you may have never heard of, but you will also be able to draw parallels between cultures and see how they interpreted their surroundings through stories of mythical creatures and magical beasts.