Review of Mythical Creatures and Magical Beasts

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 31 Oct 2021, 03:17

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Mythical Creatures and Magical Beasts" by Zayden Stone.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Mythical Creatures and Magical Beasts: An Illustrated Book of Monsters from Timeless Folktales, Folklore and Mythology: Volume 1 by Zayden Stone starts a series of books about myths, legends, and folklore. In this volume, the author offers the first part of a compendium of creatures from various cultures divided into categories based on the animals they're derived from. For each creature, he tells the story or stories connected to it, with an analysis of its origins and its meaning. All the creatures are illustrated by artist Herdhian. At the end of this 203-page book, there's a list of references that enables the readers to search for more in-depth information about the creatures listed in this book.

Stories about creatures that could have a supernatural origin and sometimes were a mix of different animals or were part animal and part human have existed probably since the dawn of humanity. Ancient religions often had deities with animal parts and some religions still have such deities or creatures. Even when people don't believe in magical creatures, they're often fascinated by stories about them. But what do we know about the origin of ancient stories and the meaning behind them? Zayden Stone offers some answers.

The book is structured very well, so it's easy to read. There are six categories of creatures: arthropods, avian, canines, serpents, ungulates, and aquatic. There's a chapter for each creature that starts with an illustration and the fictional anecdote that is part of the myth, legend, or folklore about that creature, followed by the tale about that creature with its analysis. Sometimes, there are variants of a certain tale, as such tales can be influenced by different cultures and change over time.

The author did a great job in researching the sources of all the tales and summarizing them in simple and clear chapters. That's what I appreciated the most about this book. If you're interested in going in-depth about one specific creature, the references at the end of the book contain a lot of links to more sources. There's nothing I didn't like about this book.

There are sexual references due to the fact that mating is part of the tale about some of those creatures. The author kept such references to the minimum needed to tell and analyze those tales, so they're non-erotic. In my opinion, that makes this book suitable for teenagers, also considering the lack of profanity.

A full judgment would require reading the whole series of books but the first volume is very promising. I was already familiar with some of those mythical creatures but I discovered more details about them and more creatures thanks to this book. There are a few errors but the editing is generally good, so I'm happy to rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. While waiting for the next volumes, if you're interested in learning about creatures from myths, legends, and folklore with the insights they offer about the civilizations that invented them, I recommend Mythical Creatures and Magical Beasts: An Illustrated Book of Monsters from Timeless Folktales, Folklore and Mythology: Volume 1.

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Mythical Creatures and Magical Beasts
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Katarina Radovcic · Post by **Katarina Radovcic** » 13 Nov 2021, 09:23

Magic and myths? Sounds like just the right thing for me! I want to know everything about every creature there is! Wonderful review, by the way! I really enjoyed reading it

Katso Puku · Post by **Katso Puku** » 13 Nov 2021, 11:03

I smiled the whole time while reading this review its great. Stories about magical beasts and myths are fun to read because they introduce one to this whole new different world.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 13 Nov 2021, 11:35

Katarina Radovcic wrote: ↑13 Nov 2021, 09:23 Magic and myths? Sounds like just the right thing for me! I want to know everything about every creature there is! Wonderful review, by the way! I really enjoyed reading it

This seems like the perfect book for you. Thank you for your appreciation!

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 13 Nov 2021, 11:36

Katso Puku wrote: ↑13 Nov 2021, 11:03 I smiled the whole time while reading this review its great. Stories about magical beasts and myths are fun to read because they introduce one to this whole new different world.

In this case, you have creatures from different cultures, which means a number of different worlds. Thank you for your appreciation!

John Karanja 1 · Post by **John Karanja 1** » 13 Nov 2021, 14:41

It shows that many cultures around the world, have aligned their beliefs with different animals, which in turn people become adapted to them.

Kammeuchechukwu Mark Okereke · 13 Nov 2021, 16:14

My very first impression of the book was that it was a graphic novel expanding on mythical beasts and creatures but a great review will always light a way through a perplexed haze. Thanks to your review, I have certainly been drawn to it and I cannot wait to read it. I am most interested in the distinction and separating factors for the six categories of creatures mentioned.

19blueofficial · Post by **19blueofficial** » 13 Nov 2021, 16:36

hmm.. I think I'm beginning to like is book just by reading the review and painting a picture in my mind.

Mody C · Post by **Mody C** » 13 Nov 2021, 22:26

Magic and supranatural world are always fascinating to read. And your review make me even more curious about this book. Great job!

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 14 Nov 2021, 02:29

John Karanja 1 wrote: ↑13 Nov 2021, 14:41 It shows that many cultures around the world, have aligned their beliefs with different animals, which in turn people become adapted to them.

Nature is a great source of inspiration for myths all over the world. Thank you for commenting!

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 14 Nov 2021, 02:31

Uchechukwu Okereke wrote: ↑13 Nov 2021, 16:14 My very first impression of the book was that it was a graphic novel expanding on mythical beasts and creatures but a great review will always light a way through a perplexed haze. Thanks to your review, I have certainly been drawn to it and I cannot wait to read it. I am most interested in the distinction and separating factors for the six categories of creatures mentioned.

Glad I could clarify the book's contents and allow you to enjoy it. Thank you for commenting!

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 14 Nov 2021, 02:33

Mody C wrote: ↑13 Nov 2021, 22:26 Magic and supranatural world are always fascinating to read. And your review make me even more curious about this book. Great job!

These are indeed fascinating stories. Thank you for you appreciation!

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 14 Nov 2021, 03:24

19blueofficial wrote: ↑13 Nov 2021, 16:36 hmm.. I think I'm beginning to like is book just by reading the review and painting a picture in my mind.

Well, then, you can start reading it for real.

Thank you for commenting!

Ellylion · Post by **Ellylion** » 16 Nov 2021, 04:30

Wow, it's a book I must read! I love folklore and all magical or mythical creatures that can be found there

Thank you so much for this amazing review! And huge thanks to the author for such a monumental work! Very much appreciated.

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 16 Nov 2021, 06:01

Ellylion wrote: ↑16 Nov 2021, 04:30 Wow, it's a book I must read! I love folklore and all magical or mythical creatures that can be found there Thank you so much for this amazing review! And huge thanks to the author for such a monumental work! Very much appreciated.

This series of books seems perfect for you. Thank you for your appreciation!