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Mythical Monsters of Greenland: A Survival Guide
What should you do if you encounter a Qivittoq? Can you outrun the fabled Ikusik? And what is a Tupilak made of? About 4500 years ago, the first Inuit landed in Greenland via North America, bringing with them stories about the mythical beings that lived alongside them. These creatures and monsters have survived the ravages of time and tide, although they have sometimes had to re-invent themselves to fit the modern world. This handy pocket guide will help guide you through the do’s and don'ts should you encounter any of these creatures in the Arctic wilderness. Happy hunting!
- GenresNonfiction
96 pages, Hardcover
Published June 4, 2024
34 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 15, 2024
Rating: 5
Thank you Inhabit Media for providing a physical book through Youth Services Book Review.
Synopsis/What I Liked:
Mythical Monsters of Greenland is an excellent introduction to the folklore of Greenland and Inuit legends. The book begins with an address from historian Ujammiugaq Engell, who explains Greenland, the Inuit culture, and how/why these monsters grew in storytelling. There are a total of 21 monsters to learn, and they are divided into six groups: Imminent Danger, Spirits of the Dead, Small Dangers, Animalistic Creatures, Masters and Giants, and Honorable Mentions. Creatures range from terrifying horror to neutral and even a few benevolent helpers (they are mostly horrible though). For each entry, readers will get the native name and English translation, summary with physical description, history, what they do, and cultural relevance, habitat & where to find them, and what to do during an encounter. Full page color images accompany each monster, along with contour drawings of relevant items and locations along the text. Kreutzmann’s art is stylistic with bold lines and eye-catching color, similar to many action graphic novels styles. Lynge uses digital paint to create more realistic imagery while also maintaining a surreal and supernatural feel. Both are of Greenland descent, and their love and fascination for their heritage seeps off the page in the artwork. The back of the book provides a glossary of Intuit Language, with pronunciations and definitions, as well as a map of Greenland with all mentioned locations and cities. If you want a glimpse into the mythical world of the Arctic and Native American/Inuit culture, pick up Mythical Monsters of Greenland, and then check out the author’s other book, The Bestiarium Greenlandica: A Compendium of the Mythical Creatures, Spirits, and Strange Beings of Greenland (geared toward teens/adults), for more in depth experience.
Anything you didn’t like about it? No!
To whom would you recommend this book? Kids who like folklore, Native American and Inuit mythology, and encyclopedias/guides about monsters.
Date of review: January 23, 2024
Thank you Inhabit Media for providing a physical book through Youth Services Book Review.
Synopsis/What I Liked:
Mythical Monsters of Greenland is an excellent introduction to the folklore of Greenland and Inuit legends. The book begins with an address from historian Ujammiugaq Engell, who explains Greenland, the Inuit culture, and how/why these monsters grew in storytelling. There are a total of 21 monsters to learn, and they are divided into six groups: Imminent Danger, Spirits of the Dead, Small Dangers, Animalistic Creatures, Masters and Giants, and Honorable Mentions. Creatures range from terrifying horror to neutral and even a few benevolent helpers (they are mostly horrible though). For each entry, readers will get the native name and English translation, summary with physical description, history, what they do, and cultural relevance, habitat & where to find them, and what to do during an encounter. Full page color images accompany each monster, along with contour drawings of relevant items and locations along the text. Kreutzmann’s art is stylistic with bold lines and eye-catching color, similar to many action graphic novels styles. Lynge uses digital paint to create more realistic imagery while also maintaining a surreal and supernatural feel. Both are of Greenland descent, and their love and fascination for their heritage seeps off the page in the artwork. The back of the book provides a glossary of Intuit Language, with pronunciations and definitions, as well as a map of Greenland with all mentioned locations and cities. If you want a glimpse into the mythical world of the Arctic and Native American/Inuit culture, pick up Mythical Monsters of Greenland, and then check out the author’s other book, The Bestiarium Greenlandica: A Compendium of the Mythical Creatures, Spirits, and Strange Beings of Greenland (geared toward teens/adults), for more in depth experience.
Anything you didn’t like about it? No!
To whom would you recommend this book? Kids who like folklore, Native American and Inuit mythology, and encyclopedias/guides about monsters.
Date of review: January 23, 2024
December 8, 2024
Rating: 5* of five
The Publisher Says: This book introduces kids to all the creepy, spooky, and downright scary creatures told about in traditional Greenlandic mythology.
What should you do if you encounter a Qivittoq? Can you outrun the fabled Ikusik? And what is a Tupilak made of?
About 4500 years ago, the first Inuit landed in Greenland via North America, bringing with them stories about the mythical beings that lived alongside them. These creatures and monsters have survived the ravages of time and tide, although they have sometimes had to re-invent themselves to fit the modern world.
This handy pocket guide will help guide you through the do’s and don'ts should you encounter any of these creatures in the Arctic wilderness.
Happy hunting!
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Back to Greenland we go, thence to learn more about the cultural fear and coping with the unknown traditions.
What an excellent personification of vengeance! Really looks the part, and goodness knows we're in for a spell of that entity's ascendance.
The Northern lights are the road of the dead in Inuit tradition. I'd like to travel that road when I die.
This dude, OTOH, can stay right the hell away!
I think this is one of the world's great unmined storyverses. The scope to being these down to the rich, film-hungry Global South could do this small, Indigenous-run press pretty darn well financially.
The scope of Inuit culture is steadily changing. Climate change means we're at risk of not knowing what it is we're putting in danger of disappearance. Spending some pleasantly scary time learning what makes the Inuit kids have nightmares isn't remotely painful with this beautiful object as a guide.
A good way to get some coolness credibility with your grand or nibling whose environmental consciousness hasn't made them lose interest in getting Yule gifts.
The Publisher Says: This book introduces kids to all the creepy, spooky, and downright scary creatures told about in traditional Greenlandic mythology.
What should you do if you encounter a Qivittoq? Can you outrun the fabled Ikusik? And what is a Tupilak made of?
About 4500 years ago, the first Inuit landed in Greenland via North America, bringing with them stories about the mythical beings that lived alongside them. These creatures and monsters have survived the ravages of time and tide, although they have sometimes had to re-invent themselves to fit the modern world.
This handy pocket guide will help guide you through the do’s and don'ts should you encounter any of these creatures in the Arctic wilderness.
Happy hunting!
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA EDELWEISS+. THANK YOU.
My Review: Back to Greenland we go, thence to learn more about the cultural fear and coping with the unknown traditions.
What an excellent personification of vengeance! Really looks the part, and goodness knows we're in for a spell of that entity's ascendance.
The Northern lights are the road of the dead in Inuit tradition. I'd like to travel that road when I die.
This dude, OTOH, can stay right the hell away!
I think this is one of the world's great unmined storyverses. The scope to being these down to the rich, film-hungry Global South could do this small, Indigenous-run press pretty darn well financially.
The scope of Inuit culture is steadily changing. Climate change means we're at risk of not knowing what it is we're putting in danger of disappearance. Spending some pleasantly scary time learning what makes the Inuit kids have nightmares isn't remotely painful with this beautiful object as a guide.
A good way to get some coolness credibility with your grand or nibling whose environmental consciousness hasn't made them lose interest in getting Yule gifts.
March 3, 2024
A fine book, but certainly one that can leave you wanting more. This gives us the gen on critters and elements from Greenlandic Inuit lore and myth – just what the stories tell us of their locations, habits and how to out-run them, not the stories themselves – with pictures and discussion about how these things have changed in the more recent tellings, as well. But it's a slender affair all told that only has thirteen main entries. I mean yes, we now know to never whistle under the Northern Lights, but there could have been a more encyclopaedic take on this. Grateful for what we do get, it's still a four from me.
December 13, 2023
I had the wrong expectation going into this book, so the three stars reflect my experience more than any dissatisfaction. It’s exactly what it says, a description of the mythical creatures of Greenland people, most of them harsh and unfriendly. The author ascribes this to the unforgiving nature of the Greenland environment and the need for humans to have something to blame and negotiate with. So it’s not a story but more of an encyclopedia.
I read an ecopy provided for me for review.
I read an ecopy provided for me for review.
December 22, 2024
Horror fans would enjoy it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews