Vampires: A Handbook of History & Lore of the Undead

by Agnes Hollyhock

Rediscover the precursors to and the cultural and historical ancestors of the modern-day vampire—the most powerful of all the forms taken by the undead—in this hauntingly illustrated volume.

The idea of a supernatural being with a neverending, insatiable appetite for blood or human viscera has plagued the human mind for centuries, appearing in mythology and folklore from all corners of the world. Why were people of the past so concerned with such a creature? What worries and anxieties about human nature and existence could conjure up such a monster? Those of us in the present day are no less fascinated, taking these tales and reinventing and revitalizing them to embody our fears and desires in equal turn, ensuring that these undead beings will truly live on forever.

Vampires explores the imagination, stories, and culture of these bloodthirsty creatures of the night by reintroducing the very first beliefs of vampires across a wide variety of cultures and geographic regions. Learn the history of your favorite monsters and their characteristics such
  Shroud German vampires who feed on their burial shrouds, other corpses, psychic energy, and human flesh Medieval vampires from Slavic folklore. One story associated with them may have been the origin of vampires drinking blood from their victims' throats. An undead revenant from China. They are said to derive their supernatural powers from the moon, so are at their weakest during the day or on a new moon. Monsters, or misunderstood? The children of vampires and humans, Balkan folklore suggests that dhampirs make the ideal vampire hunters, as they can eliminate vampires with any tools at their disposal. and more!
Featuring intricate illustrations, this ghoulish handbook looks back to the folklore throughout the centuries of the undead. Find the vampires you never knew existed and reveal the history of the undead.

Genres: Vampires, Nonfiction, History, Horror, Mythology, Folklore, Gothic

179 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 13, 2024

Reviews

[Mary-Lisa Russo · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a lover of horror films, I was deeply intrigued when I received an ARC of VAMPIRES: A Handbook of History & Lore of the Undead by Agnes Hollyhock.

This book delves deep into 'all things vampires.' We are taken on a journey about the history of vampires from cultures throughout the world, making it an interesting read for lovers of paranormal and supernatural lore.The fear that was depicted in the historical context of vampires was tangible. People were truly frightened. I cannot help but compare the information in this book to the modern-day vampires portrayed in films and books as dashing, unwilling heros that pull at the heartstrings (think: Twilight, Interview with the Vampire; etc.). Peppering the mind with universal facts about this topic offers an alternative view on what you may have previously perceived about these frightening creatures. It's the historical tidbits from various cultures that make this an intense, yet enjoyable, read.

The overall book aesthetic is stunning. Even the backdrop depicted on each page is detailed, keeping in tune with the haunting aura emanating throughout the book. As I turned the pages, I was deeply impressed with the presentation throughout. The gothic-inspired, gorgeous cover is fabulous, and sets the tone for the impressive contents within the book. It also boasts illustrations within that pulled me deep into the haunting world of vampires, catapulting this book into a must-read for all supernatural lovers.

I eagerly dove into the pages of Vampires, and needless to say, enjoyed it! I'm sure the hardcover will be fabulous!

5/5

[blank ⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for people who, like myself, watched Underworld and Van Helsing at a formative age and have been obsessed (affectionate) with vampires ever since.
Highly enjoyed learning more about the different types of vampires across the world, their origins, differences and similarities, weaknesses, etc.

Thank you NetGalley/Wellfleet Press for the ARC.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5

I see a book about vampires, and I read the book about vampires. 🤷🏻‍♀️ This is such a good deep dive into all the lore that’s out there, and I really enjoyed reading it! I liked the illustrations in it too. Very well organized and surprisingly not overwhelming, considering just how much you have to cover in a book like this one. This book covers popular media inspired by vampires too, which is nice if you wanna know what to read/watch next in your vampire journey. Glad I read this one - I learned a good bit that I didn’t know! (Thanks NetGalley for letting me read this early yayyyy.)

[Katlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Wellfleet Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book would be a wonderful addition to any horror or paranormal lover’s bookshelf. I learned quite a bit of new and fascinating information on vampire folklore from across cultures. The aesthetic of the pages, cover, and illustrations are also very well done. A major drawback for me is that I do feel it is a bit surface level and could have been much longer. For example, there is just a bit of information missing on Lilith. This is an average, good introduction to vampire myth and legend, but leaves something to be desired.

[✨ tweety ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book thanks to the author's upcoming release about dragon lore Dragons: A Handbook of History & Lore from Basilisks to Wyverns.

I really loved the yellowed old-book style pages with the illustrations where red was predominant. It gave this little book the idea of a pocket encyclopedia one can take in their bag.

Just like the one I previous reviewed, this was divided into a similar manner and style (what is a vampire, history and lore, vampires in media). Like I said, this book isn't super long and it's very essential in nature, so if you want to learn more you can read the bibliography the author provides at the end.

It is definitely a nice tome for those who love vampires and I liked that series like True Blood was mentioned! I think we moved on from that too fast.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC. The opinions are my own.

[Michelle Graf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Wellfleet Press for the ARC.

I would have loved to read this back in high school. It would have made my fixation on the supernatural so much worse. This was well researched but concise, giving a diverse history of vampire lore from all around the world in a really accessible way. It addresses the key traits and fears of a society that are reflected in their mythos. It even addressed the xenophobic views in some European vampire stories, which I only first learned about in a college course on gothic literature. I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to learn more about vampires beyond Dracula and Carmilla.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had great fun with this one! I love vampires, and found this to be a well-structured and engaging overview of vampire history and mythology. I loved how many different cultures it touched on and learned lots of fun facts about early vampire mythology in particular that I didn't know about. My favourite was the tidbit that vampires once shape-shifted into geese!

While perhaps a little surface level at times, I'd recommend this as a great introduction for anyone who wants to learn more about our history with vampires.

[Ashli Hughes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ive been on a huge binge of vampire culture recently (the majority of this being fiction) so it was really interesting to dive into the non-fiction genre and learn more about the widespread cultural aspects regarding origins and history.

I thought this book touched upon some really great information from around the world with a range of cultures mentioned through, including their links to religion/politics/economics and more. It wad short and snappy with great illustrations throughout so if you’re after a quick easy read jam packed with to the point information then this is for you!

my only critique was as much as I loved its quickness, I wanted more details! each mention / discussion was no more than a paragraph which didn’t leave much time or space for in-depth discussions and opinions. It was structured more like “here’s the point, here’s a few sentences to explain it and one more sentence for my source.” I would’ve liked more weight and substance to the info, but I still learn something new AND had fun with it.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75*
I had a few issues with this book, mostly because of my own presumption of this being more academic than it turned out to be. I found the structure of the book a bit off, for example the list of vampire types being mentioned in the book didn’t come until page 110 out of 171, after all the vampires had already been mentioned in context of something else. Furthermore, I would have enjoyed it more if the author had fact checked the spelling of words when choosing to incorporate other languages as well as not just touched the surface of everything explained but actually gone a bit more in depth.

[Just Another Final Girl Review (Brittany) Levely-Connolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horror #BookReview: Vampires: A Handbook of History and Lore of the Undead
by Agnes Hollyhock
published by @quartobooksus @quartobooksuk
Rating: 4/5
Vampires
Genre: Nonfiction-reference, religion and spirituality, mythology
Beautiful beginners reference book for all ages (but great for kids, and teens) that is beautifully illustrated, designed and formatted in both the ebook and physical editions. It functions as a wonderful introduction to Vampires as it examines both the historical and cultural significance of vampires across the globe (not just the western pop culture version) beginning with defining what is a vampire historically and at present day, as well as the different forms it has taken in folklore across various cultures. Serves as a basic introductory guide. I def would say this is a wonderful book for anyone who is interested in reading and or learning about vampire and is especially appropriate for younger readers. I would recommend buying the physical copy because of the details in design, quality of paper etc is makes a beautiful addition to your library but it also looks great in ebook format!
Thank you to edelweiss plus and netgalley for my ebook copy
Physical copy I found myself

[Nicki Markus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vampires: A Handbook of History and Lore of the Undead by Agnes Hollyhock was an okay read. It gives a good overview of the history of vampires both in terms of historical records, folklore beliefs, and vampire depictions in popular culture. The information is nicely organised and presented, accompanied by illustrations throughout; however, if you are a long-term vampire fan, there is probably nothing here that will be new to you. The same stories have appeared in multiple vampire studies in the past, so this book is probably only relevant if you don't already have two or three similar volumes on your shelves, aside from the fact that it does, of course, cover some more recent TV series that may not yet have been out when older books were published. There was one factual error, too, regarding the number of books in Charlaine Harris' vampire series, but I acknowledge that I was reading an ARC and this error will likely be noticed and corrected before the book goes to print. I am giving it 3.5 stars. It's worth a look if you don't already own similar books or if you are a die-hard fan.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Teo · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy and straightforward read about the history and folklore of vampires. The visual design of this book is so beautiful, and the 'old' effect on the pages themselves is such a cool touch. Though I will say I found the layout of information and the random insert of placards felt a little off in some way. It also seemed like similar things kept being rehashed, so I definitely think the information could've been reorganized more effectively. Part of that could be spending more time on each section, as they are only given a paragraph or two, which doesn't leave much space for depth. That is the main reason for why I give this only 3 stars.

As someone who is Serbian, I feel ashamed that I knew so little about how much vampire history there is for the region. Romania who? Anyways, the inclusion of worldwide folklore was very much appreciated, and it truly is fascinating how a figure like the vampire really made its rounds across the planet, each with their own unique twist.

I definitely recommend this to anyone interested in vampires, though maybe if you're a true blood fiend that already has a lot of knowledge, this might be a pass. But honestly, it's worth getting just to stare at the cover alone.

[KillerK8 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very quick and easy read about the true stories that were told throughout culture la and time to inspire the vampire we know today.

I enjoyed it! It was a bit more surface level than I expected but too dense and I would have gotten lost.

If you love vampires or folklore, definitely worth a quick read!

[Suz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a simple woman. I see vampire book? I will read vampire book.

This had some interesting facts on vampire folklore I didn’t know, but overall I wish we spent more time going into the historical nitty gritty of our favorite undeads.

[Zazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being from Romania, I’ve known about Dracula and Vlad the Impaler all my life, but growing up in the ‘90s I was more accustomed to the sexy rock-star vampires of Anne Rice and Buffy, than the menacing count and his gory backstory.

This book merges these aspects of “the vampire” and so much more into a well-researched yet succinct compendium. Inside you’ll find all about the different types of vampires, their abilities and weaknesses, famous vampires from history and, of course, fiction.
The question that drew me into the book was: How and why did so many cultures decide upon the existence of “vampires”? The fact that vampires show up in both myth and folklore all around the world was surprising to me.

The book focuses more on the “how” vampires came to be: explaining their biology and the way it overlaps with how the body decomposes after death, how deadly diseases with unknown means of spreading wiped out entire villages, how improper care of the dead has consequences.
What I needed from the book was a more in-depth explanation of the “why”.
In the end is says that “How humanity treats the dead is more telling of what they think of the living.” I found this to be a very interesting idea, but I felt it needed more developing.
Yes, the revenant, the undead, the vengeful spirit – all stem from our relationship to death and the afterlife. But why is the predatory aspect of the vampire the true constant across cultures?

The second part of the book is focused on instances of vampires and vampire-like creatures. I especially liked the tiny South African “impunduli” and his blood fueled flying machine; the ticklish Ukranian “mavka”; and the shapeshifting Balkan “vrykolaka” (funny thing, in Romanian “vârcolac” means werewolf).
We also have famous vampires from history and legends, starting off strong with Vlad Țepeș (aka The Impaler) and going all the way to US in the late 19th century.
It blew my mind that vampires don’t show up in mirrors and old phots because of their silver components. Or that a cat jumping over a dead body could turn it into a vampire. The body, not the cat! Or that the famous cape that completes any vampire Halloween costume is actually a shroud.
The ending chapter is about vampires in fiction. I was familiar with most of the books and series presented, but I liked the way the author explores their role in our ever-evolving relationship with vampires. You can really feel the passion for the subject.

I also like the formatting of the book. The information is easy to follow, with short chunks of text, and the illustrations are beautiful. Now I just need to find some vampire related Trivia contest so I can use all the wonderful things I’ve learned from this book.


Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Megan Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rediscover the forgotten ancestors of the modern-day vampire—the most powerful of all the forms taken by the undead—in this hauntingly illustrated volume. The bloodsuckers have plagued the human mind for centuries, recalling incidents of creatures feasting on human blood. Vampires explores the imagination, stories, and culture of these bloodthirsty creatures of the night by reintroducing the very first beliefs of vampires. Learn the history of your favorite monsters, including the characteristics of all its different forms, such Shroud Eaters Appesarts Nightmares the Stafia and more! Featuring intricate illustrations, this ghoulish handbook looks back to the folklore throughout the centuries of the undead. Find the vampires you never knew existed, and reveal the history of the undead.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Just like Agnes Hollyhock, I have been fascinated by vampires and their lore for years and so when I found Hollyhock's book, I had to read. Although it's short, Hollyhock's book, Vampires: A Handbook of History & Lore of the Undead, collects histories and legends from all over the world showing the differences vampires have globally. This gives the book a diverse feel where anyone can look at a section and see the vampires they grew up with (yes, even Twilight) and connect with others on a somewhat spiritual level.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover more about vampires from all over the world and also information on vampires from Britain that I never knew about.

If you enjoy vampires, reading about them, or discovering the hidden undead secrets of their lore, Agnes Hollyhock's Vampires: A Handbook of History & Lore of the Undead is your next read.

Thank you, NetGalley and Wellfleet Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Robin C · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s ironic that 15th-century Vlad the Impaler became mixed up with the folklore of a bloodsucking vampire. Vlad III of Wallachia, son of Vlad II Dracul, was known for his military exploits. And while he did own a castle in Transylvania (present-day Romania), Prince Vlad wasn’t the intimate type who sucked the lifeblood of his victims. Instead, he preferred impaling his enemies on wooden stakes, watching them writhe in agony until death overtook them.

Bram Stoker may have used Vlad’s home, his title Dracula, and his age—centuries old—in the 1897 gothic horror novel, but not the man’s character. In the book, Count Dracula displayed aristocratic demeaner and charm, despite living in a crumbling castle. In Vampires: A Handbook of History & Lore of the Undead by Agnes Hollyhock, we learn the Count was a revenant, a reanimated corpse who haunted the living.

And while we may be accustomed to the stylings of Dracula through such characters as Barnabas Collins of Dark Shadows, Lestat de Lioncourt from The Vampire Chronicles, or Edward Cullen from Twilight, different kinds of vampires show up in mythology, folklore, fiction, and even the Bible. Hollyhock covers vampires around the world and across the ages, their strengths and weaknesses, connections to certain diseases, and, most fascinating to me, why the idea of vampirism grew during the Medieval ages. Luckily, the author provides techniques for banishing the undead—you know, just in case. After all, there are rumors about Vlad the Impaler's demise, including his beheading, but no one knows for certain where his body is buried.

[Sage Nestler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been super fascinated by vampires and all aspects of the lore surrounding them. So to say I was ecstatic going into this one is an understatement!

I have studied vampires extensively, and I wasn't sure whether this book would provide me with any new information. However, I was very wrong. Even though it is a shorter book, it explores various aspects of vampire lore, such as how the idea of the vampire came to be, while including lore from various cultures surrounding vampire-like creatures. It starts at the beginning of the written history of vampires and covers the medical components of body decomposition and how this process was misunderstood in the past and contributed to the formulation of the idea of the vampire. It also explores vampires in fiction, suspected vampires (like Vlad the Impaler and Mercy Brown), and creatures from global folklore.

I enjoyed the sections on vampire abilities, the different types of vampires (including energy/psychic vampires), and an analysis on why so many of us are fascinated with the undead. There was so much info packed into this book that I had a hard time not tabbing and annotating every single page. It was such an excellent resource for my writing, and I highly recommend it for other writers, as well as those hoping to expand their knowledge of vampire specific lore.

The book itself is gorgeous, the illustrations are divine, and I loved the antiqued pages and faux blood stains. I could go on and on about this book, but I won't. All I can say is, just pick it up for yourself! It is such a treat for anyone who loves the undead, and it is an essential resource for those who write about them.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a long-term lover of cryptids, "Vampires: A Handbook of History and Lore of the Undead" by Agnes Hollyhock was an absolute delight to read. This book provides a fascinating deep dive into the rich history and lore surrounding vampires, blending historical events with the evolution of these enigmatic creatures.

Hollyhock's meticulous research shines through as she connects ancient vampire lore with historical occurrences, showcasing how societies have often turned to these mythic beings to explain the unknown. This connection between real historical events and the development of vampire myths was particularly intriguing and added a layer of depth to the book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The narrative is both entertaining and educational, making it accessible for both seasoned cryptid enthusiasts and newcomers alike. Hollyhock's writing style is engaging, ensuring that the wealth of information never feels overwhelming. Instead, it feels like a guided tour through centuries of vampire mythology, with plenty of interesting anecdotes and insights along the way.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone with a fascination for vampires or an interest in learning more about the history and lore of these legendary creatures. It's a compelling read that offers both entertainment and a substantial amount of knowledge.

I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to read it. "Vampires: A Handbook of History and Lore of the Undead" is a must-read for any cryptid aficionado.

[Shireen · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
This was a really easy and compelling read! I was pleasantly surprised at how much research was clearly done; the author made reference to a wide variety of undead and/or monstrous creatures spanning many different regions around the world and broke down in detail how the various mythos could be tied together. The sections were laid out in ways that made good sense and built on the preceding sections.

It felt like there was lots of basic information given on a wide variety of topics surrounding vampires and their lore, but not as much deeper level info on things like the scientific aspects of human decomposition. Which is not a criticism; there are certainly books out there that already delve into the clinical information regarding death and decomp - the types of things we understand now to be a natural part of the body's decomposition processes but that ages ago would have seemed strange and sometimes even terrifying to people with no scientific understanding of what was happening. So this is a really handy book if you're interested in reading a comprehensive overview of the different parts of vampire lore, both historical and more modern, but don't need it to go into super scientific detail.

I've read many books over the years that purport to be encyclopedic in their coverage of various monsters, myths, and mysteries. All in all, this book is definitely a good one to put on your TBR list if you want a simple, straightforward guide to all things Vampire.

Thanks to NetGalley, author Agnes Hollyhock, and Wellfleet Press for providing a digital ARC for me to read. All opinions are my own.

[Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an absolute life saver if, like me, you want to write a vampire novel and don't know where to start when it comes to reading up on lore and history. Genuinely, the headache of a billion tabs and re-reading the same history/lore on different blogs was put to rest when I found this. Perhaps I'm just inept when it comes to googling the write sentence to get what I'm looking for, but this book goes through EVERYTHING I could ever ask, with references (!!) if I need to do further research. Specifically, I'm most excited about the lore written from different countries that aren't in Europe, as well as the different creatures that are similar to vampires but Not Quite.

When I first skimmed this book I already had so many ideas on lore and world building it took everything in me not to start highlighting the book right then and there in the store. Glorious. 10/10. My autism is satiated. Could go on about how happy I am to have found this for hours. Thank you for your service. My excitement is proven by the fact this is my first review on Goodreads because I am so horrendously terribly awful at logging books anywhere.

EDIT: I'm realizing it is important to mention that it IS a handbook, so it is mostly surface level lore and history. Despite that, it's a good starting point and a good reference guide for your own research, especially when most blogs I've tried reading have had even less information that this book gives-- especially when it comes to lore that doesn't originate in Europe. The illustrations are also lovely.

[Amy Stacey · Rating 3 out of 5]

With this handbook there are a very few amount of questions left for those who are unsure about Vampires, their history and the lore surrounding them.
This book covers how they are portrayed in film and literature, any possible real-life cases of Vampirism and historic figures, such as Madame Bathory, who might have had the Vampiric affliction. The most interesting of the chapters was the nuisances of the term 'Vampire' and what it meant in different cultures and their names for the undead from Lilith and Dhampir to the Asema who were old lady vampires who at night took of their skin and folded it nicely before venture out on the hunt.
The book is scattered with illustrations and informative definitions amongst the meat of each chapter, helping for those unsure about certain terminology to fully comprehend the history and lore related to Vampires.
As a teenager I was amongst the vampire based popular culture, reading the Morganville Vampires and obsessing over episodes of True Blood. This would have been the perfect companion guide for teenage me and this made me love the book. It even made me wish that I still had my "I stake Edward" badge that took pride of place on my school blazer.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #netgalley , thank you. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

James' rating: 5 out of 5 thought-provoking stars! ✨

Well, I love vampires as evident from my love of Twilight. When I saw this book, I decided to delve into the historical aspects of this fascinating creature that is now one of the most loved mythical creatures.

This book draws a pretty ambiguous study on vampires. How this creature originated and how real and scary these creatures were to people of the past was quite interesting to read. While now many of us skeptical about their existence and the book community in particular, romanticize them a lot in our stories, they were a source of fear for the ones that came before us.

The types of vampires itself is quite fascinating. I had a phase where I devoured books about various types of vampires and I think I can confidently state I have read all types there was (at least 99.9%) which includes ones that have different powers, looks, food source, genealogy, creations etc. All these are discussed in the book as well the types pertaining to different regions across the world with their names, powers and weaknesses.

Definitely a book I would recommend for vampire lovers.

Thanks to Agnes Hollyhock and Wellfleet Press for an engaging ARC!

Happy Reading!

[Elena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been obsessed with vampires for basically my entire life, and I know this little book is going straight to the top of my list of recommendations for anyone interested in the history and lore of these creatures. With several illustrations straight out of my most edgy, gothic daydreams and some slaying tips even I’d never heard of before, I was obsessed from page one.
The whole book is laid out super cleanly, with history and lore blending seamlessly and while I wouldn’t call the list at the back of the book of modern vampires comprehensive by any stretch of the imagination (that would be impossible), this book provides a compendium on the different kinds of vamps out there, which my data-loving brain couldn’t get enough of. Agnes even uses the phrase “depressive demonic nightmare boy” to refer to the modern broody, heroic type, which is so accurate it hurts.
I’m a bit ahead of my release schedule – this bad boy doesn’t come out until August – but trust me when I say this is well worth the wait. If you’re anything like me, this will be right at home on your shelf or on your kindle right next to Dracula, Vampire Academy, and Blue Bloods.

[Lillie Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

When reading non-fiction about vampires there are two ways it can go, either extremely factual leaving no room for the fiction that sprung from the folklore and myth or leaning into the occult to such a degree that you feel you cannot take the non-fiction part realistically. I am glad to say the book walks the middle line of embracing the mythology and folklore while being factual and presenting information about vampires many vampire lovers may not have read before.

No matter if you are looking for a good goth coffee table book, or a book that will teach you more about vampires then this book is a great choice. It has beautiful artwork throughout that resembles medieval woodcut artwork and is very stylized in the headers and first chapter pages to pull you into the material being discussed. Later in each chapter the book read a bit more text bookish with it delving into the folklore behind vampires from the world over and the historical reasons for the folklore existing in our modern day.

I would recommend this books to those:
- Who love Vampires and want to learn more about them
- Looking for a gothic coffee table book
- Love learning about folklore and myth behind modern monsters

I received an advance review copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts and opinions are wholly my own and unbiased.

[Keri E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW: Vampires: A Handbook of History and Lore of the Undead by Agnes Hollyhock

Genre: Nonfiction
Format: eBook
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book # for 2024: #58

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

SYNOPSIS: Vampires explores the stories that led to the belief of vampires across many cultures and geographic regions.

MY THOUGHTS: Anyone that knows me well, knows I love a good vampire story. As a little kid, one of my favorite movies was The Little Vampire. After Twilight was released, I read every vampire book I could get my hands on and watched every movie or tv show I could find. (The Vampire Dairies is a favorite of mine.) Even though I’ve read a lot of books and watched a lot of movies/TV shows with vampires, I’ve never really looked into the historical context of how the belief of vampires came to be. This handbook is short, but covers a lot of material and is very informative. It is a great starting point for anyone who is interested in this topic. I very much enjoyed reading it.

[Kaden · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vampires are my main special interest so it's always a treat to see a new book about the history and lore. This is easily one of the better Vampire Folklore books.
It's reader friendly, easy to follow, and beautifully put together filled with stunning illustrations and boxes for fun facts that breaks everything up nicely.
Hollyhock goes into explaining more culturally significant characters and ideas that the average person would likely be familiar with but also details lore and beliefs that are more obscure.
There's a fun charm to her writing style, as someone who has always preferred a friendly approach as opposed to the often stale and dragging overly academic style commomly used in non fiction, I found the flow really enjoyable.
My only complaint is that there are things I wish she had padded out further but as this book feels more like an introductory crash course to Vampire history and mythology I can understand that she wouldn't want to overload the reader with too much at once.

[Michelle G. · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review; thanks to NetGalley, Quarto Publishing Group, and Wellfleet Press for the access to this book. This is available to "read now," so if anyone's interested in it, check it out.

This is the first book I read about vampire history and lore, and it was a very interesting read. I like the way everything about vampires is explained super well, from the different types of vampires, their folklore and mythology, to details like their weaknesses and powers.

My favorite section of the book is the one about historical figures, which focuses on people in history who were perceived as vampires for different reasons. That was very fun to read about!

Overall, this book is full of information and it's very easy to read and process. I also loved the format and the illustrations; it's a beautiful book. I will probably get a physical copy, I think it can be a nice addition to a collection of books about vampires.

[Pauline Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit I have a minor/major vampire obsession and try to consume as much media involving them as I possibly can. When I saw this for download on Netgalley I knew I absolutely had to read it. This is an exploration of vampires across folklore and different forms of media, including what makes a vampire a vampire, the different forms they take across cultures and media, their strengths and weaknesses, how to make one, and how to kill one.

I absolutely loved this book. There is such a deep wealth of information available for the curious reader. This is well researched and well written. You can tell the author has a reason for the subject. I admit I already knew a lot of the information presented but I did learn a lot from this. The info is put together in such an easy to read way that is accessible for readers with all levels of background knowledge.

Overall I think this book is great. Highly recommend for horror fans in general and vampire fans specifically.

[Teeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC for early review.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

I feel like this is the kind of book that people will buy to have on their shelves and pull out to prove that they know exactly what a draugr or dhampir is. It feels mostly aesthetic, despite having significant substance to it. However, I really do think it could have stood to be longer, even potentially *much* longer. While the descriptions of historical and cultural vampires were detailed and well-written, I feel like there were opportunities for further expansion in this work. I would have loved to see more discussion about each author of classical vampire stories, more depth on modern vampires in pop culture, and an expansion for specific folk tales and stories about some of the kinds of vampires discussed. It feels skin-deep only, lacking true depth and lore. It definitely isn't a bad book. But I just feel like there could have been more.