Eerie Legends: An Illustrated Exploration of Creepy Creatures, the Paranormal, and Folklore from around the World

by Ricardo Diseño, Steve Mockus (contributor)

A fascinating and frightening collection of folk tale monsters, ghosts, and other scary things that dwell in the dark.

Our world is a strange place. This hauntingly illustrated book peers into the dark spaces that lie somewhere between belief and imagination, and into the weird stories we tell to make sense of where and who we are. Here are tales of vengeful ghosts, bloodthirsty monsters, internet-conjured nightmares, lost souls, cryptid curiosities, demons, aliens, the undead, and the inexplicable, including:

Enfield Poltergeist
Jersey Devil
Mothman
Krampus
El Silbón
Betty and Barney Hill Abduction
Headless Horseman
Skunk Ape
Onryō
Loab
Isla de las Muñecas
Slender Man
La Llorona
Loch Ness Monster
And many more...

Acclaimed artist Ricardo Diseño brings a lifelong fascination with eerie folklore to electrify the artwork depicting each spooky subject, accompanied by evocative descriptions and history and a flash-fiction story in which readers encounter the dark presences themselves.

FEARFUL WONDERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD: Stalking these pages are Brazilian sleep paralysis ghouls, Japanese spider-women, a shape-shifting Slavic forest guardian, and creepy North American cryptids. Pay a visit to Madagascar’s human-eating tree, the Mexican island of haunted dolls, a ghost-cursed California mansion, and the spooky darkness of the tombs beneath the streets of Paris.

FAVORITES OLD AND NEW: Including the first reported alien abduction (and the folklore root of the alien “greys”) as well as the first phantom believed to be conjured by AI, this collection brings horror, occult, and classic campfire story vibes in equal measure. Entries end with a shock-fiction encounter with the monster itself or a tale told from its perspective.

GORGEOUSLY ILLUSTRATED BOOK: Ricardo Diseño’s signature style brings each of the more than 30 entries to frightening life with a knockout full-page image, hand-illustrated border design elements, and a vivid spot illustration.

TURN OUT THE LIGHTS: The cover art glows in the dark.

Perfect for:
Readers who enjoy folklore, fairy tales, and ghost stories
Horror and horror movie fans
Fans of Ricardo Diseño’s Classic Horror Oracle Deck
Gift-giving for Halloween or any occasion that celebrates the macabre and mysterious

Genres: Nonfiction, Horror, Paranormal, Folklore

144 pages, Hardcover

Published September 24, 2024

Reviews

[Jayne (jaynesbookedheart) · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Eerie Legends* is a fascinating dive into creepy creatures, folklore, and mysterious locations from around the world, blending history with captivating flash-fiction stories that bring each legend to life. The vivid neon artwork by Ricardo Diseño contrasts beautifully with the dark, eerie creatures, enhancing the book’s atmosphere.

What makes this book stand out is its mix of classic myths and modern legends like Slenderman and Loab, showing how paranormal stories evolve with society's changing fears. It also includes a fantastic "Further Reading, Listening, and Viewing" section for those eager to explore more.

A quick-paced, thought-provoking read, *Eerie Legends* is a must for anyone intrigued by the supernatural and the stories that shape our fears.

Thank you to #netgalley and #chroniclebooks for the #free advanced reader copy!

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Chronicle Books for an advanced copy of this illustrated guide to things that make life interesting and fun, even as they scare us when the lights go out.

Many people, like myself, are comforted by things that go bump in the night. Deserted places, are like doughnuts on a table with a big old free sign, we love to poke around every, chew through every nook and cranny of the place, looking for people standing in corners, or strange noises to come from empty rooms. The undead to us are just friends we haven't had the chance met in life. Spider creatures sound like a fun night out, and sure the spider might leave one with the check, but it will be worth it. Loch Ness, seems less crowded than Crystal Lake, but a lot more interesting, if not magical if one adds Aleister Crowley to the guest list. Like so many others I have loved these kind of stories about the things that live beyond the walls of sanity or belief since I started reading about them in books I took out of the library. Some heard these tales around the fire, some from X-Files. Even podcasts. Books like these are never too much. Especially when the art is so good inside. Eerie Legends: An Illustrated Exploration of Creepy Creatures, the Paranormal, and Folklore from around the World is illustrated by Ricardo Diseño with text by Steve Mockus and is a guide book to the imaginary world, featuring the familiar and the unfamiliar, the spooky, the odd, and the ones we would all love to meet someday.

The book is an alphabetical lists of creatures, places and events with a brief introduction that is fictional, a longer section about a page or two about the subject, discussing dates, notable appearances, disappearances, and maybe even a little bit of violence, if warranted. The entry concludes with a fictional work, bringing together facts, legends and more to round out what is presented. The book not only features cryptids or monsters. The experience of Betty and Barney Hill and their missing time with aliens is an entry. Haunted houses, real and imaginary are looked at with an entry about the famed Winchester House The universal classic monsters werewolf, Vampir, even zombis are looked at, as are the new creatures du jour Slender Man, Mothman, even Krampus who is starting to make inroads. Legends and myths from other lands, Japan, Latin America and others are looked at, along with a creature that seems to only exist on the Internet. Each entry is also wonderfully illustrated in a way that is unique to each one, and can cause a little bit of missing time just because there is so much to admire on the page.

This was a fun book as the illustrations really are wonderful. The entries are interesting and informative, I just wish there was a little bit more entries, and a bit less fiction. Still this is a good guide for those new to the world, and the bibliography is pretty complete and those interested can easily find more if they like. The art is a mix of underground, Latin American influences, with a level of skill that is quite amazing to see. I joked earlier, but one could spend hours looking at these and find something new, or a technique that one missed earlier.

Comic fans will enjoy this as will role players as there are a lot of good ideas for adventures and ways to include some of these creatures in adventures. A lot of fun, and a good gift for someone new to cryptids and the paranormal, but would like to know more.

[Brian Shevory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thanks to Chronicle Books and Netgalley for making this ARC available to read. I was so excited to find Eerie Legends: An Illustrated Exploration of Creepy Creatures, the Paranormal, and Folklore from Around the World by Ricardo Diseño and Steve Mockus available for download. This book is like an alphabetized reference book of legendary creatures, cryptids, and other strange and unexplained phenomena from around the world, spanning different cultures and eras throughout history. Each entry features amazing artwork from Diseño, often depicting the creature or legend as well as its impact on people. This was my favorite part of the book. The drawings were in color and really creepy. Diseño featured not only elements of these legends, but also seemed to put his own spin on them, rendering them in bright colors (purple, turquoise, orange, red, yellow) against the dark, black background. Although I received a digital copy to review, I would consider purchasing a physical copy to examine the pictures in more detail. I also read that the book’s cover glows in the dark, which seems like another great feature. In addition to these drawings, each entry includes a brief informational sketch of the legend, often providing some history, context, or other explanatory information, along with a fictionalized story, sometimes told from the point of view of a victim or the creature. The entries were good, but if you’ve read other books about these legends or cryptids, it doesn’t really reveal anything new or ground-breaking. I liked their brevity, which made it easy to read and explore. Although adding the narrative/fictionalized accounts was a clever addition, I didn’t think these were consistently strong or interesting. Some were clever, but I found myself losing interest in these brief stories as the book went on. It seemed like either they were too short to develop any meaningful kind of story, or it was just more repetitive of the informational text. I applaud the efforts to keep these stories to a page, but I think focusing the book on the images and stories behind the legends is more effective.
One thing that differentiated this book from some other books about creatures, cryptids, and urban legends was its recency. While there are some classics like the Loch Ness Monster, Florida’s Skunk Ape, and the Jersey Devil, the book also includes other, more recent phenomena like Loab, an AI generated character that appears to haunt the internet, and Slenderman, a creepy pasta character that influenced an attempted murder. While somewhat familiar with Slenderman, the information provided some additional context and details. I wasn’t as familiar with Loab, but her story helped to show how technology is influencing the facilitation of these legends and tales. I also loved how the book spanned different eras and cultures, focusing on some legends from Japanese (Joroguma) and Mexican/Latin America (Chupacabra, La Llorona). This is a great book to have as a reference and a showpiece highlighted by Diseño inventive images of these creatures. I also found that Diseño created a set of horror movie tarot cards, so I’m interested to see what other work he has available.

[Reggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eerie Legends is an absolutely gorgeous book which combines the stunning art and design of Ricardo Diseño with the eloquent, well-researched words of Steve Mockus. Mockus opens by stating his intent and the significance of frightening creatures in our lives and our stories, and from there I was hooked. I wasn't sure what to expect, and this book ended up being a thoughtful and riveting study of a multitude of legends.

Ricardo Diseño has a graphic and eye-catching art style that utilizes high-contrast colors in combination with more implied and suggestive linework. It is inspired by elements from folklore to traditional tattoo art, so it may not be to everyone's taste, but I really appreciated it. The resulting artwork was riveting, and held my interest on every page. I spent hours lingering over the pieces of art after reading each passage. I want to buy prints of some of the illustrations, they're seriously that great! I will be seeking prints of the Jersey Devil and El Silbón (The Whistler) in particular.

When it comes to Steve Mockus' passages about each legend, he first included a 'factual' first person account, then explained the creature or phenomena, and finished with his own original scenario. I feel I got a pretty full picture of the legends I didn't already know about, and was truly invested even when I had read and watched media about them before. He writes in a way that compels the reader, catching my interest quickly, and maintaining it with the personability and confidence of his writing.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much fun I had with Eerie Legends. I went into this almost blind, only knowing that I loved the art and synopsis provided on NetGalley and Amazon. This book is great, and I already look forward to consecutive readings. My thanks to the illustrator and author, publisher, and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.

[Heather O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eerie Legends covers a wide range of cryptids, folklore, and mysterious locations around the world diving into strange stories that captivate the imagination. The book provides a brief history of each topic, including variations of the legends to include a broader scope to the tales, followed by a short flash-fiction story focused on the subject in action. The artwork by Ricardo Diseño uses vivid neon colors that juxtapose with the horrific nature of these creatures to create striking images. I loved seeing modern legends such as Loab and Slenderman side by side with more traditional cryptids and spirits from different cultures. These sections show how legends of the paranormal will always have a place in society, revealing new fears about the world as our cultures evolve. Eerie Legends also finishes with a great list of “Further Reading, Listening, and Viewing” with detailed notes about the appeal of the recommendations. Overall, this is a really interesting reference guide to the paranormal with some fun fiction that lends itself to a quick paced read.

Thank you Chronicle Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Lecia Kade · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐4

As someone who is really into the paranormal and supernatural side of things, I knew a lot of these stories already but, there were some I didn’t and I found them interesting. I love the illustrations. they were a gorgeous asset to the stories. I really enjoyed how the information is sandwiched by stories! While the information about these creatures and occurrences is short, they give a great synopsis to the legends. I can see this being the kind of book a child finds in the library and sparking their love for the paranormal.

Both the author and illustrator did amazing work on this book.

Extra Praise:

👽I absolutely LOVED the illustrated page for Betty and Barney Hill Abduction, it is gorgeous, something I would love to get a print of.

🎄I loved the ending story for Krampus, what was done was quite clever.

👩‍🦳 The ending story for Loab was so creepy, I loved it.

🦋The Mothman illustrated page is beautiful.

I received an uncorrected proof, advanced reader copy of this book.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

From banshee to zombi, the team of Richardo Diseño (Illustrator) and Steve Mockus (Text By) built a surreal guide to cryptids, paranormal beings, haunted locales, and folkloric figures. Each exquisite creature or location's entry features a short introduction, then some background broken up with an ecclectic and electrifying art piece of the discussed being or place, and a piece of fiction featuring the being or place. This combination allows for readers to dip their toe, explore the history and/or "evidence," take in immensely incredible art that will fire up their imaginations, and then further explore their imaginings with a story.

Eerie Legends: An Illustrated Exploration of Creepy Creatures, the Paranormal, and Folklore from around the World offers a variety of legends from around the world, kinds of legends, and ages of the legends--including ones that only came into being during the digital world. This means that, most likely, readers will encounter both something familiar and something new in their reading of this wonderfully eerie book.

[Katlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Chronicle Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review.

If you’re into the spooky and supernatural, Eerie Legends is worth checking out. The book dives into a variety of paranormal folk tales, monsters, ghosts, and all those creepy things that lurk in the shadows. It has a good blend of intriguing lore from around the world and spine-chilling legends that fans of the eerie will appreciate.

The short stories included in the book didn’t quite hit the mark for me. They were a bit hit-or-miss, and I didn’t find them as gripping as I hoped. But here's the real star of the show: the art. The illustrations in Eerie Legends are awesome. They're trippy and vintage. I’d even consider buying a print or two to display at home if they were available.

So, if you’re a fan of paranormal folklore and appreciate fantastic art, Eerie Legends is still a solid pick. Just temper your expectations a bit with the stories and enjoy the visual feast.

[Eilis Flynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this courtesy Net Galley and Chronicle Books. It’s one thing to read about the strange things that go bump in the night, but having the stories illustrated with weird images bumps the effect higher. This is a delightful, absorbing book, the fantastical stories and lore enhanced by the equally fantastical illustrations. I reviewed a digital copy, but apparently the print cover glows in the dark! Included are entries about Mothman and the Jersey Devil, not to mention Enfield Poltergeist and the Skunk Ape, and much, much more. Some of the strange things are familiar, but some are not. A guaranteed winner if you read it by candlelight and it’s a dark and stormy night.

#EerieLegends #ChronicleBooks #NetGalley

[Marnie Hageman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun look into folklore from a variety of cultures and geographical regions. I didn't mind the art style, which used bright and psychedelic colors to depict mythical beings. While this book isn't intended for children, it reminded me of some of the books on mythology I'd come across in my family's study that always had a few absolutely terrifying illustrations. I also enjoyed most of the brief narratives that concluded each section, but this took space away from the descriptions of these intriguing creatures, making the book less cohesive overall. Eerie Legends is a nice introduction to the paranormal for young adults.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ande Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a fun read covering legends and folklore from around the world. The illustrations were trippy & the most delightful part of the stories. The Chupacabra story and art was particularly fun. The stories themselves were very short, which made for a quick and easy read. However, I found myself wanting the plot to be fleshed out a bit more.

Thanks to NetGalley, Ricardo Diseno, and Chronicle Books for the chance to read and review! This would be a great read for anyone that loves folklore.

[Kelli Santistevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating and frightening collection of folk tale monsters, ghosts, and other scary things that dwell in the dark.

Thank you Chronicle Books & Netgalley for the digital ARC! I enjoyed reading this book and I liked the illustrations. I was familiar with some of these monsters and there were others that I wasn’t familiar with. This book definitely gave me spooky vibes. This book is perfect for people who enjoy folklore, fairy tales, and ghost stories so if this book sounds like something you’re interested in then add this book to your Fall TBR when it goes on sale September 24.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books I've read this year! The illustrations are incredible! The stories are interesting. I had an absolute blast reading this! I highly recommend this! Special Thank You to Richard Diseno,Steve Mockus,Chronicle Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Carlos Malga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Siento que la intención es buena, pero no se logra desarrollar del todo. En sí, sólo aporta datos muy básicos y generales sobre criaturas bastante conocidas. El toque extra, quizás, podrían ser los minirrelatos que usa el autor como una forma de adentrarnos en la historia. Si eres fan de este tipo de temas no encontrarás nada nuevo, pero las ilustraciones son agradables.

[Kat · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really liked this book until I got to a point where they used a culturally significant Indigenous creature that North American Indigenous people have asked repeatedly not to be used said or written.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

An unusual style of neon illustrations. The author adds short stories following a brief introduction to each legend in attempt to add a new layer to them. A good concept but the stories need more depth and word count allotted in the book. (DNF)

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the artwork! Reminds me of vintage horror comics.
I appreciate the inclusion of first hand accounts when possible.
Could have done without the micro- stories.

[Hc1986 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable diversion from my usual reads, especially at Halloween time. Interesting and mildly educational. I agree with others re illustrations. They did not add value.

[Nicole CeBallos · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the artwork, but wish the legends were more detailed

[LobsterQuadrille · Rating 2 out of 5]

Effective as a showcase of some intriguing art, but the surface-level content is unsatisfying.

[Leniw · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the artwork. Quite strange and unusual, with bright colors which are not often used in ghost stories.
Some stories were boring, some very good.
Overall it is a beautiful book.

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a coffee table book. Although, I did look up some of the things here to get more details cause it had me intrigued. Some of the typography choices were difficult to decipher.