What do you think?
Rate this book
Folkloric: Tales of Folklore & Horror
Folkloric, Tales of Folklore & Horror is a collection of 16 terrifying tales, drenched in ritual, superstition, and myth. Featuring stories from authors all around the world, this anthology delves into the dark traditions of ages past, and the uncanny sources that inspired them.Walk with us in the Cave of Quicavi, beside the twisted imbunche! Add your voice to our invocation, as we raise the Woman of the Forest! Join us, in the shadow of Urraca Mesa, as we explore the secrets of Skull Mountain! From Chilote folklore to tales of bewitchery, Folkloric, Tales of Folklore & Horror is packed with stories of the macabre, the sinister, and the downright horrifying!Featuring tales from C. L. Werner, Felix Blackwell, Eneasz Brodski, Errick Nunnally, R. T. Wenzel, Miranda Dahlin, Xan van Rooyen, Rowland Bercy Jr., Trey Henry, Thomas Canfield, Madison Kilian, Justin Fillmore, Scotty Milder, Mark Oxbrow, J. L. Royce, Max Hallam, as well as illustrations from Stephen Spinas.
415 pages, Paperback
Published March 20, 2024
68 people are currently reading
378 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 7, 2024
This is a short story anthology with 16 horror stories about myth and folklore from around the world. Overall a pretty solid collection of spooks!
It's dark and gritty and interesting, and without having the strongest knowledge of various folklore, I've now looked up several creatures from the stories to learn more (and this is a positive! I love learning about this stuff).
The stories span from the high north of Finland, to the swamps of Louisiana, to Inca (I think) myth, central European, Welsh/Celtic, native American, biblical and more.
They all did a great job of weaving in real history with the mythical aspects and dark fiction. A few of the stories were a little on the longer side and didn't quite capture me, but most were a fantastic blend of eldritch, twisted, gory, and dark.
There is no contents warning as I've seen, and as this is a horror collection it does get a little grim. That said, I don't think any of the stories were too much, and the main grimness comes in the form of gore and the themes brought up and explored.
My favorite story was Shadows in the Blood (Xan van Rooyen) about a dark witch (the Prättäkitti) possessing young women and girls in the forests of Finland/Sweden/Lappi.
The story was heartbreaking, not only for the historical implications (so many poor women were burned at the stakes), but also the tension of the MC risking life, limb, and reputation to try and save them. The author seamlessly weaved in queer representation and it added depth and layer to the characters and the storyline. The sudden snippet of gore was both shocking and wonderfully grotesque and the ending had me grinning as only a good horror story can!
Honorable mentions also goes to:
Cherimoya Promises (Miranda Dahlin). I loved this Inca/South American/Chile myth as this isn't something in my history repertoire. I also have a thing for tragic horror and this one truly sank my heart at the end!
Twiglet (R.T Wenzel). Welsh/Celtic myth is a fave of mine. This story started off very dark and made my skin crawl several times. But the description of this wooden woman slowly becoming human was very tender and the final switch of betrayal not one I saw coming.
Fire Above, Below, Forward, and Behind (Errick Nunnally). Eldritch horror is great horror! This is one of the only stories with a sorta real happy ending and it fitted well. The writing was solid and the tension of following this group of slaves trying to escape across mine-filled dark waters was intense!
I received this collection free in return of my honest review.
It's dark and gritty and interesting, and without having the strongest knowledge of various folklore, I've now looked up several creatures from the stories to learn more (and this is a positive! I love learning about this stuff).
The stories span from the high north of Finland, to the swamps of Louisiana, to Inca (I think) myth, central European, Welsh/Celtic, native American, biblical and more.
They all did a great job of weaving in real history with the mythical aspects and dark fiction. A few of the stories were a little on the longer side and didn't quite capture me, but most were a fantastic blend of eldritch, twisted, gory, and dark.
There is no contents warning as I've seen, and as this is a horror collection it does get a little grim. That said, I don't think any of the stories were too much, and the main grimness comes in the form of gore and the themes brought up and explored.
My favorite story was Shadows in the Blood (Xan van Rooyen) about a dark witch (the Prättäkitti) possessing young women and girls in the forests of Finland/Sweden/Lappi.
The story was heartbreaking, not only for the historical implications (so many poor women were burned at the stakes), but also the tension of the MC risking life, limb, and reputation to try and save them. The author seamlessly weaved in queer representation and it added depth and layer to the characters and the storyline. The sudden snippet of gore was both shocking and wonderfully grotesque and the ending had me grinning as only a good horror story can!
Honorable mentions also goes to:
Cherimoya Promises (Miranda Dahlin). I loved this Inca/South American/Chile myth as this isn't something in my history repertoire. I also have a thing for tragic horror and this one truly sank my heart at the end!
Twiglet (R.T Wenzel). Welsh/Celtic myth is a fave of mine. This story started off very dark and made my skin crawl several times. But the description of this wooden woman slowly becoming human was very tender and the final switch of betrayal not one I saw coming.
Fire Above, Below, Forward, and Behind (Errick Nunnally). Eldritch horror is great horror! This is one of the only stories with a sorta real happy ending and it fitted well. The writing was solid and the tension of following this group of slaves trying to escape across mine-filled dark waters was intense!
I received this collection free in return of my honest review.
February 20, 2025
This is a fantastic and well worth while read for fans of horror, folklore, and short stories. While not every story is amazing, there is a lot to love here with 15 stories that are all at least above average. There are plenty of creeps and unsettling moments, with many stories containing stingers making me wish I could continue to read about these horrifying creatures of myth. Some standout stories for me where: Twiglet, Cherimoya Promises, and The Dirt Path. Definitely recommend this one for fans of the genre.
January 23, 2025
Good Set
I love folklore and these stories didn't disappoint. I even learned a few new bits of lore I'd never come across and given how interested I am, that's saying something. A couple stories were just alright but none were outright bad. Definitely worth a read.
I love folklore and these stories didn't disappoint. I even learned a few new bits of lore I'd never come across and given how interested I am, that's saying something. A couple stories were just alright but none were outright bad. Definitely worth a read.
April 29, 2024
weird, strange, and enjoyable
April 13, 2024
Good Stories!
A Good book with different tales told of folklore from around the world!
Heavens Bounty By: Eneasz Brodski
Cain & Abel - What a different way of telling this story!
Twiglet By: R.T. Wenzel
This story was a wonderful telling of how one can love the forest and animals, in a special way.
Chermoya Promises By: Miranda Dahlin
What a sad story of biting the hand that feeds you, but is often so true between beautiful people and not so, how differently they can be treated.
Krampusnacht By: C.L. Werner
An extreme measure of punishment, but, also showing how many do not learn right from wrong.
The Ballad of Charles Kennedy By: Scotty Milder
Living in a bottle of any kind, can take you many places!
The Pig Farm By: Madison Kilian
It's an interesting story of hell.
Fire Above, Below, Forward, and Behind By: Errick Nunnally
Just leave us alone!
The Rose Tower By: Max Hallam
A rose has many thorns, and this tower will change at will, not just its look.
Salvation By: Felix Blackwell
Everyone has their own version.
Shadows In the Blood By: Xan Van Rooyen
The differences between a twisted Christian (of sorts) and a witch!
The Dirt Path By: Trey Henry
Going to hunt... but for what?
Twelve By: Thomas Canfield Rathman
What do Gargoyles signify? Religion, Faith, Witchcraft? Also, do they just sit there, or do they 'come alive'?
Where Wolf's Ears Are, Wolf's Teeth Are Near By: Mark Oxbrow
What a very interesting ride of taking a body back home.
Blood Bayou: A Brutal Tale of Louisiana Folklore By: Rowland Bercy Jr.
This was both a sad and wonderful story! I loved how justice was served, and the coming together of a lost family that has been grieving for years!
Pupille de la Nation By: Justin Fillmore
A poetic justice! And I am so Glad I do not have to wear metal shoes like those!
The Wind is Your Friend By: J.L. Royce
Sometimes things happen because someone tells a tale, that is told to someone else...
I received a complimentary copy of this story and this is my honest review.
A Good book with different tales told of folklore from around the world!
Heavens Bounty By: Eneasz Brodski
Cain & Abel - What a different way of telling this story!
Twiglet By: R.T. Wenzel
This story was a wonderful telling of how one can love the forest and animals, in a special way.
Chermoya Promises By: Miranda Dahlin
What a sad story of biting the hand that feeds you, but is often so true between beautiful people and not so, how differently they can be treated.
Krampusnacht By: C.L. Werner
An extreme measure of punishment, but, also showing how many do not learn right from wrong.
The Ballad of Charles Kennedy By: Scotty Milder
Living in a bottle of any kind, can take you many places!
The Pig Farm By: Madison Kilian
It's an interesting story of hell.
Fire Above, Below, Forward, and Behind By: Errick Nunnally
Just leave us alone!
The Rose Tower By: Max Hallam
A rose has many thorns, and this tower will change at will, not just its look.
Salvation By: Felix Blackwell
Everyone has their own version.
Shadows In the Blood By: Xan Van Rooyen
The differences between a twisted Christian (of sorts) and a witch!
The Dirt Path By: Trey Henry
Going to hunt... but for what?
Twelve By: Thomas Canfield Rathman
What do Gargoyles signify? Religion, Faith, Witchcraft? Also, do they just sit there, or do they 'come alive'?
Where Wolf's Ears Are, Wolf's Teeth Are Near By: Mark Oxbrow
What a very interesting ride of taking a body back home.
Blood Bayou: A Brutal Tale of Louisiana Folklore By: Rowland Bercy Jr.
This was both a sad and wonderful story! I loved how justice was served, and the coming together of a lost family that has been grieving for years!
Pupille de la Nation By: Justin Fillmore
A poetic justice! And I am so Glad I do not have to wear metal shoes like those!
The Wind is Your Friend By: J.L. Royce
Sometimes things happen because someone tells a tale, that is told to someone else...
I received a complimentary copy of this story and this is my honest review.
February 13, 2025
I didn’t finish this. The first and third stories were good, but not scary at all. I read half the stories, and none of them were even the slightest bit scary or creepy. I was expecting this to be a horror book with some terrifying stories of cryptid-type monsters. This book was not that. The stories I read were ok, but I completely lost interest in this book by the time I read half of it. I do not have any hope of the later stories being any better based on the first half.
dnf
January 23, 2025The first story was boring and the narrator was boring as well. Even fast forwarding his prattle was such a metronome pacing you could set a beat to it.
December 15, 2025
This anthology is a chilling treat from start to finish. Each story feels distinct, yet they’re all bound together by a haunting folkloric atmosphere that lingers long after you finish reading.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews