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The Beasts Beneath the Winds: Tales of Southeast Asia’s Mythical Creatures
A sweeping and magical story collection showcasing the mythical creatures of Southeast Asia, including work by two-time Newbery medalist Erin Entrada Kelly and National Book Award finalist Shing Yin Khor
A turtle the size of an island. A cricket that can possess you if swallowed. A giant who turns enemies to stone. The legends of Southeast Asia—or “the lands below the winds,” as explorers used to call it—are populated with a whole menagerie of colorful beasts that inspire awe and fear in equal measure. Yet, passed on as they are through story and song, so many of these stories remain rooted in some long-forgotten past and bound by the borders of the region, creatures of myth and memory and nothing more. Until now.
Welcome to The Beasts Beneath the Winds, a collection of Southeast Asia’s most elusive cryptids by a team of bestselling and award-winning authors. Within these gorgeously illustrated pages, readers will find the stories of seventeen regular kids who encounter these mythical creatures in the here and now, and—fortunately or unfortunately—live to tell the tale
A turtle the size of an island. A cricket that can possess you if swallowed. A giant who turns enemies to stone. The legends of Southeast Asia—or “the lands below the winds,” as explorers used to call it—are populated with a whole menagerie of colorful beasts that inspire awe and fear in equal measure. Yet, passed on as they are through story and song, so many of these stories remain rooted in some long-forgotten past and bound by the borders of the region, creatures of myth and memory and nothing more. Until now.
Welcome to The Beasts Beneath the Winds, a collection of Southeast Asia’s most elusive cryptids by a team of bestselling and award-winning authors. Within these gorgeously illustrated pages, readers will find the stories of seventeen regular kids who encounter these mythical creatures in the here and now, and—fortunately or unfortunately—live to tell the tale
352 pages, Hardcover
First published October 21, 2025
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584 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
October 15, 2025
In a Nutshell: An OwnVoices short story anthology aimed at middle-graders and highlighting some mythical “beasts” from South-East Asian cultures. Elaborate focus on various legendary cryptids from this region. Great illustrations to supplement the information. However, the plots focus more on the human characters than on the mythical beings, which is somewhat disappointing. Still, it’s a unique collection and deserves an audience.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This anthology contains seventeen stories, each focussing on one specific cryptid from South-East Asian mythology. The list of contributors includes some exceptional known names such as Jesse Q. Sutanto and Erin Entrada Kelly.
The book begins with an introductory note by Malaysian editor-author Hanna Alkaf, offering information about cryptids and their presence in the mythology of this region. This note is so well-written! Sample this line: "Cryptids, much like stories and humans, can travel all over the globe, where they can put down roots and blossom in fresh soil." 😍 I love how its voice is accurately aimed at middle-graders.
This anthology covers multiple mythical cryptids from Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, and Indonesia. The depiction of these cultures is amazing. Be it their language, their beliefs, their places, or their food, you can actually feel the atmosphere and the location through the words. I appreciate how almost all the stories use authentic South-East Asian names for their characters.
As Alkaf states, cryptids can be evil and dangerous or friendly and harmless. Each story begins with an illustration of a cryptid, its country of origin and basic details such as habitat, temperament and special features. I love that it mentions the size and appearance of the creature each time, making it easier for us to visualise the being accurately while reading the story.
The tales are quite diverse in their storylines. As the cryptid isn't repeated even once across the seventeen narratives, there is no sense of déjà vu at least as far as the fantastical elements are concerned. However, just because every story has a cryptid doesn't mean that it has an active role or that there is plenty of magic. The main focus in most stories is on the human characters and their humanly problems, with only a few tales showing the cryptid be an engaging participant in the narrative. This is slightly disappointing. Given how the title highlights mythical beings, I thought they would have a prime role in each tale.
While some stories are based in the SE Asian country, some feature SE Asian characters staying in the USA. I found the ones set entirely in Asia to be slightly more compelling. Many of the stories where USian characters were involved opt for the predictable plot structure of being torn between two cultures, which feels repetitive.
While I don’t look for lessons or morals in middle-grade books, I like how a few of the stories included relatable issues faced by kids in this age group such as parental separation, bullying, meeting birth parents, and homework struggles. It made the stories feel grounded even with such imaginative content. The best part is that the “solution” offered to these issues isn't magical but practical and realistic, even when it comes from a cyptid.
The book ends with a list of the contributors and their bios. I would have preferred for this to be placed at the end of each story as it is easier to look up other works by authors whose stories we enjoyed.
A few of the stories include some non-English words, some of which were a bit tricky to guess. My copy didn’t have the glossary, so I hope the meanings of these can be added to the final version, either as a glossary or as footnotes.
As always, I rated the stories individually. Of the seventeen stories, seven stories reached or crossed the four-star mark, which is quite good. The rest of the stories fared between 2-3.5 stars. Some of these lower scores were for the minimal role the cryptid had to play in the plot, and some, for the slightly abrupt endings. These are my top favourites:
Overall, while I would have liked the stories to focus more on the mythical characters than on the human ones, I enjoyed learning so much about the lore and legends of these beautiful countries. The authenticity of the setting and the mythology thanks to the OwnVoices authors added to the charm.
Recommended to middle-graders who are fond of fantasy and are looking for a book exploring fantasy in South-East Asian cultures.
3.4 stars, based on the average of my ratings for each tale.
My thanks to Amulet Books for providing the DRC of “The Beasts Beneath the Winds: Tales of Southeast Asia’s Mythical Creatures” via Edelweiss Plus. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This anthology contains seventeen stories, each focussing on one specific cryptid from South-East Asian mythology. The list of contributors includes some exceptional known names such as Jesse Q. Sutanto and Erin Entrada Kelly.
The book begins with an introductory note by Malaysian editor-author Hanna Alkaf, offering information about cryptids and their presence in the mythology of this region. This note is so well-written! Sample this line: "Cryptids, much like stories and humans, can travel all over the globe, where they can put down roots and blossom in fresh soil." 😍 I love how its voice is accurately aimed at middle-graders.
This anthology covers multiple mythical cryptids from Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, and Indonesia. The depiction of these cultures is amazing. Be it their language, their beliefs, their places, or their food, you can actually feel the atmosphere and the location through the words. I appreciate how almost all the stories use authentic South-East Asian names for their characters.
As Alkaf states, cryptids can be evil and dangerous or friendly and harmless. Each story begins with an illustration of a cryptid, its country of origin and basic details such as habitat, temperament and special features. I love that it mentions the size and appearance of the creature each time, making it easier for us to visualise the being accurately while reading the story.
The tales are quite diverse in their storylines. As the cryptid isn't repeated even once across the seventeen narratives, there is no sense of déjà vu at least as far as the fantastical elements are concerned. However, just because every story has a cryptid doesn't mean that it has an active role or that there is plenty of magic. The main focus in most stories is on the human characters and their humanly problems, with only a few tales showing the cryptid be an engaging participant in the narrative. This is slightly disappointing. Given how the title highlights mythical beings, I thought they would have a prime role in each tale.
While some stories are based in the SE Asian country, some feature SE Asian characters staying in the USA. I found the ones set entirely in Asia to be slightly more compelling. Many of the stories where USian characters were involved opt for the predictable plot structure of being torn between two cultures, which feels repetitive.
While I don’t look for lessons or morals in middle-grade books, I like how a few of the stories included relatable issues faced by kids in this age group such as parental separation, bullying, meeting birth parents, and homework struggles. It made the stories feel grounded even with such imaginative content. The best part is that the “solution” offered to these issues isn't magical but practical and realistic, even when it comes from a cyptid.
The book ends with a list of the contributors and their bios. I would have preferred for this to be placed at the end of each story as it is easier to look up other works by authors whose stories we enjoyed.
A few of the stories include some non-English words, some of which were a bit tricky to guess. My copy didn’t have the glossary, so I hope the meanings of these can be added to the final version, either as a glossary or as footnotes.
As always, I rated the stories individually. Of the seventeen stories, seven stories reached or crossed the four-star mark, which is quite good. The rest of the stories fared between 2-3.5 stars. Some of these lower scores were for the minimal role the cryptid had to play in the plot, and some, for the slightly abrupt endings. These are my top favourites:
🐉 The Mystery of the Meowing Makcik - Nadia Mikail: A detective story featuring a Malaysian cryptid. Quite an unusual Sherlock-Watson pairing in this one! 😄 The illustrations of the journal add to the fun. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
🐉 The Girl in the Graveyard - Brandon Hoang: This is a really clever story. I could suss out the twist beforehand, but I think most kids will be caught by surprise. It's a bit too deep for this age group, but older children might enjoy the challenging storyline. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
🐉 The Egg - Mandy Moe Pwint Tu: I love how this combined fantastical elements with the real history of Myanmar. If only it had offered more joy at the end, it would have earned all the stars. I would have accepted this ending in adult fiction, but children's stories need more happiness. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🐉 Fish Out Of Water - Moniza Hossain: A beautiful story about brotherhood and belief, coming from some adorable characters. One of the few stories to deliver properly on the magic quotient. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🐉 The Curse of Sang Kelembai - Hanna Alkaf: While the story itself was decent, I liked the message better. It's not easy for children to deal with their parents' divorce, and this brings out those conflicting emotions well. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🐉 Melati and the Eternal Battle - Jesse Q. Sutanto: Tackled the sensitive topic of bullying in a beautiful way without feeling simplistic. - 🌟🌟🌟🌟✨
🐉 Naga Fireballs - Veeda Bybee: A fun story, but I'd like to have more at the end because I've too many questions! - 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Overall, while I would have liked the stories to focus more on the mythical characters than on the human ones, I enjoyed learning so much about the lore and legends of these beautiful countries. The authenticity of the setting and the mythology thanks to the OwnVoices authors added to the charm.
Recommended to middle-graders who are fond of fantasy and are looking for a book exploring fantasy in South-East Asian cultures.
3.4 stars, based on the average of my ratings for each tale.
My thanks to Amulet Books for providing the DRC of “The Beasts Beneath the Winds: Tales of Southeast Asia’s Mythical Creatures” via Edelweiss Plus. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with me through:
My Blog || The StoryGraph || Instagram || Facebook ||
December 9, 2025
I'll be thinking about this one for some time. All of these tales are new to me, and I am from the Southeast Asian diaspora.
My first introduction to Vietnamese mythology was Brandon's THE CROSSBOW OF DESTINY. Do we all remember my trip to Vietnam and how I asked my dad about the turtle in this story? And how he acted brand new? Anyway.
So obviously Brandon's tale resonated with me. Dala horses? An obsession with Sweden? Is this me? Can you see me?
This is not to say I didn't enjoy the other stories. But because I listened to this on audio, I want to buy a physical copy to re-read and annotate. Longer review to come, possibly in the far future, if you care.
My first introduction to Vietnamese mythology was Brandon's THE CROSSBOW OF DESTINY. Do we all remember my trip to Vietnam and how I asked my dad about the turtle in this story? And how he acted brand new? Anyway.
So obviously Brandon's tale resonated with me. Dala horses? An obsession with Sweden? Is this me? Can you see me?
This is not to say I didn't enjoy the other stories. But because I listened to this on audio, I want to buy a physical copy to re-read and annotate. Longer review to come, possibly in the far future, if you care.
March 19, 2025
This is the book I have always wanted to put together. I hope you love it as much as I do.
Read
June 15, 2025adventurous and lovely and full of southeast asian creatures <3 i wish i had this as a kid!!
May 18, 2025
4.5⭐
Basic Premise:
- 17 different stories of mythical creatures from Southeast Asia.
- Has themes of grief, loss, alienation, change, hope and love.
Thoughts:
This is a lovely collection of stories that's suitable for young readers. Each story showcases a different mythical creature/cryptid that's particularly known in that Southeast Asian country. There are 17 different ones, each written by a different author with different themes and styles.
It's an interesting read as every story has a deep connection with the culture of that particular nation. Southeast Asian readers might've heard stories of these mythical creatures but they're usually scary stories. This collection changes it to a light-hearted beautiful retelling of these myths in the eyes of a child encountering the cryptid for the first time.
Sometimes the stories have a sad undertone to it, with explorations of grief and change. The stories featuring Than Trung and Sang Kelembai for example. Sometimes they're fun with a comedic undertone. Examples of this would be the story with the Aswang which I thought was horror! There are also many stories with themes of alienation, of children feeling ostracized for being different, for not fitting in. All of the stories end on a hopeful note and I love that.
Stories I particularly enjoyed:
- The Girl in the Graveyard
- The Curse of Sang Kelembai
- Kusu Island
- The Mawas in the Airport
- Melati and the Eternal Battle
- Naga Fireballs
- Lexie Libot Gets Lost in a Wedding
What I thought could've been better:
- Naturally there are usage of different languages in the stories, like the one with the Orang Mawas which was especially funny. Perhaps a glossary at the end would enhance the reading experience. However, as I was given the ARC to read, I am not sure if a glossary will be added to the published edition later. (Might change the review later once I get the final copy!)
It's a lovely collection and one I'll get for my nieces/nephews to read. Highly recommended!
Basic Premise:
- 17 different stories of mythical creatures from Southeast Asia.
- Has themes of grief, loss, alienation, change, hope and love.
Thoughts:
This is a lovely collection of stories that's suitable for young readers. Each story showcases a different mythical creature/cryptid that's particularly known in that Southeast Asian country. There are 17 different ones, each written by a different author with different themes and styles.
It's an interesting read as every story has a deep connection with the culture of that particular nation. Southeast Asian readers might've heard stories of these mythical creatures but they're usually scary stories. This collection changes it to a light-hearted beautiful retelling of these myths in the eyes of a child encountering the cryptid for the first time.
Sometimes the stories have a sad undertone to it, with explorations of grief and change. The stories featuring Than Trung and Sang Kelembai for example. Sometimes they're fun with a comedic undertone. Examples of this would be the story with the Aswang which I thought was horror! There are also many stories with themes of alienation, of children feeling ostracized for being different, for not fitting in. All of the stories end on a hopeful note and I love that.
Stories I particularly enjoyed:
- The Girl in the Graveyard
- The Curse of Sang Kelembai
- Kusu Island
- The Mawas in the Airport
- Melati and the Eternal Battle
- Naga Fireballs
- Lexie Libot Gets Lost in a Wedding
What I thought could've been better:
- Naturally there are usage of different languages in the stories, like the one with the Orang Mawas which was especially funny. Perhaps a glossary at the end would enhance the reading experience. However, as I was given the ARC to read, I am not sure if a glossary will be added to the published edition later. (Might change the review later once I get the final copy!)
It's a lovely collection and one I'll get for my nieces/nephews to read. Highly recommended!
June 24, 2025
As for every collection of stories, some chapters stood out for me than the others. The true beauty of this work are the illustrations!
May 29, 2025
As an avid fan of Hanna Alkaf and the unapologetically Malaysian stories that she brings to the table, I knew I was going to fall for these short stories from the moment the anthology was announced.
One of my favorite things about this anthology is that, not only does it explore the myriad of mythical creatures from various parts of Southeast Asia, but it also includes illustrations!! They are wonderful, complete with little fun facts about each beast that really add on to the reading experience of the short story that follows. Kudos to the artist!
These short stories not only portray the way the characters interact with the beasts featured in their story, but also navigate through heavy themes such as loss and grief. Be it a parental figure or a friend, or even yourself—it's refreshing to read about these real life issues through the eyes of adolescents.
Writing in a middle grade perspective can be challenging, especially when we are adults who can barely recall what it's like to be a child. To be a pre-teenager seeing the world through a different lense. And these short stories capture that essence. It's not perfect, but I'm glad it exists.
As it is with anthologies, of course there are stories that I love and hold dearly more than others. Maybe I'm a bit biased, but as a Malaysian, it's no doubt that the stories feel closer to me than the rest. That doesn't make me love the others any less!
If I could name my top three short stories, it would be (in no particular order): The Girl in the Graveyard because it illustrates grief in stages and the twist made me tear up; The Curse of Sang Kelembai (everyone act surprised) because out of the various portrayals of grief, this one is of losing a parental figure but not to death, and the feelings of the protagonist hit a little too close to home; and Oliver Santos and the Best Birthday Yet because it's very unique to see the way the characters themselves can become the beasts. I especially liked the detail about the grandparents.
My only complaint is that I wish some of these stories were longer. And maybe it's because the characters are of a younger age group, the voice/writing style can sound a little too similar at times even though the stories are each written by different people. But this only occurred to me during a few stories. Some of these writers have quite distinct voices.
All in all, I had fun reading this anthology! I can't wait to see the final version because I'm sure the illustrations will look gorgeous. And I'm so glad to see more SEA voices and cultures in books.
Who else is going to uphold our stories and share them with the world if not us?
One of my favorite things about this anthology is that, not only does it explore the myriad of mythical creatures from various parts of Southeast Asia, but it also includes illustrations!! They are wonderful, complete with little fun facts about each beast that really add on to the reading experience of the short story that follows. Kudos to the artist!
These short stories not only portray the way the characters interact with the beasts featured in their story, but also navigate through heavy themes such as loss and grief. Be it a parental figure or a friend, or even yourself—it's refreshing to read about these real life issues through the eyes of adolescents.
Writing in a middle grade perspective can be challenging, especially when we are adults who can barely recall what it's like to be a child. To be a pre-teenager seeing the world through a different lense. And these short stories capture that essence. It's not perfect, but I'm glad it exists.
As it is with anthologies, of course there are stories that I love and hold dearly more than others. Maybe I'm a bit biased, but as a Malaysian, it's no doubt that the stories feel closer to me than the rest. That doesn't make me love the others any less!
If I could name my top three short stories, it would be (in no particular order): The Girl in the Graveyard because it illustrates grief in stages and the twist made me tear up; The Curse of Sang Kelembai (everyone act surprised) because out of the various portrayals of grief, this one is of losing a parental figure but not to death, and the feelings of the protagonist hit a little too close to home; and Oliver Santos and the Best Birthday Yet because it's very unique to see the way the characters themselves can become the beasts. I especially liked the detail about the grandparents.
My only complaint is that I wish some of these stories were longer. And maybe it's because the characters are of a younger age group, the voice/writing style can sound a little too similar at times even though the stories are each written by different people. But this only occurred to me during a few stories. Some of these writers have quite distinct voices.
All in all, I had fun reading this anthology! I can't wait to see the final version because I'm sure the illustrations will look gorgeous. And I'm so glad to see more SEA voices and cultures in books.
Who else is going to uphold our stories and share them with the world if not us?
June 9, 2025
"Escaping Reality, Embracing Southeast Asia's Diversity"
Seventeen storytellers weave a magic portal to Southeast Asia cultures through the lens of enchanted folklore, captivating the readers’ imagination with heartfelt wisdom at its core. Featuring a team of award-winning authors, The Beast Beneath The Winds curates vibrant mythical creatures drawn from the writers’ ancestral lineage as they re-emerge into modern life. Through seventeen children’s tenacious adventures, the book uncovers the warmth and timeless wisdom that lies beneath.
Each short story immerses readers in Southeast Asian cultures through its narrative. The writers create vivid nuances in the foods, scenery, and characters’ conversations -- beautifully conveying their unique heritage to the readers. Therefore, slow-paced reading could better engage younger readers with the culture and context. However, some parts of the narratives felt too rushed. Still, overall, the collection of stories remains cohesive and entertaining.
The authors shed a strong light on children's emotional struggles, which are usually dismissed or buried by the older family members. It is a powerful reminder that children also need a safe space to navigate their challenges, especially their family, friendships, and school-related life. Somehow, it feels uplifting, especially when the writers encourage the children to be brave and wise, graceful yet vulnerable. It remains soul-stirring even for adults. One of the stories mentioned LGBTQ+ issues, and which made me reflect on whether this is the appropriate context to introduce such a sensitive topic to younger readers.
The illustrations of cryptids bring the folklore creatures to life in a clear and compelling way - which one of my favorite parts of the book. Additionally, the writers provide a brief and concise introduction to each magical creature, which readers are likely to find very helpful.
The Beasts Beneath The Winds might sweep readers away on a mystical journey into the roots of Southeast Asia, allowing adult readers to revisit their 12-year-old selves through fearless adventures. It is a book that encourages young readers to embrace the unknown through the ancient stories of Southeast Asian magical creatures.
Thank you for Hanna Alkaf and the publisher Abrams Children's Book. I am sincerely appreciate the opportunity to read the e-ARC.
Seventeen storytellers weave a magic portal to Southeast Asia cultures through the lens of enchanted folklore, captivating the readers’ imagination with heartfelt wisdom at its core. Featuring a team of award-winning authors, The Beast Beneath The Winds curates vibrant mythical creatures drawn from the writers’ ancestral lineage as they re-emerge into modern life. Through seventeen children’s tenacious adventures, the book uncovers the warmth and timeless wisdom that lies beneath.
Each short story immerses readers in Southeast Asian cultures through its narrative. The writers create vivid nuances in the foods, scenery, and characters’ conversations -- beautifully conveying their unique heritage to the readers. Therefore, slow-paced reading could better engage younger readers with the culture and context. However, some parts of the narratives felt too rushed. Still, overall, the collection of stories remains cohesive and entertaining.
The authors shed a strong light on children's emotional struggles, which are usually dismissed or buried by the older family members. It is a powerful reminder that children also need a safe space to navigate their challenges, especially their family, friendships, and school-related life. Somehow, it feels uplifting, especially when the writers encourage the children to be brave and wise, graceful yet vulnerable. It remains soul-stirring even for adults. One of the stories mentioned LGBTQ+ issues, and which made me reflect on whether this is the appropriate context to introduce such a sensitive topic to younger readers.
The illustrations of cryptids bring the folklore creatures to life in a clear and compelling way - which one of my favorite parts of the book. Additionally, the writers provide a brief and concise introduction to each magical creature, which readers are likely to find very helpful.
The Beasts Beneath The Winds might sweep readers away on a mystical journey into the roots of Southeast Asia, allowing adult readers to revisit their 12-year-old selves through fearless adventures. It is a book that encourages young readers to embrace the unknown through the ancient stories of Southeast Asian magical creatures.
Thank you for Hanna Alkaf and the publisher Abrams Children's Book. I am sincerely appreciate the opportunity to read the e-ARC.
June 16, 2025
I'm a fan of myths, folklores and legends, especially Asian ones, so I was very excited for The Beasts Beneath the Winds! What a stellar idea, to have a compilation of short stories featuring Southeast Asian mythical beasts. While Middle Grade is not my usual go-to genre, I do enjoy magical ones, so I thought I was going to enjoy this one.
But it is a compilation of short stories by various authors, so it turned out to be a mixed bag of enjoyable and not so enjoyable stories.
1. 🇵🇭 Kapre
American Cousin by Erin Entrada Kelly - 2 ⭐
2. 🇲🇾 Pelesit
The Mystery of the Meowing Makcik by Nadia Mikail - 4 ⭐
3. 🇻🇳 Thần Trùng
The Girl in the Graveyard by Brandon Hoang - 5 ⭐ (my favourite, I could even imagine this story as a novella!)
4. 🇲🇲 Karaweik
The Egg by Mandy Moe Pwint Tu - 2 🌟
5. 🇸🇬 Merlion
Fish out of Water by Moniza Hossain - 3 ⭐
6. 🇱🇦 Pi Nu Vai
Forest Keeper by V. T. Bidania - 2 ⭐
7. 🇵🇭 Aswang
Oliver Santos and the Best Birthday Yet by Mae Respicio - 4 ⭐
8. 🇲🇾 Sang Kelembai
The Curse of Sang Kelembai by Hanna Alkaf - 5 ⭐
9. 🇻🇳 Kỳ Lân
Dance of the Unicorns by Van Hoang - 3 ⭐
10. 🇮🇩 Orang Pendek
Rich and Strange by Greg van Eekhout - 4 ⭐
11. 🇸🇬 Kusu
Kusu Island by June CL Tan - 4 ⭐
12. 🇲🇾 Orang Mawas
The Mawas in the Airport by Shing Yin Khor - 2 ⭐
13. 🇮🇩 Barong
Melati and the Eternal Battle by Jesse Q. Sutanto - 4 ⭐
14. 🇱🇦 Phaya Naga
Naga Fireballs by Veeda Bybee - 3 ⭐
15. 🇮🇩 Garuda
Ellie Takes Flight by Emma Goddard - 3 ⭐
16. 🇹🇭 Yaksha
Dara, Danny, and the Thai Giants by Dow Phumiruk - 4 ⭐
17. 🇵🇭 Tikbalang
Lexie Libot Gets Lost in a Wedding by Gail D. Villanueva - 4 ⭐
What I liked:
✅A good variety of beasts
✅Descriptions of local cultures and foods 🤤
✅Use of local languages
✅Drawings of beasts and their details before each story
✅Good lessons weaved through the stories
What I did not particularly care for:
🔴A lot of the stories feature Asian Americans. My guess is the main target audience is the Americans
🔴Some stories barely even featured the beasts
Additional note:
One of the things I learned from here is that "Indo" refers to people of Indo-European descent, particularly Dutch, and not to all Indonesians.
But it is a compilation of short stories by various authors, so it turned out to be a mixed bag of enjoyable and not so enjoyable stories.
1. 🇵🇭 Kapre
American Cousin by Erin Entrada Kelly - 2 ⭐
2. 🇲🇾 Pelesit
The Mystery of the Meowing Makcik by Nadia Mikail - 4 ⭐
3. 🇻🇳 Thần Trùng
The Girl in the Graveyard by Brandon Hoang - 5 ⭐ (my favourite, I could even imagine this story as a novella!)
4. 🇲🇲 Karaweik
The Egg by Mandy Moe Pwint Tu - 2 🌟
5. 🇸🇬 Merlion
Fish out of Water by Moniza Hossain - 3 ⭐
6. 🇱🇦 Pi Nu Vai
Forest Keeper by V. T. Bidania - 2 ⭐
7. 🇵🇭 Aswang
Oliver Santos and the Best Birthday Yet by Mae Respicio - 4 ⭐
8. 🇲🇾 Sang Kelembai
The Curse of Sang Kelembai by Hanna Alkaf - 5 ⭐
9. 🇻🇳 Kỳ Lân
Dance of the Unicorns by Van Hoang - 3 ⭐
10. 🇮🇩 Orang Pendek
Rich and Strange by Greg van Eekhout - 4 ⭐
11. 🇸🇬 Kusu
Kusu Island by June CL Tan - 4 ⭐
12. 🇲🇾 Orang Mawas
The Mawas in the Airport by Shing Yin Khor - 2 ⭐
13. 🇮🇩 Barong
Melati and the Eternal Battle by Jesse Q. Sutanto - 4 ⭐
14. 🇱🇦 Phaya Naga
Naga Fireballs by Veeda Bybee - 3 ⭐
15. 🇮🇩 Garuda
Ellie Takes Flight by Emma Goddard - 3 ⭐
16. 🇹🇭 Yaksha
Dara, Danny, and the Thai Giants by Dow Phumiruk - 4 ⭐
17. 🇵🇭 Tikbalang
Lexie Libot Gets Lost in a Wedding by Gail D. Villanueva - 4 ⭐
What I liked:
✅A good variety of beasts
✅Descriptions of local cultures and foods 🤤
✅Use of local languages
✅Drawings of beasts and their details before each story
✅Good lessons weaved through the stories
What I did not particularly care for:
🔴A lot of the stories feature Asian Americans. My guess is the main target audience is the Americans
🔴Some stories barely even featured the beasts
Additional note:
One of the things I learned from here is that "Indo" refers to people of Indo-European descent, particularly Dutch, and not to all Indonesians.
July 29, 2025
A middle-grade books about the South East Asia infamous cryptics! Sign me up!
This book is a short story selections, especially for middle graders. Honestly, I learn a lot about the cryptics of South East Asia, especially outside of Indonesia. It's cute, it has the cultural references and dealing with real issues that often teenager would feel. Some stories are better than the others, my favorite story is the Mystery of the Meowing Makcik, The Girl in the Graveyard, and the Mawas in the Airport.
However yes, I can only judge the 3 Indonesian cryptics featured in the story and I don't think that 2/3 are quite accurate to what we are used to hear.... but anyway! It was overall a great and refreshing read. We need more of these type of books to unite SEA!
Thank you for the e-ARC!
This book is a short story selections, especially for middle graders. Honestly, I learn a lot about the cryptics of South East Asia, especially outside of Indonesia. It's cute, it has the cultural references and dealing with real issues that often teenager would feel. Some stories are better than the others, my favorite story is the Mystery of the Meowing Makcik, The Girl in the Graveyard, and the Mawas in the Airport.
However yes, I can only judge the 3 Indonesian cryptics featured in the story and I don't think that 2/3 are quite accurate to what we are used to hear.... but anyway! It was overall a great and refreshing read. We need more of these type of books to unite SEA!
Thank you for the e-ARC!
October 5, 2025
When Hanna Alkaf posted about this upcoming short story collection earlier this year, I didn't hesitate at all to sign up for the advance reader's copy--a testament to how much I love Hanna Alkaf's writing!
Aside from being one of the most amazing book covers I've ever seen in my bookish life, The Beasts Beneath the Winds features mythical creatures and legendary cryptids from across Southeast Asia, the Philippines included, ultimately highlighting the rich culture of hope and reverence.
At the heart of each story are creatures of myths and children encountering them in the present time, which makes it perfect for middle-aged and/or young adult readers. With lessons imbued in each story, there is so much to ponder and take away from. Reading some of the stories reminded me so much of being young, naive, and not yet jaded by adult responsibilities. It took me back to when I used to REALLY believe in cryptids living and walking amongst us. I still do, mind you! But it was just much more different when I was a kid.
Another thing I love about this collection is how each story starts with some introduction about the cryptid: country of origin, temperament, habitat, and defining characteristics. Paired with illustrations that fuel the imagination even before you start reading the story.
Themes of grief, longing, trauma, and even politics are touched upon in this collection. The short stories are all generally fast-paced, but there are just some that I wish were longer and/or have the potential to be a full-length novel. But I guess that's the beauty and challenge of a short story--you have to pack a punch in just a few pages.
Aside from being one of the most amazing book covers I've ever seen in my bookish life, The Beasts Beneath the Winds features mythical creatures and legendary cryptids from across Southeast Asia, the Philippines included, ultimately highlighting the rich culture of hope and reverence.
At the heart of each story are creatures of myths and children encountering them in the present time, which makes it perfect for middle-aged and/or young adult readers. With lessons imbued in each story, there is so much to ponder and take away from. Reading some of the stories reminded me so much of being young, naive, and not yet jaded by adult responsibilities. It took me back to when I used to REALLY believe in cryptids living and walking amongst us. I still do, mind you! But it was just much more different when I was a kid.
Another thing I love about this collection is how each story starts with some introduction about the cryptid: country of origin, temperament, habitat, and defining characteristics. Paired with illustrations that fuel the imagination even before you start reading the story.
Themes of grief, longing, trauma, and even politics are touched upon in this collection. The short stories are all generally fast-paced, but there are just some that I wish were longer and/or have the potential to be a full-length novel. But I guess that's the beauty and challenge of a short story--you have to pack a punch in just a few pages.
August 19, 2025
This is a collection of short stories set all over Southeast Asia, which we can all agree is extremely haunted for no particular reason. There's a lot of biodiversity here, the supernatural realm included. Each story introduces a mythical creature—a cryptid—from the region in a way that is geared towards young readers. Many of the creatures featured are classics but there are a few unexpected ones, e.g., I didn't expect the Merlion to be included, let alone in the form of a kitten (or should I call it a fry? hmmm).
Death and dismemberment are often unavoidable when drawing from Southeast Asian lore (dead babies, cut tongues) but the stories here try to keep it light, play it down, remove as much gore as possible. The contemporary urban setting would be a familiar one to the current generation—people have mobile phones and live in buildings with electricity—so this really is a reimagining of how we continue to exist alongside living myth, an idea that I find heartening. The stories also include drawings to help the reader visualise how the creature looks (eliminating the need to imagine it) and the style is very safe and un-scary. I would get this as a gift for primary school-age kids and hope their parents don't blame me afterwards :-)
If you're looking for adult fiction dealing with the supernatural in Southeast Asia, I strongly recommend Zen Cho's 'Spirits Abroad'.
Thank you Netgalley for the review copy; all opinions are my own.
Death and dismemberment are often unavoidable when drawing from Southeast Asian lore (dead babies, cut tongues) but the stories here try to keep it light, play it down, remove as much gore as possible. The contemporary urban setting would be a familiar one to the current generation—people have mobile phones and live in buildings with electricity—so this really is a reimagining of how we continue to exist alongside living myth, an idea that I find heartening. The stories also include drawings to help the reader visualise how the creature looks (eliminating the need to imagine it) and the style is very safe and un-scary. I would get this as a gift for primary school-age kids and hope their parents don't blame me afterwards :-)
If you're looking for adult fiction dealing with the supernatural in Southeast Asia, I strongly recommend Zen Cho's 'Spirits Abroad'.
Thank you Netgalley for the review copy; all opinions are my own.
December 7, 2025
A great middle grade fantasy anthology about SE Asia's mythical creatures. Hear all my thoughts and fave short stories at Diversity is Lit's discussion: https://www.youtube.com/live/Cx3l76cM...
Want to read
May 13, 2025seeing so many wonderful names on this one, and i can never refuse stories inspired by and of myth.
Want to read
February 21, 2025"A sweeping and magical story collection showcasing the mythical creatures of Southeast Asia"
excited for sutanto's story!
excited for sutanto's story!
May 26, 2025
I was mesmerized... entranced by the many magical creatures spotlighted in this anthology. TBH, I was today years old when I learnt of so many folklores, definitely an eye-opening read and kept me going. As it's all short stories, it was an easy read to finish.
I do not have any particular favourites as each story has its own flair and carry its own tale. Most of the authors are unknown to me. I do find some of the writings and plots were not as polished. Since it is short, it was bearable and easy to finish reading it. Offhand, I would say Kusu Island, The Egg and Oliver Santos and the Best Birthday Yet were memorable to me.
Overall, if you are looking for some easy read with mythical elements, please give this book a try. I am glad to be given the chance to read and review this e-ARC, all thanks to the author and editor, Hanna Alkaf.
I do not have any particular favourites as each story has its own flair and carry its own tale. Most of the authors are unknown to me. I do find some of the writings and plots were not as polished. Since it is short, it was bearable and easy to finish reading it. Offhand, I would say Kusu Island, The Egg and Oliver Santos and the Best Birthday Yet were memorable to me.
Overall, if you are looking for some easy read with mythical elements, please give this book a try. I am glad to be given the chance to read and review this e-ARC, all thanks to the author and editor, Hanna Alkaf.
November 30, 2025
3.5
American Cousin by Erin Entrada Kelly - 4
Beast: Kapre
An American girl goes to the Philippines for the first time and gets lost in the forest.
The Mystery of the Meowing Makcik by Nadia Mikail - 4
Beast: Pelesit
A girl searches for who is responsible for making a village elder meow like a cat.
The Girl in the Graveyard by Brandon Hoang - 4
Beast: Thần Trùng
A boy meets a mysterious girl at his great-aunt's funeral.
The Egg by Mandy Moe Pwint Tu - 3
Beast: Karaweik
A girl finds a singing egg in the woods.
Fish Out of Water by Moniza Hossain - 3.5
Beast: Merlion
A boy and his brother rescue a kitten.
Forest Keeper by VT Bidania - 3.5
Beast: Pi Nu Vai
A girl gets lost in the woods with her cousins.
Oliver Santos and the Best Birthday Yet by Mae Respicio - 2
Beast: Aswang (specifically manananggal)
A boy moves to a new area and there's something off about his new friends.
This one unfortunately suffers from one of my least favorite things to read: when literally everybody but the main character knows what's going on and nobody will tell them.
The Curse of Sang Kelembai by Hanna Alkaf - 3
Beast: Sang Kelembai
A girl meets a giant in the forest.
Dance of the Unicorns by Van Hoang - 3
Beast: Kỳ Lân
A girl teaches a unicorn how to dance.
Rich and Strange by Greg van Eekhout - 4
Beast: Orang Pendek
A boy goes looking for bigfoot with his grandpa.
Kusu Island by June CL Tan - 3
Beast: Kusu
Two kids work towards sea turtle preservation.
The Mawas in the Airport by Shing Yin Khor - 3
Beast: Orang Mawas
A girl finds a cryptid that her mother famously searched for.
Melati and the Eternal Battle by Jesse Q Sutanto - 2
Beast: Barong
A girl comes across two mythical beings fighting in the forest.
Naga Fireballs by Veeda Bybee - 3
Beast: Phaya Naga
A boy hatches a water serpent.
Ellie Takes Flight by Emma Goddard - 4
Beast: Garuda
A girl prepares to meet her birth family.
Dara, Danny, and the Giants by Dow Phumiruk - 3.5
Beast: Yaksha
A girl goes looking for a giant and finds out more about herself.
Lexie Libot Gets Lost in a Wedding by Gail D Villanueva - 4
Beast: Tikbalang
A girl gets lost when trying to save a sea turtle.
Overall this is a great short story collection. A few of the stories suffered from being short stories and therefore not developed enough and at least one felt like it didn't feature the beast very well. Most of these are great and I would definitely recommend this anthology.
The moral of a lot of the stories is don't go in a forest if you don't want to meet a beast.
CW: death of a grandparent, divorce, racism, bullying
American Cousin by Erin Entrada Kelly - 4
Beast: Kapre
An American girl goes to the Philippines for the first time and gets lost in the forest.
The Mystery of the Meowing Makcik by Nadia Mikail - 4
Beast: Pelesit
A girl searches for who is responsible for making a village elder meow like a cat.
The Girl in the Graveyard by Brandon Hoang - 4
Beast: Thần Trùng
A boy meets a mysterious girl at his great-aunt's funeral.
The Egg by Mandy Moe Pwint Tu - 3
Beast: Karaweik
A girl finds a singing egg in the woods.
Fish Out of Water by Moniza Hossain - 3.5
Beast: Merlion
A boy and his brother rescue a kitten.
Forest Keeper by VT Bidania - 3.5
Beast: Pi Nu Vai
A girl gets lost in the woods with her cousins.
Oliver Santos and the Best Birthday Yet by Mae Respicio - 2
Beast: Aswang (specifically manananggal)
A boy moves to a new area and there's something off about his new friends.
This one unfortunately suffers from one of my least favorite things to read: when literally everybody but the main character knows what's going on and nobody will tell them.
The Curse of Sang Kelembai by Hanna Alkaf - 3
Beast: Sang Kelembai
A girl meets a giant in the forest.
Dance of the Unicorns by Van Hoang - 3
Beast: Kỳ Lân
A girl teaches a unicorn how to dance.
Rich and Strange by Greg van Eekhout - 4
Beast: Orang Pendek
A boy goes looking for bigfoot with his grandpa.
Kusu Island by June CL Tan - 3
Beast: Kusu
Two kids work towards sea turtle preservation.
The Mawas in the Airport by Shing Yin Khor - 3
Beast: Orang Mawas
A girl finds a cryptid that her mother famously searched for.
Melati and the Eternal Battle by Jesse Q Sutanto - 2
Beast: Barong
A girl comes across two mythical beings fighting in the forest.
Naga Fireballs by Veeda Bybee - 3
Beast: Phaya Naga
A boy hatches a water serpent.
Ellie Takes Flight by Emma Goddard - 4
Beast: Garuda
A girl prepares to meet her birth family.
Dara, Danny, and the Giants by Dow Phumiruk - 3.5
Beast: Yaksha
A girl goes looking for a giant and finds out more about herself.
Lexie Libot Gets Lost in a Wedding by Gail D Villanueva - 4
Beast: Tikbalang
A girl gets lost when trying to save a sea turtle.
Overall this is a great short story collection. A few of the stories suffered from being short stories and therefore not developed enough and at least one felt like it didn't feature the beast very well. Most of these are great and I would definitely recommend this anthology.
The moral of a lot of the stories is don't go in a forest if you don't want to meet a beast.
CW: death of a grandparent, divorce, racism, bullying
May 25, 2025
received this as an e-arc!
this is the book that i'd always wanted to read. a book with different southeast asian mythical creatures and how they appear in their respective countries' stories. what i was most intrigued by was the approach that the authors of this anthology took with framing these creatures as cryptids more than folklore/myths that i grew up listening to/reading about.
as far as i know, when speaking of these mythical creatures, we think of them as folklore and some believe that they exist and some don't, most do. it's just the belief in the supernatural that pervades southeast asians i feel. so to frame these creatures as cryptids feels like something that should have been obvious to me as its equivalent but to me, SEA mythical creatures have such heavy mythology that perhaps there is a hesitance to modernize them, i may be digressing.... my point is that i think its super unique and called for to 'modernise' (or more like, to keep up with the times) this for a mostly YA/MG audience could absolutely fall in love with it. i have no doubts that esp SEA adults would love it very much too (exhibit a: ME)
i loved the profiles for each creature and the variety of stories from different authors! i'll admit that i was drawn in by erin entrada kelly and hanna alkaf but these are some short stories that particularly stood out to me!
- 'the girl in graveyard' by brandon hoang
- 'oliver santos and the best birthday yet' by mae respicio
- 'rich and strange' by greg van eekhout
- 'the mawas in the airport' by shing yin khor
- 'lexie libot gets lost in a wedding' by gail d. villanueva
what i also loved from this anthology was the love and life of SEA that's apparent in every story. some stories are mainland, some diaspora, in the end, we share our struggles of identity and trying to fit in. the usage of non-human creatures to bridge the gap of understanding between an 'outcast' and their 'otherness'? i eat that up every single time. i'm so happy that this book exists and definitely can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this as soon as i can...
this is the book that i'd always wanted to read. a book with different southeast asian mythical creatures and how they appear in their respective countries' stories. what i was most intrigued by was the approach that the authors of this anthology took with framing these creatures as cryptids more than folklore/myths that i grew up listening to/reading about.
as far as i know, when speaking of these mythical creatures, we think of them as folklore and some believe that they exist and some don't, most do. it's just the belief in the supernatural that pervades southeast asians i feel. so to frame these creatures as cryptids feels like something that should have been obvious to me as its equivalent but to me, SEA mythical creatures have such heavy mythology that perhaps there is a hesitance to modernize them, i may be digressing.... my point is that i think its super unique and called for to 'modernise' (or more like, to keep up with the times) this for a mostly YA/MG audience could absolutely fall in love with it. i have no doubts that esp SEA adults would love it very much too (exhibit a: ME)
i loved the profiles for each creature and the variety of stories from different authors! i'll admit that i was drawn in by erin entrada kelly and hanna alkaf but these are some short stories that particularly stood out to me!
- 'the girl in graveyard' by brandon hoang
- 'oliver santos and the best birthday yet' by mae respicio
- 'rich and strange' by greg van eekhout
- 'the mawas in the airport' by shing yin khor
- 'lexie libot gets lost in a wedding' by gail d. villanueva
what i also loved from this anthology was the love and life of SEA that's apparent in every story. some stories are mainland, some diaspora, in the end, we share our struggles of identity and trying to fit in. the usage of non-human creatures to bridge the gap of understanding between an 'outcast' and their 'otherness'? i eat that up every single time. i'm so happy that this book exists and definitely can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this as soon as i can...
July 4, 2025
I don’t usually read MG or YA but I’m a fan of Hanna Alkaf. I’ve been following her work, so when she announced this compilation, I was intrigued. Growing up, I had rarely seen books featuring Malaysian folklores in English, let alone those that combined mythical creatures from neighboring Southeast Asian countries. Love that there’s now representation, and this book is one I’d happily share with younger readers and those keen to learn more about cryptids specific to SEA countries.
Out of 17 authors featured, I was only familiar with three. I’m glad that I read this book because I get introduced not only to the mythical beasts from other nations, but also to the writings of the authors from SEA. As with any compilations, some stories really took the spotlight, while the rest, not so. However, all in all, I applaud the effort put into the writing, and had fun discovering the myriad ‘faces’ these cryptids took shape, and how they were portrayed in different cultures.
Personally, the ones that stood out to me were The Girl in the Graveyard, The Curse of Sang Kelembai and Melati and the Eternal Battle.
American Cousin 2*
Mystery of the Meowing Makcik 4*
The Girl in the Graveyard 5*
The Egg 3*
Fish out of Water 3*
Forest Keeper 2*
Oliver Santos and the Best Birthday Yet 4.5*
The Curse of Sang Kelembai 5*
Dance of the Unicorns 3*
Rich and Strange 2*
Kusu Island 3*
The Mawas in the Airport 3*
Melati and the Eternal Battle 5*
Naga Fireballs 3*
Ellie Takes Flight 3*
Dara, Danny and the Thai Giants 2*
Lexie Libot Gets Lost in a Wedding 3*
This book is great for kids, and I’d recommend this to adults too 😉
Out of 17 authors featured, I was only familiar with three. I’m glad that I read this book because I get introduced not only to the mythical beasts from other nations, but also to the writings of the authors from SEA. As with any compilations, some stories really took the spotlight, while the rest, not so. However, all in all, I applaud the effort put into the writing, and had fun discovering the myriad ‘faces’ these cryptids took shape, and how they were portrayed in different cultures.
Personally, the ones that stood out to me were The Girl in the Graveyard, The Curse of Sang Kelembai and Melati and the Eternal Battle.
American Cousin 2*
Mystery of the Meowing Makcik 4*
The Girl in the Graveyard 5*
The Egg 3*
Fish out of Water 3*
Forest Keeper 2*
Oliver Santos and the Best Birthday Yet 4.5*
The Curse of Sang Kelembai 5*
Dance of the Unicorns 3*
Rich and Strange 2*
Kusu Island 3*
The Mawas in the Airport 3*
Melati and the Eternal Battle 5*
Naga Fireballs 3*
Ellie Takes Flight 3*
Dara, Danny and the Thai Giants 2*
Lexie Libot Gets Lost in a Wedding 3*
This book is great for kids, and I’d recommend this to adults too 😉
July 5, 2025
A compilation of 17 short stories written by a team of authors, describing mythical creatures of Southeast Asia through the lens of fiction.
My thoughts on this—I have never really dived into this kind of genre. Especially, the ones involving creepy, scary mythical creatures because I get easily spooked. I am pretty sure I won’t be able to sleep well at night, imagining these cryptids appearing in my dreams and disturbing my beauty sleep 😅 Too much imagination I guess hahahaha
Initially, I expected to be drenched in cold sweat while reading this, but surprisingly, these short stories were more of a tear-jerker than horrifying. You know what?? I could even read this at night and I have a faint heart, okay?!! That says a lot about how heartwarming these stories are. In between the pages, I felt like walking down memory lane, reminiscing about the times with my grandparents, listening to hair-raising tales they knew by heart while bonding with my cousins over myths and legends.
If I could choose, I would prefer the sad, emotional stories over the eerie ones. I also love how almost all the stories involve childhood memories or children, which makes them suitable for younger readers and teens.
Anywayyy, eventhough the illustrations aren’t the final versions, but oh boy, I absolutely loved them. And the handwritten notes that introduce each creature? Soooo cuteee! I’m such a sucker for anything handwritten hehehehe
P/S: With lack of exposure to mythical genre, I was a little taken aback by the number of pages. However, I genuinely enjoyed reading this ARC. Loved it so much!!!
My thoughts on this—I have never really dived into this kind of genre. Especially, the ones involving creepy, scary mythical creatures because I get easily spooked. I am pretty sure I won’t be able to sleep well at night, imagining these cryptids appearing in my dreams and disturbing my beauty sleep 😅 Too much imagination I guess hahahaha
Initially, I expected to be drenched in cold sweat while reading this, but surprisingly, these short stories were more of a tear-jerker than horrifying. You know what?? I could even read this at night and I have a faint heart, okay?!! That says a lot about how heartwarming these stories are. In between the pages, I felt like walking down memory lane, reminiscing about the times with my grandparents, listening to hair-raising tales they knew by heart while bonding with my cousins over myths and legends.
If I could choose, I would prefer the sad, emotional stories over the eerie ones. I also love how almost all the stories involve childhood memories or children, which makes them suitable for younger readers and teens.
Anywayyy, eventhough the illustrations aren’t the final versions, but oh boy, I absolutely loved them. And the handwritten notes that introduce each creature? Soooo cuteee! I’m such a sucker for anything handwritten hehehehe
P/S: With lack of exposure to mythical genre, I was a little taken aback by the number of pages. However, I genuinely enjoyed reading this ARC. Loved it so much!!!
December 17, 2025
The Beasts Beneath the Winds is a fantastical anthology of legendary creatures, their ancient myths, and how they interact with the modern world. All creatures hail from Southeast Asia, highlighting the cultural beauty, storytelling, and differences between countries like Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and so on. This is a nice and much-needed breath of fresh air, as “Asian” tends to refer to the East Asian countries of China, Japan, and Korea, and those mythologies and folkloric creatures get more of the spotlight. Each story in the anthology highlights a specific beast: the giant Kapre and mischievous Aswang from the Philippines, the terrifying Pi Nu Vai from Laos, the majestic Merlion from Singapore, the friendly Karaweik of Myanmar, or the peaceful Ky Lan of Vietnam. Each story begins with a 2-page spread on the creature, providing fun illustrations, country of origin, defining characteristics, temperaments, habitats, size, and additional information, presenting itself like a cryptid field guide. The recognized authors hail from many Southeast Asian countries, bringing their own flavor and style to the stories, and showing how these old, sometimes ancient creatures still live in our world and interact with us in the present era. Overall, The Beasts Beneath the Winds is a bright, magical, and whimsical anthology of beasts of epic proportions that any cryptid or mythology/folklore enthusiast will love. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
September 26, 2025
I have pretty much stopped reading anthologies, I just don't find them consistent in quality and as a result I get disappointed and have a hard time finishing them. This one was on my radar because the editor, Hanna Alkaf, is a Muslim and usually has Islamic content represented in her unapologetic Malaysian voice that I enjoy. When I glanced through the book and saw the illustrated two page spreads of a cryptid before each of the short stories, I gave in and started reading. I appreciated that there were sketches in one story of a hijabi character, that maghrib and asar were used to denote times, and Eid were mentioned in Hanna's stories as well as Nadia Mikail's. Religion though, is not the focus of the stories, even those that come from Buddhist or Hindu lore. My favorite stories were those that were a little creepy, not scary per se, more Twighlight Zone twists on a middle grade level, but ultimately, I should have trusted my gut, as many of the stories did not prove memorable or compelling. In some the cryptid is barely mentioned, and some seemed to get a bit didactic with making points about belonging, confidence, grief, loss and gay marriage. There is murder, haunting, fear, possession, missing people, mention of eating children, divorce, luck, and superstition.
July 3, 2025
The book in a nutshell: This is a middle-grade book that explores the rich world of mythical beings rooted in the oral traditions and folklore tales of Southeast Asia. Through engaging stories and captivating visuals, it breathes life into creatures that have long existed in the region’s passed-down tales.
I definitely loved the beautiful illustrations in the book and the clear, thoughtful explanations that accompany each creature in every chapter. It reminded me of The Grimm series, where mythical beings were catalogued with care and detail.
I particularly enjoyed the stories American Cousin, Mystery of the Meowing Makcik, and The Curse of Sang Kelembai. As an adult reader, the book gave me a much-needed escape from reality, even if just for a short while; and for that, I’m truly grateful.
Overall, whether you're a child or an adult with a
fascination for mythical creatures, especially those of Southeast Asian origin, this book promises a memorable experience. With its amazing storytelling and stunning artwork, it offers an enchanting journey into the magical and mysterious side of Southeast Asian folklore.
Received an e-arc from the editor.
I definitely loved the beautiful illustrations in the book and the clear, thoughtful explanations that accompany each creature in every chapter. It reminded me of The Grimm series, where mythical beings were catalogued with care and detail.
I particularly enjoyed the stories American Cousin, Mystery of the Meowing Makcik, and The Curse of Sang Kelembai. As an adult reader, the book gave me a much-needed escape from reality, even if just for a short while; and for that, I’m truly grateful.
Overall, whether you're a child or an adult with a
fascination for mythical creatures, especially those of Southeast Asian origin, this book promises a memorable experience. With its amazing storytelling and stunning artwork, it offers an enchanting journey into the magical and mysterious side of Southeast Asian folklore.
Received an e-arc from the editor.
June 24, 2025
The Beasts Beneath the Winds is a short story anthology of tales of children encountering the mythological creatures of various Southeast Asian traditions. I went into this book with very limited knowledge of these creatures, but that didn’t keep me from thoroughly enjoying these stories. I particularly enjoyed ‘The Egg’, ‘The Girl in the Graveyard’, and ‘Naga Fireballs’.
Not only is each story about an encounter with a different cryptid from various Southeast Asian cultures, but every tale revolves around the importance of family – no matter the form it takes. Some of the stories involve children who have moved to America and are visiting family, while others are exploring familiar surroundings. I appreciated the variety of experiences represented here.
I was grateful for the intro pages to each story that included cute drawings and information on each creature.
Thank you to ABRAMS Kids and NetGalley for providing the e-arc for my honest review.
Not only is each story about an encounter with a different cryptid from various Southeast Asian cultures, but every tale revolves around the importance of family – no matter the form it takes. Some of the stories involve children who have moved to America and are visiting family, while others are exploring familiar surroundings. I appreciated the variety of experiences represented here.
I was grateful for the intro pages to each story that included cute drawings and information on each creature.
Thank you to ABRAMS Kids and NetGalley for providing the e-arc for my honest review.
September 7, 2025
The Beasts Beneath the Winds is a whimsical, poignant compilation of short stories centred around Southeast Asian myths and cryptids. The sheer variety of creatures found in countries like Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Laos took me by surprise.
Each chapter gives each creature a spotlight, starting with sketches of the cryptid and its habitat, as well as some key characteristics. This turns the whole collection into a sort of cryptid guidebook, which is a really nice effect. Each author's voice comes through very well. Most of the protagonists of the stories are children, making it suitable for young readers. Some of my top favourites were Fish Out of Water and The Girl in the Graveyard.
Some key themes covered by these stories include grief, growing up, identity and belonging, the environment, and family. I loved the journey that this collection took me on, and I think it achieved what it set out to do.
Thank you, Hanna Alkaf and Netgalley, for the E-ARC!
Each chapter gives each creature a spotlight, starting with sketches of the cryptid and its habitat, as well as some key characteristics. This turns the whole collection into a sort of cryptid guidebook, which is a really nice effect. Each author's voice comes through very well. Most of the protagonists of the stories are children, making it suitable for young readers. Some of my top favourites were Fish Out of Water and The Girl in the Graveyard.
Some key themes covered by these stories include grief, growing up, identity and belonging, the environment, and family. I loved the journey that this collection took me on, and I think it achieved what it set out to do.
Thank you, Hanna Alkaf and Netgalley, for the E-ARC!
May 31, 2025
Featuring charming illustrations and a diverse range of personalities among the MCs, each story in this collection is immersive and atmospheric, with a wealth of food, slang, insights into familial structures, and, of course, the local customs and superstitions of each spotlighted culture. I love that amongst the creatures shown, we get a range from those who are human-loving and friendly to the less welcoming variety. Those of primary to middle school age would benefit from reading the array of stories here, ranging from light-hearted to mellow because of troubles with friends, school, or family. By the end of each story, readers are inspired to maintain curiosity, hope, and appreciation for the world around them.
Thanks to Netgalley, ABRAMS Kids, and Amulet Books for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley, ABRAMS Kids, and Amulet Books for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2025
A fantastic collection of short stories set in seven different countries and three US states. I loved meeting creatures that were new to me, and I can't wait to see the artwork in its final form. Absolutely recommended for the middle grade readers in your life!
Thank you very much to Amulet Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
Thank you very much to Amulet Books and NetGalley for the ARC!
December 7, 2025
Loved this! From the artwork, the fun facts about the different mythological creatures before the stories, and the actual stories themselves, this was a fun anthology looking into Southeast Asia's mythical creatures. For more on my thoughts & to see which stories were my favs, check out our Diversity is Lit bookclub discussion: https://www.youtube.com/live/Cx3l76cM...
July 29, 2025
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
This was a great collection of short stories by a variety of Southeast Asian authors, and is a good introduction to their work. There are not a lot of collections of fantasy short stories, and this would be good for a unit study on mythology as well.
This was a great collection of short stories by a variety of Southeast Asian authors, and is a good introduction to their work. There are not a lot of collections of fantasy short stories, and this would be good for a unit study on mythology as well.
December 28, 2025
Brilliant book with a variety of stories about cryptids from Southeast Asia. So many that I hadn't heard of. Geared towards Asian American kids and a connection to their family's heritage and culture through mythical story telling.
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