So I ADORE the podcast for Lore and I'm so glad I liked the book just as much. I love the way Mahnke sets up and tells a story in his podcast - not to mention his narration ability - and that isn't lost in the book.

This was such a fun and interesting read. There were plenty of times that I stopped to make a note of something I wanted to learn more about later, and I loved the writing. It was such an easy, accessible read, at no time being judgemental of what people believe. The stories were all interesting, and the book flowed nicely. I was given the ebook through NetGalley, but will definitely be keeping an eye out for a physical copy as I think it's a book that I would return to regularly for a flick through.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy in return for an honest review.

Sadly, I ran out of time to read this book and I've changed from one iPad to another and now I can't read this arc - sorry! I always try to read every netgalley arc I'm very kindly sent but now I can't access this read.

Really, really loved this book, so much so that it's getting a re-read this evening.

The illustrations are wonderful and it's very well written.

Just read it and listen to the podcast, do it! Do it NOW!!

*Huge thanks to Aaron Mahnke, Headline, Wildfire and NetGalley for this copy which I chose to read and all opinions are my own*

The world of Lore is the written counterpart to Aaron Mahnke's hit podcast Lore which has captivated listeners with his captivating storytelling and dark stories from history worldwide.

The world of Lore is a great book that reads just like his podcast meaning that you can practically hear his voice as you read passages of dark stories that leave you unable to put the book down.

I will point out that if you have heard all the episodes of his podcast you will likely have heard all of these stories read by Aaron already. Although even having heard everything already I found reading it all just as exciting as if hearing them for the first time again given the alternative format.

I hope that there will become a volume 2 of the series and would defiantly recommend this book to anyone thinking about giving it a try!

Actual rating 3.5 stars.

This non-fiction divulges the hidden secrets from the supernatural underbelly of our world. Testimonies from both ancient and modern-day, real-world sightings are used as a basis to explore each of the creatures featured in this anthology. The likelihood of their existence is then probed at, using links from literature, science, and religious and spiritual beliefs to prove or disprove the claims. The author provides no definite answer but rather suggests reasons for and against the existence of such creatures. He also does not makes his personal beliefs on the discoveries explicitly known. Whilst this didn't hamper my enjoyment I would have appreciated a more personal anecdote to end each of the sections.

The writing style, however, was something that could definitely be categorised as personal. The author, Aaron Mahnke, is the host of a hit podcast show that formed the basis of this anthology. I can see how the interior of this book would lend itself well to this spoken format, as much of the writing was of a fantastical and atmospheric vibe and conversational in tone.

Whilst this all combined to make this an entertaining read I found I could remember little of what was detailed, once I had completed my reading of it. It was a fun and, on times, creepy read but one that, for some reason, did not allow me to retain any of the factual information. I can remember my enjoyment of the book, however, if not explicit details of the interior.

Interesting read, with plenty of myths/legends about the various creatures. I got the impression this was better read aloud, then I discovered the podcasts! If you love folklore this is definitely for you,

This book covers a wide range of myths and tell them in an oddly dad-jokey way, which toes the line between entertaining and falling flat. Thankfully it never crossed the line entirely so it was a fun read. It has some beautiful illustrations that are kind of lost on the Kindle Paperwhite - I'd recommend either a print or colour e-book version so you can get the full impact of the artwork.

The different chapters of this book are dedicated to different areas in folklore, like sea monsters and 'small people', but beyond that the structure is pretty free and easy. There are tons of anecdotes and references which have been reassuringly well researched but told in such a way that you can decide for yourself whether or not you believe there's any supernatural influence.

This is a brilliant coffee table book, it's great to read in chapters but not necessarily all in one go.

If you're a fan of Lore this is a must. It's really interesting to read the stories, complete with references. The individual chapters are so short that it's very addictive.
The only criticism I really have is that the books is split into distinct sections focussing on the topic, so it can get a bit repetitive reading 4 or 5 chapters covering very similar topics. However, it's easy enough to skip through the book and never really get bored.

As you would expect if you've listened to the podcast, this is a well-constructed and seemingly well researched and certainly enjoyable read. The book deals specifically with some of the most well known monsters of urban legend and popular consciousness - vampires, werewolves, sea monsters and ghosts all make an appearance and each section is interesting. What I particularly appreciated was the author's examination of some more obscure cases which give previously unseen dimensions to these popular tales. I did sometimes find the organisation of each part a little bit baffling and thought that it might have been better structured, but overall this was a fun read about well-known and sometimes less well-known legends and I look forward to any future instalments.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I'm a HUGE fan of the podcast so when I heard that Aaron secured not only a book deal, but a TV contract as well I was ECSTATIC!!! I love listening to the podcast when doing chores or cross stitching and it's just the right amount of spooky to give me a chill but not enough to live in my brain and terrify me for nights on end. I went into the book thinking it'd be different stories entirely but in actual fact most of the stories in here are direct transcriptions of the episodes, down to some of the wording (he writes 'episode' a few times which is kinda irritating to be honest, like couldn't you have changed a few words for the book my dude?). That being said, it's a great book for someone who hasn't listened to every episode or any at all and loves this kind of spooky TRU STORY stuff. The second volume is apparently much of the same so I doubt I'll read it unless there are a lot more unrecorded stories in it. 

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Aaron Mahnke (host of podcast LORE and the new Amazon series ‘Lore’) has lovingly and fantastically put together a book which captures the morbid, the creepy and the bizarre. This book was lovingly put together with illustrations and a smart attitude.

Aaron Mahnke’s style is a very personable one and though at times it feels that he is verging off course, he circles back to the story. His attention to detail and his personal style works in this context making this a winning formula. It is a lengthy book but it is easy to rip through the histories. He is also very amenable to giving a history lesson without bogging the reader down with unnecessary details.

This book is highly recommended and works as a stand alone or as a companion book to go along with the outstanding Amazon series or the podcast. This is a winning formula and can’t wait to read the next book in the series. Fantastic and detailed. This is one book I am definitely going to buy in hardback. A Must Read!!

I was raised on fairy tales and legends from across the world. I remember very clearly the exact shelf on which we had the books through which I would pour, looking for strange stories both from our world and not, full of strange creatures and strange happenings.This translated into an adult fascination with mythology and the persistent question of 'Why?'. So when I saw Magnke's The World of Lore, I could hardly contain my excitement. And it proved to be exactly what I hoped and wanted. Thanks to Headline and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I am dreadfully unaware of podcasts. It's the one thing I keep telling myself to get more invested in because I actually love listening to people tell me about things they are fascinated by and knowledgeable of. It's like being back at university, and I am one of those people who wishes they could just remain at university indefinitely. The World of Lore is another one of those pushes to finally get my act together and start listening, since this book is based on an incredibly popular podcast, 'Lore', by the author. I'm not surprised the podcast is that popular, since the topic is something that everyone at some point finds themselves fascinated with. As Mahnke argues himself in the book as well, humans yearn for stories that contextualise our existence in this world, that bring order and clarity, that explain what is happening and why, that shift some of the blame away from us and onto something we can't control. And the incredible similarity between all of these stories is what truly fascinates me as well. Whether it's South America, northern Europe or South-East Asia, every culture has tales of trickster spirits, dwarves or elves.

The World of Lore is very well-structured. This may sound like a silly thing to pay attention to, but it's actually very important. Each chapter is clearly defined and the creatures he discusses are well-organised. Rather than jumping from one to the other, Mahnke makes to transition from one to the other logical, showing why they are put together as they are. Each description is a great mixture between history, myth and fact, as Mahnke shares both "documented" cases of creatures appearing as well as the research that has been done to prove or disprove their existence. Can you truly believe hidden, invisible people populate Iceland? Perhaps no, but construction work ignoring "their" sites do run into an awful lot of trouble, don't they? It's this balance that makes The World of Lore so much fun to read, because you always walk away from it wondering if maybe it couldn't actually all be true.

Mahnke's writing is definitely what makes this book. Under anyone else it could have easily become a dry book, full of old facts with no life to them. As The World of Lore is now, I can easily see why the podcast is as popular as it is. Mahnke's writing is direct and to the point, almost as if you're actually sitting down with him and having a conversation. He addresses the reader straight on, shares his own scepticism and fascination, and brings a wealth of information to the table. The book makes you hungry to listen to the podcast, to learn more, and surely that is what every book should do? Mahnke's enthusiasm is infectious and it's scarily easy to just keep reading. I almost missed my metro stop more times than I'd like to admit. This book also has brilliant illustrations, which strike that perfect Tim Burton-balance between amusing and creepy.

The World of Lore is a great read for anyone even slightly curious about the legends and stories surrounding us. Mahnke collects the best and leaves you wanting more. Never dull, The World of Lore makes you desperate to camp out at night in the hopes to catch something mysterious. I'd recommend this to anyone with even the slightest curiosity! Also, this is the perfect book to read in the run up to Halloween!

I was excited to find out a book would be released after being introduced, by chance, to the Lore podcast which I thoroughly enjoy. This provides an interesting and well-research insight into various monsters present in folklore and often used in horror stories. While the history of the more popular monsters included in this book was not all that unfamiliar to me, I enjoyed being introduced to the background stories of creatures I knew of and have read or seen in horror movies but knew little else about them. Some chapters were quite creepy; others, not so much in the same way that some chapters were interesting to read while others seemed a little dull.

Nevertheless, The World of Lore would be a great read in the lead-up to Halloween as a companion to horror movies and horror literature.

Many sincere congratulations to the Lore team for the podcasts, the book and it becoming an online streaming series!

For those not in the know, Lore is a podcast presented by the author Aaron Mahnke that deals with the more mysterious things in life and their origins. Mahnke is a skilled writer and researcher and manages to breath fresh life into topics that have been covered a million times before such as vampires. I've long had an interest in the darker side of life but this book covers a lot of things I'd not heard of before, such as the Bloody Pit, the ill fated construction of the Hoosac rail tunnel that was completed with a huge cost to many who worked on it. Each chapter was fascinating and I ended up devouring the book in just a couple of days. If you're a regular listener to the podcast then there will be elements and sections you'll recognise but this book has so much more besides. The illustrations are a fantastic touch and are a perfect fit with the writing. This would make a perfect gift for any fan of the podcast or anyone with an interest in the macabre. An excellent accompaniment to a terrific podcast.

I received a free ARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for a fair review.

A fantastic introduction to the wonderful and weird folklore that’s around the world.

I’ll need to start this one with a bit of a story – but please bear with me, it has relevance.

When I was pre-teen, I became very interested in stories of the unknown. Whether it was ghosts, unsolved murders, UFO’s or just things that were weird, I read pretty much anything I could get my hands on – the Tutankhamen ‘curse’, Jack the Ripper, Borley Rectory, you name it.

One of my favourite reads, which I almost had on permanent loan from my local library, was a hardback of the best of Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. This well-read (and re-read!) book had stories of strange animals, weird weather and ghostly goings on which kept me most interested. The tales were rarely more than a couple of pages in length, told in a straightforward manner that sounded like they might just be true.

What has this got to do with Lore? Well, this might just be the up-to-date version of that book I was reading forty-odd years ago. It tells of, amongst other things, vampires (Count Dracula especially), ghosts, lost villages, ancient burial grounds, demonic possession, elves, and things that have mysteriously disappeared.

Based on a podcast, the book is a lively narrative, told in that straightforward disarming style that seemed so familiar to me. It is rather personable, told as if someone is talking to you (see those podcast origins?) and full of casual phrases and mannerisms that will either endear or annoy.

Reflecting its origins, most (though not all) of the camp-fire style tales are American in source, which is perhaps to be expected. (I must admit that to my younger self, with the Ripley’s, that wasn’t a problem – if anything, it inspired me to look at places beyond my hometown, which led to… a future career.)

As with the Ripley’s, most of the stories in Lore are a page or two in length. There’s a lot of crafty hooks to lure you in – chapters that begin “Hollywood is obsessed.” or “No one wants to die.” are bound to keep the reader interested.

Throughout, the text is appropriately illustrated in shades of black and white by M S Corley – like the text, they’re not too scary, and made me think more of Charles Addams and Edward Gorey than Gahan Wilson.

In short, this is an entertaining book, enigmatic and yet also light on the depth and generally cheerful in tone that, any youngster (like me as a young adult), will absorb like a sponge. This would be a great one to read aloud at Hallowe’en, I think. And, as it will soon be a TV series on Amazon Prime, this would be a great book to get youngsters engaged in reading before the series starts.

A perfect book for Halloween.

The World of Lore: Monstrous Creatures is a guide to the weird and wonderful bits of folklore and legend that roam our earth surrounding mysterious creatures. Each chapter presents a specific type of 'creature' for examination, before providing a number of local legends that relate to that creature with beautifully illustrated prints throughout.

The author does a good job at 'setting the scene' with these creatures. Each chapter is well defined, and categorised well, which makes the writing easy to follow and very engaging. This is certainly one of those books you can pick up and put down with ease, and the author also does a really good job at creating a decent atmosphere. Reading this late at night, I was certainly creeped out by certain chapters (the dolls and ghost in particular).

As with most books of this nature, I found some chapters more interesting than others. I was less interested in the 'flying animal' stories than I was with the dolls, ghosts and vampires. I also would have at least liked a mention of Whitby when discussing Dracula and Bram Stoker. I felt at times the writing was definitely geared more towards an American audience in this sense.

That said, I thought this was a very thorough introduction into the world of folklore, and it's certainly piqued an interest in this area for future reading material at this time of year.