“A is for Adzooks that walk with no head. B is for Boozins that feed on the dead.”
Every so often you pick up and are truly blown away. I’ve read quite a few alphabet books in my time – but never one like this.
Working with negative space, each two-page spread contained one page with a short phrase about an odd, creepy, or macabre creature and the page opposite to it had a black and white image.
The phrases were often sinister or strange, giving you a brief peek into what the creature was like (and what to be wary of). But they were sometimes humorous as well.
“E is for Elliot – it resembles a beaver. F is for Fxchopxtinks – I can’t pronounce it either.”
The art style was engaging. Sometimes, I would look and look at the drawings – intrigued by the composition and structure of the beasts. And sometimes I would flip quickly by, thinking oh, I do not need to fuel my nightmares with this one!
The creatures chosen were new to me – all twenty-six! Which made reading this book utterly fascinating.
That being said, with so many of them new, I did wish there was more than the single sentence alphabet phrase per page – why should the Loomis pray (but choose not to) or the Moffet a teetotaler?
I was so interested and wanted to know more! But I suppose I can always research that on my own.
This Bestiary provided a great jumping off point for learning about the delightfully macabre and sinisterly fascinating creatures in mythology.
With many thanks to Familius and Ronald Porcelli for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review
Miranda Reads 