They live in shadows...

...deep in the forest, late at night, in the dark recesses of our mind. They're spoken of in stories and superstitions, passed down through generations. Yet no matter how jaded we've become, a part of us remains vulnerable to them: werewolves and wendigos, poltergeists and vampires, angry elves and vengeful spirits.

In this beautifully illustrated volume, the host of the hit podcast Lore guides us through the fascinating history of these terrifying creatures, exploring not only the legends, but what they tell us about ourselves. Aaron Mahnke invites us to the desolate Pine Barrens of New Jersey, where the notorious Jersey Devil dwells. He visits the dimly lit rooms where séances take place, the European villages where gremlins make mischief - and even the Florida home of a haunted doll named Robert.

The monsters of folklore have become both a part of our language and a feature of our collective psyche. Whether these beasts and bogeyman are real or just a reflection of our primal fears, we know, on some level, that not every mystery has been explained, and that the unknown still has the power to strike terror into our hearts.

As Aaron Mahnke reminds us, sometimes the truth is even scarier than the lore.

Praise for Lore

'Truth can often be much scarier than fiction - something Mahnke proves as he dives deep into the world of folklore and the darker side of history in a quest to root out the fragment of truth at the bottom of our fears.'
- Entertainment Weekly

'Unlike so much horror that needs over-the-top viscera to scare you, this podcast leans on history-folklore, myth, the stuff people once thought were true - to tell its tales.'
- The Atlantic

'Narrated by Mahnke in a style that evokes spooky campfire stories, Lore is a history lesson like no other.'
- Esquire