I’m always on the hunt for strange creatures, but when I stumbled upon La Ciguapa of the Dominican Republic, I knew I had to dig in deeper. Two features immediately got my attention: this creature is famously known to have dark blue skin, and, most bizarrely, her feet are backward! That detail was a complete first for me—I’m still having trouble visualizing it. So, why the backward-facing feet? It's a clever defense mechanism. The reversed feet confuse anyone who tries to tra

Alright, let's talk unicorns. As a self-proclaimed goth girl growing up in the '80s, I saw these glittery, rainbow-adorned creatures as the very opposite of cool. Yet, somehow, unicorns have evolved from ancient folklore right into our modern cultural imagination—outshining countless lesser-known mythical beasts still waiting for their big moment. What gives unicorns their staying power? Time and again, they've proved they're more than just a passing fad, constantly reinventi

So, with Halloween lurking around the corner, I stumbled upon something truly wild: hopping vampires. Yeah, you read that right – hopping . When I think of vampires, my brain usually goes to images of suave, sophisticated bloodsuckers (minus the creepy Nosferatu type). Turns out, the Jiangshi from China aren't anything like the Western version of vampires, and honestly, their version makes a lot more sense. The hopping is all thanks to rigor mortis because, well, they're dead

Let’s dive into some American Folklore, shall we! I can’t think of a more worthy candidate than the legendary Mothman of West Virginia. The initial sighting occurred on November 15, 1966, when a young couple was driving through an abandoned World War II munitions plant known as the TNT Area. They described a creature unlike anything they had ever seen: a massive, human-like figure, standing between 6 and 8 feet tall. Its most striking features were its huge, bat-like wings an

As a superfan of the TV series Supernatural , I loved the episodes that featured the hellhounds—some of the best-crafted tales in the series, if you ask me. This fascination has led me to ponder the ultimate hellhound: Cerberus. A legendary figure in Greek mythology, Cerberus stands as the formidable guardian of the underworld, ensuring that the dead remain in their realm and the living stay out, devouring anyone who dares to cross that threshold.   Cerebus guarding the gates

I have recently become fascinated by the Taniwha, water spirits deeply rooted in Polynesian mythology, particularly within Māori tradition in Aotearoa (New Zealand). Not only do they possess immense supernatural powers, but they are also known as shapeshifters, which happens to be my favorite type of creature (hello, Loki!). The Taniwha are often depicted as massive serpentine or dragon-like beings, but they can also appear as giant sharks, sea monsters, or even forms made of

When it comes to the mysteries surrounding time and premonitions, things can get quite mind-bending. Are there genuine ways to predict the future? Is the course of premonition set in stone, or can we change the future? Are we in control of our own destinies, or is there a greater power at work? Is time linear, or can it be manipulated? Many mythologies have attempted to answer these existential questions, and one such explanation comes from Norse mythology: the Norns.  Simila

I’ve always been intrigued with Redcaps but I had no idea that they are vicious creatures who are full of bloodlust. I thought they were just crabby goblins, similar to Kreacher, the house-elf who served the Black family in Harry Potter. But man, was I wrong. These guys are far more evil and murderous than any miserable house-elf in the wizarding world. Redcaps are malevolent beings that thrive on anguish and terror. Their character stems from the historical conflict between

I have always been intrigued by the concept of a banshee, likely due to my teenage admiration for the punk rock goddess Siouxsie, the lead singer of Siouxsie and the Banshees. The name evokes nostalgia for me while also igniting my imagination with its supernatural and mystical allure. Rooted in Irish and Celtic folklore, a banshee is believed to predict death by wailing or screaming. The banshee's cries serve as a warning to a family that death may be imminent; simply put, i

I am completely fascinated by the supernatural Inuit creature known as a Tariaksuq. So much so, that I included a character inspired by it in my middle-grade series. I made some alterations, but the folklore truly influenced the character Pana, a boy who can walk between worlds. Much like Pana, Tariaksuqs are known to have the ability to travel to different worlds, realities, or dimensions. The nature of the various locations is up for debate. Some say these realities mirror

I had heard of the Flying Dutchman, but truth be told, I didn’t know what it was exactly. I had a lingering impression that it had something to do with pirates due to various representations in pop culture, but never dived into the lore. Now that I have, I don’t think the image of a floating ship with black masts and blood-red sails will ever leave me. Sightings of the phantom ship date back to the 17th century and have been recorded all over the world. So, I couldn’t help bu

Mimi spirits can be found in the folklore of indigenous Australians of the Northern region. These tall, wispy spirits are so thin that the wind is a very real threat to their well-being. If it becomes too fierce, the spirits can be injured, break in two, or even be blown away. Due to their fragile state, they spend much of their time tucked away in the crevices and ridges of rock formations and usually only venture out on calm nights.  Given the shy and reclusive nature of th

Kappas live in the rivers and ponds of Japan. These green-skinned creatures are about the size of a ten-year-old child and webbed hands and feet. They are incredibly strong and have an unpleasant, fishy odor. Even stranger, they carry a large tortoiseshell on their back and have a circular depression on the top of their heads that is full of water. If the water is lost for any reason, the kappa's powers are diminished and if it isn't replaced soon, the kappa will die. Surpri

I have a strong admiration for craftspeople, which is why I find the story of the God of Fire and Metalworkers, Hephaestus, also known as Vulcan in Roman mythology, so intriguing. Hephaestus was the son of the Greek goddess Hera, and she was unhappily married to Zeus, who was a serial cheater. Despite facing struggles of her own, Hera proved to be just as cruel and unempathetic. Hephaestus was born disfigured, with accounts of his physical appearance varying, including an enl

A tormented warrior spirit stands amidst the autumn forest, gripping a bow as he waits silently for his prey. Baykoks are spirit warriors from Chippewa folklore, but these are not the friendly type of spirits that intends no harm. If you cross paths with a Baykok it is unlikely that you will come out of the experience unscathed. Baykoks are warriors who have died dishonorably or have committed an evil act. They are unable to rest or move on to the afterlife because their bone

Things That Never Were According to Slavic mythology, Banniks are creepy little spirits that reside in bathhouses and can predict your...

Things That Never Were Ilithyia is known as the goddess of childbirth and labor pain. Long ago, many believed Ilithyia was present at every birth and she would determine the length and difficulty of each delivery. Her name means "she who comes to aid" or "relieve" from the Greek word elêluthyia . If Ilithyia looked favorably on the woman, she would have an easy birth. If not, the woman would be cursed with pain and suffering. Ilithyia would decide the outcome of the birth, th

Things That Never Were Frost Giants originated in Jotunheim, one of the nine realms in Norse mythology. The original father of Frost Giants is Ymir. His offspring had blue skin, and their hair, beards, and fingernails resembled icicles. There are various descriptions of their eyes. Some accounts say that their eyes were cold as ice, while others say that they glowed bright red. Perhaps the most intriguing trait of a Frost Giant is that when they spoke or opened their mouths,