I had a familiarity with the legend of the selkie—those alluring, coastal creatures of Scottish folklore—but soon discovered that the true lore of the selkie is far more intricate, tragic, and thought-provoking than I expected. Learning that selkies take the form of seals in the water was quite a revelation. I’ve always found seals to be quite adorable and never imagined them being associated with alluring, seductive beings in Scottish folklore. I was also struck by the stark

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