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marrireadsandrambles's review
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Credibility/ research: 7
The references are cited in the back which is nice for anyone looking to find more information since this didn't provide a lot in each entry. Obviously everything is skewed towards being unsettling and menacing to fit the tone of the book, which is fine.
Authenticity/ uniqueness:7
Set up like an advent calendar, one entry for each day until Christmas! Quite a fun idea, wish I had read it like that! The creepy illustrations that accompany each entry is perfect for the tone of this book.
Art: 8
Mortensen's creepy and fun illustration style is what drew me to this book! I really like his style. I was, however, a little disappointed with some of the choices made about how and what aspects of these creatures to depict. Excited to pick up something else by Mortensen though!
Writing: 7
Silly and menacing (in a good way!) When reading it not like an advent calendar, it can get a bit repetitive. A lot of the creatures pose the same threats and there is only so many ways to rephrase the same danger!
Personal Impact: 6
This didn't do much for me. I believe this is aimed at younger readers but even accounting for that, it was still a bit lacking for what I was expecting.
Intrigue: 7
I did read large chunks of this in just a few sittings. But I think that was more due to the entries being short and there being a ton of illustrations.
Logic/ informativeness: 6
Not filled with as much information as I would have liked. I don't feel like I learned that much, sadly.
Enjoyment: 6
Just alright.
The references are cited in the back which is nice for anyone looking to find more information since this didn't provide a lot in each entry. Obviously everything is skewed towards being unsettling and menacing to fit the tone of the book, which is fine.
Authenticity/ uniqueness:7
Set up like an advent calendar, one entry for each day until Christmas! Quite a fun idea, wish I had read it like that! The creepy illustrations that accompany each entry is perfect for the tone of this book.
Art: 8
Mortensen's creepy and fun illustration style is what drew me to this book! I really like his style. I was, however, a little disappointed with some of the choices made about how and what aspects of these creatures to depict. Excited to pick up something else by Mortensen though!
Writing: 7
Silly and menacing (in a good way!) When reading it not like an advent calendar, it can get a bit repetitive. A lot of the creatures pose the same threats and there is only so many ways to rephrase the same danger!
Personal Impact: 6
This didn't do much for me. I believe this is aimed at younger readers but even accounting for that, it was still a bit lacking for what I was expecting.
Intrigue: 7
I did read large chunks of this in just a few sittings. But I think that was more due to the entries being short and there being a ton of illustrations.
Logic/ informativeness: 6
Not filled with as much information as I would have liked. I don't feel like I learned that much, sadly.
Enjoyment: 6
Just alright.
chosetoforget's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
readingwithcats's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
temptershell's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"A Christmas Bestiary" to oryginalna i niezwykła książka, będąca połączeniem humorystycznego przewodnika i bestiariusza, przedstawiająca mroczne stworzenia związane z okresem Bożego Narodzenia. Autorzy, John Kenn Mortensen i Benni Bødker, zabierają czytelnika w podróż po świecie europejskiej i rosyjskiej mitologii świątecznej, prezentując takie postacie jak Krampus, Baba Jaga, Dziki Gon, czy Yule Goat.
Książka, oprócz humorystycznego podejścia do tematu, zawiera również ciekawe informacje o pochodzeniu i charakterystyce każdego z potworów. Ilustracje Mortensena, wykonane piórem i tuszem, są prawdziwą ucztą dla oka, oddając mroczny i gotycki charakter przedstawianych stworzeń.
Jednakże, jak podkreślają niektórzy recenzenci, książka może wydawać się nieco zbyt lekka dla osób szukających bardziej akademickiego podejścia do tematu. Pomimo to, "A Christmas Bestiary" wyróżnia się na tle innych publikacji świątecznych swoją oryginalnością i ciekawym podejściem do tematu.
Książka przedstawia się jako swoisty kalendarz adwentowy z potworami, gdzie każdego dnia grudnia prezentowane jest inne straszne stworzenie. To interesujące podejście dodaje książce charakteru i sprawia, że jest ona unikalna w swoim rodzaju.
"A Christmas Bestiary" to pozycja, która z pewnością spodoba się fanom mrocznych opowieści i tych, którzy chcą dodać odrobiny grozy do świątecznej atmosfery. Jest to książka pełna czarnego humoru, zaskakujących faktów i porad dotyczących przetrwania spotkań z mitycznymi stworzeniami. Jednakże, dla niektórych czytelników, styl i podejście do tematu mogą wydawać się zbyt niepoważne.
Podsumowując, "A Christmas Bestiary" to książka, która zachwyci wielbicieli mrocznych baśni i humorystycznych podejść do folklore. Jej oryginalność i piękno ilustracji sprawiają, że jest to wyjątkowa pozycja, idealna na zimowe wieczory.
Przyjemność 4,4/5
Styl: 4,6/5
Historia: 4,8/5
Ocena 4,5/5
Książka, oprócz humorystycznego podejścia do tematu, zawiera również ciekawe informacje o pochodzeniu i charakterystyce każdego z potworów. Ilustracje Mortensena, wykonane piórem i tuszem, są prawdziwą ucztą dla oka, oddając mroczny i gotycki charakter przedstawianych stworzeń.
Jednakże, jak podkreślają niektórzy recenzenci, książka może wydawać się nieco zbyt lekka dla osób szukających bardziej akademickiego podejścia do tematu. Pomimo to, "A Christmas Bestiary" wyróżnia się na tle innych publikacji świątecznych swoją oryginalnością i ciekawym podejściem do tematu.
Książka przedstawia się jako swoisty kalendarz adwentowy z potworami, gdzie każdego dnia grudnia prezentowane jest inne straszne stworzenie. To interesujące podejście dodaje książce charakteru i sprawia, że jest ona unikalna w swoim rodzaju.
"A Christmas Bestiary" to pozycja, która z pewnością spodoba się fanom mrocznych opowieści i tych, którzy chcą dodać odrobiny grozy do świątecznej atmosfery. Jest to książka pełna czarnego humoru, zaskakujących faktów i porad dotyczących przetrwania spotkań z mitycznymi stworzeniami. Jednakże, dla niektórych czytelników, styl i podejście do tematu mogą wydawać się zbyt niepoważne.
Podsumowując, "A Christmas Bestiary" to książka, która zachwyci wielbicieli mrocznych baśni i humorystycznych podejść do folklore. Jej oryginalność i piękno ilustracji sprawiają, że jest to wyjątkowa pozycja, idealna na zimowe wieczory.
Przyjemność 4,4/5
Styl: 4,6/5
Historia: 4,8/5
Ocena 4,5/5
saviorcomplexdiehard's review
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
thanatotics's review
dark
funny
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
deviki's review against another edition
5.0
Ahhhh, what an interesting GN to read just before Christmas! Ugh! I love folklore/lore like this because it actually gives us a bit of history and culture in European countries. Interesting concept of how people perceive Christmas in both positive and negative contexts.
99% of the lore is to encourage people to keep up the tradition and for children to behave well for the whole year. A scare technique that still works even now. I loved this GN because the artwork is phenomenal and because of the simplicity of the fact-sharing. It comes with a little background, general appearance, country of origin, and danger level. EHEHE
I've heard of some of the Yule monsters before, but the one that caught me off guard is the Zwarte Piet monster. Because it is said that he may be of the Moor race, a black North African Moors is a term generally used by Europeans to describe the Muslim people of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. Between 711 C.E. and 1492 C.E. but there wasn't an illustration of this monster. So I had to Google it. Eh, I learned something new today.
Basically, a survival tip for most of the Yule monsters is "Don't be a dick and have some offerings at hand."
I enjoyed reading this one!!! I can't wait to scare the living day lights out of my nieces with this GN.
99% of the lore is to encourage people to keep up the tradition and for children to behave well for the whole year. A scare technique that still works even now. I loved this GN because the artwork is phenomenal and because of the simplicity of the fact-sharing. It comes with a little background, general appearance, country of origin, and danger level. EHEHE
I've heard of some of the Yule monsters before, but the one that caught me off guard is the Zwarte Piet monster. Because it is said that he may be of the Moor race, a black North African Moors is a term generally used by Europeans to describe the Muslim people of North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula during the Middle Ages. Between 711 C.E. and 1492 C.E. but there wasn't an illustration of this monster. So I had to Google it. Eh, I learned something new today.
Basically, a survival tip for most of the Yule monsters is "Don't be a dick and have some offerings at hand."
I enjoyed reading this one!!! I can't wait to scare the living day lights out of my nieces with this GN.