Modern Folklore

The 10 enlightening (and often humorous) lectures of Medieval Myths and Mysteries will show you how far from the “dark” times of legend these centuries were. Uncover the facts about the Knights Templar. Reveal the truth behind the tales of legendary creatures like the Questing Beast and the unicorn. Trace the events of the Black Death and the ways it altered the world in its wake, and much more. With Professor Armstrong, you will dig deep into the ways that later generations reshaped the narrative of the medieval years and perpetuated the myths.

Some disappear into the woods and are never seen again. Others are taken by something far worse. When hikers vanish in the Appalachian Mountains, authorities chalk it up to accidents. But Lux Branson knows better. Called in by a desperate ranger, she follows the trail deep into a restricted forest—and discovers a terrifying truth. Something is out there. And it used to be human. Trapped in a brutal world of survivalism and savagery, Lux must navigate the twisted remnants of a lost community—one that has turned its back on civilization and evolved into something primal and deadly. As the...

Embark on a Thrilling Journey Through Viking Lore Step into the mystical world of Norse mythology, where gods like Odin, Thor, and Loki face giants, monsters, and fate itself. In Norse Mythology: Legends and Legacy, author Shari Claire takes you on an adventure through timeless stories, blending captivating storytelling with modern insights. This book provides an accessible yet comprehensive guide to Norse myths, exploring the origins, adventures, and cultural significance of these legendary figures. Shari Claire bridges the gap between scholarly research and engaging storytelling, delving ...

Fairies have long been a part of witchcraft traditions, especially Celtic and Norse witchcraft, paganism, and other traditions deeply tied to the earth. But these fairies aren’t the harmless creatures you’ve read about in children’s tales: They are magical creatures with their own culture and rules that you need to know before venturing into their territory. Now you can explore the world of the fairies and how their magic relates to your own witchcraft practice with The Modern Witchcraft Book of Fairies.

A scholarly, atmospheric tour of real urban legends and modern folklore, told with care, context, and curiosity so you finally understand why brightly lit cities still keep unquiet stories. Urban Legends Around the World is a nonfiction, city by city guide that explains where famous stories began, how newspapers, radio, television, forums, and tourism amplified them, and why they endure in places you can still visit today. Nathaniel Hargrove blends cultural history, folklore studies, psychology, and place based narrative so readers who enjoy intelligent ghost stories, haunted places, and ...

It’s John Wayne Orkney’s first week as a cop. There’s already one dead body, two old flames, a half-feral foster brother, and a murder suspect who once slept with him… and recently ran over the police chief with a mobility scooter. Welcome back to Camelot, West Virginia—a down-but-not-out Appalachian town full of ghosts, grudges, and folks trying to claw their way back. Some with magic. Some with moonshine. John Wayne never wanted a badge. He’s already juggling EMT runs, trying to launch a business, and keeping tabs on his three wild brothers. Then there’s Gallagher Lance—...

There are rules to the game. Whispered on playgrounds and scratched into desks, the legend of Mr. Pumpkin-Jink offers a path to justice for those who have been wronged. The ritual is a simple, desperate prayer. At the stroke of midnight, you must be alone. You take a pumpkin and, focusing all your hate on the one who wronged you, you give it a face. As you carve, you sing a low, simple rhyme. When the jack-o'-lantern is lit and placed on your windowsill, the invitation is sent. If your petition is accepted, he will come before dawn to render a verdict. If your target is truly guilty, their ...

Explore the mesmerizing history, lore, and traditions surrounding an event that has long been shrouded in fear and mystery - the Witches' Sabbath. This book invites you to learn what it is, how you can get there, and what to do once you are there. Author Kelden presents in-depth historical information on the Sabbath as well as its place within modern Witchcraft.

In The Stories We Tell: Mythology to Make Sense of Modern Lives, renowned mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik presents 72 tales from India’s rich treasure of myths and legends. These stories, ranging from folk tales in Andhra Pradesh on Lakshmana to Vedic stories on Indra, urge you to reconsider ideas of good, bad, love, faith and culture.

Pain is Dymitr’s calling. His family is one in a long line of hunters who sacrifice their souls to slay monsters. Now he’s tasked with a deadly mission: find the legendary witch Baba Jaga. To reach her, Dymitr must ally with the ones he’s sworn to kill. Pain is Ala’s inheritance. A fear-eating zmora with little left to lose, Ala awaits death from the curse she carries. When Dymitr offers her a cure in exchange for her help, she has no choice but to agree.

The Greek and Roman myths have never died out; in fact, they are as relevant today as ever in their sharp observations about human nature. For thousands of years, they have inspired plays, operas, and paintings; today they live on in movies and video games. Oh My Gods is a contemporary retelling of some of the most popular myths by Philip Freeman, a noted classicist. These tales of errant gods, fantastic creatures, and human heroes are brought to life in fresh and modern versions.

Deep within the cold, primordial forest and the Algonquin people's consciousness lives the Wendigo: a towering, emaciated being with translucent skin draped over its skeletal frame like a veil of mortality. Its hollow eyes gleam like fiery coals, emanating a malevolent crimson glow that mirrors its unquenchable craving for human flesh. An extraterrestrial shifter, stranded on our planet millennia ago, assumes the forms of not only humans but also hideous creatures in order to survive. The story of the Wendigo spans millennia, entwining native folklore with modern-day mysteries.

Urban Fairy Tales: Totally Twisted Part 2 Get ready to laugh out loud with Urban Fairy Tales: Totally Twisted Part 2! This new collection takes classic stories and spins them into hilariously modern adventures.What's Inside? We've reimagined your favorite characters like Sleeping Beauty, Chicken Little, Pinocchio, and Alice in Wonderland, giving their timeless tales a fresh, comical twist. Prepare for a delightful blend of silliness and wit that will have you giggling from start to finish.Instant Download & Free Preview Dive into this enchanting, modernized world of humor instantly! Urban ...

A controversial examination of the influence and presence of the Norse god Odin in contemporary history and culture.

Rich in detail derived from the author's fieldwork and the anthropological literature, this work paints a picture of possession as one of the usually positive and most widespread of human religious experiences. It also details the ritual of exorcism, which is applied when things go wrong.

Ghosts and Vampires — A Reality Check: Influence on the New Generation by M K Devidasan For thousands of years, humanity has feared the unknown. Ghosts and vampires, born from primal anxieties about death, disease, and darkness, have haunted our myths, religions, and imaginations. From Slavic folklore to Egyptian tombs, from medieval Europe’s vampire hunts to Asia’s hungry ghost festivals, every culture has shaped these beings to reflect its deepest fears and desires. But what began as whispers in the night has become billion-dollar entertainment. Gothic novels, Hollywood blockbusters...

Myths, as Mary Midgley argues in this powerful audiobook, are everywhere. In political thought they sit at the heart of theories of human nature and the social contract; in economics in the pursuit of self interest; and in science the idea of human beings as machines, which originates in the 17th century, is a today a potent force. Far from being the opposite of science, however, Midgley argues that myth is a central part of it. Myths are neither lies nor mere stories, but a network of powerful symbols for interpreting the world.

From Salman Rushdie, one of the great writers of our time, comes a spellbinding work of fiction that blends history, mythology, and a timeless love story. A lush, richly layered novel in which our world has been plunged into an age of unreason, Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights is a breathtaking achievement and an enduring testament to the power of storytelling.

Claire has it all. Or she thinks she does. Her life is perfect. Great job, wonderful loving husband, and an adorable, precocious daughter thriving in middle school. Her charmed life in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware is everything she wants it to be. Until it’s not. Utter heartbreak rocks her perfect world. And she does, of course, see ghosts. Louis Robinson wants to have it all. In 1910, he is the newest apprentice lighthouse keeper at the Fourteen Foot Bank Lighthouse in the Delaware Bay. His sleepless nights are plagued with voices that only he can hear. How long until those voices are too ...

Since he was a young boy, Jack MacFadden's imaginary friend, Puck, has always been around, but now Jack is thirteen and Puck has still shown no sign of leaving. And, if that wasn't enough, Jack's also been targeted for assassination by a faerie death squad... Audience/Genre: Middle-grade-through-early-young-adult contemporary fantasy Word count: 25,000 words (novella)