Tales from the Whispering Woods

Explore the wildwood and uncover the origins of famous—and not so famous—cryptids, ghosts, goblins, and other supernatural creatures and phenomena.

For the intrepidly curious comes an essential guide to the cultural origins behind some of your favourite urban legends, superstitions, and ghost stories. Dare to step into the wildwood and traverse the world's folklore from the comfort of your own home!

Sarah J H Powell, author and spooky thrill-seeker behind the podcast The Whispering Woods, curates a collection of twenty-one creepy creatures, ghastly ghosts, and paranormal phenomena, including:

The Wild Hunt: A group of ghostly or supernatural beings in search of souls to chase and steal away. Variations are found throughout European folklore. It is said that witnessing a Wild Hunt is an omen of disaster.

El Silbón: A legendary figure in Colombia and Venezuela, known for his eerie whistle. Why is it that whistling at night is such a taboo?

The Baubas: An example in a long line of creepy bogeymen intended to scare children into correcting their bad behaviour.

Werewolves: These creatures appear everywhere, from ancient Mesopotamia to Viking-era Scandinavia.

Each chapter provides possible explanations for why these creatures, stories, and superstitions came to be. Just looking for frights? This book has got you covered, with stories of possibly true encounters with the creature or phenomenon in question. For the truth seeker, the horror-story connoisseur, or anyone in between, Tales from the Whispering Woods is sure to have something for everyone.