An extremely enjoyable read, Banshees, Werewolves, Vampires and Other Creatures of the Night by Varla Ventura. Including fictional stories, non-fiction, anecdotes and drawings this book allows one to become immersed in the world of traditional monsters. This is not a big book, nor a long book and there's really nothing to dislike about it. It's written in a good, interesting way. There are sources included for any factual information and for true accountings. There's fictional stories from such greats as Bram Stoker and W. B. Yeats. There's even a list of movies about creatures included in the book.
I can't say that this book is truly informative nor is it truly entertaining. It's a lovely combination of both that anyone interested in creatures such as these could enjoy. Though it is over 200 pages long it's quite small; perhaps 6 inches tall by 4 inches wide so it is hardly a daunting read. The book is broken down into sections and then chapters. The sections include: banshees, vampires, werewolves and bloody appendices. Some of the chapters are: banshee banter, natural causes of lycanthropy and vampires old and new. If you have an interest in creatures such as these I highly recommend you get this book. It is truly a fun book.
~Review by: Jessica Elizabeth
Author: Varla Ventura
Weiser Books; 2013
240ppg.: $16.95
