Synopses & Reviews
Young readers may be familiar with these traditional tales of gods, demons, and tricksters but they've never heard them like this before! Award-winning fantasy author Maura McHugh revisits the popular myths of Loki, Odin, Pelops, and others from Greek and Norse mythology--as well as lesser known fables from Africa, Asia, and the Americas--and gives them a macabre makeover. These gruesome retellings cut a sharp dystopian edge to the stories of:
Egypt's SphinxAfrican trickster AnansiJapan's exiled god SusanohThe scornful Greek FuriesUndead New World gatekeeper Baron Samedi, and several othersWith 20 terrifying tales and brooding illustrations that heighten the mood, Twisted Myths will leave young readers thrilled, chilled, and eager for more.
Review
"These are powerful, resonating stories...The 20 myths here cast a wide-ranging cultural net. Accompanied by Laurie's ferocious and sometimes gory illustrations, which bring out the direness of the stories, these tales are an ideal collection for students to thoroughly explore the world of mythology or take a quick, occasional dip for a thrill of touch of the profound." -- Booklist
Synopsis
Readers may be familiar with these traditional tales of gods, demons, and tricksters but they've never heard them like this before! Award-winning fantasy author Maura McHugh revisits the popular myths of Loki, Odin, Cupid, and Psyche and others from Greek and Norse mytholog--as well as lesser known fables from Africa, Asia, and the Americas--and gives them a macabre makeover. These gruesome myths of love, treachery, sacrifice and revenge include:
India's birth story of GaneshaThe secret name of Egypt's RaChina's irrepressible Monkey King Japanese Sun Goddess Ameratsu who banishes the nightAll 20 terrifying tales are accompanied by stunningly dark illustrations that heighten the mood, and will leave readers thrilled, chilled, and eager for more.
Synopsis
This book is not for the bedtime reader. Open it up to find the sinister myths and legends you were not told as a child. Maura McHugh's frightening retellings of these ancient tales bring the powerful gods and goddesses of past worlds to the modern reader. From the impossible trials imposed by their jealousy and vengeance to the trickery of desperate lovers, tragedy and triumph spill from these ancient myths and revisit the horrifying origins that shaped and scarred the mortal world. If you are among those fearless readers who thrive on chilling tales, you won't want to put this book down until the very last page.
About the Author
Award-winning fantasy author Maura McHugh is very highly regarded within the horror/fantasy realm. Her previous title Twisted Fairy Tales was also published by Barron's.