Mythical Monsters of Greenland
A Survival Guide
In the cheeky fantasy guide Mythical Monsters of Greenland, an explorer details the best ways to avoid, escape, and placate the wild spirits that inhabit Greenland’s vast wilds.
Living off the land in Greenland has never been easy. There are harsh weather conditions, deadly animals, and limited resources to contend with. For the early Inuit people, the book notes, this was all part of daily life. To make matters worse, a vast compendium of mythical creatures are said to call the island home, and most are not too fond of humans. To help protect her fellow adventurers, a monster hunter compiles a handy survival guide for those not yet acquainted with the hidden dangers of her homeland.
In this streamlined narrative, each monster receives broad analysis. The guide divides its subjects into groups: there are spirits of the dead, small dangers, and animalistic creatures. Each creature is covered via an illustration, a short biography, a description of their habitat, and an explanation of where and why one might encounter them. The dramatic digital illustrations in particular do a thorough job of encapsulating the entities’ main traits, be they horrific, playful, majestic, or wise. The Amaruq is a giant wolf many times larger than a reindeer; it doesn’t crave humans, though, and “may even guide a lost or injured hunter back to a settlement or village.” The Ijiqqat are naked, tiny, and almost cute; the elbow-walking Ikusik, in contrast, has qualities in common with a zombie.
Also included is an Inuktitut glossary and a map of Greenland—both helpful resources for understanding the lore of the region. Still, some non-Inuktitut speakers could face phonetic challenges.
Mythical Monsters of Greenland gathers Inuit mythology into a unique bestiary that even the most daring of monster hunters would do well to learn.
Reviewed by
Ian Dailey
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
