Book Review-Appalachian Folklore Unveiled: Mysterious Happenings of Folk Spirits and Mystic Shades from the Ancient Foothills by Darkness Prevails, with Carman Carrion

Book Review

Appalachian Folklore Unveiled: Mysterious Happenings of Folk Spirits and Mystic Shades From the Ancient Foothills

By Darkness Prevails, with Carman Carrion

Publisher: Wellfleet Press, an imprint of Quarto Publishing Group

207 Page Hardcover

Release Date: October 8th, 2024

Appalachian Folklore Unveiled is a fascinating dive into the mythos, folklore and magical views of the Appalachian mountain region. When most think of Appalachia, we think of Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee; little did I know that the Appalachian mountain range goes clear up the East Coast of the United States! This is truly a wonderful book to read for those interested in folklore, superstition and folk magic. The illustrations throughout the book are beautiful, well placed and don’t interfere with the legibility of the book itself, while also matching the intended theme of the book itself.

As far as content goes, this is a literal tome of folklore, cryptids, spirits and more; each section focuses on one subject area, so as not to confuse the reader, as there’s just so much folklore from this region. I appreciated the authors’ acknowledgement of the different cultural influences that helped shape these varying beliefs, ranging from immigrants of Scots-Irish descent, African immigrants via the slave trade, and Native American influences as well. Understanding these cultures and the impact they’ve had on the current folklore is an important, foundational step when examining any folkloric beliefs or magic, as religious beliefs, practices and customs from an original source or culture most definitely play into the newfound folklore.

I chose this book because I am an avid reader of mythology, folklore, superstition, and of course, haunts, cryptids and other paranormal occurrences. I have ancestry hailing from Appalachia after my ancestors came from Europe, making this an even more fascinating read for me personally. My only critique is that, it seems that folklore from other regions, such as New Jersey, and even parts of New York were included; I just don’t see that fitting into an Appalachian theme. Other than that, this book is excellent and anyone looking for scary stories, a collection of American folklore or an entertaining Halloween-themed read, will find this book an excellent choice. As such, I give it a 4.5/5 Pentagram rating!

Darkness Prevails is a spooky storyteller hailing from the Ozarks of Arkansas. He is the host of Eeriecast: The Horror Podcast Network, as well as having his own YouTube channel, Darkness Prevails. When not searching for evidence of Bigfoot, or working on scary stories to tell, he is devoted to his wife and and two children.

Carman Carrion is a dedicated folklore enthusiast and the host of the Freaky Folklore and Destination Terror podcasts. Carman loves traveling across the US with her husband, exploring the rich mosaic of folklore the country has to offer.

 

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Author Bio:

The Modern Merlin has been a Polytheist and Animist Pagan, Witch, Sorcerer, Poison Witch, Wizard, Druid, Mystic, Ceremonial Magician, Occultist, Shaman, Seer and Soothsayer for over 15 years, venerating and casting magick with deities and spirits from many cultures, including those from Ancient Greece, Rome, Norse & Germanic, Celtic, Slavic, Egyptian, Sumerian, as well as many Faeries, Nymphs, Dryads, Ancestors and other nature and land spirits and spirits of place, even Saints, Angels and Demons! He is a Priest of Hecate, Diana, Hades, Lilith and Persephone, among others. He has experience in the Left and Right Hand Paths, working with both hands as needed. He currently practices Necromancy and Deathwalking, as well as Traditional Witchcraft, Druidry, Hellenism, Ceremonial Magick and Occultism, incorporating all of them into a cohesive practice, with some shamanic touches. He studies and practices Astrology as well as Tarot and other forms of divination such as Runes, Palmistry and Ogham. He has also been investigating the paranormal for over 10 years and has a keen interest in researching various mythologies, cosmologies and folklore from around the world. He is the Co-Editor of PaganPages.Org and the author of multiple columns, including The Modern Merlin’s Corner, Entheogens for the New Gen, Stellium, and Scary, Strange and Mythical Encounters. He also has a personal blog where he shares Astrological, Pagan, and other magickal wisdom for free! He gives readings and other spiritual services on his Facebook Page, The Modern Merlin, as well other free informational posts for everyone to see!