Finding a great book feels a lot like encountering a unicorn in the wild — improbable, delightful, and incredibly rare. It feels like a reward for something, like maybe being pure of heart, or just really, really lucky. Either way, it’s an experience to be cherished and remembered.
Of course, there are other kinds of significant books, just like there are other kinds of mythical creatures. Sometimes you read a story that might make you feel like seeing a kraken’s tentacles rise above the water, or narrowly escaping the clutches of a kelpie. Other books feel like getting a glimpse of something altogether unknown.
With that in mind, in order of obscurity, here’s a list of rare mythical creatures and the book you should read if they intrigue you.
Unicorn: In Calabria by Peter S. Beagle
Peter S. Beagle is perhaps most famous for penning The Last Unicorn, an iconic tale featuring one of the oldest and most venerated mythical creatures. In Calabria revisits the mystical unicorn and sets it in the middle of scenic Italy. When a secluded man named Claudio chooses to help the unicorn, it sets in motion a series of events that throws the world into chaos. Also, there’s the mafia!
If a unicorn and its otherworldly, graceful elegance is what you’re seeking, pick up In Calabria and transport yourself to a new world, nestled quietly in the midst of the old one.
Kraken: Island of the Aunts by Eva Ibbotson
If the Kraken, the huge monster of the deep, is the kind of mythological creature you’re fascinated by, then you should read Island of the Aunts by Eva Ibbotson. Ibbotson’s quirky, yet deeply emotional storylines are perfect for any age.
Plus, her take on the Kraken leans less Lovecraftian than most — you’ll walk away from this book with a newfound respect and curiosity about the mythological creatures that might have just gotten some bad press.
Selkie: The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley
The selkie is a Scottish myth about seals that can shapeshift into humans. They conjure up images of windswept coasts and dark, stormy nights. That means that The Folk Keeper by Franny Billingsley is the perfect companion to this mythological creature.
Lit by candlelight and rife with mystery and atmosphere, The Folk Keeper conjures up a compelling fantasy world while also feeling as cozy and familiar as a cottage by the sea.
Pooka: War for the Oaks by Emma Bull
The Pooka is a devious creature of Celtic folklore, known for shapeshifting, pranks, and being very capricious. Depending on the story, they can be a harmless trickster or a formidable enemy. Emma Bull’s urban fantasy classic, War for the Oaks, is a perfect choice if you want to explore the strange world of faerie.
War for the Oaks takes place in Minneapolis, as rock musician Eddi McCandry stumbles into a conflict with stakes and combatants that reach far beyond the real world.
Kelpie: The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
A Kelpie is another denizen of Scottish folklore, a horse whose entire goal is to encourage the wary traveler to get on its back, at which point it dives into a body of water and drowns them. It’s safe to say a kelpie-coded book is not exactly brimming with the warm and fuzzies. That’s why The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater is perfect for this prompt — of course, it also features kelpies, so that helps.
Stiefvater’s book is a darkly magical race, replete with vivid imagery and a page-turning storyline that will have your heart racing until the very last page.
Cockatrice: The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin Jr
The Cockatrice is one of those endearingly confusing mythical creatures that sort of seems like it was compiled by somebody spinning a wheel of animals for each body part. It has a rooster’s head, lizard legs, wings, and a dragon’s tail. And as odd as it is, it actually has a starring turn in The Book of the Dun Cow by Walter Wangerin Jr.
Wangerin’s book is as if Animal Farm got a lot stranger and a little monstrous. It’s a fascinating mashup of allegory and storytelling in a truly inventive way.
Jackalope: Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
A Jackalope is a fantastical creature from the American West, said to resemble a jackrabbit with antelope horns. It’s a symbol of the mystery and wildness of the True West. Hailing from another corner of the US, but nonetheless just as mysterious, is Leigh Bardugo’s Hell Bent.
Besides the rabbit on the cover, Hell Bent’s darkly fascinating exploration of Americana and the secrets that lurk beneath a veneer of respectability is a perfect match for one of the most obscure creatures on this list.
Whether you’re feeling mystical and serene or in the mood for a little bit of magical chaos, there’s a creature and a book on this list for you. And the great news is that even if you read all the books on this list, there are countless more creatures to choose from.
From urban fantasy to allegorical novel, the books on this list, fantasy or not, have the ability to stimulate our imaginations until the creatures of myth and folklore, and the concepts they represent, feel as real to us as our own lives.
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