Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Having watched and listened to Mankhe previously, I already knew I'd enjoy this book. Mankhe is brilliant at packing a punch with his words so you are thinking about it for a while afterwards.

I was initially interested in reading this book, however my tastes have shifted and I do not think I will be able to get to it now. Many thanks to the publisher for sending me a digital copy!

I listen to this podcast religiously and loved the other companion books and this one did not disappoint Mahnke has a Fantastic way of delivering information in a simple but lingering way which keeps you reading.

The latest instalment in the World of Lore showcases a series that is going from strength to strength. This volume focuses on Dreadful Places, the kind of places most sensible people avoid but places that those with an interest in the macabre gravitate towards!

This is such an enjoyable series to leaf through. The illustrations are great and are a lovely touch which really make the book. I also found this volume really interesting from a historical perspective too. Aaron Mahnke isn’t afraid to debunk any misguided myths in favour of the truth and sometimes the truth is more interesting than the campfire story. There’s plenty of material on American history but the book does branch out to other corners of the world too. There’s old folk tales, ghost stories and a few old fashioned bad guys. Overall I found this a fascinating read and would recommend it for anyone with an interest in the more bizarre and dark side of history. I for one cannot wait till the next volume.

I received a ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair review.

Dreadful Places is the third volume in Aaron Mahnke's World of Lore series and it is as fantastically creepy as the first two. I definitely recommend that people who have listened to his podcast or seen the show on Amazon check out this book.

Aaron Mahnke has the ability to thoroughly research a subject, put down the details and somehow turn it into the creepiest atmospheric reads that will haunt your dreams for weeks.

Sometimes the 'Truth is more frightening than fiction! I highly recommend this book as it will keep you up all night, wondering just what is out there in the world today.

So this is the first Lore book I've picked up, (and I've never actually listened to the podcast), but it was a fun read. I loved the little snippets about the various places in this book, and it would definitely be a great book for horror fans to flick through every now and then, or as a spooky read this October. The illustrations in my e-arc were cute and I imagine they look even better in the finished copy. I didn't have any issues with the book so to speak, but I think if I had been a fan of the original podcast, I might have enjoyed this a bit more.

An informative , entertaining and above all creepy miscellany of horror that is perfect for dipping into in a spare moment, though some sections are so engrossing that you may find it difficult to put the book down, As with his renowned podcast, Lore, Aaron Mahnke has done his research and created a volume of hauntings and horrors with settings as strange and diverse as Salem during and after the witchcraft trials, remote forests reputed to hide monsters , as well as ghostly graveyards and haunted hospitals and asylums. Picture the setting of virtually any horror film, and in this book Mahnke has probably found a real life case to rival it. While the research is meticulous , the real skill of the author lies in his humorous and engaging writing style. This is a wonderful seasonal read, and one that I found my self reaching for at every spare moment.

I adore the Lore podcast, as well as Mahnke's creepy narration style.
While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, with it's spooky and "supposedly real" anecdotes I just wished the stories were more internationally based.
You can tell that the podcast is an American one, just from the way the world seems to revolve around the US. Now, there was a mention of a Dutch village and possibly one or two other places, but it was overwhelmingly American and I would like to read more of creepy folklore around Europe!
That being said, it is a great, quick and easy read. Not too creepy that I couldn't' recommend it to teenagers but I think they would definitely get a chill up their spine.
This is the third book in the World of Lore trilogy and it just as much fun as the other two.

I'm a big fan of Lore so was very excited to see it in book form!

This book is very well written, and when I was reading it in my head it was as if I could hear Aaron Mahnke reading it out loud, which I was very impressed with until I realised a lot of the book was transcripts of the show with very little new content which was slightly disappointing to me.

Despite the fact that I had heard a lot of the content already it was still incredibly interesting and I was able to pick up on little bits I had previously missed before and I think the way the stories were pieced together and ordered was very clever and enjoyable.

This would be fans for die hard fans of the show, or anyone who is into the creepier side of myths and legends, perfect for the upcoming halloween season.

The latest instalment in the ‘Lore’ series, this follows the stories that surround the dark and sinister places in our lore. As usual it’s easy to read, with a friendly and familiar writing style that lends itself well to these types of stories. It’s as though the writer is talking around a camping fire with old friends, relaying spooky stories - which is exactly how these tales should be told.

The stories and places covered range from New Orleans, Scottish castles, the American colonies and ghost ships and it’s very good at dipping the readers toe into this range of stories and folklore that can then be followed up in greater depth by the reader if they want to. It never lingers too long on one story or subject, offering an introduction and background to the tale and a brief outline before moving on. This meant that if one story didn’t intrigue me, I was quickly swept up into the next one, and the next. I was particularly taken with the sections on New Orleans and ghost ships. These areas were deeply atmospheric and creepy, with unexplained tales that were genuinely chilling.

The first section is very ‘America’ centric, and I was a little less interested in these stories because of their lack of richness and history. America itself is a relatively new country in my eyes, and somewhat lacks the magical and ethereal elements that more ancient cultures have in abundance. I also found it was quite flippant at times in its portrayal of slavery and the associated atrocities.

However, the later chapters do branch out into the wider world and this is where the book came into its own as it allowed for a broader scope in stories. Folklore is so fascinating, and so unique to each culture and local area that I felt it was necessary to do this. It’s an organic thing, that evolves and changes with the people, as well as helping to join a community together through socialisation and the author does well to get this across here. It’s evident he has a passion for the subject, and a need to spread these stories like our ancestors did. It’s a way of keeping the tales alive.

Another great addition to the ‘Lorek series. I really enjoy these books, and this is perfect to read at this time of year for a creepy little night in.

If you haven't heard of Lore then you really need to - super creepy and so well written! I could hear Aaron talking to me!

More weird and wonderful stories from the World of Lore, this time about places and buildings affected by the awful and uncanny. A great read, especially in the run up to Halloween.

Like a lot of reviewers have mentioned, there is some recycling of stories from the podcast, which isn't inherently bad, but it does make this volume the least satisfying to read out of the three. Overall, i liked this book and was so glad i read it. It was dark, weird and spooky and it's a great continuation of the podcasts.

This is my first Lore book, but as an Amazon Prime subscriber I did watch some of the series. I really didn't get on with the monotone, halting delivery that the author uses, and found it made what could be a decent show quite grating and distracting. I hoped that the books would be more fluid so that I could immerse myself in the stories. Unfortunately I see now that they are direct transcripts from the Lore podcast, and Mahnke apparently bakes this odd editing right into his text to read aloud.

The stories are fine, if a little thin with many being glossed over entirely. I think I'd much prefer less quantity and more depth. As bite size pieces they are so simple that they have little impact. I found plenty of interesting subjects, but am now left to find authors who cover them in more detail.