In Algonquin myths, Wendigo is a macabre creature that lives in the material and spiritual world. It resembles a human being in distorted forms or has animal characteristics such as horns and sharp claws as if its appearance were not already frightening enough. Wendigo can also assume a spiritual form and possess a person’s body, making them behave violently and cruelly.
In the shadowy corners of folklore and the eerie wilderness of the unknown, the Wendigo is a haunting figure of North American legend. Welcome to a myth journey into the chilling world of this mythical creature that has captivated storytellers and horror enthusiasts alike. The Wendigo, depicted as a symbol of insatiable hunger and the dark consequences of human greed, has been a source of fascination in literature, weaving its way through tales of horror, survival, and the supernatural.
The ancient beliefs of Native American peoples mentioned the existence of a creature that appeared to be the incarnation of a nightmare. This terrible monster lived in the icy forests of the north, where it wandered in search of new victims, which it devoured to the bone with pleasure. This creature is known as Wendigo, a curse for fear and concern, especially among the Algonquin tribes that inhabited northeastern North America near the Great Lakes region.
This post will guide you through a carefully curated collection of books that explore the Wendigo myth from various angles – from spine-tingling horror stories to introspective explorations of human nature. Whether you’re a connoisseur of folklore, a lover of horror fiction, or simply intrigued by the myths that linger in the wild, untamed landscapes of the imagination, these books promise to take you on an unforgettable journey into the heart of Wendigo lore. Let’s brace ourselves as we focus on narratives that bring to life the eerie legend of the Wendigo – a journey that’s as much about confronting our fears as it is about exploring the depths of storytelling.
5 Books About Wendigos (Algonquin Myth)
The concept of the Wendigo, which is depicted as a terrifying and malevolent spirit capable of possessing humans and turning them into cannibals, makes for compelling and chilling horror stories. Many Wendigo stories represent the psychology of hunger, survival, and the primal instincts of humans. They explore the lengths people will go to in extreme conditions, blurring the lines between humanity and monstrosity.
As a myth lover, I have a list that characterizes Wendigo as a main evil character. I will discuss five horror and myth books on Wendigos. These books provide a window into the rich folklore and traditions of the First Nations people. They offer a way to explore these myths in a modern context, bringing attention to indigenous stories and perspectives. Let’s go!
| Name | Key Focus | Tropes |
|---|---|---|
| The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey | A dark and atmospheric tale blending horror and historical fiction, where two friends confront the legendary Wendigo in the Canadian wilderness during their search for a missing anthropologist. | Supernatural horror, folklore, friendship, historical setting, monster hunting, survival, Gothic atmosphere, psychological thriller, mystery, wilderness adventure, mythical creatures, Victorian era. |
| The Wendigo by Algernon Blackwood | A classic horror story set in the Canadian wilderness, exploring the terrifying legend of the Wendigo, a mythical creature that embodies the primal fear of the unknown and nature’s untamed power. | Supernatural horror, wilderness adventure, psychological terror, folklore and mythology, isolation, man vs. nature, fear of the unknown, atmospheric tension, early 20th-century setting, exploration, nature’s mystique, human vulnerability. |
| Pet Sematary by Stephen King | A chilling horror novel about a family that discovers a mysterious burial ground near their new home, leading to terrifying and tragic consequences when they use it to resurrect their deceased pet. | Resurrection, supernatural horror, family tragedy, grief and loss, ancient curses, moral dilemmas, small-town secrets, psychological terror, the undead, Native American burial ground, atmospheric dread, exploration of death. |
| Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz | A collection of short, spooky tales and urban legends, designed to be read aloud, that capture a range of ghostly and macabre themes, often with a twist ending. | Ghost stories, urban legends, folklore, horror anthology, eerie illustrations, supernatural occurrences, campfire tales, childhood fears, dark humor, twist endings, cultural myths, moral lessons. |
| The Lightning-Struck Heart by TJ Klune | A whimsical and humorous fantasy romance following a young wizard’s apprentice, his quest for love, and a journey filled with magic, dragons, and adventure. | Fantasy romance, wizardry, comedic adventure, LGBT characters, dragons, magical creatures, quest journey, unrequited love, witty banter, coming of age, friendship dynamics, enchanting world-building. |
1. The Curse of the Wendigo (The Monstrumologist)
This is the sequel to The Monstrumologist. It is set in the late 1800s. Our main character was recounting his memories from when he was 12 years old, and he is the assistant to the Monstrumologist, Dr. Warthrop. The story begins with a very beautiful lady color from Dr. Warthrop asking for his help finding her husband. Apparently, her husband ran off to Canada to look for the Wendigos for reasons we aren’t aware of yet. Then Henry and the doctor went to Canada.
The characters are so well-developed. Henry is too adorable, and he’s a trooper for sticking up with the doctor and his eccentric ways. Dr. Warthrop is eccentric, crazy, and very serious about his work. As the story continues, we learn more about Warthrop’s backstory and how connected the woman and his friends are.
There is a great deal of action towards the end of the book, but it does a flip in the beginning and middle. Many of the actions happen at the book’s beginning when Dr. Warthrop and Will Henry go to Canada. You start to slow down and focus on the character development throughout much of the middle. The entomologists focused on the monster part and the hunting, and in this story, we get a flip of more focus on the character development. If you are a Wendigos reader, then you must read it.
Author: Rick Yancey
Average Rating: 4.6/5
Category: Action & Adventure Fantasy
Number Of Pages: 424
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Mass Market Paperback
2. The Wendigo
This is one of the best Wendigo books I have ever read. Algernon Blackwood is an English broadcasting narrator, journalist, short story writer, and prolific ghost story writer in the history of the genre. He’s most known for The Wendigo, which was built in 1910. Nowadays, it’s going to be tame. But in 1910, when this was released, this was crazy. Throughout the story, you’re following a group of people. This group of gentlemen is on an adventure or in search of something.
They were going out there in the woods. They have a Native American tour guide named Punk, who knows much about the woods. His family’s from there. All of a sudden takes off, and he runs off into the woods while they’re sleeping. The third chapter is terrifying when you start to realize what’s going on. There’s a Wendigo! You have to read the book if you want to know the mystery.
Author: Algernon Blackwood
Average Rating: 4.3/5
Category: Action & Adventure Fiction
Number Of Pages: 48
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Mass Market Paperback
3. Pet Sematary
This book deals with loss, and it’s horrific. You experience and dream the extremes of yourself when you lose someone you love. The story takes that experience of the emotions that run through a human when that level of grief strikes them and brings it to the unnatural and supernatural extremes that Stephen King often does.
Whether it’s vivid nightmares or emotions, you didn’t expect that to scare you and freak you out. The anger, rejection, lashing out, and the fact that your entire world feels different. Stephen considers Pet Sematary his scariest book, full of the Wendigos, Zelda, and those coming back from Church or Gadge.
The author knows how to accomplish an objective when it comes to horror. When someone is torn from your life, you will do anything to bring them back to life. That’s a natural part of the grieving process. If you love someone, you’ll do anything for them to keep living. Stephen King grabs this and gives his typical horrific elements to expand it terrifically.
Author: Stephen King
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Occult Horror Fiction
Number Of Pages: 580
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
4. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
The book series terrified an entire generation. The trilogy of books was written by Alvin Schwartz and illustrated by Stephen Gammell between 1981 and 1991. It brought that horror element to the forefront and shaped my interest. The cover of the first book was especially terrifying to me. A large head was seemingly coming out of the ground, making eye contact with the reader, smirking with the skeletal mouth. Oh! It’s a Wendigo!
The story is about two little girls who treat their mom like crap to get a drum from a gypsy that they had met. The mom gets scooped and leaves the girls under the care of a woman with glass eyes and a wooden tail. At least this time, it wasn’t the pictures. It was a mental image with a wooden tail thumping on the ground.
In addition, it was the most challenged book of the 1990s and the seventh most challenged book of the two thousand parents who didn’t want to have to talk to their kids and tried relentlessly to get these books banned. The book inspired a generation of readers, writers, artists and educated children through Alvin Schwartz’s folklore retelling throughout different cultures.
The otherworldly pictures combined with the stories and legends passed down through the ages. Also, the illustrations for this book are the most haunting images you could conjure in your worst nightmares.
Author: Alvin Schwartz
Average Rating: 4.6/5
Category: Fairy Tales, Folk Tales & Myths
Number Of Pages: 111
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle | Audio CD
5. The Lightning-Struck Heart (Tales From Verania)
This follows a character named Sam Halverson. He is apprenticed to the King’s Wizard and Morgan of Shadows. Everyone calls him Sam of Wilds because you find out he was tasked to go into the forest and bring something back at the beginning of the book. He brings back the two best friends he makes while in the forest. Also, he brings back a harmless gay unicorn called Gary and a half-giant or Wendigo named Tiggy.
Sam is very prudish, and he doesn’t talk about sexual things all that much, whereas his best friends are the complete opposite. So that’s the whole thing. At the beginning of the book The Prince of This Kingdom, Justin is taken by a sexually aggressive dragon.
The king of this land decides to send the best night of this kingdom, the fiancee of Justin and Sam, to rescue the Prince. The only problem is that Sam has a huge crush on Ryan Flockhart. He has to deal with those feelings as they try to track down this dragon and rescue Justin, who is like a big jerk.
Author: TJ Klune
Average Rating: 4.6/5
Category: Literature Fiction
Number Of Pages: 405
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Kindle
5 books about Wendigos romance
“My Date with a Wendigo” by Genevieve McCluer: This book tells the story of Elizabeth Rosseau and Abigail Lester, best friends who confess their feelings for each other before a winter break. However, Abigail never returns, leading Elizabeth into a secret community of friends.
Wendigo Girl Box Set (The Complete Series – 5 Novellas plus 3 Short Stories): This series, featuring a reclusive horror writer, Tess Vere, involves a Wendigo attack and subsequent adventures with a mysterious shadow hunter and a sidekick. It explores themes of romance, horror, and personal transformation.
“Wendigos in Washington (Case Files Of An Urban Druid Book 6)” by Auburn Tempest and Michael Anderle: This book focuses on romance, including Wendigos, and mix elements of paranormal and urban fantasy.
“The Curse of the Wendigo (The Monstrumologist, #2)” by Rick Yancey: This book is more of a historical horror novel set in the 19th century. It involves a terrifying creature in the dark forests of Michigan.
“The Wendigo Girl” series: This series of paranormal/urban fantasy romance novellas has a dark side, and it explores themes of mild violence, same-sex romance, and swearing. The series is an exciting take on the Wendigo theme in a romantic context.
5 fiction and non fiction books about Wendigos
“The Wendigo’s Child” by Robin Riopelle: This book offers a bone-chilling exploration of the Wendigo mythology, presenting a dark and suspenseful tale.
“Wendigo: A Thriller” by Vaughn C. Hardacker: Set in the dark forests of Maine, this novel takes us on a journey through the terrifying world of Wendigos, blending horror, mystery, and Native American folklore.
“The Wendigo Witchling Trilogy” by B. Kristin McMichael: This thrilling series follows the supernatural world of Wendigos, following Cassie, a young witchling, as she battles powerful enemies and her inner demons.
“The Wendigo’s Call” by Michael Rowe: A chilling tale that explores the enigmatic secrets of Wendigos, combining elements of horror, suspense, and folklore.
“The Curse of the Wendigo (The Monstrumologist, #2)” by Rick Yancey: Although primarily a horror novel, it incorporates Wendigo mythology and is set in the 19th century.
For non-fiction, one notable work that covers the deeper significance of Wendigo stories is:
“Columbus and Other Cannibals: The Wétiko Disease of Exploitation, Imperialism, and Terrorism” by Dr. Jack D. Forbes: This book uses the Wendigo metaphor to critique civilization and its foundational violence. Forbes discusses how exploitation and imperialism can be seen as forms of cannibalism, both literal and metaphorical. The book provides a profound social critique, using the concept of the Wendigo to examine the darker aspects of human society.
The Wendigo, a creature born of legend, is a potent symbol of the primal fears and dark appetites that lurk within the human psyche. The books we’ve traversed offer more than just scares; they invite us to reflect on themes of nature, humanity, and the fine line between civilization and the wild unknown. In the haunting stories of the Wendigo, we find a rich tapestry of narrative innovation, cultural lore, and a touch of the uncanny that stays with us long after the last page is turned.
May these tales inspire your imagination and satisfy your craving for stories that venture beyond the ordinary into the realms where folklore and reality intertwine. Until our next literary journey, keep the fire burning and the stories alive, for in the world of myths and legends, there’s always another tale waiting to be told.
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