The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer - 1

GLOSSARY OF MONSTERS

AUTHOR’S NOTE: Though these monsters are inspired by traditional French folklore, numerous liberties have been taken.

A magnificent spectral horse with flaming eyes. Its favorite pastime is to offer a ride to weary travelers and then throw them off a cliff.

Literally “crunchy mitten.” A humanoid creature that likes to nibble the fingers off misbehaving children, but only the ones who deserve it.

A small floating ball of light. Very pretty, until it enchants you and leads you to your death. No … it’s still pretty, even then.

A creature with an enormous snail shell, numerous tentacles, and a mouth lined with jagged, sharp teeth. Usually inhabits dark caves but will settle for an armoire in a pinch.

A small hobgoblin that can be helpful or mischievous. It particularly enjoys tangling people’s hair into knots while they’re asleep. But then, who doesn’t?

A shape-shifting animal spirit that most often takes the form of a black cat. It can bring either prosperity or misfortune, depending on how well it’s treated, or how spiteful it’s feeling that day.

A lizard-like amphibian that is as sassy as it is slimy. Most don’t do anything special. Some can breathe fire.

Part dragon, part snake, and part crocodile, with the head of a lion and a tortoise shell on its back. There actually aren’t any tarasques in this book, in part because the author did not think she could adequately describe it in a way that readers wouldn’t think she was just making stuff up. Still, it’s pretty great, as folklore monsters go.

Another peculiar amalgamation of a creature, sporting the head of a serpent on top of a porcupine-esque body, which is covered in long green fur and poison-tipped spines. It is often blamed for floods, fires, failed crops, and just about every natural disaster conceivable.

A hairy, slobbery, werewolf-like creature that is afraid of fire and allergic to silver. Created when a human sells their soul to a demon in exchange for seven wicked pleasures. (Which might sound tempting, if you forget the hairy, slobbery part. Think of your dignity.)