ARC Review: Alphabet of Oddities - A Ghostly Bestiary, by Ronald Porcelli

Title: Alphabet of Oddities: A Ghostly Bestiary

Author: Ronald Porcelli

Publisher: Familius

Genre: Arts / Horror

Date of Publication: August 4th, 2026 

Number of Pages: 64

See it on Goodreads: Alphabet of Oddities: A Ghostly Bestiary

*Disclaimer: I have received a free copy of this book via NetGalley. Thank you to Familius for providing me with this copy.

Summary

Jump down the rabbit hole into the world of artist Ronald Porcelli—terribly twisted, delightfully dark, and frightsomely filled with an alphabet of oddities, creepy creatures, and macabre folklore.

A is for Adzooks that walk with no head.

B is for Boo-zoins that feed on the dead.

C is for Crackings—sweet, they just look gruff.

In Ronald Porcelli’s Alphabet of Oddities, haunting rhymes and frightsome black-and-white illustrations reveal a ghastly world of legendary creatures. With F for Fxchopxtinks, L for Loomis, and X for XyLongs, this ABC book brings macabre folklore and fantasy art together in a collectible package.

Wrapped in ornate foiled patterns with black page edges, this gothic bestiary is a luxurious gift that will send chills down your spine, perfect for Halloween, fans of creepy creatures, collectors of unusual curiosities, and anyone who loves delightfully dark fantasy.

But beware! You might find that some of these monsters are best left in the shadows.

Review - An Alphaber of Horrors

Every once in a while, I enjoy reading graphic novels or browsing illustration books. Alphabet of Oddities promised to bring some whimsy to my reading year, and it totally did! As its title suggests, it is a take on the alphabet poem, where each letter is dedicated to a different creature. And each creature had its own stunning black and white illustration.

In fact, I would say that Ronald Porcelli's illustrations are the star of show. Each page brought something unique, and the creature's designs were interesting. If I had to choose, I would say that I preferred more the illustrations depicting a whole scene instead of the ones showing just the creature. Yet again, I would totally buy a print of the Ice-Wolf to put somewhere in my apartment. 

When it comes to the poem itself, it is what you would expect. We are introduced to a new creature for each letter, and then get a small description of it. Even though this is also the style of the ABC poem, I would have also liked if we had got a verse for each ghost. 

Alphabet of Oddities is a beautiful edition that I will add to my collection when it comes out in August. It will be perfect for you if you are interested in the whimsical and the macabre, as it strikes a perfect balance. As for my favourite letters, I'd have to pick I, J, L, N, and Q.

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