‘Tis the season to be spooky, and there is no better time than to explore more about the Krampus. The latest book from Al Ridenour explores this creature’s dark origins, and how it became such a pop culture phenomenon in the last few years.

This extremely well-researched, and very accessible, book is a history of the beast, along with a sort of personal journey he has tracing the roots.

For those of you reading, you probably already know that Krampus is the horned, demon-like creature who, according to folklore, is the companion to Saint Nick. He punishes the naughty children, and is known to beat them with sticks and carry them off in the basket on his back. The worst offenders are put into bags and tossed in the river. Nothing like scaring the hell out of the little ones for the holiday season!

This book is packed with all the history and meaning behind the legend that you could ever want. There are also tons of photos and art prints exploring the legend, and showcasing the various Krampus festivals from around the world.

Sean Tejaratchi takes Ridenour’s words and lays them out in the best way possible, making the book not only informative but also beautiful.

For anyone with Krampus fever, this is the book for you.