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jennie_cole's review
3.0
Mystical Places is like a travel guide for mythical/spiritual places. It is a collection of places where elves once lived or the ancestors now dwell. It covers the land of King Arthur as well as the home of the Aztecs. What make this book unique, besides the histories and uniqueness of the places, is that each is accompanied by illustrations not pictures. This gives it a more ethereal quality. I found the places Baxter chose to talk about interesting. While I had heard of a few of them this book was definitely filled with more I had not nor knew any of the history.
dylaurora's review
5.0
Mystical Places beautifully transports readers across time and space to elucidate the mystical origins and stories of various places around the world. The artwork is stunningly serene and coupled with detailed but brief descriptions of how history has forged the perspective on these places. Absolutely something I'd recommend!
jnikolova's review
4.0
Also available on the WondrousBooks blog.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is my second Sarah Baxter book, and also the second one I read from the Inspired Traveller's Guide series and I can say that I'm really enjoying myself.
The first selling point for me is the travel aspect. Offer me travel advice and I'm in. But even better, I'm a simple girl, I see a travel book about mysterious places, I click.
Mystical Places delivers, too. It offers a variety of locations all around the world, which have certain legends and a strange, magical aura linked to them. If this is the first review of mine that you're reading, let me tell you, I like everything that is mysterious and eerie, so this book is perfect for me. In fact, I added three locations that are easier for me to visit to my travel list off the bat. I even googled how to get from the city where I live in Poland to Harz mountains - the book got me so inspired.
(Weirdly enough, this was the first time I ever read/heard about Nan Madol in Micronesia, which looks absolutely stunning, but then, as it happens, the day after I read about it was the second time I heard of the place in a completely unrelated article. How about them apples? P.S. I also googled how to get from Poland to Nan Madol, just for fun, and Google could not give me a single proposition. )
The charm of Mystical Places is that it gives a brief but interesting information about exciting and potentially unknown places (well, I've passed by the Old-New Synagogue in Prague on one or two occasions), and it mixes practical tips about accessibility and the normal description of the location with the more out-there-mythological ideas which locals, but not only, have about the place. From the City of Elves in Alfaborg, Iceland, past the gate of Hell in the Alepotrypa cave in Greece, to Gedi, the city of the jinns in Kenya and Malinalco, the seat of the Mexican goddess of magic, you're in for a great adventure!
The art of the book compliments the writing wonderfully - it's simple, but absolutely astonishing and relays the charm and mystery of the place perfectly.
I'm looking forward to the other books in the series, my wanderlusts needs to be fed!
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is my second Sarah Baxter book, and also the second one I read from the Inspired Traveller's Guide series and I can say that I'm really enjoying myself.
The first selling point for me is the travel aspect. Offer me travel advice and I'm in. But even better, I'm a simple girl, I see a travel book about mysterious places, I click.
Mystical Places delivers, too. It offers a variety of locations all around the world, which have certain legends and a strange, magical aura linked to them. If this is the first review of mine that you're reading, let me tell you, I like everything that is mysterious and eerie, so this book is perfect for me. In fact, I added three locations that are easier for me to visit to my travel list off the bat. I even googled how to get from the city where I live in Poland to Harz mountains - the book got me so inspired.
(Weirdly enough, this was the first time I ever read/heard about Nan Madol in Micronesia, which looks absolutely stunning, but then, as it happens, the day after I read about it was the second time I heard of the place in a completely unrelated article. How about them apples? P.S. I also googled how to get from Poland to Nan Madol, just for fun, and Google could not give me a single proposition. )
The charm of Mystical Places is that it gives a brief but interesting information about exciting and potentially unknown places (well, I've passed by the Old-New Synagogue in Prague on one or two occasions), and it mixes practical tips about accessibility and the normal description of the location with the more out-there-mythological ideas which locals, but not only, have about the place. From the City of Elves in Alfaborg, Iceland, past the gate of Hell in the Alepotrypa cave in Greece, to Gedi, the city of the jinns in Kenya and Malinalco, the seat of the Mexican goddess of magic, you're in for a great adventure!
The art of the book compliments the writing wonderfully - it's simple, but absolutely astonishing and relays the charm and mystery of the place perfectly.
I'm looking forward to the other books in the series, my wanderlusts needs to be fed!
camilla_perotti's review
4.0
I love getting to know these places on the less taken and unknown paths. I was surprised of having never heard of them, despite some being in countries where I have lived or that I know very well. This book will surely be a travel companion in my future travels.
For now, however, it has allowed me to travel with my mind to these beautiful places, all nicely described and beautifully pictured. The illustrations are simply stunning.
For now, however, it has allowed me to travel with my mind to these beautiful places, all nicely described and beautifully pictured. The illustrations are simply stunning.
vsbedford's review
4.0
A right down the line writing style that is lifted to great heights by the illustrations by Amy Baxter - I would paper every wall of my home with these. The artist's style, to me, is reminiscent of Ludwig Bemelman's Madeline and the best of the fairy tale style of Disney's Snow White; sort of angular, saturated in color, and completely evocative. The writing, well, it's fine? I wasn't blown away but I also found it pretty well suited for the task in that she imparts the information and probably prompts the reader to dig deeper from other sources where a location really strikes their fancy. I'll definitely keep my eye out for the hardcover edition!
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ecopy from the publishers and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
flakapercuku's review
3.0
In this book, we explore 25 mystical places around the world, and we learn the myths and history behind each site.
The illustrations were well done, and they added more mystical feelings to the book. The places were sporadically selected and covered most continents.
However, the writing lacked many important details. The writing style was all over the place. Some places were described in a very whimsical style that suited the monument. Meanwhile, the others were written as a third account the author heard of the place.
Overall the book is fun to read as most of the stories are unheard of.
The illustrations were well done, and they added more mystical feelings to the book. The places were sporadically selected and covered most continents.
However, the writing lacked many important details. The writing style was all over the place. Some places were described in a very whimsical style that suited the monument. Meanwhile, the others were written as a third account the author heard of the place.
Overall the book is fun to read as most of the stories are unheard of.
thenarrative's review
4.0
Mystical Places by Sarah Baxter
Rating 4 / 5 Stars
Publication Date - 9/15/2020
** Thank you to Netgalley, White Lion Publishing, and of course, Sarah Baxter, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mystical Places is a collection of 25 locations around the world described by Baxter before being taken over by the legends which make the places worth the glory of being shared. We are given kings, summits, architecture, stories of mythical creatures, and folklore which give the stories we all know and tell today their origins. Where would our own storytelling be without these original places and themes?
I really enjoyed that this book included a GLOBAL traveling experience. We touched on multiple continents with multiple cultures. We are reminded that while borders are drawn by governments, perhaps it is the actual cultures that draw the lines. Once covid is over and I find myself safe to travel again, I know I want to go and explore these places and cultures.
If you want to be lost in a book where legends describe places, this is the book for you. As the days get shorter - I recommend this book to all to escape the crazy world we are currently dealing with.
Rating 4 / 5 Stars
Publication Date - 9/15/2020
** Thank you to Netgalley, White Lion Publishing, and of course, Sarah Baxter, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Mystical Places is a collection of 25 locations around the world described by Baxter before being taken over by the legends which make the places worth the glory of being shared. We are given kings, summits, architecture, stories of mythical creatures, and folklore which give the stories we all know and tell today their origins. Where would our own storytelling be without these original places and themes?
I really enjoyed that this book included a GLOBAL traveling experience. We touched on multiple continents with multiple cultures. We are reminded that while borders are drawn by governments, perhaps it is the actual cultures that draw the lines. Once covid is over and I find myself safe to travel again, I know I want to go and explore these places and cultures.
If you want to be lost in a book where legends describe places, this is the book for you. As the days get shorter - I recommend this book to all to escape the crazy world we are currently dealing with.