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beersbooksandbooos's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.5
o0o's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
3.5
The best way I can describe this book is as a speculative fiction disguised as an academic guide. I say this in the way that the various ‘recounts’, ‘findings’ and ‘proof’ don’t actually have any references, as they only exist to further the theoretical narrative, so unless you’re open to go along with it this may not be the book for you.
The illustrations are quite nice and I enjoy the short descriptions of various kinds of creatures, especially in the way they are (hypothetically) affected by the modern world via factors such as climate change, new technology and even nuclear disasters and slave trade. I just kinda wish Rowland delved deeper than the basics.
I will say, looking at the mixed reviews, I can see how it can be difficult telling where and when the author is being sarcastic or ‘informative’. The intention of the book doesn’t make things easier. 😅
As for the offensive remark about autistic people I’ve seen reviews talk about, it’s a small segment under Changelings, and Your Mileage May Vary on it.
For those who want the specifics (Spoilers!):The author states as a ‘fact’ that the faeries don’t leave changelings and that those children are suspect to have had autism symptoms. She then proceeds to follow this up on how even now parents continue to abuse their kids over it, calling it a damaging attitude. I think the author’s intent was to use the subject of changelings to talk about an ongoing issue but the execution was pretty bad. ‘Cause how are you going to decide what is fact or not for a speculative FICTION and broach a sensitive subject matter by using a theory with beyond highly questionable legitimacy? I believe it’s in poor taste.
Besides that, however, it was fun for light-reading while still relating to my fascination for non-natural beings.
The illustrations are quite nice and I enjoy the short descriptions of various kinds of creatures, especially in the way they are (hypothetically) affected by the modern world via factors such as climate change, new technology and even nuclear disasters and slave trade. I just kinda wish Rowland delved deeper than the basics.
I will say, looking at the mixed reviews, I can see how it can be difficult telling where and when the author is being sarcastic or ‘informative’. The intention of the book doesn’t make things easier. 😅
As for the offensive remark about autistic people I’ve seen reviews talk about, it’s a small segment under Changelings, and Your Mileage May Vary on it.
For those who want the specifics (Spoilers!):
Besides that, however, it was fun for light-reading while still relating to my fascination for non-natural beings.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism
leviofmichigan's review against another edition
1.0
When I was not personally offended by this book, I was offended for the sake of other people. What kind of person wakes up in the morning and says "I'm going to write a tongue-in-cheek faerie reference book that will be marketed to magickal practitioners, and somehow, I'm going to sneak in a jab at children on the autism spectrum"? Apparently, Alexandra Rowland.
DNF, may give this book 2 stars if it ends up providing a bit of inspiration for a magical realism novel I want to write this year, which is the reason I bought the book in the first place.
DNF, may give this book 2 stars if it ends up providing a bit of inspiration for a magical realism novel I want to write this year, which is the reason I bought the book in the first place.
vilebe4uty's review against another edition
3.0
Since things have died down a bit in my personal life, I have been able to spend more time reading in my spare time. I am always thankful when I can sit down and read a book or two, especially when that book is about witchcraft! On Monday I finished reading Finding Faeries: Discovering Sprites, Pixies, Redcaps, and Other Fantastical Creatures in an Urban Environment by Alexandra Rowland. While there were several elements I really enjoyed about the book, overall I wasn't super impressed.
First and foremost, Rowland treats the subject of faeries as a science and their book has an academic undertone to it similar to that of an encyclopedia. It's not that I mind this, but there was a complete lack of references and bibliography which doesn't support the tone of the book. If you are going to approach the Otherworld from a scientific point of view, you need to back up your claims with primary sources. Furthermore, I had a hard time taking several of the sections seriously. There were times the book felt like a sarcastic commentary on the liminal world and I wasn't sure if I was supposed to laugh or take notes. This was a turn off for me, which is a shame considering the beginning of the book was so phenomenal! Finally, the book was rather short and the information lacking as a result. I would have liked to have seen a more in-depth approach to the different fae creatures, especially considering its encyclopedia feel.
Despite the flaws, there were some great aspects to the book. In the introduction, Rowland covers how colonialism has changed the range of many liminal beings; how, like cats and dogs, they traveled with colonists to the New World and beyond. I loved their commentary on how violence, slavery, and climate change has shaped the liminal fauna, especially in regards to the encroachment of the urban sprawl. While some species have thrived in an urban environment, many others have perished. It was a wonderful reminder that we not only affect the creatures within our realm but the Otherworld as well. Furthermore, it was refreshing to read a book about the fae that didn't treat them as either all good or all bad, that instead most liminal beings fall somewhere in between. For the most part, the fae do not care much about us and prefer to ignore us and for us to ignore them. Of course, this doesn't mean there aren't helpful and harmful creatures lurking in the shadows, but overall most liminal beings could care less. Finally, I really enjoyed that at the end of the book Rowland offers suggestions on which fae beginners can relatively safely pursue. Too many books suggest that upon reading them that now you are an expert and can safely faerie hunt. Yeah, no. Rowland offers practical advice for the novice witch that shouldn't be ignored and even offers modern protection methods against the fae while using technology.
Overall, the book was decent. It's not one I would purchase to keep on my shelf, but it would make a cute gift for a young witch, especially a preteen. Finding Faeries: Discovering Sprites, Pixies, Redcaps, and Other Fantastical Creatures in an Urban Environment by Alexandra Rowland is available now for purchase (it was actually published on my birthday!).
Happy reading!
First and foremost, Rowland treats the subject of faeries as a science and their book has an academic undertone to it similar to that of an encyclopedia. It's not that I mind this, but there was a complete lack of references and bibliography which doesn't support the tone of the book. If you are going to approach the Otherworld from a scientific point of view, you need to back up your claims with primary sources. Furthermore, I had a hard time taking several of the sections seriously. There were times the book felt like a sarcastic commentary on the liminal world and I wasn't sure if I was supposed to laugh or take notes. This was a turn off for me, which is a shame considering the beginning of the book was so phenomenal! Finally, the book was rather short and the information lacking as a result. I would have liked to have seen a more in-depth approach to the different fae creatures, especially considering its encyclopedia feel.
Despite the flaws, there were some great aspects to the book. In the introduction, Rowland covers how colonialism has changed the range of many liminal beings; how, like cats and dogs, they traveled with colonists to the New World and beyond. I loved their commentary on how violence, slavery, and climate change has shaped the liminal fauna, especially in regards to the encroachment of the urban sprawl. While some species have thrived in an urban environment, many others have perished. It was a wonderful reminder that we not only affect the creatures within our realm but the Otherworld as well. Furthermore, it was refreshing to read a book about the fae that didn't treat them as either all good or all bad, that instead most liminal beings fall somewhere in between. For the most part, the fae do not care much about us and prefer to ignore us and for us to ignore them. Of course, this doesn't mean there aren't helpful and harmful creatures lurking in the shadows, but overall most liminal beings could care less. Finally, I really enjoyed that at the end of the book Rowland offers suggestions on which fae beginners can relatively safely pursue. Too many books suggest that upon reading them that now you are an expert and can safely faerie hunt. Yeah, no. Rowland offers practical advice for the novice witch that shouldn't be ignored and even offers modern protection methods against the fae while using technology.
Overall, the book was decent. It's not one I would purchase to keep on my shelf, but it would make a cute gift for a young witch, especially a preteen. Finding Faeries: Discovering Sprites, Pixies, Redcaps, and Other Fantastical Creatures in an Urban Environment by Alexandra Rowland is available now for purchase (it was actually published on my birthday!).
Happy reading!
grahammatthews's review against another edition
2.0
You know the random blog post that says, you won't believe all these photos about passive agresive roommates, and you are like ok I'm intrigued click on it and are immediately unfulfilled because it's just an article about 50 pictures that just tell you what's in the picture and says oh snap? Well this book is just that! It lores you in because of its good looks, awesome design ,and art. And then has you read a collection of one page surveys underlining how global warming is ruining the faerie world, and doesn't explain how to find any Faeries at all!
I went into the book to learn about finding Faeries. Understanding what they are like, where their environment might be etc. This book gives you a little bit, but it feels very "google search" I don't reccomed the book for anyone who has experience in faerie lore, cause this won't give you anything new. I don't even reccomed this if you want to start searching for Faeries in the wild cause it won't help with that either. It will just say do research and be careful, which wouldn't reading this book count as research?
That being said the reason this isn't a 1 star review is because the art is fantastic the esthetic is good and I had fun little moments like "oh, that's why bells are on motorcycles" and "that sounds like the folk story I heard, I wonder if that could be related." Then I ended up laughing and also being intrigued about faerie email scam prevention. It's also a quick read, took about 90 minutes.
That being said if you are actively searching for Faeries and your big question is, "why am I not finding them as often? I feel I'm in the right places. I'm doing all the things." this book may be able to answer those questions! Other then that I would say no need to read!
I went into the book to learn about finding Faeries. Understanding what they are like, where their environment might be etc. This book gives you a little bit, but it feels very "google search" I don't reccomed the book for anyone who has experience in faerie lore, cause this won't give you anything new. I don't even reccomed this if you want to start searching for Faeries in the wild cause it won't help with that either. It will just say do research and be careful, which wouldn't reading this book count as research?
That being said the reason this isn't a 1 star review is because the art is fantastic the esthetic is good and I had fun little moments like "oh, that's why bells are on motorcycles" and "that sounds like the folk story I heard, I wonder if that could be related." Then I ended up laughing and also being intrigued about faerie email scam prevention. It's also a quick read, took about 90 minutes.
That being said if you are actively searching for Faeries and your big question is, "why am I not finding them as often? I feel I'm in the right places. I'm doing all the things." this book may be able to answer those questions! Other then that I would say no need to read!