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A review by aimeenotpond
Witchcraft: A Graphic History: Stories of wise women, healers and magic by Lindsay Squire
3.0
Edelweiss ARC Review:
Expecting a history of female persecution in rural Britain, I was a little taken aback at the author’s assertions of ‘real’ witchcraft. The read is a little jarring for a sceptic like myself. Still, I held that it was more interesting to keep reading about this woman’s beliefs - how they intersect with absolutely real history and common modern practices in witch groups - than to close the pages with a scoff.
Expecting a history of female persecution in rural Britain, I was a little taken aback at the author’s assertions of ‘real’ witchcraft. The read is a little jarring for a sceptic like myself. Still, I held that it was more interesting to keep reading about this woman’s beliefs - how they intersect with absolutely real history and common modern practices in witch groups - than to close the pages with a scoff.
This is not a persuasive argument as to the existence of witches and magic: the author knows her own beliefs. This is a history of the world she has clearly immersed herself in - subject to the reader’s suspension of disbelief.
The graphics are enchanting; some are simpler, as though to reflect the Irish countryside where our story takes place, but the design flourishes are present in the female characters’ depictions. Clearly care has gone into the curation of this book’s overall design.
Though for the most part a cute read with a young adult tone, it is worth mentioning that Chapter 4 denotes historical witch trials across the Western world, rather explicitly describing and depicting executions in what is otherwise a kid-friendly book.
Overall, this is an interesting, quick read (with obvious darker undertones) for anyone at all curious about witch-y rituals; one I might decorate my coffee table with in October, an autumnal conversation starter, or use with older kids to introduce them to unconventional ideas about the existence of magic.