Fairy: The Otherworld by Many Names

by Morgan Daimler author of Irish Paganism

The world of Fairy has intrigued humanity across folklore and literature for as long as we have written records and into the modern period. This book seeks to detangle the convoluted history of the world of Fairy by looking at the various cultural beliefs that form the basis of the wider view and explore how those beliefs interact and impact each other. We will explore the Irish Soal Eile, Scottish Elfland, English Fairy, and Welsh Annwn before delving into modern and popcultural understandings of this Otherworld so intrinsically bound to our own.

Genres: Nonfiction, Folklore, Mythology

130 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 29, 2024

Reviews

[Jenny T · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short book, but full of great jumping-off points for further research into Irish, Scottish, Welsh, English, and other Fairy lore. Well researched with an extensive bibliography that I look forward to exploring!

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, that was an interesting history on the stories of fairies. Glad there were some rules of what to do in case one finds themselves in the “otherworld”. Fairies are just as complicated and contradictory as humans, wonder why? Ha!

[Allie Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great introduction to a number of different fairy worlds, as well as a good collection of sources at the back to loot!

[Alicia Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Daimler has given those interested in Irish myths and folklore a solid and thoroughly researched work, particularly that which refers to the Other crowd. Fairy not only lays out the popular ideas surrounding the fair folk but also draws from authentic Irish lore found in the limited textual records and writings that Daimler has spent a great deal of time translating and interpreting.
While there are probably hundreds of people worldwide who claim to be an authority on Irish folklore, Fairy, and the creatures of the Otherworld, Daimler should be at the top of any reader’s list if they want a true and accurate accounting of this beloved topic.
I have used Daimler’s works countless times while researching for my fiction novel that features heavily in Irish myths and folklore. Even though it is a work of fiction, it is incredibly important to me that I am presenting that lore as true to the source material and Irish culture as possible. Ireland has such a rich and storied history, but her people and her language are very real and deserve to be honored and respected. Daimler does this masterfully.
If you are a person with Irish ancestry or heritage, or perhaps someone who read a fictional story and wanted to delve deeper into Ireland and her tales, you must add this book to your TBR pile. You will not regret it.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you know me, you know I love fae, and I was so excited to get my hands on this book. It goes quite in-depth despite not being extremely long, and it's clear Daimler has done a lot of research. This doesn't just explore the land of fairy - it also dives into the way it's known and perceived across cultures, and throughout history. I learned some new things I hadn't come across when I was younger and first diving into the realm of fae. It also includes how Christianity influenced old beliefs, and how the view of the realm of fae has evolved in modern times. The chapters make it easy to navigate, and are invaluable if you wish to use this regularly as a reference book. I greatly appreciated the pronunciation appendix at the back. Highly recommend if you're interested in the realm or inhabits of fairy. If you want to dive deeper, the extensive bibliography gives you no shortage of things to read.

[Kindall [Unlimited] · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF p. 22 (skimmed the rest)

There's some good info here, but the author is very repetitive. For example, pages 17-19 are essentially telling us over and over that the "Otherworld" is adjoining the human world. Feels like reading a lot of page filler.

They cite a handful of books quite a lot, to the point I think I'll just pick up (Williams, 1991) and see if the information is laid out a bit more concisely.

I also found it a bit odd that multiple times the author relayed a bit of information and followed it up with "that's true, however..." as though presenting the information as (partial) fact.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not one that works with Fae even if I found this topic interesting and intriguing. I think this is a good book and one that can help you to learn a lot.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've read Morgan Daimler you know what she does. This is one of her books that lays out the lore and its sources with a minimum of personal practice notes. The historical context of the sources and the explicit look at how different cultures saw Fairy was illuminating.

[Tamara Rendell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucid, extensively researched, thoughtfully organised and clearly communicated. Daimler presents a focused picture of a complex topic and handles that complexity with immense skill and a light touch.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, well-researched, scholarly, but not anything that felt like a unique source of information.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable scholarly work. A great starting point with sources for further research.

[Jennipher Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short introduction to the folklore of the fairy world.

[Maura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good and very concise intro to fairy lore. A good starting place for both those interested in folklore or spirituality. Provideds a good bibliograhy of primary sources.