The Little Book of Faeries: An Enchanting Introduction to the World of Fae Folk

by Mel Barren

Step into the enchanting world of faeries, pixies, sprites and more with this beginner's guide to the history and mythology of fae folk

People have long been mesmerized by the magic and mystery of faeries. From the winged spirits of Persian mythology to Shakespeare's forest-dwelling troublemakers, there's something about these beguiling creatures that has captured our attention for centuries.

Prepare yourself for a spellbinding adventure into the faerie realm with this essential introduction to all things fae. Just like the creatures themselves, this book is pocket-sized and full of magic, mirth and mischief.

Inside you will
- The fascinating history and origins of faerie folklore
- The different characteristics and classifications of faerie, including pixies, brownies, dwarfs and more
- An overview of the legendary tales that shaped how faeries are viewed across different mythologies
- A summary of faerie depictions in the twentieth century and beyond, from the works of Tolkien to J. M. Barrie

For a reading experience filled with sparkle and wonder, all you need is this book, a comfortable chair, and a sprinkle of faerie dust.

128 pages, Paperback

Published November 19, 2024

Reviews

[Ace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty helpful for what it is. It also has further readings mentioned if this piques your interest. Easy to sit down and read in one sitting to get a grasp on basic faerie lore :)

[Lauren Milian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and fun

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very pretty, but it’s not doing anything particularly interesting or groundbreaking. I’m not sure I learned much, and it was very Eurocentric.

[Lenno Vranken · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Faeries, come take me out of this dull world,
For I would ride with you upon the wind,
Run on the top of the dishevelled tide,
And dance upon the mountains like a flame!"
-William Butler Yeats

Review in Nederlands + Engels!

(NL)
Ik moet bekennen dat ik sceptisch was over de inhoud van dit boekje. De prachtige cover en het mooie binnenwerk overtuigden mij echter om dit werk toe te voegen aan mijn bibliotheek.
Ik zal meteen duidelijk maken dat ondanks het kleine formaat, dit boekje is gevuld met een schat aan informatie. Deze informatie wordt echter beperkt gehouden, met aanleiding voor verdere research (mocht de lezer meer te weten willen komen over een bepaald onderwerp).
De tekst lijkt geschreven te zijn voor enthousiastelingen van Wicca en hekserij, wat ik leuk vond. En hoewel ik ongeveer 95% van de gegeven informatie al wist, kon dit werk mij toch nog het een en het ander bijbrengen.
Een rating van 4 sterren, dus!

(ENG)
I must confess that I was sceptical about the contents of this little book. However, the stunning cover and beautiful interior convinced me to add this work to my library.
I will clarify right away that despite its small size, this booklet is filled with a wealth of information. However, this information is kept limited, with reason for further research (should the reader wish to learn more about a particular topic).
It seems to be written for enthusiasts of Wicca and witchcraft, which I liked. And although I already knew about 95% of the information given, this work could still teach me a thing or two.
A rating of 4 stars, then!

[Rhys Causon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book suffers from the same problem as most “Little Books of X” or “Introductions to Y”, it talks about a lot of information but can’t dive deeply into any of it because of the format of the book (though if it didn’t have a stock image on nearly every page there may have been some more information throughout).

However on the plus side, it does talk about how Fairies weren’t always as cute and “Family Friendly” as they are today, which I enjoy. As I’ve said in other reviews for Fairy related stuff, I like the darker aspects of fairy lore.

And though this is more of a scattershot look at the topic it does mention some other books that people may be interested in checking out after.

[Luce McDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘To believe in faeries is to connect with nature.’ This book is a perfect first step into the world of fae or as a refresher for those who already have an interest.

The author gives a great surface level of information that has an honest depiction of faerie lore and where it came from as well as the reflections on how we approach our belief in these wild and magical creatures today.

A really lovely little read!

[Phoebe Thompson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok 2 issues

- they said that traditional Celtic stories and folklore became less popular due to "modern life" or some BS like that - reslly weird euphemism for British colonialism?
- didn't mention anything about the antisemetic origins of goblins

Both feel like a desire to be apolitical rather than truthful perhaps to avoid controversy. It doesn't feel like its aimed towards children which might’ve made more sense to be euphemistic

[readinglara_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super süßes Buch, welches interessante Informationen über alle möglichen Faeries gibt.
Man erfährt welche Arten es gibt, wie sich die Perspektive in der Geschichte geändert hat und auch welche Mythen es in welchen Gebieten auf der Welt gab.