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Faeries: A History in Art, Verse, and Lore
Discover the history and mythology of faeries—across time and cultures—as well as their significance in art, poetry, and more, in this lushly illustrated volume, featuring more than 100 reproductions of artistic masterpieces.
"A field guide to the fantastic." — Kirkus
Faeries have captured the collective imagination throughout time and across cultures. Unexplained occurrences, natural phenomena, and so much more have been attributed to these beautiful, mysterious, and often mischievous creatures. Sometimes these fairies can be helpful and kindly, like the brownies of Britain, the menehune of Hawai‘i, and the domovoi of Russia. But just as often, they are seen as a threat, as we characterize a natural phenomenon into an often capricious and frequently frightening creature. The wind becomes a sylph, trees house dryads, and thunderbirds call down storms. They are to be feared and respected, appeased and dreaded in turn.
In this striking book, author Nikki Van De Car introduces readers to faeries of all stripes—helpful and unhelpful, related to the four elements, animal and shape-shifting—as well as some of the most famous figures from history, lore, and literature (from Puck to Ariel). Arranged through wonderous paintings and illustrations by legendary artists including Ruben, Turner, Rodin, Blake, and Millais, this guide features the beautiful evidence of fairies’ influence on our world. Written folklore from Shakespeare and oral storytelling add context to more than 50 creatures accompanied with tips on finding, summoning, and gaining protection from sparklingly clever fairies.
"A field guide to the fantastic." — Kirkus
Faeries have captured the collective imagination throughout time and across cultures. Unexplained occurrences, natural phenomena, and so much more have been attributed to these beautiful, mysterious, and often mischievous creatures. Sometimes these fairies can be helpful and kindly, like the brownies of Britain, the menehune of Hawai‘i, and the domovoi of Russia. But just as often, they are seen as a threat, as we characterize a natural phenomenon into an often capricious and frequently frightening creature. The wind becomes a sylph, trees house dryads, and thunderbirds call down storms. They are to be feared and respected, appeased and dreaded in turn.
In this striking book, author Nikki Van De Car introduces readers to faeries of all stripes—helpful and unhelpful, related to the four elements, animal and shape-shifting—as well as some of the most famous figures from history, lore, and literature (from Puck to Ariel). Arranged through wonderous paintings and illustrations by legendary artists including Ruben, Turner, Rodin, Blake, and Millais, this guide features the beautiful evidence of fairies’ influence on our world. Written folklore from Shakespeare and oral storytelling add context to more than 50 creatures accompanied with tips on finding, summoning, and gaining protection from sparklingly clever fairies.
288 pages, Hardcover
Published October 7, 2025
About the author
Nikki Van De Car
47 books114 followersNikki Van De Car is a blogger, knitter, and mother whose books What To Knit When You're Expecting and What To Knit: The Toddler Years chronicle the way her knitting changed as her daughter grew. Her popular knitting blog has received over 1.5 million pageviews since its inception in June 2008, and her patterns have been published in Interweave and Ply magazines, among others. Nikki lives in Hawaii with her family.
Come visit her on Instagram at @nikkivandecar and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sereknity/
Come visit her on Instagram at @nikkivandecar and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sereknity/
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 28, 2026
It is in your best interest to leave offerings #gotmilk 🥛
4.5
4.5
December 4, 2025
***Some information and illustrative components may not be suitable for young readers as well as those that are sensitive to possible crimes of the past***
Fairies: A History in Art, Verse & Lore takes a look into the realm of fae with support of existing artwork and literature to add to the entries.
I love the fact first of all the author does acknowledge that the topic is so broad that it is almost impossible to cover in one book. She then provides readers with a glimpse that fae can be found everywhere in the world and the various spelling of the basic term.
From there she does a good poke into trying to organize the fae although with another disclaimer. And from there the book quickly takes a look into elemental fae, shape-shifters and mythical animals as well as famous fae both in literature and in culture. I am still trying to figure out how I feel on these non-fae inclusions. And the book ends with a look at where fairies could be today and what it means to actually believe or not to believe in them.
Although the book is almost three hundred pages, a good chunk is dedicated to just captioned art, most by some big names. And readers will find that the author does some inclusion in the text a bit more about the piece thus weaving the book's information in a more rounded format. At the same time, though, a few pieces are mentioned that are not included.
All in all it was a captivating and fascinating read that was well-balanced with supplementary material while my only wish was that pronunciation had been included. Otherwise if you like fantasy and/or fae this book will be a treasure for you.
Fairies: A History in Art, Verse & Lore takes a look into the realm of fae with support of existing artwork and literature to add to the entries.
I love the fact first of all the author does acknowledge that the topic is so broad that it is almost impossible to cover in one book. She then provides readers with a glimpse that fae can be found everywhere in the world and the various spelling of the basic term.
From there she does a good poke into trying to organize the fae although with another disclaimer. And from there the book quickly takes a look into elemental fae, shape-shifters and mythical animals as well as famous fae both in literature and in culture. I am still trying to figure out how I feel on these non-fae inclusions. And the book ends with a look at where fairies could be today and what it means to actually believe or not to believe in them.
Although the book is almost three hundred pages, a good chunk is dedicated to just captioned art, most by some big names. And readers will find that the author does some inclusion in the text a bit more about the piece thus weaving the book's information in a more rounded format. At the same time, though, a few pieces are mentioned that are not included.
All in all it was a captivating and fascinating read that was well-balanced with supplementary material while my only wish was that pronunciation had been included. Otherwise if you like fantasy and/or fae this book will be a treasure for you.
January 14, 2026
One of the best faerie books I’ve bought! I’m so glad I took this home from the bookshop. This book is incredible, she writes in a personal, whimsical, but very informed way which is so necessary for me, and so very rare. I was expecting another dull, dry, scholarly read like every book in the modern era. But this beloved author doesn’t distance herself from the subject or us. She also presented so much deep research and many new anecdotes that I hadn’t read despite reading a lot of lore. There is so much art in here, beautiful mythic paintings and sculptures I’d never seen of fairy lovers, peris the Persian faeries, rusalki gathering by a lake, nixies on a lily pad. Then, with it the most beautiful romantic verse on nearly every page, steeped in lore. My two great loves - poetry and art. I love her for not going for just objective facts and including so much poetry and poetics. I am so deeply enjoying this book and am glad I have made today a day of studying the fae. It’s amazing how when a book actually resonates with you, and is written in a charming way, you actually do read it all, rather than veer away to your phone. I find I can’t stop reading it! Thank you so much Nikki for a very beloved book.
February 20, 2026
“It's so easy not to believe in faeries. It's so simple to say, ‘Of course fairytales aren't real’—because how could they be? […] Of course they aren't true.
And yet, of course they are true, because we have told and retold them so many times they have made up the core of who we are. […]
That joy is the gift we receive when we allow the possibility of faeries.
In believing, or even just entertaining the notion of faeries, we walk in a world filled with mystery and enchantment. We remain connected to our ancestors through the stories they told and carry their wisdom with us when we tell them again and again. Faeries were here before us, if the myths are to be believed, and they will remain here long after.“
And yet, of course they are true, because we have told and retold them so many times they have made up the core of who we are. […]
That joy is the gift we receive when we allow the possibility of faeries.
In believing, or even just entertaining the notion of faeries, we walk in a world filled with mystery and enchantment. We remain connected to our ancestors through the stories they told and carry their wisdom with us when we tell them again and again. Faeries were here before us, if the myths are to be believed, and they will remain here long after.“
August 22, 2026
Gorgeous art throughout, and while still slanted Western European in the fae folk discussed, it did include faeries from other continents.
I wished for either more detail on the faeries included or a bit less detail on all so as to include more - the book sits at an interesting place where it's not a comprehensive dictionary or field guide, but yet it's not a comprehensive study of the selected entries either.
Still, though, it feels more updated and inclusive than my well-worn copy of Good Faeries/Bad Faeries, and I'm very very grateful for its existence.
I wished for either more detail on the faeries included or a bit less detail on all so as to include more - the book sits at an interesting place where it's not a comprehensive dictionary or field guide, but yet it's not a comprehensive study of the selected entries either.
Still, though, it feels more updated and inclusive than my well-worn copy of Good Faeries/Bad Faeries, and I'm very very grateful for its existence.
January 26, 2026
somewhere between coffee table book and field guide. but also not really a compendium? it’s a fun collection of modern definition, artwork, and literary sources, so there’s not a particular focus per se, but brief summaries. to van de car’s credit, it left me wanting -more-. shin megami tensei fans will recognize a lot of the subjects offered. worth a read or at the very least flipping through—i was going to say a kid would love going through this, but a good deal of the history is adult in nature, so…maybe not, but it’s art, americans love censoring both. i don’t know how to rate “cool book” so placeholder 3 star.
January 26, 2026
This is an adult summary of many mythical creatures and characters…it wasn’t as involved or rather didn’t explore as deeply into the rich history for any of the topics as I would’ve expected given it was a whole book devoted to it. I did enjoy the highlights on Manannán Mac Lir and Oisín though.
May 27, 2026
This was really good first folklore book for me to familiarise myself on all the different faeries. The art associated with all of them is amazing as well!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews