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Unfamiliar Familiars: Extraordinary Animal Companions for the Modern Witch
Unfamiliar Familiars is a comprehensive and humorous handbook to finding and caring for the unconventional animal companion.
This guide will help you find the animal best suited to your personality and particular magical needs.
Animals include a narwhal (strong in clairvoyance and fencing), an albatross (best for sea-faring witches), or an earthworm (for garden-based magic and fish summoning).
• Features real-world facts with a playful, magical spin
• Includes a helpful quiz for finding your own familiar
• Brimming with suggested names, strengths, weaknesses, and more
Forget the toads and black Every witch is unique, so shouldn't you have a familiar as one-of-a-kind and extraordinary as yourself?
Unfamiliar Familiars is an entertaining and educational guide to a menagerie of magical, less-appreciated creatures that may just become your ideal partner in the arcane arts.
• Filled with quirky, charming watercolor illustrations
• Perfect gift for anyone who wants to find their own familiar, just as they love learning about their own horoscope, zodiac reading, or Pottermore Patronus
• Sure to delight animal lovers who have a sense of humor
• A visually gorgeous book that will be at home on the shelf or on the coffee table as a conversation starter
• Add it to the shelf with books like Sad Animal Facts by Brooke Barker; Basic How to Summon Success, Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with Your Coven by Jaya Saxena and Jess Zimmerman; and The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck and Guidebook by Kim Krans.
This guide will help you find the animal best suited to your personality and particular magical needs.
Animals include a narwhal (strong in clairvoyance and fencing), an albatross (best for sea-faring witches), or an earthworm (for garden-based magic and fish summoning).
• Features real-world facts with a playful, magical spin
• Includes a helpful quiz for finding your own familiar
• Brimming with suggested names, strengths, weaknesses, and more
Forget the toads and black Every witch is unique, so shouldn't you have a familiar as one-of-a-kind and extraordinary as yourself?
Unfamiliar Familiars is an entertaining and educational guide to a menagerie of magical, less-appreciated creatures that may just become your ideal partner in the arcane arts.
• Filled with quirky, charming watercolor illustrations
• Perfect gift for anyone who wants to find their own familiar, just as they love learning about their own horoscope, zodiac reading, or Pottermore Patronus
• Sure to delight animal lovers who have a sense of humor
• A visually gorgeous book that will be at home on the shelf or on the coffee table as a conversation starter
• Add it to the shelf with books like Sad Animal Facts by Brooke Barker; Basic How to Summon Success, Banish Drama, and Raise Hell with Your Coven by Jaya Saxena and Jess Zimmerman; and The Wild Unknown Animal Spirit Deck and Guidebook by Kim Krans.
96 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
July 29, 2020
Always treat nature with respect, and be true to the one-of-a-kind witch you truly are.
For years now I've been distraught as I haven't been able to figure out the identity of my Spirit Animal. I mean, anyone who loves all critters as much as I do should have one, right? But, recently I've come to the conclusion that perhaps this idea is too "New Agey" for cynical old me, and that a familiar is more my style - something along the lines of a minion/partner-in-crime. This clever book is packed with suggestions for creatures you might never have considered as familiar material, like capybaras, chickens, and cicadas. (And those are just the ones starting with the letter C.)
What to choose, what to choose? I was somewhat tempted by the turkey vulture, though with that lack-of-opposable-thumbs thing it seems like I'd be doing most of the heavy lifting. (I will definitely NOT be paling around with the Capuchin Monkey - I still have scars from being chomped on once by my mother's pet.) Honestly, none of these animals seemed like the perfect fit for me. I have a feeling I just might find my perfect familiar waiting for me at the animal shelter.
This is just a fun little book that would make a great gift. I really got a kick out of it, and I"m looking forward to having a paper copy of my own.
This book will be available September 1st. Many thanks to Netgalley, and the publisher for this sneak peek.
For years now I've been distraught as I haven't been able to figure out the identity of my Spirit Animal. I mean, anyone who loves all critters as much as I do should have one, right? But, recently I've come to the conclusion that perhaps this idea is too "New Agey" for cynical old me, and that a familiar is more my style - something along the lines of a minion/partner-in-crime. This clever book is packed with suggestions for creatures you might never have considered as familiar material, like capybaras, chickens, and cicadas. (And those are just the ones starting with the letter C.)
What to choose, what to choose? I was somewhat tempted by the turkey vulture, though with that lack-of-opposable-thumbs thing it seems like I'd be doing most of the heavy lifting. (I will definitely NOT be paling around with the Capuchin Monkey - I still have scars from being chomped on once by my mother's pet.) Honestly, none of these animals seemed like the perfect fit for me. I have a feeling I just might find my perfect familiar waiting for me at the animal shelter.
This is just a fun little book that would make a great gift. I really got a kick out of it, and I"m looking forward to having a paper copy of my own.
This book will be available September 1st. Many thanks to Netgalley, and the publisher for this sneak peek.
August 25, 2020
I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.
Sorry, but how can one just resist a sloth upside down on a broom? Raise your hands, if you dare. No one, good! Plus, I love that this book is about familiars and seemingly not about the standard you generally have (cats, dogs, demons in some form, rats, snakes), but about all sorts of familiars.
I had a big laugh at the introduction and how the author told you about two ways to find your perfect familiar. One meant maiming the book into a swan and sending it on its way and what came back would be perfect for you. Or you could just not harm the book and follow the flowchart. While I was tempted (shock face) to try out origami, I couldn’t as this book is an ebook. 😛 The flowchart it is, though I have to say I think that one would also have worked better in normal book as now I see one page each time and have to remember my spot.
Before I decided to just casually stroll through the book and check out all the familiars I decided to follow the flowchart and see what animals I would get. First try, Sunbear! I do love Sunbears so I was delighted this one was my first animal. I do love the sun and love being outside. Next up I tried following another path to see what my familiar would be if I had picked another route. Next up was a Burrowing Owl, awww! Yes! That one also fitted me. In the summer all I wear if I am outside are sandals. Plus I just love owls!
Now I knew what the flowchart would grant me, I decided to check the book itself and scroll through seeing if I could find more animals which may be a familiar to me.
I loved how each animal has various parts to explain about the animal. From what kind of witch the animal partners (which at times feature hilarious things like this one on the Axolotls (Witches who cry during insurance commercials) well with to suggested names (from cute names to hilarious ones to very serious ones) to elements and more. It was great fun to get so much information and to read all about the animals. Each animal also has an illustration and I just Love the style, it really fitted the animals and I just wanted to reach out and pet a couple of them (never pet bees though :P).
All in all, I would highly recommend this fun and delightful book to all. I am sad that I reached the ending, I wouldn’t have minded many more familiars and reading all about them. Hopefully one day we will get more from these two authors. crosses fingers
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Sorry, but how can one just resist a sloth upside down on a broom? Raise your hands, if you dare. No one, good! Plus, I love that this book is about familiars and seemingly not about the standard you generally have (cats, dogs, demons in some form, rats, snakes), but about all sorts of familiars.
I had a big laugh at the introduction and how the author told you about two ways to find your perfect familiar. One meant maiming the book into a swan and sending it on its way and what came back would be perfect for you. Or you could just not harm the book and follow the flowchart. While I was tempted (shock face) to try out origami, I couldn’t as this book is an ebook. 😛 The flowchart it is, though I have to say I think that one would also have worked better in normal book as now I see one page each time and have to remember my spot.
Before I decided to just casually stroll through the book and check out all the familiars I decided to follow the flowchart and see what animals I would get. First try, Sunbear! I do love Sunbears so I was delighted this one was my first animal. I do love the sun and love being outside. Next up I tried following another path to see what my familiar would be if I had picked another route. Next up was a Burrowing Owl, awww! Yes! That one also fitted me. In the summer all I wear if I am outside are sandals. Plus I just love owls!
Now I knew what the flowchart would grant me, I decided to check the book itself and scroll through seeing if I could find more animals which may be a familiar to me.
I loved how each animal has various parts to explain about the animal. From what kind of witch the animal partners (which at times feature hilarious things like this one on the Axolotls (Witches who cry during insurance commercials) well with to suggested names (from cute names to hilarious ones to very serious ones) to elements and more. It was great fun to get so much information and to read all about the animals. Each animal also has an illustration and I just Love the style, it really fitted the animals and I just wanted to reach out and pet a couple of them (never pet bees though :P).
All in all, I would highly recommend this fun and delightful book to all. I am sad that I reached the ending, I wouldn’t have minded many more familiars and reading all about them. Hopefully one day we will get more from these two authors. crosses fingers
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
July 25, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
I wasn't expecting anything when I first opened this book, I just wanted a quick and relaxing read - and the cover attracted me! This book is beautiful to look at, and the title is intriguing.
I didn't know it was a humorous book: it surprised me, and I couldn't help smiling all along! It was sweet and refreshing!
It was original, trying to get off the beaten track - I think I never read a book like this before! -, funny and well researched!
The illustrations throughout the book are sweet and beautiful! I wasn't even afraid of the spider, that's saying something!
It's also an inspiring book: some ideas, even if they are meant to be funny, push the reader to imagine what it would be in a novel.
Finally, I loved the references for each entry: a shoebill stork named Poe, a pig named Napoleon or an albatross named Coleridge for instance!
So, I had a good time reading Unfamiliar Familiars!
I wasn't expecting anything when I first opened this book, I just wanted a quick and relaxing read - and the cover attracted me! This book is beautiful to look at, and the title is intriguing.
I didn't know it was a humorous book: it surprised me, and I couldn't help smiling all along! It was sweet and refreshing!
It was original, trying to get off the beaten track - I think I never read a book like this before! -, funny and well researched!
The illustrations throughout the book are sweet and beautiful! I wasn't even afraid of the spider, that's saying something!
It's also an inspiring book: some ideas, even if they are meant to be funny, push the reader to imagine what it would be in a novel.
Finally, I loved the references for each entry: a shoebill stork named Poe, a pig named Napoleon or an albatross named Coleridge for instance!
So, I had a good time reading Unfamiliar Familiars!
May 19, 2020
This is a really fun, silly book that will help you find your nontraditional witchy familiar. I can see it appealing to kids, teens, witches and animal lovers with a sense of humor. It's all tongue in cheek but it's pretty well done, with lots of details for each animal and what makes it best suited for some people. Big, full page color illustrations depict each animal and they're charming and well done.
I've decided my spirit animal is the axolotl. It partners well with people who cry during insurance commercials (wince, that's me), its strengths include body part regeneration (okay, less so), elemental magic and smiling, and its weaknesses are gill sensitivity, an overly trusting nature and sunburns. Also, it's just really cute and it makes me smile. (See, smiling.) ;)
Great fun, and it makes me grin in a time when I like things that make me grin.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
I've decided my spirit animal is the axolotl. It partners well with people who cry during insurance commercials (wince, that's me), its strengths include body part regeneration (okay, less so), elemental magic and smiling, and its weaknesses are gill sensitivity, an overly trusting nature and sunburns. Also, it's just really cute and it makes me smile. (See, smiling.) ;)
Great fun, and it makes me grin in a time when I like things that make me grin.
I read a temporary digital ARC of this book for review.
May 5, 2020
A must have for a wannabe witch.
Unfamiliar Familiars: Extraordinary Animal Companions for the Modern Witch will help you find your familiar. It lists each familiar's strengths, weaknesses and characteristics. Book also includes a quiz (just to make sure you pick the right familiar) and wonderful illustrations.
A great gift and a conversation starter that's also educational... A true must have.
Oh, and my familiar is a lobster.
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unfamiliar Familiars: Extraordinary Animal Companions for the Modern Witch will help you find your familiar. It lists each familiar's strengths, weaknesses and characteristics. Book also includes a quiz (just to make sure you pick the right familiar) and wonderful illustrations.
A great gift and a conversation starter that's also educational... A true must have.
Oh, and my familiar is a lobster.
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 11, 2020
2.5 stars. The pros for this are: great concept, great art. So yeah, really great concept, not so great execution. I was super excited about this book, but it’s not what I expected. I know this is supposed to be for a younger audience, but it felt like it was written for a very immature older audience. The copy I read was obviously a very rough draft, so I shouldn’t complain too much about the formatting as I’m sure that stuff will be corrected, but the formatting was just… not great. Even for an uncorrected proof. I hate writing negative reviews, but I feel like I need to be honest about it. I know that this book will be really great for a lot of readers, but it just does not mesh with my personality. Again, I absolutely love the idea of this book, I just wish it had been written with a more mature humor.
June 12, 2020
ARC provided by NetGalley
Sometimes you just need to dive into an adorable little read like this one. Especially if the cover features a sloth swinging from a flying broom above the words animal companions and modern witch. I was lured right away.
Unfamiliar Familiars is an imaginative collection of forty familiars, aka witchy companions. Each one comes with a hint of irony, a delightful illustration and a dedicated page of peculiar traits, charateristics and a list of possible names. A lot of the names associations were actually hilarious, for example Joanna for the monitor lizard (if you don't get the reference, you're not a Disney nerd and you should definitely fix that). The best part though is finding your ideal familiar. I'm still not 100% sure about mine, but the quokka looks like quite a nice match.
Since the idea at the foundation of this book is so brilliant and I enjoyed it a lot, I was a tad disappointed that the content wasn't further developed. The "pokédex format" was lovely but personally I would've appreciated more detail, and perhaps some additional illustrations. It feels a little bit incomplete as it is now. Nevertheless, a cute read!
Sometimes you just need to dive into an adorable little read like this one. Especially if the cover features a sloth swinging from a flying broom above the words animal companions and modern witch. I was lured right away.
Unfamiliar Familiars is an imaginative collection of forty familiars, aka witchy companions. Each one comes with a hint of irony, a delightful illustration and a dedicated page of peculiar traits, charateristics and a list of possible names. A lot of the names associations were actually hilarious, for example Joanna for the monitor lizard (if you don't get the reference, you're not a Disney nerd and you should definitely fix that). The best part though is finding your ideal familiar. I'm still not 100% sure about mine, but the quokka looks like quite a nice match.
Since the idea at the foundation of this book is so brilliant and I enjoyed it a lot, I was a tad disappointed that the content wasn't further developed. The "pokédex format" was lovely but personally I would've appreciated more detail, and perhaps some additional illustrations. It feels a little bit incomplete as it is now. Nevertheless, a cute read!
September 27, 2020
Are you a witch in need a familiar? Do you ache to be creative and have a familiar with more pizzazz than a cat or a crow? Then this fun, frothy book with its sweet illustrations is for you.
I loved how "Unfamiliar Familiars" introduces readers to creatures that might be new to them--such as the axolotl, capybara, dik-dik, and Leafy Sea Dragon--while also promoting a respect for nature and a sense of fun and curiosity. I especially enjoyed the list of suggested names for a each familiar as well as the notes on each of their strengths ("thunderbolts") and weaknesses ("constant hunger").
This would be a perfect book for a group of tween girls to read together but can be enjoyed by anyone of any age.
Now if you'll excuse me, my flying fox Stellaluna and I have mischief to create.
I loved how "Unfamiliar Familiars" introduces readers to creatures that might be new to them--such as the axolotl, capybara, dik-dik, and Leafy Sea Dragon--while also promoting a respect for nature and a sense of fun and curiosity. I especially enjoyed the list of suggested names for a each familiar as well as the notes on each of their strengths ("thunderbolts") and weaknesses ("constant hunger").
This would be a perfect book for a group of tween girls to read together but can be enjoyed by anyone of any age.
Now if you'll excuse me, my flying fox Stellaluna and I have mischief to create.
July 9, 2020
FYI: Mine is Tortoise.
ARC provided by NetGalley
ARC provided by NetGalley
May 6, 2020
This is a beautifully illustrated book featuring some unique familiars for your spiritual ways. It starts out with a flow chart helping you find your perfect familiar. Mine was a Leafy Sea Dragon aka a Chaos Wrangler. When I got to the page featuring this creature it said that it partners well with “witches whose favorite color is rainbow”. Why yes I do say rainbow and glitter are my favorite colors and Chaos Wrangler?! I’m a teacher so yeah a perfect match for me. A few more fun ones I saw were the Lobster, for Salty Witches, and a Hippo for witches who adore a river mud face mask. Each familiar has an element, Star sign, suggested names, strengths and weakness as well as a quirky blurb. Thanks so much to Netgalley, Chronicle Books, and Megan Lynn Knott and Justin DeVine for this arc in return for my hinest review.
June 17, 2020
I walked into Unfamiliar Familiars thinking it was a children’s book about the supposed magical abilities of animals which I thought would be so cute. But I got way more than I bargained for because this is an adult humor based book. I loved the quiz at the beginning to determine your familiar or the other method mentioned using pages from the book put under your pillow. The illustrations of each familiar are cute as can be and the descriptions are short but well thought out and comical. My favorite aspect of each familiar was the suggested partnering for a familiar, such as “Witches who know more than two sea shanties by heart,” and, “Witches who intentionally spoil tv shows”. Overall, this is a fun, quick book for any reader that enjoys witchcraft, humor, or illustrated books.
May 5, 2020
Because I have a moon and stars tattoo (I won’t say where) and am lactose intolerant, I discovered my spirit animal is a turkey vulture. According to Megan Lynn Kott and Justin DeVine, the authors of Unfamiliar Familiars: Extraordinary Animal Companions for the Modern Witch, turkey vultures partner well with witches who always have hand sanitizer at the ready. That’s me especially in times of pandemic. This book is a satire of spirit animal dictionaries and books of magical correspondences for spell work. It has a handy-dandy flow chart filled with forced choice answers to weird (and witty) questions. Your choices will lead you to your familiar. The 40 familiars range from the albatross and the burrowing owl to the Earthworm, the Lobster and the Sloth (Two-toed). As one would expect, each familiar has a portrait, a description, an element and star sign as well as suggested names, strengths, and weaknesses. Some of these sections are more humorous than others, but I found “partners with” for each animal to be consistently funny. Unfamiliar Familiars would make a great gift for a witch with a sense of humor or a fan of ultra-spiritual comedian, JP Sears.
February 27, 2023
This book is really cute and made me giggle. I love the humor in the strengths, weaknesses, names, descriptions and other silly moments of the creatures. The design and illustrations of the book I love as well.
But sometimes I don't know what to make of this. I feel like I'm missing some silly jokes by maybe not being the reader the author's aimed for, but then I feel guilty for thinking this is a joke to them. Although they can't genuinely believe you have to destroy this book in order to seriously attempt to find your familiar. That falls into the 'stuff we didn't know so we made it up' part, right?
I bought this book for story ideas for familiars, but I am genuinely interested in the feminism and grounding aspect of witchcraft. So I really tried to have an open mind and take this seriously, but now I do feel like that's on me and this really is just a silly book about cute familiars. Which is what I bought it for in the first place. After reading it I'm still not sure this is seriously meant for witches to use or just some incrowd joke. I did like it however, but some parts of it I really am not sure how to take (probably not as serious as I am right now).
But sometimes I don't know what to make of this. I feel like I'm missing some silly jokes by maybe not being the reader the author's aimed for, but then I feel guilty for thinking this is a joke to them. Although they can't genuinely believe you have to destroy this book in order to seriously attempt to find your familiar. That falls into the 'stuff we didn't know so we made it up' part, right?
I bought this book for story ideas for familiars, but I am genuinely interested in the feminism and grounding aspect of witchcraft. So I really tried to have an open mind and take this seriously, but now I do feel like that's on me and this really is just a silly book about cute familiars. Which is what I bought it for in the first place. After reading it I'm still not sure this is seriously meant for witches to use or just some incrowd joke. I did like it however, but some parts of it I really am not sure how to take (probably not as serious as I am right now).
June 26, 2020
A witty little book! There are great illustrations and the tone is quite funny. I literally LOL’d at “Bees - weakness - pesticides and global warming”.
Highlights include a survey to match you to your familiar, I got an axolotl (unlikely for me to find out here in AZ) and they have some adorable and “unfamiliar” choices!
This is a fun and appropriate for people (re: witches & warlocks) of all ages but I’d most recommend it for young adults and middle grade readers. It’s a modern and sassy read with cool familiars and fun facts! I really enjoyed it all the way through!
+ THERE’S A HEDGEHOG! Love, love, love.
Overall, super adorable and enjoyable & the cover art (& all art) is 5/5.
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*.
Highlights include a survey to match you to your familiar, I got an axolotl (unlikely for me to find out here in AZ) and they have some adorable and “unfamiliar” choices!
This is a fun and appropriate for people (re: witches & warlocks) of all ages but I’d most recommend it for young adults and middle grade readers. It’s a modern and sassy read with cool familiars and fun facts! I really enjoyed it all the way through!
+ THERE’S A HEDGEHOG! Love, love, love.
Overall, super adorable and enjoyable & the cover art (& all art) is 5/5.
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*.
July 8, 2020
Unfamiliar Familiar is a very witty, funny book to help you find your familiar. If maybe you were looking for one jokingly. I was paired up with a Leafy Sea Dragon... But honestly by the description I loved the Badger the best. As the book says though, I'll stay away from the Honey Badger. I know this was all meant as a joke, but I was a little surprised to see after reading the description and deciding that this one would have been mine, that the sign is for a Taurus, which is what I am. Awesomeness to that little bit of coincidence.
July 31, 2020
This rating/review is based on an advanced copy from Netgalley and Chronicle books.
I want more! This is a really fun, silly guide to animals. There is an absolutely tremendous flow chart to help you choose your familiar, and tons of little jokes everywhere. A couple of the suggested names made me genuinely laugh. I definitely enjoyed this, but it seems very short. It's almost like this is a section of a larger work. I want there to be more content, either about familiars or about witchcraft.
I want more! This is a really fun, silly guide to animals. There is an absolutely tremendous flow chart to help you choose your familiar, and tons of little jokes everywhere. A couple of the suggested names made me genuinely laugh. I definitely enjoyed this, but it seems very short. It's almost like this is a section of a larger work. I want there to be more content, either about familiars or about witchcraft.
May 4, 2020
Anything with a sloth on it is definitely going to pull me in. This book was cute. But also why? It really is kind of just a Buzzfeed quiz/listicle in print. Little humorous quips paired with animals and basic personality traits as presented by a brief quiz. This is one you would probably only flip through once.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the Advanced Reading Copy.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the Advanced Reading Copy.
June 27, 2020
This was really cute! I’ve always been intrigued by the concept of a familiar, so I figured I’d give this book a read. I love the variety of animals and the little descriptions, especially the name suggestions. It was a little whimsical but overall an interesting read! Now I want a familiar to come into my life, or maybe it has already?
September 13, 2020
Go beyond black cats and frogs to find your familiar (mine is apparently a Leafy Sea Dragon)
August 26, 2021
This book was hilarious! It has an irreverent conversational tone that I really enjoyed.
November 22, 2024
A little cute and silly.
August 11, 2020
This book has really cute illustrations of all unfamiliar familiars and a fun quiz spread where you can find out which of the unfamiliar magical animals is your familiar.
The text is quite witty and whimsical, and I'll be calling my lobster Dr. Who.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Chronicle Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The text is quite witty and whimsical, and I'll be calling my lobster Dr. Who.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Chronicle Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2020
I may be biased, but I like it!
September 22, 2020
Such a great book on the amazing creatures out there in the world that can mold into the role for a witch's familiar! The facts for the animals and the real world dangers they face were really great, I thought. It's all fun and games until someone dapples into animal cruelty and we are just not about that!! The fact that handling or transporting quokkas is illegal was a great addition. As was the fact of not feeding red squirrels any acorns as this would cause tummy-aches.
I seriously loved everything about this book. The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous and so so cute, the water-painting was amazing! I loved the tiny pictures for each page of descriptions, especially the one for the playtpus! That tiny face on the bill of the playpus was so cute, I'm so glad I caught that! The magical abilities of all these wonderful creatures was also shared with details of their strengths and weakness, along with suggestion of cute names for the animals. Like for the platypus; their strengths include twenty questions! I think the Persian cat is definitely Hermione Granger's familiar, or at least it looks like Crookshanks... I also liked the 'soil-mate' for the earthworm familiar page. The fact that the Seal page was literally, life with a seal familiar would be all ocean fun and games as the reader would assume and that was it, that really is how it is; and that they pair well with witches who prefer their soup in a bread bowl; loved it! I liked how one of the Dik-dik's weaknesses was 'an inability to ride most rollercoasters' as if there are some out there that they can ride. The Flying Fox familiar would pair well with witches who own black lace parasols was also a great detail. And of course, on of the weaknesses of the Two-toed sloth were slow high-fives, awwwww.
Like I said, I loved everything about this book, but the descriptions were the best, no doubt. I've shared a few below that I absolutely adored with the disclaimer, at the request of the authors, that these quotes were taken from an unedited, ARC version of the book:
I just adore this book and I love everything about it, it's clever, witty, factual, fun, and of course insanely indulgent in the love of animals.
I also love their closing point that we should "always treat nature with respect, and be true to the one-of-a-kind with you truly are." It's an excellent point and I love their addition of their own familiars.
This is a one-of-a-kind book that is right for all ages, especially those who will appreciate the humor and the effort the authors went to make this book real.
*Thank you to the publishers; Chronicle Books, the authors; Megan Lynn Kott and Justin DeVine, and to Netgalley for my free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I seriously loved everything about this book. The illustrations were absolutely gorgeous and so so cute, the water-painting was amazing! I loved the tiny pictures for each page of descriptions, especially the one for the playtpus! That tiny face on the bill of the playpus was so cute, I'm so glad I caught that! The magical abilities of all these wonderful creatures was also shared with details of their strengths and weakness, along with suggestion of cute names for the animals. Like for the platypus; their strengths include twenty questions! I think the Persian cat is definitely Hermione Granger's familiar, or at least it looks like Crookshanks... I also liked the 'soil-mate' for the earthworm familiar page. The fact that the Seal page was literally, life with a seal familiar would be all ocean fun and games as the reader would assume and that was it, that really is how it is; and that they pair well with witches who prefer their soup in a bread bowl; loved it! I liked how one of the Dik-dik's weaknesses was 'an inability to ride most rollercoasters' as if there are some out there that they can ride. The Flying Fox familiar would pair well with witches who own black lace parasols was also a great detail. And of course, on of the weaknesses of the Two-toed sloth were slow high-fives, awwwww.
Like I said, I loved everything about this book, but the descriptions were the best, no doubt. I've shared a few below that I absolutely adored with the disclaimer, at the request of the authors, that these quotes were taken from an unedited, ARC version of the book:
I just adore this book and I love everything about it, it's clever, witty, factual, fun, and of course insanely indulgent in the love of animals.
I also love their closing point that we should "always treat nature with respect, and be true to the one-of-a-kind with you truly are." It's an excellent point and I love their addition of their own familiars.
This is a one-of-a-kind book that is right for all ages, especially those who will appreciate the humor and the effort the authors went to make this book real.
*Thank you to the publishers; Chronicle Books, the authors; Megan Lynn Kott and Justin DeVine, and to Netgalley for my free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 17, 2020
NOTE: Thanks to Chronicle Books and the authors for providing me an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! Any quote used in this review is taken from the e-ARC, and the final print of the book may differ.
Before I go on with my review, I would like to let everyone know that previous me would maybe say that "oh, this familiar is my spirit animal," but I've learned that the term "spirit animal" is special to certain cultures and is best to not be used by individuals who aren't part of such cultures because we don't fully understand its meanings. It's important to take note of this because when it comes to animal content that we consume—especially on social media—, people would usually signify that they relate so much to a certain animal by saying that said animal is their "spirit animal." We have to continually learn to be more conscious and respectful of various cultures.
Giving justice to its title, Unfamiliar Familiars: Extraordinary Animal Companions for the Modern Witch by Megan Lynn Kott & Justin DeVine is a fun and educational read that provides us with various familiars that aren't usually seen in current forms of media. Now, if you're unsure what a familiar is, please know that it is an animal or entity that helps someone, usually a witch, in their magical journey. Familiars could be compared to the daemons, or animal companions, in HBO's His Dark Materials TV series, which is, of course, based on Philip Pullman's book series of the same name.
As someone fairly new to the magic community, I loved this book so much! The familiars which I'm familiar with (pun intended) are usually the black cat, barn owl, and snakes to name a few. It's refreshing to be able to read more about other forms of familiars that exist. From lobsters to dik-diks to axolotls, this book was able to name familiars that one wouldn't usually see as a familiar. Of course, it would do us good to remember that although we may want to have a specific familiar in mind, we cannot force any entity to be our familiar. The connection has to happen naturally, or spiritually.
The provided illustrations that came with each familiar were also well done. They were created beautifully, and I took my time staring at each of them. It was a somewhat reflective experience, which felt really good.
As a Filipino, I would love to be able to read a Filipino counterpart of this—one that would focus on familiars endemic in the Philippines. Although, it's also possible that one such book exists already, and I am simply unaware.
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Before I go on with my review, I would like to let everyone know that previous me would maybe say that "oh, this familiar is my spirit animal," but I've learned that the term "spirit animal" is special to certain cultures and is best to not be used by individuals who aren't part of such cultures because we don't fully understand its meanings. It's important to take note of this because when it comes to animal content that we consume—especially on social media—, people would usually signify that they relate so much to a certain animal by saying that said animal is their "spirit animal." We have to continually learn to be more conscious and respectful of various cultures.
Giving justice to its title, Unfamiliar Familiars: Extraordinary Animal Companions for the Modern Witch by Megan Lynn Kott & Justin DeVine is a fun and educational read that provides us with various familiars that aren't usually seen in current forms of media. Now, if you're unsure what a familiar is, please know that it is an animal or entity that helps someone, usually a witch, in their magical journey. Familiars could be compared to the daemons, or animal companions, in HBO's His Dark Materials TV series, which is, of course, based on Philip Pullman's book series of the same name.
As someone fairly new to the magic community, I loved this book so much! The familiars which I'm familiar with (pun intended) are usually the black cat, barn owl, and snakes to name a few. It's refreshing to be able to read more about other forms of familiars that exist. From lobsters to dik-diks to axolotls, this book was able to name familiars that one wouldn't usually see as a familiar. Of course, it would do us good to remember that although we may want to have a specific familiar in mind, we cannot force any entity to be our familiar. The connection has to happen naturally, or spiritually.
The provided illustrations that came with each familiar were also well done. They were created beautifully, and I took my time staring at each of them. It was a somewhat reflective experience, which felt really good.
As a Filipino, I would love to be able to read a Filipino counterpart of this—one that would focus on familiars endemic in the Philippines. Although, it's also possible that one such book exists already, and I am simply unaware.
FOLLOW ME FOR MORE WAILS: Instagram | Twitter | Goodreads | WordPress
July 29, 2020
Unfamiliar Familiars by Megan Lynn Kott & Justin Devine was an amusing read. I loved all the unusual animals listed. Especially the tardigrade!! I adore tardigrades. Even moreso after Star Trek Discovery featured a gigantic cousin of our little 'water bears'. I'm a magical practitioner myself, however, and I was a little disappointed that there wasn't a mention that this way of familiar finding isn't the only way, merely one of many. The spell to summon a familiar was a little goofy, though that's fine. Many spells are, though this one was a bit vague. Walk to the third tree of what?? Your garden? What if you don't have one? Or have no trees? I’d’ve liked to have seen mention of the fact that intention is the driving force behind magic, and suggestions for crafting one's own spells for finding a familiar.
I realise this is likely supposed to just be a novelty book, but many of the animals are impractical or illegal to actually keep in any way, shape, or form, not without permits or such. This guide would be better labelled as a spirit animal guide. Indeed, despite lots of interesting facts, cheeky humour, and delightful drawings, I felt that the authors didn't take the magical aspect seriously at all. This disgruntled me a surprising amount. Take the ways to figure out your familiar. Either you can rip out the animal pics, fold them into swans and float them down a river, and in three days one will return to you some way. Or you can just follow a bizarre flowchart. Huh? I followed it and got Sloth. I love sloths, so that was cool. Each animal has a 'partners well with'. Sloths apparently partner well with 'witches who grow their own kombucha'. Um, eww. No. Or take the name suggestions, strengths, and weaknesses. "Choose a powerful name." Name suggestions for ball python include Boop Noodle and Shoelace... Weaknesses of the Capuchin monkey include frequent drunkenness, and strengths include poop throwing. Son, what the hellz?
Actually, this book made me think of a magical text from the world of Harry Potter. Taken in that context, it's an amusing humour book perfect for magical practitioners. In the context of actual practise, this book leaves much to be desired, at least, for this practitioner.
***Many thanks to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I realise this is likely supposed to just be a novelty book, but many of the animals are impractical or illegal to actually keep in any way, shape, or form, not without permits or such. This guide would be better labelled as a spirit animal guide. Indeed, despite lots of interesting facts, cheeky humour, and delightful drawings, I felt that the authors didn't take the magical aspect seriously at all. This disgruntled me a surprising amount. Take the ways to figure out your familiar. Either you can rip out the animal pics, fold them into swans and float them down a river, and in three days one will return to you some way. Or you can just follow a bizarre flowchart. Huh? I followed it and got Sloth. I love sloths, so that was cool. Each animal has a 'partners well with'. Sloths apparently partner well with 'witches who grow their own kombucha'. Um, eww. No. Or take the name suggestions, strengths, and weaknesses. "Choose a powerful name." Name suggestions for ball python include Boop Noodle and Shoelace... Weaknesses of the Capuchin monkey include frequent drunkenness, and strengths include poop throwing. Son, what the hellz?
Actually, this book made me think of a magical text from the world of Harry Potter. Taken in that context, it's an amusing humour book perfect for magical practitioners. In the context of actual practise, this book leaves much to be desired, at least, for this practitioner.
***Many thanks to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 7, 2020
I started this book totally thinking it would lead me to finding my own unfamiliar familiar and in its own funny way it did. In the beginning of the book the authors wrote that you should rip out the pages containing all of the familiars (which is most of the book) fold them up into paper origami swans and send them off down some body of water in hopes that one of the swans will return to you and thus finding your own unfamiliar familiar. I did not have a physical copy but a temporary digital ARC (thank you, NetGalley) and even if I did have a physical copy, I would not have done this (save the environment people, don’t actually rip the pages out of this book! I am pretty sure it is a joke anyway). Already I was baffled but I continued to a very silly quiz to find out my unfamiliar familiar, that was there in the case that the reader would not want to deface the book. The quiz resulted in my unfamiliar familiar being an Axolotl. The Axolotl is sooo stinking cute, and it is associated with the fire sign Leo (which I happen to be). I was not sure if I would continue reading after finding out my familiar, but I ended up coming back to it and reading through the rest of the familiars. I am so glad that I did. I found myself cracking up throughout the book. I found out that red squirrels are jerks and Persian cats have a saying, “The flatter the face, the closer to the goddess,” but that they shouldn’t be taken too seriously because they are known to be notorious liars. I think it was around then that I realized that this book is not meant to be taken too seriously. It is just a fun read with a lot of character. All in all, this book was a fun and easy read and I would recommend this to any witch looking to find their own unfamiliar familiar and to get a few good laughs in… however, please don’t rip up the book *face palm*
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks!
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks!
May 11, 2020
Fact: I love reading about witchcraft and things associated with it. And I love animals. So when I saw this book pop up on my dashboard on Netgalley, I knew I had to try it. And I didn't regret doing so!
In a world where more and more people find solace in paganism, it is a pleasure to find a lighthearted book like this one. Whereas a lot of books in the magic(k)al field tend to be dry, this one isn't. I know it's not even supposed to be a real handbook to find a familiar, and that's what I liked most about it. It doesn't pretend, it doesn't make up stuff and sell them like they're real; it is fun, light, and most of all magic in its own way.
I loved the design of this book and hope that when it gets published, the cover itself gets a lot of attention in the same way the inside of the book has gotten it. The drawings accompanying each familiar are gorgeous, and so are the smaller drawings on top of each page. The texts provide surprisingly much depth, and show us which familiars will do well with certain types of witches and their zodiac signs.
It's fresh, it's funny, and it actually has a lot of depth. And for all interested: my familiar is a dik-dik (and they're cute asf!).
- Thanks to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review -
In a world where more and more people find solace in paganism, it is a pleasure to find a lighthearted book like this one. Whereas a lot of books in the magic(k)al field tend to be dry, this one isn't. I know it's not even supposed to be a real handbook to find a familiar, and that's what I liked most about it. It doesn't pretend, it doesn't make up stuff and sell them like they're real; it is fun, light, and most of all magic in its own way.
I loved the design of this book and hope that when it gets published, the cover itself gets a lot of attention in the same way the inside of the book has gotten it. The drawings accompanying each familiar are gorgeous, and so are the smaller drawings on top of each page. The texts provide surprisingly much depth, and show us which familiars will do well with certain types of witches and their zodiac signs.
It's fresh, it's funny, and it actually has a lot of depth. And for all interested: my familiar is a dik-dik (and they're cute asf!).
- Thanks to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review -
May 18, 2020
I was provided this book as a free ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.
I was drawn to this book because of the cover, thought it was quite whimsical and cute. I did not read this book cover to cover as the style of the book is more "choose your own adventure" by determining your spirit animal and then reading the pages that further explain the animal that you were linked to. I did however read my spirit animal (Capybara) and the platypus page, quite jealous that I hadn't been selected by it.
I thought the descriptions of the animals were quite well done, but I was expecting longer statements about each animal. That being said, I could see this being a hit at a pre-teen/teenager's sleepover with want-to-be witches and mages present to each take turns being matched with an animal and reading about it aloud. This could also be an effect coffee table book to have out for perusing while hanging out with friends, providing a fun conversation starter for the room. Additionally, I could see it being a fun gift for someone who considers themselves a modern day witch.
I think this book is great for the right audience and is more of a usable decor item than book that would be placed on a "to-read" list, but for that I feel it could be quite effective.
I was drawn to this book because of the cover, thought it was quite whimsical and cute. I did not read this book cover to cover as the style of the book is more "choose your own adventure" by determining your spirit animal and then reading the pages that further explain the animal that you were linked to. I did however read my spirit animal (Capybara) and the platypus page, quite jealous that I hadn't been selected by it.
I thought the descriptions of the animals were quite well done, but I was expecting longer statements about each animal. That being said, I could see this being a hit at a pre-teen/teenager's sleepover with want-to-be witches and mages present to each take turns being matched with an animal and reading about it aloud. This could also be an effect coffee table book to have out for perusing while hanging out with friends, providing a fun conversation starter for the room. Additionally, I could see it being a fun gift for someone who considers themselves a modern day witch.
I think this book is great for the right audience and is more of a usable decor item than book that would be placed on a "to-read" list, but for that I feel it could be quite effective.
July 15, 2020
Unfamiliar Familiars caught my attention, firstly, for the beautiful cover and the proposal.
What could be present in a book that aims to make you find your animal companion, in case you, the reader, are a modern witch?, I wondered. Well, be prepared to find exactly that, with balanced doses of beauty, interesting information and humor.
Beyond the common witches we know in pop culture and their classic animal companions, this guide takes a journey through a several non-traditional animals (some of them I didn't even know), so you can meet the one that best suits your way lifestyle (and magic!).
This is a fun, light and very pleasant reading. I recommend it to everyone who already feels ready to improve their magical journey ... (But, seriously, keep in mind that it is also an ironic book). The illustrations in this book are beautiful. I would like to have it at the head and be able to leaf through it always.
Although I was nervous thinking that I wouldn't find my family member in this guide, it was present in the middle of the book and is: Luna Moth (I already want to tattoo it hahah).
* Digital version of the book received by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *
What could be present in a book that aims to make you find your animal companion, in case you, the reader, are a modern witch?, I wondered. Well, be prepared to find exactly that, with balanced doses of beauty, interesting information and humor.
Beyond the common witches we know in pop culture and their classic animal companions, this guide takes a journey through a several non-traditional animals (some of them I didn't even know), so you can meet the one that best suits your way lifestyle (and magic!).
This is a fun, light and very pleasant reading. I recommend it to everyone who already feels ready to improve their magical journey ... (But, seriously, keep in mind that it is also an ironic book). The illustrations in this book are beautiful. I would like to have it at the head and be able to leaf through it always.
Although I was nervous thinking that I wouldn't find my family member in this guide, it was present in the middle of the book and is: Luna Moth (I already want to tattoo it hahah).
* Digital version of the book received by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review *
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