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The Faoinsgeul Woods #1
Not a Myth
"Not A Myth combines fantasy and the real world in such a way to make everyone feel as though they are living in a storybook. The combination of poetry and art sucks the reader in and makes us want to stay forever."
-poet Liz Zarb
“Not a Myth is a wonderfully magical collection of poetry and illustrations that will leave you feeling like you went on an adventure without moving an inch. The art and poetry do a fantastic job of building an enchanted world of dreams.”-BookTuber Bridget Barnsley
“A nature collage made up of enchanted forest floor findings, bold women, and powerful magic. Truly captivating.”
-Erin Anastasia (author of ‘Mapless’)
What happens when you enter the woods everyone warned you stay away from? Enter the magical world from the minds of Molly Likovich and Marcia Ruiz-Olguín. A place where witches are real, where trees hold magic and ancient stories, and Greek scholars dance to worship the old Gods. But there is danger in these woods as well. Sinister figures in the shadows waiting to poison you, an all-knowing Goblin King waiting to trick you. Molly and Marcia invite their readers to enter the woods and embark on a journey through the enchanting unknown to uncover the myths and magic that lay in the center of the woods.
-poet Liz Zarb
“Not a Myth is a wonderfully magical collection of poetry and illustrations that will leave you feeling like you went on an adventure without moving an inch. The art and poetry do a fantastic job of building an enchanted world of dreams.”-BookTuber Bridget Barnsley
“A nature collage made up of enchanted forest floor findings, bold women, and powerful magic. Truly captivating.”
-Erin Anastasia (author of ‘Mapless’)
What happens when you enter the woods everyone warned you stay away from? Enter the magical world from the minds of Molly Likovich and Marcia Ruiz-Olguín. A place where witches are real, where trees hold magic and ancient stories, and Greek scholars dance to worship the old Gods. But there is danger in these woods as well. Sinister figures in the shadows waiting to poison you, an all-knowing Goblin King waiting to trick you. Molly and Marcia invite their readers to enter the woods and embark on a journey through the enchanting unknown to uncover the myths and magic that lay in the center of the woods.
- GenresPoetry
Paperback
First published June 20, 2021
4 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Molly Likovich
21 books291 followersMolly Likovich is the author of gothic romances, poetry, and the occasional play. When she's not writing she can be found lurking around the local graveyard.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 29, 2021
This was absolutely beautiful and is definitely a new favourite! If you love fairy tales or portal fantasy then give this a try.
April 25, 2024
Happy 1 year anniversary💜
June 24, 2021
Take a break from your dull, ordinary day-to-day with this enchanted poetry collection. Lovely art accompanies the magical, empowering poems.
July 14, 2021
This collection is full of magic. Quite a few of the poems in this book, spoke to my soul. I believe this is a must read collection for those still searching for their own rabbit hole or magical door. If your heart still longs to sail the Starless Sea, this one is for you.
June 29, 2021
I met Molly Likovich in 2017 at BookCon (RIP) because we shared a mutual friend at the time. Immediately, I noticed how confident and passionate she was about the things she cares about (something I deeply admire and aspire to myself).
I didn’t expect to develop much of a connection with her, considering we didn’t talk much during the time we spent together at the convention waiting to be let into the Booksplosion panel. Thankfully, I was wrong.
In the past few years, Likovich has invited me to collaborate with her (and Bridget Barnsley) on many different BookTube projects. She has easily become one of my closest friends in the community. I am so abundantly grateful to her for reaching out to me time and time again to be a part of projects like The Bard Book Club, Caravan of Lies, and Theatre, But Better. Those collaborations have allowed me to not only make memories that will last a lifetime but friendships that will too.
One of those friends was Marcia Ruiz-Olguín, who is also involved in all of the above projects. I was thrilled when Likovich and Ruiz-Olguín reached out to me to review their illustrated poetry collection. I’ll be honest: There’s a part of me that also felt obligated to do so. As a journalism major, I think it’s important that I state any biases/connections that I may have up-front to be transparent to you, the reader of this review.
OKAY, LET’S BEGIN!
Not a Myth is inspired by many different storytellers and literary works. Among them are folklore-era Taylor Swift, Neil Gaiman, Erin Morgenstern, and even Molly Likovich herself. All of the works that are represented in the collection thematically and aesthetically match each other quite nicely, creating a very cohesive look and feel for the collection. I would describe the vibe as folksy, woodsy, and witchy. Prepare to feel spell-bound and enchanted as you are whisked away into the world of Not a Myth!
The six-episode web-series that Likovich wrote and edited for BookTube entitled Caravan of Lies (which you can check out here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl...) plays heavily into the writing and illustrations for the collection. As I previously stated, I had the honor to be involved in this production, reading stage directions for the second-half of the series. I also made an on-camera appearance in Episode 5.
I was thrilled to see this series take on a new, extended life in this collection. Likovich did a phenomenal job directing, producing, writing, editing, and starring in Caravan of Lies. Ruiz-Olguín also did an excellent job portraying her character, Isabella. There’s one particular line I adore from the web-series that Likovich wrote and Ruiz-Olguín delivered: What are we, if not the stuff of myths?
This line seems to be at the pinnacle of Not a Myth. It’s abundantly clear through Likovich’s writing and Ruiz-Olguín’s illustrations that they have a clear vision of the characters and story they have created. It extends perfectly into this collection (enough so that I would recommend watching the web-series before reading Not a Myth).
This is also true of the other works that are represented in this collection (that they extend perfectly, not that you need to read them), especially The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (which I read because of Likovich and Ruiz-Olguín… so maybe they are worth a read if you really want to be fully and completely immersed). If you are a fan of any of the above creatives, you are going to adore their creation!
Some of the references and nods are clearly intentional, others seem accidental. For example, in the poem “Death Cap,” Likovich uses the phrase “loose lips sink ships,” (46). While this is a relatively common idiom, it is also used in the Taylor Swift song “I Know Places” from 1989. I asked Likovich if this was intentional. She told me that it wasn’t. However, knowing Likovich is a massive Swiftie, this (to me) serves as a reminder of how the media we consume so deeply and fundamentally impacts our identities and the way we see the world. This is a common theme/messaging/takeaway in Not a Myth that I value immensely.
Outside of the works that inspire the collection, the new creation that results from them is masterful.
Ruiz-Olguín’s illustrations are captivating. A personal favorite of mine is on page 30. The image depicts Likovich’s cosplay as Mirabel from The Starless Sea. It perfectly captures the photograph it was inspired from with each minute detail. It particularly stands out from the rest of the illustrations that seem to have more of a sketch-like quality to them. The style evokes images of Ruiz-Olguín leaving her cottage in the woods with only her canvas, a pencil, and some watercolors to aid her work as she sits in a field painting away. It’s perfect for the aesthetic of the collection (again, the cohesiveness is evident/masterful). Her images also pair perfectly with Likovich’s writing, making the world come to life in front of you.
There are so many lines in Not a Myth that strike a chord after I read them. Here are a few:
“That is the price of becoming a thing of legend; of swallowing mythology and making it a part of yourself,” (16).
“Some things are simply worth burning for,” (26).
“This is not the epilogue,” (32).
Likovich’s prose is beautiful and hypnotic, lulling you into the mystical and magical world she and Ruiz-Olguín have woven together. There’s a sense of adventure, passion, and discovery that is present in each poem. The work represents people who love stories and get lost in them, maybe never truly finding their way back. Having extensive writing experience, Likovich is a perfect candidate to depict, unwind, and explore this archetype. Through her writing, Likovich welcomes readers into the woods and transports them into the worlds and fantasies within them. She does so with ease and grace (although I know that the process of putting this work together was by no means easy).
If you aren’t ready to return to the normal, almost-post-COVID-19 world yet, Likovich and Ruiz-Olguín’s Not a Myth is the perfect story to get lost in this summer. I’m so incredibly proud of my friends and the work they have created.
I didn’t expect to develop much of a connection with her, considering we didn’t talk much during the time we spent together at the convention waiting to be let into the Booksplosion panel. Thankfully, I was wrong.
In the past few years, Likovich has invited me to collaborate with her (and Bridget Barnsley) on many different BookTube projects. She has easily become one of my closest friends in the community. I am so abundantly grateful to her for reaching out to me time and time again to be a part of projects like The Bard Book Club, Caravan of Lies, and Theatre, But Better. Those collaborations have allowed me to not only make memories that will last a lifetime but friendships that will too.
One of those friends was Marcia Ruiz-Olguín, who is also involved in all of the above projects. I was thrilled when Likovich and Ruiz-Olguín reached out to me to review their illustrated poetry collection. I’ll be honest: There’s a part of me that also felt obligated to do so. As a journalism major, I think it’s important that I state any biases/connections that I may have up-front to be transparent to you, the reader of this review.
OKAY, LET’S BEGIN!
Not a Myth is inspired by many different storytellers and literary works. Among them are folklore-era Taylor Swift, Neil Gaiman, Erin Morgenstern, and even Molly Likovich herself. All of the works that are represented in the collection thematically and aesthetically match each other quite nicely, creating a very cohesive look and feel for the collection. I would describe the vibe as folksy, woodsy, and witchy. Prepare to feel spell-bound and enchanted as you are whisked away into the world of Not a Myth!
The six-episode web-series that Likovich wrote and edited for BookTube entitled Caravan of Lies (which you can check out here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLl...) plays heavily into the writing and illustrations for the collection. As I previously stated, I had the honor to be involved in this production, reading stage directions for the second-half of the series. I also made an on-camera appearance in Episode 5.
I was thrilled to see this series take on a new, extended life in this collection. Likovich did a phenomenal job directing, producing, writing, editing, and starring in Caravan of Lies. Ruiz-Olguín also did an excellent job portraying her character, Isabella. There’s one particular line I adore from the web-series that Likovich wrote and Ruiz-Olguín delivered: What are we, if not the stuff of myths?
This line seems to be at the pinnacle of Not a Myth. It’s abundantly clear through Likovich’s writing and Ruiz-Olguín’s illustrations that they have a clear vision of the characters and story they have created. It extends perfectly into this collection (enough so that I would recommend watching the web-series before reading Not a Myth).
This is also true of the other works that are represented in this collection (that they extend perfectly, not that you need to read them), especially The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (which I read because of Likovich and Ruiz-Olguín… so maybe they are worth a read if you really want to be fully and completely immersed). If you are a fan of any of the above creatives, you are going to adore their creation!
Some of the references and nods are clearly intentional, others seem accidental. For example, in the poem “Death Cap,” Likovich uses the phrase “loose lips sink ships,” (46). While this is a relatively common idiom, it is also used in the Taylor Swift song “I Know Places” from 1989. I asked Likovich if this was intentional. She told me that it wasn’t. However, knowing Likovich is a massive Swiftie, this (to me) serves as a reminder of how the media we consume so deeply and fundamentally impacts our identities and the way we see the world. This is a common theme/messaging/takeaway in Not a Myth that I value immensely.
Outside of the works that inspire the collection, the new creation that results from them is masterful.
Ruiz-Olguín’s illustrations are captivating. A personal favorite of mine is on page 30. The image depicts Likovich’s cosplay as Mirabel from The Starless Sea. It perfectly captures the photograph it was inspired from with each minute detail. It particularly stands out from the rest of the illustrations that seem to have more of a sketch-like quality to them. The style evokes images of Ruiz-Olguín leaving her cottage in the woods with only her canvas, a pencil, and some watercolors to aid her work as she sits in a field painting away. It’s perfect for the aesthetic of the collection (again, the cohesiveness is evident/masterful). Her images also pair perfectly with Likovich’s writing, making the world come to life in front of you.
There are so many lines in Not a Myth that strike a chord after I read them. Here are a few:
“That is the price of becoming a thing of legend; of swallowing mythology and making it a part of yourself,” (16).
“Some things are simply worth burning for,” (26).
“This is not the epilogue,” (32).
Likovich’s prose is beautiful and hypnotic, lulling you into the mystical and magical world she and Ruiz-Olguín have woven together. There’s a sense of adventure, passion, and discovery that is present in each poem. The work represents people who love stories and get lost in them, maybe never truly finding their way back. Having extensive writing experience, Likovich is a perfect candidate to depict, unwind, and explore this archetype. Through her writing, Likovich welcomes readers into the woods and transports them into the worlds and fantasies within them. She does so with ease and grace (although I know that the process of putting this work together was by no means easy).
If you aren’t ready to return to the normal, almost-post-COVID-19 world yet, Likovich and Ruiz-Olguín’s Not a Myth is the perfect story to get lost in this summer. I’m so incredibly proud of my friends and the work they have created.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 7, 2022
By far my favorite poetry collection I’ve read in a while! I’m pumped for the sequel!
August 24, 2023
Such a strange and lovely little book with memorable quotes and illustrations. I loved all the references to other portal fantasies.
July 9, 2021
I think reading some of the texts probably enhance your understanding of the poetry. Otherwise if you don’t understand the references you still get the essence of whimsy and mysticism that comes with life and fairytales.
As a fan of The Starless Sea as well as fairytales in general I was pretty happy with this.
The illustrations work well as companions to the text the same way Shel Silverstein’s illustrations enhance his poetry. I love the colors and the style of the outlining (and watercolor? I don’t have an art background so don’t come at me). In a way, the illustrations read like living portraits and the poetry gives them voice, but neither outshines or distracts from the other.
My favorite poem would have to be on Page 54 “a piece of paper found tucked under a mushroom deep in the forest”.
Lines like “His love rattles the stars” and “the sky was never darker than the day they fell in love” impressively tugged at my heart strings despite it being such a short poem. I also really enjoyed “Not and Never Eleanor” on page 35 and “yesterdays” on 36.
The collection overall reads as love letters to magical realms and the characters that inhabit them. Reading the collection also emphasizes just how much we look to the strange and fantastical to see ourselves. If I were Molly or Marcia I’d be very proud of this first collection.
As a fan of The Starless Sea as well as fairytales in general I was pretty happy with this.
The illustrations work well as companions to the text the same way Shel Silverstein’s illustrations enhance his poetry. I love the colors and the style of the outlining (and watercolor? I don’t have an art background so don’t come at me). In a way, the illustrations read like living portraits and the poetry gives them voice, but neither outshines or distracts from the other.
My favorite poem would have to be on Page 54 “a piece of paper found tucked under a mushroom deep in the forest”.
Lines like “His love rattles the stars” and “the sky was never darker than the day they fell in love” impressively tugged at my heart strings despite it being such a short poem. I also really enjoyed “Not and Never Eleanor” on page 35 and “yesterdays” on 36.
The collection overall reads as love letters to magical realms and the characters that inhabit them. Reading the collection also emphasizes just how much we look to the strange and fantastical to see ourselves. If I were Molly or Marcia I’d be very proud of this first collection.
July 5, 2021
Not a Myth creates a world with brilliant new work and threads of your favorite fairy tales woven together. The dance in which author and artist create for the reader brought me back to magical moments of reading long past. Wonderous and Until I Am Sick of It are just two that float into my head throughout my day, drifting me back to the book to devour more of Molly Likovichs words. Marcia Ruiz Olguink artwork fans the flames of emotion and imagination within the reader, the illustration on Page 45 has since become a deep love affair.
November 9, 2021
If you're a fan of anything witchy or whimsical, this poetry collection is perfect for you. Inspired by the stories of Neil Gaiman, Donna Tartt, and Erin Morgenstern these poems will transport you to a different world. Poet Molly Likovich has such a knack for words and the stunning accompanying artwork by Marcia L. Ruiz makes the experience even more magical. Highly recommend.
June 26, 2021
GUYS THIS IS SO GOOD! I had the honor of beta-reading it and I was blown away by how seamlessly Molly blends reality and fantasy! Any fan of fantasy novels (which are so very popular on TikTok) will love this poetry collection!
July 3, 2021
Molly Likovich and Marcia Ruiz Olguin are not in danger of losing their muchness any time soon. An excellent book. A wonderful experience as a reader.
July 5, 2021
Each and every poem was so beautiful and atmospheric. I read the ebook, but I may have to buy a physical copy now. Very inspiring.
July 11, 2021
The writing felt magical. It was a get lost in a fairytale kinda feeling and the illustrations were beautiful and unique.
Read
July 18, 2021For fans of bees, keys and swords
If you liked The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, you'll love the references in these poems. Very cool illustrations as well.
If you liked The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern, you'll love the references in these poems. Very cool illustrations as well.
July 28, 2021
Beautiful art. Beautiful poetry. A great story to sit with.
August 10, 2021
This book was beautiful! The writing was amazing and the artwork was absolutely breathtaking.
July 10, 2021
Beautiful. Masterful. Magical.
The figures and scenes in Ruiz Olguin’s artwork seem to almost be moving, proving to the reader that the tales that Likovich weaves are, indeed, not myths. They lead the reader’s eyes seamlessly in and out Likovich’s vivid and masterful language. The stories told in these poems ring so achingly true that every reader will not only see themselves in the characters, but begin to believe in magic itself. Lovers of poetry, fairytales, and fantasy alike will find many lines resonating and echoing deep inside them for days to come, only to find themselves drawn back to the words again and again. That truly is magic.
The figures and scenes in Ruiz Olguin’s artwork seem to almost be moving, proving to the reader that the tales that Likovich weaves are, indeed, not myths. They lead the reader’s eyes seamlessly in and out Likovich’s vivid and masterful language. The stories told in these poems ring so achingly true that every reader will not only see themselves in the characters, but begin to believe in magic itself. Lovers of poetry, fairytales, and fantasy alike will find many lines resonating and echoing deep inside them for days to come, only to find themselves drawn back to the words again and again. That truly is magic.
March 12, 2024
2.75 ⭐️
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews