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Fireside Fairytales
Travel to a world where a whispered word opens the door to secret lands, where seal babies sing the sea to sleep, to a world of fire rituals, vampire fairies and faun-eyed strangers.
In these stories inspired by the folklore, fairy tales and myths of Scotland, five heroines’ personal battles with grief, greed, sacrifice and freedom put them in touch with the enchanting and sometimes sinister world of Fairy.
But will its supernatural inhabitants help or harm them?
Perfect for lovers of folklore, selkies, and feminist fairy tales.
In these stories inspired by the folklore, fairy tales and myths of Scotland, five heroines’ personal battles with grief, greed, sacrifice and freedom put them in touch with the enchanting and sometimes sinister world of Fairy.
But will its supernatural inhabitants help or harm them?
Perfect for lovers of folklore, selkies, and feminist fairy tales.
- GenresFantasyShort Stories
89 pages, Unknown Binding
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117 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 8, 2021
A whimsical, captivating read from the fairyland. Felt like a warm hug, like a tale told in the middle of a thunderstorm in cozy cottage where your friends gather to drink hot cocoa and read by candlelight, perhaps tell one or two ghost stories, and then talk about fairies of Scotland.
This is the feeling I got from this book. The dark imaginative, pulsing atmosphere that each of the story holds.
Kate created a brand new world of folklore tales, something whimsically written, that will transport you to another world. This is not a typical novel, but a dreamy journey to your own imagination. You will find yourself thinking about each of the story, imagining how it would continue. So so imaginative, clever, wonderfully written.
Filled with few beautiful folklore stories that will make you wonder, imagine, think, Kate created something truly unique. I knew her writing style has this dark whimsical taste, but I loved to once again prove myself she´s a really good writer. My imagination was running wild, and I am almost sure I imagined everything almost identically to the author, because she made sure the whimsy would transform to us from her writing.
My soul is definitely a bit more inspired after reading this, and I am sure I won´t stop thinking about the tales for a long time. This was definitely something new to me, something I never read before, even though folklore is my big interest.
I wish I could pick one favorite story, but I simply cannot, as each of them had different atmosphere and message.
I highly recommend, this is so inspiring and beautiful.
This is the feeling I got from this book. The dark imaginative, pulsing atmosphere that each of the story holds.
Kate created a brand new world of folklore tales, something whimsically written, that will transport you to another world. This is not a typical novel, but a dreamy journey to your own imagination. You will find yourself thinking about each of the story, imagining how it would continue. So so imaginative, clever, wonderfully written.
Filled with few beautiful folklore stories that will make you wonder, imagine, think, Kate created something truly unique. I knew her writing style has this dark whimsical taste, but I loved to once again prove myself she´s a really good writer. My imagination was running wild, and I am almost sure I imagined everything almost identically to the author, because she made sure the whimsy would transform to us from her writing.
My soul is definitely a bit more inspired after reading this, and I am sure I won´t stop thinking about the tales for a long time. This was definitely something new to me, something I never read before, even though folklore is my big interest.
I wish I could pick one favorite story, but I simply cannot, as each of them had different atmosphere and message.
I highly recommend, this is so inspiring and beautiful.
August 1, 2022
Lyrical writing and whimsical storytelling
If you are a fan of fairy tales this book is for you! With its lyrical writing and whimsical storytelling Kate showcases a range of mythical creatures and stories. Each story is enchanting and invites the reader the explore the magical worlds.
If you are a fan of fairy tales this book is for you! With its lyrical writing and whimsical storytelling Kate showcases a range of mythical creatures and stories. Each story is enchanting and invites the reader the explore the magical worlds.
July 27, 2021
This series of stories was petrichor personified. I can't even pick a favourite tale because all of them brought the eldritch, mist-blotted beauty of Scotland to me in various ways. I was enchanted and utterly engrossed and am certain that if I were to visit Scotland I would find the magical fae living alongside human beings who don't even bat an eyelid at their shenanigans. I hear the author is writing a sequel and my question is, who do I gotta bribe for an early copy?
April 10, 2022
These tales will sink beneath your skin and leave you both entranced and unsettled. Each story is rich with atmosphere, depth, and magic. Kate's prose will transport you to another time. I found myself submerged in her world so wholly, I'm now at a loss for what to do with myself. I loved how at the end of each story she offered a description of the folktales and creatures she researched. This book of fairy tales is both dark and hopeful. The perfect addition to any library, and the ideal choice for readers of magic, lore, and stories passed down through generations. Magical and wild, a beautiful read.
April 4, 2022
An evocative and whimsical collection of Scottish fairytales that will raise the tiny hairs at the back of you neck. MacRitchie's prose is exquisite, sparking longing for Scotland in the reader's heart. When I finished the final page, I flipped back to the beginning to read it all again. Simply enchanting. And oooohhhhh how I ache for Scotland now!
June 9, 2022
Touring Scotland, I wanted to know more about some of the legendary characters locally. I googled "Scottish fairies" and an article in the results was by this book's writer, so I ended up downloading and reading it.
The stories here aren't old-time folklore or fairy tales. They're stories of today, or not so long ago, of characters far removed from the customs and wisdom of their ancestors but not divorced from it.
"Fairy Words" is very short, about a girl whose passion for collecting words finally leads her to "a place with names no map or book could contain."
"Seal Baby" tells of a family struggling to adjust to life with father gone and a new baby crying all the time. The narrator's resentment at the new sister is sensitively drawn, and the link to the selkie stories is beautiful.
"The Muse" is Lorna, sitting in a smoke-filled bar with the poets for whom she was once a muse, She longs to be something more, and she's drawn to the guest upstairs with eyes like a faun's.
"What We Give to the Fire" shows the MacAlister women re-enacting their custom of passing on a seal coat to the next generation. Ina's found it a curse, not a blessing: what's she to do about her niece, who's set to wear it next?
"The Traveller's Curse" is Alice's journey. She's learned many tales off Mary, the tinker girl, but there's one more Mary won't share, and Alice is desperate to get hold of it to impress the Duke.
I've been looking for a book like this for a long time: stories that draw on folklore and that longing for the otherworld, stories that aren't chirpy or cutsey, but hold a whisper of hope. The story-telling is beautiful, flavoured with apt imagery and Scots vocabulary. The tales all link to characters from Scottish lore – selkie, ghillie dhu, banshee – but don't let the fact that they're all fairies deceive you into thinking they have much in common with the cute, winged creatures of children's stories of the twentieth century. The world of faerie here is strange and elusive and tricky and beautiful, and even though it is full of danger and shadows, it calls to all the women in the book, and it calls to us, too.
The stories here aren't old-time folklore or fairy tales. They're stories of today, or not so long ago, of characters far removed from the customs and wisdom of their ancestors but not divorced from it.
"Fairy Words" is very short, about a girl whose passion for collecting words finally leads her to "a place with names no map or book could contain."
"Seal Baby" tells of a family struggling to adjust to life with father gone and a new baby crying all the time. The narrator's resentment at the new sister is sensitively drawn, and the link to the selkie stories is beautiful.
"The Muse" is Lorna, sitting in a smoke-filled bar with the poets for whom she was once a muse, She longs to be something more, and she's drawn to the guest upstairs with eyes like a faun's.
"What We Give to the Fire" shows the MacAlister women re-enacting their custom of passing on a seal coat to the next generation. Ina's found it a curse, not a blessing: what's she to do about her niece, who's set to wear it next?
"The Traveller's Curse" is Alice's journey. She's learned many tales off Mary, the tinker girl, but there's one more Mary won't share, and Alice is desperate to get hold of it to impress the Duke.
I've been looking for a book like this for a long time: stories that draw on folklore and that longing for the otherworld, stories that aren't chirpy or cutsey, but hold a whisper of hope. The story-telling is beautiful, flavoured with apt imagery and Scots vocabulary. The tales all link to characters from Scottish lore – selkie, ghillie dhu, banshee – but don't let the fact that they're all fairies deceive you into thinking they have much in common with the cute, winged creatures of children's stories of the twentieth century. The world of faerie here is strange and elusive and tricky and beautiful, and even though it is full of danger and shadows, it calls to all the women in the book, and it calls to us, too.
March 7, 2023
I adored this book! Each tale was well-written and engaging, and I loved the historical notes at the end of each story. I learned so much about Scottish folklore, and now I want to learn more.
Fairy Words
An enchanting opening story, young Janet is bewitched by the ancient language of the fae. My imagination was struck by the idea of a long-lost language, spoken by the fae and unintelligible to even top language scholars .
Seal Baby
I could almost smell the salt and the fish in this tale of a young girl and her selkie baby sister. The relationship of the selkies, mortals, and the sea was unexpected and very heart-warming.
The Muse
A young woman finds freedom and her own voice. I particularly enjoyed the atmosphere of Hyde's bar and all the musty old poets.
What We Give To The Fire
A chilling, unsettling tale of selkies and family that left me wondering at the end.
The Traveller's Curse
An epic tale of Gothic proportions for such a short story. Once again, I found the final tale to be absolutely engrossing in its atmosphere and drama. A spoiled young woman runs afoul of a tinker girl's curse...only to discover she has brought the curse upon herself in more ways than one. I'm dying to reread The Duke With Opals For Eyes again, which I first read some time ago after signing up to the author's newsletter.
Fairy Words
An enchanting opening story, young Janet is bewitched by the ancient language of the fae. My imagination was struck by the idea of a long-lost language, spoken by the fae and unintelligible to even top language scholars .
Seal Baby
I could almost smell the salt and the fish in this tale of a young girl and her selkie baby sister. The relationship of the selkies, mortals, and the sea was unexpected and very heart-warming.
The Muse
A young woman finds freedom and her own voice. I particularly enjoyed the atmosphere of Hyde's bar and all the musty old poets.
What We Give To The Fire
A chilling, unsettling tale of selkies and family that left me wondering at the end.
The Traveller's Curse
An epic tale of Gothic proportions for such a short story. Once again, I found the final tale to be absolutely engrossing in its atmosphere and drama. A spoiled young woman runs afoul of a tinker girl's curse...only to discover she has brought the curse upon herself in more ways than one. I'm dying to reread The Duke With Opals For Eyes again, which I first read some time ago after signing up to the author's newsletter.
April 6, 2023
I'm afraid this book was not exciting in any way. Though I dislike giving poor reviews, the reader must be aware of a serious misbranding here: this book does not feel 'magical’, nor is it particularly 'feminist’. Even its claim to be inspired by Scottish folklore appears tenuos at times. Very disappointing.
For readers like me who adore fantasies inspired by British folklore may I recommed either of the following instead:
1. The Book of 3 by Lloyd Alexander
2. The Mabinogion Tetralogy by Evangeline Walton
For readers like me who adore fantasies inspired by British folklore may I recommed either of the following instead:
1. The Book of 3 by Lloyd Alexander
2. The Mabinogion Tetralogy by Evangeline Walton
February 28, 2023
I usually just dip in and out of books of short stories over time, but I read both of Kate’s wonderful Fireside Tales books straight through as I couldn’t wait to dive deeper into the gorgeously crafted worlds she’s created in each story. These five tales are enchanting, mysterious and unsettling, beautifully written, and stayed in my mind long after I’d finished them.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews