There are times when we need to wear the hat to remind them who they’re dealing with. And there are times when we need to read a book to remind ourselves of who we are.
I’ve been re-discovering who I am as a Witch since last year, redefining what that word means to me. Reading The Book of Forgotten Witches: Dark & Twisted Folklore & Stories from Around the World, by Balázs Tátrai and Lilla Bölecz, helped in that journey, and I hope it helps in yours as well.
Cover to The Book of Forgotten Witches by Balázs Tátrai and Lilla Bölecz [Watkins]
- Publisher: Watkins Publishing
- Publication Date: September 10, 2024
- Print Length: 358 pages
- Tags: Self-help, witchcraft, folklore, mythology, legends.
A beautifully presented hardcover collection of folklore and stories of legendary and historical witches from all over the world, with over 80 stunning, spooky illustrations. The perfect gift for the Witchy people in your life.
For many centuries the figure of the witch has haunted our imagination and our nightmares. There have been many attempts to quash our fascination with these wielders of forbidden powers, but all have failed.
We invite you now on a journey through a moonlit world, where every shadow tells a tale of magic, persecution and persistence. In this beautifully illustrated volume, discover witches real and legendary, who once terrorized, devoured, helped or empowered their communities, but who are now largely forgotten.
Ten chapters introduce ten different categories of witches, from curse-bringers, shape-shifters and survivors to revenants, nature witches and fate-turners. Most, but far from all, are women, and their stories come from across the world.
Each chapter is linked to a different card of the Major Arcana and to a stage in the alchemical process of turning base metal to gold. In this way, as you learn about the witches, you will complete a journey of self-discovery and transformation, gleaning wisdom and empowerment from the awe-inspiring magical practitioners of folk tradition and history.”
I’ve long been a lover of all things folklore – and all things Witchcraft, and Witches, and Witchy. This book was everything I thought it would be and then some. As a collection, it works amazingly. As an illustrated book, it is gorgeous. As a narrative text, it is immersive, creative, complete, and addictive.
If it was up to me, I would leave the review here, but allow me to hype some more.
Part encyclopedia, part short story collection, The Book of Forgotten Witches explores different legends from around the world, some of them very well-known, others not so much. A diverse cast of characters, plot twists, along with a beautiful prose, make it a reading worth repeating in the future.
The summary might make it look like there is a lot going on in this book, too many concepts crammed in a single, small space (although… almost 400 pages are not a small space, exactly.) However, the execution was magisterial. All the concepts took the highlight when they had to so it is all balanced from beginning to end.
I admit that at the beginning I thought this would be yet another book with evil women dealing with pacts with the devil and sacrificing babies. The beginning was interesting, but it felt like more of the same. Don’t get me wrong. I love a bloodthirsty witch. But we’ve had enough of them, and we get something different here.
There are male and Black and Indian and Middle Eastern and African and American Witches, figures from folklore, mythology, and real life. The Book of Forgotten Witches serves as a reminder that Witchcraft can have any face, any color, and come from any place. It reminds us that Witches can be dangerous, but also benevolent, and that sometimes they have their own moral compass altogether. From shape shifters and fae to ghosts and vampires, the overlapping and versatility of the figure of the witch has never been more clear.
As a Witch myself, it felt empowering and validating to see male Witches as well. Sometimes it feels alienating and lonely to be one, but there is power in representation. There is power in seeing yourself in those pages. It gives you back the power that you lost time and time again in the past for different reasons.
It also serves as a self-help book for those interested in that kind of reading. For me, it was a written meditation that helps discover different aspects of your identity. The connections with the Major Arcana and the alchemical process to find gold make a lot of sense during these segments because, indeed, you yourself are transforming into gold, a better version of yourself as you read.
Combining fantasy, folklore, diversity, and self discovery, The Book of Forgotten Witches is an inspiring, healing reading. Although it is not suited for children, it revived my inner child, delighted the adult, and empowered the witch.
Thanks to Watkins Publishing for providing a review copy.
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