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Finding Faeries: Discovering Sprites, Pixies, Redcaps, and Other Fantastical Creatures in an Urban Environment
Discover where faeries and other mythical creatures are hiding in our modern, urban environment with this beautifully illustrated guide to uncovering magical beings.
From the musty corners of libraries to the darkest depths of urban sewers, faeries, boggarts, redcaps, and other fantastical species can be found all around us—but only if we know where to look. And like every other being in the modern world, these wonderous creatures have been forced to adapt to the climate, industrial, and cultural changes of the modern era. Many formerly common creatures from akeki to cave trolls have been driven out by the urban sprawl, technological advancements, and climate change while others, including ether sprites and brownies, have been able to thrive in abundance, creating homes within electrical hotbeds and massive landfills.
Featuring descriptions of magical creatures from around the globe, this encyclopedic collection details the history and adaptability of more than fifty different species of fae. Describing little-known and fascinating creatures such as the Luck Pigeon of Baltimore, the Ghost Cat of India, and the Brain Sucker of South Africa, this book will expose readers to fantastical species from a variety of cultures and communities.
Combining scholarship with modern lore and environmentalism, and featuring stunning hand-drawn illustrations, Finding Faeries is a captivating look at the fantastical beings that inhabit our world today.
From the musty corners of libraries to the darkest depths of urban sewers, faeries, boggarts, redcaps, and other fantastical species can be found all around us—but only if we know where to look. And like every other being in the modern world, these wonderous creatures have been forced to adapt to the climate, industrial, and cultural changes of the modern era. Many formerly common creatures from akeki to cave trolls have been driven out by the urban sprawl, technological advancements, and climate change while others, including ether sprites and brownies, have been able to thrive in abundance, creating homes within electrical hotbeds and massive landfills.
Featuring descriptions of magical creatures from around the globe, this encyclopedic collection details the history and adaptability of more than fifty different species of fae. Describing little-known and fascinating creatures such as the Luck Pigeon of Baltimore, the Ghost Cat of India, and the Brain Sucker of South Africa, this book will expose readers to fantastical species from a variety of cultures and communities.
Combining scholarship with modern lore and environmentalism, and featuring stunning hand-drawn illustrations, Finding Faeries is a captivating look at the fantastical beings that inhabit our world today.
208 pages, Hardcover
First published October 20, 2020
39 people are currently reading
3,429 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Rowland
14books1,466followersAlexandra Rowland is the author of several fantasy books, including A Conspiracy Of Truths, A Choir Of Lies, and Some by Virtue Fall, as well as a Hugo Award-nominated podcaster (all sternly supervised by their feline quality control manager). They hold a degree in world literature, mythology, and folklore from Truman State University.
They are represented by Britt Siess of Britt Siess Creative Management.
Find them on , , or .
They are represented by Britt Siess of Britt Siess Creative Management.
Find them on , , or .
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July 8, 2020I'm not giving this a star rating because I simply can't. I could not tell you once, during this entire book, if Rowland was trying to be legitimately informative, or simply piecing together social commentary and jokes with a little splash of beliefs from cultures around the world. It doesn't help that discussing fae from so many cultures would require far more pages than this book allows for, and half of the book is compiled of illustrations and graphic design art.
It's a difficult book for me to review because I understand that I'm coming at this book from a different angle than many people are (which is the other reason I won't give it a star rating). Most readers I know are going to pick this up looking for fun stories and illustrations; those of us looking for something deeper, like many practicing witches, are probably going to be left feeling about as let down as I was.
On a positive note, I really appreciated how much attention Rowland gave not only to the impact that climate change and humanity's abuse of the planet has had on fae populations, but also to the impact that colonialism has had on society's general perception of spiritual beliefs that don't align with the more widely accepted religions (such as the author's complaint regarding US scholars' dismissal of Native beliefs as "superstitions" and "myths").
The bottom line is this: if you're someone who thinks of fae as pure fantastical fiction and you want to learn more about the history there, this would probably be a great, fun fit for you. If you're someone who is actually invested in the idea of recognizing fae in our modern reality, I'm not so sure. I'd love to hear the thoughts of other readers, though, especially ones who are coming at it from the same angle I am!
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
It's a difficult book for me to review because I understand that I'm coming at this book from a different angle than many people are (which is the other reason I won't give it a star rating). Most readers I know are going to pick this up looking for fun stories and illustrations; those of us looking for something deeper, like many practicing witches, are probably going to be left feeling about as let down as I was.
On a positive note, I really appreciated how much attention Rowland gave not only to the impact that climate change and humanity's abuse of the planet has had on fae populations, but also to the impact that colonialism has had on society's general perception of spiritual beliefs that don't align with the more widely accepted religions (such as the author's complaint regarding US scholars' dismissal of Native beliefs as "superstitions" and "myths").
The bottom line is this: if you're someone who thinks of fae as pure fantastical fiction and you want to learn more about the history there, this would probably be a great, fun fit for you. If you're someone who is actually invested in the idea of recognizing fae in our modern reality, I'm not so sure. I'd love to hear the thoughts of other readers, though, especially ones who are coming at it from the same angle I am!
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
February 12, 2021
Apologies in advance for what I can promise will be a less than eloquent review. I honestly just have no idea what the author was trying to do.
Was this supposed to be pure fiction? (Did I just completely miss that?? I'm hoping that's the case.)
Or was it supposed to be an actual account of the lore/mythology of fae? Because if that was the goal... what? I looked up a couple of people who were referenced as if they were real... and could find no evidence of their existence. Even references to supposed social media groups and hashtags seem to have been totally fabricated. And I... I just don't understand why. I thought about quitting about a hundred times but it was so short I pushed through - purely to have this book count towards my reading goals... because I'm behind.
Seriously. What did I just read?
Was this supposed to be pure fiction? (Did I just completely miss that?? I'm hoping that's the case.)
Or was it supposed to be an actual account of the lore/mythology of fae? Because if that was the goal... what? I looked up a couple of people who were referenced as if they were real... and could find no evidence of their existence. Even references to supposed social media groups and hashtags seem to have been totally fabricated. And I... I just don't understand why. I thought about quitting about a hundred times but it was so short I pushed through - purely to have this book count towards my reading goals... because I'm behind.
Seriously. What did I just read?
October 4, 2021
Indeed a very odd book. I usually consider these types of books to be a light-heart read and not particularly serious. The odd part of this book is the fact that when the author occasionally mentions the name of a person it turns out the person never existed! There is one or two that did exist when she suggests, however, the mix of those that didn't exist it doesn't add anything of benefit to this book. The continuous usage of "scholars" of unknown background, nameless only serve to be a distraction. The information she relates about fairies and changelings is strange because when I researched peer reviewed sources for an academic paper fairies did change a human child with a changeling. Furthermore, the attribution of a changeling child was due to unexpected sickness and death of an infant and nothing whatsoever to do with autism, especially since autism was not diagnosed in the 18th, 19th and part of the 20th centuries. Also, for another academic paper I never came across any peer viewed source that stated men could not see or interact with banshees. As banshees were also known for heralding death on the battlefield it was more likely that men would see banshees than women. In terms of her chiding white researchers about lazy scholar work she has hardly diverted from that herself. In terms of information about the wendigo (other names in other Indigenous groups) she could easily ask Indigenous peoples about the wendigo rather than waiting for "data", whatever that may mean in this instance. Due to the fact of these very bizarre aspects in her book it wasn't easy to enjoy. The question to me for the most part was where did she get that information and why do a few of these people she mentions never existed? I don't think the reader finds faeries, but I think we find a rather active imagination instead.
December 3, 2022
lots of Just Rephrased Enough To Not Technically Be Plagiarism tumblr text posts from that time in 2016 when everybody was posting about how Truck Stops Are Liminal Spaces, lol
October 9, 2020
“Finding Faeries� is a cute illustrative book that describes a plethora of different species of Fae. However, as sweet and fun as I found this book, I was also sorely disappointed by how fantastical everything seemed. I felt like I was reading a children’s book or a sarcastic commentary on the Fae rather than a non-fiction encyclopedia the Fae. I appreciated the illustrations and the references to actual research, but I would have liked to see a legitimate bibliography rather than mentioning sources in passing. “Finding Faeries� was definitely entertaining, but I didn’t really gain anything by reading it.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2022
I love all the information about faeries in this book and I can't wait to read more from Alexandra Rowland. I will be telling all my friends to pick up this book.
July 1, 2024
✨️🧚♀� 𝚊 𝚌𝚞𝚝𝚎 𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚕𝚎 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚒𝚜 𝚐𝚘𝚛𝚐𝚎𝚘𝚞𝚜 🧚♀️✨�
September 11, 2024
I enjoyed the environmental evolution and adaptation aspects of this book. It reads like a real field guide. I was a little disheartened because the avid believer in all things faerie/folklore in me was enticed. The science/reference approach made it feel real. Of course, this fed into my delusion that I could find these creatures, but doing my preliminary google searches brought the fact that this was a creative work back to stark reality for me.
This book is for the people who love the Spiderwick chronicles, The Cruel Prince, and love reference guides and encyclopedias of the natural world.
This book is for the people who love the Spiderwick chronicles, The Cruel Prince, and love reference guides and encyclopedias of the natural world.
February 15, 2022
I liked the approach given to the information, bringing it closer to today's world.
I wish it had been a bit more detailed, I know I would have enjoyed it more.
The book itself has an exquisite design.
I wish it had been a bit more detailed, I know I would have enjoyed it more.
The book itself has an exquisite design.
December 27, 2021
Well, since it's the last week of the year, I'm doing what every reader does and finding short-ish reads to help up their ŷ game! I decided to pick up Alexandra Rowland's Finding Faeries, which was a delightful read on various types of faeries that you might not be familiar with. Some names were familiar to me from my many Urban Fantasy reads, and few episodes of Supernatural as well. In this little book, we see a more modern take on faeries, where you might find certain types and what to do to avoid them or find them, depending on your prerogative.
I liked how this book crossed borders when it came to learning about certain fae types. We touched on certain ones from Asian mythology, European, and even Indigenous lore. It was an interesting read. I particularly liked the library faeries, because you know, books!
I can't remember how I came across this book and what made me pick it up. I've always loved faeries from pretty much the same time I was discovering vampires. I probably read Holly Black in that same year or so as I did my first vampire reads, thus the love of faeries, both Seelie and Unseelie came about!
This book did seem to have some historical accuracy to it as it has certain events mentioned with dates, they weren't ones I was familiar within history, but the dates and names lend to a show of fact checking. I believe Alexandra did some homework here.
I enjoyed the blend of fantasy with modernity in this one. It basically showed how some types of faeries are able to survive in this modern world we live in. Now how seriously you want to take this book is up to you. I enjoy a good step away from true fantasy every now and then and enter that realm of possibility of fantasy within reality. I picked this book up as yet another research tool for my own writing and actually even saw a possible faery type that might make for good storytelling, though I would need to do a bit of work with it! But it's a start for sure! Lol.
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
I liked how this book crossed borders when it came to learning about certain fae types. We touched on certain ones from Asian mythology, European, and even Indigenous lore. It was an interesting read. I particularly liked the library faeries, because you know, books!
I can't remember how I came across this book and what made me pick it up. I've always loved faeries from pretty much the same time I was discovering vampires. I probably read Holly Black in that same year or so as I did my first vampire reads, thus the love of faeries, both Seelie and Unseelie came about!
This book did seem to have some historical accuracy to it as it has certain events mentioned with dates, they weren't ones I was familiar within history, but the dates and names lend to a show of fact checking. I believe Alexandra did some homework here.
I enjoyed the blend of fantasy with modernity in this one. It basically showed how some types of faeries are able to survive in this modern world we live in. Now how seriously you want to take this book is up to you. I enjoy a good step away from true fantasy every now and then and enter that realm of possibility of fantasy within reality. I picked this book up as yet another research tool for my own writing and actually even saw a possible faery type that might make for good storytelling, though I would need to do a bit of work with it! But it's a start for sure! Lol.
Overall Rating 5/5 stars
March 3, 2021
You know the random blog post that says, you won't believe all these photos about passive agresive roommates, and you are like ok I'm intrigued click on it and are immediately unfulfilled because it's just an article about 50 pictures that just tell you what's in the picture and says oh snap? Well this book is just that! It lores you in because of its good looks, awesome design ,and art. And then has you read a collection of one page surveys underlining how global warming is ruining the faerie world, and doesn't explain how to find any Faeries at all!
I went into the book to learn about finding Faeries. Understanding what they are like, where their environment might be etc. This book gives you a little bit, but it feels very "google search" I don't reccomed the book for anyone who has experience in faerie lore, cause this won't give you anything new. I don't even reccomed this if you want to start searching for Faeries in the wild cause it won't help with that either. It will just say do research and be careful, which wouldn't reading this book count as research?
That being said the reason this isn't a 1 star review is because the art is fantastic the esthetic is good and I had fun little moments like "oh, that's why bells are on motorcycles" and "that sounds like the folk story I heard, I wonder if that could be related." Then I ended up laughing and also being intrigued about faerie email scam prevention. It's also a quick read, took about 90 minutes.
That being said if you are actively searching for Faeries and your big question is, "why am I not finding them as often? I feel I'm in the right places. I'm doing all the things." this book may be able to answer those questions! Other then that I would say no need to read!
I went into the book to learn about finding Faeries. Understanding what they are like, where their environment might be etc. This book gives you a little bit, but it feels very "google search" I don't reccomed the book for anyone who has experience in faerie lore, cause this won't give you anything new. I don't even reccomed this if you want to start searching for Faeries in the wild cause it won't help with that either. It will just say do research and be careful, which wouldn't reading this book count as research?
That being said the reason this isn't a 1 star review is because the art is fantastic the esthetic is good and I had fun little moments like "oh, that's why bells are on motorcycles" and "that sounds like the folk story I heard, I wonder if that could be related." Then I ended up laughing and also being intrigued about faerie email scam prevention. It's also a quick read, took about 90 minutes.
That being said if you are actively searching for Faeries and your big question is, "why am I not finding them as often? I feel I'm in the right places. I'm doing all the things." this book may be able to answer those questions! Other then that I would say no need to read!
January 2, 2023
I gave this book a 2*, a rarity for me. To whit, this book is a work of fiction and should be read as such. To quote another reviewer here though, "What did I just read??" The book comes off as one of those campy fun Barnes & Noble bargain books that isn't meant to be a serious work but the author writes in something of a faux-authoritative manner (excessive use of unidentified "scholars who agree").
It wouldn't be all that worrisome in the book didn't conflate very inaccurate historical folklore with modern urban folklore that appears to have been fabricated whole cloth. I went to the trouble of researching several of the names (and in one case suggested browser ad-ons) referenced only to find that none of them exist, or if they do, they are not at all what the author claims/presents them as.
I was particularly excited to read the bits about North American and Native American folklore because they are woefully under-represented in the greater body of fairy/little people lore but as I read, I began to realize that nearly everything in this book should not be taken as factual. There are SOME established tidbits in there but the vast majority of this is someone taking an inch and stretching it a mile.
It does at least serve as a list of creature types that one can independently read on, but I wouldn't take what is said in these pages with much seriousness.
It wouldn't be all that worrisome in the book didn't conflate very inaccurate historical folklore with modern urban folklore that appears to have been fabricated whole cloth. I went to the trouble of researching several of the names (and in one case suggested browser ad-ons) referenced only to find that none of them exist, or if they do, they are not at all what the author claims/presents them as.
I was particularly excited to read the bits about North American and Native American folklore because they are woefully under-represented in the greater body of fairy/little people lore but as I read, I began to realize that nearly everything in this book should not be taken as factual. There are SOME established tidbits in there but the vast majority of this is someone taking an inch and stretching it a mile.
It does at least serve as a list of creature types that one can independently read on, but I wouldn't take what is said in these pages with much seriousness.
July 9, 2020
What an absolutely delightful, magical, informative book! I can't say enough good things about how the author (who uses they/them pronouns) handled this topic. They approach fairies in an intersectional way...I never thought I would say that, but they acknowledge how the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism changed the faerie landscape. There are lots of tips for how to safely approach faerie spotting, and I really liked the section on the Luck Pigeon. This helped me a lot with research for my own novel and it was just a really wonderful read. Definitely recommend.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2021
I won this in a ŷ Giveaway. I love everything about the cover. Lots of cute illustrations throughout. I wasn't sure what to make of the text though. How much was the author just making up out of thin air and how much is based on actual folklore? I wouldn't pay money for this one. It was just OK.
September 30, 2021
The book design is gorgeous, the conceit of the project is charming, however it's better to go into this knowing that it's a work of fiction. Meta-fiction, maybe, as it's written in the style of the old Spiderwick Guide, or the original version of Fantastic Beasts (back when it was packaged to look like Harry's school book in the early 2000s). It's reminiscent enough of both of those that I get the sense that the author likely grew up with them, and other similar books.
I'm torn. Part of it's charm is that it doesn't out itself as fiction, but it's also marketed alongside actual books on folklore and the fae, and I bought it thinking it was more about modern faerie. I don't think this was Rowlands fault, so much as their editor's/publisher's but it really...was a downer to see that the characters within, and the presentation of many of the beings in the book, were highly fictionalized.
I'm torn. Part of it's charm is that it doesn't out itself as fiction, but it's also marketed alongside actual books on folklore and the fae, and I bought it thinking it was more about modern faerie. I don't think this was Rowlands fault, so much as their editor's/publisher's but it really...was a downer to see that the characters within, and the presentation of many of the beings in the book, were highly fictionalized.
August 15, 2023
I enjoyed the scholarly twist on this book. It addressed things from a unique way through studies and acknowledged any bias in the material. (i.e. if all of the studies were written by men or certain races) With that being said, I feel like it took away from the purpose of the book and instead went on multiple tangents on how the material was obtained. Out of every page, less than 10 actually focused on how to spot such beings it discussed. I found the illustrations to be cementing in their view, preventing any unique ideas from the imagination to bloom. I probably won’t refer to this book often nor read it again.
October 25, 2022
bardzo krótkie i w sumie nie wiem czy to było na poważnie czy nie na poważnie ale jednak alexandra rowland to może instrukcje używania lodówki napisać i ja się będę dobrze bawić
March 7, 2023
When reading books like this there is an element of disbelief that needs to be held. But this just kinda pushed it too far for me.
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January 1, 2021This is a truly peculiar book - I don't know what it is. Is it supposed to be read as fiction? Is it a mythology study that's a little hip and tongue-in-cheek? Is it supposed to be serious? (There's no bibliography if so). I just do not know what this is or who it's for.
I bought it because it sounded fun and the author is on my auto-buy list. From the acknowledgements, which would seriously be better to split the majority of it into a foreword because it gives some pretty important context for this book, namely how Rowland decided to approach the book - addressing climate change, how to approach inclusion of folklore from other cultures, and to address the fact that the majority of us live on stolen land. The approach, to me, seemed deliberate and thoughtful, but my opinion on that is obviously not the one that matters.
Also in the acknowledgements was info I would liked to have known - this was more of an existing project idea Rowland was approached for, and I'm sure they made it their own, but perhaps that's where part of the confusion I'm feeling on the level of seriousness this book is supposed to be.
OKAY I do have to say - the actual prose is fun and snappy, I can hear Rowland's voice in it. The book itself is very visually appealing and the illustrations are very good and are a great touch.
I just don't know where it fits - and not in a good "this breaks down genre barriers yay" sort of way.
I bought it because it sounded fun and the author is on my auto-buy list. From the acknowledgements, which would seriously be better to split the majority of it into a foreword because it gives some pretty important context for this book, namely how Rowland decided to approach the book - addressing climate change, how to approach inclusion of folklore from other cultures, and to address the fact that the majority of us live on stolen land. The approach, to me, seemed deliberate and thoughtful, but my opinion on that is obviously not the one that matters.
Also in the acknowledgements was info I would liked to have known - this was more of an existing project idea Rowland was approached for, and I'm sure they made it their own, but perhaps that's where part of the confusion I'm feeling on the level of seriousness this book is supposed to be.
OKAY I do have to say - the actual prose is fun and snappy, I can hear Rowland's voice in it. The book itself is very visually appealing and the illustrations are very good and are a great touch.
I just don't know where it fits - and not in a good "this breaks down genre barriers yay" sort of way.
May 8, 2023
The pseudoscience, pseudohistory, and unsubstantiated claims in this book make it quite an incoherent read. Spirituality is one thing, but the author attempts to make an argument for the physical and imminent reality of faeries, only to provide lackluster “evidence� (and sometimes no evidence at all) for their claims.
They cite ley lines as evidence in many places, with no regard for its status as a known pseudoscience. They also reference multiple names of researchers in the book, who I can’t seem to find any real record of. A lot of the “information� seems like it was ripped directly from tumblr (I believe they even reference a tumblr blog at some point). At one point they even claim that “scholars� have “documented� faeries in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and even Chernobyl being mutated. What scholars? What documentation? The attempts to substantiate claims in this books are so surface-level that it ultimately just looks dishonest. There are dozens of areas where they completely gloss over pretty wild claims as if the claims were just known fact.
Overall, this book can be summed up as: “Big, if true.�
They cite ley lines as evidence in many places, with no regard for its status as a known pseudoscience. They also reference multiple names of researchers in the book, who I can’t seem to find any real record of. A lot of the “information� seems like it was ripped directly from tumblr (I believe they even reference a tumblr blog at some point). At one point they even claim that “scholars� have “documented� faeries in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and even Chernobyl being mutated. What scholars? What documentation? The attempts to substantiate claims in this books are so surface-level that it ultimately just looks dishonest. There are dozens of areas where they completely gloss over pretty wild claims as if the claims were just known fact.
Overall, this book can be summed up as: “Big, if true.�
July 11, 2022
This book is written in a way that seems like satire, but also not. It's presented as fact and a real guide, but also refers to mysterious "scholars" and other information as if it's fact when some of it is definitely not.
One of the most hard to read parts of this book is the way that Rowland talks about Indigenous people and talks about their history as "myth" or "belief" while spouting other fae "facts" as gospel. There is little to no differentiation between tribes and their history and to make it worse this book not only talks about but includes a drawing of a certain creature whose name is not to be spoke or asked about or documented like this.
Rowland also writes about autistic people as "fae-touched". Again, I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a cheeky explanation blending fact and fae or meant to be taken seriously but it felt so out of left field. This guide is confusing at best and offensive at worst and not the light-reading book I thought it would be.
One of the most hard to read parts of this book is the way that Rowland talks about Indigenous people and talks about their history as "myth" or "belief" while spouting other fae "facts" as gospel. There is little to no differentiation between tribes and their history and to make it worse this book not only talks about but includes a drawing of a certain creature whose name is not to be spoke or asked about or documented like this.
Rowland also writes about autistic people as "fae-touched". Again, I'm not sure if this is supposed to be a cheeky explanation blending fact and fae or meant to be taken seriously but it felt so out of left field. This guide is confusing at best and offensive at worst and not the light-reading book I thought it would be.
October 27, 2020
Since things have died down a bit in my personal life, I have been able to spend more time reading in my spare time. I am always thankful when I can sit down and read a book or two, especially when that book is about witchcraft! On Monday I finished reading Finding Faeries: Discovering Sprites, Pixies, Redcaps, and Other Fantastical Creatures in an Urban Environment by Alexandra Rowland. While there were several elements I really enjoyed about the book, overall I wasn't super impressed.
First and foremost, Rowland treats the subject of faeries as a science and their book has an academic undertone to it similar to that of an encyclopedia. It's not that I mind this, but there was a complete lack of references and bibliography which doesn't support the tone of the book. If you are going to approach the Otherworld from a scientific point of view, you need to back up your claims with primary sources. Furthermore, I had a hard time taking several of the sections seriously. There were times the book felt like a sarcastic commentary on the liminal world and I wasn't sure if I was supposed to laugh or take notes. This was a turn off for me, which is a shame considering the beginning of the book was so phenomenal! Finally, the book was rather short and the information lacking as a result. I would have liked to have seen a more in-depth approach to the different fae creatures, especially considering its encyclopedia feel.
Despite the flaws, there were some great aspects to the book. In the introduction, Rowland covers how colonialism has changed the range of many liminal beings; how, like cats and dogs, they traveled with colonists to the New World and beyond. I loved their commentary on how violence, slavery, and climate change has shaped the liminal fauna, especially in regards to the encroachment of the urban sprawl. While some species have thrived in an urban environment, many others have perished. It was a wonderful reminder that we not only affect the creatures within our realm but the Otherworld as well. Furthermore, it was refreshing to read a book about the fae that didn't treat them as either all good or all bad, that instead most liminal beings fall somewhere in between. For the most part, the fae do not care much about us and prefer to ignore us and for us to ignore them. Of course, this doesn't mean there aren't helpful and harmful creatures lurking in the shadows, but overall most liminal beings could care less. Finally, I really enjoyed that at the end of the book Rowland offers suggestions on which fae beginners can relatively safely pursue. Too many books suggest that upon reading them that now you are an expert and can safely faerie hunt. Yeah, no. Rowland offers practical advice for the novice witch that shouldn't be ignored and even offers modern protection methods against the fae while using technology.
Overall, the book was decent. It's not one I would purchase to keep on my shelf, but it would make a cute gift for a young witch, especially a preteen. Finding Faeries: Discovering Sprites, Pixies, Redcaps, and Other Fantastical Creatures in an Urban Environment by Alexandra Rowland is available now for purchase (it was actually published on my birthday!).
Happy reading!
First and foremost, Rowland treats the subject of faeries as a science and their book has an academic undertone to it similar to that of an encyclopedia. It's not that I mind this, but there was a complete lack of references and bibliography which doesn't support the tone of the book. If you are going to approach the Otherworld from a scientific point of view, you need to back up your claims with primary sources. Furthermore, I had a hard time taking several of the sections seriously. There were times the book felt like a sarcastic commentary on the liminal world and I wasn't sure if I was supposed to laugh or take notes. This was a turn off for me, which is a shame considering the beginning of the book was so phenomenal! Finally, the book was rather short and the information lacking as a result. I would have liked to have seen a more in-depth approach to the different fae creatures, especially considering its encyclopedia feel.
Despite the flaws, there were some great aspects to the book. In the introduction, Rowland covers how colonialism has changed the range of many liminal beings; how, like cats and dogs, they traveled with colonists to the New World and beyond. I loved their commentary on how violence, slavery, and climate change has shaped the liminal fauna, especially in regards to the encroachment of the urban sprawl. While some species have thrived in an urban environment, many others have perished. It was a wonderful reminder that we not only affect the creatures within our realm but the Otherworld as well. Furthermore, it was refreshing to read a book about the fae that didn't treat them as either all good or all bad, that instead most liminal beings fall somewhere in between. For the most part, the fae do not care much about us and prefer to ignore us and for us to ignore them. Of course, this doesn't mean there aren't helpful and harmful creatures lurking in the shadows, but overall most liminal beings could care less. Finally, I really enjoyed that at the end of the book Rowland offers suggestions on which fae beginners can relatively safely pursue. Too many books suggest that upon reading them that now you are an expert and can safely faerie hunt. Yeah, no. Rowland offers practical advice for the novice witch that shouldn't be ignored and even offers modern protection methods against the fae while using technology.
Overall, the book was decent. It's not one I would purchase to keep on my shelf, but it would make a cute gift for a young witch, especially a preteen. Finding Faeries: Discovering Sprites, Pixies, Redcaps, and Other Fantastical Creatures in an Urban Environment by Alexandra Rowland is available now for purchase (it was actually published on my birthday!).
Happy reading!
September 10, 2023
I’m barely into this and may not continue , as I’ve now seen many validating reviews echoing my own concerns . This book seems to be presented as an actual resource of folklore and reported sightings- however , much like a faerie changeling, it is not what it seems ! My suspicions that the author was just drawing from their own imagination immediately arose upon their emphasis on the 19th century origins of the term “liminal world,� as I’ve never encountered this trendy tumblr / graduate thesis buzzword in my own readings of 19th century fantasy texts . After reading several cited letters describing encounters, seeking Rowland’s sources to discover zero bibliography , and then performing fruitless google searches , it’s safe to say they just Made Shit Up . Even if you’re not a member of the I Want to Believe crowd , I think it’s irresponsible and honestly insulting to present this book as an encyclopedia of folklore and urban exploration guide instead of a book of fiction right off the bat. It furthermore nullifies any faith in the author’s grasp on global folklore, which is a particularly irritating point considering their cloying attempts to absolve the book of western colonialism . Present your book as an imagined alternate history , not a thoroughly researched guidebook , please .
Part of what’s annoying is there is so much documentation of faerie sightings that could be drawn from to make a really interesting , insightful book that explores how perceptions of fae have changed through time and geography as the natural and urban environments and sociology surrounding individuals perceiving the fantastic develop (if anyone knows of books like this , please tell me!) . Instead , we get white guilt self flagellation over 17th century European scholars who didn’t even exist (lol).
Part of what’s annoying is there is so much documentation of faerie sightings that could be drawn from to make a really interesting , insightful book that explores how perceptions of fae have changed through time and geography as the natural and urban environments and sociology surrounding individuals perceiving the fantastic develop (if anyone knows of books like this , please tell me!) . Instead , we get white guilt self flagellation over 17th century European scholars who didn’t even exist (lol).
March 27, 2023
Another cute quick read about the mystery of Cryptids in our Universe.
This one however, was a bit more educational. I learned of the devastating accidents that occurred during the construction of the Hoover Dam. Over 100 deaths that were deemed accidental. Or were they? Many believe the continued deaths were a warning from the otherworldly creatures as we wrecked havoc on their environment.
Some interesting pieces from the book:
Finding Faeries
“Liminal�, from the Latin root for “threshold,� refers to the in-betweenness of many supernatural creatures and beings. It is not quite of our world, and neither quite outside it: the threshold world; the world of twilight, neither day nor night; the world of the moment between sleeping and waking; the world of no particular color.�
“It constitutes an act of astonishing naïveté to define what counts as “good� or “evil,� not only for liminal beings but for the mundane ones as well. Is a wolf evil for killing a human when it is hungry? Are the sprites who feed on fear committing an evil act by inciting it, or are they merely responding to their own evolutionary imperative? Evil, one could argue, is about a sentient choice.�
“They exist upon a completely different ethical spectrum.�
Timorvorous- Fear eater
This one however, was a bit more educational. I learned of the devastating accidents that occurred during the construction of the Hoover Dam. Over 100 deaths that were deemed accidental. Or were they? Many believe the continued deaths were a warning from the otherworldly creatures as we wrecked havoc on their environment.
Some interesting pieces from the book:
Finding Faeries
“Liminal�, from the Latin root for “threshold,� refers to the in-betweenness of many supernatural creatures and beings. It is not quite of our world, and neither quite outside it: the threshold world; the world of twilight, neither day nor night; the world of the moment between sleeping and waking; the world of no particular color.�
“It constitutes an act of astonishing naïveté to define what counts as “good� or “evil,� not only for liminal beings but for the mundane ones as well. Is a wolf evil for killing a human when it is hungry? Are the sprites who feed on fear committing an evil act by inciting it, or are they merely responding to their own evolutionary imperative? Evil, one could argue, is about a sentient choice.�
“They exist upon a completely different ethical spectrum.�
Timorvorous- Fear eater
December 12, 2020
This review originally appeared on The Magical Buffet website on 12/10/2020.
I never get tired of dictionaries/encyclopedias/guidebooks about mythological or cryptozoological creatures. That said, there are no shortage of books like that out there to read. What IS a different, and offers a unique take on the subject, is “Finding Faeries: Discovering Sprites, Pixies, Redcaps and Other Fantastical Creatures in an Urban Environment� by Alexandra Rowland.
“Finding Faeries� explores creatures of folklore and what happens when those legends migrate to new lands and urban environments. They discuss everything from faeries to black dogs, and Thunderbirds to dryads. Rowland does an excellent job blending tales of the past with the realities of the present. Their writing style is informative and entertaining, and throughout the book are wonderful illustrations by Miles Äijälä. Just when you think you are done; you are given instructions on how to go out in the world with a fresh set of eyes to find the magic around you.
“Finding Faeries� is actuality quite the achievement. Entertaining and informative, while being sensitive to the assorted cultures involved and emphasizing the importance of environmental conservation.
I never get tired of dictionaries/encyclopedias/guidebooks about mythological or cryptozoological creatures. That said, there are no shortage of books like that out there to read. What IS a different, and offers a unique take on the subject, is “Finding Faeries: Discovering Sprites, Pixies, Redcaps and Other Fantastical Creatures in an Urban Environment� by Alexandra Rowland.
“Finding Faeries� explores creatures of folklore and what happens when those legends migrate to new lands and urban environments. They discuss everything from faeries to black dogs, and Thunderbirds to dryads. Rowland does an excellent job blending tales of the past with the realities of the present. Their writing style is informative and entertaining, and throughout the book are wonderful illustrations by Miles Äijälä. Just when you think you are done; you are given instructions on how to go out in the world with a fresh set of eyes to find the magic around you.
“Finding Faeries� is actuality quite the achievement. Entertaining and informative, while being sensitive to the assorted cultures involved and emphasizing the importance of environmental conservation.
September 18, 2020
I received a copy of this book through Netgalley. This in no way influences my opinion of the book.
As someone who has a particular interest for folklore and mythology, this sounded so interesting to me. The author has written a gorgeously illustrated mini encyclopedia of facts on the fae, theorizing the ways in which the fae have adapted to modern day, especially in the face of climate change and colonization.
The first thing I have to say is that I found the author's tone confusing - it left me wondering if I was meant to take the material seriously or not. It made the reading experience somewhat jarring. Despite this, whether these beings are something you believe in or not, I found that it opened my mind to the possibilities of things I cannot see. Or at least, it made me feel more interested in what others believe to exist, and perhaps it could do the same for you! When perceiving the material in this way, I found it quite fun and light-hearted, as though I were reading a textbook for a class at a magical school. Overall, this was an enjoyable experience!
As someone who has a particular interest for folklore and mythology, this sounded so interesting to me. The author has written a gorgeously illustrated mini encyclopedia of facts on the fae, theorizing the ways in which the fae have adapted to modern day, especially in the face of climate change and colonization.
The first thing I have to say is that I found the author's tone confusing - it left me wondering if I was meant to take the material seriously or not. It made the reading experience somewhat jarring. Despite this, whether these beings are something you believe in or not, I found that it opened my mind to the possibilities of things I cannot see. Or at least, it made me feel more interested in what others believe to exist, and perhaps it could do the same for you! When perceiving the material in this way, I found it quite fun and light-hearted, as though I were reading a textbook for a class at a magical school. Overall, this was an enjoyable experience!
May 20, 2021
I have never had a book work so hard not to be read.
It was weird. I'd sit down then I'd get distracted. Someone would turn on my favorite show, or I'd have to pee, it'd be dinner time... It was almost like those old legends about stumbling upon the entrance to Faerie. Weirder still I had trouble getting texts through where I said the name of the book. Honestly had a go at this twice before I got to read it.
All in all, this is an important piece of American culture. It's relevant and sensitive. It covers multiple cultures, not just the Eurocentric stories we all grew up with. I admire that. Took balls.
Not to mention the emphasis on environmental conservation. That was dope. Making us picture huddled, frightened, dryads...
It's a good book if you want to get your feet wet. I've seen people complain it wasn't DETAILED. But it's a place to start. You can go easily find yourself in an internet dungeon, be it about Rocs or The Pigeon. It'll point you somewhere.
I kind of want my own copy for reference.
It was weird. I'd sit down then I'd get distracted. Someone would turn on my favorite show, or I'd have to pee, it'd be dinner time... It was almost like those old legends about stumbling upon the entrance to Faerie. Weirder still I had trouble getting texts through where I said the name of the book. Honestly had a go at this twice before I got to read it.
All in all, this is an important piece of American culture. It's relevant and sensitive. It covers multiple cultures, not just the Eurocentric stories we all grew up with. I admire that. Took balls.
Not to mention the emphasis on environmental conservation. That was dope. Making us picture huddled, frightened, dryads...
It's a good book if you want to get your feet wet. I've seen people complain it wasn't DETAILED. But it's a place to start. You can go easily find yourself in an internet dungeon, be it about Rocs or The Pigeon. It'll point you somewhere.
I kind of want my own copy for reference.
February 1, 2024
The only reason I didn’t DNF this was because I knew I could finish it quickly (I’ll admit I did skim sections in the latter half of the book because I was giving up)
My issue is that I don’t really know what frame of mind I’m supposed to read this book in. Is this supposed to be a purely fictional read or am I supposed to be learning real facts and history about faeries/folklore? At times it seems serious (but even these moments where scholarship and research are mentioned are questionable based on other reviews that say these people didn’t even exist) and other times it feels like it’s just supposed to be a fun time such as the portion talking about faeries hacking your email. Because I can’t discern what is true and what isn’t, I can’t really take anything away from this book.
I would much rather read a true, trusted encyclopedia on the faerie lore of different cultures and how they have changed over time.
My issue is that I don’t really know what frame of mind I’m supposed to read this book in. Is this supposed to be a purely fictional read or am I supposed to be learning real facts and history about faeries/folklore? At times it seems serious (but even these moments where scholarship and research are mentioned are questionable based on other reviews that say these people didn’t even exist) and other times it feels like it’s just supposed to be a fun time such as the portion talking about faeries hacking your email. Because I can’t discern what is true and what isn’t, I can’t really take anything away from this book.
I would much rather read a true, trusted encyclopedia on the faerie lore of different cultures and how they have changed over time.
Read
April 19, 2023It's hard to rate this book because, as other reviewers pointed out, it's almost impossible to tell if the author is serious about this topic or not. Unlike other reviewers, though, I found that kind of entertaining... Does Rowland actually believe in these "fairy facts"? No idea! It's very Victorian in that regard.
Anyhow, I enjoyed it, despite not believing the existence of fairies. There are interesting points of speculation- what happens when one culture's fae migrates with them?- and serious reflection on the loss of Native American mythical traditions that were eliminated through genocide and forced conversions. Also some interesting thoughts about how a fairy of medieval lore would adapt to modern times- which family in a high rise is RESPONSIBLE for feeding a brownie through the community dumpster, for instance.
Anyhow, I enjoyed it, despite not believing the existence of fairies. There are interesting points of speculation- what happens when one culture's fae migrates with them?- and serious reflection on the loss of Native American mythical traditions that were eliminated through genocide and forced conversions. Also some interesting thoughts about how a fairy of medieval lore would adapt to modern times- which family in a high rise is RESPONSIBLE for feeding a brownie through the community dumpster, for instance.
February 18, 2021
Finding Faeries: Discovering Sprites, Pixies, Redcaps, and Other Fantastical Creatures in an Urban Environment by Alexandra Rowland
Publisher: Tiller Press
Genre: Religion & Spirituality
Release Date: October 20, 2020
Finding Faeries: Discovering Sprites, Pixies, Redcaps, and Other Fantastical Creatures in an Urban Environment by Alexandra Rowland is book about faeries.
I thought this was an interesting collection of information, but it didn't really work for me. I expected it to be more of an encyclopedia or reference book, but the tone just felt off.
I'm so grateful to Alexandra Rowland, Tiller Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Tiller Press
Genre: Religion & Spirituality
Release Date: October 20, 2020
Finding Faeries: Discovering Sprites, Pixies, Redcaps, and Other Fantastical Creatures in an Urban Environment by Alexandra Rowland is book about faeries.
I thought this was an interesting collection of information, but it didn't really work for me. I expected it to be more of an encyclopedia or reference book, but the tone just felt off.
I'm so grateful to Alexandra Rowland, Tiller Press, and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.
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