Book Review: The Little Book of Magical Creatures & The ABC of Magic Charms
The Little Book of Magical Creatures: A Revised and Expanded Edition by Elizabeth Pepper and Barbara Stacy. © 2009 The Witches’ Almanac, Ltd. ISBN 9780977370399. Paperback. Cryptozoology/Mythology. 173 pages. $12.95 US. Source: review copy
• Shop Indie Bookstores
• Order Online from Amazon
Review
This is a delightful little tome devoted to mythical creatures of various sorts. Broken down into four parts—Tame Creatures, Wild Creatures, Fabulous Creatures and Magic Storied Creatures—it covers a remarkable plethora (over two dozen) in only a few pages.
You’ll find domestic animals like the cat and dog here, as well as your more cryptozoological ones like the basilisk and unicorn. None of the entries go into a lot of detail but for the budding mythologist or cryptozoologist this is perfect for dipping your toes into the ocean of mythos without getting in over your head.
Rating: 3.5 chimeras out of 5
The ABC of Magic Charms: A Revised and Expanded Edition by Elizabeth Pepper and Barbara Stacy. © 2009 The Witches’ Almanac, Ltd. ISBN 9780977370382. Paperback. Folklore/Mythology. 188 pages. $12.95 US. Source: review copy
• Shop Indie Bookstores
• Order Online from Amazon
Review
Like the above companion book, this is also a delightful read. Listed in alphabetical order it covers the folklore and esoteric sides of plants, gemstones, symbols, charms, objects, numbers, talismans, fetishes, and amulets. I didn’t learn anything new myself since I’ve read heftier books on the same subject, but this was still a nice read.
Note: Authors and writers, this would make for a great resource if you are needing to add a little magic to your novels and stories.
Rating: 3.5 tetragrammatons out of 5
