Welcome back to White Rose of Avalon, my Darlings. For today’s blog post, I will be sharing my review of the book Welsh Fairies: A Guide to the Lore, Legends, Denizens & Deities of the Otherworld by Mhara Starling! I have had this book on my to-read list for a while now, and just recently got a chance to read it, and I am so glad I did.
I thoroughly enjoyed Mhara Starling’s dive into Welsh faerylore, which did not surprise me given how much I enjoyed her first book, Welsh Witchcraft, when I read it a couple of years ago. It is always beneficial to read about Welsh folklore from the perspective of a native Welsh speaker who has grown up and lived in the culture, as this adds so much context to these stories for those of us who were not raised in Wales!
Mhara Starling’s writing style is incredibly engaging, with her love of the Fae being present throughout the exploration of Welsh folklore, mythology, and the lasting legacy of the belief in the Fae. The book is well researched, and she provided a bibliography and encouraged readers to delve more deeply into these other sources at the end of the book. I love this encouragement to continue your studies, as I am always delighted to go down rabbit holes in folkloric research!
Furthermore, I appreciated getting to read about some stories and books that are not discussed much outside of the native Welsh language. That makes this book quite a valuable resource for people, like myself, who work deeply with the Fae (and some of the Welsh Celtic Faery Queens) to have access to more folklore now being discussed in English by such a passionate and knowledgeable author. Beyond that, the author infused her deeply personal relationship with the Fae into the book by sharing some magickal practices developed over several years! Once again, I have to commend her for encouraging the reader to adapt these practices to suit their own personal practice, because each of us is different. This is something that is sometimes forgotten in books on magick, and I always love it when an author stresses how important it is to find what works for you personally!
Overall, I was so engaged with the material that I could not put the book down for long, desiring to read more, discover more, and learn about the folklore and faerylore I love so much, from the perspective of someone who lives where these tales were first told. If you are looking for a book that will give you an overview of both the well-known Welsh faerylore and a deep dive into aspects of Welsh faerylore that were largely unavailable in the English language before the publication of this book, this is definitely the book for you! So, yes, this book is inspirational to me on my personal path, and in my work as an Avalonian Priestess. After all, studying folklore, myth, and history is so important when you have relationships with Faery Queen Goddesses and work with the Fae. I am so delighted to have finally read this book and have it in my collection as a resource!
I hope you have enjoyed reading my thoughts on this book. Have you read Welsh Fairies? Do you plan to read it now? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Note on Image: The image at the top of the post is the book cover. I found the picture on https://www.amazon.com/Welsh-Fairies-Denizens-Otherworld-Witchcraft/dp/0738777749.
LINK TO AVALONIAN ROSE FAERY MYSTERIES PATREON: patreon.com/AvalonianRoseFaeryMysteries
Further Reading
- Welsh Fairies: A Guide to the Lore, Legends, Denizens & Deities of the Otherworld by Mhara Starling
- Welsh Witchcraft: A Guide to the Spirits, Lore, and Magic of Wales by Mhara Starling
2 responses to “‘Welsh Fairies’ Book Review”
What a fantastic and thorough review! Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I haven’t read Welsh Fairies yet, but it has been on my radar ever since I discovered Mhara Starling’s work. Your review has absolutely convinced me to move it to the top of my reading list.
You’ve highlighted everything I look for in a folklore and magic-related book: the invaluable perspective of a native speaker, deep research, and an author who encourages personal adaptation rather than prescribing a rigid, one-size-fits-all practice. The point about having access to stories and sources previously confined to the Welsh language is a huge selling point for me, as that’s a barrier I often encounter.
It’s wonderful to hear how inspirational and engaging you found it, and how it resonates with your work as an Avalonian Priestess. Hearing that it’s a resource you’ll return to is the highest recommendation.
I am so glad that my review convinced you to read the book sooner! It’s always great to have a review by someone whose opinion you trust convince you to read a book sooner, so I am glad I could do that. The book is really fantastic, and Mhara Starling’s work in general is amazing. I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did!