It took rereading and rereading again for me to properly absorb, understand, and love these poems (poetry is usually not my jam) based on Scottish folklore, of which I knew of very sparsely, with LGBTQ twists.
The trans and nonbinary communities are showcased on a phenomenal, revolutionary and beloved level in this volatile collection. Gods, spirits and fairies put very little stock on trivial things like gender, so why should we?The lush, opulent watercolour art helps to compliment the rep as well.
My favourites are 'Kelpie', 'Glaistig', 'The Wulver's Daughter', 'Nicnevin, Queen of the Fairies', 'The Well at the World's End', 'Ghillie Dhu', 'Finfolkaheem', 'Finman', 'The Bridge of One Hair', 'Green Lady', 'Johnny O'Braidislea', 'Stoor Worm', and 'Mairead'.
I love fairy tales, warrior women, princesses, and wolf girls. Who doesn't?
From the blurb:
A boy selkie who takes girlness off like a sealskin, an untameable kelpie, the warrior-wife of a princess, and a Loch Ness monster who is too busy having fun to worry about words like "girl" or "boy". This is the way the world is - with just a bit of Scottish myth and magic thrown in.
What a beautiful world that sounds like.
'Wain: LBGT Reimaginings of Scottish Folklore' - a breath of fresh sea air, a rarity, an extraordinary trinket, an imaginarium brought seamlessly and effortlessly to life, an eye-opening gift to such a diverse world as ours.
Final Score: 3.5/5
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