Non-Fiction Book Review - 'The Field Guide to Witches: An artist’s grimoire of 20 witches and their worlds' by 3dtotal Publishing, Various

'The Field Guide to Witches: An artist’s grimoire of 20 witches and their worlds' is a collection of independent artists' interpretations - and their research, notes, sketches, and works in progress - of famous legendary witches around the world. Twenty of the often fearsome folklore femmes, to be exact.

The contributors' artwork is, without exception, magnificent. Most are dark and creepy, with some genuinely original and creative takes on the witches, such as with the Sea Witch, the Snow Queen, the Cailleach, Black Annis, the Cuca, and Elli. Jenny Greenteeth is seriously interpreted as just a monster, not even human, and can hardly be classified as a witch. In fact, a lot of these witches are not really complex or made sympathetic, but plain evil, like the Gingerbread Witch, the Sea Witch (also more of a monster), the Spinning Witch, Black Annis (ditto - she resembles a scarecrow), and the Bruxa ("a vampiric menace born of witchcraft.", and "has more in common with a vampire than a witch."). Cannibalism and child snatching and eating are common traits in these horrific figures invented to scare children into obedience and conformity--I mean, safety.

But it is a very good horror artists' book, and very introspective and detailed. Each witch's story - and environment - are put into consideration, when deciphering and illustrating what they might be like. It's like a guidebook of sorts, as well as an educational tool.

My favourite witches included are Baba Yaga (of course she's here, she couldn't not be), La Befana (a grandmotherly, pagan Santa Claus who predates Santa Claus!), Morgan Le Fay (a most misunderstood and complex feminist figure, and this enchantress sure can handle Excalibur!), Isis, Freyja (doubles as a warrior queen, and is so adorable!), the Morrigan (a dark queen and goddess of war and death, "a human and a beast", and a triple goddess figure, and quoth the raven--uh, crow, plus death omens, but wait, why no mention of the mole put above her upper lip? Why that artistic choice for her?), Hecate (needs no introduction, and I love how her artist connects her to Artemis), Elli (the most mysterious and unknown; a crone and nanny who beat Thor, and cannot be defeated, for she is Old Age itself), and Yama-uba (a very complex hag of Japanese folklore; a yōkai, nature lover, and mother; she truly is like a Japanese Baba Yaga).

'The Field Guide to Witches: An artist’s grimoire of 20 witches and their worlds' - recommended to all witch/sorceress fans - from the well-known myths and fairy tales to the obscure and unknown - art fans, and horror fans. I wish more witches, like from pop culture from the last hundred years, could have been included and explored, but regardless, it is an interesting book to flick through and read the notes of every now and then.

Dark, frightening, spooky stuff. And absolutely beautiful, fascinating art.

Imagine the unimaginable, welcome the wickedness, embrace the enchantment, visualise the veil and the vile, and manifest the macabre!

Published by 3dtotal Publishing, who sell carbon-neutral products. Every book sold means one tree planted. 50% of their profits go to charity, covering causes such as humanitarian work, animal welfare, and protecting rainforests.

I'm glad to be supporting this publisher.

Final Score: 3.5/5