Book Review - Folktales, Faeries, and Spirits by Halo Quin

I know I've been a bit lax with the book reviews recently - and blog posts in general! It has been a bit of a manic time, what with (trying) to buy a new flat (yesterday my third one fell through so it's back to the drawing board!), an ever-increasing workload, and preparing for Christmas with my family (which means lots of Christmas shopping!). But I am determined to get back into the swing of things, and what better way to start than with a book I highly recommend; Halo Quin's Folktales, Faeries, and Spirits.


A Pagan Portals book (published by Moon Books) released this year, it's been on my list to review for a while, and I'm disappointed that it took me so long to get around to it! Now, disclaimer; I don't really work with the Fae as such. Many of you will know me as a water witch, and within my practice I work with a variety of water spirits. Can these water spirits be considered part of the Fae family? It is a question I have pondered for a while, and Quin's book really made me consider that on a much deeper level. I came to an answer, but that is a subject for another blog post! But essentially, just because you don't work specifically with the Fae doesn't mean you should discard this book. Many of the ways of working and experiences Quin describes are ones which correlate with my own workings with water spirits, and so whether you work specifically with the Fae or spirits more generally, this book is for you.

My favourite types of books are ones which are filled with practical exercises, so you can learn and experience what the author is describing, and this is one of the reasons I loved Quin's latest offering. This isn't the type of book you read in an afternoon and then put on a shelf to gather dust. Every page is packed with ways you can begin your own journey, meditations and pathworking, and ideas to help you connect with the Fae and spirits. Quin writes in a way which is truly engaging, and her passion for the subject is evident throughout. I found myself reading a chapter and then putting the book down, eager to dive into the exercises listed, inspired by Quin's own enthusiasm to give them a go.


Another reason that this book appealed to me is Quin's balance between historical information and UPG (unsubstantiated personal gnosis). She acknowledges that everyone's path, and experiences, are different, and none are less valid than others. I personally think this is such an important element within pagan practice, and I always find it encouraging to see other practitioners supporting this approach. Related to this is the amount of emphasis Quin puts on doing your own research, and her suggestions on how to find the local resources to do so. I am a big believer in working with your local landscape to deepen your practice and connection with the world around you, and so again this was another element of Quin's book which really resonated with me and my own practice.


This book feels like it is written for beginners, but as someone who has been practicing for over twenty years, I gained a lot from reading it and so would recommend it to those of any level of experience who are looking to connect with the Fae and the spirits around them. This is absolutely worth the read, and I know for certain a book I'll be working with for a while yet!

To purchase a copy of this book, check out www.johnhuntpublishing.com/moon-books/our-books/pagan-portals-folktales-faeries-spirits

Or, if you would prefer to support independent bookstore, then check out https://uk.bookshop.org/books/pagan-portals-folktales-faeries-and-spirits-faery-magic-from-story-to-practice/9781785359415?aid=7835

To find out more about Halo and the other books she has written (and she has some very interesting ones, her Gods and Goddesses of Wales is top of my list to check out next), then follow some of the links below:


Publishers author section: www.johnhuntpublishing.com/moon-books/authors/halo-quin

Halo's website: www.haloquin.net

Books by and recommended by Halo: https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/Quin

Links to various projects and social media: www.linktr.ee/haloquin