Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants

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The A-Z layout of the plants makes for a really manageable structure, and gives the reader regular natural breaks to allow for them to reflect and absorb what they have read. But the facts and stories themselves are so interesting that you can easily read a large portion in one sitting. I think I have found a new favourite Non-Fiction recommendation folks! I don't read a lot of Non-Fiction, and there is always an unknown around how accessible the writing is going to be... and there are no such worries here. This is a glorious book; beautifully and lovingly written, completely engaging and utterly compelling. The book is beautifully illustrated by simple mono line drawings which stir the imagination and which give, along with the text, a comprehensive guide to the A-Z of Plants which could potentially do great harm. There is a disclaimer at the start of the book to not try any of these as the book is for information and entertainment only and not a medicinal guide to try plant based medicine at home. By publishing your document, the content will be optimally indexed by Google via AI and sorted into the right category for over 500 million ePaper readers on YUMPU. Thank you so much to @turnaround_books and @liminal11 for sending me a copy of this stunning book in exchange for an honest review.

Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow-Lives of Plants

If you drink much from a bottle marked ‘poison,’ it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later.” – Lewis Carroll, Alice in WonderlandThis book is filled with meticulous detail on plants, the history behind poisoning and how a plant used to heal can be lethal if the incorrect dose is given. All this is discussed, and more, in Botanical Curses and Poisons, the latest book by author/illustrator Fez Inkwright and a pretty direct followup to her charming 2019 publication Folk Magic and Healing. Inkwright cites botany, nature, early religions and folklore as her greatest passions, and all of these topics are seen in equal measure in both her books. Botanical Curses and Poisons makes a great companion piece, not just because the two books would look great on a shelf together, but also because it’s structured very similarly to its predecessor. With the exception of a few interesting short articles at the beginning, most of the book is set up like an encyclopedia of botanicals. Each entry starts with an excerpt from poetry or literature that references the plant, and most also include a beautiful and delicate ink drawing of what it looks like. They certainly do look nice together, though! It’s rare for an encyclopaedia- style non-fiction book to be so moreish. But I was hooked. It definitely helps that I have a long term love of plants and folklore, sprouting from a childhood spent in wings chasing fairies through bluebell woods and a family full of avid gardeners and believers in magic. Books like this solidify my belief that while science makes us understand the effects of plants differently, the effects remain the same. Not to get phenomenological about it but, to me, if it feels like magic. In this magical collection of flash fiction fairy tales, encounter science-minded fox spirits, tiger wives, books that can be read by anyone but their owner, and more! Some of these I know from childhood, I remember being told very sternly that I must never ever touch the glistening berries of the Deadly Nightshade that I used to see growing down the lane near my house. I grew to learn which plants could hurt when you fell off your bike into them and even contemplating touching a mushroom was forbidden. Thankfully in this beautiful book by Fez Inkwright, the knowledge of which plants to avoid has been brought bang up to date.

Botanical Curses And Poisons by Fez Inkwright | Waterstones

Discover the folklore and history of our most toxic plants through this beautifully produced, gorgeously illustrated compendium. The facts about the different plants, and the folklore and mythology that are included make it feel like such a rich tapestry of storytelling.Filled with information as well as stories this novel presents a nice balance into the past of these plants. There are many more than I knew of and learning how some were used in plots and executions was very interesting. The narrator did a great job reading through these plants alphabetically, but knowing there are so many poisonous plants out there(or which I don't know how to identify) has definitely made me feel less prepared for an apocalypse. The book is a fascinating cornucopia, filled with a wealth of knowledge both botanical and historical so that reading it becomes more of a journey through the history of both herblore and folklore. Alongside the intricate descriptions of plants and their uses, I have loved reading the references to poets and writers which help to bring the book alive in such a glorious way. High rating mostly because of emotional connection to the narrator. (I listened to this when i was tired or emotionally exhausted, so over time we kinda (one-sidedly) bonded.) Gothic author Eleanor Sciolistein says: “Another gorgeous slice of eerie Southern Gothic from a talented writer whose gift for building memorable and relatable characters is matched only by her ability to send a chill up the reader’s spine. Perfect for anyone with artistic leanings, The Haunting of Willow Creek is a rewarding read for any fans of gothic literature. Highly recommended.” 6. Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow-Lives of Plants by Fez Inkwright Reader, it was probably one of the best random decisions I’ve made in a while. This book was fantastic.