Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me this eARC to review. Sadly the content within this book is not good for my mental health which I did not realise at the time so I am very sorry for that! I will give this 3 Stars as I couldn't review it properly. Apologies again!

Interesting and useful things but too heavy on history for me.
I struggled with this and ended up skipping pages to get where I wanted

This book of simples is the perfect guide for those seeking to learn about natural remedies to aid with various ailments and needs. This is a herbal that gives old herbals a run for their money as it focuses on a variety of herbs such as fennel, cowslips, and cornflower. Highly recommended! This serves as a great starter guide for those looking for spiritual guidance, interested in wicca, and looking to broaden their herbalism horizons.

Took me a while to get through this book as it sides heavy on the history, which is not a bad thing and you can tell how passionate the writer is. It did not fit well for me personally but it is a great source of information for a green witch.

(A big thank you to NetGalley for supplying a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!)

This book attracted me because I’ve been wanting to learn more about growing and using herbs and other plants in my everyday life. Why this interest?

• I’d love to introduce more greenery inside and outside my home. Plants are not only beautiful but can boost your mood, too!
• I’m interested in using less plastic. Buying seed packets and growing my own plants can help cut down on packaging waste from store-bought materials.
• I simply want to learn more about plants and their properties. The “secret” world of plants never ceases to amaze me.

This book provides a long list of plants with ways to use them as a “simple,” or concoction made from just one herb and water. The author provides plenty of practical uses for each herb as well as including segments about the magical uses, superstition, and folklore of the plants.

Draco also includes references to many older texts to provide readers with examples of similar compilations throughout history. She also includes medical warnings for plants that could cause adverse effects. (Of course, I would definitely research any plant mentioned in this book more in depth and speak to a doctor before trying any new herbs. Some can have interactions with medications or be harmful to people with certain medical conditions.)

I’d consider this book to be a great introduction to different types of herbs. It isn’t a book that I’d necessarily read straight through but is a great one to reference when considering trying out different herbal remedies. The structure can be difficult to follow as historical, scientific, folkloric, and personal references are interspersed throughout the book without clear transitions. The book’s main strength is serving as a compendium of interesting tidbits about various plants.

The Witch’s Book of Simples by Melusine Draco

208 Pages
Publisher: John Hunt Publishing Ltd, Moon Books
Release Date: March 25, 2022

Nonfiction (Adult), Health, Mind, Body, Spirit, Religion, Spirituality, Self-Help, Folk Medicine

The book is divided into the following chapters.

Chapter 1: The Herb Garden
Chapter 2: Preparation and Usage
Chapter 3: The Simples
Chapter 4: Complaints & Ailments
Chapter 5: Potpourri

The author includes a great deal of history in this book. I also like her opinion of fresh versus dried herbs. I had a giggle over the term “bicarb” because when I was growing up, my grandfather would always say he needed a bicarb. It brought me a very happy memory. I am happy the author gives precautions for specific herbs. I made me go and research a tree growing in my yard (which I found to be highly toxic and contains cyanogenic glycoside and amygdalin). This just goes to show a little knowledge is dangerous. I am glad the author did her research and provided such a complete listing. Although I have many books on herbs, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in herbal healing and medicine.

I was disappointed with this book. I would like to learn more about herbs but I found this book too hard to read. I am not a fan of the "feeling" of the writing and felt like it was not meant for me as a beginner.

Thank you to the publisher, John Hunt Publishing, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of The Witch’s Book of Simples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Gist

Okay, to be honest I had no clue that this book is about herbs and recipes to treat minor ailments. I clicked on the title and requested it, because I thought this was a book about a minimalistic and simple lifestyle with a flair of the modern witch’s insights.

How wrong I was!

Nevertheless, this is a delightful resource.

The Details

First of all, the author explains what “simples” actually are. This is really helpful, since I would have been completely confused otherwise.

I appreciated the historical overview of simples. It is comprehensive and well researched.

I wasn’t such a big fan of the large quotes the author used to strengthen her points of argument. Some quotes were as long as full paragraph and that really takes the reader out of the text, so to speak.

It also gives me the feeling the author doesn’t think her work and research is as valuable unless it is plastered with other people’s work and resources.

The Witch’s Book of Simples does a very good job in introducing the reader to the concept and preparation of simples. The large quotes just feel unnecessary.

There is also a bit of a jump in focus, for lack of a better term. The book leads from the historical overview of simples to the general recipe and instruction of how to make simples. But then right in the middle we have another section that talks about some historical/biographical point. It confused me. This part should have been added in the first chapter.

Right in the middle of the book there is an annotated bibliography that is a rich resource for further study, but I feel like this should have been added at the end.

I highly appreciated the extensive list of herbs, their scientific and common names, their uses and the warning not to use them, if one is taking certain prescription medication.

The Verdict

Overall, I know some the points above sound like nitpicking and that is probably due to my decade-long education in writing research papers and following strict guidelines to a t.

I did really enjoy The Witch’s Book of Simples and would definitely recommend it to anyone who is looking to build their own herb garden. If I ever make enough money – or any at all with my reviews – to afford a house with a garden, this would be my go-to resource in starting my little herb apothecary.

This book is awesome. I found many great recipes and was pleased with the results. Well written text. Easy to follow directions. I told family members and friends about it and they asked where they could buy it.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am obsessed with herbs and I expected to really enjoy this book. I wasn't disappointed. Well structured, well researched and well written. Looking forward to buying a copy of the hardcover soon.

It's easy to tell the author is very passionate about this subject. Unfortunately, passion does not equal a good reading experience. From the start, the writing is very inaccessible; it is very history heavy and reads like a textbook. The author repeats herself a lot, inputs unnecessary quotes, and jumps from topic to topic in a way that makes no sense. From what you can plant your herbs in, to city foraging, to the history of buttercup, to the definition of an herb with certain medicinal herb uses sprinkled in, all within 5 pages. Despite the title, this book doesn't seem very heavy on modern witchcraft/neo-paganism; it's more about historic folk magic. Another issue I had was the author seemed to have a negative view on modern medicine. In one section she states: "if they [herbs] are combined with the modern penchant for pharmaceutical drugs, there can be potentially fatal consequences. It is actually the pharmaceutical drugs that are dangerous" The 3rd chapter was my favorite as it was a list of herbs with how to make simples their uses, and some background history. This part felt more organized and polished than the rest of the book and makes for great reference. Overall, I would not recommend this to modern witches unless they love academia and history.

This is a super book. It has been researched well and is easy to read through. I really enjoyed reading about all the herbs and their uses. This book would be great in physical form rather than scrolling though on the kindle.
Thanks to Netgalley and John Hunt Publishing for the ARC Copy. This review is my own opinion.

I was pretty disappointed with this book. It read very much like a research paper. I'm sure there was good information buried beneath the haughty tone and the mountain of quotations from other people's works, but this just missed the mark entirely.

I have mixed feelings about this book. I understand the origin but I wish it was not titles "Witches" book of simples. I think it might deter some herbal enthusiasts from reading a great book about herbs and such.

I read this book via NetGalley.com. I really like the book. I am going to purchase the book, there is so much information in the book that I want a physical copy of the book. This is a great reference book. My favorite part of the book is that it includes reasons/warnings about the various herbs, flowers, etc. that I haven't found in many books. I would highly recommend this book if someone is interested in herbalism and natural healing.

This has good introductory information and quick how to do something. Decent basic starting book. A decent reference for herb/plant readers.

Tons and tons of really great information! Possibly meant for a more experienced practitioner as many of the sections could be a bit dense, but overall, a fabulous read!

I'm very interested in everything related to herbs and always liked Melusine Draco's books.
This one was interesting but I'm very wary when someone talks about herbs as alternative or not working with traditional medicine.
My mother and grandma taught how to use and recognise herbs, I knew some healer but I also know that my life depends on traditional medicine as no herbs can cure diabetes.
There're some interesting parts but take care.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is probably one of the best books I have read by Melusine Draco. Full disclosure, I applied to study with Coven of the Scales and was not approved. That being said, the craft described in this book is rooted and from the lens of British Traditional Witchcraft. That is the same path that was recommended I study but no one was teaching it Stateside in 1991. So my interest is always piqued when BTW books come out.

How does this compare to other new herb and medicinal plant books? I would say this is a bit more advanced and a denser read. It is full to the brim with history and provides a very solid background on why these remedies were used for health and magic.

Lots of plants and herbs are covered but, as with the other new books on this topic, I would have liked to see photos. Why? Because, as Draco points out, some of these plants and herbs are poisonous and identification is key.

I liked her emphasis on growing and harvesting the herb with magic on the mind. Every part of the process goes into simple being effective. This includes storage and preparation.

One quote I particularly liked was:

"When we use Simples we are more likely to notice the many variables that affect each herb: including where it grows, the year’s weather, how we harvest it, our preparation , and the dosage. The many variables within one plant ensures that our Simple remedy nonetheless touches many aspects of a person and heals deeply."

My interactions with Coven of the Scales aside, I would highly recommend this book to herbalists, witches (regardless of tradition) and those wanting to delve deeper into home remedies.

Since the rise of drug-resistant bacteria, and of viral pandemics, more and more people have been turning to the natural world for answers. I found this book both fascinating and interesting.