Surprisingly, I don’t gravitate towards archaeology often. (I’m more of a written source type of person.) However, I loved this book and it has really piqued my curiosity.

The book is easy-to-read and quite engaging- you don’t need to have any prior information to understand and enjoy it. I also loved that many images have been included; you don’t have to be able to picture what Ochota is discussing, which is nice. (I don’t mind googling things, but it is nice to be able to read a book without stopping several times throughout.)

Secret Britain also covers a wide range of sites and finds, both across Britain and across the centuries. There are over two hundred sites included in the book, so there really is something for everyone. I appreciated that she included popular sites like Tintagel with lesser known sites- I finished the book knowing a lot more than when I started.

Who Is This For- Any fans of early Britain, mediaeval Britain, or archaeology in general!

This book is both a guide to the material ancient history of Britain as well as a guide to visiting sites throughout the archipelago that comprises Great Britain. The photo reproductions of artifacts are stunning. There is a wonderful timeline at the beginning that covers the sweep of British history (and prehistory). Mary-Ann Ochota provides answers to objects where there are answers, and lets the mystery be with the still material mysteries. It's brilliant armchair travel as well as a wonderful guide to keep in the car when you're motoring!

Stunning book packed with information and pictures of sights around Great Britain. I was lucky enough to get my hands on this one in the lead up to a trip to the UK so I was full of fresh knowledge on where to go on my trip!

This book makes reference to 75 historical sites, many with an unexplained or uncertain past. The sites are referenced on a map of the British Isles and there is a time line to help with the chronology. The oldest thing mentioned is 33,000 years old and the youngest is from 1916. Each site is explained and has plenty of great photographs to illustrate them. There are some wonderful things, many I had not heard of. The Rollright Witch was of particular interest as I have visited the Rollright Stones but did not know about the witch. Thank you to Net Galley for anarchy in exchange for an honest review.

With thanks to the author and netgalley for allowing the pleasure to review Secret Britain

Secret Britain is a lovely book of ancient British isles and its artifacts. The illustrations are also excellent. Makes me want to take a year out and travel around looking for these.

I just wish I could have had a physical copy of the book, because I’m sure some of the wonder of the book was lost in the e copy.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was an interesting and insightful read about British relics. Britain has so many interesting relics that have come to light over the years. To see what’s been found and try to imagine how people lived back then.

I want to dig, to explore a country I've visited only once, see for myself the sites and consider the mysteries of SECRET BRITAIN by Mary-Ann Ochota. I loved every moment of this entrancing, deeply researched, vivid guide, pondering the wonders of places and objects with no one to tell their stories but an incredibly accomplished and engaging guide in Ochota. I received a copy of this book and these thoughts are my own, unbiased opinions.

Note: I received a free unpublished proof of this book, for a limited time, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

This one’s actually pretty straightforward: pictures and descriptions of a bunch of interesting archaeological sites and artifacts in Britain. The narration is interesting and the author is honest about what we do and don’t know about these places and artifacts—she will mention that we think something could have had a ritual purpose, have been used for cooking, etc., but also bring in other ideas and theories. This is a refreshing change from some history books in this vein that claim we know everything about some place or thing from the distant past.

I kind of wish I were still in the UK and could actually visit some of these places, because it also makes a nice travel guide if you are interested in archaeological stuff. That said, I think anyone interested in history, the history of religion, the occult, archaeology, and the distant past (think Vikings/medieval period/Celtic societies and even further back) would enjoy this book.

My thoughts on this haven't had reason to change since 2020.:-

This was a really good book, succinctly showing us the wonders of the British Isles that we can't fully explain. Standing stone rings, unusual artefacts whose use and/or creators are never to be known of again, and copious other ruins and landmarks – all are here, and the benefits of the book are evident in how many I had never heard of. A highly pictorial stance means some items are dismissed with just a paragraph, but I didn't find those too short – the picture editor has done a great job in both making this book look great and making sure most pictures told the necessary thousand words. None of the entries outstay their welcome (despite perhaps a little too much in the way of speculation), and it was all a bit too much to not book a few grand tours of remote Scotland, etc, to go and see the things and places in the flesh. For a primer to Fortean Britain, this is way up there.

This. Was. Fascinating!! I learned so much and was never bored. I’ve only been to London and Birmingham but have always wanted to visit more of England; now my list of sites is overflowing!! I can’t wait to take my husband and wow him with all of my knowledge about these off the beaten path places. :)

I did like this book and thought it'd be a good gift for those interested in British history. I thought the layout of the pages was done well and found the writing to be accessible and interesting. This book taught me about things I hadn't known before and thought it definitely left an impression on me.

I'm never sure how writers of books like this can pare the subject matter down to fit into one book because there are just so many things that could have gone into this book that weren't there. However I really enjoyed the fact that most of these locations were ones I wasn't aware of and it was largely new to me. The photography was really good too, but there was plenty of text accompanying it as well to make for a thorough and interesting read. I thought it was great.

I'll agree though with another reviewer that it is really hard to read this book on a phone through the Netgalley app because the text is so small I really strained my eyes trying to read it!

Secret Britain: Unearthing our Mysterious Past by Mary-Ann Ochota

Well-researched book that brings us back to the old time in the Britain. It comes along not only with a cup of tea and scone, also with many beautiful and colorful photos.

It includes various counties. I recommend to read the one that have been or you are interested in. They all can read as standalone. The book is easy to read and follow, and you will be amazed by the history and mysterious story behind in the Britain!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for my copy.

Pub date: March 12, 2024

Dive into a lively adventure through the British Isles with this captivating book. It's an engaging whirlwind tour of Britain's history that grabs you from the first page, perfect for newcomers and history buffs alike. With Ochota's clear explanations, even the most specialized terms become accessible. You're taken on a stunning journey to Britain's most fascinating archaeological treasures, enhanced by a handy timeline, map, and breathtaking photos that'll have you itching to explore these hidden gems yourself.

The storytelling is vivid and personal, focusing on the unique tales behind each site and artifact, effortlessly weaving them into the broader tapestry of British history and culture. Ochota's insights are thought-provoking and clear, offering fresh perspectives on ancient mysteries.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

An excellent book exploring Britain's ancient history through text and very good colour photographs. Easy to read and therefore understand it's a book that can be read straight off like I did and/or delved into as a reference or guide at want.
My thanks to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for this DRC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

One of the most interesting aspects of taking a trip to Europe and the UK is the incredible history. There are Roman ruins, artifacts from the Iron Age, etc. A trip the British Museum of London sparked my curiosity and interest which compelled me to read this book. There is a timeline of the various periods and events with many of the events tied to an artifact and photo in the book. There is even a map showing where in the UK all of these artifacts can be found./or originated from. Concise descriptions work well for the non-archeologists which I appreciated. A really fascinating book that has piqued my interest to explore outside of London next time I visit.


Thank you to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing Group – White Lion for an ARC and I left this review voluntarily.

Pasting the same thing yet again, from my two reviews posted just before this, because all applies here too: When I requested this book, I didn’t realize that it wasn’t accessible via Kindle. I tried to read it through my phone’s NetGalley app, but since my phone is nearly a decade old and has a very small screen, I gave up, because the tiny print was making my headache even worse. It’s a shame, because I think that I would really like this book, if I could access it elsewhere.

What a delightful and informative book! The images are beautiful, and it gives a good beginners guide to some of the less well known archaeological sites of England, Wales and Scotland, as well as one or two of the better known.

What might look like a pile of rocks is revealed to instead be important Neolithic or Mesolithic archaeology. Some of the objects in the book give a tantalising glimpse into a life forgotten.

The writing is easily understood and not too technical, it is phrased in an easy to understand way.

The only thing that would have been extremely useful is if the entries were numbered to correspond with the maps at the beginning of the book.

What a stunning book! A great, informative resource on all things British history, archeology and artefacts. Many of which you will have heard before, some you won’t have and some that really spark the interest and awe about historical events and the people that lived them.

The photos and pictures to accompany the text were great and I loved seeing and learning about the different artefacts that I’ve both come across and many of which weren’t even on my radar! I learnt a fair amount from this book and have a few new ‘must sees’ on my list to go and visit. After this book, I’ll be seeing them with new eyes.

I love learning about history and the archeology behind it all is just so fascinating. Loved this book for delivering the facts and I leave awed in all the history that we’ve managed to decode and gain a snippet into the insights into the past.

Super interesting book! As a non-British archaeology student, I'd heard of some of these sites, but not the majority. It's incredible how much work has been done in this area, and this book does a good job of communicating it. The pictures of artifacts are beautiful, while the landscapes tend to be a little oversaturated.