Thank you to Watkins Publishing, the authors, illustrator, and NetGalley for the advanced copy of The Book of Forgotten Witches by Lilla Bölecz and Balázs Tátrai in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really fun and unexpectedly extensive book with interesting witches and folklore. I was drawn in by the illustrations and stories told throughout. I probably would use it as a reference guide or coffee table book more than I would as a sit down and read all the way through novel, but it was fun and quick read to wind down with!

I thought the way tarot was intertwined throughout the book was also really unique and enjoyable. I’ll definitely be getting this for a few of my witchy friends/family members!

Using the Fool's journey of tarot as a theme, this dictionary of witches creates it's own world. Each chapter describes a different type of witch, including curse-bringers, shapeshifters and nature witches. Very short descriptions, gleaned from folk legends and literature from all over the world, are followed by a short story illustrating that category of witch. The book concludes with an appendix of tarot card characters and an index of the witches described.

This is a compendium of witches and I loved it! It is more than just the witches of Salem. It speaks of witches and witchcraft all over the world. I've learned of witches that were unknown to me previously. This is a great read for those who adore all things witches. I also want to add that the illustrations were just simply gorgeous! I voluntarily read this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a strange book and it is hard to see who the intended readership might be. One can hardly read it and honestly be expected to take it seriously. The witch descriptions all seem faintly ridiculous, such as the one that states that a certain type of witch takes the guise of a hare in order to trick people into giving it money. Why would anyone give a hare money? They would be more likely to give money to a person in human guise, so why the hare? Also another one that states that when a fox reaches 100 years old it acquires magical abilities. One would think that a fox lives for anything like even 50 years, it already has magical abilities to account for such longevity! I'm sure this is a book that many would enjoy, but it was not for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

All things “witchy” fascinate me so I was extremely excited to come across this book. The hardcover would be an excellent addition to anyone’s collection.

It is informative and includes many witches I’ve never heard of before. The illustrations are eye catching!

ives an introduction to many figures in folklore and myths and also some historical with many examples and ones you not have heard before and some fresh perspective on one's that you nay have heard of the book encompasses a wide range of different stories
Also like the hatty style that makes it seem interactive with the readers encouraging their thoughts it is also very stunningly illustrated it would be nice to see as a physical copy also
a good read if you interested in dark folklore

"Forgotten Witches" is a carefully crafted collection of characters and creatures from folklore, legends and history. I read that the intent was to link each chapter "to a different card of the Major Arcana" and to "complete a journey of self-discovery." That's neither here nor there for me, but I at least walked away inspired and delighted by this book.

At times the description of "witch" is broadly applied to those of non-European origin. Minor corrections are needed, because attempting to give Asian or African folk beliefs a Western equivalent wasn't necessary. There's definitely room to clarify these cultural nuances. Some types though are appropriately labeled, like "Jokatsu Baba" and "Yuki onna" as "yokai" for instance. I wanted respectful consistency in that regard. In the instance of "Garaboncias," the author did make the careful distinction of sorcerer vs wizard vs witch. This is a critical difference in Eastern European folklore so that was appreciated. But several famous real-life accused witches, goddesses, vampires and alchemists are included as well.

The short stories at the end of each chapter aren't particularly memorable. Perhaps if they were written in a simplified, 3rd person perspective, they would've blended in. It would've been at least similar to oral folk tradition. The transition from illustrated encyclopedia to 1st or 2nd person narrative fiction made it feel like two different books. These short stories would've made a great final chapter.

However, I think a lot of readers will forget these little criticisms once they see the illustrations. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and honestly I will buy a copy just to look at them. I would gladly hang prints of my favorites. So many publishers these days rely on AI art to cut costs, but not this one, and every other page is a treat for the eyes. It's very appealing to witchy readers like me.

This is the perfect "coffee table" book for any witchy or "weird" person! I loved the format, the art, the short stories, and the inclusion of alchemical principles. I want a hard copy of this book asap so I can take my time revisiting all the beautiful drawings and stories of creatures. My only real "complaint" is that I would have liked at further reading section/bibliography so that I could see what the sources were and read more on any creatures I find specifically interesting.

As a person who's been interested in witchcraft for a while now, I've learned that not all books about it are completely true or genuine. This was a welcome reprieve that I very much enjoyed reading through.

With ten chapters we discover a variety of witches/creatures from all around the world, whose stories are combined with beautiful illustrations. Each type is connected to one of the Major Arcana tarot cards which was also a nice touch and made it even more easier and impactful to remember the types.

If you are a lover of all things magical, witchcraft or supernatural I think this is definitely a book for your shelves because I know I for one am really looking forward to having my own physical copy!

thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC. What a BEAUTIFUL book filled with amazing illustrations and stories. I love this book but absolutely need it in physical form. Super informative.

This is a lovely little book. It’s a mix of the book “storyteller” guiding us through the library generally, information on the name, country of origin and story of the various types of witch, and actual stories.

Overall, this is a lovely informative, and pleasant read.

My thanks to Netgalley and Watkins Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for an hour review.

First off, the illustrations in this book were beautiful. They perfectly melded with the subject matter and created a visual masterpiece to compliment the writing. Each chapter explores archetypes of witchcraft and supernatural beings from all different cultures. The witch lore draws from the enduring legacy of those who dared to practice witchcraft.
The book combines history and myth while offering a glimpse into the timeless allure of witches. It also touches on tarot and the arcane. I like to lore from the shapeshifter and well-wishers section. The revenants section is haunting.

I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Netgalley and Watkins Publishing.

I loved everything about this book! It’s the perfect coffee table or showcase piece. The stunning visuals and engaging content make it a standout addition to any collection. However, I do have one small wish: I would love for this book to be available in a Kindle format. The NetGalley app often gives me trouble, so having the option to read it on my Kindle would make it so much more accessible and enjoyable.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! This book is amazing! It’s beautiful, with full page illustrations on nearly every other page, done by an extremely talented artist. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in witches, alchemy, other cultures, and folktales.

The Book of Forgotten Witches, by Lilla Bolecz Tatrai, is an absolutely stunning book. Along with the gorgeous illustrations are descriptions of different magical beings. I loved everything about this book, and I can't wait to buy a copy.

This was so much more beautiful than I could have ever imagined! The illustrations are stunning and I love them so much. The book is full of folklore and short stories about witches, organized by category. As someone who loves books about witches and spooky artwork, this is definitely one to add to your bookshelf.

It was not what I expected, but damn if i didn't love it. It was very well written and composed. Each chapter was a specific category of witches/creatures, and for each category we get a short story. The illustrations were simply amazing, perfectly fitting into the mood of the book.

LOVED EVERY SECOND OF THIS BOOK. SO SO SO GOOD. I RECOMMEND EVERYONE TO READ THIS BOOK ASAP IF YOU CAN. LOVED LOVED LOVED.

This is a cute little book of witches and monsters. I love the inclusion of Indigenous American figures like Deer Woman and different historical figures like John Dee. I think this is going to be popular on Tiktok and I can't wait to see what the physical copy looks like.

The book of forgotten witches. is a must for anyone with an interest in Folklore, Pagonisum or mythology, it is a beautifully written and illustrated book, with each chapter being dedicated to a type of witch and each page gives a concise description of some unique and some unknown historical witches, This will definitely be a book to physically own, rather than a digital copy.