
Member Reviews

In Witchcraft as Folk Resistance, historian William G. Pooley presents a compelling and meticulously researched re-evaluation of witchcraft—not as superstition or arcane lore—but as a powerful form of grassroots resistance. This is a work of profound historical revisionism and theoretical elegance, tracing how marginalized communities, particularly women and rural peoples, used accusations, rituals, and reputational power to contest the encroaching authority of the modern state.
What Pooley accomplishes here is remarkable: he reframes witchcraft not as a relic of ignorance, but as a strategic response to oppression, a system of meaning-making forged at the margins. Drawing upon a rich archive of case studies from 19th and early 20th-century France and beyond, the book unearths a subterranean history in which peasants, the poor, and the politically disenfranchised wielded “magic” as a vocabulary of power when all others were denied them.
The prose is academically rigorous yet accessible, striking a careful balance between theoretical weight and narrative clarity. Pooley weaves together legal records, folklore, oral traditions, and political discourse to show how witchcraft functioned as a counter-discourse to bureaucratic rationalism and state surveillance. In doing so, he also highlights the gendered nature of this resistance—showing how women, in particular, were both victims of control and agents of subversion.
What is especially striking is Pooley’s nuanced approach to “belief.” Rather than reducing witchcraft to delusion or dismissing it as purely symbolic, he treats it with the ethnographic dignity it deserves—as real within its own cosmology, and as consequential as any political act. The result is a study that restores agency to historical actors too often treated as passive or pathological.
Final Verdict: Witchcraft as Folk Resistance is a landmark contribution to cultural history, political theory, and folklore studies. It is essential reading for anyone interested in power, resistance, and the radical potential of belief systems outside sanctioned structures. Pooley reminds us that history is not only made in palaces and parliaments—but also in whispers, hexes, and household altars.
⭐ 5/5 stars
📚 A must-read for scholars of history, anthropology, feminist studies, and anyone seeking to understand the covert strategies of survival employed by those history often forgets.

As a fan of Lindsey Squire’s work, I was eager to read her new book, “Folklore Magic”, and it not disappoint! Filled with a wealth of information, written in a clear and simple way, the book was engaging to read. And the art work gave the book an extra joy while reading. If you are new to witchcraft or like me, just have a thirst for more knowledge, this is the book for you!

This book is sooooo pretty and has nice background about spices, herbs, and kitchen magick. It would be a great coffee table book in any witchy home.

Well presented beautiful book exploring witchraft and foklaw, suitable for those looking for a beginners guide

Thank you to NetGalley and Leaping Hare Press for this ARC!
The Witch of the Forest's Guide to Folklore Magick is an easy to follow guide for those interested in Folklore Magick. There are various herbs and their magickal properties listed. I will be referring to this guide in my practice.

This is an odd book. It's part story, part recipe book for witches?
It's not for me. I'm not going to review it elsewhere.

“The witch of the forests guide to folklore magick” by Lindsay squire was a wonderful book for those wanting to educate themselves more on the Craft and spirit.

This was a pleasure to read. It is brightly and creatively illustrated. I went into guessing correctly that is very much a beginner's book, but I love to read those anyway and I've enjoyed Lindsay Squire's previous work. I do consider myself intermediate, but intermediate with a foggy, foggy memory, so I don't mind reading to refresh. If only we were all lucky enough to have books this warm and thoughtful when we began our journeys.

Every one of Lindsay Squire's books are beautiful thorough, and well presented. This book is no different. This is a perfect "first books" for newbie witches.

A true beginner’s book—if you’re looking to dip your toes into folklore magick, this is the perfect choice.
I also have to point out that the illustrations are absolutely stunning! The artwork in this book is lush and beautifully detailed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group – Leaping Hare/Leaping Hare Press for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Such a wonderful starter guide to herbal folklore and witchcraft! I loved the illustrations that corresponded to each plant and that both medicinal and magickal uses were included. I do wish it went more in depth into the folklore behind each plant, but seeing as this was geared towards beginners, I still think it is a great reference book with some gorgeous illustrations.

My favorite part about this book, by far, were the gorgeous illustrations found on every page. They were so detailed and intricate that, even if I didn't understand completely what the text was saying, I was still able to thoroughly enjoy looking through the pages.
Witches and magic are very interesting topics to me, but I've never really dived in to learn more about it. This book was a great beginner guide for someone like me; interested in the subject, but more on a superficial level.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A very basic introduction guide to witchcraft aimed at beginners.
The book begins with simple two pages spreads introducing the ideas of things are like 'balms'. This was done in a way that sometimes felt they were trying to fill space as some of the things felt they were obvious, even for a beginner. But maybe not.
Its definitely an aesthetically pleasing book that I can see being popular in a millennial/gen z baby witch crowd but not something that I can see myself revisiting.

This book is so bright and colorful, packed with fascinating info I didn’t even know I needed! I’ve been getting more into holistic medicine, and this is definitely one I’ll keep coming back to as a reference.

As a longtime fan of Lindsay Squire and a proud owner of all her books, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on The Witch of the Forest's Guide to Folklore Magick. Living in South Africa, I made sure to order the hard copy the moment it was released yesterday.
As expected, Lindsay has once again delivered something truly special. The book is beautifully presented, much like her previous works, blending her deep knowledge with stunning illustrations that make every page a joy to explore. Lindsay has an incredible way of sharing information that feels both insightful and digestible, perfect for readers at any level of their magickal journey.
What really stood out to me in this guide is the seamless way Lindsay connects folklore with practical magick. The depth of knowledge she shares, especially about the magickal and medicinal properties of plants, is both informative and inspiring. It's a book I know I’ll return to often, whether for quick references or deeper dives into specific herbs and their folklore. The artwork adds another layer of enchantment, making it not just a guide but a visual treasure as well.
I was also beyond excited to learn that Lindsay's next project involves oracle cards! I've been hoping she'd create a set, and knowing they're on the horizon makes me even more eager for what's next. The Witch of the Forest's Guide to Folklore Magick is a must-have for anyone interested in the magickal world, and it holds a proud place on my bookshelf alongside Lindsay's other works.

This is a great starter guide if you have no other books on the subject. If you want to dip your toes into learning about flora, their history and properties, this book has a wide variety of easily accessible flora covered at a basic level. It even contains a small section of baneful flora which is rare in entry books. The real beauty of this book is the gorgeous illustrations. Not usually something I get in herbalism books and I appreciate its inclusion. There are more advanced books out there, but not everyone wants or is ready to meet every flora in existence all at once.
I would definitely pick up the paperback instead of the ebook version. I hope the version I got for review has been fixed before being launched as an ebook, but it was terribly formatted like no one took the 5 mins to flip through and make sure the pages were the right orientation and whoever decided to do 2 book pages on 1 page please rethink that choice in the future. I will not be removing stars for this in hopes it was fixed but even if it is I would still recommend the paperback anyway for the full beauty of the accompanying illustrations.
E-arc provided by Leaping Hare Press via Netgalley so I could write this honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group Leaping Hare/Leaping Hare Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
I was initially drawn to this book because of its beautifully illustrated cover and the fact that it focuses specifically on folklore magick. This book was a really cool introduction to the topic. Lindsay Squire does a great job blending folklore with practical magickal advice, and there’s a definite sense of connection to the natural world that comes through in the writing.
What I really liked about this book is that it’s accessible, even if you're not an expert in magick. It’s got history, rituals, and some cool spells—perfect for anyone looking to dive into these topics in a meaningful way. There were a few parts where I wanted a bit more depth, but overall, it’s a great guide and an enjoyable read.

I think this book is great for anyone who practices and those who are just curious about the history of magickal plants.
The artwork is so beautiful and cozy. This book wouldn’t be the same without it.
I learned a lot and it seems that a lot of research has gone into it.
5 stars

Tons of information. I will be returning to this book a lot. I love that there is detailed information on one page and a beautiful graphic that puts everything into one page on the other. The art uses bright colors which I really liked. It also includes warnings and tells you to see a doctor which isn't always included in books like these. I can't wait until my bookshop gets my copy.
5 stars

I have enjoyed all of The Witch of the Forest’s books to date and this one is no different. Easy to follow for beginners and with little nuggets of information for intermediates and the like. On top of this there are beautiful illustrations and easy to follow.