Fairies

I'm stunned. I've actually found a book more scattered and error-laden than [b:Mermaid Magic: Connecting with the Energy of the Ocean and the Healing Power of Water|11517938|Mermaid Magic Connecting with the Energy of the Ocean and the Healing Power of Water|Serene Conneeley|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347361382s/11517938.jpg|16454566]. I never thought it would happen.

This book is an utter disaster, and I say that with disappointment. I went into this positively, looking forward to reading it. I love faerie mythology and lore, and credit where credit's due: it's a really beautifully designed book! Too bad it's filled with bad research and fluffy made-up nonsense.

My doubts began when the author claimed that "some sources" (never named) claimed that air faeries or "sylphs" clean up chemtrails from the air. Yes, you read that right. Chemtrails. (Also, while we're here, sylphs are elemental spirits, originating from Paracelsus -- not faeries.)

So. I mean. Well. YEAH.

My doubts solidified into annoyance when I reached "[p]erhaps you've heard of the Irish selkies..." Long exhale. Firstly, selkies aren't Irish -- they're Scottish. I kind of wonder if author understands that Irish myth and Scottish myth aren't interchangable, and that they're actual separate cultures. The very word "selkie" is Scots, for crying out loud! Secondly? It takes about three seconds to Google this. To my utter frustration, the author kept referring to selkies as Irish for the remainder of the book.

Next up, I was told that "Japanese mths speak of a shapeshifting fox called a kitsune", and I just facepalmed. No. 'Kitsune' is merely the Japanese word for fox. There is no special word for shapeshifting foxes, because ALL foxes were believed to have that ability. They were considered a witch animal, essentially.

Again, this is Google-able info.

But oh, it went on and on. Did you know that the Moirae/Fates of Greek myth are faeries? And the Seven Hathors of late Ancient Egyptian myth! (No. No, they are not -- they're goddesses.)

Some more Celtic Culture Smushing, for good measure, a claim that Picts lived in Ireland as well as Scotland (they didn't; you're thinking of Gaels), and that Picts and pixies are related (no, they're not -- the linguistic link between "Pict" and "pixie" is shakier than a bellydancer on the San Andreas fault after an espresso shot). Oh, and did you know pixies help with housework? (No, they don't, unless you live in Dartmoor. You're thinking of brownies, which are, I might add, Scottish. Which is not Irish. Just, y'know. FYI.)

And on and on! Kelpies are "enchanted horses". Pooka are goblins. Disney's "The Princess and the Frog" came out in 1992. (How...how did that slip by the editor? ...was there an editor?)

Then the conflicting information about faeries (author never specifies which type) themselves. They'll help grant your wishes, but they don't understand human emotions. You can make them like you but they actually frickin' HATE humans to no end (yeah, all of them. Not just the Unseelie lot, ALL of them!).

When the author claimed that "modern" faeries enjoy eating "fairy bread', I actually started laughing from embarrassment and knew I had to DNF things or my head would explode. (For those who don't know: "fairy bread" is an Australian dessert served, largely, at children's birthday parties. So, tell me, does anyone know how the aos-sìth feel about Wizz Fizz?)

This is book is beyond awful. It's ill-researched garbage and I wasn't going to put myself through the rest of it if the first part was such disorganised false information that a five minute Google search could rectify. I'd give it zero stars if I could. Bloody hell.