Fez Inkwright is an illustrator, author, and folklorist. Her greatest passions are botany, nature, primitive religions, and folklore, which flavor most of her work. For the past eight years she has produced work for children’s books, hand-drawn maps, and tattoo design, and now spends her time indulging in conservation work and writing. She lives in Bristol, UK, with two cats and several hundred bees. Available As: Thank you so much to @turnaround_books and @liminal11 for sending me a copy of this stunning book in exchange for an honest review. The facts presented about the plants are as varied as the range of plants covered. Each entry might span many different cultures and touch on information like how plants got their name, how they were used during different time periods, what superstitions people had about them and why. (And if you’re an academic nerd like me, rest assured that it’s all very well cited!) The broad nature of the knowledge conveyed is cool because it gives a more thorough picture of what life is like in these different cultures. Names, in particular, have a lot to say about the societal values of a time. One of my favorite examples of that is Devil’s Bit, named because the highly medicinal roots were also abnormally short, leading people to believe that the devil “bit” off the rest of the roots so less medicine could be made from them. The different utilities people found for plants that are toxic are interesting too—for example, bug collectors used to place live specimens in a jar with crushed laurel leaves so the toxic fumes from the laurel would kill the insect without damaging it. This book is truly a stunning work of art as much as it is a writing on the A-Z of plants and their sometimes dark and nefarious history. The text flows around and between beautiful illustrations, and includes poems, quotes and various wisdoms about each plant as well as the history and folklore associated with it.

Review | Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow-Lives of Review | Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow-Lives of

The book is a fascinating cornucopia, filled with a wealth of knowledge both botanical and historical so that reading it becomes more of a journey through the history of both herblore and folklore. Alongside the intricate descriptions of plants and their uses, I have loved reading the references to poets and writers which help to bring the book alive in such a glorious way. It is well known how plants have been used through time for healing and their medicinal properties, but as with all nature where there is good bad will surely follow. This collection is a stellar roundup of tales that capture the birth of the botanical gothic genre. Published in the span of 1844 to 1932, the 14 short fiction works in the collection are written by some of the greatest gothic writers in history. Daisy Butcher gives a fascinating and insightful introduction that will make you want to dive deeper into the collected stories and the genre itself. 2. Chlorophobia: An Eco-Horror Anthology by A.R. Ward I think I have found a new favourite Non-Fiction recommendation folks! I don't read a lot of Non-Fiction, and there is always an unknown around how accessible the writing is going to be... and there are no such worries here. This is a glorious book; beautifully and lovingly written, completely engaging and utterly compelling.Poisonings are among the most memorable deaths in history, from the Roman Empire to the Medieval era and beyond. Concealed and deliberate, it’s a crime that must be planned in advance. And yet there is a fine line between healing and poisoning – Paracelsus argued that only the dosage matters! I’ve rounded up a list of six botanical gothic books as a great entry point into the genre. While by no means an exhaustive list, with these books, you’ll be ready to plant your own gothic garden in no time. There’s a bit of an introduction section, and then the book goes through a bunch of plants alphabetically, talking about myths involved with them, or how they were used throughout history. I was hugely surprised by nearly every plant listed in this book, and just how they have been used for some pretty major parts of history, like how hellebore was used to turn the tide of a pretty major historical battle, for example, or how the nectar of the angel’s trumpet flowers were used by Victorian women at teatime to get a bit drunk. Mint is even mentioned, not because it’s a poison, but because of the mythology of the plant.

REVIEW: Botanical Curses and Poisons: A Fascinating - WWAC REVIEW: Botanical Curses and Poisons: A Fascinating - WWAC

The facts about the different plants, and the folklore and mythology that are included make it feel like such a rich tapestry of storytelling. Inkwrite takes readers on a historical and educational journey throughout the history of plants, using many of them to showcase not just their properties, but how they have been used, and their darker capabilities. And yet it was the accessible nature of his writing that captivated me almost as much as anything else. I was afraid when I bought this book that it would be full of academic jargon and heavy textbook-style prose that would put me to sleep, but what I got here were overviews of countless plants and their stories told in a style that I found surprisingly immersive rather than anything else. Added along with the line drawings in each section, and I was hooked. Plus, I must say, the production quality of this book is out of this world. I don’t typically buy physical books anymore, but this is absolutely one I’m glad I bought. It’s just gorgeous, from cover to cover.A youth-friendly addition to the list, this illustrated short horror story about a family visiting an exotic garden can be read for entertainment and a cautionary tale. The moral contained within is reminiscent of early botanical gothic fiction. Gorgeous, whimsical drawings are juxtaposed against a creepy tale to great effect. 5. The Haunting of Willow Creek: A Hopeful Horror Novel by Sara Crocoll Smith

Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants Botanical Curses and Poisons: The Shadow Lives of Plants

In this magical collection of flash fiction fairy tales, encounter science-minded fox spirits, tiger wives, books that can be read by anyone but their owner, and more! This book is filled with meticulous detail on plants, the history behind poisoning and how a plant used to heal can be lethal if the incorrect dose is given. But I really enjoyed my time with this, the witchy vibes are immaculate and this really is just such a beautiful book! The various connections drawn between the plants and both history and myth were really engaging as well and had me laughing more times than I thought (I mean, it's just a bit funny to read about a guy terrified of being poisoned, so he eats tiny amounts of poisons every day of his life and then finds he's immune to poisons when he tries to kill himself by using-you guessed it- poison). Overall, an interesting and informative reference book that I would be interested to see in other formats.The writing is wonderful too. The sub-title sums this one up perfectly; 'The Shadow-Lives of Plants'. Particularly as an avid reader of Historical Fiction there is so much here that I found so compelling; opium use in Victorian England, which has been mentioned in several of my recent Historical Fiction choices, herbalism and the persecution of witches... Going from A to Z, she covers everything from apple (think of the poisoned fruit in “Snow White”) and the hallucinogenic angel’s trumpet to laurel, which emits toxic fumes, to oleander (a deadly ornamental shrub), with each plant beautifully illustrated by the author herself, making it a spellbinding spell book and a feast for the eyes. Definitely one for anybody interested in folklore and myth, as well as plant lovers. This was truly fascinating. There are also historical and religious elements broader than folklore that are quite eye-opening, and that serve as interesting reminders about truth within reported history.

Botanical Curses and Poisons - The Shadow-Lives of Plants Botanical Curses and Poisons - The Shadow-Lives of Plants

Desirable for the stunning cover and gorgeous interior illustrations alone, I wanted to include this nonfiction book about the shadow-lives of plants. Fez Inkwright gives a brief history of poisons and then includes an A-Z of the dark side of plants. It’s a handy guide that I know will be by my side for inspiration for a long time to come! Plant Your Roots in Botanical Gothic Discover the folklore and history of our most malignant, toxic plants. Poisonings are among the most memorable deaths in history, from the Roman Empire to the Medieval era and beyond. Concealed and deliberate, it is a crime that must be planned in advance. And yet there is a fine line between healing and poisoning – Paracelsus argued that only the dosage matters!Gamers never feel more present and alive than when their efforts come to fruition; GMs will weave crooked quests concerning the gathering of ingredients for poisons or curatives, players will brew concoctions of deadly verdance for the sake of good or ill. This is an essential companion for the darkly poetic, the riddler, the night elf. Imbue your Druids with dripping poison sap, your carefully whittled arrows with unspeakable banes, your potions with natural scourges. Create notable villains that offer vile physic - and wise player characters that plait thorns in their hair and might well have been raised in jagged-leaf nettle beds. If you drink much from a bottle marked ‘poison,’ it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later."– Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland