Please note: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions given in this review are my own.
An introduction to the Aos Sidhe, the People of the fairy mounds, and to Irish fairy beliefs, this book takes readers on a journey to understand the place that fairies have had in Ireland across the millennia and into today. These beings can be found playing roles both significant and subtle in folk belief and their stories are part of the land itself, making them an intrinsic aspect of Ireland. And yet for those who haven’t grown up with these beliefs there can be many misunderstandings and confusion surrounding who they are, and what they can do.
Amazon Book Blurb
I have always been a fan of Morgan Daimler’s work, and this book is no different. Aos Sidhe (pronounced Ace She) is a small book, only about 75 pages not including the resources, bibliography, and other back matter. For such a small book, Morgan does an amazing job giving the reader a glimpse into many different types of Sidhe, their folklore, and the potential history of the Sidhe.
Morgan dedicates an entire chapter to Changelings, which I find fascinating as a subject and important as a topic. There is a lot of folklore around changelings, both historically and moving into modern times. I think it is really important that Morgan touched on this subject that can be controversial today. Morgan briefly touches on the idea that some believe changelings were no more than mental or physical disabilities. They mention that that removes the belief in changelings altogether, so it really depends on the person. I enjoyed this chapter myself because Morgan Daimler included stories from folklore of real people to give the reader a glimpse into how these beliefs shaped lives.
One thing I always enjoy about Morgan’s books is the back matter, the things that are written after the book. I know the book itself is important, of course, but the author doesn’t just write 75 pages of folklore and educational material and leave it at that. Morgan includes two appendices — a terms and pronunciation guide as well as a resources for further study section that includes books, YouTube channels, and people that they recommend. There is also a substantial bibliography available at the back of the book so you’re not left alone wanting more information.
All in all, I really recommend Aos Sidhe by Morgan Daimler, especially if you are interested in the Irish Othercrowd. This book is not flowery in language. It is matter-of-fact, academic-leaning writing with no discernable bias. It leaves you with the information you need to get started on the research path, or just enough information to quell your curiosity!
Grab the book for yourself!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3EEnipb
Bookshop.org: https://bookshop.org/a/80670/9781789049374
Thriftbooks: https://www.thriftbooks.com/
John Hunt Publishing: https://www.johnhuntpublishing.com/
Scribd: https://www.scribd.com/
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