Its difficult to find a book on global fairy belief that's solid, especially in the age of AI. I have read much of what's out there that attempts to offer a wide overview of fairies or of specific types of fairy beings, from Bane's 'Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology' to the 'Fairy Bible' and consistently find them to contain glaring errors. It was exciting and refreshing to finally read a book like this that I can actually recommend.
Fairylore by Dr Sara Cleto and Dr Brittany Warman is an excellent option for anyone looking for a wider view of fairy beliefs that extends beyond the usual suspects. I highly recommend it as a reference and also for some fun reading on the subject.
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| image of the cover of Fairylore, taken by me |
The book isn't exhaustive but covers a wide range of fairylike beings from around the world, and the information is generally trustworthy. My own focus is Irish, more generally Celtic, and tangentially Norse/Germanic so those are the only entries I feel confident in judging the accuracy of, but I am comfortable assuming that if those are trustworthy then the material outside those areas will be as well.
Fairylore opens with a foreword by Terri Windling then moves into an introduction by the authors which tackles the daunting task of defining what exactly fairies are, without flinching away from the difficulty around that definition. It covers various theories across folk belief, then segues into discussions of where fairies live, common beliefs around them, and what it is about them that may be so persistent across folk belief. After the introduction the book is divided into 6 chapters, each of which focus on a particular wider type of fairy: fairies of the home, fairies of seduction, fairies of terror, fairies of nature, fairy neighbours, and our fairies ourselves. While alphabetic entries are more common in this type of text the book has a full index which can be used to quickly find a specific entry and the division that is used instead, grouping by wider type, lends itself to cross-cultural comparisons that are very enlightening. The conclusion chapter summarizes many of the wider points in the text and offers insight into fairies in the 21st century and ends by reminding us that - as has been said since Chaucer's time - the fairies are ever vanishing yet never truly gone, persisting across time and belief. The end notes provided for each chapter are also extremely useful.
There are a few details I would disagree with, such as the Leannán Sidhe being portrayed as vampiric, but I acknowledge that such a view is genuine to existing folklore even if it originated with WB Yeats in the late 19th century. These disagreements reflect differences of opinion around complex folk belief rather than errors in the text. Overall the research presented is thorough and reliable and the bibliography is solid.
The book is out right now only in hardcover, but the price point given that is quite reasonable and the quality is very high. I'd go so far as to say if a paperback version ever comes out the hardcover would still be the better investment. The cover art by Annie Stegg Gerard is gorgeous and the iridescent moths are a fun, whimsical touch (I did my best to capture the shimmering effect in the picture above, but it doesn't really do it justice). The book is heavily illustrated and the artwork throughout is engaging and evocative; the chapter opening images also by Stegg Gerard and in chapter art by Kristin Kwan. Kwan's art is reminiscent of Arthur Rackham without feeling derivative. Stegg Gerard's art, as in the cover example above, is vibrant and sets the tone for both the book and each chapter. The two artists' work flows well together.
A perfect option for anyone looking to learn more about who and what fairies are or to dive into the range of beings and stories found across cultures.
Fairylore was released on 10 February 2026 and is available online and in bookstores.
Full disclosure I received an advanced digital copy of the book and provided a pre-publication endorsement for it. I had previously met the authors at a university conference in 2023. This is an honest review and reflects my thoughts and opinions on the book without bias.
