The Complete Language of Herbs: A Definitive and Illustrated History by S. Theresa Dietz is a charming book of herbs and their uses. Unfortunately, I didn't find this nearly as informative as I'd hoped. One issue I had was how little information was presented. Instead of just a toxicity symbol I would have liked an explanation of what parts of the plant are toxic and what those toxic effects are. The book left out several common and popular toxic plants as well as labeling some as toxic that are not. For this reason, it is more of a cute than useful guide. But a good portion of the information was correct and I did learn some new things about several herbs.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I do love a good gardening session while the mood hits and I enjoy finding new advice to help improve my skills. This was a nice informative guide to herbs and I learned a lot more than I had expected to. This is a good book to reread as you try new herbs and learn about their uses and benefits.

This book was lovely to read and look at, beautiful illustrations. I think there's something about learning about and appreciating the intersection of nature and cooking that is a balm for the soul. An entryway into a slower more thoughtful way of living than our average day to day. I'd recommend it for sure to someone looking for something nice for themselves or a gift for a nature/herb lover.

This is the perfect book for gifting with your favorite herbal items. The horticulture and naturalists will be delighted with this pocket version.

Thank you NetGalley and author S. Theresa Dietz for the copy in exchange of my honest review.

"The Complete Language of Herbs is a comprehensive encyclopedia providing the meanings, powers, facts, and folklore for over 500 herbs and spices.

Along with a beautiful visual depiction , each entry provides the herb or spice’s scientific and common names , characteristics , and historic meanings and powers from mythology, medieval legends, folklore, and flower poetry.

Did you know that allspice can be added to herbal mixtures to attract money or luck? Or that sprinkling arrowroot at the doors of your home will keep guests’ negative energy from entering? Reaching the height of popularity during the Victorian era, floriographies —dictionaries of symbolic flower meanings—were an amusing pastime and art to subtly communicate unspoken emotions . To complement the success of The Complete Language of Flowers, author S. Theresa Dietz has scoured historic sources and compiled an equally beautiful compendium in The Complete Language of Herbs , revealing the secrets and powers of hundreds of common and forgotten herbs and spices from around the world. "

A very interesting and educational read. Very informative.

This was a fun, educational read. My favorite section for each plant was the folklore part. It was so interesting to learn what people have believed about plants and used them for throughout history. There were some truly amusing ones in there alongside some neat facts I never knew.

The illustrations were a mixed bag. Some plants were blobs of ink, while others were beautiful, detailed illustrations.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Complete Language of Herbs by S. Theresa Dietz is an engaging book of 500+ herbs and brief descriptions of each along with an illustration. Most illustrations are in colour but some are black. Information is arranged alphabetically by the botanical Latin names and includes edibility, common names, symbolic meanings, possible powers and folklore and facts.

Though information in ways, the heavy emphasis on magic, witching, sorcery and conjuring aspects is disappointing. I would prefer more factual information and practical uses of the herbs instead. However, I did learn snippets about herbs I was less familiar with.

My sincere thank you to Quarto Publishing Group - Wellfleet Press and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book.

Book Review: The Complete Language of Herbs

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Stars

If you're a fan of herbs and spices, then "The Complete Language of Herbs" by S. Theresa Dietz is a must-have addition to your collection. This pocket-sized edition is a treasure trove of information, presenting over 500 herbs and spices with their meanings, powers, facts, and folklore.

Dive into the world of herbs with this beautifully illustrated book that provides not only the scientific and common names of each herb but also delves into their characteristics and historic significance. Discover intriguing tidbits like how allspice can attract money or luck when added to herbal mixtures or how arrowroot can ward off negative energy when sprinkled at the doors of your home.

One of the most enchanting aspects of this book is its exploration of the Victorian-era floriographies, where symbolic flower meanings were used to communicate emotions subtly. The author, S. Theresa Dietz, has meticulously researched and compiled a wealth of knowledge about herbs and spices from various cultures and time periods, making this book a comprehensive guide for anyone interested in gardening, cooking, or simply expanding their herbal knowledge.

The inclusion of stunning full-color illustrations enhances the reading experience, bringing to life the essence of each herb and spice. With two convenient indexes for searching by name or meaning, this book is not just informative but also practical for quick reference.

In conclusion, "The Complete Language of Herbs" is not just a book; it's an experience. It's a journey through the rich tapestry of herbal folklore and traditions that have shaped our understanding of these natural wonders. Whether you're a gardener, chef, party planner, or simply a curious soul, this book is sure to delight and inspire you.

So, if you're looking for a delightful gift or a pocket sized book you can take anywhere, look no further than "The Complete Language of Herbs." It's a true gem that combines beauty with knowledge, making it a cherished companion for any herb enthusiast.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

The Complete Language of Herbs by S. Theresa Dietz is a lovely reference book about some of the world's most common herbs. While I would've hoped for more medicinal information, I was surprised at the amount of stories surrounding these herbs. It's a good book for anyone interested in botany, or even looking to get started on some earth-based spirituality.

The book has beautiful illustrations and interesting folklore about the herb. It's not a book I would reccomend if you were interested in learning more about the medicinal properties of the plant but rather the mythological thoughts and sympolic meanings of the plant.

This guidebook is one that I absolutely want on my shelf. It is thorough, it is well organized, and it is absolutely stunning to look at. I am confident that the hard copy is easier to navigate as this is the type of book you want in your hands. The illustrations are exquisite, and I personally love the sections telling the reader of the little bits of folklore related to the plant. I'll be putting this on my wishlist!

This was a very informative book to get more information on herbs that I have around and also to learn more about things that I can go and buy to add to things that I have in the house.

This is a beautiful book! It is a book I plan on purchasing to add to my library of plant reference books.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook.
What a beautiful cover. This book is filled front to back with the most wonderfully written book about herbs and their benefits for all ailments. I will for sure buy a physical copy of this book to keep on hand. Highly recommend!
The one thing I didn't like about it is that it is too witchy for me. I just want to learn about the benefits of herbs not other pagan witchy stuff.

A reference book of more than 500 plants you can find around in the wild or grow yourself. Classed by their scientifical names, each entry also has the plant's common name and other appellations (scientific or common), with an index at the end of the common names. There's also an index of common meanings and powers, which can be especially helpful when you want to look up for herbs that have that meaning.

My favourite part of the book was the folklore and facts part of each entry, I really enjoyed reading all about them, from very old traditions to contemporary uses.

I would say that for a reference book (also indicating if a plant is toxic) quite a few herbs were missing an illustration, which I find bothersome.

This was so interesting! I loved the inclusion of folklore in each entry. The illustrations were beautiful, but I had to read this in Adobe on my computer... I wouldn't recommend the ebook version of this, as you don't get the same experience.

A compendium crammed full of facts about plants most of us think of in gardens or in food, The Complete Language of Herbs is a blast to dip into. It's got all sorts of details on plants and herbs we think we know. I enjoyed learning about the meanings of herbs; what powers people thought herbs might provide to them, from "insect repellent" to "flexibility"; and how these herbs were thought of as shown through world folklore.

I think this book would be particularly useful to writers wondering how they might be able to take advantage of the myths or powers of herbs in their stories. And it's a great tool for anyone who wants to know about the values herbs can bring to their lives. It's nicely illustrated, with a helpful list of reference works at the end and multiple indexes sorted by common names for herbs, which herbs can be used for cooking, and the powers and abilities you might be seeking from herbs!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

I found this book mesmorizing. I loved the folklore and information that would likely be forever lost if not beautifully captured between the treasured pages of this precious book.

It is exactly as stated, full of gorgeous drawings and pictures of herbs, leaves, and more, plants ranging from common to rare.

I cannot imagine not eating this book a solid five stars!

A wonderful resource for gardeners and folklorists looking to add to their reference library. This book details the various names of each plant, their medicinal qualities, magical qualities, mythical qualities and their practical qualities, making this a universal book to handle numerous needs as a consumer. My only gripe is that the book is alphabetized by the plant's scientific or latin name, which may be impractical for the common user. However, it does train the mind to refer to these plants by their scientific name, which of course, expands the mind. Either way, I find this book to be very useful.

Nice Book

The author provides a very colorful and beautiful picture of each herb, the symbolic meaning, possible powers, and their folklore and facts. It is a treasure to own as a part of your herbal reference library. Highly recommend.