Witchcraft: A Graphic History is a great introduction to witchcraft. the graphic novel does a wonderful job of finding details in Biddy's stories to act at points to discuss a wide range of introductory subjects around witchcraft. The art is also so cozy and gives the reader a great visual representation of the subjects and story.

A weird mix of history and witchcraft basics that fell flat on both fronts. The author didn’t really show why Biddy Early was chosen as the main character and why she was “one of the most important witches in the history of magic”. Instead, she felt like a vessel for explaining witchcraft practices and a bit of the history, but her own significance was not explained well. Basic witchcraft was also explained poorly — some random facts and spells that didn’t truly capture what witchcraft is about. I wish the author had focused on one aspect and explored it in depth. That said, the artwork is absolutely stunning and adds a lot of charm to the book.

I have to admit that I solely requested this book from NetGalley because of the amazing cover art. I don’t know much about witchcraft, but I know a little, and I feel like this book doesn’t quite know what it wants to be. It touches on basic concepts, such as the different types of witches, and shares a few historical facts. But the characters don’t get much development at all. As a consequence, the story feels lifeless and empty. I think this book would have been better off with a historical focus.

A beautifully illustrated graphic novel about the history of witchcraft in Europe!!! deeply fascinating and moving, would recommend to anyone interested in this topic.

This is a beautifully illustrated book and a relatively fast-paced story. I liked how historical events were interwoven with the story of Biddy Early, the famous 'wise woman of County Clare'. However, I would have liked it even more if it had delved into those historical facts a bit more.

Overall, it was a nice reading experience. I would recommend it to a younger audience, as it is not heavy packed his history,(but still very informative), so it can be easy to digest, Thank you for the advanced copy!

It's a dnf so my review may not be really representative of the actual content of the book .

Set in 1798 Ireland Witchcraft: A Graphic History" is a graphic novel that presents the history of witchcraft in an engaging visual format. It covers various aspects of witchcraft, including its historical context, cultural significance, and the societal reactions to it throughout different periods.
The graphic format makes it accessible and appealing, especially for those interested in both history and visual storytelling.
The graphic were pretty and the colour palette fit the whimsical and calm atmosphere of the story

- The author inserted herself into the story .she interacted with Biddy Early a Irish witch

- The description of the different kind of Witches were easy and clear but I have an issue. I don’t think that eighteenth century witches called themselves « Hedge Witch », or witches at all.

- Especially Hedge Witch . This term (based on my research) is believed to have originated in the late 20th century, particularly in the 90s. Beside the historical inaccuracies the description is fine « Similar to a green witch, but with a connection to the afterlife, to spirit and fairies and everything that lives in the other world. Hedge witches sing songs and dirges and play drums to achieve the trance-like state that allows them to 'cross the treeline' that separates our world from the other »

- I think that witches (in the way that they are depicted in this graphic) were just healer or herbalist . Women that lived on the edge of society thus making them witches . It was witchcraft is the most natural and earthy possible way

A fun sweet and informative graphic novel featuring some luscious illustrations. I really adored the pages filled with historical facts and legends.

Witchcraft: A Graphic History is a fascinating intro to the world of witchcraft, especially for anyone who prefers history served with a side of beautiful artwork. The illustrations are nothing short of enchanting—every page feels like a visual treat that draws you deeper into the story. Lisa Salsi’s work truly elevates the book, giving the historical content an extra layer of magic.

While it covers key events and figures, the narrative doesn’t dive as deeply as I’d hoped into the lives or practices of individual witches, like Biddy Early. She’s set up as the focal point, but we only get a brief overview of her story, which left me wanting more. Overall, it’s a solid starting point for anyone curious about the topic, though it might feel a bit light for readers looking for a more in-depth history. Perfect if you want a mix of learning and visual enjoyment.

Witchcraft: A Graphic History, by Lindsay Squire is a beautifully illustrated book about the basic history of witchcraft using fictional characters. This would be a perfect book for middle grade and up.

Such a beautiful book! The blend of weaving history with storytelling was so good and the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. A lovely dip into the history of witchcraft and nature. ✨ Thank you Lindsay, Quarto Publishing Group and NetGalley for access to the eARC ✨

I really like the idea of conveying information in a playful way through comics and I was very interested in the topic.
To my dismay I had to find out that the title is quite misleading. If you're interested in learning about the history of witchcraft this is not the book for you. There was very little actual information about it and instead focused more on the life of the herbalist Biddy Early in a more speculative than historically acurate way.

If you're just looking for a pretty comic, it's a quick read and the whimsical art style is beautiful, but unfortunately it was also rather lacking in depth storywise.

This was a short and easy read with beautiful illustrations, exploring the themes of self-discovery, feminism, empowerment, and witchcraft practices. The book is about the life of Biddy Early, a herbalist who was accused of witchcraft and survived persecution, as well as the history of witchcraft.
It's perfect for a quick and easy read.

A nice quick read in a retro/art deco look.
The visual style of the comic matches the mood of the story.

Personally I was missing some more depth to the story. But all in all it’s very whimsical.

While the book was nicely illustrated, it didn't engage with the history of Witchcraft as broadly as one would expect for something with its title. It also didn't acknowledge the racialized history of Witchcraft.

This beautifully illustrated graphic novel explores the history of witchcraft in Europe. Fascinating and informative, it features some of the most stunning artwork I’ve seen in a graphic novel—an absolute pleasure to read! I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of witchcraft and the occult, especially during the spooky season!

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this graphic novel.

I love Halloween, but the "spooky" side of it. I cannot deal with anything too scary or intense. This graphic novel was a great October read. We have a lot of facts about witchcraft around the world and throughout the ages without it being boring or too dense. The art was very cute and the colors were calming, not too bright but also not too dark and scary.

I would recommend picking this one up.

A simple, informative graphic novel that is a good starting point for anyone looking for a historical introduction to witchcraft. The narrative structure helped make it more interesting than a dry article or textbook, and the gorgeous illustrations kept me engaged. Many props to Lisa Salsi for the art!

Those looking for more in-depth information about witches or specific types of witchcraft won't find anything new here, and while Biddy Early is the "main character" there isn't much biographical information past the introduction that sums up her life.

I actually used this as a supplemental resource for my visual-learning homeschool for our Halloween witchy themed lesson. It was great! The art was fantastic and the details were a wonderful addition as we explored a tangent history between Halloween and witches!

Witchcraft: A Graphic History offers a visually captivating exploration of the history of witchcraft, bringing the subject to life with stunning illustrations. The artwork is truly the highlight of this book, with each page bursting with vibrant details that engage the reader and help to illuminate the various periods and events discussed. The historical facts and insights are plentiful and well-researched, making it an informative read for anyone interested in the subject.

However, while the visuals and facts are impressive, the storytelling itself falls a bit short. The dialogue between characters can feel awkward at times, and the narrative structure doesn’t always flow smoothly. The combination of these elements makes the story feel somewhat disjointed, which may take some of the enjoyment away from readers hoping for a more immersive experience.

"Witchcraft: A Graphic History: Stories of wise women, healers and magic" is an interesting book. Part fiction, part non-fiction, it tells the story of Biddy Early an Irish witch from the 19th century.

Let's start with the highlight of the book: the art. A star is exclusively for the art and beautiful layout. I would love an encyclopedia of witchcraft by this illustrator.

That being said, the way the story interacts with the witchcraft information didn't work for me. It affected the flow of the story, cutting off the plot to info dump.

My biggest issue with the stort was the pacing. There are some conflicts left unresolved or solved off page (like Biddy's trial), some abrupt time skips and suddenly it ends. I guess the author is expecting we fill in the gaps with external knowledge, but considering there are a lot of explanatory boxes on page for things that are not Biddy related, it feels weird.

I don't mind Lindsay as a self insert, but she doesn't add anything to the plot, sometimes the fictionalised story overpowered the facts. The same story could be told without Lindsay and keeping the focus on Biddy.

About this edition there were some formatting issues: a page was rotated and in several pages the text wasn't lined up and blending in with the illustrations. I hope this will be corrected for the final print.

Overall, it's a book that could be better if it focused on Biddy's story instead of trying to do so many different things (tell a true story, a fictional one, and teach about witchcraft).

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.