I found Witchcraft: A Graphic History a very enjoyable read. It was a perfect blend of history, story, and information. The artwork is beautiful and matches the vibe of the book perfectly. I absolutely devoured this book.

I received a copy from NetGalley for a review. This graphic novel is a fictional story of Biddy Early, an Irish herbalist, and her apprentice, the author herself. Mixed into this story are facts about witches and their beliefs as well as how they have been treated historically.

I really enjoyed the story and the history, but felt that they often didn’t transition well. There were points where I had to pause and clarify what was happening. There were also a couple formatting issues, where the font didn’t sit in the text box.

Overall, the story was beautifully illustrated, and the pictures made the story all that more enticing.

The first thing that stood out in the book was the significance of historical feminism, which is really incredibly important at a time when we're already starting to forget the roots of it. That too, told in such a simple yet artistic way that is attractive to the readers of literary fiction as well as ones who do not identify as readers of any kind. Kids of all ages should also have fun while reading the book, every page of which is so beautifully cared for, every character portrayed with such attention that I'm sure they would enjoy it.

The graphics are just so sweet and the conversations so sweet and yet realistic. This is a perfect graphic novel for kids and adults alike, knowledgeable and fun to read, I enjoyed every bit of it. I love how the truths aren't cut short, like the ones about the witch trials and Christians detesting magic, the raging sexism, and spiteful hatred for witches.

Summing up, this was a perfect read, suitable for all ages and all occasions.

I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that I knew Biddy Early because I didn't. I met her through this graphic novel and from what Lindsay, author and protagonist of this great story, tells us.

Biddy Early was a 19th century Irish healer and healer, known for her mystical abilities and deep connection to Irish folklore. From this graphic novel I went to investigate a little more about his life (beyond what one knows in this story) and everything he meant in his time and even today in the present.

It was a most engaging and very original story. I think I could read many more stories with this format because they invite you to learn in a much more dynamic way. And for those who are curious, there is much more to investigate, learn and read.

Thank you very much Quarto Publishing Group – Leaping Hare for the ARC I read on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was worried because the first sentence was "we are the granddaughters of the women we did not burn" I really hate that saying, but at least this time it was "women" and not "witches". I did really like the art. It was pretty wordy for a comic, but there is a lot of information to cover. I didn't notice any errors in the information.

4 stars

I read this courtesy NetGalley and Leaping Hare Press. With beautiful accompanying art, Witchcraft: a Graphic History explains what witchcraft really is, spoken in the voice of one of the earliest-known Western witches, an 19th-century Irishwoman named Biddy Early as she speaks to a young girl who has encountered her in the forest. Author Lindsay Squire explains about the different kinds of witches, from hereditary witches to hedge witches to folk witches to wiccan witches to eclectic witches to kitchen witches (and more!), and moreover, explains the tradition of witchery to modern times. “Magic has existed for even longer than humans have,” Biddy says to the girl, reminding the reader that in ancient Babylon, sorcerers made clay figurines and then break their legs to stop spirits from wandering the world. Earlier possible witches in mythology are referred to, such as Hecate, who was known as the queen of witches, and Circe, known for her ability to turn people into animals. Where did Biddy learn much of her magic? From the fairies, she says. Fairies like devas, who live in the woods and look like fireflies, who point witches to where they need to look when they’re looking for plants, and fairies like dryads, who are connected with trees, and if they wander too far from them, they die. We are also reminded of those who choose not to understand what is unfamiliar, and only want to harm those who would help others. After reading this, I wanted to learn more about something that we know something about—but not nearly enough.
#WitchcraftAGraphicHistory #NetGalley

"Witchcraft: A Graphic History" by Lindsay Squire is a captivating journey through the mystical and historical world of witchcraft. This graphic novel not only delves into the enchanting tales of wise women and healers but also dives into the rich history of magic's past. Through the story of Biddy Early, a renowned Irish healer, readers are transported to a time where witchcraft was both feared and revered. The author is basically transported along with us and acts as Biddy's apprentice. The illustrations are just as GORG as the narrative, bringing to life the green wisdom and traditions of the craft. This graphic novel is a testament to the power of storytelling, blending factual history with the artistry of graphic novels. It's a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of feminism, eco-spirituality, and the legacy of witchcraft. With its blend of adorable art and real history, this book is a treasure!
Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and Leaping Hare Press for the EArc!

While the approach to frame the narrative of Biddy Early's life through a self-insert is commendable, it really doesn't add to the overall flow or form of the narrative. One could have very well done without it. A more in-depth information about the witch trials and witches who were tried or burned at the stake would have added a certain gravitas to the seriousness of the herbalists lost, especially if the author is stressing on how dangerous it was then for women inclined towards the arts. A sentence or two over a double spread doesn't do them justice,

There is a lack of exploration about Early's personality and life in the graphic novel — it doesn't satisfy the curiosity one would have after reading the blurb or looking at the cover. One could put forth the retort that it is a graphic novel, but there are graphic novels on bookshelves which have dealt with topics from the past with must research and knowledge showing all the bones and meat.

Is it good as a starter on Early? Yes, but without the yeast. The story never reaches its potential and therein lies the problem. Instead we have categories of witches, the spirits of the forest — folklore staples. I wish the author focused on Biddy Early more, to know that an individual like her existed and to read about her life and how she used her intuitive skills to heal, cure, and help people and also survive in a time where women weren't really treated fairly, would have been a more satisfying read.

This story blends fiction with the real history of Biddy Early, the most well known witch in Irish history who fought against the men accusing her of witchcraft in the 1800s and wanting to punish her because of it. I went into this expecting to see that badass personality but as soon as it seemed like there would be some conflict it just skipped straight past it and never showed Biddy or anyone else actually resolving anything. I think the main reason for this was that it's only 128 pages. Because of that there's very little plot development and I didn't get to feel any connection to any of the characters so I definitely think this could've done with at least another 100 pages. I liked the art style. The inclusion of real historical facts about Biddy and things about witchcraft blended well at times but sometimes it just took away from what little plot was already there. Overall this was okay but not quite what I was expecting.

3.5 stars

Lindsay is a young girl who becomes intrigued by Biddy Early, the local healer. Lindsay admires Biddy and wants to learn her ways, but is discouraged by family, because Biddy is a "witch." This is the basic premise of the fictional story - but - Biddy Early was a real person and first person in recorded history to be labeled a witch. Through this story, the reader learns about plants and teas that healers used to help the sick. We also learn about the history of witchcraft and how people used religion and fear to punish women who were deemed unacceptable in some way. A short history lesson wrapped in an easy to digest simple tale.

A quick read with beautiful illustrations perfect for October. It was informative but I expected more history of a specific witch and got a mix between witchy info and a fictional relationship. This graphic novel sadly didn’t align with my expectations and it left much to be desired.

Historically inaccurate and would have been better presented as a fictionalized account of Biddy Early rather than a history of witchcraft.
That said, the illustrations are gorgeous and worth a look.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the free copy of Witchcraft: A Graphic History!

This graphic novel is a dramatization of the life of Biddy Early, the first recorded witch, and a self-insert apprentice based on the author, a practicing witch. The graphic novel was provided for free on NetGalley without the need of an application and is set in a mystical 19th century Ireland, shown in gorgeous illustrations.

This book is not for someone who doesn’t believe in witchcraft; you will not enjoy it. I also think that a few things could be corrected - “Judeo-Christian” is hardly a Jewish-approved term, and there are some formatting errors (one page was randomly sideways, and text boxes were not always behind their text). I feel like Wiccans/Neo-Pagans might enjoy this, and the art is nice.

TL;DR: A beautifully illustrated journey through witchcraft history, Witchcraft: A Graphic History is an empowering and enchanting read. Five stars!

Witchcraft: A Graphic History by Lindsay Squire is a captivating exploration of magic and healing through the eyes of a curious 19th-century lady. The storytelling is rich, and the artwork is stunning, bringing to life the enchanting world of Biddy Early, the famous wise woman of County Clare.

Squire seamlessly blends history with the art of witchcraft, showcasing the diverse practices of witches and the stigma they faced. The themes of self-empowerment and feminism resonate throughout, making this not just a book about witchcraft, but a celebration of resilience and eco-spirituality. I loved learning about plant magic and the traditions that have shaped this fascinating subject.

This graphic history is not only informative but also incredibly engaging, allowing readers to connect deeply with the material. It’s a perfect blend of art and knowledge that will appeal to both history buffs and those interested in the magical arts. Highly recommend this enchanting read! Five stars!

The title I think is a bit misleading. I would have expected an overview of the history of witchcraft in graphic novel format; instead I read a somewhat rushed version of Biddy Early's story. Virtually nothing of the trial is shown, and we barely see the villagers' reaction to it.
The short informative parts about magic are interesting to get a basic smattering, and the style is very nice.
Otherwise, I might have preferred a small manual with lots of graphic parts, because the opportunity seems a bit wasted.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.

The title is misleading and should have been called "Biddy Early" as opposed to "Witchcraft."

This book is working on two levels: the first is a mini biography of Biddy Early and the second is a rundown of witchcraft (more specifically, Irish witchcraft with some Wiccan thrown in). There are parts where the two levels coincide and it works, but for a majority of the time, it doesn't. Instead, the writing feels disjointed and there's no flow to it.

At the end of the book, it looks like it was okay for young Lindsay (a literal self-insert for the author) to give her aunt a potion because it healed her. Nothing at all that it was actually assault.

Thanks to netgalley & publisher for this arc!

I have always been fascinated and drawn to witches and the paranormal so of course was drawn to read this gorgeously covered book! Loved the authors writing style and voice and highlighting of these amazing badass women through time who were farrrr ahead of their times! Biddy especially wow what a badass queen!

Thank you to Netgalley, Lindsay Squire and Leaping Hare Press for the opportunity to read this book!⭐

As soon as I saw the title, “Witchcraft: A Graphic History: Stories of wise women, healers and magic” , I knew I had to read this one: the promise of witches, witchcraft and women was enough to make me pause what I was doing to immediately start reading.

I’ve always been fascinated by this world, I’ve done some research, read books and essays, learnt how to read tarots: so of course, I thought this graphic novel was going to be perfect for me! And what better timing than the spooky month to get into it?!

The illustrations are definitely my favourite thing about this book: they’re beautiful and so detailed, they definitely catch one’s eye! The informative pages, the ones including information and brief descriptions of some elements (magical creatures, witches and their needed objects, …) are gorgeous, I kept staring at them with heart-shaped eyes.

By the title, I thought it was going to be a book describing not only witchcraft but the story of many women practising it; instead, it mainly focuses on one woman, Biddy Early. It has, however, some pages with a brief description of other witches, but they’re just superficially mentioned. Therefore, I think it would have been better to describe the book itself as A story of a wise woman, not plural.
But putting this one thing aside, the title also implies stories of magic: once again, all we have is a few pages with short paragraphs about magical elements and creatures.

The main story follows Biddy Early and her apprentice, a young-made up-version of the author, but it doesn’t have much beside that. It doesn’t go in depth describing Biddy’s character, nor the troubles she faces with the church and trials, or her magic, her relationship with it and nature. At the beginning I was so happy to get to know Biddy, as I never heard about her; but by the end of the graphic novel, I knew nothing else beside the fact that she was a witch living in Ireland.

Personally, I would have loved for this book to focus more on this one character, or maybe to be a collection of short stories having other women as protagonists. Either way, what I felt was missing was a storyline that could make me empathise with the characters. Maybe it was too short (120 pages), maybe the main story was not deep enough for me to really get caught up.
I’m definitely grateful to the author for making me discover a mostly-unknown name, and as someone passionate about all of this world, I’ll definitely do more research on her!

Overall, I do recommend it as a light read, with beautiful illustrations!

This book is a truly beautiful story, woven with history and facts about witches. Biddy's life isn't one I had heard about before, but it's utterly moving and powerful for all witches. I also love the inclusion of Lindsay's character. This was such a fun way to learn more about the history behind witchcraft, and the women who sacrificed so much. I've been learning and practising witchcraft for four years now and this short graphic novel made me incredibly proud to do so. Definitely a must-read for any beginners or anyone interested in the history of witchcraft!

This was such a delightful story! I love the mixture of fiction and nonfiction elements, and how informative it was about darker parts of women’s history while still remaining lighthearted. The artwork is absolutely enchanting, and I would recommend this as a light, quick, and informative read on the history of witchcraft and Biddy Early.

Thank you so much for the eARC!