Into the Forest discussion

Here is the place to discuss retellings, traditional tales, or books inspired by the mythology, folklore, or fairy tales with the theme Plant Lore!

Juniper and Wise Child could work. And they are quite wonderful.

I think I will read Juniper & Thorn for this - Margaret suggested it would fit!

As she also suggested, The Book of Gothel has plant lore elements!
I wonder if you could count The Island of Missing Trees as having plant-lore...

Andy, I hope you like it! I really enjoyed it. It's super dark though, as a warning! Not Babel dark thought. :)

Okay, I'm going to go through one category a night and list book recommendations. This will be my first.

This Poison Heart by Kalynn Bayron. This is from start to finish explicitly about plant lore. I really enjoyed it and the second book as well. I believe the third and final book is releasing in 2023?

I'm trying to decide if The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna counts. The witch main character uses a lot of tea magic, and teas are plants... It's a really fun read, though not heavy on the plant lore. Probably better for the witchcraft category.

I think Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer would count. I haven't read it, but I've read a lot of reviews of it.

Oh, The Depths by Nicole Lesperance would count.

I feel like I'm missing a lot.

Margaret wrote: "Andy, I hope you like it! I really enjoyed it. It's super dark though, as a warning! Not Babel dark thought. :)"

Thank you Margaret! I definitely need to approach these kind of books knowing what to expect.
I have heard reviews saying that abuse was explored well in Juniper & Thorn, so I am interested in seeing how!

I am super interested in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, will probably use for witchcraft... :)

Andy wrote: "Thank you Margaret! I definitely need to approach these kind of books knowing what to expect.
I have heard reviews saying that abuse was explored well in Juniper & Thorn, so I am interested in seeing how!

I am super interested in The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, will probably use for witchcraft... :)"

There's lots of abuse in it. I thought it was well done, too.

I'll be interested in what you think of both books! Irregular Witches is such a happy book.

I had the Botanical folktales of Britain and Ireland and The Book of Koli down as potential options, also waiting for a copy of Why Willows Weep which are said tree inspired short stories drawing on fairy tale and folklore.

I wonder if Wild Beauty would qualify? It features flowers rather than medicinal plants

Jalilah wrote: "I wonder if Wild Beauty would qualify? It features flowers rather than medicinal plants"

I would think so. Flower lore is still plant lore, though I should note I haven't read that one!

Margaret wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "I wonder if Wild Beauty would qualify? It features flowers rather than medicinal plants"

I would think so. Flower lore is still plant lore, though I should not I ha..."


It’s very, well…flowery. Flowers are in every single page. I quite enjoyed it!

Brother Cadfael's Herb Garden: An Illustrated Companion to Medieval Plants and Their Uses might work here as well. Its about the plants that the brother would have used, but rooted in the reality of these garden in the middle ages.

The Illustrated Herbiary: Guidance and Rituals from 36 Bewitching Botanicals

Would this book work in this category?

I'm thinking of all of the myths involving apples. There should be a retelling or an original that I will need to read.

Katy wrote: "I'm thinking of all of the myths involving apples. There should be a retelling or an original that I will need to read."

Oh I like that line of thought. Post if you come up with anything!

Katy wrote: "I'm thinking of all of the myths involving apples. There should be a retelling or an original that I will need to read."

Comfort Me with Apples by Catherynne M. Valente! And the apple tree dude in Charles de Lint...I believe Seven Wild Sisters.

Cheryl wrote: "Katy wrote: "I'm thinking of all of the myths involving apples. There should be a retelling or an original that I will need to read."

Oh I like that line of thought. Post if you come up with anyth..."


Read the first few paragraphs of this link to get started thinking along this line.
https://enchantedlivingmagazine.com/a...

Does anyone know if there are any novels about Hildegard von Bingen? I believe she studied and wrote a lot about medicinal plants
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hildega...

Comfort Me With Apples is probably going to be my book, thank you. :)

Jalilah wrote: "Does anyone know if there are any novels about Hildegard von Bingen? I believe she studying and wrote a lot about medicinal plants
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hildega..."

Illuminations

I'm not sure how much of her plant knowledge is covered in the novel, as I've not read the book. She sounds like an amazing woman!

Jalilah wrote: "Does anyone know if there are any novels about Hildegard von Bingen? I believe she studying and wrote a lot about medicinal plants
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hildega..."

Illuminations: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen by Mary Sharratt

Cheryl wrote: "Comfort Me With Apples is probably going to be my book, thank you. :)"

I hope you enjoy it! It's a quick read, I liked it. I always enjoy Valente's writing.

Katy wrote: "I'm thinking of all of the myths involving apples. There should be a retelling or an original that I will need to read."

The Silver Bough by Lisa Tuttle is centred on the mythology of apples, and a good read.

Oh also if anyone is looking for treelore Gossip from the Forest by Sarah Maitland is a brilliant book about forests and fairytales

Rose wrote: "Oh also if anyone is looking for treelore Gossip from the Forest by Sarah Maitland is a brilliant book about forests and fairytales"

That looks like something I would love.

Its very Robert Macfarlane if you like his style, there's actually a chapter where they go out walking together which is great.

Rose wrote: "Its very Robert Macfarlane if you like his style, there's actually a chapter where they go out walking together which is great."

Nice, I do like Macfarlane.

Amanda wrote: "I'm not sure how much of her plant knowledge is covered in the novel, as I've not read the book. She sounds like an amazing woman!

Katy wrote: "Jalilah wrote: "Does anyone know if there are any novels about Hildegard von Bingen? I believe she studying and wrote a lot about medicinal plants
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hildega......"

Thank you both you you! I will check this out, but only read for the challenge if there is significant mention of her plant knowledge.

Rose wrote: "Oh also if anyone is looking for treelore Gossip from the Forest by Sarah Maitland is a brilliant book about forests and fairytales"

I have that book, but I haven't read it yet!

I loved it, so if you read for this category would be really interested to hear your thoughts.

Illuminations looks good, but I don’t have the impression there is a lot of plant lore in it.

I will probably read This Poison Heart for this prompt
I may reread Wild Beauty as well

I opted for A Magic Steeped in Poison by Judy I Lin, which features really lovely and imaginative tea magic!

Just re-read a favourite and rare mushroom-lore book with beautiful illustrations which would do for this category The Mushroom Garden by Adam Oehlers

Finally I read 2 books for this part, actually 3 but I might not count the 3rd.
This Poison Heart absolutely counts for this category and is a delightful read
Wild Beauty was a reread for me. Even though the flowers are not used for magical purposes like spells, I still think this book counts. The women in the novel have a magical way with flowers that grow everywhere when they touch them or are near them and the flowers are present in every single page.
It’s a magical read
Finally This Wicked Fate is the sequel to This Poison Heart. I liked it, but not as much as the former. It has a feel more like the Percy Jackson books as it has more Greek mythology but from a North American pov. Plants play a role only in the since the lead character has a way with plants

I read Lei and the Fire Goddess, a contemporary middle grade novel where Hawaiian mythology comes to life. It opens with plant lore, and has a few other instances of it, though it would fit with several other categories too.

I'm going to try and do two per category, so will still read another one.

I read Uprooted a while ago and liked it.

Niledaughter wrote: "I read Uprooted a while ago and liked it."

That one is fun!

I read Juniper & Thorn and gave it 4.25 stars.

Talk about a dark fairytale! This story reminds me of the original Grimm tales before they were turned PG. Eastern European folklore mixes with teenage angst in this tale of a semi-likable heroine and her really messed up family. The plot could have used a tad bit of tightening but it all paid off with the twist at the end.

Jamie wrote: "I read Juniper & Thorn and gave it 4.25 stars.

Talk about a dark fairytale! This story reminds me of the original Grimm tales before they were turned PG. Eastern European folklore ..."

I really enjoyed that one too!

I found this book on my TBR. I have not read it but thought I'd share it here- Houseplants and Their Fucked-Up Thoughts: P.S., They Hate You :p

A House with Good Bones not much lore but this book has a lot of roses in it and they play an important role in the story.

Latasha wrote: "A House with Good Bones not much lore but this book has a lot of roses in it and they play an important role in the story."

Oh cool, I have that one and want to read it!

It’s really good so far but to be fair, I’m a big fan of T. Kingfisher.

Latasha wrote: "It’s really good so far but to be fair, I’m a big fan of T. Kingfisher."

Same!

Andy wrote: "I wonder if you could count The Island of Missing Trees as having plant-lore."

I think so! And although it’s more realistic fiction it does have mythology and folklore in it.

Latasha wrote: "A House with Good Bones not much lore but this book has a lot of roses in it and they play an important role in the story."
Ooo interesting! I love T Kingfisher, looking forward to reading this one. I recently read her Bryony and Roses and there is also rose magic in that one :)

I just realised the protagonist in A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon has a lot of earth / plant magic, and it is noted quite a lot throughout the book!
I think I'll count it as my second book for this prompt!

Andy wrote: "I just realised the protagonist in A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon has a lot of earth / plant magic, and it is noted quite a lot throughout the book!
I think I'll count it as..."

that sounds so funny! Do you like it so far?

Erin wrote: "Latasha wrote: "A House with Good Bones not much lore but this book has a lot of roses in it and they play an important role in the story."
Ooo interesting! I love T Kingfisher, loo..."

now i want to read that one!

I really enjoyed it! It had all T Kingfisher's usual charm and wit spinning a fairy tale upside-down. :)

Latasha wrote: "Andy wrote: "I just realised the protagonist in A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon has a lot of earth / plant magic, and it is noted quite a lot throughout the book!
I think I'l..."

I read it some time ago! I liked it, it reminded me of Charmed, but it's definitely paranormal romance rather than proper fantasy. ;)