Tales from the Enchanted Forest

Today is Book Lovers Day and since yesterday was Cat Day and it also happens to be Women in Translation Month...that means the stars have aligned perfectly for us to talk about Japanese Cat Lit - arguably one of my favourite sub genres of the cosy/ healing fiction.

Practicing some cryptic crosswords and came across this enchanting clue! - try to solve it on your own and then check the linked post for clues to solve it step by step!

Happy International Cat Day! Cat fiction reminds me constantly that pets have a healing power not to be understated. Case in point: Syou Ishida's "We'll Prescribe you a Cat" and "We'll Prescribe you Another Cat." It's also international Women in Translation Month, so the perfect series to enjoy!

Fishbone Cinderella (pub. July 28th) weaves itself along with the story of Ye Xian from 850 CE (Yeh Shen as named in the book), a poor maiden who was abused by her stepmother and sister. Historically, the first iterations of the cinderella archetype come from China! Instead of a fairy god mother-

-Ye Xian befriends a golden scaled fish but her stepmother finds out and cooks the fish, leaving nothing but bones in the fire for Ye Xian to clean up. In despair, the maiden cries for her only friend and the fish spirit tells her to worry not and wish upon his bones.

@denisegallagher.bsky.social joins us in the Enchanted Forest tomorrow to share all things folklore, seasonal myths, art, kidlit and her process with "How to Calm a Rain Bull" out in September! Stay tuned for a special reading of "The Candle Dragon" as well!

Happy World Book Day! What are you currently reading? I just finished Aicha by Soraya Bouazzaoui which is based on Moroccan folklore of Aicha Kandicha and the Siege of Mazagan (later El-Jadida) in 1769. While the world was lush, unfortunately the pacing and depth was lacking.

Nell O'Dell Hates Quests by Emily B. Martin is a fun middle-grade adventure following a reluctant heroine who just wants to tend to her chickens- NOT go on a quest. Denise Gallagher's How to Calm a Rain Bull features seasonal myths from all over the world coupled with gorgeous illustrations.

Eid and Nowruz fall on the same day so whichever you are celebrating, we hope you have a healthy and happy year! We have covered many Persian tales in the past from the Shahnameh to the Poor Prince: An Afghan tale... #EidMubarak #Nowruz

Dr. Sara Cleto and Dr. Brittany Warman have done remarkable work with their compendium of faefolk, "Fairylore." It is divine to see a thoroughly researched collection that not only details different folk, but addresses their role in story-telling and legends while also adding tales for each section…

Gorgeous artwork by @anniestegg.bsky.social & @kristinkwan.bsky.social n.bsky.social ties it all together with a lovely, detailed introduction by @terriwindling.bsky.social dling.bsky.social that promises magic ahead.

There was a time when young Ermellina was driven from her father's home by her wicked stepmother. She was so lovely that fairies took her in, but her stepmother would not let her rest and came to her with tricks most foul. Once, she arrived as a tailor.. #MorbidMarch

and the royal tailor was sent for to make a replica! However, when they took the dress off the girl, she sprang up to life, alive and well. They lived happily ever after! There is also a vengeful Eagle and the stepmother is obsessed with a basil plant...but that is for a different day #MorbidMarch

There was a time when young Ermellina was driven from her father's home by her wicked stepmother. She was so lovely that fairies took her in, but her stepmother would not let her rest and came to her with tricks most foul. Once, she arrived as a tailor.. #MorbidMarch

and as soon as Ermellina put on the dress, she fell dead to the floor. The fairies had revived her once before and had already warned the girl, so they placed her in a glass casket. A wandering young king fell in love with her and married the girl in the casket... #MorbidMarch

Tawhaki had a reputation so great that a curious Sky-Fairy came down to see him for herself and fell in love immediately. However, the other fairies did not want her to live on Earth so they came down and snatched her up to Tawhaki's dismay! He wandered around... #FairytaleTuesday 🎨 Arthur Rackham

Disguised as an old man, Tawhaki spent the days helping carry their tools & nights secretly working on the canoe. The fairies grew curious about the mysterious craftsmanship, so they hid one night and caught Tawhaki working on it! Except, instead of getting angry... 📙 Edith Howes #FairytaleTuesday

Tawhaki had a reputation so great that a curious Sky-Fairy came down to see him for herself and fell in love immediately. However, the other fairies did not want her to live on Earth so they came down and snatched her up to Tawhaki's dismay! He wandered around... #FairytaleTuesday 🎨 Arthur Rackham

...until he came across an old woman holding a thread to the sky. She told him to find his wife, but if he lost courage or looked back then he would go plummeting to the Earth. Tawhaki did not hesitate & the old woman taught him a charm to sing if he felt afraid 📙 Edith Howes #FairytaleTuesday

Snegurochka, the daughter of Father Frost and Spring, wants to venture out into the human world but she has to protect her heart otherwise she will vanish from this world. See the beautiful animation below and watch the story unfold! www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2TY...

As Guðrún prepared to celebrate Christmas eve with her lover, the Deacon, she did not know he had drowned a few days prior. So she had nothing to fear when he appeared at her door that night... "The moon glides, Death rides, Seest thou not the white place In the back of my head, Garun, Garun?"

What happens when you seduce a "far east" Princess, abandon her during her country's civil war, return home to your WIFE and son and then try to toss said Princess and her baby (your bastard child) off a cliff when she comes knocking on your door? Well... Pengersick Castle, Cornwall

She'll turn into a hare and haunt you, the baby you tried to murder will be saved and return one day, your wife will die, your legitimate son will spurn you and the witch-Lady of Godolphin you marry will try her best to sleep with said son...leading in lots of murder and magic at Pengersick Castle!