This book is, I suppose, perfect for someone who absolutely positively believes that faeries exist, that they reside in plants, and they want to help out anyone who takes good care of nature.

The Faeries' Guide to Green Magic from the Garden by Jamie Wood and Lisa Steinke (and also illustrated by Steinke) is basically a love letter to the faeries that the authors know for a fact live in plants. And they assure readers that you, too, can make friends with the fey and connect yourself to their magick through creative gardening.

As they explain:

With time, experience, and an open heart, you will learn how the sun, wind, water, and soil affect your garden and in what measure they support the life force of your individual plants. Words will appear on the pages of your nature book and will be written on your heart and soul. And you and the faeries will create a world of harmony and interdependence like a painter creates worlds on a canvas.

They have no doubts about the reality of faeries, either, nor their powers far beyond those of mortal ken.

As we connect on a deeper level with the faeries, we will gain access to the wisdom of the spirits. As spirits of the earth, faeries live as the earth lives. In other words, they are immortal. The elemental realm exists in a parallel universe to our own, interacting beside our own.

And heck, after all, they just want to be our friends, right?

We hope to break down any trepidation you may have in working with herbs by helping you recognize friends in the plant world. With a connection to a particular faerie, you might find a comrade in naughty deeds or a teacher in compassion.

I'm sorry if I'm not taking this entirely seriously, dear readers. I certainly have read my share of faith- and folklore-based books in the past, and I certainly have my share of unusual beliefs. I don't mean to mock. And yet, the absolute conviction with which Wood and Steinke insist that these statements is true is a bit off-putting.

For instance, did you know coins are round because "money likes to be circulated"? I didn't know that money chose its form, but if you read the chapter on bay laurel, and its benefits to one's prosperity, you will learn such things. I quote: "Money is energy. Like water, stagnate [sic] energy turns poisonous, but with constant movement, it can produce amazing and beautiful results. If you pay attention, you'll notice that money literally falls from the sky. With just a little awareness, you could find a coin on the ground every day." Literally, folks. Money literally falls from the sky. Watch out for those half-dollars, because they can cause quite the headache.

So yeah, the book has a chapter devoted to each of 33 herbs. (I'll let you discover for yourself the various reasons they chose 33 as the number.) Each is accompanied by a portrait by Steinke, who knows what herb faeries look like, apparently, along with descriptions, planting instructions, recipes and spells. Oh, and each herb has a special message for you, too. Basil, for example, says: "Hello! The sun is out and just as I play upon your tongue, it beckons us to dance. Dance with me, then, and savor my company, as I do yours." Oregano, on the other hand, says: "You caught me with my wand today! With this I can bring much pleasure to you, from your palate to your love interest. Which do you prefer? Maybe both? Oh, the fun we are going to have!" Or lavender, which says: "I linger along the path of pure bliss. I am peace, here to bring you from chaotic waters or quiet sadness. Let me lead you to the gentle bed of my flowers."

Those are some very chipper herbs. (Lavender, I think, might be a bit flirty.)

Let's just say I'm not the target audience for this book and leave it at that, OK? Wood and Steinke are absolutely sincere in their presentation, and someone who is looking for a book about garden faeries and magickal herbalism (and possibly promiscuous lavender) will probably love this book to bits.