Beyond Faery: Exploring the World of Mermaids, Kelpies, Goblins & Other Faery Beasts

This author managed to compile a huge quantity of stories of Fae across the UK. It would be an excellent reference book to have on hand of many types of & stories about Fae to have on hand. Many of the Scottish or Irish stories I had heard in one form or another but it was a joy to read them again as had been so long had forgotten them. I have never seen any one book put together so much material which was a daunting endeavor for anyone to accomplish. I think because of that though there are copious footnotes & references it can get a tad muddled without a couple of more specifics in a particular odd out area. That being Fae activity & phenomena of some of these creatures tied to specific areas & type in places where people were violently murdered or met their demise under horrendous situations. This would probably be a book unto it's self & something rarely touched on in this types of tomes. There is & always has been a link between the dead & the Fae. I think in part because of the otherworld or underworld & spirit form. I wish on the murders he would have elaborated a bit more so they would have been easier to try & look up. One in particular struck me & a little added meat to the story here would have given more depth. The white rabbit of Crank was horrendous & also a bit of a cover up at the time in my opinion, of a vile drunken wealthy [that should be in capitals] landowner. I think Fae creatures can feel the need to vindicate certain deaths or jab people because of them & this particular case would be a good example. An elderly woman was raising her little 6 yr old granddaughter who had a white rabbit that was everything to her. He had got it in his head the old woman had hexed him & in a drunken rage mode went over to her place with a lout buddy to 'draw blood "to break" the curse. He chased the little girl who fled with her rabbit & beat both to death [& probably more to the child] & then took her body & laid it on the church steps to be found the next day. They say later in time after this he saw a white rabbit & fled into the night & was found dead in a ravine or quarry, which was good justice. Then people began seeing this white rabbit I believe so they would remember the child with her beloved pet. The main thing I think with Fae as in particular in Scotland is to treat with decency & respect & common sense. Be polite but don't fall for anything & protect yourself.