What a read! I loved this selection of mythology and rituals paired for each goddess. Usually in mythology books you see the big four: Greece, Rome, Egypt, and either Celtic or Norse. This anthology featured so many more, plus the classics! Buddhist, Native American, a selection of African pantheons, and more. I was thrilled to learn new goddesses and explore the short ritual with each. Highly recommend if you want to explore daily practice and new goddess worship, or are just curious!

A beautiful book that focuses on a variety of elemental goddesses from a broad range of cultures, religions, and peoples.
Included in the goddess stories, are beautiful rituals to bring the goddess spirit and energy alive.

I really waffled on the rating of this one because I think it is probably right for a lot of people, and I found it cute, but I personally long for something a bit more academic. Is that fair to the book though? For me I give it a 3 but I think for someone into something lighter it might deserve 4 stars.

Goddess Stories is best used as a reference book, full of the stories of goddesses from all over the world.
The goddesses featured are divided into 4 sections, matched to the natural element they are most associated with. The things I liked best are: the (truly impressive) diversity of cultures Davies draws from and represents (more on this in a moment) and the sweet illustrations. I do wish there were more narrative stories - though this isn’t to say there aren’t any, and also the material just may not exist. (But again, it’s that sort of thing I’d like to know.)

I was introduced to some new and interesting dieties here though. My favorite goddesses were: Chantico (Aztec), Bast (Egyptian), Yemeya (Yoruban) and Saule (Baltic). I’d tell you about them but you’ll just have to read! The forward being written by “The Witch of the Forest” (aka Lindsay Squire) is a really good heads up as to what you’re going to get from this book.

To wit: Each goddess featured comes with a page of practical ritual to “help you harness the energy of the deity”. I think witches are great (and very interesting)! But I am not one myself and it is a long time since I read anything proper about them and their practice, so that part didn’t really speak to me. However, I imagine that the reader who is a witch (or at least somewhat into witchy things) might find this a really grounding and applicable feature of the book. And for those like me wearing for something a little deeper, this is a very decent place to start.

Loved this. The artwork was glorious. We hear about the same few Goddesses all the time. This book introduces those we may not be as familiar with, but might resonate with warmly.

This book covers a great range of goddesses from different cultures and religions. I loved the bold and colourful illustrations.

This is a beautiful collection of fables about goddess with lush deeply coloured drawings of each female. This is the sort of book you would dip into and read about one goddess for inspiration when needing guidance. There are optional affirmations/meditations to practice more after each story to help the reader tap into her divine feminine.
My favourites include the stories of Arianrhod, Rhiannon, and Hel.

I learnt a lot from this book and I'm incredibly grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this advance reader copy for review.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I was completely drawn into the topic and could not stop reading it.

I loved all the stories and illustrations.
My favourite part were the affirmations from each Goddess.
This is a well written, empowering book for anyone wanting to learn more about these wonderful mythical women.
I received a copy via NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

This book is very pretty with stunning illustrations however the author has taken some serious poetic license with the stories of the goddesses and some information is completely inaccurate this is reflected in the lack of bibliography and tiny recommended reading list.
Unfortunately I do not feel this book has anything to offer thar previous okks on the goddesses have not already shared.

This book provides a captivating exploration of various goddesses from a wide range of belief systems and origins, spanning from Buddhism and Celtic mythology to Roman, Norse, Egyptian, and Native American traditions. It is organized into four sections, each representing a different element and facet of the goddesses: 1) Earth and Mother, 2) Air, Sky, and the Winds of Change, 3) Fire and Sun, and 4) Water, Sea, and Moon. Delving into the interesting narratives of each goddess, Davies also suggests some rituals to foster a deeper connection with these divine entities.

Rating: 4/5 ⭐

I enjoyed immersing myself in the myriad short stories featuring goddesses—a topic I've explored all too rarely. The concept of this book is captivating, and I must praise the truly enchanting and whimsical illustrations that accompany the text. The book provides concise introductions to a vast array of deities, making it an accessible and engaging read. However, while I understand that the book's primary goal isn't exhaustive exploration, there were instances where I wished for more in-depth accounts of certain goddesses. Nonetheless, this book serves as an excellent starting point for those seeking to delve deeper into specific areas of interest and more extensive readings.

One aspect that didn't quite align with my personal preferences and beliefs regards the rituals. To me, they felt somewhat self-serving, centered on the idea of seeking personal gain through the worship of a deity. In my view, rituals should focus more on channeling energy in a selfless and disinterested manner. Nevertheless, I found that this element did little to detract from the overall experience, as how one chooses to utilize these rituals is left to the reader's discretion. Many individuals use meditation and prayers to express desires in their lives, and this book will appeal to those who seek this kind of practice.

For those seeking self-improvement and introspection, I believe this is a very good tool to do so in a light-hearted way. I truly recommend this book as it was a great experience, especially if you are looking for a cozy fall read that is also educative.

I absolutely loved this book, it was informative and enlightening. I’ve noted down which goddesses to do rituals with for my own personal practice as I myself am a witch. I enjoyed the forward from a practicing and experienced witch and you could definitely see that Alison has done her research!

This is a nice collection of goddesses and their stories along with a short ritual and artwork. As the author points out, it can be used just to learn a little about various types of mythologies, enjoy stories from around the world, or establish a greater connection to a particular goddess's energy by practicing a ritual. What makes it a little different from other titles of this sort is the inclusion of some lesser-known goddesses like Aine (Celtic), Bixia Yuanjin (Taoist), Saule (Baltic), Skadi (Norse) along with the ones that are most familiar like Aphrodite, Brigid, Bast, and Gaia. The artwork, while pretty and vivid, doesn’t have much symbolism or clues to provide more than a surface understanding of the goddesses but does offer a general feel for the story. One thing that is disappointing is that so many of the rituals assume easy access to movement or places. Not everyone can stand and greet the light or wander around in a yard or forest. Obviously, adjustments can be made to accommodate actions or materials, but it would be wonderful to have them worded differently to be slightly more inclusive. In general, though, this is a good introduction to goddesses that is well-organized and easily readable.
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

It's a fun, simple and still informative book that covers goddesses coming from a variety of mythologies, giving you a story featuring them, showing who they are, what they are generally visually depicted as though individual art works for them and a simple spell that may help you through your various ailments that may relate to the field or power they hold. It's a simple read that you may enjoy to relax, gain a lesson or two, learn by exploring varying mythologies and see many women who hold different types of powers and strengths and as to how to gain such strength or power.

The description is very accurate to the book as it effectively gives what it claims. The writing is simple and engaging. Something you may even read as a bed time story for anyone. The art style is average. The rituals are attuned to the tones of the book. It's overall geared towards beginners and those who are looking for something light.

“When you look up and see the sun in all her radiant glory, remember that she does this for you.” - from the story of Sunna, Norse Goddess of the sun

This is a lovely book. Author Alison Davies has collected tales of over 40 goddesses from a wide range of cultures, including Celtic, Norse, Roman, Native American, Egyptian and Hindu, and presented them in short, accessible stories. Each story is accompanied by gorgeous illustrations by Katia Perez, and a brief ritual that allows the reader to meditate on the unique powers of each goddess. The stories are divided up into four sections with each section including goddesses from one of the four elements: earth, air, water and fire. This organization allows the reader to dip in to various kinds of stories or immerse themselves in a particular set of traits.

Although this isn’t a criticism of this book per se, I do wish that authors who write meditations and rituals consider the circumstances and abilities of a variety of readers and propose alternatives for those who cannot, for example, go outside and lay on the grass (my own 70-year-old knees prevented me from doing that years ago), go to a park (there may not be one nearby), or use tools like essential oils (which may be expensive or unavailable). Some alternatives are presented here, but not always. That’s a small quibble and really more for other potential authors who may be reading this review.

Many thanks to Quarto Group and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun book! As a lover of Greek mythology I thought this was very well written and informative. I loved how the writer spoke of goddesses of different cultures and religions.

The only thing I would have liked was for the stories to be a little longer!

I received this ARC via NetGalley and Leaping Hare Press in exchange for an honest review.

I think this was an interesting premise, and a great way to introduce people to more mythological figures in a fun way. I also appreciated how this book included diverse goddesses from a variety of different cultures, thought the format was clean and conducive of an engaging reading experience (loved how it was segmented by the elements), and liked that there was artwork interspersed throughout the book.

However, I felt as if some of the “goddess affirmations” were a bit of a stretch (in relation to the myths) and that the figures were oversimplified. That said, I totally understand that this was meant to be a lifestyle/wellbeing book, and not a mythological text, so I think it was great for what it was!

This is an utterly fabulous book! I thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful illustrations as well as the stories of many different goddesses from all different cultures, religions, and continents. The author includes well thought out, practical ways to embody and put into practice the teachings of each goddess.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A selection of stories about different goddesses all over the world and how to involve the goddesses in your own practice. A nice little book for people who have just discovered an interest for mythologies.

Beautiful illustrations by Katja Perez.

Goddess Stories is a treasure of a book - I couldn't recommend this enough! This book weaves together captivating narratives of goddesses from various cultures, offering a delightful introduction to their diverse attributes and symbolism. What truly sets this book apart are the practical rituals that allow you to connect with the deities on a personal level. The inclusion of goddess affirmations adds an uplifting touch, making it a wonderful daily companion for self-empowerment. The icing on the cake is the stunning illustrations of each goddess - I wish some of them were available as prints! An easy 5 star book from me!

I really enjoyed this book. Many of the stories I was unfamiliar with so it was nice to be able to learn about new cultures. The images were beautiful and I like the way the book organized the goddesses and shared their specific abilities and impact. I would have loved if the stories were a little longer. I felt that just as I was getting a clear picture of them the entry ended. It left me eager for more. Still, I’m thankful for the introduction to these stories and hope for more..

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the arc.