Wild Marjoram Tea by Sylvia Littlegood-Briggs Publisher : Broodcomb Press Ltd (4 Oct. 2021) Language : English ISBN-10 : 1999629876 ISBN-13 : 978-1999629878 A book review by Mark Faulkner Scratch the surface of the British countryside and you’ll find layer upon layer of folklore, myth and legend. Wild Marjoram Tea adds its own horizon to this rich mulch. Wild Marjoram Tea follows the story of Polly and Tom, who as teenagers, are brought together under tragic circumstances. During their lengthy explorations of the local countryside, they happen upon the Littlegood house, which is set alone in the woods and inhabited by an eccentric couple, Peter and Elfy, and their non-verbal son, Robin. There they spend their days, Polly learning herbalism and soap making with Peter, and Tom spending his time out on the lawn with Elfy and Robin. They are happy times, until one day the mood changes. Tom and Polly are given a tea, the magical properties of which open the door to another place, which for the most part, exists beneath the range of human perception. I didn’t know what to expect when I opened this book, which is just the way I like it. I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. Wild Marjoram Tea is written with quite an unusual structure, as in there are just two long chapters, but in this instance, it works and feels right for the story. This is a book which projects a deep connection with nature. The prose flows well and immerses the reader in the British countryside, which is something the author obviously has a passion for. I’m unsure what the distinction is between folklore, folk-horror and fairytale, but Wild Marjoram Tea ticks all three boxes. All in all, a magical tale which I feel privileged to have read. Sylvia Littlegood-Briggs, Wild Marjoram Tea, Hardback May your pockets be deep in dust, for each mote is a star, little one, and your right pocket holds one world and your left holds another. Wild Marjoram Tea is one of the standalone texts that grow out of the peninsula’s world of weird fiction and strange tales. As with The Night of Turns, the new book explores folklore and folk horror, yet it is also a deeply moving exploration of growing up, change and the nature of being. Beautiful, strange and terrifying, Wild Marjoram Tea draws on a wide range of British folklore sources – from the myriad treasures of English and Scottish song to the disquieting cruelty of legend – to create a distinctive world of unsettlement. As ever, it might not be for you—  THE HEART AND SOUL OF HORROR FICTION REVIEWS Comments are closed.
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