Ancient societies, particularly where natural religions with many gods abound often highlight the power of an elder, or a seer, a healer or a wise friend.

Tales of wizards and witches reach across traditions as folk try to explain natural phenomena and engage with the world around them. Those who understood the properties of healing in plants, or prediction of weather events to rescue crops became worshipped as elders, keepers of knowledge. In tribal African societies, Polynesian cultures, East Asian traditions tales of those with great knowledge are often described as witches or wizards.

The Baba Yaga of Eastern Europe, the Skinwalkers of the Navajo, Merlin and Morgana la Faye of Arthurian Legend, the foxes witches of Japan, some work for good, others with ill intent, but all become the focus of folkloric legend, collected here in this new book of myths and tales.

The Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure.