Review: The Magick of Food by Gwion Raven

Title: The Magick of Food: Rituals, Offerings & Why We Eat Together
Author: Gwion Raven
Format: eARC
Pub. Date:January 8th 2020
Source: Netgalley / Llewellyn Publications


Book Description:

Delight Your Senses and Your Soul with a Feast of Recipes, Rituals, and Spells

Discover a magickal collection of lore, recipes, and practices from modern and ancient cultures of the world. The Magick of Food reveals how to transform the mundane task of fueling your body into an opportunity for deep nourishment and connection to loved ones and the divine. This powerful book provides detailed information on food magick and rituals, from edible aphrodisiacs to feasts for the gods.

Whether you're preparing boar tacos for Bacchus or a vegetable frittata to celebrate the equinox, this book helps you find community through food and build your kitchen witch skills. Using history, magick, and more than forty delicious recipes, you'll breathe new life into your devotional practice while you connect with ancestors and deities.

Review:

★★★★★

This book was absolutely what I needed.

I love to cook. And I love to bake. And I love to feed people. It is one thing I am good at and it is something that helps me express how much I care about someone else. Food comes from the heart, and this book is a complete celebration of that for a kitchen witch.

There are a wide variety of topics covered in this book, such as history, mythology, recipes, and rituals. I found the sections on history fascinating. It's interesting to read about how similar our traditions are in the 21st century (such as feasts like Thanksgiving) and also how very differently we enjoy the same things (like feasting when DoorDash delivers to us).

I appreciated how this book made me think of common things I do just a little bit differently. The biggest of these was a glaring example of cooking with intention that I'd never thought about before: chicken soup for those who are sick, and how we make it for them with the intention of them to drink it and feel better. It made complete sense, but I'd never framed it that way before.

It's also clear that the author did a fair amount of research for this book. It's littered with footnotes, references, and samples of texts by other writers. But as much as there were references cited, it never felt like it was a textbook. The author tells such heartfelt personal stories that it feels as though he was writing this paper just for me, friend to friend. I really liked that sense of comfort and familiarity. (And also he talks about how he goes to witch camp. I wanna go to witch camp!).

Another thing that I really appreciated is that Gwion Raven addressed the fact that not everyone has access to supplies, let alone groceries. He discussed food deserts, and how things can be substituted or adapted based on what you do have. So many magick publications just assume you have access to every single herb and ingredient on the planet and that you have endless space and equipment and it's not true for so, so many people. It was nice to see it addressed by someone.

The recipes included here are also pretty varied. I wish there had been a bit more of them, but there's still a pretty good number. They include things like ancient recipes, recipes for the sabbats, cocktail recipes, every day recipes, and even a section on aphrodisiacs.

Some of the recipes that I'm the most eager to try include: Kykeon (Ancient Greek horchata of sorts), Boar Tacos with Spicy Berry Salsa, Roasted Goat Leg with Grape Molasses, and Samhain Pot Roast for one.

I think that this is a great book for those who partake in magick and who also love food. It's a good mix of history, ritual, and recipe book that make it easy to read, and easy to bookmark for later reference.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Review: Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Title: Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook: Over 200 Recipes for Carry-In Favorites with Tips for Making the Most of the Occasion
Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter
Format: Spiral-bound, 224 pages
Pub. Date: June 1st 2019
Source: Goodreads First Reads


Book Description:

New Compilation of the Recipes that Bring the Amish Together

Brand new, from New York Times bestselling author of Amish fiction, Wanda E. Brunstetter, is a collection of over 200 recipes that are great for taking along and sharing where people meet to worship, work, and play. Included are tips for traveling with and serving food as well as personal stories of how gatherings are at the heart of the Amish community. The well-organized book boasts contributions from Amish and Mennonites from across the United States. Categories include Beverages, Snacks, Breads and Rolls, Salads, Side Dishes, Main Dishes, Desserts, and Feeding a Crowd. Encased in a lay-flat binding and presented in full color, home cooks from all backgrounds will want to add this cookbook to their collection. Wanda E. Brunstetter’s Amish Friends Gatherings Cookbook is sure to become a treasured resource.

Review:

★★★★

What a charming little book. It puts me very much in mind of the types of cookbooks that I seek out at things like estate sales and thrift stores. The ones that were made by a book club or Girl Scout Troop or 4th grade class in ring binding with little plops of stains on pages that show they're well loved recipes.

This book is exactly as the tagline describes; over two hundred recipes designed for gatherings of families and friends. The book is divided more or less by course: Beverages, Snacks, Bread & Rolls, Salads, Side Dishes, Main Dishes, Desserts, and Feeding a Crowd. There's also the usually present indexes in the back of the book. In between each of these categories of recipes, there's nice little stories that highlight something about Amish life, like going to church or the work ethics. They're interesting insights into the community that complement the book well, and are informative.

This book has full color, glossy photographs sprinkled throughout. There are not photos for each and every single recipe, but, there's at least one per page generally. I appreciate this, because I like knowing what I should be expecting when I make something.

In the same vein as the Girl Scout cookbooks that I mentioned above, each recipe is listed with the name and location of the person who has submitted/created the recipe, giving it a more loved vibe, because each and every recipe was hand selected to share with others. I love that.

That said, there weren't a ton of recipes in here that I bookmarked. A lot of them were pretty standard to me- cheese balls, punch, dips, sheet cakes. That's not to say they're not useful, but they're not something I'm in need of. Or, recipes that start with things like already made tubes of biscuits, instant cake mix or tinned fruits.

Some of the recipes that I did bookmark include: Potluck Potatoes (page 75), Chicken Gumbo Casserole (page 91, mostly because I'm intrigued.... How is Velveeta, Miracle whip, and cream of mushroom soup gumbo?), Frogmore Stew (page 94), and Church Sugar Cookies (page 136).

I think this will have something for everyone, but if you're the sort who makes hot dishes, casseroles, and gelatin based salads and desserts, I think this book will be right up your alley.

I received a copy from Goodreads First Reads in exchange for my honest review. Thank you!

Mini Review: The Prosperous Pagan by Kathy Cybele

Title: The Prosperous Pagan: How to Shed the Myth of Pagan Poverty and Thrive
Author: Kathy Cybele
Format: Paperback, 196 pages
Pub. Date: January 30th 2014
Source: Goodreads First Reads


Book Description:

If spells and rituals were all it took to secure prosperity we'd all be rich! So what is it that separates Pagans who easily generate prosperity from those who keep trying and trying with little success? Highly prosperous Pagans understand how prosperity works and have aligned their belief systems to support a prosperous life and bring success to all their magickal workings. The process of becoming a truly prosperous Pagan is a journey of self-discovery that can be eye opening and life changing. Kathy Cybele offers a comprehensive guide that will help you shift your beliefs about prosperity and assist you in moving into a space where attracting good things comes easily. Through The Prosperous Pagan Kathy Cybele will take you on a journey to: Discover what prosperity means to you. Prepare yourself for prosperity. Learn how to create prosperity. Use magick to enhance your prosperity. Your prosperity journey can begin today! A more prosperous life is within your grasp.

Review:

★★★.

I was interested in reading this book for pretty simple reasons: I'm a pagan, and I could always use a bit more prosperity.

All in all, this was an okay read. There was a certain "if you can dream it, you can do it!" self help type vibe to it, which wasn't really what I was looking for.

Most of the information and recommendations for spells/words were things I've read similarly in other books.

I think this would be good for beginners, but for me it was just an average book.

Thanks to Goodreads First Reads who gave me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Review: Dark Goddess Craft by Stephanie Woodfield

Title: Dark Goddess Craft: A Journey Through the Heart of Transformation
Author: Stephanie Woodfield
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: November 8th 2017
Source: Llewellyn Publications


Book Description:

Discover how to use the many faces of the dark goddess to navigate the process of deep and rewarding change. This practical guide looks at the misconceptions surrounding dark deities and encourages you to draw on the power of the dark goddesses to work through aspects of yourself or your life that you wish to change.

Organized into three sections--the descent, challenge, and rebirth--Dark Goddess Craft guides you into your own darkness and helps you emerge renewed. Stephanie Woodfield presents the goddesses you will meet along your path of transformation and explains each one's role in helping you. This book will light your way through the shadows and show you how to become the best version of yourself.

Review:

★★★★★

This book is fascinating from cover to cover. It's interesting and soothing, enlightening and thought provoking. This is a Llewellyn Publication that I would happily place on my spirituality/pagan shelf, and it is a book that I will almost certainly read again.

The book is divided into four sections, not counting the expansive bibliography and index at the end of the book. These sections are: Who is the Dark Goddess?, The Descent, Challenge, and Rebirth.

Part one of this book covers a sort of background information chapter. There's information about the concept of what it means to be "dark" and how goddesses are looked at both in the past and the present. There's a lot of clearing up of misconceptions that arise when the phrase "dark goddess" is heard, such as the lack of evil intentions or the devil, things like that. In short, it's like a nice little intro course. Dark Goddesses 101. It's what you need to know about the subject, and the deities, before you continue onward down the path of this book. If you're pretty well versed in the subject, it serves as a nice refresher course.

Part two, The Descent, covers goddesses that are associated with the afterlife. Or more specifically, as you might have gathered from the title (of both the book and the chapter), goddesses that are associated with the underworld.

Part three, Challenge, covers more of the goddesses. But this time around, it is the ones that are associated with overcoming obstacles and getting ahead in life.

The final part, Rebirth, covers more goddesses still. Though in this part, they are the ones who are most commonly associated with the ideas of both transformation and independence.

This book contains so much information and celebration. There are rituals and prayers, there are devotionals. There are stories/myths for each and every goddess that is mentioned throughout the course of the book. I was very pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of goddesses that are in here. Generally speaking, most books I pick up deal mainly with the Roman and Greek pantheons. Especially when it comes to the underworld. I was expecting a ton of Persephone with maybe a bit of Hecate thrown in (sigh, my poor underrated Hecate). But these are global representations. Admittedly, I hadn't even heard of some of them before.

The cited works section alone is worth a look at, it's clear that the author did her research and feels strongly about the topic.

This is part history book, part religious book, part motivational book, and wholly full of engagement and interest. If you are of this spiritual/religious/pagan path, and especially if you walk the nocturnal path, this is a book I think that you'll enjoy.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN! Mini Review: The Witching Hour by Silver RavenWolf

Title: The Witching Hour: Spells, Powders, Formulas, and Witchy Techniques That Work
Author: Silver RavenWolf
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 8th 2017
Source: Publisher


Book Description:

The Witching Hour--that moment when every fiber of your beings says, "This is the time to do the magick, the ritual, the enchantment for what I need." It could be dawn, a misty twilight, or the deepest, darkest inky night. It's a time when all of your being urges you to get up, get moving, and get working! Confidence that you can easily step from the problem at hand to the success that you desire seething around you. And you know, to the depths of your soul, it is time for magick! The moment of your own power has matured!

This is a book of magic--formulas and techniques for working with herbal blends and powders, techniques for connecting to the ultimate oneness of universe, inspiration for deepening your magical work and seeing your intentions become real changes in the world.

Review:

★★★

Ah, my old friend Silver RavenWolf. We meet again. My enjoyment of this particular author is hit and miss: some of her books I absolutely adore and take front and center stage on my shelf. Others, not so much. This one fell pretty safely into the middle for me.

The organization of this book is really, really disjointed. It's a bit all over the place, and makes it hard to read. The tone comes off as a bit one true way: that this is how you should do it, because I say so.

That said, there's a lot of useful information in this book. I personally found RavenWolf's herbal information to be very informative and inclusive. There were things here that I learned, and the material was explained in such a way that it was easy to understand, even when you don't have the best working knowledge of herbs and plants. I also found her moon charts and explanations to be really well thought out and detailed.

In addition, I appreciate that her work is cited, so you can research topics further if you so choose. It gives the book a more scholarly tone.

It's a good book maybe for beginners, because there's a lot of introductions and explanations, sort of like a Witch 101 syllabus. That said, I still learned some new things, and I'm not a beginner. So, you may appreciate this book more than I did, even if you're not so new.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN! Review: A Year and a Day of Witchcraft by Deborah Blake

Title: A Year and a Day of Everyday Witchcraft: 366 Ways to Witchify Your Life
Author: Deborah Blake
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 8th 2017
Source: Publisher


Book Description:

Connect with your witchy self every day using small, easy, and fun practices. This book features quick and meaningful ways to integrate witchcraft into your daily life, inspiring you to take your magick to a new level whether you're a beginning or experienced practitioner.

Deborah Blake guides you on a journey through the Wheel of the Year, providing witchy wisdom, affirmations, spells, questions to ponder, and much more. From connecting with nature to connecting with deities, A Year and a Day of Everyday Witchcraft explores a variety of modern Pagan practices to help you get more in touch with your personal path of witchcraft.

Review:

★★★★

I think this is a great concept. I love the idea of having little "witchy" things to do each day. I'm a list following, schedule-making type person, so having something that applies to paganism really appeals to me. This is the type of book I'd really like on my shelf. Plus, look at the cover art- would that darling black cat lead you astray?

This book has a little bit of everything. As the title suggests, includes 366 daily exercises that pertain to witchcraft. Each day has a theme, and a little lesson. The tone is very approachable, which I think would be helpful to those who are just starting out along their spiritual paths. Because these ideas are generally pretty short, I think it'd be a good way to dip one's toes into the magick pool, so to speak. It's also time considerate, so even if you don't have a huge amount of free time, you'll be able to reflect on or complete most of the "try this!" activities on each day.

I also really like that the author gives suggestions, not orders. One thing that really, really turns me off from pagan books is when the author speaks as though they are the One True Knower of All Things and that their way is the One True Way or You're Not a Wiccan or whatever path. It happens far more often than you'd think, given that this branch of spirituality tends to be wider in its forms of expression. Blake is the opposite, the tone is very "hey, you could do this, but if you'd rather do that instead, go for it". It's a refreshing tone, that is well appreciated and didn't go unnoticed.

The "try this" suggestions that are listed, one per day, are really widely varied. They include tasks that are more directly spiritual like candle lighting and prayer, but also creative arts such as writing poetry and coloring. There's also a good mix of "self-help" type ideas, like organizing lists for yourself and topics for self-reflection.

A few of the suggestions are a bit less than accessible. There's one day, for instance, that suggests walking around a shop to find crystals. Not everyone has access to such places. But, I suppose that's where the "suggestion" part comes in- I plan on scrolling Amazon and counting that.

All in all, I plan on getting a physical copy for myself. I'm always one of those "new year resolution" people who always has these big dreams but then gives up in a week when the holiday glow has worn off. Hopefully, this will be a successful resolution to follow this book for a year.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Mini Review: Mabon by Llewellyn Publications & Diana Rajchel

Title: Mabon: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for the Autumn Equinox
Series: (Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials)
Author: Diana Rajchel
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: July 8th 2015
Source: Netgalley/Llewellyn Publications


Book Description:

Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials series explores the old and new ways of celebrating the seasonal rites that are the cornerstones in the witch's year. A well-rounded introduction to Mabon, this attractive book features rituals, recipes, lore, and correspondences. It includes hands-on information for modern celebrations, spells and divination, recipes and crafts, invocations and prayers, and more!

Review:

★★★★

Mabon is a great addition to Llewellyn Publications' line of sabbat guides. It conforms to the rest in the series, in that it is a guide with history, prayers, advice, and facts. But it is unique, because each one of these books has a different author, so it has a personal voice and touch to it.

These books are a good step for those who are new to paganism/Wicca. It's sort of a Cliff's Notes version. Not to say that this is a cheating guide, but instead a condensed version of "things you need to know" in a fairly short amount of page space.

I felt this one had exceptionally good prayers in it. I liked the way that Rajchel writes, and drew me into her own path a bit and allowed me to metaphorically walk alongside her for Mabon.

If you have the other books in the series, this will be good on the same shelf. If you're an "experienced" pagan, there's some nice bits of information you'll pick up here. If you're learning or exploring, this is a good foundation to start with.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Mini College Review: The Whipping Man by Samuel French

Title: The Whipping Man
Author: Samuel French
Format: Paperback, 84 pages
Pub. Date: November 3rd 2009
Source: SIU Bookstore


Book Description:

Drama / Characters: 3 male It is April, 1865. The Civil War is over and throughout the south, slaves are being freed, soldiers are returning home and in Jewish homes, the annual celebration of Passover is being celebrated. Into the chaos of war-torn Richmond comes Caleb DeLeon, a young Confederate officer who has been severely wounded. He finds his family's home in ruins and abandoned, save for two former slaves, Simon and John, who wait in the empty house for the family's return. As the three men wait for signs of life to return to the city, they wrestle with their shared past, the bitter irony of Jewish slave-owning and the reality of the new world in which they find themselves. The sun sets on the last night of Passover and Simon - having adopted the religion of his masters - prepares a humble Seder to observe the ancient celebration of the freeing of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt, noting with particular satisfaction the parallels to their current situation. But the pain of their enslavement will not be soothed by this tradition, and deep-buried secrets from the past refuse to be hidden forever as the play comes to its shocking climax. The Whipping Man is a play about redemption and forgiveness, about the lasting scars of slavery, and the responsibility that comes with freedom. "A mesmerizing drama." - Peter Filichia, Newark Star-Ledger "A cause for celebration. Mathew Lopez has come as close as any author could to producing a microcosm of the genesis of a wide range of today's Black American males." - Bob Rendell, Talkin' Broadway "I can see why director Lou Bellamy chose this play for Penumbra, whose most famous alumnus is playwright August Wilson. In its complex welter of issues, in its interior explorations...The Whipping Man is Wilsonian." - Rohan Preston, Minneapolis Star-Ledger "Succeeds with an uncanny maturity in using sharply drawn characters and rich metaphor to wrestle Wilson-like with epic American issues of race, religion, and responsibility. Someone must succeed Wilson; it might as well be Lopez" - Tim Gihring, Minnesota Monthly

Review:

★★★★★

I had to read "The Whipping Man" in my American literature course in college. It is the best piece of fiction that I got to read the whole semester.

This play is absolutely fantastic. I can honestly say that I've never read a story like this one.

The characters are a mix of Jewish home owners and slaves during the Civil War era. I can honestly say in all my years of education (and reading for fun) I've never read a story that weaves these two points of view together. But the incredible way that French has written this story, it seems like a common sense pairing. It works so well.

The characters are well developed. They're distinct, and they feel real. I had feelings toward them all. Not all of those feelings were positive, but I was emotionally invested in the way these characters developed and grew, the way their backgrounds are teased to the surface, the way each of them struggle and have faith in their own way.

It's rugged. It's gritty. It's real. It feels almost like you could be watching this unfold from through the window. There's a particularly gnarly leg amputation that is very well detailed, that sets the tone of dirt and blood and alcohol and grit that gives this play a distinct tone. That said, it's not all drama and heartbreak. It's rather comedic, which I did not anticipate even a little. I was pleasantly surprised, and it keeps you reading and connects you to particular characters.

It's a short play, but there's so much packed into these 90 pages.

I sincerely hope I get the chance to see this on stage. It's fantastic, and I can't recommend it enough.

Series Review So Far: Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials by Llewellyn Publications

★★★★

I absolutely love Llewellyn Publications. They were the publisher that I first turned to when I started down the pagan path. I'm really excited to share with you my reviews of the first three books from Llewellyn Publications new line of books, Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials. As a series, I think this is a handy collection of reference books for those new to the path or those who are a bit out of touch with their beliefs (that would be me). If you area a more practiced or advanced pagan, then you might want to pass these by- you already know most of this! I also love the way that the covers all compliment one another- you can tell that they're from the same series. Across the board, this is a four star collection from me. Now shall we break it down by book?


Title: Ostara
Series: Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials
Author: Llewellyn Publications, Kerri Connor
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: January 8th 2015
Source: Llewellyn Publications


Book Description via Goodreads:

Celebrate the season of returning sunlight and the bursting forth of the birds, bees, and trees

Ostara--also known as the Spring Equinox--is a time of renewal, a time to plant seeds as the earth once again comes to life. This guide to the history and modern celebrations of Ostara shows you how to perform rituals and work magic to renew your power and passion for living and growing. Rituals Recipes Lore Spells Divination Crafts Correspondences Invocations Prayers Meditations

Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials explore the old and new ways of celebrating the seasonal rites that are the cornerstones of the witch's year.

Review:

Ostara is the first of the Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials that I received to review. This reference book is in a very easy navigate format, with just six simple chapters: Old Ways, New Ways, Spells & Divination, Recipes & Crafts, Prayers & Invocations, and Rituals of Celebration.

The first section, "Old Ways", explains the historical context and more anciently tied traditions of the sabbat. The section of "New Ways" offers more modern day ways to connect to the holiday, like gardening or taking walks or meditation. Things that you can do in your daily life, without a lot of difficulty or struggle. It also suggests places to visit and places to go so you're out in the wonderful springtime.

The "Spells & Divination" chapter contains just that- spells and divination tips and ideas. Some of these include a spell to assist in difficult changes, and a Spring is in the Air Love Attraction Spell. These are written in step by step format, and include lists of the things you will need to follow them. There are also prayers and words to say included. These serve as good jumping off points for beginners to the path. This is expanded on within the "Prayers and Invocations" section as well.

The "Recipes and Crafts" section, again, includes just what you'd think. Some of the recipes included in this book are Mint Lamb Chops and Hot Cross buns. They're short and relatively simple recipes, with the steps written in more of a paragraph format as opposed to a step-by-step list. There are desserts, drinks, and meals for both vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Crafts include Eggshell Plant Pots and Painted Garden Stones. These are largely family friendly and relatively easy crafts that are a fun way to spend the day. I'm not the craftiest person, so I was happy to see that these are things that (I think) I can actually do.

The last chapter, "Rituals of Celebration" includes a ritual for a solitary practitioner, one designed for two people, and one designed for a group.

All in all, I think this is a great place to start as a beginner, or a relatively quick way to brush up on things if you're not in the regular study habit. Reading this book made me request the next book in the series.


Title: Beltane
Series: Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials
Author: Llewellyn Publications, Melanie Marquis
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: March 1st 2015
Source: Llewellyn Publications


Book Description via Goodreads:

Llewellyn’s Sabbat Essentials series explores the old and new ways of celebrating the seasonal rites that are the cornerstones in the witch’s year.

A well-rounded introduction to Beltane, this attractive book features rituals, recipes, lore, and correspondences. It includes hands-on information for modern celebrations, spells and divination, recipes and crafts, invocations and prayers, and more!

In agricultural societies, Beltane marked the start of the summer season. We all have something we want to harvest by the end of the year—plans we are determined to realize. Beltane is the time to put our plans into action, and this book will show you how.

Review:

The second book in Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials series is Beltane by Melanie Marquis. Beltane is generally thought of as the first day of summer on the pagan calendar. Like the first book, this book is in a very easy navigate format, with just six simple chapters: Old Ways, New Ways, Spells & Divination, Recipes & Crafts, Prayers & Invocations, and Rituals of Celebration.

In the first chapter, entitled "Old Ways", this book introduces and explores the history of the holiday of Beltane. It talks about May Day and things such as the Maypole that are even still used in modern spring and summer celebrations. The "New Ways" chapter explains modern rituals, and talks about how different paths of pagans, from Heathens to Wiccans, celebrate Beltane. It talks about where it's still celebrated and gives advice on how to celebrate in a modern day lifestyle. It also suggests some activities, such as ways to be creative and how to refresh your life for the new season.

Then, there is a chapter called "Spells & Divination" that includes spells and other means to help achieve goals during this time of Beltane. These include the Sun and Citrine Spell for Energy and Purification and Fortunetelling with Eggs and Bannocks. There are good steps to follow to help you through it, which is good if you're a beginner to paganism. This chapter also includes a nice rundown of the basics of tarot cards. This chapter partners well with the chapter on prayer. The following chapter includes recipes and crafts, such as Blessed Lemon Custard, Supercharged Sun Cakes, and a Beltane Floral Crown. There are well detailed, step-by-step instructions for all of these, and there's a nice variety to the recipes.

There is a final chapter for Rituals of Celebration. These include fully detailed rituals from prayers to actions to meditations for the solitary practitioner, a handfast union, and a group ritual too. There's also additional reading, and a cheat sheet of sorts for symbols and things associated with Beltane.


This is a great continuation in this series that I think is best suited to beginners of the craft.


Title: Midsummer
Series: Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials
Author: Llewellyn Publications, Deborah Blake
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: May 8th 2015
Source: Llewellyn Publications


Book Description via Goodreads:

Llewellyn's Sabbat Essentials series explores the old and new ways of celebrating the seasonal rites that are the cornerstones in the witch's year. A well-rounded introduction to Midsummer, this attractive book features rituals, recipes, lore, and correspondences. It includes hands-on information for modern celebrations, spells and divination, recipes and crafts, invocations and prayers, and more!

Review:

The third book in Llewellyn's new "Sabbat Essentials" is Midsummer. Midsummer, or Litha, is one of the four sun-associated holidays on the Wheel of the Year, and is otherwise known as the summer equinox. This is the day where the sun shines the longest. Like its predecessors, this reference book is in a very easy navigate format, with just six simple chapters: Old Ways, New Ways, Spells & Divination, Recipes & Crafts, Prayers & Invocations, and Rituals of Celebration.

The Old Ways section of this books goes discusses the history of the holiday and how it was celebrated by different cultures, including communicating with fairies and bonfires. The New Ways section that follows includes how to celebrate in a modern setting, whether you're out in the country or in a big city, and also includes descriptions of different pagan paths and how they may celebrate Midsummer.

There are two chapters, Spells & Divination and Prayers & Invocations, that discuss how to pray, meditate, and cast spells. Some of the ones included in Midsummer include Modern Tarot Divination as well as Herbal Spells and Charms. The following chapter has to do with recipes and crafts, and includes things such as Ale for the Gods Bread, Cherries Jubilation Fruit Soup, Viking Boats, and Cinnamon Brooms. These are easy to follow instructions that even beginners and those who aren't so crafty (like myself) can follow along. There's also a list of rituals, additional readings, and a cheat sheet for facts about the sabbat.

This book blends in well with the rest in its series, and is something I'd recommend more to new pagans than old practitioners.

I received copies of these books in exchange for my honest review.

Review: The Authentic Amish Cookbook by Norman Miller

Title: The Authentic Amish Cookbook
Author: Norman Miller
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: March 1st 2015
Source: Harvest House Publishers


Book Description via Goodreads:

Now you can enjoy genuine Amish recipes from the Amish themselves. From the members of the Evart, Michigan, Amish community comes this collection of 450 family favorites, including... salads and dressings (24-Hour Potato Salad, Italian Macaroni Salad, Overnight Fruit Salad) meats and main dishes (Honey-Mustard Baked Chicken, No-Fuss Lasagna, Taco Quiche) desserts (Apple Cream Cheese Pie, Rhubarb Torte, Raspberry Swirl)

Several miscellaneous recipes (jerky, play dough, finger paint...) and large-quantity recipes (for wedding receptions and other large events) are followed by many healthy recipes for folks who are watching their diet. A generous collection of tips and hints provides extra help in making your duties in the kitchen and throughout your home flow smoothly.

With popular Amish hymns and inspirational thoughts sprinkled throughout, The Authentic Amish Cookbook provides everything you need to enjoy your meal preparation and to bless your family and friends with table times they'll never forget.

Review:

★★

I love cooking and eating, especially of those cultures that are outside of my own. I picked this book out because I have been to "Amish country" quite often, as I live not too far from Shipshewana, Indiana. I've eaten some truly amazing things made by the Amish, and I hoped that by having this book, I would be able to replicate some of these things.

I was left really, really disappointed. I was expecting a collection of made-from-scratch home cooking, but that's not what this book includes. On the first page alone, there are ingredients like Velveeta cheese, frozen juice from concentrate, Cool Whip, and canned soup. There are so many store bought, processed foods in this book, from candies to food colorings. I was definitely not expecting so much dependency on store-bought ingredients. I assume this is due to a large volume of recipes mixed with the Amish belief system which limits technology, but I was also disappointed that there were no pictures in this book.

It reminded me of one of the spiral bound cookbooks from a girl scout troop or PTA or mother's club that you can pick up at a garage sale. It's not a bad collection per se, but for me the title is definitely a misleading one.

That being said, there are definitely still recipes in this cookbook that I would totally make. I also really like the weaving of blessings, kind thoughts, and religious songs that are tied into the recipes. It helped to remind me that it is in fact an Amish collection. A few of the recipes that I would like to try are Sadie Glick's Shoo-Fly Pie, Feathery Light Dumplings, Little Girl Pies, Pizza Meat Loaf, and Venison Bologna.

I think this is an okay cookbook, but not what I was anticipating based on the title and description. There's a lot of recipes here that are good for big families or parties.

Harvest House Publishers provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Tour Review, Guest Post, & Giveaway: Cover Him with Darkness by Janine Ashbless

Title: Cover Him with Darkness
Author: Janine Ashbless
Release date: 10/14/14
Publisher: Tempted Romance/Cleis Press
Purchase: Amazon | Cleis Press


Book Blurb:

If You Loved an Angel... How Far Would You Fall with Him?

What happens when the daughter of the village priest falls in love with an archangel banished from heaven? Milja’s heart is struck when she catches a glimpse of the preternaturally beautiful prisoner her father keeps captive beneath his church’s altar. Torn between tradition, loyalty and her growing obsession with the fallen angel, will Milja risk losing her family, and her eternal soul, for the love of this divine being? Janine Ashbless will transport you to a world where good and evil battle for true love.

Guest Post:

by Janine Ashbless

I’m not sure I should be saying this, but I never expected to write a novel – never mind a trilogy – about fallen angels. I thought all that was behind me. You see, Cover Him with Darkness started life as a short story in which it was never made entirely clear what the gorgeous male prisoner in the cell was – pagan god, titan, angel or demon. Then Cleis Press mailed me out of the blue with “What happened next? We need to know!” and suddenly, WHAM, I was up to my neck in the Old Testament, Orthodox iconography and the Apocalypse.

Not that this was unfamiliar territory – far from it. My family were (and are) Christians, and I’d been brought up in a Bible-believing/charismatic/evangelical circle, so angelic intervention was something categorized in an understated British way as ‘Not Impossible’. And we didn’t picture them as hunky guys with wings!

I was always, it must be said, one of those uncomfortable Christians that asked doubting, awkward questions about things in the Bible. Now of course there are (complex) answers to those awkward questions. Personally I ended up, in my twenties, cutting the Gordian knot and taking the simple solution, i.e. deciding that the Bible was fiction and God did not exist: “TA DA! The Problem of Evil dissolves into nothing! Hurray, now I can go worry about something else!”

But with writing Cover Him with Darkness, suddenly I’m back asking those questions. I’ve got angels who come to earth and have sex with human women (Genesis 6: 1-2). I’ve got a hot, messed-up anti-hero who’s standing up against God Almighty, and been punished horribly for it. And within my fictional universe there’s no room for doubt or atheism – given that several of the characters have actually met God. Eeeeek! How am I going to make sense of it all?

Well I promised myself from the start I wouldn’t dodge the issues, even though I was “only” (as some might see it) writing an erotic romance. I wouldn’t pretend that the questions of sexual sin, divine justice and free will were just invisible; I would face them down and try to come to some answers. Inevitably I’m going to upset people for whom my conclusions, in the fictional world, don’t fit their real-world view.

My mother has bought Cover Him with Darkness, by the way. Maybe I need to make my own plans for Christmas dinner...

Xxx
Janine Ashbless

About the Author:

Janine Ashbless is a writer of fantasy erotica and steamy romantic adventure – and that’s “fantasy” in the sense of swords ‘n’ sandals, contemporary paranormal, fairytale, and stories based on mythology and folklore. She likes to write about magic and mystery, dangerous power dynamics, borderline terror, and the not-quite-human.
Janine has been seeing her books in print ever since 2000, and her novels and single-author collections now run into double figures. She’s also had numerous short stories published by Black Lace, Nexus, Cleis Press, Ravenous Romance, Harlequin Spice, Storm Moon, Xcite, Mischief Books, and Ellora’s Cave among others. She is co-editor of the nerd erotica anthology Geek Love.
Her work has been described as: "hardcore and literate" (Madeline Moore) and "vivid and tempestuous and dangerous, and bursting with sacrifice, death and love." (Portia Da Costa)
Facebook | Blog | Amazon US | Goodreads | Amazon UK

Review:

★★★★★

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect with this book when I first agreed to read it. I admittedly haven't read too many books that deal with angels, fallen or otherwise. All that being said, Ashbless has set the bar for my expectations of angelic paranormal romance. I positively loved Cover Him with Darkness.

A large part of why I liked this book lies in the settings. It's set in a modern world, with the lead character Milja going to school in Boston. However, her home is a remote village in Montenegro that seems like it's set centuries ago. There's no running water or electricity, everyone knows everyone (and everyone's business), religion is still very close to the heart of the village, which is in the mountains. It's charming in a rustic kind of way, and if we're being completely honest, put me a little in mind of Belle's village in "Beauty and the Beast". I really liked this old-fashioned setting mixed with the modern world of cell phones, airplanes, and the internet.

The other main reason why I liked this book is simply Azazel, the fallen angel. He is deceptive and possessive and absolutely dreamy. What does that say about my own character? Eh. That's a discussion for a different day, I think. He's seduction and evil manifested into one body and much like Milja, I didn't want to be attracted to him but I found it to be impossible. Mmm.

If you are really devout or easily offended by blasphemy, let me tell you something, this is not the book for you. Fortunately, I am neither of those things and am a bit of a closeted heirophiliac myself. (If you don't know what that means.... Don't Google Image search it. I warned you.) This in short means adding an erotic, lusty love to a church setting is just my type of reading fun. But don't let that fool you. It's clear that there's a lot of study and familiarity with religious texts present in this book. I appreciated that I wasn't just expected to know passages or scripture quotes- I'm a little rusty these days.

There's a lot of lust in this book, yes, but there's also quite a bit of action and suspense that left me wanting to read more. I finished this book in a manner of hours simply because I didn't want to put it down. The pacing is excellent, and there's hardly a dull moment when it comes to fallen angels who have escaped from their prison.

Overall, this book is just really well written. I liked the characters. I liked the settings. I enjoyed the steamier romance scenes and all of the Biblical/holy knowledge that was sprinkled in throughout the text. It's good story telling, plain and simple. This isn't my first time reading a story by Janine Ashbless (I actually highlighted her short stories in my review of The Sexy Librarian's Big Book of Erotica & Anything for You), but I sincerely hope to read more full length books like this one from her. I will also, after I finish this review, go back and read the original short story of Cover Him with Darkness.

This is a good book for anyone who likes the combination of sin, angels, sex, romance, domination, religious ideals, and steam. Thanks so much to Tempted Romance/Cleis Press for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway:

-This giveaway will run from October 29th to November 5th, 2014
-This giveaway is US & CAN ONLY
-This giveaway is open to those 18+
-It is open to anyone over that age who can legally enter, receive, and use their prize.
-One (1) winner will win a copy.
-This giveaway is sponsored wholly by the publisher. I am not responsible.
-This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity.
-Winner will have 48 hours to reply, or a new winner will be chosen. Winner will be chosen using random.org.
-Invalid entries will be removed, so please don't cheat.
-Void where prohibited. Odds will vary. No purchase necessary.
-My opinions are my own. Information will not be stored or sold, and will be used only to contact the winners.

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Halloween Review: Forevermore: Guided in Spirit by Edgar Allan Poe

Title: Forevermore: Guided in Spirit by Edgar Allan Poe
Author: Kristy Robinett
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: October 8th 2014
Source: Netgalley & Llewellyn Publications

Description via Goodreads:

Kristy Robinett has always had helpers in spirit, but when she was thirteen, she met the most fascinating spirit guide of all-- Edgar Allan Poe. Forevermore tells the true story of how Edgar Allan Poe helps Kristy fulfill her destiny as a writer and a psychic medium.

Far from being a madman (as he's often portrayed in the media), Poe is an insightful guide and a sleuth with a passion for justice. Working with law enforcement, Kristy and Poe uncover truths of the past--murders, suicides, missing persons--and shed light on the wrongs that have found their way into the present day.

Join Kristy as she shows how personal growth can come from the unlikeliest places and affirms the comforting fact that we are all given the chance to learn and evolve on the other side.

★★★★

It is no secret that from a very young age (perhaps too young, admittedly) I have always had an obsession with the works of Edgar Allan Poe. When I was still in grade school, at some point, my mom had given me a copy of his collection that she'd picked up at a garage sale. I read it and at first was creeped out, then mesmerized. This is a feeling that has continued with me into adulthood, and he is still one of my favorite authors. That's what led to me picking out this book to read.

I have read books on spirit guides before, but never one on a specific guide, let alone a famous one. I found Kristy's story utterly fascinating. It was well written, in an almost fantasy-like prose despite the fact that this is a book of firsthand accounts. It was very easy to read and understand, even if one has never read anything on the topic before. It's clear from this book that she has a great gift for story telling, something that no doubt Mr. Poe contributed to. This book follows Kristy from childhood into adult hood, and charts her journey and growth both with her spirit guide(s) and as a medium as a whole. She shares how she's used these gifts and how she's learned to use them by telling stories about her life, and specifically, how it helped her in the career of law enforcement.

I was also really happy with how much fact was presented in this book. Whether you are a spiritually inclined person or not, you will at the very least learn quite a bit about Edgar Allan Poe himself. I found this useful, because any information that I knew about him previously was only through my own interested Googling. I don't know how schooling is in other places, but in my district (and college, if we're being honest) never really focus on the authors themselves, just their texts. This gives an intimate look into his life in a way that not many can narrate.

This book is a little bit of a lot of things that make it somehow work together as a whole book. It is a little bit self-help/instructional guide, a little bit of excellent writing, a bit of historical fact, a bit fantastical, and a bit of memoir/nonfiction all rolled into one handy little book. This is one that I would recommend to anyone who considers themselves spiritual, a medium, or who just loves Edgar Allan Poe in general. I'll definitely be taking along a few lessons from this book and integrating them into my own life.

Thank you so much to Netgalley & Llewellyn Publications who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Blog Tour, Review, & Giveaway: Finding Hope by Beth Fred

Title: Finding Hope
Author: Beth Fred
Release date: September 1st, 2014
Source: IFB Book Tours


Summary from Goodreads:
When insecure eighteen-year-old Kailee Hill gets caught tagging Iraq war refugee, Abrahem Yohanna's garage, she's not expecting him to act as her designated driver, hold her hair back when she pukes, or offer to be a shoulder to cry on. But she's failing chemistry and her life is falling apart, so she uses the number Abe leaves her and finds herself with a new tutor.


The two quickly find themselves falling hard for each other. Kailee attacks a local grunt when he calls Abe a "sand nigger" and fights with her veteran brother to be with him. When she learns Abe hasn't told his family about her, she's heartbroken and the couple risks losing everything they've worked to build. To make matters worse, Kailee's previous acts make her the prime suspect in a serious crime. With Kailee behind bars and doubting his feelings for her, Abe must find a way to rescue the girl he loves and win back her affection . And to do that he’ll have to catch a crook…

Buy it now on Amazon

About the Author:
Beth Fred is a full time ELF keeper and part time author/blogger/writing instructor. She's represented by Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyons Literary Agency. Beth likes her tea hot, her romance sweet, and her guys chivalrous. Real men hold open doors, refer to you as ma'am, make promises they keep, and aren't afraid to profess their undying love. It's not breakfast if there aren't carbs (at least, not in the South). Fajitas, carnitas, and churros are just few of her favorite things. Bet you can't guess where she's from ;)
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Review:

★★★★ ★

Four and a half stars.

Wow. This little book is jam-packed full of feelings and drama. I'm having to compose my thoughts so that this review isn't just a rambling mess.

When I came across this title up for review, I was intrigued. I haven't read many books that feature Iraqi characters, let alone when you mix in a soldier with PTSD. And romance on top of that? I couldn't say no. And I have to say, I'm very glad I didn't.

First, we have the characters. Kailee is a high school aged girl who is trying to figure out her place. She used to be the queen bee, until her boyfriend broke it off with her and her best friend is taking her place as the school's leader. She's angry and hurt. She, like a lot of girls her age, makes bad decisions based off of her emotions and she struggles with self-esteem issues. Not to mention her brother, the ex-soldier with PTSD, an absent mother, and a father who doesn't care. I think she's a relatable girl all in all. And then there's Abrahem, the older brother of the girl she hates. They meet based off of hatred but they soon grow inseparable. I loved watching their relationship grow and even through the rocky parts (and believe me, there's rocky parts aplenty) I wanted them to be together. Although at some parts I was frustrated beyond measure at Abrahem's actions, I found him sweet and hard not to like. I see why Kailee fell for him.

This book addresses some pretty hard topics including racism, suicide, PTSD, and cyberbullying. I thought that the important issues were written out in a respectable manner, and the fact that the story was written in dual POV made it that much stronger to connect with this book. Not only was I able to see why Kailee did/said the things she did, I was able to see what life was like from the perspective of an Iraqi man who fled terrorism in his home country to come to the States. That is not a lens I have ever read through before, and it gave great insight as far as racial issues and culture. The best example of this was shown in the way that Abrahem's mother behaves, and how greatly her ideals clash with that of "modern" America.

The plot itself was full of so much drama, but I mean that in a great way. Just when I thought I had something figured out, Beth Fred would add another level of twists and information so that I was thrown back at square one. Between the forbidden romance, the criminal charges, a runaway arranged bride and some bar fights to name a few examples, there was never a dull moment in this book, and I devoured it in one sitting.

That is actually the only thing I didn't like so much about this book. It felt almost too fast at times, and I felt like some things needed to be focused on or talked about for a longer period of time. This wasn't enough to put me off from the story too much, but it was definitely something of which I took note.

I'd recommend this to mature YA readers looking for a more diverse read. This is apparently the second book featuring these characters, and I will absolutely be reading that one as well. As mentioned earlier, be warned that this book does contain suicide, war, racial problems, bullying, and harassment.

Thank you to IFB Tours for my copy in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway:

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Blog Tour, Giveaway, & Guest Post: The Summer I Wasn't Me by Jessica Verdi

Hello readers. Today, I'm hosting a stop on the blog tour for the new LGBTQ YA novel The Summer I Wasn't Me by Jessica Verdi. Jessica was nice enough to join Bitches n Prose for a guest post on the topic of writing from an LGBTQ perspective. Thanks so much for stopping by, Jessica.

Guest Post:

Thank you so much for having me on your blog, Jill, and for your great question about what it was like to write from an LGBTQ perspective. For me, writing about LGBTQ characters and issues was not really any different than writing any other kind of book. In the end, it’s all the same, right? Life, love, character arcs, story twists. I always include LGBTQ characters in my stories, whether they’re supporting or leading, so writing The Summer I Wasn’t Me felt very natural to me.


That said, I was always aware that this book would be somewhat of a risk, since every single teen character(and most of the adult ones as well) is LGBTQ. But at the same time I wasn’t worried because I know teen readers are eager to understand all different types of characters’ journeys, regardless of whether they mirror their own experience or not. I recently did an interview with an LGBTQ newspaper and was asked if I worried the book would only appeal to gay teens, because it’s a lesbian love story at its core. And I said nope, not at all. I truly believe the YA literary world has made great strides over the past few years and while teen readers still do almost always demand some sort of love interest in the books they read (I don’t blame them! Lexi and Carolyn foreva!), it doesn’t seem to matter all that much whether the couple is straight, gay, or anything else. Love is love, right? And after hearing back from so many readers of my first book, My Life After Now, who had nothing but lovely things to say about the main character’s two wonderful dads, I knew I was on the right path with Lexi’s story.



I’ve always been fascinated by these so-called conversion camps, places where religious leaders claim they can turn gay kids straight. There is no doubt in my mind that they’re claiming to do the impossible, and that telling LGBTQ kids there’s something wrong with them is nothing short of abuse, but the root behind these camps actually, in a twisted way, stems from a good place. The parents who send their kids to these programs truly believe their children are on the wrong path in life and that they will go to hell if they don’t make a change. These parents are desperate to “save” their kids, in their own misguided way. This is something that has long intrigued me, and a world I knew I wanted to explore in the book.

I sincerely wish that more people thought the way you do, in regards to "love is love". Thank you so much for the insightful glimpse into your process of writing The Summer I Wasn't Me.

My Review

Title: The Summer I Wasn't Me
Editor: Jessica Verdi
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: April 1st 2014
Source: Netgalley & Sourcebooks Fire
Purchase: Amazon

★★★★

Four stars.

---

Since the death of her father, Lexi's mother has been acting differently. She's not the same person anymore, void of happiness and life. This only gets worse when she learns that Lexi is a lesbian. Lexi just wants to keep her promise to take care of her mother, and so agrees to attend New Horizons: a gay-to-straight conversion camp. Lexi must decide if she can really change who she is and if love is an emotion that really can be controlled, while discovering what the camp will truly offer her as a "cure."

I loved this book. I'd like to give a little bit of personal insight as to why before giving my review of the actual text itself. It is no secret to my readers that I am an out member of the LGBT community. My girlfriend and I have been together four years now. But of that four years, I have only been out for one. Why? Because I hated myself. I didn't want to believe that I could be attracted to more than one gender. I blocked out that part of me for a long time. I let my guard down when I found a partner in Emily, but still each day I struggled with myself, and with her. How she managed to be patient enough to deal with my screaming at her and constant crying and self-belittlement, I will never know, but I am eternally grateful that she did. I finally cracked when I came home from a visit to her family's house in another state for a holiday, when I called my mom crying and vomiting to tell her the truth. She didn't honestly care. No one in my family really did. I am so lucky for this. The battle I fought, and admittedly still fight, was against myself, not against fear of others.

That being said, I felt a special connection to the young characters in this group who struggled to make sense of a world that too often condemns them and negates their feelings. While I never attended a camp nor thought about it, that feeling of wanting to change is there, was there. I have personally felt what some of these characters have and it broke my heart to read about them. Even the youth campers who are a bit less likable, I felt a connection to. If you, as an author, manage to capture a cast of folks that I bond with, then you have done something great. Lexi and Carolyn, the main couple in this book, of course stood out. But the other two members of their group, Matthew- a rebellious, hilarious, headstrong boy, and Daniel, a younger, more eager to change boy definitely added to the story.

The camp was well written, in a horrid way. The descriptions were really vivid, and I was able to live the program right alongside those seeking their conversion so that they can be saved by God. And, while religion plays a key role in this book (as it is a Christian camp), I didn't feel that Verdi was at anytime mocking or disrespectful to the faith. The "twist" near the end of the book is one that I speculated about halfway through, but still made me irrationally angry and disgusted. (It is 4:26AM as I write this review. I had to finish the shit show that was going down.) I even cried a few times, and may or may not want a tattoo similar to Lexi's. I like the symbolism and girl, I know you're fictional but I know that feel.

Plus, look at the cover. Gorgeous.

I did think that the book ended in a bit of a rush. I would have liked to have seen more... Well, just more. How the relationships between Lexi and both her love interest and her mother pan out. How Matthew's life goes. What happens to the camp. More information about the counselors/employees and the alumni of New Horizons. I was frustrated that I was out of pages. It wasn't a cliffhanger, more of a "write the ending yourself" but -huffs- I don't want to (but I will).

I think this book is a solid addition to the genre of gay and lesbian young adult fiction. This book deals with some serious topics, but tells a story about love, being yourself, and fighting for what you believe in. Thank you truly, Netgalley, Sourcebooks, and Jessica Verdi for the chance to read this. I was given an egalley in exchange for my honest review.

Giveaway!

Now, here's your chance to win a copy of The Summer I Wasn't Me!
The Rules:
-This giveaway will run from May 3rd to May 10th, 2014.
-This giveaway is open to those 18+ and is USA & CANADA ONLY.
-It is open to anyone over that age who can legally enter, receive, and use their prize.
-One (1) winner will win a copy.
-This giveaway is sponsored wholly by the publisher.
-This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity.
-Winner will have 48 hours to reply, or a new winner will be chosen. Winner will be chosen using Rafflecopter.
-Invalid entries will be removed, so please don't cheat.
-Void where prohibited. Odds will vary. No purchase necessary.

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Review: To Walk a Pagan Path

Title: To Walk a Pagan Path: Practical Spirituality for Every Day
Author: Alaric Albertsson
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: November 8th 2013
Source: Netgalley

★★★★

Four stars.

---

To Walk a Pagan Path: Practical Spirituality for Every Day is a non-fiction guide book on how to not only walk the Pagan path, but how to incorporate your spiritual beliefs into daily life.

I have been a practicing pagan for about ten years now, but even now finding time for religion is still something that I struggle with. I do walk the walk, but it's nowhere near as often or as in depth as I like. To Walk a Pagan Path definitely helped with some great advice on how to solve this problems.

One of these steps has all to do with food. This book includes recipes for things like breads and treats to make any day of the week, or especially for a ritual. There's also a section on crafting things that will become vital to most, like candles and wreaths. Plus, Alaric Albertsson gives insight on how to make daily ritual completely feasible in today's busy (and urban) world- you can feel just as connected to your path with a simple ritual as you can with an ornately complicated one.

I also found the section written about the Wheel of the Year extremely helpful. I'm always searching for ways to better my sabbats and rituals, and I appreciated gaining insight from this book, since it is not strictly focused on Wicca, but paganism as a whole.

The one part of this book that I didn't really connect to was the section regarding familiars and animals. While I respect and understand the importance that having pets and caring for nature has in the pagan world, it wasn't very practical advice for me personally. I live in housing that doesn't allow animals bigger than fish, and I don't have land. I also am not allowed to have multiple kinds of lights used for plants, and I don't have the space to grow them in natural lighting. However, pet people and homeowners will probably find this far more useful.

I would be more likely to hand this book to someone who is relatively new or inexperienced to paganism, because it reads fairly simply and is easy to understand. However, I'm sure that even well seasoned practitioners would pick up a pointer or two from To Walk a Pagan Path. I know that I'd keep it on my Magick shelf, for sure.

Thank you to Llewellyn Publications and Netgalley for my copy.

Review: A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru

Title: A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru
Author: Patricia M Lafayllve
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: November 8th 2013
Source: Netgalley and Llewellyn Publications

★★★

Three stars.

---

A few months back, I read a fictional book in which one of the characters practices the pagan religion of Asatru. I had never heard of it before, but was intrigued when he mentioned that he wore Mjolnir -the hammer of Thor- on a pendant on his neck. I was super excited to see this title, because I was eager to learn more about it.

This is a handy guide of what gods and goddesses are affiliated with this particular branch of paganism. Each is mentioned and explained in detail, and their mythologies are given. I learned a lot, since my own knowledge of Norse gods pretty much only involved Loki and Thor.

This useful book also has instructions and guidance for how to set up prayers and ceremonies, and offers a pronunciation guide for those hard-to-pronounce names and words used in Norse and Icelandic worship. It's well rounded, offering a sampling of knowledge on various aspects of the religion.

While I did learn a lot about Asatru, I feel like this is a title I'd have to read more than once to fully comprehend. It was a slow read for me, because I was so completely unfamiliar with terminology and concepts, I had a bit of a hard time sorting things out.

This is a good book for those who already have an understanding about Asatru, or for those who are looking to learn more about the deities of Norse origins. But if you're new to it like I was, brace yourself. There's a lot of new information packed into this book, and it can be intimidating and difficult to get through.

Thanks to Netgalley and Llewellyn for my copy.

Review: Over the Rainbow

Title: Over the Rainbow
Author: Brian Rowe
Format: egalley
Pub. Date: August 6th 201
Source: Netgalley/Brian Rowe

★★★★

Four stars.

Much to the dismay of her extremely religious Midwestern politician father, Zippy is a lesbian. She becomes attached to a girl named Mira through an AOL Movies forum, and though they hadn't yet met, Mira becomes a major part of Zippy's life- that is, until her father finds the messages and tries to force Zippy to go to a straight camp. At the airport, she makes a daring escape in a huge suitcase, and is put into the cargo bit of a plane headed towards Seattle, towards Mira. But when the plane crashes, she finds that people are missing. A LOT of people. This LGBT retelling of the Wizard of Oz finds the red converse wearing Zippy, a fearful little girl, a concussion-having teenager, a man with a heart-condition, and a cute little dog too, to figure out what happened in The Rapture, survive the Jurassic Park-esque post-Rapture Earth, avoid a wicked, scorned, homophobic father and find the loved ones "left below".

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This book was weird. Bizarre. Utterly insane. And yet, I adored it far more than I had anticipated. There's a madness to this book that reflects both Oz and Wonderland, where things become so bat-shit crazy that it almost seems logical. And also, dinosaurs.

First, I loved both the protagonist and her love, Zippy and Mira. Zippy is strong, independent and kicks some serious butt. Nothing dissuades her from her goal of finding Mira: not dinosaurs, not car accidents, not a crazy father. She stays true to herself. Part of why I am so fond of this couple is because I am part of this couple. I met my girlfriend, Emily, on the internet. Though, we used Hotmail to chat and not AOL, before Outlook was rolled out and ruined everything, but I digress. We didn't meet for roughly two years after we "met", a similar time frame to Mira and Z. And my parents didn't know that I was LGBT until I had already met Emily in real life, when I finally chose to come out. Thankfully, neither of my parents, however, sent me to a straight camp (and like Z, they would have had a hell of a time actually getting there). And I know that if we were both left below, dinosaurs wouldn't deter us either. End mushy ramble.

I also really enjoyed her family characters. Even though they were largely unpleasant, I felt that they were well written and believable (yes, I am using that word in a book about the dinopocalypse). However, I didn't really ever feel connected to Frankie or Lyman, though Elle was adorable. They served their functions in turn, but I wasn't overly hoping for their success.

Now to the Wizard of Oz bit- I very much was amused by the parallels. Red Converse on her feet, Kansas, the people she travels with, her wicked father who didn't defy gravity in the rapture (I see what you did there, Mr. Rowe!). Like a child, I found myself often pointing and going "HA!", because I understood the reference. Then there's the names: Frankie, Elle, Mr. Lyman Balm, Judy. How fitting.

The fact that this is in the 90s made me happy. It flips between the late and early 90s, and it made me have flashbacks to when AOL chat rooms were a thing, and I pretended to be older to get into teen chats talked responsibly with new people on the amazing internet. Initially, I had an issue that technology still worked despite 70% of the population disappearing. But then I remembered how you couldn't stop AOL or those big clunky computers for anything, unless you picked up the telephone (in which case you screamed at your mother to hang up even though your 18 hour download of one Hanson song is ruined and you have to start over). I also liked the references to things like Buffy. She would have been proud of Z, I think. Willow too.

Now for the part everyone cares about: The dinosaurs and other extinct animals that pop up onto the earth after the rapture. I happen to find this twist fabulous. You see, I have a theory (keeping in mind that I believe in evolution. This is a fiction book. Bear with me.) In the beginning God created dinosaurs and saber toothed cats and bugs the size of chairs, and life was terrifying. He looked to the earth with a smirk and said "Soon." He then grabbed all his scary animal friends and kept them hidden off earth until the second coming, then he set them free with a maniacal laugh on those who didn't get saved. Is this theory what the author intended? Probably not. But that's my take away from this story and I'm sticking to it. So there.

The ending was a happily ever after, but for me it was a bit too happy. It kind of was off set from the tone of the rest of the book. There is a rapture fact about staying away from windows that I wish would have been expanded on. I would have liked more story time with both Z's family and the side characters. Those are my only real flaws with the book.

Be warned, this book is suitable for people only with great imaginations. If you will be offended by lesbians, swearing, or dinosaurs in your second-coming, then step back from this one. But, if strange worlds like Wonderland or Oz fascinate you, I'd give this a try. This is one of the best LGBT books I've read this year, but brace yourself for acid-tripping weird feelings.

Thank you Netgalley and author Brian Rowe for my copy in exchange for an honest review.