When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi

This book is bonkers. Scalzi throws all the rules about science out the window (except he kind of doesn’t, which makes it even more bonkers) and I LOVED IT.

Something happens to the moon, something truly bizarre, and we explore this through the eyes of many witnesses. (think World War Z only no zombies) Each chapter is a different person’s perspective on the Event, some are directly involved, some are on the peripheral.

I couldn’t put it down. Recommended for tweens and up.

Rules for Second Chances by Maggie North

This is a lovely re-romance? I’m not sure what the term is for second chance romance (maybe that’s it, oh well, too late now) novels. I really loved how the importance of communication was highlighted, and how to step outside the box of ‘normal’ communication. Also loved how North subtly made it clear that this was a novel set in Canada. (I understand why Stellar did what she did, I live in Alberta.)

The Witch's Book of Spells by Lindsay Squire

A good resource for spell casting. Nicely grouped together, well laid out and good graphics. None of the ingredients are too esoteric, but you might want to make a list and hit up a good occult shop before starting. Squire does list correspondences, which is handy. One thing, many of her incense recipes require use of a charcoal disk to use, if that’s not your thing (it isn’t mine), try and find stick or cone incense. I was also quite happy to see "smoke cleansing" instead of smudging.

I'd recommend this book for anyone who'd like to start a spell library.

Witch in Darkness by Kelly-Ann Maddox

This is an incredible book. Maddox writes about ‘witching through the bad times’ but much of her advice would be applicable to anyone going through a hard time. She explores hard issues – grief, grieving, addiction – from a witches’ perspective, but I would not hesitate to hand this to someone looking for help even if they weren’t a witch. (I would ask a few questions first, just to gauge how well it might work for them.)

This book has earned a place on my bookshelf and I’ll be referring back to it often. Recommended for anyone who is hurting.

Bad Witches by H. B. Akumiah

This was a romp of a book. The years after graduating college/university are hard enough – all of a sudden you’re a real adult! Jobs! Partners! (or lack thereof) Bills! – without adding in finding out you’re a witch.

I loved this book. I’m a few (ahem!) years from that time in my life, but I do remember it well. Akumiah captures that shivery, oh-god-I’m-a-grownup feeling exquisitely. I would have loved to have girlfriends like Maya, Gabbie and Delali.

Recommended for older teens and up. I’ll be looking for the sequel – I have to find out what happens!

The Green Witch's Herb and Plant Encyclopedia by Rowan Morgana

Don't buy this book. For starters, it is a very basic introduction to green witchery which has been done better elsewhere. There's a few spells, but again, nothing groundbreaking. Morgana also encourages wild foraging, which is fine for some plants, but not for others. She does encourage you to utilize findaforager.com to find a local foraging group and to ask permission of the landowner before going out.

However. She also is a little loosey-goosey with toxicity warnings -- one ritual calls for foxglove flowers to be placed around an altar with no warning for toxicity or suggestions to use gloves to handle the flowers. She suggests that African violets are edible -- nontoxic does not mean edible. (Thanks to another reviewer on Goodreads who pointed this out.)

I was also 99% sure that she had talked about smudging with either sage or sweetgrass, but I can't find the mention now. Anyways, the act of smudging is a closed practice, if you want to burn some sage, grow some in your garden and work with that.

Apparently, I have feelings about this. I would read Arin Murphy-Hiscock or Amy Blackthorn for green witchery. Scott Cunningham also has an encyclopedia of herbs.

I recieved an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Swordcrossed by Freya Marske

This is another entry in the “queer couples work through trauma through politics” and I LOVED IT SO MUCH! We really need to name this subgenre because when it works, it works so well.

Edging more into the sword part of ‘sword and sorcery’ fantasy, swords and swordcraft are an integral part of the plot.

Definitely recommended, it’s a little spicy in a couple parts, so I would say older (17ish probably) teens and up.

I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

#Swordcrossed #NetGalley