Rosie’s #Bookreview of #NonFiction THE HOUSE WITCH: Your Complete Guide to Creating a Magical Space with Rituals and Spells for Hearth and Home by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

The House Witch: Your Complete Guide to Creating a Magical Space with Rituals and Spells for Hearth and Home by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

4 stars

The House Witch is an alternative spirituality book for those interested in exploring energies of the hearth and the home. It is written in an easy-to-read format, and I would describe this as an overview of some age-old traditions mixed with folklore and a sprinkle of magic.

Made up of quick chapters, the book covers a wide range of spiritual practices. I enjoyed reading about kitchen folklore, evaluating your home’s energies and some of the symbols and mythology chapters. My favourite pages were the ones about household deities and spirits and I recognised several of their names from fictional writing, for instance a Boggart and a Brownie.

This book was given to me as a fun gift from a friend which I enjoyed, but I don’t think it would be of much use to someone who already has a serious interest in modern witchcraft.

View all my reviews on Goodreads

Your home is an important part of who you are—it makes sense to tie your practice of witchcraft closely to the place where you build your life. In The House Witch, you’ll discover everything you need to live, work, and practice in your own magical space. Follow expert Arin Murphy-Hiscock on a journey to building and fortifying a sacred space in your own home, with essential information on how to:

-Create magical cookbooks of recipes, spells, and charms
-Prepare food that nourishes body and soul
-Perform rituals that protect and purify hearth and home
-Master the secrets of the cauldron and the sacred flame
-Call upon the kitchen gods and goddesses.
-Produce hearth-based arts and crafts.
…and much more!

Learn how easy it is to transform your home into a magical place that enhances your practice and nurtures your spirit!

AmazonUk | AmazonUS

Rosie’s #BookReview Team #RBRT BELTANE by @AlysWestYork #UrbanFantasy

Today’s team review is from Shelley, she blogs at http://shelleywilsonauthor.com/

Shelley has been reading Beltane by Alys West

#BookReview – Beltane by Alys West

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

I received an ARC of Beltane in exchange for an honest review via Rosie’s Book Review Team #RBRT

One of my favourite places to visit here in the UK is Glastonbury in Somerset.  This stunning place is full of unique characters, beautiful scenery and mystical stories that greet you at every turn.  When I first saw the blurb for Beltane and read that it was set in my favourite place I had to grab a copy – I wasn’t disappointed.

Beltane begins in the thick of the action when a Druid named Finn falls foul of a spellworker.  The prologue sets you up for a novel that rushes along at a frantic pace.  West does a fabulous job of keeping up the tension as she unfolds her story.

Zoe Rose is an illustrator who is struggling with her creativity.  At her friend’s recommendation, she books into Anam Cara, a healing retreat in Glastonbury, to try and help her clear the blockages in her imagination and complete a commission for a book about King Arthur.

Unfortunately, Zoe isn’t as enamoured with the healing center’s hostess as the other guests and takes an instant dislike to Maeve.  Within the grounds of Anam Cara, Zoe finds an old tree with a carving of The Green Man, unknowingly she releases a spell which unravels a string of events leading to Finn’s return, and the revelation that Zoe isn’t what she seems.

West paints the perfect picture of a healing retreat and clearly knows her stuff when it comes to the finer points of how the establishments are run and the background into alternative therapies.  The setting is magical, and West takes us on a visual trip through the winding streets of Glastonbury, Wells and to the wilds of Dartmoor.  Even if you have never visited these places, you will be able to feel the magic.

Finn and Zoe are likeable characters, and I look forward to their story evolving in future books.  I did like Winston, and I hope he has a rich story just waiting to be unearthed.  West creates a complex antagonist in Maeve, who bends the laws of good to meet her evil needs.

You will be hooked until the very end as the witchcraft and sorcery unfold in this gripping urban fantasy.  A very well told novel; thoroughly enjoyable.

Find a copy here from Amazon.co.uk or Amazon.com