Category: Book Review

Book Review: Chronicles of the One

3/24/2024

Our very own Lord Tanys reviews Nora Roberts' "Chronicles of the One" Series.

From Macmillan Publishers:
"In a world full of hope and horror, chaos and magick, where everything from electricity to government institutions has crumbled, a group of survivors must embark on a supernatural journey that will unite them in a fight for the battle of their lives. The end has come. The beginning comes next … in Year One: Chronicles of The One, Book 1."

Book Review: Star Magic

2/13/2024

STAR MAGIC
By Sandra Kynes

Thank you, Crossed Crow Books for sending me this excellent book! Wow, where has this book been my whole life?

All those nights in the mountains, in the desert, with the full array of stars shining down on the Coven, I only wished I knew what I was looking at. And here, in Star Magic, they can all be found. The descriptions and drawings are great, and I really appreciate the connection between the stars and the Gods (lots of Gods!)

The magical instructions and suggestions also look to be not only very doable, but effective. I can see these being successfully integrated into virtually any magical practice. In fact, the Calling of the Royal Stars in Quarter Calls very closely resemble one aspect of our Yule Sabbat.

Very few books on magic deal with individual stars, and this is where Star Magic shines. The author talks constellations, and focuses on the stars in those constellations- brilliant!

I was a little surprised only western names of the Chakras was given, or their origins, especially in a book that contains so much information. Hopefully readers will search this information out on their own, as it adds so much to the knowledge of them.

I love this book and plan to check in with it repeatedly- I’m sure you will too!
https://www.crossedcrowbooks.com/shop.../p/star-magic

Book Review: Queen of Hell

11/24/2023

Dark Moon Huntress Edition of
Queen of Hell

HOLY HECATE!

The Dark Moon Huntress edition of Queen Of Hell is here! It has been, admittedly for a few weeks, but wow, I had to sit with mine and internalize Her awesomeness.

These limited (333) editions are running out- I would suggest you go to https://primalcraft.com/beyond-akasha-semi-deluxe-series/ immediately if you are interested in these amazing, magical books.

Hecate is a hugely popular Witch Goddess presently, and that is excellent. Of all the books, websites, and courses dedicated to Her, there are none like Primal Craft, and the book, Queen Of Hell.

The standard version of Queen Of Hell is itself an unmitigated masterpiece, that will bring the practitioner contact with the Queen Herself, Hecate. These are consecrated, well constructed tomes made for those who love Hecate heart and soul, by an author who has dedicated his life (and soul) to her.

Then Mark Alan Smith came out with the Beyond Akasha series, starting with an expanded edition of Queen Of Hell. This edition has 66 extra pages of essays, a Ritual timeline template, covered in leather and with gilded pages. The author's signature and individualized sigils (found between the original text and the new) add to the unique, useable, magical feel of this grimoire.

It has a charge, a presence, unlike any other book I have acquired, even of those I know to have been previously used by Witches and Magicians. If you want contact with Hecate, to feel Her, to know Her, this is the book for you.

He consecrates these books twice, once together and once individually, and trust, it is definitely a powerful charge. I could feel it though the packaging as I drove it home from the Fedex facility.

I have been working through, and loving my standard Queen Of Hell copies for some time now. They are worth the price, they are incredibly magical, and powerful companions in Ritual. They are Talismans, gateways, and are life changing in a Ring, and outside.

The Dark Moon Huntress edition expands on this beyond all expectation. The additional material is totally useable, keeps things in perspective as to the Primal Craft Tradition, and puts a very human perspective on our love of Hecate. It also in one article, makes clear that this Tradition will continue well beyond the author's involvement. The Primal Craft as a Tradition is very secure in the capable hands of the Temple Apprentice, Atlanta. And isn't that what a true Tradition also concerns itself with- the future.

I cannot recommend this book enough. It is so worth the money. These are books of love and devotion to Hecate. These are meant to be useable heirlooms for those of us who love Hecate. They are consecrated and charged to Her service. For myself and many other devotees of Hecate, they are life changing. I still use my standard edition of Queen Of Hell almost daily, and I highly suggest getting this incredible, limited and expanded edition of Queen of Hell as quickly as you can. It is truly a dream come true. Do you want to know Her, as She is? Would you let her possess you? Do you want a Talisman of Her infinite power? Queen Of Hell, and especially the Dark Moon Huntress edition is the book for you.

In Nomine Hecate

Lord Tanys

Follow Inner Circle Sanctuary on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

If you are interested in learning more about us,
please don't hesitate to Contact Us.

If you are interested in joining our classes,
please start with our questionnaire here.

Want to see how we do things? Try out a sample test:
Follow this link to a Google Doc:
https://forms.gle/7oaQ5GF3d8k4CsA37

Book Review: Travels Through Middle Earth

11/10/2023

Travels Through Middle Earth
by Alaric Albertsson

Thank you, Crossed Crow Books for sending us three books to read and review. Two of which I had previously, and am enjoying reading them again.

Travels Through Middle Earth is a good introduction to Anglo-Saxon Heathenry that may be of interest to those interested in Heathenry, but not necessarily Asatru. It is not a ‘How-to’ so much as a ‘what it’s like.’

One may wonder why Witches
are concerned with this book at all.

Lemme tell ya, our Tradition has a long history with Germanic subjects, from some of the greatest "Norse Rings' ever, to virtually annual Rune classes going back to the 90s. We have very strong Heathen roots, knowledge and practices.

And so I appreciate the ‘don’t approach Gods like a soda machine’ bit, the advice about not stressing over just one Deity (we do not require, nor do we recommend concentrating on one Deity, or even pantheon), and especially piety. The author asks if you don’t have a certain amount of time in a month to spend with the Gods, “are you really Pagan at all?” He touches on the subject of worship/work with, (it’s WORSHIP for me, thank you), and dispels the notion that ancient pre-christian people cowered in the face of Nature.

I like that he kept the Runes chapter brief, ascribing their Rune Poems to them only. I like that Alaric mentions same sex weddings, and to adjust gendered wording to fit. Dig the mead chapter! I am also thankful for the glossary defining the exotic words…

You can however read with a critical eye the first chapter “Who Were The Anglo- Saxons?” particularly pages 9 and 10, as the author’s ramblings about exotic polytheism vs. “their own backyard” polytheism is utterly ridiculous. I am surprised it made it into this new edition. And while I don't use the 'Blank Rune' his railing against it has a very 'get off my lawn' feel to it.

There is also a conspicuous lack of citations for a book that talks so much history. You definitely do not want to take the history in this book as complete fact. This applies to virtually every magical book out there however.

This is not an overly thick book, and it is relatively easy to read. Do think of it as an introduction. There are only a few books that specialize in modern Anglo-Saxon practices, and this may be one you want to include, even if you are not English, but American...

Purchase: https://www.crossedcrowbooks.com/shop-crossed-crow-books/p/travels-through-middle-earth-the-path-of-a-saxon-pagan

Witchcraft Reading List 2023

10/30/2023

A reading list of unique, non-formulaic
Witchcraft books

Witchcraft and Wicca are interchangeable to us, and almost inseparable. This is evident in our First Year textbooks, A Witches Bible Compleat, The Grimoire Of Lady Sheba, and one of our Second Year Textbooks, Mastering Witchcraft by Paul Huson.

As far as Witchcraft rather than Wicca books go, Mastering Witchcraft set, and remains the standard for me. There has been however, a deluge of Witchcraft books out there, so here is a reading list of unique, non-formulaic (meaning Wicca minus the Wiccan Rede/Rule Of Three, add Stang) Witchcraft books that may be of interest.

1. Mastering Witchcraft by Paul Huson, of course. All of his books are excellent, in particular Mastering Herbalism, The Coffee Table Book Of Witchcraft And Demonology, and his books on Tarot, including the Dame Fortuna's Wheel deck

2. Anything and everything by Shani Oates, the Maid of the Clan of Tubal Cain. Sometimes, the exact right person appears to lead and expand a Tradition, and clearly, Shani Oates was and is this person. See my review.

3. The Crooked Path by Kelden. This is far and away the best contemporary book on modern, folkloric Witchcraft, and as my review states, is also a fine book to read before Mastering Witchcraft.

4. The Devil's Dozen by Gemma Gary. How serious are you? It's awesome. The audio book is fantastic!

5. The Willow Path series by Kerry Wisner. These beautiful, intelligent books are unique in that they were written by someone who is well schooled in several magical Arts. This series is an incredible accomplishment, and belong on every serious practitioner's shelf. https://www.troybooks.co.uk/kerry-wisner/

6. The Roebuck in the Thicket, The Robert Cochrane Letters, Witchcraft; a Tradition Renewed all concern Robert Cochrane, and are brought to us by Evan John Jones. Modern Witchcraft often 'borrows' Cochrane's material, often without credit, and these three books are a good start for anyone who is interested in this fascinating Tradition. Also look to Shani Oates' work, as she supplies much the same information of the first two books, and check out https://www.facebook.com/clanoftubalcain

7. The Wicked Shall Decay by A.D. Mercer; whew is this one fun!

8. Operative Witchcraft by Nigel Pennick. This is one of his more straight to the point books, and I really enjoy it.

9. Masks Of Misrule and The Horned Piper by Nigel Jackson. Wow, these were a great and fanciful pair ever since they came out in the 90s, but are quite expensive now as the publisher Capall Bann has gone out of business.

Honorable Mentions

The British Book of Spells and Charms by Graham King, The Crone's Book Of Words by Valerie Worth, and A Witch Alone by Marian Green

Many of these 'How To' books, thankfully, and the ones that aren't are not 'make it up as you go' type. They clearly have something to teach, are not derivative, hypocritical, and don't waste time on Wicca bashing.

They are perfect Samhain reads and Yule gifts!

Read Book Reviews by Lord Tanys by Clicking Here

Follow Inner Circle Sanctuary on Facebook, Twitter, & Instagram.

If you are interested in learning more about us,
please don't hesitate to Contact Us.

If you are interested in Joining our classes,
please start with our questionnaire here.

Book Review: Garbed in Green by Casey Giovinco

10/7/2020

Garbed in Green:
Gay Witchcraft & The Male Mysteries
by Casey Giovinco
A Book Review by Lord Tanys

Garbed in Green is one of the best books on Witchcraft I have read in a long time, and easily the most interesting. While I have read Witchcraft books by Gay Male authors, this is the first I have read that is about Gay Witchcraft, for Gay Male Witches. I really enjoyed reading it, and I refer to it quite frequently.

Casey writes about Gay History in a flowing, easy to understand manner, from modern to ancient. For anyone who is looking for historical accounts that are not the usual Wicca/Witchcraft fare, this is certainly eye opening and important.

He talks about the Mysteries for several chapters, and these are some of the most interesting in the book. Here the author talks about Goddesses and Gods, Legends, Polarity, in a very diverse context of ages and cultures that opens one’s eyes to the vastness of the Mysteries themselves, especially when seen from a new perspective. Few books of Witchcraft and Wicca touch on what Casey writes about.

Book Review: Crafting the Arte Of Tradition by Shani Oates

7/31/2020

Crafting the Arte Of Tradition
by Shani Oates
A Book Review by Lord Tanys

I can’t recall what I thought this book would be. Reading Crafting the Arte of Tradition obliterated any preconceived notion I held. You know, kind of like after you have just recited a long passage like the Charge of the Goddess in full Circle, and peace and stillness wash over the ecstasy you were lost in, and when you can think, the thought is “what did I just say?” Yeah - it’s like that.

Crafting the Arte Of Tradition is not necessarily an easy read - would one expect Wisdom to be easily won? It is also not a “how to” book - aren’t there enough of those? While the Maid of the Clan of Tubal Cain gives us tantalizing insights into the CTC, the book is not a manual of its practices either.

Crafting the Arte Of Tradition is just shy of 400 pages of the Mysteries, Gnosis from diverse sources, and Inspiration to seek out said Mysteries. It is published by Anathema, which is a small Canadian publishing house that produces beautiful, heirloom worthy books. I was too late to purchase the hardcover edition, but even the paper back is sumptuous inside and out, with gorgeous drawings to accompany the fascinating writing.

Book Review: The Crooked Path: An Introduction to Traditional Witchcraft by Kelden

3/10/2020

The Crooked Path: An Introduction to Traditional Witchcraft by Kelden
A Book Review by Lord Tanys

I have been noticing comments on Amazon and commentary on YouTube that many of the Wicca-Witchcraft-Pagan-Magick books I had grown up with are considered “out of date.” So, I bought a few New Generation type books to see what is going on out there, and which books I may want to recommend, rather than the ones I love so much.

The Devil thank we for Kelden’s book, The Crooked Path. Yeah, that’s right.

I found Kelden’s excellent YouTube videos thanks to a Thorn Mooney video, and the topic of both videos was “Plastic Witches.” I found Kelden’s point of view to be well thought out, very well articulated, and all while he chopped vegetables. I have enjoyed his other videos very much as well. He also writes articles for Patheos.com called By Athame and Stang, which are a highlight of the site.

So when I learned he had just published his first book, the hunt was on. People who know me know I love book stores almost as much as I love books, so I hit up several of our local metaphysical shops, and then our big chain book stores till finally, at the third B&N location, there sat The Crooked Path, hot off the presses.

<<Previous

News, Updates, & Information

Book Review: Chronicles of the One

Book Review: Star Magic

Book Review: Queen of Hell

Dark Moon Huntress Edition of
Queen of Hell

Book Review: Travels Through Middle Earth

Travels Through Middle Earth
by Alaric Albertsson

Witchcraft Reading List 2023

A reading list of unique, non-formulaic
Witchcraft books

Honorable Mentions

Book Review: Garbed in Green by Casey Giovinco

Garbed in Green:
Gay Witchcraft & The Male Mysteries
by Casey Giovinco
A Book Review by Lord Tanys

Book Review: Crafting the Arte Of Tradition by Shani Oates

Crafting the Arte Of Tradition
by Shani Oates
A Book Review by Lord Tanys

Book Review: The Crooked Path: An Introduction to Traditional Witchcraft by Kelden

Inner Circle Sanctuary

Categories

Archives

News, Updates, & Information

Dark Moon Huntress Edition of​Queen of Hell

Travels Through Middle Earth​by Alaric Albertsson

A reading list of unique, non-formulaic​Witchcraft books

​Honorable Mentions

Garbed in Green: Gay Witchcraft & The Male Mysteriesby Casey GiovincoA Book Review by Lord Tanys

Crafting the Arte Of Traditionby Shani OatesA Book Review by Lord Tanys

Inner Circle Sanctuary

Categories

Archives

Subscribe to our mailing list

Dark Moon Huntress Edition of
Queen of Hell

Travels Through Middle Earth
by Alaric Albertsson

A reading list of unique, non-formulaic
Witchcraft books

Honorable Mentions

Garbed in Green:
Gay Witchcraft & The Male Mysteries
by Casey Giovinco
A Book Review by Lord Tanys

Crafting the Arte Of Tradition
by Shani Oates
A Book Review by Lord Tanys