#amy blackthorn

[maeviuslynn]

I've always had a love affair with plants. They heal us, feed us, cleanse our environment, and connect us to nature and the divine. They are beautiful and useful friends to get to know.

I was delighted by this book because it was another window into strengthening our relationship with our plant friends.

"Part reference guide, part recipe book, and part ritual journey, Blackthorn’s Book of Sacred Plant Magic offers readers an in-depth exploration of the vital connection between scents and magical practice.

Topics covered include:

Connecting with Spirits of Plants, Place, and People

Expanding your Scent Vocabulary: Beyond “Floral”

Scent, Memory, and Personal History: How History Effects Scent

Creating Scent Activations"

Thank you to @weiserbooks for sending me this early copy. Congratulations to Amy Blackthorn.

[lokavisi]

Unplanned Book Review Time!

I don't commit to doing book reviews on this blog because my ability to get through books in any sort of timely manner is spotty at best, but I've been reading two books lately that I really wanted to talk about. Disclaimer: I have not entirely finished either of the them, though my thoughts and feelings on them are strong enough that I can tell you whether or not I recommend them. (Honestly there's enough in the intros to each book to tell you whether they're worth reading or not.) I'm gonna give the reviews below the line since this is going to be long, so before deciding whether you read more I will say one book is on seidr and the other is on general protection magic.

First up is Dean Kirkland's Seiðr Magic: The Norse Tradition of Divination and Trance. I'm just gonna say it up top: do NOT waste your time or money on this. I bought it at Barnes & Noble (I knew nothing about the book or the author but wanted to encourage B&N to keep selling stuff like this), and I really wish I hadn't given this guy my money.

The biggest issue? Gatekeeping. He explicitly says in the introduction, on page 13, "If I am accused of gatekeeping[...]so be it." He's gatekeeping an open practice. That sentence alone tells you everything you need to know about why you need to skip this book. But let's get into specifics:

-He goes on to say that we shouldn't teach "just anyone" interested in seiðr about it because those without an aptitude for it will cause more harm than good. How the hell do people learn anything, then? Do we not know other magic to protect ourselves and undo any potential harm that may result from practicing a magical skill? He continues by explaining a Darwinian selection process of finding the people "meant" to practice seiðr. So you know, like eugenics.

-Any time he presents a ritual of any nature, he always makes it sound like you should be doing it exactly the way he describes, even if he ends the description with "but you can work with what you have." In one chapter he details this whole ritualized journey into the woods to find a branch from a tree to make your seiðr staff, and that you shouldn't just use dead fallen branches or the like. Literally every person I know who practices seiðr has been gifted their staff, through someone's direct intentions (like as a birthday gift or something) or more indirect ways like in my own experience: I was not looking for a staff when I went on a hike with my in-laws, but I picked up a fallen stick to use as a walking stick and Odin was like, "THAT IS YOUR MAGIC STICK TAKE IT WITH YOU IT IS YOURS." And I'm not gonna argue with Odin.

-Kirkland says you should spend as much money as possible on your ritual attire. This is after he acknowledges that Thorbjorg's extravagant costume (mentioned in the Saga of Erik the Red) is not about a display of wealth, but of spiritual power. He encourages you to build up your gear one piece at a time if you're financially struggling, but my guy, even that isn't possible for a lot of folks. You're saying people need to spend loads of money for a hood to wear over your head. You could have a designated seiðr hoodie and have just as effective a practice. Seriously.

-In the same vein, he always emphasizes that all materials used in your gear should be made from natural materials. As if that is always accessible to people. Not everyone is able to spend hours in the great outdoors. A lot of plastic-based goods are easier to obtain for folks. None of that prevents or prohibits you from a healthy seiðr practice.

-He also generally uses a lot of language that, on the surface, sounds logical and sound, but when you stop to think about it is super gatekeepy. This obnoxious and harmful tone colors the entire text and is frustrating beyond words.

As if gatekeeping weren't enough, Kirkland uses some credentials and experience to indicate expertise where he just doesn't have any. While he may have earned the right to put "Ph.D." after his name, including it on this book feels like he's chasing clout and feigning legitimacy. His Ph.D. is in ecology. Not anything related to religion or history of ancient Germanic Europe. But if you don't look closely, seeing he has a Ph.D. gives the appearance that he knows what he's talking about. It's disingenuous at best and intentionally deceptive at worst. His author biography mentions that he studied Andean shamanism under an indigenous paco. That's great! Good for him! But he's a white guy acting like an authority on various shamanistic practices, as he likens shamanic practices from several cultures to scant pieces of evidence we have to seiðr practice. This lends itself to the general issue with most books on seiðr, that our genuine lack of knowledge about the practice leads folks to fill in the gaps from other oracular traditions. If you utilize something like that based on your personal UPG and use that for yourself in your practice, that is one thing. But when you are teaching others with your UPG that involves traditions often closed to folks like yourself, maybe don't try to pass it off as the most correct way to practice seiðr. He says at the beginning that he will identify his UPG throughout the text, but he fails to do so quite often as he treats his connections to other oracular practices as Truth.

The truth is, pretty much every book we have on practicing seiðr includes the author's UPG and syncretism with other oracular traditions. If you're looking for "true" traditional seiðr practices, our archeological and written records offer extremely little. Personally, I would encourage you to build your own practice around your UPG (and maybe some appropriate SPG) and the known lore/practices if you are looking to develop a seiðr practice. My friends recently reworked Diana Paxson's method to include more lore-based elements, for example. As long as you know what sources you're filling in the gaps with for your personal practice, that's fine. Just make sure you explain that to others. Do not try to pass it off like The Way to Do Seidr like this jerk was trying to. There are a few interesting pieces of actual facts or rituals, but I wouldn't recommend spending money to read just for those trace elements. There are better people to learn seiðr from. (That said, if you lack an actual teacher and are learning from sources like Kirkland's, read this and all other seiðr books with a grain of salt and the understanding that this magical practice is not something we can fully and exactly recreate. Sorry, recons. You're gonna have to acknowledge the need to develop unique modern practices.)

And now for a book that I absolutely ADORE, Amy Blackthorn's Blackthorn's Protection Magic. This is one I borrowed from a friend and would love to spend the money to buy my own copy. Not being able to take notes and highlight in the book itself has been killing me!

Amy starts the book with an exercise for you to identify your own personal ethics in regards to protection of any kind. I did not expect anything like that, but I was pleasantly surprised. That kind of a foundation is crucial in practicing any form of magic, really, so starting the book with that solid foundation is incredibly useful before you even start to practice any of the spells and protection methods she explains through out the text. This is such an important conversation that witches need to be having internally and with each other. It made me contemplate things that I never had before, and reading her own responses to the questions she poses gave me insight into other perspectives on the matter of safety and protection.

Additionally, she makes a point to explicitly address mental health and physical protection. Understanding your mental health and any potential diagnoses is not only helpful for your general wellbeing, but it also helps you in discerning things like whether someone has cursed you or your depression is hitting you really hard. Equally important, she recognizes that spells aren't necessarily going to help you when someone's fist is coming towards your face. There is an entire section of the book dedicated to physical awareness and self-defense. Blackthorn's mindful acknowledgment of the balance of the mundane and the magical is something that I wish more magical practitioners understood and promoted, whether it's in regard to protection or any other kind of magic. It was absurdly refreshing to read any sort of witch, pagan, or adjacent text that so succinctly articulates this balanced approach.

As for the actual spells and methods presented in the book, I have yet to utilize many of them. (There's a lot and I am only one person, though some things I was already doing some version of myself, like visualizations.) However, I can say that she discusses the following in regards to protection magic techniques: visualizations, crystals/grids, plants and garden arrangements, physical and situational awareness, signs that you may be hexed/cursed/jinxed, home security, essential oils, use of tarot cards, incense, and various magical correspondences (like moon phases and colors). She offers a wide variety of options that you can pick and choose, and adapt to your personal needs or means. For instance, the chapter about plants discusses particular species and arrangements for outdoor gardens, as well as ones for indoor use (particularly useful if you live in an apartment and want to utilize plants in your magic); and visualizations require no materials whatsoever and is accessible to everyone.

Blackthorn also makes a point to help you determine the authenticity, quality, and traits of your tools. She explains ways to recognize counterfeit gemstones, how certain plants need to be tended to or how they interact with other plants, and how common items can be utilized for physical protection in a pinch. She presents everything in a way that empowers you to make informed decisions about your personal safety, which is what any sort of text like this should do.

From just the introduction piece on ethics alone, I would highly recommend this book. All of the practices and methods Blackthorn discusses are written in a clear and straightforward way. She covers several bases as someone who used to work in security herself, and really drives home the need for combining magical and mundane methods of protection to keep yourself, your loved ones, and your property as safe as possible. Again, I can't sing this book's praises enough. This would be an excellent addition to any witch's library.

If you've read either of these books, I'm curious what your thoughts on them are! Feel free to reblog, comment, or hit up my asks/PMs to discuss!

[vulpine111]

One of the books I ordered this month already came in today. I'll let ya'll know how it is soon.

[elhoimleafar]

Lack of sources on Folklore Stupid people doing reviews Ghost authors and Cultural Appropriation. Yes, I need my piece of cake.

The lack of references when you write about Hispanic folklore, white heroes to the rescue, and assholes reviewing books they don't understand.

The most complicated part when you write about the folklore of your land, your people, and your culture, which is not part of the United States of America, is writing with that voice in your head that constantly repeats to you "they are going to judge your work, they are going to read the halfway through the book and they're going to give you a low review to make sure no one else reads the book", especially since you don't have any references to back up what you say, and today's book-buying witches are terribly more focused on getting the references than you are not quoting - to run out and buy the next book without even putting into practice anything they have just read - because clearly before you (as a Hispanic author) very few authors have talked about the subject or simply ignored it cause is "not commercial"

People doing reviews like "in this chapter, the author says that he saw his mother do this, and his grandmother was there, but where are the sources of this?".

That is why publishing houses prefer to hire white authors and give them false names and fake identities to sell them as authors of color because they can make up all the sources they want and no one is as critical of white authors appropriating minority cultures as they are of non-white authors.

They read a Mexican author on a Mexican topic and do a review like "the author does not have enough sources", while the author is someone authentic from that people, from that culture, they are trying to bring representation to their culture, suddenly the same stupid people read a white man posing as a woman of color to write about Mexican folklore and they respond "this is the best book on the subject I have read all my life.

Suddenly even Angelie Belard, Alysha Brown, Allycia Rye, Bridget Bishop, and everyone in Hentopan Publishing, know more about being white people than the people of color from who they have been stealing material for two decades.

[elainiisms]

defending evil and hated female characters online is a full time job and i clock in every single morning.

[abooklover]

Chain of Thorns page 600 check-in:

Thomas, my baby, my heart. I hurt for you. I hurt knowing what you feel. The last one left.

The fact that the bird-demon talks is actually hilarious to me. Nothing else about what is happening is funny and I am desperately worried that Matthew is gonna die but I actually cracked a smile at that.

I am firmly on the side of Matthew never truly loving Cordelia (at least in a romantic sense) but believing he did as a mix of compensation for his guilt and desperation for love and acceptance.

Matthew and James are beautiful together. God where can I get a parabatai? I’m so glad everything is getting out in the open now. Like I knew it would happen, but it just feels so good.

I honestly don’t know if I’m buying the whole Esme creating an inaccurate family tree being the reason for why the one we have is wrong. Like it just seems unnecessary to the story and I would have been completely fine for Cassie to just be like I didn’t have a complete idea of how everything worked out early on and that’s why it’s wrong and just put out an updated one with correct information.

I have this horrible feeling that Oscar is gonna die and that is something I definitely won’t be able to handle. Like someone will need to send an ambulance because I will be on the floor dying.

The Carstairs really have a thing for reading to their sick loved ones. Where do I find one??

Just letting everyone know that I would die for Thomas and Alastair. I love these oblivious idiots with all my heart.

[jolieeason]

June 2024 Wrap-Up

Here is what I read, posted, won, received, and bought in June. Let me know if you have read any of these books and what you thought of them. Books I Read: Books Reviewed: No Road Home by John Fram—review coming July 23rd, 2024 Dead Tired by Kat Ailes—review here Guardians of Dawn: Ami by S. Jae-Jones—review coming August 6th, 2024 The Lost Story by Meg Shaffer—review coming July 16th,…

[delightingintragedy]

Ostara Dreaming

"Use this blend before bed to dream of love - especially the night before the spring equinox.

3 drops Roman chamomile essential oil (Chamaemelum nobile) (preferred) or Cape chamomile essential oil (Eriocephalus punctulatus) for luck, sleep, love

1 drop jasmine absolute (Jasminum officinale) for love, prophetic dreams

5 drops lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) for love, peace, protection

1 drop Turkish rose absolute (Rose damascena) or rose geranium essential oil (Pelargonium graveolens) for love, dreams

Springtime is when minds drift toward love. Spring flings, first romances, and vow renewals all have their place in the spring dreaming. Mix all oils, and diffuse 1 drop synergy per 100 ml water.

For massage, mix 15 drops synergy per ounce of carrier oil (a good all-purpose oil is sweet almond) plus a drop or two of vitamin E to preserve the mix."

-Blackthorn's Botanical Magic by Amy Blackthorn

Edit: NOTE: Essential oils and absolutes can be expensive, and this book has shown to present a few costly recipes, so take them with a grain of salt. I personally use oil infusions rather than essential oils because of chemical sensitivity, and it tends not to be of high cost comparatively. I take all of these recipes as a suggestion of correspondence rather than something I absolutely must follow. It's better to get creative and use what you have on hand rather than spend a ton of money on some oils you'll only use once or twice.

[skrooy]

Sonic Crack Ships

So lately I've been going through a Sonic phase though its mostly a Tails phase if im being honest with myself. I've been trying to watch all the Sonic media and read all the Sonic comics that I can while playing a few Sonic games here and there. So my messed up brain came up with this stupid idea. What if I put every version of every canon Sonic characters from all Sonic media into multiple rounds of the hunger games simulator until only ones left. So I did that and even though I literally did it yesterday I already forgot who won I just remember it was something stupid. I also did it with all the diffrent canon and AU versions of Tails I could find and the winner was actually Tails from Sonic Boom. But anyways im getting off track where im going with this is that today while I was doing nothing lying in bed my brain came up with an even more messed up idea. What if I put all the Sonic characters not including the humans into a random wheel picker on Google to form a bunch of crack ships. So I did it for every character on the wheel. I now have a list. And I have decided to post this list because I find it funny. And I dare people to draw a couple from this list together or make a short cute crack story about one of these ships. And if you do please send a link to me. Ill die laughing if anyone does this. Sorry if I misspelled some names. P.S. I tried to put pictures on here for each character but I couldn't figure out how. I already have a part 2 for this in the works with even more characters.

Rosy the Rascal x Dark Doom

Scourge the Hedgehog x Trip the Sungazer

Mephiles the Dark x Silver Sonic

Ray the flying Squirrel x Rouge the Bat

Espio the Chameleon x Whisper the Wolf

Sage x Metal Amy

Storm Beard x Tumble the Skunk

Tiara Boobowski x Duck Bill Platypus

Cat (from Sonic Freedom Fighters) x Sonar the Fennec Fox

Hangry x Johnny Lightfoot

Gaia (Light, Dark, or both) x Megan Acorn

Tangle the Lemur x Silver the Hedgehog

Thrash the Tasmanian Devil x Sails

Thorn Rose x Vector the Crocodile

Monkey Khan x Fang the Jerboa

Jack x Tikal the Echidna

Prim x Chip

Werehog Sonic x Blaze the Cat

Nicole the Holo Lynx x Catfish

Knuckles the Dread x Sonic the Hedgehog

Zector the Zone Cop x Metal Tails

Wave the Swallow x Morian Blackthorn

Infinite the Jackal x Mighty the Armadillo

Vermin the Cybernik x Super Mecha Sonic

Porker Lewis x Zails the Zone Cop

Geoffrey St. John x Nazo the Hedgehog

Metal Sonic 3.0 x Manic the Hedgehog

Rocket the Sloth x Eclipse the Darkling

Marine the raccoon x Metal Scourge

Sonia the Hedgehog x Red

Black Rose x Dingo

Metal Knuckles x Nine

Charmy Bee x Neo Metal Sonic

Zknuckles the Zone Cop x Knuckles

Vanilla the Rabbit x Ebony the Cat

Rusty Rose x Perci

Mecha Sonic x Jet the Hawk

Bark the Polar Bear x Emperor Metallix

Mangy x Amy Rose

Sally Acorn x Griff

Fleetway Sonic x Tails the Fox

Bean the Dynamite x Zonic the Zone cop

Nasty Hyenas (the whole group) x Sticks the Badger

Metal Sonic x Stripes the Tiger

Batten x Storm the Albatross

Fiona the Fox x Cream the Rabbit

Anti Tails x Shade the Echidna

Bunnie Rabat x Shadow the Hedgehog

Antoine x Zooey the Fox

Sonic.exe x Jules (yes I know this is Sonics dad in the comics)

Ifrit x MinaMongoose

Rocket Metal Sonic x Tekno the Canary

Avatar x Big the Cat

Zantoine the Zone Cop x Gnarly

Chaos x Rotor the Walrus

Bunny Bones x Anti Sally

Zouge the Zone Cop x Zespio the Zone Cop

Denizen 1998 x Tails Doll

Mecha Knuckles x Honey the Cat

Rebel x Sleet

Knucks x Pseudo Sonic

Solaris x Zally

Nack the Weasel x Athair

Ball Hog x Carrotia

Grand Battle Kuku 15th x Lupe the wolf

Roxy the waiter x Lien-Da

Number 16 Speedy x Alicia Acorn

King Max Acorn x Bearenger

Lawrence x Burning Blaze

Elias Acorn x Fiest the Panda

Ari x Roller

Sallybot x Queen Aleena

Da Bearz (both of them) x Fockewulf

Julie-Su x Dr. Finitevus

Ms. Possum x Catty Carlisle

[julesblackthorns]

my darling @sonboyadam tagged me to make a poll of my top 5 characters (and i'm not having adam not bc i don't love him but bc he would win)

tagging @darcyolsson @reputayswift @nessa007 @jakeperalta and @robobee if any of you want to ✨

[prettyqueerwitch]

My Spiritual Book TBR's

This is mainly for me to have a comprehensive list but also might help others in finding books to read!

Marked ♡ means I own the book

Read

• Witchery by Juliet Diaz

• The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock

• Witch, Please by Victoria Maxwell

Currently Reading

To Be Read

♡ The Altar Within by Juliet Diaz

♡ Plant Witchery by Juliet Diaz

♡ Encyclopedia of Spirits by Judika Illes

• Encyclopedia of Witchcraft by Judika Illes

• Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints, & Sages by Judika Illes

• Moon Magic by Diane Ahlquist

♡ The Moon Book by Sarah Faith Gottesdiener

♡ Magical Healing by Hexe Claire

• The Long Lost Friend by John George Hohman

• Hex and Spellwork by Karl Herr

♡ Witchcraft Medicine by Claudia Müller-Ebeling, Christian Rätsch, and Wolf-Dieter Storl

• How to Study Magic by Sarah Lyons

• Love is In The Earth by Melody

• Radical Remedies by Brittany Ducham

♡ Spiritual Ecology by Multiple People (Llewellyn)

♡ A Witch's Shadow Magic Compendium by Raven Digitalis

• The Witch at The Forests Edge by Christine Grace

• Six Ways by Aidan Wachter

♡ Honoring Your Ancestors by Mallorie Vaudoise

• Year of The Witch by Temperance Alden

♡ Weave The Liminal by Laura Tempest Zakroff

♡ The Book of Candle Magic by Madame Pamita and Judika Illes

• The Triumph of the Moon by Ronald Hutton

♡ Folk Witchcraft by Roger J. Horne

♡ Wild Witchcraft by Rebecca Beyer

♡ The Spiral Dance by Starhawk

• Spells for Change by Frankie Castanea

• Utterly Wicked by Dorothy Morrison

♡ Of Blood and Bones by Kate Freuler

♡ The Little Work by Durgadas Allon Duriel

• Entering Hekates Garden by Cyndi Brannen

• Entering Hekates Cave by Cyndi Brannen

• Nordic Runes by Paul Rhys Mountfort

• The Book of Spells by Ella Harrison

• Plants of the Devil by Corinne Boyer

♡ Besom, Stang, and Sword by Christopher Orapello, Tara-Love Maguire

♡ Inner Witch by Gabriela Herstik

♡ Psychic Witch by Mat Auryn

♡ The Black Arts by Richard Cavendish

• Blackthorn's Botanical Magic by Amy Blackthorn

• Astrology for Real Life by Theresa Reed

♡ Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom

• The Trotula by Monica H. Green

• Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

• Bringing Race to the Table: Exploring Racism in the Pagan Community by Crystal Blanton, Taylor Ellwood, and Brandy Williams

• God Against the Gods by Jonathan Kirsch

• Pure Magic by Judika Illes

• Folk Magic by Mari Silva

• Witches Herbal Primer by Amy Cesari

♡ New World Witchery by Cory Thomas Hutcherson

•Magical Folk Healing by DJ Conway

• The Pagan Book of Days by Nigel Pennick

♡ Lady of The Night by Edain McCoy

♡ Spellcraft for a Magical Year by Sarah Bartlett

♡ The Complete Lenormand Oracle Handbook by Catlín Matthews

♡ Natural Magic by Pamela Ball

♡ Rebel Witch by Kelly-Ann Maddox

♡ The Only Astrology Book You'll Ever Need by Joanna Martine Woolfolk

♡ Mastering Magick by Mat Auryn

♡ In-focus Crystals by Bernice Cockram

♡ The Complete Grimoire by Lidia Pradas

• The Element Encyclopedia of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes

And that took a while but we're done! Will probably update this as I go <3

[morebedsidebooks]

12 Autumnal Reads With Pan Rep

As the days grow longer in the Northern hemisphere we don more layers, grab a hot drink, and say goodbye to summer. While maybe too cuddling up with a book. In similar fashion to the past for Pan Pride Day with wintry stories, and Pan Visibility Day for sunny reads, this time I’ve put together a list of examples offering pan rep set around the autumn season. Across demographics, several genres, and various lengths, the cozy to murderous, feasibly one will fit that next read. But no matter what may suit one’s tastes and whims, as always happy reading! (For content notes please see my reviews on Storygraph.)

A Strange and Stubborn Endurance by Foz Meadows, boasting a gorgeous autumn leaf themed cover, is a hefty first installment in the fantasy series the The Tithenai Chronicles. An unprecedented surprise diplomatic marriage between nobles Velasin vin Aro (gay) and Caethari Xai Aeduria, (bi/pan) sparks more than attraction. Violence, murder, and a hefty dose of intrigue swirl.

The Adventures of Isabel by Candas Jane Dorsey, the first in the Epitome Apartments Mystery series with a cast of colorful characters, is an offbeat mystery. Opening in September, at its center a coarse Canadian ex-social worker turned clueless amateur detective (bisexual/ambisexual/pansexual). Convinced to investigate the murder of a friend’s granddaughter, more than a case will end up cracking.

All the Things We Do in the Dark by Saundra Mitchell is a YA psychological thriller. Set in small-town Maine in October and told by Ava (pan), a 17-year-old with PTSD who stumbles on the body of a murdered teenage girl. Scared, haunted, and distrustful she’ll sleuth out a killer while trying to hold herself together. Author Saundra Mitchell is also pansexual. Note this is furthermore a title that has been banned in some libraries in the US.

Bride of the Corpse King by Emily Shore is a New Adult dark fantasy retelling of Hades and Persephone. Needing the winnings for her family, Isla Adayra (pansexual) enters the Bone Games. Further to escape a match with a dreadful lascivious Elder, she’ll offer herself to one more powerful the Corpse King. Allysteir accepted his duty of the gods’ Curse, but year after year the cost bearing the spirit of the God of Death weighs heavily. Allysteir doesn’t want another bride, but Isla just might be strong enough to tempt Death and even more.

The Ghosts of Halloweenby Ceillie Simkiss takes a light Christmas Carol vibe presenting three bite-sized Halloween short stories about couple Cora (panromantic asexual) and Elena (lesbian) from the Learning Curves series, I previously mentioned in my wintry post. Expect more of what makes this romance series a treat. Author Ceillie Simkiss is also panromantic asexual.

The Home I Find with You by Skye Kilaen is a hopepunk polyam romance set in the aftermath of a second civil war in the United States. Van (pan) the lead defender for a circuit of towns in rural Colorado with his girlfriend Hadas meet Clark (gay,) after Clark shows up unexpectedly in the aptly named Freshtown. As a previous threat and winter also approach, this is a hopeful title centered on people and kindness in spite of violence that may leave the reader feeling warm inside as well. Author Skye Kilaen is also bi/pan.

How to Find a Missing Girl by Victoria Wlosok, a fresh debut YA thriller, features an amateur teenage sleuth Iris Blackthorn (cis pansexual) with two of her friends, Sammy Valdez-Taylors (cis lesbian) and Imani Turner (non-binary lesbian). The trio forms a sapphic detective agency out to solve the disappearance of two people close to Iris as the clock ticks down during the Louisiana autumn. Author Victoria Wlosok is also pansexual.

Sweet to the Core by Amy Aislin set in a small seaside town in Maine is a romance novel between Dev (gay) who owns his own bakery and his cousin’s best friend Clark (pansexual) a wildlife biologist. Dev’s harbored a crush on Clark since childhood. Clark is usually a no-strings-attached guy. But set aside the pumpkin spice and enjoy another staple of the autumn season— apples. When the two team up entering an inaugural baking contest with a sizeable cash prize, mouthwatering baked goods aren’t the only thing that is very sweet.

Trick or Treat by Sydney Blackburn is good if you’re in the festive mood for a sweet little, short story Halloween treat featuring Drew (genderfluid pansexual) and David (cis bisexual) meeting on All Hallows’ Eve. 

Vampirella from horror host to heroinesince 1969 has become a sensual pansexual icon enthralling comic readers across the globe. Including me with Vampi having the honour of being the first pan character I knew of. If you need some direction on what to read, SYFY has a Pull List for the Legacy of Vampirella. (Though I’d skip anything by Warren Ellis.)

Wild and Crooked by Leah Thomas has Kalyn and Gus two teenagers that become unlikely friends despite a decades old murder that connects them. Set in small-town lush Kentucky autumn with a smell “like sticky cinnamon”, the slow burn here isn’t romance— but a mystery. There’s abundant queerness: Kalyn likes girls. Gus questions and is regarded as pansexual by many readers and critics to quote “When it comes to people, I care about personality before anything else, and gender’s another characteristic that factors into that. Maybe that does land me in one queer realm or another”. Plus, his mother has a female partner. Too note, garnering young adult award nominations, this is another title that has been listed among book challenges.

The Witches of Portland series by T. Thorn Coyle brings readers an urban fantasy with a social justice basis and dash of romance. Each installment focuses on different members of the Arrow and Crescent coven in Portland, Oregon. If you’re intimidated by the full nine-volume set don’t worry, the books also can be read as standalones. Author T. Thorn Coyle is also bi/pan/queer.

By Dusk (Book 7) set around the autumn equinox features coven member Moss (pansexual) an environmental activist working to prevent pollution of the Willamette. And new to Portland, the rich, on the surface carefree party girl Shaggy. The two previously hooked up at a festival but might have more.

By Dark (Book 8) set in the last week of October thru Dia de Los Muertos features coven member Alejandro (bisexual/pansexual) an IT consultant entering a midlife crisis and his likewise polyamorous partner Shekinah (queer) a graphic designer and Kundalini yoga devotee. But when a friend of Shekinah’s starts having terrifying visions that also besiege Alejandro, it’s an interfaith all-hands-on-deck to uncover dark secrets and affect something terrible afoot in Portland.

[6leggedhorse]

Book Review: Blackthorn’s Protection Magic: A Witch’s Guide to Mental & Physical Self Defense by Amy Blackthorn

Have you ever experienced something scary? A stalker? Someone sending you bad vibes? Whatever the case is, we all could use a bit of protection to keep us safe from harm. Today I will be reviewing Amy Blackthorn’s book Blackthorn’s Protection Magic: A Witch’s Guide to Mental and Physical Self Defense. So please get comfy, grab your favorite drink and snack, grab your pet to cuddle up with and let’s dive into this.

Who is Amy Blackthorns?

Amy is a well established author with having already written 6 books underneath her belt having 2 awards for her work. She is also known for having a long history of teaching as well as working with plants and their magical properties. Amy also is a business owner; she sells tea based upon herb’s magical properties. She has also made public appearances such as Netflix’s Top 10 Secrets and Mysteries.

Book Review 10/10

I actually read this book a while ago when I learned that some of the areas I’d be strong in was protection magick. I read this cover to cover, and I can say that this is one of the best books you can read to get educated in protection magick. This doesn’t just mention herbs, colors etc that have the protection perk, it tells you how you can protect yourself outside of the realm of utilizing magick; she even shares her own personal experiences when protection magick came in clutch for her and may have even saved her life. If you’re looking to really educate yourself in protection magick (which you should learn how to master first before anything else in my opinion but you do you), I suggest that you pick this up or grab it as an e book. There information in here is valuable, it takes every bit of information about protection magick that you would spend hours researching on the internet is combined into one book, it will save you so much time as all the information you’ll ever need is in this book. I give this book a 10/10 because of the information I’d probably ever need on protection magick is all in one source; no more to TikTok search engine or dr.google! Amy also has 5 other books; most if not all are based/rooted in hedge/green witchcraft, never the less regardless in what field of magick that you’re best suited in, this will still work for you. Not to mention that it’s very beginner friendly, so no need to work about over complicated language!

Epilouge

I know this one was short but class does start in an hour and I got the itch to post! This week has been going a lil bit easier so far but I’m not getting my hopes up on it. I hope you guys are taking care of yourselves as your mental health is extremely important. What did you think about the review? Do you have a different opinion? I’m curious to know your thoughts on Amy Blackthorn and her work! Until next time!

References

[secretsdeblackthornhall]

De Jem et Tessa à Alec

Memo à l’attention du Consul Alec Lightwood

Re : Relations avec les elfes sauvages

Après plusieurs jours de tensions, nous sommes soulagés d’annoncer que les menaces à l’encontre de Christopher Herondale et Wilhelmina Carstairs semblent avoir été éliminées. Nous sommes entrés en contact avec Gwyn ap Nudd, de la Chasse Sauvage, qui nous confirme que la fée n’ayant prêté aucun serment connue sous le nom de Mère Hawthorn a été déplacée dans un lieu isolé, où elle sera détenue à l’avenir par la Chasse Sauvage.

Malheureusement, la sécurité de Christopher Herondale n’est toujours pas assurée sur le long terme. Je vous prie de trouver ci-joint, à loisir, de la correspondance personnelle contenant davantage de remarques et questions informelles.

Nous soussignés,

James Carstairs

Tessa Herondale-Carstairs

Cher Alec,

J’ai demandé à Jem d’écrire la partie formelle de ce rapport parce que ça me donne la migraine. Je m’en voulais de lui demander, mais il a balayé mes inquiétudes d’un revers de la main : apparemment aucun d’entre nous ne croirait la quantité de documents administratifs que les Frères Silencieux doivent remplir. J’en ai été étonnée parce que j’ai du mal à associer « administratif » et « Cité Silencieuse », mais bon.

Bref, le rapport est exact. Julian Blackthorn, intelligent comme il est, a contacté Gwyn, qui a accepté de s’occuper de Mère Hawthorn. (Julian n’en avait parlé à personne, évidemment, parce qu’il aime ses révélations spectaculaires, comme nous nous en souvenons tous très bien.) Après avoir eu si peur, c’était vraiment magnifique quand la Chasse Sauvage est apparue, a saisi Mère Hawthorn et nous a ramené Mina.

D’ailleurs, Mina est heureuse, en bonne santé et absolument pas bouleversée, contrairement à ses parents. Elle était ravie au plus au point de voir la Chasse Sauvage, et depuis elle n’arrête pas de nous dire avec enthousiasme qu’elle a rencontré beaucoup de chevaux et que les chevaux sont ses amis. Kit, bien sûr, est au moins aussi bouleversé que nous, si ce n’est plus. Il l’a à peine quittée des yeux depuis son retour. Il dormait même par terre dans sa chambre. (Nous y avons installé un clic-clac après les deux premières nuits). Ça l’a fortement ébranlé. Il n’a pas beaucoup souhaité en parler, mais c’est évidemment très pesant pour lui. Depuis l’incident, il a ce regard inquiet que nous lui connaissons bien. Nous craignons qu’il ne commence à comprendre ce que son héritage peut réellement signifier, même si nous avons tout fait pour l’en protéger.

Malgré l’aide de Gwyn, ni Julian ni nous ne savons ce qu’il s’est passé exactement entre la Chasse Sauvage et Mère Hawthorn, et nous sommes peu disposés à le demander. Nous savons que le Royaume des Fées peut être cruel, qu’il est le plus cruel envers son propre peuple, et qu’il a un sens de la justice et de la discipline particulier, qui semble parfois très… inhumain. Ceci dit, nous faisons confiance à Gwyn, notamment parce que nous faisons confiance à Diana Wrayburn. S’il dit que Mère Hawthorn n’embêtera plus Kit, nous le croyons.

Nous ne savons toujours pas parfaitement ce que Mère Hawthorn a dit à Kit pendant qu’ils étaient seuls – quand nous pouvions les voir, et Mina aussi, mais pas les entendre. D’après Kit, c’était seulement ce à quoi nous pouvions nous attendre, mais quand il est revenu vers nous, il avait les yeux hagards. Je voudrais pouvoir exiger de savoir ce qu’elle a dit, ou quelles étaient ses menaces ou révélations, mais je sais que je ne peux pas. Il nous parlera quand il sera prêt.

Cela dit, nous ne savons pas si Mère Hawthorn a des alliés qui pourraient aussi connaitre le secret de Kit. Peu importe comment elle a essayé d’amadouer Kit, nous savons qu’elle a des intentions hostiles. Nous l’avions rencontré à Buenos Aires, avant même de savoir que Kit existait, et elle était très claire. Ses mots me sont restés en tête : « Un Premier Héritier existe encore dans ce monde. Quand le Premier Héritier émergera, dans toute la terrible gloire née du sang de la Cour des Lumières, de celui de la Cour des Ténèbres et de celui des Nephilim, j’espère qu’il détruira les Chasseurs d’Ombres ainsi que le Royaume des Fées. J’espère que le monde entier sera perdu. »

Je ne peux pas regarder Kit – étendu sur le clic-clac dans la chambre de Mina, la main serrée autour d’une des lattes de son berceau, même quand il dort – et penser « terrible gloire ». Il est comme n’importe quel autre Chasseur d’Ombres, une sorte d’ordinaire peu ordinaire. Il aime les films et les soirées spaghetti et il se ronge les ongles. Il n’est qu’une personne, pas un destin.

Pour l’instant, très peu de gens connaissent l’héritage de Kit. Emma et Julian, bien sûr, toi et Magnus, Jace et Clary… même les frères et sœurs de Julian ne savent pas, ou connaissent seulement un vague semblant de vérité. Mais à qui d’autre Mère Hawthorn a pu en parler ? Pas à la Cour des Lumières, certainement : nous sommes tous les deux sûrs que la Reine aurait déjà pris des mesures pour s’emparer de Kit si elle savait. Kieran sait, évidemment, mais nous ne savons à quels membres de la Cour il a pu en parler (d’après Emma, Mark et Cristina connaissent la situation en partie seulement). Kieran est clairement un allié, et sa Cour lui est fidèle. Mais il est facile d’imaginer qu’un courtisan audacieux (ou un elfe sauvage) ait pu découvrir cette histoire et cherche à en tirer profit.

Nous ne pouvons pas ignorer la réalité : les secrets comme celui de Kit finissent par être découverts et ne peuvent pas être protégés indéfiniment. Le garder au sein d’un petit cercle d’amis de confiance, rien qu’entre les Chasseurs d’Ombres, ça fait quand même une douzaine de personnes.

Ce qui nous amène à notre première véritable demande : Magnus pourrait-il venir à Cirenworth rapidement, pour renforcer les sortilèges de protection contre les incursions de ceux qui pourraient vouloir du mal à Kit ? Nous devons reconnaitre que ce n’est qu’une solution temporaire, mais pour l’instant c’est le mieux que nous puissions faire.

Pendant ce temps, nous sommes d’avis (et nous sommes certains que tu seras d’accord) que nous devons essayer de devancer cette menace. Nous avons sollicité Kieran pour que ses espions prêtent attention aux possibles rumeurs au sujet de Kit qui circuleraient dans le Royaume. Serais-tu disposé à faire la même chose, via l’Alliance ? Nous savons que ce n’est absolument pas le bon moment pour toi. Si nous avions pu, nous aurions tout à fait choisi un moment moins politiquement précaire pour présenter ce problème à l’Enclave. Sache que nous te soutenons et serons toujours à tes côtés. Nous nous sommes peut-être retirés de la vie active des Chasseurs d’Ombres, mais nous serons toujours présents si tu as besoin de nous.

Tu as assumé toutes ces responsabilités à un si jeune âge. Ne semble-t-il pas que les responsabilités se présentent toujours à nous Chasseurs d’Ombres trop tôt à l’aube de notre vie ? Je regarde mon cher Kit et je sais. Nous savons tous ce qui se prépare, comme lorsque l’on sait que le soleil va se coucher sur une journée que l’on souhaiterait infinie. La longue journée ensoleillée de l’enfance de Kit est presque terminée. Je tremble à l’idée de ce qu’il va devoir affronter à la tombée de la nuit.

Avec toute notre amitié,

Jem et Tessa.

Texte original de Cassandra Clare ©

Traduction d’Eurydice Bluenight ©

Le texte original est à lire ici : https://secretsofblackthornhall.tumblr.com/post/697286698428694528/jem-and-tessa-to-alec

[elainiisms]

every time i see a female character garner lots of hate she immediately becomes my favourite and i take my role as her defence attorney

[abooklover]

Chain of Thorns final thoughts:

‘We can die together’. Oh Alastair I love your pessimism.

Did anyone else feel the absolute panic of James not being able to control his body. Like maybe it’s just me a my deep fear of losing control but that gave me so much anxiety.

Cortana is gonna heal James. That’s the plan right.

Sorry Bridget showing up out of nowhere is fucking gold.

Interesting. Interesting. Surely this new Belial and his conversation with Jem will come up again.

Ok it looks like everyone else is safe. Phew.

I feel absolutely satisfied and vindicated that Maurice Bridgestock got what he deserved.

Literally anytime Thomas and Alastair are described together I get the biggest smile and I kinda want to cry but like in the best way.

Love love love that Lucie and Cordelia got to become parabatai.

I like the little nod to the wicked powers.

Oh Thomas I love how straightforward you are. I love you. I love you. I love you. And Eugenia no one has ever given you enough credit. I desperately want to be your friend.

Oh my god twins no way.

Ok so Matthew is just gonna go off, travel and live his best life with his dog. I whole heartedly support that.

What a bittersweet ending. Everyone was reasonably happy but scarred by grief and loss what else is different.