Winter gives us the book on spirit-work that she wish she had when first starting out herself. The wide-ranging essays cover topics as varied as the use of entheogens, the nature and importance of sacrifice, the true meaning of Hekate‘s Deipnon, the difference between trance and visualization, and the work of modern oracles. Though not a spirit-worker myself, I found much food for thought in Winter‘s essays. #paganism #polytheism #mythology

In the land of Arethia, magic is strictly controlled. While other lands might suffer from the effects of “bound” magic in a charm, in Arethia all magic must be “free”, practiced live by a mage who can turn the magic “on” and “off”. Keveren possesses abilities that do not meet the definition of either bound or free. A fun fantasy-mystery; no sex, swearing or violent death, but there is classism, bullying, and kidnapping. #fantasy #yafantasy #magic

Wow. I love these books. I lost myself in Charles‘ world. I was happy that Lucien and Stephen found one another, and also angry that they had to hide their relationship. Also, they treat the women in their lives as equals: Stephen has been partnered with the Jewish Esther Gold for five years, and Lucien is great friends with the beautiful, wily Leonora Hart. A terrific historical paranormal murder mystery romance. #mm #romance #fantasy #magic

Tapscott is rapidly becoming one of my favorite fantasy romance authors. Her books make me happy. There‘s magic, star-crossed lovers, political intrigue, noble heroes with terrible secrets, heroines with spunk and intelligence, and appropriately terrible villains. Plus adventure, derring-do, and narrow escapes. Her books are, quite simply, fun. #fantasyromance #fantasy #romance

I‘ve lost track of how long I‘ve been reading Chastain‘s books, but she is — hands down — one of my favorite urban fantasy/cozy fantasy authors. I would happily move to Terra Haven if I could. This collection is cozy and romantic, with lots of danger and excitement. Also, cute animals! Where can I get a gryphonette? #urbanfantasy #paranormalromance #magic #wintersolstice

Spells and Sensibility is a wonderful Regency magical romance. Henry is sunlight and charm and strength and loyalty. Theo is shadows and quiet intelligence and stubborn determination. Henry desperately misses his magic, while Theo is brilliant and powerful, but modest; he finds himself craving the sparkle and joy that Henry unexpectedly brings to his life. #fantasyromance #regencyfantasy #regencyromance #mmromance

In their author‘s note, Coyle mentions that they love heist films. That comes through loud and clear in Mouse‘s Folly. This is definitely a cozy, fantastical heist caper with strong Robin Hood vibes. It is ethnically and sexually diverse, with characters who are dark-skinned, light-skinned, heterosexual, bisexual, and queer. It is also enthusiastically anarchic; social cooperation and individual liberty are the highest ideals. #fantasy #heist

And ... finished! A delightful cozy gothic fantasy. Wonderful protagonist, mysterious neighbor, secretive cousins, a ruined abbey, and (of course) dragons! There are hints of a romance to come in future books, but none in this first volume. A fun read for tweens, teens, and adults. #fantasy #gothic #dragons #historicalfantasy

An author of detective novels who finds herself in the middle of a gothic novel -- and she **hates** gothic novels. Love it!

(Oh, plus dragons.)

In this delightful leaflet, Marsh explores the development, meaning, influence, and legacy of our personal libraries. They are reflections of ourselves; of our journey through life and our constantly evolving interests and selfhood: “my inner life‘s history manifest.” It is these books which serve us best in bibliomancy and the practice of occult arts, whether or not the books themselves are occult in nature. #booklover #occult #library

This is a sweet, heart-warming, and optimistic coming-of-age story. Bridger is a nerdy, awkward trivia junkie with a passion for learning; he‘s also still figuring himself out, and is stressing out over the prospect of having to define himself for others right now. When he discovers the true nature of his boss, a whole new world is revealed to him, one where no one has any expectations of him and what he should be. #fantasy #magic #comingofage

Leonidas the former gladiator is eking out an existence as a bodyguard and occasional investigator. When his former trainer comes to him with news that some of his gladiators have gone missing, he takes on the case. And then the first body appears, and then the second. When Nero himself takes an interest, Leonidas has no choice but to find the murderer, or Nero will do it for him. Terrific mystery, with wonderful characters. #mystery #ancientrome

Drinks and Sinkholes is a heartwarming cozy fantasy-mystery. Bev is a delight, always looking for the best in people, but willing to fight to defend what she loves. The people of Pigsend are wonderfully ordinary: they love and argue and reconcile, share tea and rosemary bread, stick their noses into one another‘s business, gossip, and pull together when danger threatens them all. #cozyfantasy #cozymystery #fantasy

A terrific first volume in a quirky, exciting steampunk adventure series. Damsport is a fantastical mash-up of Bali and Haiti. Once a poor and neglected part of the empire, the peninsula achieved independence thanks to the tough-minded Marchioness. It is now a thriving port, a vibrant, colorful, multi-ethnic, polytheistic society of tea rooms, steampunk technology, masked revels, and cemeteries haunted by voiceless cats. #steampunk #BIPOC #fantasy

Current read, and I am thoroughly enjoying it. I love the idea of secret treaties between the governments of the human world and the various fae courts -- which means that PROBLEMS need to be taken care of quietly. That's where Our Hero comes in, and right now he's trapped in a cozy Canadian village with a social worker/battle mage for a reluctant human partner, and the bodies just keep piling up .... #urbanfantasy #murder #mystery #fae #fairy

A terrific epic fantasy filled with well-rounded and sympathetic characters, solid world-building, found family, exciting action sequences, and meditations on the nature of grief and faith. Not only does it feature a middle-aged, curvaceous protagonist, but it is also explicitly, deliberately polytheistic and polyamorous. #fantasy #curvygirl #dragon #paganism #romance #polyamory

So I absolutely loved this book, and now I'm looking for more like it. I would classify it as silkpunk or silk sf (that is, stories based in Asian cultures and traditional technology, as opposed to European/European-derived).

So, can anyone recommend other great silkpunk stories? I'm interested in short stories, novellas, and novels. Thanks!

The cozy fantasy genre is relatively new, so stories can be difficult to find. Thankfully, I stumbled across Dwarves and Daisies in a FaceBook group dedicated to the subject. This is a delightful novella with wonderful characters, a nasty villain, some neat monsters, lots of yummy food, and a satisfying conclusion that leads neatly into the forthcoming Manhattan Magic series. #cozyfantasy #urbanfantasy #magic #holidaystories

Witches, vampires, demons, priests, priestesses, magic, superheroes, sorcerers, supernormal DNA, God and Goddess and Deities and Saints of every description — they all exist here. There is also an immortal Empress (ruthless, but not evil), an Inquisitor (license to kill anything and anyone), and a Serene Sisterhood of Compassion (Goddess-worshipping demon hunters). It‘s a fantastic carnival. Can't wait to read more. #urbanfantasy #fantasy #magic

One of my favorite retellings ever of Cinderella. Eugenie is a terrific protagonist: loyal, brave, naive but not foolish, always hoping for the best in situations and people. While Pip‘s identity is patently obvious to anyone familiar with the original fairy tale, I loved the slow revelation of his background and his true connection to Eugenie. #fairytales #cinderella #retellings

Cinderella has no wish to marry the prince. A college student is stuck at a university filled with vampires. A daughter of privilege wants to be left alone to study magic — a province traditionally for men only. And more. The stories vary in length from relatively short to novelettes. Either way, they are the perfect length for reading in a lunch break, on the way to work, or while relaxing just before bed. #fairytale #fantasy #shortstories

This book is just plain fun. Terrific characters, solid world-building, neat magic, and some exciting derring-do. Plus nefarious villains, and hints of a larger plot to do something even more nefarious. A fun, fast, and highly entertaining read. Perfect for epic fantasy fans looking for an uplifting (as opposed to grimdark) tale of friendship and adventure. #fantasy #dungeoncrawl #magic

Moreno-Garcia has been on my To Read list for a long time. I have Gods of Jade and Shadow sitting on my tablet, and I‘ve heard nothing but good things about Mexican Gothic. I was in the mood for something quick, so I grabbed a copy of The Return of the Sorceress. A quick, engaging, and highly entertaining read. This is the sort of fictional universe that I would love to return to again and again. Highly recommended. #fantasy #mexicanfantasy #magic

Church lays out the basic mythology of the Goddess; her roles as magician, healer, savior, warrior, and mother; her association with other Egyptian Goddesses; the expansion of her worship across the Graeco-Roman world; her temples and cult centers; the festivals and rituals in her honor; and the role of magic and prayer in her worship. A terrific introduction to this ancient and popular Goddess. #goddess #paganism #isis #mythology

I first discovered Chastain‘s writing with the Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles. I loved that series, and I was thrilled when she opted to continue with a different set of characters in the Terra Haven Chronicles.* I was not disappointed. This is a terrific first book in a new urban fantasy/paranormal romance series. #paranormalromance #magic #urbanfantasy

The first book in a collection of fairy tales featuring Black trans characters. Ella is a terrific protagonist. She is not one of those ridiculously strong characters who seems immune to the feelings of others. She is in pain at her treatment by her stepmother and stepsisters, and over-the-top ecstatically happy at being finally, truly seen for who she is by Princess Lizabetta. And the fairy godmother is awesome. #trans #fairytale #lgtbqia+ #pride

There are a lot of how-to poetry books out there. A lot. I‘m sure that some are excellent, some are average, and some are terrible, and individual experiences with these books will vary. My experience of The Art of the Poetic Line by James Longenbach? Excellent. Highly recommended to poets of every skill and experience level, as well as fans of Writing Metrical Poetry by Baer and Writing Poetry in the Dark edited by Wytovich. #howto #poetrymatters

This book is many things. Cozy fantasy. Sweet romance. Belated coming-of-age fable. Found-family saga. Treasure hunt. Magical adventure. And much more. A Rival Most Vial is the literary equivalent of a warm mug of apple cider. You just want to curl up under a comfy blanket and revel in it. I hope that Ashwick returns to this world again and again, so that I can keep reveling in it. Highly recommended. #cozyfantasy #lgtbq #magic #romance

Drinks and Sinkholes is a heartwarming cozy fantasy-mystery. Bev is a delight, always looking for the best in people, but willing to fight to defend what she loves. The people of Pigsend are wonderfully ordinary: they love and argue and reconcile, share tea and rosemary bread, stick their noses into one another‘s business, gossip, and pull together when danger threatens them all. #fantasy #mystery #cozyfantasy #lgtbq

Augustus is a terrific character. He has the look of a harmless, middle-aged scholar. But he is ruthless. Digby might be big, but he isn‘t stupid. Lady Claudette may be a Duke‘s daughter, but she‘s a modern woman: highly educated, knowledgeable about the world, and determined to expose those terrors and crimes that should be held up to the light. Just plain **fun**. I can‘t wait to read the next book. #paranormal #occultdetective #magic #witch

I was very sad when I reached the end of Centaur and Sensibility. This is a sassy, sweet romance filled with smart dialogue. I would love to read more stories about Mary and Peregrine, even if no magic trees are around to hold them hostage.

#regency #fantasyromance #centaur #enchantedforest

Ness is a fun character: smart, spunky, and determined, but also deeply wounded by her mother‘s abandonment. She loves Auntie Ophelia, but feels like a perpetual outsider; close enough to touch and taste the magic, but not powerful enough to use it. Virtually everyone else in the supernatural community is bigger and badder than her, so she has a lot to prove — and a lot to lose. #urbanfantasy #paranormalromance #magic

I admit that I am not one to normally read coming of age teen books. But the cover was cute and the premise sounded interesting. So I decided to give Fat Witch Summer a shot. A great read, filled with adventure, magic, and self-discovery. Highly recommended to fans of The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow, A Rival Most Vial by RK Ashwick, Spell Bound by FT Lukens, and Cinder Ella by ST Lynn. #witch #comingofage #magic #bodypositive

Claws and Contrivances is a sweet, delicious romance filled with quirky, lovable characters, a truly vile villain, and brave and magical miniature dragons. Highly recommended to fans of Burgis‘ others books, as well as fans of Quenby Olson, EB Wheeler, A Rival Most Vial by RK Ashwick, the Teacup Magic series by Tansy Rayner Roberts, and The Lady Jewel Diviner series by Rosalie Oaks. #dragons #romance #fantasy #regency

My inner geek girl is happy. I found this at the local used bookstore. It was a heck of a lot of fun to see so many childhood favorites all together on one grand adventure. And --- surprise! -- Birdman is not hokey at all, but a serious superhero. #graphicnovels #childhoodfavorites #cartoon #superhero #johnnyquest #spaceghost #birdman

I'm not sure how I missed this book when it was first released, but I'm glad that I found it now. An engaging mystery, an appealing heroine, detailed world-building, and yummy food. Definitely recommended. #paranormalmystery #bravegirls #vampire #warlock #yummyfood

Adding to my Uncle Scrooge collection. I love these Don Rosa treasuries. 😊 #graphicnovels #unclescrooge #donrosa

New reference material! #referencebook #writersdelight

This has been on my To Read list for quite a while. A couple finally showed up at my local used bookstore. 😊 #usedbookstoresareawesome #classics

Current read, and I am very much enjoying it. Think of it as a cross between Supernatural and The Dresden Files. #urbanfantasy #magic #monsters

https://www.amazon.com/Spells-Salt-Steel-Season-One-ebook/dp/B07K7RRGCB

Pawsitively Poisonous isn't in the litsy database yet, so I can't tag it. But, I downloaded an advance copy from netgalley and I definitely recommend it. This is a fun cozy paranormal mystery with an appealing protagonist. And, of course, cats. 😊 #mystery #paranormalmystery #witch #cat

https://www.amazon.com/Pawsitively-Poisonous-Witch-Edgehill-Mystery-ebook/dp/B07...

So much fun! An intelligent heroine, a creepy villain, and fossilized treasure lost in the jungles of Borneo. Definitely recommended. Be aware, though, that titles under the Bombshell imprint are atypical romances: the focus is on the female character, and it often takes several novels and love interests before she gets her happily ever after. #actionadventure #romance

https://www.amazon.com/Angel-Stone-Bone-Hunters-Book-ebook/dp/B00366BVH6

Awesome romantic suspense. Strong-willed, intelligent, and compassionate heroine, and a mysterious love interest. Plus, buried history, ancient mysteries, and a secret Goddess cult. Highly recommended to anyone with an interest in #mythology or #goddessspirituality .

https://www.amazon.com/K-Goddess-Silhouette-Bombshell/dp/0373513216

Two more books from the local used bookstore: a gorgeous edition of Northern European fairy tales, with illustrations by Kay Nielsen; and an action-adventure romance from the long-discontinued Bombshell line from Silhouette. #fairytale #romance #actionadventure #bravegirls

Two of my latest used bookstore finds: a beautiful edition of Aesop, and a classic text on Goddess Spirituality. #usedbookstoresareawesome #aesop #mythology #goddessspirituality

My review of The Tea Dragon Society by Katie O'Neill: I absolutely loved it. Highly recommended to fans of #dragons, #tea, #childrensbooks, and #graphicnovels. 😊

https://witchesandpagans.com/pagan-culture-blogs/bookmusings/graphic-novel-revie...

I absolutely loved it. Beautiful artwork, great characters, and a gentle but compelling story about friendship, duty, and growing up. The next book is out in the Fall, and there is already a card game! #graphicnovels #childrensbooks #dragon #tea

https://www.amazon.com/Tea-Dragon-Society-Katie-ONeill-ebook/dp/B073XXXM23/ref=s...

I picked this up at the local used bookstore for a whole $8 -- an incredible deal. It's going on my research shelter. I have no idea when I will be able to read it, but I'm sure that it will come in handy someday. 😊 #feminism #philosophy #sciencefiction #usedbookstoresareawesome

The Best of Deep Magic: a recent acquisition. I love fantasy, and I am really looking forward to reading this collection in the noblebright subgenre. 😊 #fantasy #fairytale #anthology #noblebright

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K6YCCW6/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=...

I found these at the used bookstore. I've only read a few Holmes stories, but I look forward to reading all the notes and studying the maps in this edition. #sherlockholmes #usedbookstoresareawesome #annotatededitions