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Very Practical Magic: Modern Magic for Everyday Use
Very Practical Magic: Modern Magic for Everyday Use
Nicola Kelleher | 2019 | Mind, Body & Spiritual, Natural World, Religion
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
What I liked best is that the spells are simple and could easily be adapted for a specific use. I also really liked the list of crystals, herbs, oils, and candles at the back of the book. (0 more)
There was just one thing that I did not like at all, a spell I did not agree with. The spell titled Nail Yourself a Lover (0 more)
Honest Review for Free Copy of Book
Very Practical Magic: Modern Magic for Everyday Use by Nicola Kelleher is an interesting spellbook, to say the least. People interested in all different kinds of magic will be able to find something useful in this book. I just urge people to be sure of their intent before attempting any of these. Also, some of the spells suggest or even require the use of feathers and it may be important to note that the possession of specific feather in the US is not legal (something that I just learned recently) so users might just want to be aware of it.

 This short book of practical spells starts out with a small preface about the author and some basic information about when it is best to perform magic. The book explains what powers are strongest on each day of the week and by each phase of the moon. It then moves on to love spells but explains that even with these spells the caster can not force anyone to love them and should not attempt to do so. The spells for the home go over every subject from protection and cleaning to even selling and finding your dream home.

  No starter spellbook (and that is exactly what this is) would be complete without a section on bringing more wealth toward the user so long as it is not for greed. It contains spells to help bring new friends to you and cultivate current friendships. There is even a version of the Witch’s Ladder toward the back of the book as well. For all the pet lovers there are spells to protect or heal a pet who is sick, yet it encourages readers not to forgo proper medical care. No matter what the reader classifies themselves as or who their patron god/goddess (if applicable) is this book contains a spell for everyone.

 What I liked best is that the spells are simple and could easily be adapted for a specific use. I also really liked the list of crystals, herbs, oils, and candles at the back of the book. These lists are a great reference for anyone who wants to create their own spells or needs substitutions for an unavailable item. There was just one thing that I did not like at all, a spell I did not agree with. The spell titled Nail Yourself a Lover encourages filing your nails into a tea that you will serve someone else. This just feels completely wrong to me and gross, not to mention I am not even sure if it is legal.

 While I can not suggest an age range for this but there is a clear group of people this book is meant for. The main requirement is that the reader must believe in Magic (not the slight-of-hand type) but real magic. I give this book a rating of 3 out of 4. The title is correct in saying that this is a book of very practical magic. Most of the spells have very few ingredients or requirements and do not take long to perform. I would have liked to see pictures of the crystals along with their descriptions in the back of the book to make it better and less likely for errors to occur.

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Shannan (0 KP) rated Throne of Glass in Books

Dec 18, 2017  
Throne of Glass
Throne of Glass
Sarah J. Maas | 2012 | Children, Fiction & Poetry
9
8.7 (91 Ratings)
Book Rating
The characters! (2 more)
Hot guys!
Strong female character
Slow start to the series (0 more)
My favorite Assassin
I love the world Sarah creates! Fae, witches, demons, a prince, assassins, and magic! Throne of Glass is the start to this amazing series and it takes a little to get into it because there is so much you need to know about her past and all the characters and the world. The series gets better with each book you read.
  
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Dean (6925 KP) rated Dumbo (2019) in Movies

Apr 7, 2019  
Dumbo (2019)
Dumbo (2019)
2019 | Animation, Family, Fantasy
Good Sfx (1 more)
Good cast
Run of the mill plot (0 more)
Another Disney classic gets the live action treatment. The story is fairly different to the original as it would not work as a live action film on the whole. There are a few homages to some of the classic scenes of the animated version. The SFX are good but everything else is just your standard family film. Lost a bit of the Disney magic in the update.
  
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
Mary Poppins Returns (2018)
2018 | Family
Emily Blunt as Mary (0 more)
Excellent Disney family fun
For anyone expecting a reason for this film, there isn't one other than the essence of cinema itself. Entertainment.

Went with my 2 boys 9,11 and came out with happy faces. Having watched the original I can understand the negativity this movie may receive but for kids watching this the first time it's pure Disney magic.

Ticked all the right boxes and frankly couldn't ask for more from a movie.
  
Ooo.. I loved this one more then the first. I loved everything. The magic was cooler.. the characters amazing and I loved that the ones from the first were in the 2nd also. This was amazing and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book and I'm hoping we see more of the first two sisters with their triplet. I am really enjoying this series. So grateful the author allowed me to review for her :)
  
Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Dragons of Autumn Twilight
Tracy Hickman, Margaret Weis | 1984 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
8.0 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Raistlin (1 more)
Tasslehoff
Kitiara (0 more)
My first Dragon love
These are as traditional as epic fantasy gets. If you want to see every trope fantasy has to offer, this is the series for you. This is the very beginning of a world that includes generations of characters, side books to explore the origins of favorite characters and races, role playing games, podcasts, a rich history of world building, gods and magic, dragons and orcs, Dwarfs and elves and other things.
  
The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia, #6)
The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia, #6)
C.S. Lewis | 1955 | Children, Science Fiction/Fantasy
8
7.5 (24 Ratings)
Book Rating
Two children from our world get tricked into traveling to magical worlds. But one stop is a world that is just forming and appears to be run by a lion.... A bit slow, and honestly I think it's best read in the order written (sixth), but still a fun tale filled with magic and adventure.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/03/book-review-magicians-nephew-by-c-s.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
PA
Poster Art of the Disney Parks
10
10.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
As you'd expect, this is a collection of the poster art from the Magic Kingdom parks over the world and over the decade from the founding of Disneyland up to some of the recent posters in California Adventure. As a fan of the posters, I loved looking at them and am thrilled to have this book.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-poster-art-of-disney-parks.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
Magic and Other Misdemeanors
Magic and Other Misdemeanors
Michael Buckley, Peter Ferguson | 2017 | Children
10
8.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Grimm family is trying to pay the high taxes to save their house and track down several stolen magical items. I was drawn into this book very quickly and loved how the characters are developing. Unfortunately, the climax was once again a little weak and the coda was nothing more than a set up for the next book

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-magic-and-other.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
  
The Thinking Woman&#039;s Guide to Real Magic
The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic
Emily Croy Barker | 2014 | Fiction & Poetry
6
7.7 (3 Ratings)
Book Rating
Interesting concept and brilliantly reimagined worlds (0 more)
Characters are stiff and the plot is a long winded variation of Pride and Prejudice. (0 more)
Don't get me wrong, I love magic and Pride and Prejudice and the ability to commiserate with a fictional English grad student on the development of a thesis, but I was mostly underwhelmed by this novel. I wanted it to be so much better than it was. Still decent, but it had the ability to be amazing.