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Nov 12, 2021

Witches, Heretics & Warrior Women by Phoenix LeFae

Friday, November 12, 2021


Witches, Heretics & Warrior Women: Ignite Your Rebel Spirit Through Magick & Ritual by Phoenix LeFae

Llewellyn Publications, January 8 2022

eGalley provided in exchange for this review, thank you!

 
Filled with transformative stories of powerful women from legend and history--as well as rituals, spellcraft, and workings for you to try--this book explores themes that rebels, witches, warriors, and heretics confront as they make their way in a patriarchal world. Each chapter examines a topic like standing tall in your beliefs, finding your voice, embracing your sexuality, and loving your body, and shares hands-on practices designed to inspire and support you as you connect with your inner witch, heretic, and warrior. Within these pages, you will find stories and exercises based on Circe, Anne Boleyn, Marie Laveau, Mary Magdalene, Jeanne D'Arc, Salome, Boudicca, Moving Robe Woman, and Harriet Tubman.
 

 

 

I have been exploring mysticism, spiritualism, tarot and rituals for about a year now and when I found this book up for review I felt it was destiny. My earliest blog backgrounds will find mostly historical based reads both fiction and non-fiction but it all started with Anne Boleyn. We would now recognize that name due the success of the tv show The Tudors, but I was intrigued by Anne Boleyn’s witchy rumors. Years later I am still fascinated by Anne Boleyn and her ability to turn heads before she lost hers.

 

The author Phoenix LeFae chose Anne as just one of the many warrior-witch women to highlight in her new book to draw inspiration from. Ohers are a New Orleans legend Marie Laveau, Joan of Arc, Circe, and Harriet Tubman to name a few.

The premise of the book is not to be a biographical account of these women but to highlight how these women were revolutionaries for their time and in their own way.
Imagine if each shining being on earth polished their inner glow and let themselves be seen for the fabulous creature they truly are! The night sky would be lit up from the power of it all. You were not born to be small. You were born to be you, a radical shining star.
This work reads more like opinions and the author’s personal view on how to mold yourself into a rebel/witch/warrior using these women as examples. The author provides tools and helpful insight on how to be a proponent of positive change in the world around you while incorporating rituals, meditations and even charm bags. I do not feel like this is a reference book on witchcraft and magick but is instead geared towards inspirational self-care and how to shed the goal of fitting into the patriarchal society of the modern world. For that alone this book is worthwhile if that is the path you are embarking on. With the intriguing women she chose as a backdrop this is an “opportunity to learn more about each of their lives and connect with their power.” Very enjoyable read that is recommended for those interested in the feminist movement with a touch of magick and history sprinkled in.

 


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Oct 10, 2021

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff

Sunday, October 10, 2021

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff
Published by St. Martin's Press, September 14, 2021; 752 pp. 
Illustrations by Ben Orthwick
Personal eBook copy 
Synopsis:
From holy cup comes holy light;
The faithful hand sets world aright.
And in the Seven Martyrs’ sight,
Mere man shall end this endless night.

It has been twenty-seven long years since the last sunrise. For nearly three decades, vampires have waged war against humanity; building their eternal empire even as they tear down our own. Now, only a few tiny sparks of light endure in a sea of darkness.

Gabriel de León is a silversaint: a member of a holy brotherhood dedicated to defending realm and church from the creatures of the night. But even the Silver Order could not stem the tide once daylight failed us, and now, only Gabriel remains.

Imprisoned by the very monsters he vowed to destroy, the last silversaint is forced to tell his story. A story of legendary battles and forbidden love, of faith lost and friendships won, of the Wars of the Blood and the Forever King and the quest for humanity’s last remaining hope:

The Holy Grail.


-
Author Jay Kristoff is well known for his young adult fantasy series such as Aurora Cycle, Illuminae Files, but Empire of the Vampire is definitely not for the young reader. It is a twisty, dark, smutty fantasy tale with Game of Thrones vibes and has one of the most intriguing anti-heroes that I have ever come across in its MC Gabriel.

I am not one to say I like vampires, yet I also read A Southern Book Club's Guide to Slaying Vampires (for book club) and that one was a little more shocking on purpose for the thrill of it which was simply over the top. Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff does it right: An entire world of clans of witches and vampires, distinctions between highbloods and palebloods, and a church in the same world.

"That saints and sinners suffer one and the same. I know every time you give a piece of yourself to someone, you risk them breaking it. I know there are some wounds that never truly heal, and sometimes all that’s left of people are their scars. I know time eats us all alive.”
I love the religious aspect of the story: there's a lot of faith and loss of faith but strong redemption vibes, full of hope threads throughout. 

Readers compare this to Interview with a Vampire which I haven't read but I can say this is a similar narrative that upon capture Gabriel is telling his story to a historian, so there are a lot of punctuation quotes in this book. Otherwise this is an entirely new level of vampires. 

"I’ve seen armies of faithful men slaughtered like hogs while God stood by and did nothing. I’ve seen parents eat their children. And I can’t say it gets better. I can’t tell you I believe like Chloe did – that you’re going to be the one to fix all this. I won’t lie to you like that.” 

There is a bit of a slow build up as we are trying to see why Gabriel is imprisoned as the story begins. Gabriel proceeds to tell us his story of a unique day's death world that the author has created, complete with various creatures and swords that speak. We are jostled about from bloody event to bloody event in slightly different time frames, but it is such a good beautiful slow bloody torture.
 There are so many things going on there is no way that the author could edit this chunkster down from its 752 pages but also a special treat is the illustrations. And there is no way to easily express in my own words the perfection of reading bliss that Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff bestowed upon us. 

I bought the eBook as there was no way I could wait for a hard copy to arrive via the postal office and these are some of the screen grabs from the eBook:

The author has done a great job of pre - selling multiple special editions and I am still a little bit annoyed that I haven't scored one of those but I am trying to simplify my living space and continue buying ebooks plus there's that instant satisfaction for downloading immediately, but I am not going to say no right away for his next release of a special edition which I pray that he will release book two ASAP. While I tend to forget about characters and specifics between releases of books of a series I do not think I will ever forget this book it was that amazing of an experience for me. 

Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff:
Definitely a Five Star Favorite.

⚠ 
Not for the feeble stomach. 
Probably a zillion trigger warnings.

There is blood. Sex. Heresy? Lots of gore. Language. Everything else spicy is here. You are warned. 

Sep 15, 2021

The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley

Wednesday, September 15, 2021




The Vanished Days by Susanna Kearsley 
Sourcebooks Landmark, published October 5 2021
448 pages 
Egalley via netgalley 


A sweeping love story set against the Jacobite revolution from much-loved, million copy bestselling author Susanna Kearsley

There are many who believe they know what happened, but they do not know the whole of it. The rumours spread, and grow, and take their hold, and so to end them I have been persuaded now to take my pen in hand and tell the story as it should be told…
 
Autumn, 1707. Old enemies from the Highlands to the Borders are finding common ground as they join to protest the new Union with England, the French are preparing to launch an invasion to carry the young exiled Jacobite king back to Scotland to reclaim his throne, and in Edinburgh the streets are filled with discontent and danger.
 
Queen Anne’s commissioners, seeking to calm the situation, have begun settling the losses and wages owed to those Scots who took part in the disastrous Darien expedition eight years earlier.
 
When Lily, the young widow of a Darien sailor, comes forward to collect her husband’s wages, her claim is challenged, and one of the men who’s assigned to examine her has only days to decide if she’s honest, or if his own feelings are making him blind to the truth, and if he’s being used as a pawn in an even more treacherous game.
 
A story of intrigue, adventure, endurance, romance…and the courage to hope.



I decided to choose this book for review as I have read and enjoyed several of Kearsley's works. This one is a little different from those and I missed the gothic/majestic themes of those works. The Vanished Days is more of a historical detail dump with some shady characters. 

Lily is an easy character to empathize with but the main crux of this novel was to prove a marriage occurred. The story goes back and forth with a myriad of characters that we don't know who is important or not. 

The narrative of Adam the investigator is dry and plodding. I honestly did not care about the info dump on Scotland/Caledonia/Jacobites but if you are an avid lover of this Era 1699-1707 this would interest you with the history and a dash of hope for a romance. 

If you are interested in starting with Susanna Kearsley, I had rated Named of The Dragon five stars, The Shadowy Horses four stars. Start there! 

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Aug 5, 2021

Little Thieves by Margaret Owen

Thursday, August 05, 2021

Hodder & Stoughton, October 2021
egalley via Netgalley

Synopsis:
Once upon a time, there was a horrible girl...
A scrappy maid must outsmart both palace nobles and Low Gods in a new YA fantasy by Margaret Owen, author of the Merciful Crow series.

Vanja Schmidt knows that no gift is freely given, not even a mother's love, and she's on the hook for one hell of a debt. Vanja, the adopted goddaughter of Death and Fortune, was Princess Gisele's dutiful servant up until a year ago. That was when Vanja's otherworldly mothers demanded a terrible price for their care, and Vanja decided to steal her future back... by stealing Gisele's life for herself.

The real Gisele is left a penniless nobody while Vanja uses an enchanted string of pearls to take her place. Now, Vanja leads a lonely but lucrative double life as princess and jewel thief, charming nobility while emptying their coffers to fund her great escape. Then, one heist away from freedom, Vanja crosses the wrong god and is cursed to an untimely end: turning into jewels, stone by stone, for her greed.

Vanja has just two weeks to figure out how to break her curse and make her getaway. And with a feral guardian half-god, Gisele's sinister fiancé, and an overeager junior detective on Vanja's tail, she'll have to pull the biggest grift yet to save her own life.


Author Margaret Owen already has a following due to her successful Merciful Crow series and I was very intrigued by the synopsis of Little Thieves coming out this fall. I loved the energy of the characters and oh how flawed they are! The only thing that Vanja needs is survival.. but still that takes skill, money, time. She has skill at stealing money and a specific identity (Gisele's) but she is not in a fantastic situation even though she technically is to marry a prince.

There are so many fun elements in this story such as fairy tale (Grimm's!) vibes, godmothers, orphans, magic, palace guardian goblins, rags vs. riches, wicked rulers, nerdy love interests, I could go on..but I absolutely love the antihero plot. 

While the writing style was witty and flowed well with interesting storytelling chapter openings, there were hiccups for me with the Germanic words. They were heavily used and it was a bit maddening for me trying to work out the context of the foreign word. The other noticeable thing is that I felt like I was rushed to the ending and boom it's done. I wonder if I just wanted to live in the world of Vanja and Gisele for a while longer.

My favorite supporting character was Ragne (probably because she shape shifted into a cat) and I was rooting for her side story to work out. She was a sweet thing who could have been a pain in Vanja's life but instead she helped her out of many situations. 

Because there were so many different things going on that I may have missed, I am putting this book on a very high pedestal that has potential for a re-read. While this is a stand-alone I would like to read more about this set of diverse characters. Little Thieves is a thrilling adventure and now I am going to have to read some of the other books by Margaret Owen.  

Jul 11, 2021

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

Sunday, July 11, 2021


The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner
Park Row Books March 2, 2021 

Description:
A female apothecary secretly dispenses poisons to liberate women from the men who have wronged them—setting three lives across centuries on a dangerous collision course.Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman.
Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary’s register.

One cold February evening in 1791, at the back of a dark London alley in a hidden apothecary shop, Nella awaits her newest customer. Once a respected healer, Nella now uses her knowledge for a darker purpose—selling well-disguised poisons to desperate women who would kill to be free of the men in their lives. But when her new patron turns out to be a precocious twelve-year-old named Eliza Fanning, an unexpected friendship sets in motion a string of events that jeopardizes Nella’s world and threatens to expose the many women whose names are written in her register.

In present-day London, aspiring historian Caroline Parcewell spends her tenth wedding anniversary alone, reeling from the discovery of her husband’s infidelity. When she finds an old apothecary vial near the river Thames, she can’t resist investigating, only to realize she’s found a link to the unsolved “apothecary murders” that haunted London over two centuries ago. As she deepens her search, Caroline’s life collides with Nella’s and Eliza’s in a stunning twist of fate—and not everyone will survive.


This book caught my eye because of the cover, all of my favorite colors splendidly splashed together. The book is actually much more dark than the cover as it deals with murders by poison for the historical timeline and a crumbling marriage for the present day.

While this present day Caroline was obnoxiously irritating with how she was dealing with her husband James, I liked having someone who was unraveling the mystery of the lost apothecary from 200 years earlier at the same time as the reader.

The historical characters of Eliza and Nella the Apothecary with their new relationship was compelling and sweet even if they were keen on poisoning all men who were not faithful. The only thing where I felt where it missed the mark was at the promised magickal/mystical theme as that was just skimmed over and not very insightful. 

This was less A Discovery of Witches series and a lot more 18th century suspense and mystery, with an attempt at historical fiction, but it still pulls off the dual time line feature. It is a very short read, (perhaps a blessing..?) and I am very surprised that this is selected for a TV adaptation by Fox which definitely has potential.

Even though the present timeline's characters are adults I really feel like this should be be marketed for YA as it is not as fleshed out as expected for what it should be for historical fiction time slips. I read this over a two day span, I would still recommend it for an intriguing weekend read.

*Also want to mention that the eBook was better than the Audio, I tried to start it on audio but the narrator for Caroline made me hate her to start with. 

May 18, 2021

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin

Tuesday, May 18, 2021


The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin 
Published by Sourcebooks, June 2021
eGalley provided via Netgalley in exchange for this review, thank you! 


The Summary:
"One of the Most Anticipated Young Adult Debuts of 2021!

From a stunning new voice in YA comes the fierce, romantic story about a world on the brink of destruction, the one witch who holds the power to save it, and the choice that could cost her everything she loves.

For centuries, witches have maintained the climate, their power from the sun peaking in the season of their birth. But now their control is faltering as the atmosphere becomes more erratic. All hope lies with Clara, an Everwitch whose rare magic is tied to every season.

In Autumn, Clara wants nothing to do with her power. It's wild and volatile, and the price of her magic—losing the ones she loves—is too high, despite the need to control the increasingly dangerous weather.

In Winter, the world is on the precipice of disaster. Fires burn, storms rage, and Clara accepts that she's the only one who can make a difference.

In Spring, she falls for Sang, the witch training her. As her magic grows, so do her feelings, until she's terrified Sang will be the next one she loses.

In Summer, Clara must choose between her power and her happiness, her duty and the people she loves...before she loses Sang, her magic, and thrusts the world into chaos."


This was such an intriguing concept of Witches versus Shapers but I will say that it is definitely not geared towards the perception of witches that most people think of.  It's really more of a science/nature/climate control novel where teenagers are trying to hold off impending doom by controlling weather patterns.

The main character is especially gifted and called an 'Ever' who is able to create her magic during all seasons. She has issues with her powers and decides that she is tired of being used and tired of hurting those she loves. The novel centers on how Clara deals with her powers and how it affects her relationships. She herself was an easy character to root for, but some of the things she worried about were repetitive and sometimes she went through the same thing twice.

"We aren’t in this alone and shouldn’t act like we are; the atmosphere is hurting, and that’s a problem for all of us, witches and shaders alike. The challenge is great, and we have a lot of work ahead of us. But we’re in this together, and if there’s anything I’ve learned this past year, it’s that together is where the magic lies."

I loved the relationship Clara has with Paige and Sang as they added depth to both the story and the character development. There were a few spots of ingenious scenes that I don't want to give away that have to deal with flowers or creations which were spectacular. The teacher Mr. Burrows was quite easy to dislike, and it gave off the villainy Hogwart's vibes. A very enjoyable and entertaining experience with a worthwhile ending to savor. 



Mar 17, 2021

Chain of Iron by Cassandra Clare

Wednesday, March 17, 2021
Chain of Iron, book 2 of The Last Hours 
Available March 2021


(The silhouettes will appear randomly in the Kindle version) 
LitJoy Crate did a special edition with an added bonus of this Cordelia Carstairs print.
The LitJoy edition comes with a gorgeous slipcase and this quote is on one side. 

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Synopsis:

The Shadowhunters must catch a killer in Edwardian London in this dangerous and romantic sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Chain of Gold, from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. Chain of Iron is a Shadowhunters novel.

Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She’s engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has loved since childhood. She has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie Herondale and James’s charming companions, the Merry Thieves. She is about to be reunited with her beloved father. And she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero’s blade.

But the truth is far grimmer. James and Cordelia’s marriage is a lie, arranged to save Cordelia’s reputation. James is in love with the mysterious Grace Blackthorn whose brother, Jesse, died years ago in a terrible accident. Cortana burns Cordelia’s hand when she touches it, while her father has grown bitter and angry. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace.

Together with the Merry Thieves, Cordelia, James, and Lucie must follow the trail of the knife-wielding killer through the city’s most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she plans to raise Jesse from the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he is being drawn further each night into the dark web of his grandfather, the arch-demon Belial. And that he himself may be the killer they seek.

------


OK so last year I fell in love with Cassandra Clare's Shadowhunters.
I have read everything on this list except for the last two in red & Ghosts of the Shadowmarket which is a short story collection. Those last two in red were co-written so I am not in a rush for those.

Chain of Gold is the last one on this list, and not yet shown on the list is Chain of Iron which is book two in The Last Hours series. Technically you can read The Last Hours series after you have read The Infernal Devices series (shown in green) but I recommend that you read her books in the same way shown in the graphic.

It is hard to review a book that is like #19 that I have read from this Shadowhunter world but I felt like I needed to write about it just because I have enjoyed being devoted to this unique world. 

It's Young Adult, fantasy, angels, demons, all-inclusive and delightful fun. Werewolves and vampires. 

The love interests are verrry slow burn but mostly worth it.. HOWEVER in Chain of Iron I felt ready to throw the book. It was slightly predictable with the build up of tension and SO MUCH MISCOMMUNICATION that it was stressing me out. 

But of course I will have to pray it resolves itself in the next book but I will have to wait a year. 

My all time favorite character is still Tessa from The Infernal Devices. I love that this universe is modern times and also Victorian England depending on the series, but I love most of all the saga of all the intertwining families. 

Find me on Facebook or Instagram for any questions about these books! 

Mar 9, 2021

When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin

Tuesday, March 09, 2021
When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin 
Revell Baker Publishing February 2021

Synopsis:
Munich, 1938. Evelyn Brand is an American foreign correspondent as determined to prove her worth in a male-dominated profession as she is to expose the growing tyranny in Nazi Germany. To do so, she must walk a thin line. If she offends the government, she could be expelled from the country--or worse. If she fails to truthfully report on major stories, she'll never be able to give a voice to the oppressed--and wake up the folks back home.

In another part of the city, American graduate student Peter Lang is working on his PhD in German. Disillusioned with the chaos in the world due to the Great Depression, he is impressed with the prosperity and order of German society. But when the brutality of the regime hits close, he discovers a far better way to use his contacts within the Nazi party--to feed information to the shrewd reporter he can't get off his mind.

This electric standalone novel from fan-favorite Sarah Sundin puts you right at the intersection of pulse-pounding suspense and heart-stopping romance.

Review:
I have read a few of Sarah Sundin's novels and she is an expert at World War II historical romance. Her passion for accurate detail and for telling a compelling story shines through in her newest novel When Twilight Breaks.

Firebrand Evelyn is a wonderful character to root for, eager to break glass cielings, while Professor Peter is a kind man focused on law and order in Germany.

Unfortunately it is 1938 and tensions are running high with Hitler's regime which both Evelyn and Peter realize that they are not safe among the fascists. They try to gather information about their anti-semetic friends but time is not on their side.

I enjoyed the story inasmuch the setting is harrowing and the love angle that was a little tedious but a thrilling end made it worthwhile. The small reminders of trusting in the Lord were also well placed. 

Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy of the novel in exchange for this review. 

Feb 20, 2021

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Saturday, February 20, 2021




Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Random House Ballantine, June 2021
Women's Fiction/Saga, 384 pages
eGalley via publisher, thank you




From the New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six . . . Four famous siblings throw an epic party to celebrate the end of the summer. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever. 
Malibu: August 1983. It’s the day of Nina Riva’s annual end-of-summer party, and anticipation is at a fever pitch. Everyone wants to be around the famous Rivas: Nina, the talented surfer and supermodel; brothers Jay and Hud, one a championship surfer, the other a renowned photographer; and their adored baby sister, Kit. Together the siblings are a source of fascination in Malibu and the world over—especially as the offspring of the legendary singer Mick Riva.
The only person not looking forward to the party of the year is Nina herself, who never wanted to be the center of attention, and who has also just been very publicly abandoned by her pro tennis player husband. Oh, and maybe Hud—because it is long past time for him to confess something to the brother from whom he’s been inseparable since birth.
Jay, on the other hand, is counting the minutes until nightfall, when the girl he can’t stop thinking about promised she’ll be there.
And Kit has a couple secrets of her own—including a guest she invited without consulting anyone.
By midnight the party will be completely out of control. By morning, the Riva mansion will have gone up in flames. But before that first spark in the early hours before dawn, the alcohol will flow, the music will play, and the loves and secrets that shaped this family’s generations will all come rising to the surface.
Malibu Rising is a story about one unforgettable night in the life of a family: the night they each have to choose what they will keep from the people who made them . . . and what they will leave behind.



I have read a few titles by Taylor Jenkins Reid previously so I knew I would enjoy Malibu Rising where us normal people get a salacious look inside the overly rich and famous/other people in this universe/ and I was not disappointed. Reid's newest book reminded me a bit of her Daisy Jones and The Six due to the number of characters and the going back and forth between their characters, but this time Malibu Rising focuses not only on the siblings but also dips into their parents' pasts so we can get a bigger picture of the proverbial Ferris Wheel of family matters that will either make or break you.

Her mother had screwed up almost as much as she'd succeeded.

Malibu Rising definitely has a message even from the title, and the first pages of the book eludes to Malibu burning and you can't help but think of the phoenix rising from the ashes. When we think of people living in their multi-million dollar mansions we automatically assume that life must be so easy for them yet this book quickly takes that impression away. The family of siblings Nina, Jay, Hud and Kit have definitely not had a spectacular life even though their dad was a rock star but yet the family knew how to stick together and truly look out for each other, with most of the work being done by Nina. The plot's current timeline is focused on the famous Nina Riva Party but we keep getting pulled back in time to learn how these characters actually made it this far. 
 June was gone. Yet here she was living on through her children.
It was a very intriguing story, although very depressing when you look at how parenting is portrayed here. Lots of sex, scandal, drugs and crazy things going on all culminating in a tearful ending that still leaves you wanting to see what happens after.  Taylor Jenkins Reid succeeded once again in providing an addictingly fabulous story with bonus eccentric characters that really fleshed out the entire saga. You will definitely want to add this to your summer reading list for 2021.




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Feb 13, 2021

Cosmic Health by Jennifer Racioppi

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Cosmic Health: Unlock Your Healing Magic with Astrology, Positive Psychology, and Integrative Wellness by Jennifer Racioppi
Little, Brown and Company
Religion & Spirituality
Pub Date 12 Jan 2021
(Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy of the eGalley in exchange for this review)

“A life-changing way to apply astrology to your health and well-being.”—Colette Baron-Reid, author of The Map: Finding the Magic and Meaning in the Story of Your Life



2020 was not a great year in so many ways for us here in the United States. As 2021 began I realized all my hope for change/renewal was not going to happen automatically and would require a bit of soul searching for me to get started on this journey of self-care and well-being. No one is going to be able to take better care of myself than myself, but I lack the necessary tools to do so. Combined with my interests in the more esoteric fields of everything from astrology to tarot to crystal healing, this new Cosmic Health book was the perfect book to get me started on my quest.
 
Examples of titles of sub-chapters: Healing Through Self-Compassion, Can You Really Have What You Want?, Jupiter: Harbinger of Joy and Abundance, Cultivating Your Awesome

This book took me two weeks to read because it is jam packed with facts and tools/exercises for you to follow along with. You need to go into this book knowing how to find out your natal chart, and have an intention. Do you require healing from trauma? Do you need to find the willpower to change a habit? Start a new one? Follow along with Jennifer's thinking and look to the stars. You need to find a balance in your life? The planets will help you, or thwart you depending on your natal chart. In easy to understand text the author will bring you through topics from mythology to moon rituals and Mercury retrograde to help you learn how to apply a form of medical astrology. 

Astrology is a very vast field and as I said, two weeks for 416 pages is quite a long time for me to get through a book. While there are many more books out there to dive deep into any special niche, Cosmic Health by Jennifer Racioppi is an absolute gem to women who need a little direction in understanding how many elements of our solar system pull on your psyche.

Some favorite takeaways from Cosmic Health: Relentlessly commit to your future self. You are here to learn sovereignty and how to self-authorize without needing approval from others. Using the natal chart and your astro-individuality you can find insight into what you're innately excellent at as well as what drives you and why.

While I was able to enjoy this book via the eGalley, due to the images and format within the text I would recommend purchasing a hard copy for the illustrations alone. This is definitely a book that would be a useful tool to look back through as your personal situations arise. Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with the eGalley for this review and getting me on my way to a higher state of well-being.



Just for fun, here's my natal chart, courtesy of Cafe Astrology!! I am a Cancer Sun, Virgo Moon and Virgo Rising. My true north is in Capricorn. 

As a Cancer, I can be touchy and indirect, and my Virgo Ascendant makes me come across as shy and aloof. This Virgo ascendant also makes me super sensitive to the pain I feel from my endometriosis and since Cancer is ruled by the moon I need to channel my moon energy to work for me as opposed to against me. Jennifer's Cosmic Health has specifics on each of my planet's placements and ideas on how to harness this energy to propel me towards a better understanding of my place in this amazing solar system. We are star dust and it is time to honor that!