All of the books that you'll find on here are ones that I have read and thoroughly enjoyed. If you think you might like them, you can click on the image of the book to be taken to Amazon.com. Thank you!

Good Witchy Books

Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner by Scott Cunningham
If you're looking for a good basic introduction to Wicca, I really like this one. It is written for the solitary practitioner in mind, but it covers everything that you really need to know and is nicely eclectic. I think some of the invocations are a bit silly, but everything needs some tweaking somewhere to make it personal. So, that isn't such a big deal.

Book Description: Cunningham's classic introduction to Wicca is about how to live life magically, spiritually, and wholly attuned with nature. It is a book of sense and common sense, not only about magick, but about religion and one of the most critical issues of today: how to achieve the much needed and wholesome relationship with our Earth. Cunningham presents Wicca as it is today: a gentle, Earth-oriented religion dedicated to the Goddess and God. Wicca also includes Scott Cunningham's own Book of Shadows and updated appendices of periodicals and occult suppliers.

Drawing Down the Moon by Margot Adler
Even though this was written in 1979, it is still a wonderful read. There is tons of good information to be gleaned from these pages and it gives a thorough overview of different pagan traditions. It was revised and expanded in 1997, so it should be pretty updated.

Book Description: Now fully revised—the classic study of Neo-Paganism. Almost thirty years since its original publication, Drawing Down the Moon continues to be the only detailed history of the burgeoning but still widely misunderstood Neo-Pagan subculture. Margot Adler attended ritual gatherings and interviewed a diverse, colorful gallery of people across the United States, people who find inspiration in ancient deities, nature, myth, even science fiction. In this new edition featuring an updated resource guide of newsletters, journals, books, groups, and festivals, Margot Adler takes a fascinating and honest look at the religious experiences, beliefs, and lifestyles of modern America’s Pagan groups.

A History of Pagan Europe by Prudence Jones & Nigel Pennick
I'm not sure if this would be a good book for beginners, but as someone who has walked the path for a while I found it very enlightening. This is one I bought because of ADF and haven't regretted it at all! It is a little pricey (its considered a 'text book') but it covers many different European pagan practices. If you are good at connecting the dots, you'll be able to understand where ideas and practices for Wicca started and how they were used originally.

Book Description: A History of Pagan Europe is the definitive study of the indigenous religions of Europe and their practices, beliefs and customs. Establishing Paganism as a persistent force in European history with a profound influence on modern thinking, Prudence Jones and Nigel Pennick divide Europe into five broad cultural areas and traces the expression and development of Pagan religion in each of them from earliest times to present day. From the serpent goddesses of ancient Crete to modern nature worship and the restoration of the indigenous religions of Eastern Europe, this wide-ranging book offers an often provocative new perspective of European history.

Daughters of Eve by Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki
Apparently, this book is out of print. You can get it used from Amazon though. I found this book in a small used book store, hidden in a pile of cookbooks. I bought it for the title, because I always loved the phrase ('daughter of eve', 'son of adam') from the Narnia books. It even has a quote from the The Last Battle on the back. So, I bought it and it was a wonderful book on Women's Mysteries; carrying a woman from birth to death. It is concise and the author doesn't shy away from what hurts us as well as what will heal us. There is also a section for women who don't want to be Mothers, those who would rather be warriors and eternal maidens.

Back cover: As the seasons change and the year runs through its eternal cycle from spring to winter, birth to death, so too do we follow the cycle of life. As we pass through each transitional stage - our own changing seasons - Dolores Ashcroft-Nowicki eases our passage from Childhood to Cronehood with her own versions of ancient rites of womanhood, adapted specifically for our modern age. With the compassion and understanding of a true Wise Woman, the author guides us through the maze of life: from the mysteries of first menstruation and menopause, to the trauma of rape and severing painful emotional ties.

These rituals, pathworkings and meditations are for every Daughter of Eve, whatever her age, so that she may have the chance to rediscover her true self and be reunited with Great Mother in the womb of the Goddess.

Witches by Erica Jong
Don't look at me like that. Yes, while this book is a distortion of truth and lies, the historical and the fantastical, it is also the book that my mother bought me that started me down this path. The art work is stunning and to a thirteen year old girl the ideas inside were breath taking. There is just enough truth mixed in with the erotic sensationalism that I was able to start from there. Of course, I also thought love spells were ok because of this book... I wouldn't recommend it as a serious Craft book, but there is a decent bibliography in it with some good books on Wicca and witchcraft.

Book Description: This witch's brew of a book is back in all its tantalizing glory to enchant a new generation of readers. Best-selling author Erica Jong here turns her attention to the fantastical and factual world of witchcraft. In beguiling poetry and prose, she looks at the figure of the witch both as historical reality and as archetype-as evil crone and full-breasted seductress, as a lingering vestige of a primeval religion and a projection of fear of the unknown.

Joseph A. Smith's powerful, haunting illustrations enliven each page, as Jong investigates the witch as a survivor of the age of sorcery, as a scapegoat for male-dominated church-state politics, as a remarkable natural healer, and as a hexer without peer. Real recipes for love potions and flying lotions, along with formulas for spells and incantations, make this book a rich journey of mystery and delight. Available in paperback for the first time, Witches has been a favorite since it was published more than 20 years ago-a testament to the enduring fascination with the myths and truths about these intriguing figures.

The Fox and the Jewel by Karen Smyers
Shameless pimping of my very favoritest fox goddess. This book is also helps to clearly illustrate some of Shinto and gives an invaluable look at Inari worship. It helped me to better understand my Patroness better as well as explaining some of her quirks.

Back Cover: The deity Inari has been worshiped in Japan since at least the early eight century and today is a revered presence in such varied venus as Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, factories, theaters, private households, resaurants, beauty shops, and rice fields. Although at first glance and to its many devotees Inari worship may seem to be a unified phenomenon, it is in fact exceedingly multiple, noncodified, and noncentralized. No single regulating institution, dogma, scripture, or myth centers the practice. In this exceptionally insightful study, the author explores the worship of Inari in the context of homogeneity and diversity in Japan. The shape-shifting fox and the wish-fulfilling jewel, the main symbols of Inari, serve as interpretive metaphors to describe the simultaneously shared yet infinitely diverse meanings that cluster around the deity. The such diversity exists without the apparent knowledge of Inari worshipers is explained by the use of several communicative strategies that minimize the exchange of substantive information. Shared generalized meanings (tatemae) are articulated while priving meanings and complexities (honne) are left unspoken. The appearance of unity is reinforced by a set of symbols representing fertility, change, and growth in wasy that can be interpreted and understood by many individuals of various ages and occupations.

The Fox and the Jewel describes the rich complexity of Inari worship in contemporary Japan. It explores questions of institutional and popular power in religion, demonstrates the ways people make religious figures personally meaningful, and documents the kinds of communicative styles that preserve the appearance of homogeneity in the face of astonishing factionalism.

Out Of The Shadows: Myths and Truths of Modern Wicca by Lilith McLelland
I highly recommend this book for both beginners and experienced witches. The author covers a lot of ground but very little of it is on how you should practice, rather it gives a concise history and Wicca and the many fallacies that are out there. She not only talks about what areas of the truth Gardner stretched, but also common pitfalls that witches and Wiccans tend to fall into. Her writing style has a bit of a bite, there is some witty sarcasm in there, but she never makes fun of the reader but tries to steer them away from a lot of the crap that has been publicized about Wicca.

Back Cover: An Inside Tour of Modern Wicca.

Being a witch is trendy these days - but Wicca is no fad. It's a legitimate religion with devoted practitioners the world over. This informative, down-to-earth book will help you separate the truth from the myth and media hype. Whether you're new to Wicca and in search of reliable information, or have been practicing a while and wish to deepen your spiritual understanding, you'll find the advice and answers you've been looking for. You'll learn:

Fifteen things that dedicated Wiccan's definitely need to know
The practical differences among witches, Wiccans, and pagans
Why stereotypes about witches are so persistant
The signifigance of Deities, and the major pantheons
Important things to keep in mind while choosing a Trad or coven

Out of the Shadows delivers the inside scoop from a longtime practicing Wiccan priestess. Written in a friendly, no-nonsense style, this book tells you what to expect - and what to avoid - as you follow this spiritiual path. You'll discover that Wicca is much more than mere magic - it's a Mystery religion that will inspire you to live a richer, more creative, and more meaningful life.

Good Fiction Books

The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay
This is the first in a trilogy called the Fionavar Tapestry. I love these books to pieces. I read the third one first, but that didn't in any way diminish the joy and pleasure I had in reading the first two. Kay is one of my very favoritest authors, these books make me weep each and every time I read them. That means they're good. ;)

Back Cover: It all began with a lecture that introduced five university students to a man who would change their lives, a wizard who could take them from Earth to the heart of the first of all worlds--Fionavar. And take them Loren Silvercloak did, for his need--the need of Fionavar and all the worlds--was great indeed.

And in a marvelous land of men and dwarves, of wizards and gods--and of the Unraveller and his minions of Darkness--Kimberly, Dave, Jennifer, Kevin, and Paul discovered who they were truly meant to be. For the five were a long-awaited part of the pattern known as the Fionavar Tapestry, and only if they accepted their destiny would the armies of the Light stand any chance of surviving when the Unraveller unleashed his wrath upon the world.

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
Who knew that Armageddon would be this funny? I bought this because of Neil Gaiman when it was first printed and promply laughed myself silly. At the time, I had no idea about Terry Pratchett and while I now own at least two of his books, I have yet to read them. Bad me.

Book Description: According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner.

So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except a somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon—both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle—are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.

And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist . . .

American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The unrepentant pagan in me loved this book. It has old gods, new gods, live gods, dead gods. What isn't there to love? I think this is a great look at the idea of Deity and how so many differnt Gods would have survived and mingled in America, the melting pot. Plus, I love how clever Mr. Gaiman is with the names of the gods and how he works them in. I even got my baby brother to read it (which is a feat!).

Book Description: The storm was coming....

Shadow spent three years in prison, keeping his head down, doing his time. All he wanted was to get back to the loving arms of his wife and to stay out of trouble for the rest of his life. But days before his scheduled release, he learns that his wife has been killed in an accident, and his world becomes a colder place.

On the plane ride home to the funeral, Shadow meets a grizzled man who calls himself Mr. Wednesday. A self-styled grifter and rogue, Wednesday offers Shadow a job. And Shadow, a man with nothing to lose, accepts.

But working for the enigmatic Wednesday is not without its price, and Shadow soon learns that his role in Wednesday's schemes will be far more dangerous than he ever could have imagined. Entangled in a world of secrets, he embarks on a wild road trip and encounters, among others, the murderous Czernobog, the impish Mr. Nancy, and the beautiful Easter -- all of whom seem to know more about Shadow than he himself does.

Shadow will learn that the past does not die, that everyone, including his late wife, had secrets, and that the stakes are higher than anyone could have imagined.

All around them a storm of epic proportions threatens to break. Soon Shadow and Wednesday will be swept up into a conflict as old as humanity itself. For beneath the placid surface of everyday life a war is being fought -- and the prize is the very soul of America.

As unsettling as it is exhilarating, American Gods is a dark and kaleidoscopic journey deep into myth and across an America at once eerily familiar and utterly alien. Magnificently told, this work of literary magic will haunt the reader far beyond the final page.

Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn
This is the first book in a duo of trilogies. While you can read this one on it's own, the entire series is very satisfying. Ms. Rawn doesn't pull her punches with these characters and out of six long books there was only one scene that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. The world is realistic and lush and while there are dragons involved they aren't your normal fantasy dragons.

Book Description: Melanie Rawn's best-selling debut is a novel of love and war, magic and madness, and deadly dangerous dragons that hold the secret to unimaginable wealth that could prove key to mutual peace-or a bloody tyrant's reign. And among it all, an idealistic young ruler struggles to civilize a culture that understands the strength of the sword-but has yet to discover the true power of knowledge.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
This is (kind of) my baby brother Ryan's favorite book. He says he doesn't really have a favorite, but when pressed he gave this one, Good Omens, and American Gods. As the other two are already on the list...

I read it on his recommendation and really enjoyed it. For the beginning of the book I had to keep reminding myself that it was written in the 1970's, which is why it seems like it was written in the 1970's. Heh. But the plot was engaging and even though I had worked out certain important plot points on my own I thoroughly enjoyed the ending. Good pick, Ryan!

Book Description: Winner of the Hugo and Nebula Awards. In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut- young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training. Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister. Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives.