Welcome to 2024, everyone!
If there’s one thing I’m consistent about, it’s that I’ll include some witchy recommendations all year round. This time, there are two of them! There’s also a queer, Robin Hood inspired YA novel and some nonfiction about medieval sex. Yep, that’s right!
Is your new year starting with any great reading recs? Let us know in the comments!
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The Garden Witch
This picture book gives me Edward Gorey-lite vibes. A lot peculiar but a little less creepy. There doesn’t appear to be a digital version of this picture book, as an FYI.
The Garden Witch is lonely, no one shops at her stall, no one visits her magical garden, and there is no one to talk to―except for the three evil rats she lives with. The rats will eat her if she upsets them, so she lives day in and day out the same until one evening she cries in her garden. In the morning she finds that the garden has grown her a little turnip boy, Mickey. The turnip boy with his charm and bum wiggling helps the witch refresh her stall and make friends in the community. The witch discovers her own power and with the help of Mickey, she turns the table on the rats.
Kyle Beaudette (Illustrator, Writer, Teacher) Kyle lives in Cornwall, Ontario where he teaches elementary school during the day and works obsessively on art projects at night. He loves creating dark and humourous art. His watercolour and ink illustrations have been compared to the work of Tim Burton, Ronald Searle, and Quentin Blake. He also makes fantasy sculptures, and they’re…weird. Kyle has two cats and one wife. The Garden Witch will be his inaugural publication and it is a delightful one that he hopes you enjoy.
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Robin and Her Misfits
This is a Robin Hood inspired YA novel with a gang of queer, young women. Definitely for readers who prefer their queer characters in a more contemporary setting. (Also when I last checked, this was on sale at Amazon.)
A roving female gang of fun-loving rebel bikers, street racers, and bandits led by Robin agree to give back to queer girls in need of help in this stunning modern reimagining of the Robin Hood legend.
Robin and her four Misfits—Little John, White Rabbit, Daisy Chain, and Skillet—have run away from their families in order to live off the grid on their own terms. For a while, they’re hidden, safe, and happy as they commit petty crimes that provide enough to get by. All that matters is keeping their small clan alive. Then, one mission proposed by an unfriendly associate from their past reminds them of their former lives and motivates the group to a new purpose. The five Misfits develop into a league of strong individuals united by a fresh goal: do whatever it takes to help queer girls rise above oppressive laws and attitudes.
Kelly Ann Jacobson, the author of the award-winning LGBTQ+ young adult novel Tink and Wendy, is back with another diverse twist on a popular legend.
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The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women
For my history nerds, especially ones who dabble in medieval romance. Not necessarily me, but I am curious about the “sexy foods.” (Appears to be on sale at Amazon!)
A “wickedly entertaining, informative and thought-provoking” look at romance, courtship, and other intimacies behind closed Medieval doors (Dr. Markus Kerr, PhD, MDR).
Were medieval women slaves to their husband’s desires, jealously secured in a chastity belt in his absence? Was sex a duty or could it be a pleasure? Did a woman have a say about her own female sexuality, body, and who did or didn’t get up close and personal with it? No. And yes. It’s complicated.
The intimate lives of medieval women were as complex as for modern women. They loved and lost, hoped and schemed, were lifted up and cast down. They were hopeful and lovelorn. Some had it forced upon them, others made aphrodisiacs and dressed for success. Some were chaste and some were lusty. Having sex was complicated. Not having sex, was even more so.
Inside The Very Secret Sex Lives of Medieval Women, a fascinating book about life during medieval times, you will discover tantalizing true stories about medieval women and a myriad of historical facts. Learn about:
- The true experiences of women from all classes, including women who made history
- The dos and don’ts in the bedroom
- Sexy foods and how to have them
- All you need to know for your wedding night, and well as insider medical advice
- How to get pregnant (and how not to), and more
“Quite compelling and hilariously funny. I have been chuckling out loud and my husband says he thinks he ought to read it if it’s such a tonic. God forbid!” —Susanna Newstead, author of the Savernake Novels
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The Wheel of the Year
This book is absolutely gorgeous in person! If you can find it in a bookstore to take a look, I highly suggest doing so. This is great for anyone who is a little witchy or really interested in nature-inspired rituals.
A beautifully illustrated, interactive guide to ancient, nature-based holidays and customs. Through themed meditations, crafts, and rituals, young readers can learn about old and new ways of honoring the seasons—and create their own!
Each “spoke” in The Wheel of the Year marks an important turning point: the winter and summer solstices, the spring and fall equinoxes, and the festivals of seeding, growing, and harvesting that arrive in between. Within each section, enjoy:- An overview of the holiday and its significance in cultures around the world
- A sensory scavenger hunt for sights, sounds, and smells the season
- Ideas for a seasonal altar using objects from nature
- Themed crafts, rituals, games, and recipes
Blending nature connection with art, poetry, and myth, The Wheel of the Year conveys the magic and beauty of ancient traditions and encourages young readers to notice, care for, and celebrate the natural world around them.
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