Magic or Madness by Justine Larbalestier

Stars: *****
Accuracy: ***

Synopsis: Reason and her mother Sarafina are on the run from Reason's grandmother Esmerelda. However, when Sarafina goes crazy, Reason is placed with her grandmother. Nothing about Esmerelda's home in Syndey, Australia is what she expected and when she walks through the back door and ends up in New York City, she has to face the facts. Magic is real.

Review: This book takes place in Australia AND the US and when Reason, who has never been outside of Australia before, ends up in the US, you can just imagine how strange it must be for her. She goes from summer to winter, day time to night time, Tuesday to Monday. The New Yorkers speak English but it's a different English and often she finds herself asking what something means or explaining what she is saying. I found this part of the book extremely interesting. It was neat to think about what a foreigner would think of North America. It reminded me of when my Floridian cousin first saw snow. I am off to find book 2 as I can't wait to know what happens next.

Accuracy: A lot was explained about how Witchcraft works in this book but most of it was different from real Witchcraft. In the book, Witches are hereditary. Practicing too much magic has consequences and practicing none has some too (I can't elaborate or I'd ruin the story.) Witches can go through portals to another country.

Closer to truth, the witches in the story use herbs and feathers for charms and spells and acknowledge that everyone has some magic in them (like when you know who's calling before you answer the phone.)

Charmed: Truth and Consequences by Cameron Dokey

Based on the hit TV series created by Constance M. Burge

Stars: ****
Accuracy: ***

Synopsis: Cole is working late, and her sisters are having a girls' night in, so on the spur of the moment, Phoebe accepts what seems like an innocent date with a friendly stranger. But good intentions are quickly misconstrued when Cole leaves work early to surprise Phoebe - and is stunned to find her sharing a meal with another man. Their escalating argument highlights some trust issues they each have. But they soon find themselves trapped in the underworld, at the center of a lovelorn demon's plot to destroy the Power of Three.

Review: This was probably the best Charmed book I've read so far (but then I've only read four.) The writing was closer to the TV show and the plot was interesting and realistic (at least in a magical world.) I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Accuracy: See my review of the Charmed TV show for more.

Charmed: Something Wiccan This Way Comes by Emma Harrison

Based on the hit TV series created by Constance M. Burge

Stars: ***1/2
Accuracy: ***

NOTE: Although the title of the book is very similar to the title of the very first episode of Charmed, this is a different story. The book version of the first episode is The Power of Three.

Synopsis: Paige reads about a Wiccan convention taking place just outside of Las Vegas and thinks it's a great opportunity to learn more about the Charmed Ones witchy ways. Piper and Phoebe aren't interested because they believe the attendants will all be wanna-bes. Soon they hear about a rash of kidnappings committed against practicing Wiccans and making an appearance at the convention becomes a top priority. But are the Charmed Ones headed straight for disaster?

Review: This was an all right book. The style was a little different than the real Charmed but was pretty close. The plot was good as every time I thought I knew who was behind the kidnappings, I would find out I was wrong. The ending surprised me, which is good in a book for course.

Accuracy: I was hopeful that the accuracy would be higher seeing as they go to a Wiccan convention but my hopes were dashed. Although there are "wanna-bees" in the Wiccan religion, the Wiccan convention was full of them. Almost none of them seemed legit. See my review of the Charmed TV show for more.

Witch Catcher by Mary Downing Hahn

Stars: *****
Accuracy: *

Synopsis: Jen and her father have just moved into an old mansion they inherited . Things are going well until Moura shows up and seem a little TOO interested in the antiques in the mansion. She drives a wedge between Jen and her father and when the witch catcher Jen found breaks, a strange girl appears and Moura become quite sinister. Jen is caught in a war and the fate of an enchanted race and her family is at stake.

Review: I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book even though the witch was the "bad-guy." It had be gripped from the beginning and I had trouble putting it down. That doesn't often happen to me with books for kids. I often felt as if I were there with Jen, helping her. I recommend this book to kids ages 9 and up.

Accuracy: This book is a far cry from being accurate to true witches. The witches in this book were evil and could cast spells that shot like lightning from their fingertips. The most accurate thing was that the fairies were shown to be generally good but untrustworthy which is what those who believe in fairies perceive them to be.

Charmed: The Legacy of Merlin by Eloise Flood

Based on the hit TV series created by Constance M. Burge

Stars: *****
Accuracy:***

Synopsis: The sisters are in England when Phoebe meets a handsome man name Niall. She has a vision of him holding a child and the sisters all disagree on if he might be a warlock or not. When Piper discovers Niall in the middle of a Druid ritual they set out to discover Niall's secret. The Charmed Ones go back in time to Camelot to set things right.

Review: This was a great Charmed story and it would have made a good episode. It was a lot better to read a Charmed novel that I hadn't seen an episode for as that means I didn't know what was going to happen. The novel was written well so that everytime I though I knew what was going to happen, I was proved wrong.

Accuracy: See my review of the Charmed TV Show.

TV: Charmed

Stars: *****
Accuracy: ***

Synopsis: Prue, Piper and Phoebe Halliwell are three sisters who also happen to be good witches known as "The Charmed Ones." They are the most powerful witches of all time. They are constantly battling warlocks, dark lighters, demons and other strange creatures. Leo is their whitelighter (guardian angel of witches.) In season 4, Paige takes Prue's place.

Review: Charmed is my favourite TV show ever. It's nice to imagine what life would be like if we had powers and fought evil. Or even to have a room dedicated to magic and a kitchen stocked with herbs. It's nice to imagine I have sisters who love and care for me.

Accuracy: Although there are a lot of things that are similar to real witches, there are a lot of things that aren't. Witches perform spells and most live by the Wiccan rede (An it Harm None, Do What Thou Wilt.) Some have familiars and they keep a Book of Shadows. They use herbs, candles, crystals and chants in their spells and rituals.

On the not similar track, we have witches are born (not made) and have special powers (like freezing time.) They fight warlocks, demons and other strange creatures. Witches have guardian angels called whitelighters that they can call on at anytime. They also see/work with Leprechauns, Fairies, Elves, Mermaids, Unicorns, Banshee's and plenty more creatures.

Charmed: The Power of Three by Eliza Willard

Based on the hit TV Series and teleplay "Something Wicca This Way Comes" Created by Constance M. Burge.

Stars: ****
Accuracy: ***

Synopsis: Prue, Piper and Phoebe Halliwell could have never guessed that they were witches. That is until Phoebe reads an incantation from a book and all of a sudden they all have powers. Even though they just got their powers and are still learning how they work, a warlock is after them and it's up to the three of them, the Charmed Ones to stop him!

Review: Charmed is my favourite TV show so I was looking forward to reading the books. This particular story is a retelling of the first episode of the TV show so I already knew what was going to happen. This makes it hard to comment on the book but it was pretty good. I think it could have been written a little better.

Accuracy: See my review on the Charmed TV show.

Witch Hill by Marcus Sedgwick

Stars: ****
Accuracy: **

Synopsis:
When Jamie's home burns down, his parents send him to live with family in Crownhill for a while. He starts getting scary dreams about an old woman and the people he's staying with seem to be hiding something.

Review:
This book had me hooked in, wondering what was next and trying to figure things out before they were revealed. The book is scarier than most for the age group of 10-14. If your child scares easily you may want to wait a few years more. Before most of the chapters, there is a little blurb about a town witch, written as if it was written back in the 1500's during the witch craze. It's hard to explain so here's a little: "The witch was found at her lair on the hill where she was consulting with her familiar, the cat named Chub. It was clear from the leaved of herbs around about that they were preparing some more injurious mischief to inflict upon one person or another."

Accuracy:
Witches in this book are evil old hags who use curses on other people for their own gain. Their familiars do their evil bidding. Although the blurbs mentioned above mention Satan (spelled Sathan, not sure why,) in the actual text of the book it is mentioned that witches don't really believe in Satan, that he's a product of Christianity. It also explains that those burned and hung during the witch craze weren't actually witches.

Witch Twins by Adele Griffin

Stars: *****
Accuracy: ***

Synopsis:
Witch Twins is the story of twin sisters Claire and Luna who are witches. Their Grandmother is a 5-star witch while the girls haven't even reached 1-star yet. Their father is getting remarried to a woman neither of the girls likes. What can they do to stop it

Review:
This book is recommended for ages 7-10 and I can certainly see why kids (mostly girls) in that age group would like this book. It sounds like it was written by a child in that the author captured what tween girls sound and act like. The story was fun to read.

Comparison:
There were parts of the story that were close to what witches are really like or do. Witches in this book cast spells and are sometimes made with herbs. Young witches aren't supposed to cast spells without parental supervision (a good parenting practice.) Also witches get cat familiars when they reach one-star level. Although all real witches don't have familiars and they aren't all cats, this is still close.

One the other hand, the cats can understand human-speak and live an usually long life. The spells can make the dishes do themselves or freeze or rewind time (I wish!) You are born a witch and it rarely runs in families but when it does it skips a generation. Witches sneeze and yawn with one eye open. Those that aren't Witches don't know witches exist. There are secret witch towns. Witch rules are made and enforced by "The Decree

Although there is quite a lot in the book that isn't about real witches, at least these witches are all good!

Blog Purpose

As a Witch, I find it interesting to read stories and see movies that feature witches. Most of the time the witches in the media are nothing like real witches and sometimes they are a little alike. Even when the witches featured are green faced, warty, ride on broomsticks and eat children I still like to read the books or watch the movies.

I wanted a place to collect all my book and movie reviews that are about witches. In addition to posting a general review of the item, I will be comparing the witch(es) in the storyline to real witches.

I figure that there has to be SOMEONE out there who is as interested in witch books and movies as I am so I decided to make it into a blog. That and I'm addicted to making blogs, hehe.

Let me know what you think.