2.5 stars

I was pretty disappointed with this read, to be honest. I was expecting more of an introduction to the craft and not a commentary on the craft and that latter is what I got. I was disappointed.

This is definitely an all encompassing book. Their goal is to definitely make sure that everyone has the ability to learn and incorporate all things magical.

This book is a great primer and provides a great range of other resources. Each section is extremely well organized and gave great detail.

An easy read for beginners in witchcraft, with mostly simple and accessible practices, which is great! I really appreciated the personal touch that Whiskey Stevens gave to it, it made it feel more like a magical read and less like a manual.

I really enjoyed this one! It was informative and helpful to a new witch like me. I will definitely recommend this book to my fellow witchy friends.

Make the craft your own! This book is filled with interesting exercises and advice that will help inspire you to step out of your shell and into your own power.

This book is an in depth study of everything witchy. The comprehensive content is very helpful and complete. Think about what kind of witchcraft you want to practice as well as deciding what you want from the craft. I found this book very intriguing.

I really enjoyed with this book how the author shows what she had to do when she started. With a budget, practical advice, no long lists. What's important is she is straightforward. She tells you her story and what she has experienced and there are none of the rose-tinted glasses. I recommend this book to all my friends.

Rise of the witch by Whiskey Stevens is a great book for beginners or people who want to work on their magical basics. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in starting their path. This book has lot’s of easy to follow instructions and techniques.

A very useful and informative book, full of interesting information.
I loved the colloquial style and how the author talks about using common ingredients.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Rise of the Witch is an all inclusive book of witchcraft. The author has a great understanding of how to practice witchcraft in your own way with information that's easy to include in your own workings. There is not a list of ingredients that you have to get to use the spells and rituals. I have been a witch for a long time and enjoy reading books that give insight to how other witches practice. I received this book from Net Galley Llewellyn Worldwide for a honest review. This is that review.

Rise of the Witch is written much like a journal, with a lot of personal experience from the author, from how she began her craft, fighting addiction, to how she practices now.
There is a lot of useful information, which doesn't center around Wicca like most books nowadays.
Whiskey Stevens tries to use materials and tools that don't require a big budget, and recommends to browse second hand shops and such if a tools is needed/wanted, which I really appreciate. Not everyone has a lot of money to spend on tools, herbs, crystals, and other materials and she takes that into account.
I also appreciated that she repeatedly says that you have to find your own way to practice and no practitioner is like the other. That what she writes are suggestions and you should do what feels right for you.
She is a solitary witch, and her exercises are made for that, which I, as another solitary practitioner appreciate.

Thank you to the author and publisher who send me an early copy in exchange for a honest review.
The thoughts and opinions stated in this review are all my own.

Rise of the Witch by Whiskey Stevens is a book that has a lot of great practical exercises that could be of use for people at any stage in their practice.

Loved it! Very few witchy books are written for real people. Spells that you’re constantly searching for herbs and crystals that you don’t own and have a hard time finding! This was a very pleasurable surprise. Written in a very relatable almost conversational style.
Thoroughly enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.

Erudite and informative, it was written in such a way that you felt the author was sitting across from you and speaking to you.

I especially loved the fact that she made use of normal and everyday items, so many of these books expect you to have 10 different coloured candles, a vast array of crystals, special wands and/or athames and so on. None of that is accurate, the ability is in the intent.

My only gripe is that she forgot about the Southern Hemisphere. I wish someone would come along and write a book like this, practical, down-to-earth and helpful, but still include everyone.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for my ARC.

This book covers a lot of basics and is great for a beginner! I like that this author explains that witchcraft isn't always 'fluffy' or full of 'light and love' the way some books do. It's a pretty honest look at what it's like to follow the craft.

Another decent beginner book, that doesn't have a Wicca base full in your face. Some may see bites here and there. Different things introduced to the reader - things to consider,

So many books for beginners focus on the same basics, wheel of the year, details on sabbats, elements, etc. it’s all told through a rose color lens and most books are similar. This one changes things up and removes the rose lens and gives an honest view from one witch’s own practice.

The thing I relate to the most is making your practice your own. This is exactly what I have done for more than 20 years now and it’s nice to know others have taken a similar approach. I recommend this book for any new or fledgling witch. Well done, whiskey. Blessed be.

This book was lovely. The author acknowledges that witchcraft is not always a path filled with joy and light which is something I think we need to be more open and honest about with those new to the path. The book is written in a very down-to-earth manner and the author offers just the right balance of vulnerability and personal experience along with sound research and practical advice.

Rise of the Witch skips the long lists of correspondances, spells, and information on sabbats which often plague beginner books and jumps right into things like shadow work, ethics, and methods for creating spells and obtaining your first tools. All advice given is accessible with there not being a lot of talk about needing expensive oils and tools or needing to do spells at a certain hour of a certain day to get results. The reader is encouraged to try things out as they are able and experiment to discover their own path.

One final note: I would advise not disposing of salt, especially in large quantities, by sprinkling or burying it in soil.

I am very pleased to have had an opportunity to review this book. I’ve been a practitioner of witchcraft for about 30 years but I’m still always interested in how the craft is being portrayed to newcomers.

Notes on style: This book is written in the style that I think most people will find very readable. It’s a bit of a combination of a how to book and personal spiritual memoir.

Some personal notes; It’s important to recognize that the author openly acknowledges that her practice has been an extremely solitary practice, and I think that comes through in the entire way this book approaches the craft and magic. For me personally it seems a bit too focused on the individual but I also recognize where this kind of approach is coming from and that it might be appropriate for newcomers. Certainly she is 100% correct about the level of self reflection required for taking up this path.

This book has a lot of great practical exercises that could be of use for people at any stage in their practice.

I especially appreciate the author’s comments about practicing magic on a budget, and about the potential downfalls of materialism associated with collecting all the finest supplies and tools which can become a bit of an obsession for some practitioners. Similarly she provides some very sound insights about consumerism in spell casting.

Recommendation: Overall this is a very solid introductory book for people interested in witchcraft and magic.