Kelly-Ann Maddox is a well-known and respected Witch and writer who often shares her tools and tricks with witches of all types. This book, the follow-up to Rebel Witch, is magnificent! Here, Maddox continues her tradition of sharing and teaching and gives witches of all walks to life more lessons to live by.

Maddox writes with clarity, warmth, and authenticity, offering rituals and reflections that feel both deeply accessible and profoundly empowering. . An inspiring, supportive companion for anyone navigating challenges. Absolutely brilliant.

It took me a while to get through this book, a cause it covers times of your life that are difficult. But Kelly guide you with so much understanding, and some great ideas for rituals. I have now started watching her YouTube channel, which is also a great resource! I will surely return to this book along life’s journey. The author really has a knack of ‘meeting you where you are’ and shows obvious sensitivity. This book feels like a deep and meaningful chat with a friend who reminds you of who you really are.

There were a lot of formatting issues with the copy I was sent that showed me down greatly with reading this title.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing an advanced copy for an honest review.

I went into Witch in Darkness thinking it’d be another witchy book with the usual stuff—spells, herbs, moon phases—but it ended up being way more personal and relatable than I expected. Kelly-Ann Maddox writes like she’s been through it, and she’s not afraid to talk about the hard stuff—grief, mental health, burnout—and how she’s used witchcraft to get through it.

The book isn’t trying to be overly mystical or performative. It’s more about how to use spiritual tools in real life when things are messy and overwhelming. There’s a mix of journaling, tarot, protection work, and shadow work, but it’s all written in a really approachable way. You don’t feel like you need to have your life together to start using any of it, which I really appreciated. What stood out to me is how grounded it is. It’s not about chasing perfection or pretending everything’s fine—it’s about healing, protecting your energy, and reconnecting with yourself, especially during the rough patches.

Final thoughts: If you're into spiritual stuff but want something that actually feels human and emotionally supportive, this is a solid pick. It’s kind, honest, and totally okay with not having all the answers.

Really great book, i really enjoyed it and found it informative. I liked the writing style and having not heard of the author previously, it encouraged me to go and purchase her first book, rebel witch. Great for anyone in those darker days when you need some additional help!

Liked it . Due to personal issues cannot write a proper review now
A more extensive review will follow. Many thanks to the publisher

If you've ever felt like your spiritual practice falters during life's darkest moments, Witch in Darkness is the compassionate guide you didn't know you needed. Kelly-Ann Maddox offers a heartfelt and practical approach to navigating grief, fear, and despair through witchcraft. The book is filled with accessible rituals, tarot spreads, journal prompts, and affirmations designed for those times when elaborate ceremonies feel out of reach.

Witch in Darkness by Kelly Ann Maddox delivered everything I expected. I've watched her YouTube channel for many years and her teachings always resonate with me.

Each chapter ends with prompts to help you practice and integrate what was covered.
For tips and practices about your spiritual practice during times of darkness and uncertainty, I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for my review.

A how-to for witches experiening an assortment of mental health issues (grief, addiction, heartbreak). A great resource for those who have yet to navigate these perils in life. I wish I had this book about 5 years ago.

Witch in Darkness is a reassuring yet practical guide for the challenging aspects of life — grief, addiction, a broken heart, mental health issues, and more. Part autobiography, part-how-to, this is a small but powerful book that tackles these issues and offers Witchcraft as a lifeline. Having been in those places without a guide myself, I really appreciated this book existing and offering some solace and solutions to the modern reader — there are tarot spreads, affirmations, journal prompts, spells, and rituals. Each of these could be used as-is, or as a springboard to create similar within your own magical/spiritual practice. Recommended!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher, Watkins Publishing, through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Witch in Darkness

This is an incredible book. Maddox writes about ‘witching through the bad times’ but much of her advice would be applicable to anyone going through a hard time. She explores hard issues – grief, grieving, addiction – from a witches’ perspective, but I would not hesitate to hand this to someone looking for help even if they weren’t a witch. (I would ask a few questions first, just to gauge how well it might work for them.)

This book has earned a place on my bookshelf and I’ll be referring back to it often. Recommended for anyone who is hurting.

Grief and loss are a part of life that all spiritual paths must in some way address and the way of the witch is no exception to this . I do think that makes books such as Witch in Darkness an invaluable resource.
While the wisdom therein can be Utilized at any point in one's journey I do think this title is best read during the more joyus times of life that the reader will already have learned its techniques long before they are needed.

Thanks Netgalley for the early ARC!

As a pagan I always appreciate being able to review pagan and witchcraft books. And using witchcraft to deal with pain, loss amd trauma is such an important topic. We need more books like this.

I really appreciated the authors voice, and personal stories. In some ways, I would have preferred if this had just been 100% an autobiography of the author using witchcraft to heal, a tale of her journey. But then we would have missed out on the wealth of information & rituals included.

Highly recommended

The cover is misleading as the "in" is very small. This is witchy darkness. This is for witches is periods of darkness. LIke now when women no longer have control over their own bodies again. This book is timely and helps witches get through a variety of bad instances.

Less of an instructional how-to, Witch in Darkness provides an excellent array of options to help any practitioner of any level broaden their practice by way of emotional intelligence. Not only does the author offer multiple options and suggestions, but all of which include many accessible points.

The thing that most spoke to me in this was the lack of preachiness in many magic books, that almost turns you away from modern medicine which is a terrifying concept in this day and age. Instead, Kelly-Ann works in the supporting medicines in your life through “bless your meds” and opening the door for actual healthcare to be interwoven with spiritual care.

Overall wonderful read, lots of great notes and lead me to asking myself questions that I hadn’t thought of yet.

Staying true to you practice and letting it evolve through the darkness we all go through in our lives is truly so important. This book helps you navigate yourself and your practice through these times. I feel like this is an important tool for witches new and experienced.

This is an amazing resource for those who are going to be starting their healing journey while practicing the craft. Within this book, you go through the different “darknesses” that we go through within our human experience. And throughout each chapter, we are given journal prompts, affirmations, and rituals to help overcome those dark times.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the eARC.

Witch in Darkness discusses how to use witchcraft to make it through difficult times in your life. This includes practical step-by-step rituals, tarot readings, journal prompts, and affirmations to help you through whatever you are dealing with.

This is an easy to read book that provides helpful rituals to get through a variety of situations. Each chapter has rituals, a tarot spread, journal prompts, and a speak it section of affirmations. I liked the wide variety that Maddox provided in each chapter. Maddox makes incorporating witchcraft in hard times easy and reminds people that you don’t always have to do elaborate witchcraft. They also discuss that your practice can change with what is going on in your life and you should embrace that change and not try to force yourself to stick to rituals that used to work for you but are now not.

“Fostering an imperfect practice is the key to witching through darkness.”

Overall, this was a helpful guide for continuing your craft during hard times. I probably won’t use a lot of the rituals in this book in my current practice, but I am glad to have them if the need ever arises.

Book Review: Witch in Darkness

I want to extend my gratitude to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of Witch in Darkness by Kelly-Ann Maddox. This powerful follow-up to Rebel Witch truly resonated with me, especially as it tackles some of the toughest emotions we face—loss, fear, and grief—through a magickal lens.

From the moment I began reading, I was struck by Maddox's raw and honest tone. She creates a safe space for those navigating dark times, making the book feel like a warm embrace. Her insights into how witchcraft can serve as a lifeline during difficult moments are both practical and profound. I found her guidance on cleansing, grounding, and shielding particularly helpful, especially during days when everything feels overwhelming.

One of the standout features of Witch in Darkness is its emphasis on embracing imperfection in our practices. Maddox encourages readers to find their unique paths, which is refreshing and liberating. I appreciated the step-by-step instructions for various rituals and magickal actions; they were easy to follow and left me feeling empowered to take action in my own life.

The book is packed with wisdom that feels applicable to real-life struggles. Whether it’s dealing with the aftermath of a loss or managing relationships in turmoil, Maddox provides actionable tools and perspectives that helped me shift my mindset. Her inclusion of tarot spread designs and journal prompts also added a personal touch, encouraging deeper reflection.

Maddox draws from her extensive experience as a spiritual counselor and witchcraft mentor, sharing anecdotes from her own journey. Her vulnerability in discussing her mental health challenges makes the book not just informative but deeply relatable. I felt as if I was having an intimate conversation with a wise friend who truly understands the complexities of life.

Overall, Witch in Darkness is a beautifully crafted guide that I highly recommend to anyone seeking solace and empowerment through witchcraft during tough times. It’s more than just a book about magick; it’s a lifeline for those of us looking to find strength and hope amidst the chaos. This is a must-read for anyone on a spiritual journey, and I can’t wait to revisit its pages whenever I need a little extra support.

I love Maddox's work across the internet and her previous book. As a sophomore title, Witch in Darkness stands up as a unique topic in the witchy space as well as a maturation of Maddox's voice. I love the encouragement to do what is right for you while giving a plethora of ideas and examples. I also liked the inclusion of writing prompts as they invite the reader to go deeper into the text, which is helpful when "in darkness." I'm excited to acquire a physical copy of this title, and while I'm not sure if she has any other works lined up, I will be reading it if she does.