Magic and Monster Books for Apprentice Wizards
Welcome Wizards in Training!
As every diligent apprentice (and fantasy fiction writer) knows, one must study gobs of arcane material in order to turn annoying kid brothers into toads, or broccoli into chocolate ice cream – or unpublished manuscripts into bestselling fantasy novels.
So today, I’m recommending five fab books for your magical research!
(By the way, I take no responsibility WHATSOEVER if you cannot reverse the kid-brother spell before Mom gets home. You’re on your own, Bucko!)
Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard
Edited by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart
(Available in paperback and Kindle editions)
If you (or one of your fictional characters) has ever wanted to learn how to read auras, talk to nature spirits, “cloak” your presence from other Human beings, scribe alchemical symbols, or heal with your hands – this book’s for you!
A Wizard’s Bestiary
By Oberon Zell-Ravenheart
(Available in paperback and Kindle editions)
I absolutely adore this book — and not just because the Texas Jackalope makes a showing amidst the hundreds of freaky fauna that parade through this Bestiary. If you’ve ever wanted a handy (illustrated) reference of every bizarre “Chimera-like” creature ever conceived by the minds of Humankind, this book’s for you!
Mystical Dragon Magick
By DJ Conway
(Available in paperback and Kindle editions)
For those of you who absolutely KNOW dragons are real, now’s your chance to become an initiate in their Multiverse, speak and write their language, and pledge yourself to protect the Earth from the predations of the evil Annihilator (who’s kind of like J.R.R. Tolkien’s Sauron, on steroids.)
The 21 Lessons of Merlyn:
A Study of Druid Magic & Lore
By Douglas Monroe
(Available in paperback and Kindle editions)
If you want to master the spell song of Taliesin, or the disappearing acts of Merlin, you’ll find plenty of tips in this book to help you take over the WORLD! (Just kidding – sort of.)
Budding mages will have to read between the lines, though. Interspersed between fictional tales of young King Arthur, who is studying to become a Druid, you’ll find chapters full of “practical” magic in the Celtic tradition. If you like master / apprentice tales, or Merlin / Arthur tales, this book is for you!
And if you’re a fantasy fiction writer, who is trying to invent a magical system based on the Druidic tradition, this book is a MUST for your library.
Love is in the Earth:
A Kaleidoscope of Crystals
By Melody
If Earth Magic is your specialty, you’ll “remember” all the obscure rocks that the author chatted with to write this book. (Warning to my fellow Wind Powers: lots of detail. Lots of dirt.)
Seriously, though, I turn to this book all the time to figure out which stone the sorceresses in my Guardians of Aeld fantasy fiction series need to call upon to cure some pesky illness or to protect some village from rampaging manbeasts.
Not only does the author, Melody, discuss rock color, hardness, geological formations, and other tidbits of scientific importance, she ties world mythology to the metaphysical properties of rocks and crystals. (Which is why I really read this book!)
Note from Yours Truly: Maybe someone who reads Love is in the Earth can solve a confounding mystery. The author keeps referencing some High Priest in her metaphysical descriptions.
For instance, she writes, “Sapphire was worn on the breastplate of the High Priest.” Which High Priest would that be? And from which ancient culture? Inquiring deWolfe minds want to know!
