📝 56th Spells8 Book Club - Readers' Reviews!

[MeganB]

Feel free to share your finished thoughts and reviews from the book you read for the 56th book club here. For the current book club post, please visit the new session post: Spells8 57th Book Club February 2026

A warm welcome to all of the Witchy Readers!

The latest reading period for Spells8 56th Book Club January 2026 has now ended - thank you to everyone who joined in!

Members & Their Books This Reading Period:

• The Cailleach by Rachel Patterson
  @Amethyst

• Your Imbolc Kit: Rituals, Reflections, and Renewal by a Mental Health Therapist by Sonia Rompoti
  @Amethyst

• The Graveyard by Ed & Lorraine Warren
  @tracyS

• Vikings Myths & Sagas by Rosalind Kerven
  @tracyS

• Wild Magic by Danu Forest
  @Eira_of_the_Living_Hearth

• The Witching Year by Diana Helmuth.
  @MeganB

• Witchcraft for Healing by Avery Woods
  @crystal57

• Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer
  @Artemisia

Even if you are not listed above, but you read a book during this reading period or you decided to read a different book than listed, you are very welcome to share and discuss here too!

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Time to share your thoughts with your coven!

This discussion post will serve as a place to share your thoughts and opinions on the book you chose.

• If you loved your book and think everyone should read it - awesome! Talk about your favorite points or something you learned.
• If you didn’t connect with the book - consider explaining why it wasn’t for you.
• Absolutely hated your book of choice? Warn others to stay away!

This is a great place to share your love for books and find recommendations for new books to read

Your book review can be as simple or elaborate as you’d like

If you’re not sure what to talk about, here is a suggested format you can use. Feel free to write as little or as much as you’d like!

Book Title and Author:

Status? : Finished / Still Reading

My overall rating of the book : ???/10

How does this book relate to my magickal practice?:

My personal thoughts/opinions:

An interesting quote from the book: " "

All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes / No

Remember that your review is uniquely yours - this is a chance to let your opinions and voice be heard

Please keep in mind that others may have opinions that differ from yours - when responding to the thoughts of others, please always show respect! Remember that 100 people will read 1 book and have 100 different experiences. That’s what makes sharing interesting

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What if I didn’t finish my book / joined late?

No worries!

You are welcome to share your thoughts about the part you have read so far. If you joined the session late and have just started, feel free to talk about your expectations for your book. You can continue reading it into the next reading period.

And whether you read a book or not, you are very welcome to jump in and discuss what others share about their books!

Deadlines and Dates

You have all month to share your thoughts and discuss (until the next Readers’ Review Post appears in the forum!)

Deadline for Reviews for this Session: February 28, 2026

While you have plenty of time for reviews, know that the next reading period has already started!
→ Spells8 57th Book Club February 2026

You can find more info about the club in the Book Club FAQ.

It can be hard to find the time and motivation to read on your own – hopefully book club helped provide a bit of motivation and that it led to some wonderful new knowledge and discoveries in your Craft

I hope you enjoyed your books this session, and that you’ve got another fun one in line to read this coming month.

Happy reading and blessed be!

[Amethyst]

Man. I should have just gone with my second book.

Book Title and Author: The Cailleach by Rachel Patterson

Status? : Finished

My overall rating of the book : 6/10

How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: I wanted to learn more about the Celtic Goddess of Winter, and how she could fit into my practice.

My personal thoughts/opinions: This was an okay book. I wasn’t thrilled. It was mostly legends and lore about The Cailleach, but they were very short. Mostly it was just word of mouth lore, but it wasn’t embellished or anything at all to make it interesting.

An interesting quote from the book: “The Shower of Stones

Two Cailleachs who both lived in Magh Cuilinn in Ireland got into an argument. What they were in disagreement about we don’t know, but suffice to say it got very heated to the point that they agreed to hold a stone throwing contest and when I say stones I don’t mean pebbles, we are talking huge great big boulders because giants wouldn’t use anything else. They went to the top of Poll Mountain and stood a distance apart, each on a separate hilltop, at which point they both collected huge piles of ammunition in the form of rocks.

At dawn the next day they took their positions and started throwing rocks at each other. It was not a pretty sight, rocks flew and each of them ended up battered, bruised and bleeding. As the contest continued one of the Cailleachs (the Cailleach Bearra) started throwing her rocks over the head of the other Cailleach (her name does not seem to have been recorded) so that they landed beyond her. The other Cailleach took her chance and gathered up all her remaining rocks and threw them in quick succession causing the Cailleach Bearra much pain. But soon the Cailleach’s rocks were all gone while the Cailleach Bearra was left with a huge pile of stones. The Cailleach Bearra then proceeded to bombard the other Cailleach with all her ammo, reducing her to a pile of bones.

The rocks have long since gone and the only reminder left today is a cairn where the Cailleach fell. Note: This story is only one that tells of the Cailleach as being more than one person, the title perhaps for several supernatural deities. It is, however, another ‘piles of rock’ story explaining how the Cailleach shaped the landscape.”

Patterson, Rachel. Pagan Portals - The Cailleach (p. 31). Moon Books. Kindle Edition.

All in all, would I recommend this book?: Not really. I kind of wish I could return the book even. Sigh.

[Amethyst]

I finished this morning and actually remembered to do my report right away! Yay for me!

Book Title and Author: Your Imbolc Kit: Rituals, Reflection, and Renewal by a Mental Health Therapist by Sonia Romoti

Status? : Finished

My overall rating of the book : 10/10

How does this book relate to my magickal practice?: I like picking up new ideas for the Pagan holidays and this book has some wonderful information on incorporating inspiration and new beginnings and your mental health with Imbolc.

My personal thoughts/opinions: This is just a good book! I really loved it! It gave me several ideas for my Imbolc ritual itself and for starting out new practices and ideas. Really wonderful read!

An interesting quote from the book: "At its heart, this season is about welcoming light, hope, and renewal into your life. You don’t need anything more than your intention and a willingness to pause and connect. The best part? Many Imbolc rituals are easy, approachable, and deeply meaningful, even if you’ve never celebrated before.

So, let’s keep it simple. Whether you’re short on time, new to the idea of rituals, or just looking for small ways to honor the season, these beginner-friendly ideas will help you create space for mindfulness, reflection, and growth.”

All in all, would I recommend this book?: Yes! This is a wonderful book with great ideas to celebrate Imbolc!