WitchCraft Cocktails: From Aphrodite's Love Potion to Mercurial Grounding Elixir, 75 Seasonal Drinks Infused with Magic and Ritual by Julia Halina Hadas

 

WitchCraft Cocktails by Julia Halina Hadas

My Rating: ★★★★★

I received a copy from Adams Media through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

When I saw this book, I knew I had to check it out because it seemed like an interesting take on cocktails. I knew it was inspired by witchcraft, but I was still pleasantly surprised by how the author combined cocktails and witchcraft. I could tell that she is a practicing witch as well as a well-versed bartender right away.

The book starts out with a bit of history on alcohol, witchcraft, and general herb preservation. She also goes through the basics of bartending, which includes tools and techniques, as well as getting into the ingredients and how to combine witchcraft with drink making. It was a very interesting read and I rather enjoyed the opening.

Once I got to the drinks, I was amazed by the wide range of drinks and the information she includes with each one. Other than the delightful pictures, there is a bit of information on what inspired each drink and what properties the drinks have. While majority of the drinks are alcoholic beverages, there are some non-alcoholic drinks mixed in. I also like that the end of the book includes a list of classic cocktails and an herbal intentions list to encourage readers to try their hand at creating their own drinks based on tastes and what they hope to invoke.

Whether or not witchcraft or general herbal properties and what they can do for you is something you’re interested in, I think this is a great book. There’s a wide variety of delicious looking and sounding drinks along with detailed bartending tips and recipes on how to make some ingredients from scratch. I think that it’s a great book for anyone interested in expanding their cocktail recipes.

Once Upon a Time I Lived on Mars: Space, Exploration, and Life on Earth by Kate Greene

 

Once Upon a Time I Lived on Mars: Space, Exploration, and Life on Earth by Kate Greene
My Rating: ★★★

I received a copy from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this collection of essays, we follow Kate Greene through a period of her life, which takes some interesting turns. One of the most interesting events in her life is when she becomes a member of a life on Mars simulation to study the eating habits of the faux astronauts. Outside of this simulation, she also reflects on her life, which includes her parents, brother, friendships, marriage and eventual divorce.

I’ve always been fascinated with space, so when I got the opportunity to read this book, I took it. I find the studies on space travel very interesting, and Greene was a member of a simulation that involved pretending to live on Mars while living in an artificial environment built in Hawaii. I never knew how many space studies that take place outside of space until later life, but it makes sense. Even something as simple as food can become a big deal due to the limitations of what and how one can eat while in space.

While the subject matter was interesting, it took me a while to read because the book itself felt disjointed. It is a collection of essays reflecting on various parts of Greene’s life, but because it is a collection of essays from one person, the book bounces around quite a bit. I discovered that I would’ve liked it better if it was in chronological order, but that’s just my preference. The way it bounces around would’ve worked if this was a collection of essays from different people instead of one author.

All in all, I did enjoy the book as well as Greene’s perspective on anything from space to general life experiences. If space related experiments to general life reflections is something you’re interested in, I would highly recommend this. Just be aware that Greene does bounce around subject matter since this is a collection of essays. 

Chasing American Monsters: Over 250 Creatures, Cryptids & Hairy Beasts by Jason Offutt

Chasing American Monsters: Over 250 Creatures, Cryptids & Hairy Beasts by Jason Offutt
My Rating: ★★★★

Cataloging the monster sightings across America, Jason Offutt provides a comprehensive list of monsters organized by state. In this book, you will find anything from the many Bigfoot sightings to mysterious lake monsters and human sized talking cockroaches. Not one to skip over hoaxes, Offutt also includes monster sightings that are known hoaxes and notes which monsters are confirmed hoaxes. This book is sure to make a fascinating read whether or not you are a believer.

I picked up this book because I’ve always been fascinated by the different monsters and creatures that have been sighted over the years. When I started reading, I didn’t realize how many different monsters that are allegedly all over the states! While some creatures, such as Bigfoot, are well known, there are others that I have never heard of. I know I have never heard of the human sized talking cockroaches. Are those real? Who knows, but I certainly hope not!

I loved reading about all the various beings, like the Menehune in Hawaii and the Batsquatch in Washington. It was interesting to learn about the different sightings reported all over the states that include vampires and mysterious lake monsters. I also liked that Offutt noted when a monster sighting was a confirmed hoax while the others are up in the air, so people can choose to decide how real or fake the sightings are.

The book is organized very well. The states are listed alphabetically, and the monsters are listed on a state by state basis. The Bigfoot sightings did get a bit redundant after a while since they’ve been reported in most states. I was more surprised when a Bigfoot wasn’t listed among a state’s monsters. While the layout of the book worked very well, its only downfall was the sheer amount of Bigfoot sections.

Otherwise, I think it was a great book that gives a little information on each monster. I don’t think this was meant to be an extremely detailed list of monsters, but more of a monster encyclopedia, so don’t expect lengthy descriptions on each creature mentioned.

Kawaii Doodle Cuties: Sketching Super-Cute Stuff from Around the World by Pic Candle; Zainab Khan

 

Kawaii Doodle Cuties: Sketching Super-Cute Stuff from Around the World by Pic Candle; Zainab Khan
My Rating: ★★★★★

Are you ready to level up your doodling skills? With this book, you can learn new drawing foundations that will not only level up your doodles, but also increase your general drawing skills. 

This book is absolutely adorable. I decided to check out more books from Pic Candle and Zainab Khan after reading Kawaii Doodle World, so I picked up this book and was not disappointed. Not only is it cute, but it also includes basic drawing skills that are presented in a simple and relaxing environment. I actually learned something that I didn’t even pick up in my college level drawing classes. I don’t know what that says about those classes, but hey. There is always something new to learn so I can’t complain.

As I noted in my review for Kawaii Doodle World, I think this is a great book for kids who like to draw. Each doodle has step-by-step instructions that are easy to follow, but I would say this book is better for kids close to middle school age. I can see younger kids getting frustrated with the more complex doodles included in the book, so I wouldn’t recommend it for younger kids who like to draw.

At the back of the book, there’s more search-and-find puzzles that double as coloring pages. I love these little search-and-find puzzles because they’re such a fun way to end the book.