#witch wars

[futuristicson]

[disneyfanatic1993]

Witch War DTIYS

Saw this on Instagram and thought it looked fun. ☺️

[the-pact-diaries]

What Will Be in My Bag - Once I Have Chosen, Hopefully Wisely

by your favourite neighbourhood warlock, still learning to navigate normal human life... including, regrettably, the weather.

You’ve read about the relic I used to carry around. Threadbare, proud, possessed of more charm than stitching.

She’s resting now. Retired. Waiting for the day I remember how to sew with something better than blind hope and decorative thread.

But the world continues to demand preparedness.

Let’s speak of what I will carry.

Let’s get into it:

What Will Be in My Bag:

- a chapstick for dry lips

Honestly, don’t speak your spells with lips cracked in pain, witch. That’s just cruel, to yourself and the words.

- hand balm (non-greasy)

Explains itself. Protects your hands and your grimoire pages. One smudge too many and the spirits start mocking you.

- my little grimoire

Chosen and a gift by my djinn Y., former angel hunter, in memory of the blood-soaked battlefield where the angels once fought the Si'lat. A reminder to build a future gentler than our past. A book heavy with lineage.

- battle magic to-go box

Includes, among other terribly useful things, two lighters. One is red, signed by Legionnaire H., hail Astaroth!

(For the record: we DO NOT physically harm anyone. The tools are for quick rituals, not getting arrested.)

- a little scrapbook, a pen

Standard. Record your omens, symbols, overheard nonsense. Don’t rely on memory alone, she’s a fickle sister.

- reusable plastic bags with a zipper or similar closure (5-ish)

Yes, I know. Plastic. Planet. But listen, witch:

You're walking in the woods, rain’s whispering down, your hair’s damp against your cheeks and you find those pinecones. Beautiful. Soggy.

You really want to toss them in, like THAT, in your neat beloved bag?

OH NO.

- my divination tool of choice: the pendulum

You’re in a loud underground station. The train’s howling. Spirits are mumbling. You’re exhausted and can’t see straight.

Pull it out. Ask.

Ignore the passengers. Let them think you’re a crazy witch. Own it.

- snacks (without chocolate!)

No melted mess in summer. No broken teeth in winter. A practical compromise between delight and disaster.

- a drink: iced coffee or energy bottle

Ask your parents, kids. This is neither an ad nor a health recommendation. It's survival. Stay hydrated.

- a pair of clean socks

Because of the weather, more about weather later.

Because dirty socks kill vibes.

Because you might visit someone, or somewhere, and need to take your shoes off.

Because warmth is magic. Because comfort is power.

- tissues

For makeup smudges, for sneezing in subway shadows, for the stranger who just started crying next to you. For spell residue. For life.

- a foldable fabric tote bag

For spontaneous buys - best with a statement print, like when you walk past the bookstore in the city and suddenly carry three new lives in paper and ink.

You don’t want to be balancing hardcovers like some juggler, do you, witch?

- optional, because I probably forget: a rain jacket or umbrella

Because weather spirits have moods too, and some of them are passive-aggressive.

- last but not least in love and hate to the capitalism: the purse

With, of course notes, coins, your bank card, the other cards you pretend you need, and your business cards.

Because you’re always hustling, right? Even when you sleep.

Wards optional, but recommended. Money likes to feel safe too.

The phone stays in my hand.

Always.

One part oracle. One part shield. One part cursed object I write this cursed blog with and so much more.

- and on the outside: a silver pin of a fly

Small. Shiny. Unnerving. It watches. It remembers.

A reminder that not all beauty is clean, and not all filth is void of power.

I hope I inspired you

Have fun filling your best bag, witch.

- D.

[book--brackets]

BCB: Preliminary Round 30

The Clockwork Crow by Catherine Fisher

Horns & Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson

Japanese Dolls by Rumer Godden

Wings & Co. by Sally Gardner

Small Persons With Wings by Ellen Booraem

Switchers by Kate Thompson

Witch Wars by Sibeal Pounder

Anthony Monday Mysteries by John Bellairs

Jane Blonde by Jill Marshall

Weenies by David Lubar

see results

Voting ended onOct 27, 2024

Summaries under the cut

The Clockwork Crow by Catherine Fisher

Orphan Seren Rhys is on her way to a new life at the remote country mansion of Plas-y Fran when she is given a package by a stranger late at night in an empty train station. The package contains a crotchety, mechanical talking crow, which Seren reluctantly brings to her new home. But when she gets there, the happy Christmas she had hoped for turns out to be an illusion--the young son of the house, Tomos, has been missing for almost a year, rumored to have been taken by the fairies. With the Crow's reluctant help and a little winter magic, Seren sets off on a perilous journey to bring Tomos home.

Horns & Wrinkles by Joseph Helgerson

How can you tell if a river’s under a spell? River trolls, rock trolls, blue-wing fairies—the usual suspects—the stretch of the Mississippi where Claire lives has rumors of them all, not that she’s ever spotted any. But then Claire’s cousin Duke takes a swim and sprouts a horn—a long, pointy, handsome thing. After that, Claire doesn’t have much choice but to believe that something rivery is going on, especially since she’s the only one who can help Duke lose his new addition.

Japanese Dolls by Rumer Godden

When little Nona is sent from her sunny home in India to live with her relatives in chilly England, she is miserable. Then a box arrives for her in the post and inside, wrapped up in tissue paper, are two little Japanese dolls. A slip of paper says their names are Miss Happiness and Miss Flower. Nona thinks that they must feel lonely too, so far away from home. Then Nona has an idea – she will build her dolls the perfect house! It will be just like a Japanese home in every way. It will even have a tiny Japanese garden. And as she begins to make Miss Happiness and Miss Flower happy, Nona finds that she is happier too.

Wings & Co. by Sally Gardner

When Emily Vole inherits an abandoned shop, she discovers a magical world she never knew existed. But a fairy-hating witch, a mischievous set of golden keys, and a train full of brightly coloured bunnies are just a few of the surprises that come with it.

With the help of a talking cat called Fidget and a grumpy fairy detective called Buster, it's up to Emily to get to the bottom of Operation Bunny.

Small Persons With Wings by Ellen Booraem

Ever since she was teased for believing in fairies, Mellie has adopted a strictly scientific and logical approach to life. But when her parents inherit her grandfather's inn, she learns that for generations, her family members have been fairy guardians. The fairies exchanged some of their powers for this protection but now they want their magic back. An evil temptress in disguise wants the magic too, and before she knows it, Mellie is turned into a frog, her grandfather is discovered alive, and her parents are trapped in an evil spell that only lets them see the truth (which can be awfully brutal). Thank goodness for Timmo - the cute boy next door - and Durindana, a fairy outcast, who help Mellie save the day and encourage her to loosen up her views on family, fairies, and friendship.

Switchers by Kate Thompson

When freakish weather grips the Arctic regions and moves southward, an Irish girl and her strange companion save the world from disaster through their ability to switch into animal forms

Witch Wars by Sibeal Pounder

When Fran the Fabulous Fairy turns up in Tiga Whicabim's shed to tell her she's a witch, Tiga doesn't believe her. Or at least not until Fran points out that TIGA WHICABIM is actually an anagram of I AM A BIG WITCH . . . and takes Tiga through the drainpipes to compete in a challenge to crown the next Top Witch of Ritzy City. No one expects a witch from 'above the pipes' to be a serious contender, but soon Tiga and her new best friend, Peggy Pigwiggle, are at the head of the pack! Does one of them have what it takes to win?

Anthony Monday Mysteries by John Bellairs

When Miss Eells gives young Anthony a job at the library, he thinks he’ll just be dusting shelves and filing books. Instead, he discovers a hidden clue leading to the treasure of eccentric millionaire Alpheus Winterborn. Miss Eells thinks the clues are a practical joke left by the odd, old Winterborn before he died. But then why do things suddenly start getting so strange? And terrifying?

Jane Blonde by Jill Marshall

Janey Brown feels like she is practically invisible. With her stick-thin legs, mousy brown hair and grey eyes, no one ever notices her. Then a crazy woman turns up at the school gates, claiming to be Janey's godmother. According to hip-hop-talking, larger-then-life 'G-Mamma', Janey Brown really is something special. She's Jane Blonde, Sensational Spylet and it's time for her first mission Swapping her too-big school uniform for a silver spysuit, and her battered satchel for a set of amazing gadgets, Janey soon discovers that nothing in her life, or in her past, is as it seems. Her elusive Uncle Solomon happens to be the head of SPI (Solomon's Politicational Investigations) and the greatest spy the world has ever known. Recruited by the government to work on top-secret Project Crystal Clear, Solomon has made a scientific discovery that could change the world. But now he's gone missing. Can Jane Blonde get to him first? Or will The Sinerlesse, a rogue spying group with evil purposes (and a very nasty dog), hunt him down and take his secret?

Weenies by David Lubar

Each hilarious and harrowing. A substitute teacher finds out she has some monsters for students. A group of kids attempt a levitation trick with hair-raising results. A neighborhood is so boring the grown ups are turning into...well...you know. And dozens more.

[fiesty-fishbiscuit]

Wandavision spoilers without context

[mugglenet]

Book Review: "Witch Wars" ("Witches of Orkney" #3) by Alane Adams - https://blog.mugglenet.com/2020/10/book-review-witch-wars-witches-of-orkney-3-by-alane-adams/

[adapembroke]

Last Line Writing Meme

Tagged by @grimnirslee! Post the last line of something you recently wrote! I’m cheating and doing last few lines for context. This is from somewhere in the middle of Witch Wars. 

“What we are doing is allowing ourselves to be summoned by John Dee,” the Man in Black said.

“Who?” John asked.

“Old Queen Bess’s astrologer,” the Man in Black said.

“Why?!”

The man in black knelt and traced a circle in the dirt around himself with his fingernail, glanced down two sides of the crossroads, stood, and scuffed the circle out with his foot.

“I need to know what time it is.”

Tagging @sethtalon and @quietdedication and anyone else who’d like it! 

[ijustkindalikebooks]

Books I bring to the living room and never finish/re-finish.