Astrea Taylor

Belle Dame Sans Merci from Astrea Taylor is a spectacular retelling of the Beauty and the Beast tale but is so much more than that. There are many levels on which to both enjoy and contemplate this novel.

As a Beauty and the Beast story it takes the basic story arc and gives it some twists and, frankly, more depth. Belle is every bit as smart as the usual beauty but is far less willing to be someone else's object at the expense of her individuality. The combination of strength and show more assertiveness with vulnerability (not the vulnerability of many "fairy tale" women but the type we all have in some situations) makes her a very compelling character.

The cast of characters are largely names with which we are all familiar but in Taylor's hands they are far more human-like in their psychology. In the works from which we likely know them they largely stood in to represent some trait or quality so were less rounded. Here, in this world (underworld) they are complete beings with desires and fears like anyone. The qualities they represent are still there but are made more realistic.

The structure of hell is more corporate than the levels we know from Dante, which gives a fun spin on how it is perceived. In keeping with Dante, Belle is, for lack of a better way of describing it, is essentially in Purgatory, which happens to be in the same department as Hell but more transitory.

I would highly recommend this to readers of fantasy and readers who enjoy fairy tales recast for contemporary readers. I also think this would appeal to readers who enjoy thinking about stereotypical characterizations and how to avoid some of them. Taylor makes Belle a more interesting and nuanced character than most other versions of the Beauty & the Beast tale. I think this would be a fun book to use in a Women and Literature course. There is a lot here to appeal to many readers: action, humor, romance, adventure, and fantasy. show less

House of Transformation by Astrea Taylor is a phenomenal work on so many levels. The characters are very well drawn, the plot(s) are compelling while also giving one pause to think and there are other aspects I have yet to put a word with. I am about three quarters of the way through and have found that I am perplexed; I both want to hurry through the book but I also want to savor many of the scenes and insights from these scenes. That is why I am posting a review now (I will likely update show more later but I have no doubt it will be more of the same types of comments) rather than later, the book as well as Taylor deserves a review so others might find this book.

The story moves effortlessly between two points in time with the transitions shedding additional insight in both directions. The characters all resemble people we have likely known or, at times, like various masks each of us wear when the mood or the need strikes us. There is one motif I find particularly compelling but want to finish the book before commenting on it.

Added: Upon finishing the book I find nothing I want to change in my review. The last couple of chapters tied up loose ends and gave us some sense of how things ended, and continued. As for what I wanted to mention before, I am hesitant to get into a drawn out discussion because it would entail mentioning specifics and could turn into spoilers, so I will make brief mention in the form of a suggestion to readers. Early in the book Ananda and Mag start making collages. As you read, keep in mind collages and photomontages and what, in essence they are, how they take parts or pieces of other, often unrelated, things and make a new complete whole from them. Play with the many variations on that idea while reading this book.

This is one of those rare books that I can't narrow down who to recommend it to. While I know there will be people who don't care for it I don't think there is a type of reader in general for whom this shouldn't be recommended. So: if you like to read, I recommend this book.

Reviewed from a copy made available through Goodreads First Reads. show less

Inspiring Creativity Through Magick by Astrea Taylor

Interesting and informative while providing concrete ideas for incorporating magick into one’s artistic practice – whatever medium one might create in. I loved the personal anecdotes, mythological historical aspects that tie into creativity and magick, correspondences, rituals, etc.

The is sectioned into:
* The introduction
* Part I: Creative Spirit & Creative Ritual broken down into
- Creative spirits inspiring art, Air, Fire, Water, show more Earth, Casting the Circle, Finishing the rough draft
* Part II: Refining and Releasing Your Art into the World
- The spirit of your creation, awakening the Egregone, Creative alchemy, The Magician’s Reveal, and what to do post release

The above topics are detailed, filled with information, rituals, tools, how to create a workspace and cleanse it, worksheets with questions to help the artist work through the topics, and more than I can cover in this review.

I can see using this book as a guide and would incorporate the ideas into more than one area of my creative process. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would like to have it in my library.

Thank you to NetGalley and Llewellyn Publications for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars show less

This is a beautifully comprehensive guide. There was a lot to take in but all good information from a witch in the know. I also appreciated the writings from other witches as well throughout.