Wicca: A Modern Guide to Witchcraft and Magick

Nice, a witch whose YouTube channel has 491,000 subscribers, compiles basic information on solitary eclectic neopagan practice in her muddled debut. Though Nice notes that “in the last five years, Wicca has progressed,” she fails to show that progression and instead gathers information long available from online and published sources. She states that her perspective will center on connection with the natural world, but limits her specifics to vague suggestions to go for long walks outside and a short list of recipes for herbal mixtures. She leans heavily on lists of deities and herbs with little context, and ticks off pantheons of gods and associations without discussing their stories or how they relate to Wiccan practices. This casual gloss over details turns neglectful, as when she suggests people to “do research” to find out if herbs are toxic, and directs readers to “be sure to banish” negative energies while providing no direction on how to do so. Despite Nice’s roots in video blogging, the book’s line drawing illustrations feel old-fashioned. Fans of Nice’s YouTube channel and readers looking for basic knowledge of Wicca might be interested in Nice’s quick summation, but practitioners will find little new information in this disappointing guide. (Apr.)