Beneath a Mountain Moon

I got lucky and got a first edition autographed by the author. If you like fiction, occult fiction like Aleister Crowley's Moonchild and Diary of a Drug Fiend you will probably also like the fiction of Silver Ravenwolf. I enjoyed all 3 of her Witches Night Out series but those are intended for teenagers but I am in my 20s it helped me feel a little younger and at heart again. Typical of the author's fiction it's an occult horror story a novel about a murder. I liked the originality of Ravenwolf not making this a "demonic possession" or otherwise been-done satanic horror film; it focuses on real life occult elements but dramatized for fiction. This reminded me of the brilliant fiction of Aleister Crowley. An original occult novel for original people.

OK, the writer in me agrees with some of the reviews here, most notably the "adjectiv-y" writing bothered me in the beginning.Once the book gets rolling, however, the story becomes "enchanting" enough to get past that and I found myself most interested in the charecter development, (especially Emma, cool charecter.)and the plot, added bonus of the witchcraft twist to it. some find it a little far-fetched, but if you look beyond the fantasy, (it IS fiction, after all, right?) look past the medium and see the message, the fundamental values of the pagan society are well represented. The rituals are beautifully described, offering a peek into the witches circle for non-magickal people, and for those in the craft, an example and a lesson on the extent of your gifts, and how they must be used without intent to harm. As with any book concerning the Craft, you will take from it what you need, or what you are ready to hear and learn, and enjoy the rest.The witch in me is absolutly thrilled that Silver Ravenwolf blessed us with such a fun and captivating story, I look forward to more! I am a big fan of her non-fiction, this is one Sister who "Gets it" and has the courage, kindness, and power to share her knowlege with us.

I thought that this book was fantastic. She was so descriptive and vivid in her writing that I felt there. Her main character was very mysterious and her past was slightly obscure and that made me want to read more to know more. The villain was briliantly concocted and the vilians family seemes perfect to be trouble. There were quite a lot of minor characters but I felt it gave the story more. I especially liked how she brought them all in at the end (the way they didn't necessarily live but helped out the main character).She fleshed them out all through the book giving them quricks and fantstic personality. She did a wonderful job on encorporting the ways on the craft also. Another thing that I found really attractive about the book is the fact that in such a fast paced novel and wth the plot so serious she found the time to encorporate at least some humor in to it. I thought this was one of the best book I've ever read & I personally can not wait to read her other book, Murder at Witches Bluff.

Silver did not set out to make this book realistic. This is a fictional novel, with fictional characters. However she, like Dion Fortune sought to include certain aspects of the magickal practices by having her characters use REAL aspects of solitary magick. While some of the reviews of this book are less favorable, they come from the aspect of those who know the Craft from perhaps a somewhat limited perspective. This book was not designed to be a real account of a real character, however I can tell you that every bit of what Elizabeyta did is very real from the perspective of Solitary Witchcraft, from the preparation and execution of ritual in the magickal circle, to conjuring divinity for specific purposes, to the use of herbs and oils for protection wards, to the drawing down of the Morrigan to fight the evil forces of the Blackthorn clan - these are all things which Witches do throughout the course of their lives. Having been born an instinctual Witch and having practiced a blend of Scottish/British Witchcraft for a number of years, I can vouch that nothing about the magickal practices used by the main character of the book was fantasy. Those that think so need to broaden their perspectives and do a little more homework. Silver RavenWolf, like Dion Fortune, attempts to teach by telling a story, rather than providing a how-to manual. Sometimes when we have had enough of how-to books, this book can get the magickal juices flowing again and provide a fresh perspective on the subject.This book teaches that magickal practices of The Craft are performed by everyday people like you and I, and the magickal results happen for those same people, very much real and in tune with the signs of the times.Silver RavenWolf... give us more!

I've read Silver's non-fiction works, and loved them... but when I read Mountain Moon, I thought to myself that this author is going places. I would love to read more of her fiction, should she decide to write more. Thank you Silver, and Bright Blessings Be!