I love that Kelly-Ann encourages you to make your own path that is unique to you. If you’re familiar with her YouTube channel then you’ll like the writing style. It’s just as chatty and feels like a friend is talking to you. My favorite parts we’re definitely the “try it” and “write it” prompts at the end of each chapter. I love her take on the craft and how encouraging she is. I’ve already pre ordered my copy so I can note, highlight, & reference. I’d recommend this book to all witches from beginner practitioner to seasoned. Kelly-Ann’s energy is truly infectious!

Thank you to the Publisher Watkins and Netgalley for the advanced e-reader copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Rebel Witch is a GREAT book for fledgeling witches! I wish I had started out my witchy journey with this book all those years ago. Maddox takes the reader through all of the expected topics along a witch's journey, so much of it was familiar to me by now, but what I loved was the "rebel" approach to everything! Maddox provides a wealth of GREAT ideas for making your witchcraft practice truly unique and personal to YOU. I was inspired and delighted by the suggestions for things I'd never considered -- like incorporating elements or characters from my favorite books, TV series, video games, etc. into my practice -- in a way that was motivating and inspiring for me (not just trying to use a magic system from a game or something). The "Write It" and "Try It" prompts at the end of each chapter are full of so many ideas that encourage you explore YOUR approach to witchcraft and how you want to incorporate it into your life. I think my favorite thing about this book is how I came away from each page feeling empowered and comforted. This book allowed me to recognize and shed some of the "shoulds" I had been holding onto regarding my practice that didn't serve me, and helped me to find peace and excitement in pursuing the parts that are meaningful to me. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in witchcraft, anyone who wants to explore or embrace their journey as a witch.

This is a fantastic book. I really loved the authors perspective and its one I can relate to myself. I would absolutely recommend this to all my Witch friends:)

I cannot express how much I love this book. It covers all the basics of witchcraft but unlike other books, it encourages you to use your imagination and sense of wonder to carve your own path. It’s full of new ideas that I can’t wait to try out. Super easy to read, it’s hard to put down. I’m getting ready to pre-order my own copy so I can reread and make notes and highlights.

In Rebel Witch, YouTube personality Kelly-Ann Maddox encourages readers to step away from the usual guidelines of witchdom and forge their own path unique to themselves. As a longtime pagan and beginner witch, I was eager to see what she had to say, especially since I've often found that some commonly-accepted rules don't feel 'right' to me. While I didn't jive with this book's tone (it's very chatty and familiar with the reader, which didn't really appeal to me), I did like the fact that the author included 'try it' and 'write it' segments at the end of each chapter for practical experience, and I appreciated how she takes care to emphasise being true to yourself and your spiritual practice. For a novice looking to find their footing, or for someone intending to create a truly personal approach to witchcraft, this would be a good book to dip in and out of.

I really liked the conversational, approachable writing style of this book. It felt more like talking to an older, wiser friend than reading a how-to book. After reading so many books on the craft that left me feeling like I had to do everything a certain way, it was so refreshing to see Maddox continually emphasize the personal aspect and adapting everything to who each individual is.

Just for transparency, I've been a subscriber of Kelly-Ann Maddox's YouTube channel for years now. Despite that this book was a great resource! Like in her videos, Kelly-Ann brings a relaxed energy and has a casual, and easy way of explaining most witchy topics. Her voice is so strong even in her writing, it felt like she was talking to me directly even sprinkling her trademark terms of endearment throughout. I found that this book was really well laid out, giving readers easy points to dip into as things strike their fancy, and had really great practical prompts at the end of each chapter. I would love an entire book on deity work from Kelly-Ann!

Light occultism and feminism have become virtually interchangeable these days, it seems. This book was a fun, fast read that will serve as a solid recommendation for anything trying out witchcraft for the first time.

Like hundreds of other books, “Rebel Witch: Carve the Craft that’s Yours Alone” presents the bare bones of a solitary witch practice – not to teach, but to inspire readers to shape the elements into a unique and personal path of their own.

“A witchy practice usually includes rituals, spells and celebration of the natural cycles of Earth,” Kelly-Ann Maddox wrote, also noting witch can be a verb, a way of living.

Some witches follow group guidelines or operate within set traditions. This book is for those wishing to piece together a path to manifest their desires, which features their own interests, culture, art, passions, energies, powers, and references. It also provides a helpful check-in for those practicing the Craft for any length of time.





Each of the book’s three parts features a talisman symbolizing the intention of that section.

The first part encourages readers to create a practice honoring their individuality rather than coloring within the lines or following suggestions to the letter.

Part II is about taking action. Topics include how to work with energy, connect with non-human beings, set up altars, cast spells, do divination, and perform rituals.

Part III offers a confidence boost with ethics advice about cursing, binding, and working with demons; ways to create a meaningful schedule for your practice; and troubleshooting problems when they arise.





Throughout the book are activities. “Write It” prompts brainstorming, journaling, and note taking. “Try It” activities are practical exercises and suggestions to inspire action.

Is there a sabbat that doesn’t speak to you? Don’t celebrate it. If you don’t feel a particular space needs cleansing before magical work, don’t cleanse it. Are there boring parts to a ritual? Change or eliminate them. Who said you must keep a Book of Shadows and a grimoire? If you want comic characters on your altar, put them there. Sexy lingerie can be your preferred ritual wear. If you want to do a ritual to honor International Lefthanders Day on August 13, add it to your wheel of the year.

It’s all about tweaking and tailoring the Craft to suit your needs, thus empowering you to do what makes your heart sing. “Simply borrowing what others have created will find you trying to use ideas that reflect their power, not yours,” Kelly-Ann wrote. “As a rebel witch, you get to construct a practice that includes all the concepts and vibes that are you feel fizzy during your darkest times.”

My own practice has sustained me through some difficult times, and major life changes have me beginning to individualize new routines and rituals that take my quirks, needs, and lifestyle into account.

This book was an inspiration to assess why I witch the way I do. There were many suggestions, not to instruct, but to explain and extend ideas of what is possible all the while remaining neutral and inclusive. I will be adding more customs and celebrations that honor my Italian and German descent.

One of the many things I took away is her clear message, “The more you put yourself into the witchy system you create, the more the system will provide for you.”

Carving your own path is about getting out of comfort zones, not waiting for permission, questioning the consensus, and being authentic without apologizing. It’s about “looking at the pre-existing traditions being practices and tendencies within the craft … to see what rules you want to break and how to make your own,” she writes, giving readers a permission slip to be as wide and rogue as they desire.

She also gives them a detailed index and a suggested reading list.

If you’re ready to put a practice together from the bottom up, this book can be your guide.

Reviewed by Lynn Woike of PaganPages.Org
https://paganpages.org/emagazine/2021/03/01/book-review-rebel-witch-carve-the-craft-thats-yours-alone-by-kelly-ann-maddox/

Rebel Witch is described as a, “contemporary take on how to be a witch. Rebel Witch is an antidote to the cookie-cutter witchcraft agenda that gives a new perspective on the craft, asking each reader to create a powerful, personalised practice that taps into the current mood of female empowerment and spiritual rebellion”

I didn’t really know about the author, Kelly-Ann Maddox, before the book but as soon as I knew I would be reviewing the book I did a little research and it made me want to read the book all the more. I came across her YouTube channel and she has so many useful videos that I am slowly working my way through. You may already know about Kelly-Ann and have ended up here because of her book, but I’m the other way around. I’m really glad I discovered her work on the Craft. As well as her YouTube channel she is a tarot reader, tarot teacher, a certified spiritual counsellor and now she writes books! She wrote the book during the several lockdowns we’ve had here in the UK and she has definitely become a little bit of an inspiration to me.

Before getting to the content, I want to talk about the front cover because it is so beautiful! It was designed by Jenny Lloyd and you should definitely check out her other art because it’s all just as stunning. I love the colours that she has used on the cover - the blues and teals.

Before I give you my thoughts, I want to mention some of the features of the book; what’s included and how it’s organised.

It has been thoughtfully organised into three sections; let’s begin, make it happen, and let’s keep growing. Section one covers the main purpose of the book; what is a witch, the challenges and some inspiring and motivating thoughts from the author.

The second chapter focuses on the ‘usual’ aspects of the witchcraft practice; the witches calendar - wheel of the year, deities and divine beings, tools, altars, sacred space, spells and rituals. At first it sounds like the norm, however, the author has put a unique twist on a lot of these ideas. Which I’ll get to later.

The last section of the book looks at your continuing growth as a witch, including things you need to consider in your practice such as, your ethics, cultural appropriation (which is currently a big and important discussion in they Witchcraft community) and deeper topics such as shadow-work.

After each chapter there are activities called ‘write it’ and ‘try it’ which allow you to engage with the topics that have just been discussed in the chapter. I found them interesting to help evaluate and explore what you want your craft to be. But I also didn’t feel that I needed to do every single one of the activities.

The overall book focuses on a solitary practice. I feel that in recent years there has been a shift to witches being a lot more independent and solitary in their craft, rather than being part of covens. So it’s important to know this if you’re considering more of a group practice.

Let’s start with some things I really loved about the book, for one the tone and style of Kelly-Ann’s writing is informal and she comes across as friendly. I found her vibe to be really comforting. It's nice to have this more ‘fun’ take on the subject as some witchcraft texts, I have read, can come across as authoritative and quite dry.

The author also addresses the fact that there are already a lot of witchy books out there. If you watched my YouTube video about what I’m currently studying to add to my Witchcraft practice then you know that I feel like I’ve read enough about all the ‘beginner stuff'. There’s only so many times you can read about colour and candle correspondences, casting a circle, setting up an altar etc. So this is where this book differs, Kelly encourages a deeply personal practice that she describes as ‘authentic’ to you and encourages us to ‘leave behind what does not resonate’. When I started I did do this intuitively. I took what I wanted for my craft and left the rest, but beginners, especially, may feel a lot of pressure to embrace every aspect to be considered a witch.

But this book is about ‘carving’ out a Witchcraft path that is yours and extremely personal to you. I love how Kelly describes it as ‘carving a path that winds around your psyche and goes to the door of your heart.’ She provides so many ideas and examples of what you could add to your craft that are unique and contemporary.

I don’t want to give too much away so I’ll just give one example of something that stood out to me because it was something I already do.

I’ve never really conformed to the prescribed belief that your altar needs candles, a chalice, athame, wand etc. and that they need to be placed in specific places on the altar to align with the cardinal directions representing the elements. It just never looks appealing to me, and doesn’t inspire me.

The book mentions using images on your altar. I have a mood board (of sorts) that I change regularly depending on the seasons, wheel of the year or just depending on how I’m feeling. Kelly encourages the use of any images that inspire you - not just deities or things we would necessarily consider witchy. If you follow me on instagram then you’ve probably regularly seen my picture of Princess Mononoke from the Studio Ghibli film. I include her for the deep and spiritual connection she has to nature and I just love the film! At the moment I changed it for a picture of Jude and Cardan from Holly Black’s fiction book ‘The Cruel Prince’, for no real witchy reason other than I LOVE the book and feel a connection to the story and the characters. I also feel that the fae are very representative of Spring. Decorating my altar in this way was just something I did, but Kelly-Ann has confirmed to me just how important these books and films actually are to my Witchcraft practice.

Not only does she explore unique ideas relating to altars, but also witchy tools, deities, sacred spaces and spellcraft.

In the last section of the book, as I mentioned, it’s about making sure you are ready to go off on your own into your witchy world. The chapter I appreciated the most in this section was about scheduling and planning your Witchy time. Kelly-Ann does say that it may sound boring to talk about planning and scheduling your witchy time and not very rebellious, but I am all about the planning and organising! I love it! It makes so much sense to me because I am that witch that wants to learn and read and research and try everything that excites me, but actually making the time, and sticking to time to do that, can be tricky. This is definitely a chapter I’m going to come back to.

I feel like I always have to offer good and bad things - because that is what a review is about. So if I’ve given a review where the book really wasn’t for me I consider what some people might appreciate about it and vice versa. So this is not really a criticism, it’s just something to consider. A lot of areas of Witchcraft are covered in the book and some people may wish to have seen more detail. For example, there are lots of types of divination practices discussed. However, there are no specific examples of how to carry out a technique - if that makes sense. I can understand why this might be, because if there was a guided example for each of the techniques then the book would be huge! Think about it more as an inspiration guide, where you can choose areas you want to explore in more depth. As Kelly says there are so many amazing resources out there that offer in depth guidance on your areas of interest.

Speaking of other resources, I love the small ‘further reading’ section at the end - some of the titles went straight on my TBR pile!

OK so time for some final thoughts:

Even though I considered myself ‘settled’ in my practice and Craft there was still a lot said in the book that I didn’t realise I needed to hear and I found it to be incredibly inspiring. I think that even witches who feel deeply engrained in their Witchcraft journey, if you are open to change, then this book could help inspire your craft.

Like I said at the beginning, and as Kelly mentions herself, there are a lot of books out there that cover Witchcraft for beginners and more are currently being written. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It means we have options and what may suit one person doesn’t necessarily suit another. I’ve read a few ‘beginner’ witchy books that I didn’t like because of things like the style or way it was written, maybe some of the views or ideas I didn’t agree with and that’s fine because those books may work for someone else. It is after all a personal preference. It’s a very subjective practice. With Rebel Witch I enjoyed Kelly-Ann Maddox’s writing style and tone and found that she held a lot of the same ideas and beliefs about Witchcraft that I did.

As I was reading the book, I felt like I was agreeing with everything she was saying, and I love that she is honest and thoughtful throughout. To use one of Kelly’s phrases I felt ‘fuzzy’ while reading. Her personality really shines though in the book and I love the little bits and pieces she shares about her own craft. Although the book is called ‘rebel’ witch and is a very contemporary take on Witchcraft she still respects the traditions of the Craft and how important they can still be. I wish I had this book when I first started my witchcraft journey, for me she really nails what it means to be a witch.

Thank you to NetGalley and Watkins publishers for the advanced copy of this book. If you want a copy of ‘Rebel Witch’ for yourself it is available to pre-order and it comes out on the 13th April.

A beautifully feminist forward contemporary guide to witchcraft. Very empowering and encouraging of finding your own path with a relevant and personalised practice. Kelly Ann Maddox has a beautifully engaging writing style, it feels as though she taking you by the hand as a guide and mentor. A beautifully inspiring read.

Thank you to the publisher, Watkins Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

REBEL WITCH does a fine job at an introduction to being a witch and practising.
REBEL WITCH is a really good book to dip in and out of if you're a beginner, or someone whos just interesting due to the large scope of witchcraft that it covers. The book itself is more of a starter-point and gives a lot of general tips on practising, and is actually a really good tool. At regular points, the book will include some exercises to help the reader engage with what they're reading outside the book, such as journal prompts,

Maddox is also really accessible in her craft - making it explicit that anyone can practise and ensuring it suits the individual - such as practising via voice notes, or ensuring the individual doesn't feel guilty if they can't be seen to be openly practising which is nice :)

The occasional visuals are also stunning like they are BEAUTIFUL!

Admittedly - I've never heard of Kelly-Ann Maddox until I picked up this book, but she seems to be a good resource if you're interested in practising witchcraft or finding out more about it.

The only thing that irked me a bit that was when the book implied that you cant be a witch and practise religion, or maybe I read that wrong?
Overall, this is a good starting point if you're wanting to find out more about witchcraft, 3/5.

First of all, I wanted to say a thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
•

I’m a newbie to the idea of witchcraft so I went into this with absolutely no knowledge whatsoever. I applied to read this copy because I was really quite interested in how it all works. I particularly loved how inclusive this book is, and the mindfulness Kelly exudes, making it an accessible option for everybody, irrespective of their abilities which is super important.

Besides the writing itself can we just appreciate how beautiful the book itself is. Full of wonderful and aesthetically pleasing visuals throughout, they alone grab your attention.

I enjoyed Kelly’s dedication to providing and in-depth and pragmatic Informational overview into the witchcraft she herself practises, I think it’s always interesting reading the authors own takes and adds a nice personal touch.

Another really cool feature in this book are the interactive aspects, at the end of each chapter you’re given things you can do to increase your connection to certain aspects or areas you’re interested in. It makes it a super immersive experience, so it’s not all just reading, you really get stuck in with some amazing prompts.

•

This is just such a fascinating book and a really nice starter for anyone interesting in becoming a witch or starting their journey. It’s so educational but also feels very personal, everything is explained so clearly and in a way that’s easy to grasp. I like the fact Kelly-Ann doesn’t tell you what you should and shouldn’t do, but rather provides you with all the important and baseline information for you to make informed decisions about which aspects you want to incorporate into your witchy journey, whatever feels right and best to you which is a lovely addition and reduces the overwhelming feeling of having to follow strict guidance, it gives you the space to be and do what you want which likewise, increases the chances in completing the journey into becoming a witch.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read it was super interesting and really easy to follow. It felt more like having a chit chat with a friend about a cool new path they’re heading in their life and mulling over whether it might be the same for you. The chapters are really concise as well, so it’s not exactly a tedious read (as if reading about crystals and spells could ever be tedious). I’m really invested and hopefully there’s more to come from Kelly-Ann Maddox in the future!

Loved this! I have read a lot of witchy books over the last few years, but I have never read anything like this. It's so original. I take a witchy class monthly, and I read loads about the history of witchcraft and wicca and magick. I love it, and definitely feel connected to the craft. I adore the history of it (i'm a history nerd) but I do sometimes question some of the rituals and beliefs. This book actively encourages you to question everything and put your own spin on it. It makes you feel like you can do things your own way. I liked that. It is true to the origins, but also encouraging with doing something new and unique to you.

One of the things I liked the most about this book was the journal prompts. I love the idea of journalling, but I just have never got into it, or I struggle to know where to start. The prompts at the end of each chapter are just so inspiring, and would be great to start my journalling journey.

The only reason I didn't give this book the full 5* was just the way the book was laid out. It was very text heavy and I think it would have benefitted from some illustrations or diagrams. But that's just my own personal preference.

I was lucky enough to be given an early copy of this (electronic copy) in exchange for an honest review. I loved my reading experience so much I have actually pre-ordered the physical copy of the book when it is released in April. I can't wait to have this on my witchy bookshelf to refer back to.

First of all, stepping into your own as a witch can be scary. I love that this book talks about deciding if you are going to tell others about your path. In my practice, I am very big on doing what feels right for you rather than doing what "gatekeepers" tell you.
This was a very easy-to-read book packed with information for a witch at any level; from beginner to experienced. However, this is not what the average person would sit and read in one sitting. This is a novel that you use as a reference, continuously going back to it for more information.

I really enjoyed this book. It emphasises creativity and individuality within the parameters of a personal craft, which is a refreshing change from the prescriptive nature that we so often see. If you're interested in experimentation within the craft, and at looking at what opportunities could be opened up for you, then I would definitely recommend this book.

First of all, thank you for a chance to read and review "Rebel Witch".
It was a real pleasure. I have no plans whatsoever to become a witch and treated this book as a way to broaden my horizons. It has done the job. The chapters were short and clear. I liked the way the author treated magick and something very inclusive and flexible. 
I would highly recommend it to everyone who wants to have a bite of this witchy culture. 
Thank you once again.

Insightful and interesting.
I read a great deal of non-fiction about the practice of witchcraft, and they all generally have the same tone and same content.
While this shared content in the sense of traditional practices, I found the light, friendly tone much easier to read than other witchcraft guides.
I loved the focus on practicing in a way that feels right to you rather than how you’ve been told you should. I think this book encompasses a lot of what it means to be a witch, especially in modern day.

Great book.

Lots of information for a baby witch or someone new to the craft without being overbearing. Rebel Witch is not a book you'll read in one sitting and if you did its one that you will continue to revisit, make notes on and use as a starting point for building up knowledge.

The only thing I don't like is the the name calling. The author doesn't know me and I don't want to be referred to as their honey bee or similar.

Having friends that actively practice witchcraft of some sort, this was an interesting read. The author points out that everything is individualized, things can change regionally, things change based on your own personal history, etc. So while this isn't a "how-to" book of sorts, it's a good starting point if you're trying to understand the background and want to dive deeper into the practice. That being said, there's just a lot of these "Witching 101" (or even 201) type books that just start to sound the same after a while. If you've read any others that are similar, these are just different views on the same thing.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publishers of #RebelWitch for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.