This was an upbeat, interesting read. I didn't know many of the things about magic that Michelle Tea points out in her book and it was very enlightening.

DNF @ 28%.

As someone who is just starting to delve into different aspects of magic, I’ve been kind of building an eclectic practice of bits and pieces of what works and what isn’t relevant for me. It doesn’t mean that what isn’t relevant to me isn’t important, it may be super relevant to someone else, it just doesn’t apply to me personally or certain situations. I kind of do this with every area of my life—learning more and applying what resonates to help create a better life. What I learned is that I had to stop reading this book at 28% because it wasn’t the right fit for me. Let me explain my thoughts

The tone of the author is upbeat and quirky. It was easy for me to like her and the fun vibe that she gives off. She’s also a big proponent of ‘take what works and leave the rest’ philosophy, and encourages readers to do exactly that. I found it a little strange to change the spelling of ‘goddess’ to ‘goddexx,’ but I was prepared to overlook that. Her first spell won me over, especially reading about her ‘F*** This Spell’ on what was Election Day in the United States. I’m pretty sure more people might want to use the F*** This Spell — it’s been a rough week around the world, not just the US.

After this, the spells kind of went downhill for me. The advice to rub a coin or something on my vulva and give it to someone gave me the ick, and there were also some spells that come across as rambling. I’m used to a list of what is needed followed by directions, kind of like a recipe. This book offers the title of a spell and a little about how to do it, paired with where it came from and how it has worked for her or others.

Talking about how the brain reacts when prayer, chanting, and mantras are used was a really fascinating part of the book, at least as far as I read. But when I read nonfiction, and there are claims being made, it’s nice to know where they come from. There is an appendix at the end of the book, but it’s really just a list of her favorite books since her teenage years. In this age of misinformation and disinformation, it’s always a good practice to back up the claims you made. This statement, for example, would have been much more powerful if there was a citation:

“Prayers, chanting, and mantras—all repetitions of language—engage the frontal lobes of the brain, stimulating a hyper-focus. For folks in the process of channeling a spirit, the frontal lobes fade and the thalamus, the switchboard of communication between your body and your brain, lights up with activity.”

But what really gave me the full ick was when the author was talking about how the female body is the Ultimate Bad Luck Charm, and provided a bunch of evidence to support her position. However, and this is something I’ve been sensitive to, but something that has become increasingly common in magic books. This is the use of Hebrew words or Jewish practices/literature to justify a point, and it bothers me for a few reasons. This author decided to use a prayer that exists in Judaism and explain the misogynistic meaning of it and how it rolls into how women are viewed as negative or unlucky in cultures around the world. Which would be fine, if she had consulted with a Jewish person or even a rabbi who is familiar with the prayer thanking God for not making him a woman. Here’s how Tea explains it in her book:

“There is a reason Jewish men are encouraged to thank their creator for not having been born with a uterus and a vulva and a couple of teats.”

This is a gross misrepresentation of three prayers of gratitude, thanking God for not making him a gentile, not making him a slave/bondsman, and not making him a woman. There are valid reasons why I hate seeing Judaism tossed into magic books and other books written by people who are not Jews and have clearly not learned much about us. There’s a fantastic explanation of what the prayer actually means here, But the basics is that women are viewed as naturally more spiritual than men, leading the men to be required to do more mitzvot (good deeds) than women. What they’re actually thanking God for is not being made with a peen, it’s being given the gift of being able to complete more good deeds to overcome their reduced spirituality compared to women, and to basically have even more chances to worship God. She also leaves out the corresponding prayer that women say, thanking God, “who has made me in accordance with His will.” It doesn’t come across as nearly as misogynistic, when there is more information offered.

Judaism is a closed practice. It always has been, and our texts and practices have been appropriated and used against us for Two. Thousand. Years. There’s a reason that we have books full of our sages discussing what everything means in intense detail, and that’s to prevent us from misunderstanding even a word in the Torah. Since it’s a closed practice, and the author clearly explains her Catholic upbringing, she demonstrates a lack of understanding of how it’s just as uncool to appropriate from Judaism as others. She discusses the need to avoid appropriation from closed practices multiple times in the first 28% of the book, and then caps that off … by appropriating information from a closed culture that is still practicing and one of the most marginalized groups in America.

But after seeing Tea compare a practice that actually places women in a highly valued position to the misogyny that is inherent in Christianity, without even recognizing that this is problematic, was a major issue for me. It signifies that maybe the information being presented isn’t all trustworthy, and a few pages later, I came across the misrepresented and highly sensationalized story of Bridget Cleary, a woman who was murdered by her husband in 1895 when he became convinced his wife had been taken by the fairies and replaced with a changeling. It was unable to be determined whether she died from the beating before being burned or not. But in this book, apparently the author has an inside line for info that no one else has (which she conveniently doesn’t cite) because she described the murder as if she was there. And worse yet, despite Bridget Cleary never having been accused of witchcraft or being a witch, the author slips a line into her description about how Bridget also used the ‘rub a coin on your vulva and give it to someone’ by giving it to her cousin.

Overall, this wasn’t an especially enlightening or helpful read. I don’t have vast knowledge of witchery yet, but I do have a good working knowledge of how research claims work in a book, along with the ability to not appropriate from *any* closed practices because it’s something that is fundamentally wrong and doesn’t sit well with me. And as always, when I’ve found one thing that is presented incorrectly with no basis to check the source, another usually follows. So this isn’t a book that I can recommend in good conscience to anyone, because I don’t support a book labeled nonfiction with no source citations and with blatantly incorrect descriptions.

I received a ARC for this book! Modern Magic is an amazing collection of both Michelle Tea’s knowledge after 30+ years of witchcraft and tarot reading as well as easy to learn spellwork and witchy history. This is an amazing book for any individual who is just starting out on their witchcraft journey, or any witch who has been practicing for a while but wants Michelle’s knowledge and story! This collection of spellwork, rituals, stories, and basic knowledge of witchcraft creates a one stop shop for beginner witches. I highly recommend reading this book. I have been practicing witchcraft for a long time and enjoyed Michelle’s stories and spells quite a bit. The spells are simple and don’t require expensive or rare ingredients!

Modern Magic by Michelle Tea is a vibrant and thought-provoking exploration of love, self-discovery, and the supernatural. Blending elements of fantasy with real-world struggles, Tea creates a unique narrative that feels both whimsical and deeply rooted in human experience. The protagonist’s journey through magical experiences and emotional turmoil reflects themes of empowerment, healing, and the search for identity. Tea's sharp wit and lyrical prose draw readers in, offering a fresh and contemporary take on magic, making the book a captivating read for those interested in stories that blur the lines between the fantastical and the personal.

It is very difficult to read anything in this book without fact-checking and suspicion after the author has repeated an anecdote that has widely and authoritatively been debunked as an urban legend (“faggot” coming to mean a gay man does NOT come from such folks being burnt as “kindling” in fires that also burned witches. Whoever edits this book, please do the basic fact-checking that apparently the author didn’t bother to do.

I loved Michelle Tea's book on Tarot (Modern Tarot) and this book is a perfect addition to both that book and to any witch's bookshelf!! The writing in this book is easy to read and clear; you can absolutely tell that the author knows what they are talking about and has put in plenty of hours of time and research! What I really love about this book and author is that the information is made relevant to the modern world and allows readers and users to connect fully to the material immediately. This book is a perfect guide to a magical journey.

This book was not for me. Most of the witchcraft in this book is very basic and most of the book is a woman recounting what a special and unique teen/young adult she was. This would be fine if it was a couple stories, but its relentless. this book may be ok for a 13 year old, but not for me.

I thoroughly enjoyed this not-a-spell book, more similar to a memoir but with loose spell-ish suggestions tacked onto the end of every chapter, book about living magic(k?)ally. Michelle Tea writes irreverently, almost skeptically, about life as a modern witch, and I dig it. I took my time with it, reading about one chapter per day, and what I got from it was not a bunch of rules about doing things the right way, but more of a come what may attitude concerning embracing a way of life that gives women the freedom to live outside the need to have all the answers all the time. I found it refreshing, and I will probably read it again one day.

Thank you Harper Collins and Netgalley for the ARC of Modern Magic by Michelle Tea.

Modern Magic by Michelle Tea
Is part memoir, part instructional, and part history lesson on witchcraft. Michelle has been a solo practitioner for the better part of her life. She describes how difficult moments in her life informed the practice she has cultivated over the years. I especially enjoyed the focus on finding witchy women throughout history to admire and connect you with your own practice. The spells and rituals were thoughtfully written with explanations into intent and flexibility. This book is very accessible, aimed toward a younger demographic, and shares valuable insight into both life and witchcraft. Overall 3/5 stars.
While I enjoyed the book overall and appreciate Michelle’s wisdom, the writing style tended toward jokey, which isn’t personally how I practice, but is valuable for many people exploring witchcraft. I also think a different order to the chapters would be helpful. The beginning of witchcraft should be at the beginning, and may rouse the reader to actually try the “f*** you” spell at the beginning. I think it was jarring to me as a thirty one year old because it seemed to be aimed at a much younger audience, and was topical at times.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for sharing the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.

To me, this was a bit disjointed and all over the place. It is a memoir of sorts that describes the author's relationship with magic while adding some historical notes about witches and feminism.
I think I might have loved this book 15-20 years ago. This is a coming-of-age or "coming-into-power" story, in a way. Perhaps younger readers, especially those interested in the subject or considering themselves practitioners, will enjoy the book a lot more.
If you pick this book up for spells and rituals, you might be disappointed - there aren't many that are clearly described, and I don't think the book really wanted to be a modern grimoire. There is literally a part where we are told to "google a PDF of AA Just for Today poem" to create a "spell." (I am not knocking the suggestion - just questioning the delivery)

I hope this book finds its readers, but I do think the title and the cover are a touch misleading.

Sometimes you read a book and it’s what you thought it was based on the blurb and your satisfied. Other times you read about that it’s not quite what you expected. But then there’s that rare occasion when a book for exceeds what you were expecting in this book is exactly that!

If you’re looking for a truly awesome book in this genre, look no further! The author share some awesome stories from her life which alone were enough to intrigue me. But she, sprinkles and spells, rituals, and history that just makes us stand out beyond any other book. I’ve read in this genre this year.

I know this is gonna sound weird, but so be it. This is part witchy, part educational, and 100% feel good! There, I said it. and those are words you generally don’t hear when reading a book of this type. But there’s a first for everything. And this is it for me..

Thank you NetGalley, Michelle Tea, and HarperOne for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This one wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. It’s definitely more a memoir when I was expecting more rituals, practices, and tips and tricks. However, that’s what you’re looking for, I recommend picking it up!

Modern Magic by Michelle Tea is an insightful and informative guide for anyone looking to explore the world of witchcraft and spiritual practices. Tea’s approachable style makes complex concepts easy to understand, offering practical tools for incorporating magic into everyday life. Whether you're a beginner or experienced practitioner, this book serves as a helpful resource for deepening your magical journey.

This is not what I thought it would be. I was expecting an explanation of what magic would look like in this day and age, and this read more like a person's memoir or advice book. It was charming on occasion, but not particularly interesting overall. It didn't have the narrative theme I was expecting.

Another refreshing read from Michelle Tea! She reads as so much more real and grounded than many witchy authors. I will definitely recommend her book to witchy folks looking for a more radical perspective - Tea cares about cultural appropriation and virtue signaling. She's realistic about using all of our resources intentionally. Though this book isn't ideal for folks wanting quick spells and references, as it's full of storytelling, it's a great recommendation for a thoughtful magical feminist who wants to read and ask questions. Her voice really stands out in the world of witchy books.

Practical, doable, and fun. This book had a bit of everything. I enjoyed the down-to-earth approach to witchcraft and how inclusive Tea was as she was writing. A great starter volume!

I feel like this was marketed wrong... I thought I was going to be reading about magic and spells, but this is more of a memoir/ autobiography. It's interesting, don't get me wrong, it's just not what I signed up for.

As a practicing Witch for over 30 years, I am always excited to read new "magic" books, because witchcraft is a life long study. I had high hopes for Modern Magic, by Michelle Tea, but it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I wouldn't call it a "magic book" it's more of a conversational, anecdotal book by an interesting person. Who would be fun to invite to a dinner party, or hangout with. I REALLY wanted to love it, but it missed the mark.

I love Michelle Tea’s Modern Tarot book. She is so real and strong in her descriptions of the card and I love her personal anecdote.

I found her book Modern Magic to have the same vibe as the first, but it may not be exactly what people are expected when picking up a book for their spiritual rituals and practices. It’s definitely more of an autobiography and her gritty sarcastic personality just didn’t hit the spot for me regarding my spiritual practice as it did when dissecting and interpreting tarot cards. This is more of a reflection of my own practice however! I think her style may really resonate with both seasoned and baby witches! It takes all kinds of styles and voices to make a strong coven!

"Modern Magic" by Michelle Tea details how the author goes about her witchcraft practices. An interesting read and I think would even be a good reference for creating a fictional witch character due to how this book is a combination of personal stories, her mindset on things, how she approaches her various tools like tarot, an altar, etc. There's a bit of everything above throughout the book.

I am noting here for others that there are briefly some feminist and LGBTQ themes discussed in the book. Really only obvious in the beginning pages. It didn't affect my reading experience at all, but I did send a suggestion to the publisher to include that as part of the book's tags.

Thank you again, NetGalley, the author, and the publisher(s) for the advance copy of "Modern Magic." I will look into Michelle's other book, "Modern Tarot."