Amanda Yates Garcia

PWW rating: 5
"normal" reader: 5

[B]SPOILERS
When I first began reading this book, I had no idea what to expect. This may be the first book I have ever read the prologue, note from the author, and epilogue. It was necessary, I think, to read her autobiography. At times, her upbringing was tough to fathom the atrocities done to children, girls, and the broken. Witchcraft throughout persistent. Beginning her life apart of the craft, then losing herself in the underworld, and in the end finding her way back to witchcraft to heal herself and those around her. The recollections of her past lovers, boyfriends, girlfriends, and how each journey shaped her. Saying word for word the spells used, how she did them, explaining the stories of pagan history through the years, how it connects to us now. How the crusades and destruction of cultures and worlds pain us more profoundly. Many history lessons from all perspectives from what we were told, the truth, and what we can guess based on what's leftover from the massacres. Whether you a goddess or god worship or not {which I don't as of now} this can still teach you many things. The basics to advance on getting what you need or channeling the necessary spirit or guide. Speaking about tarot [I do not use and have no experience with], myths, history, and stories make me want to know more because the way she delivers the information is perfect. This is the most realistic autobiography of witch I have ever read. Well worth completing. I have so many questions now that I have learned and answered, and that is the best feeling in the world. To all those PWW or not who decide to read, blessed be, and good luck on your journeys.

Each chapter begins with a quote relating to the subject/time she has transitioned to.

[B]Keywords and topics:
Tarot
Goddess & God worship
Spells
Incantations
Finding lost things
Loving creators
Demon lovers
Aware of her privileges
Femme
Sex work
Toxic family
Sexism & Patriarchy
Relationships
Lovers
Friends
Enemies
Dance
School, Uni, Study
Europe travels Amsterdamn, England
Zen monastery
Speaks truths about the atrocities and hardships of women, people of color, LGBTQ , and witches (i.e., all those who don't fit the mold according to this society and this world we live int)
Underworld
Fae
Drugs
Sex
Pain
Rape, Sexual assault, harassment
Siblings
Chart, sign, houses, stars, Saturn
Homelessness, poverty, suffering
Jobs, odd-jobs
coven, teachers, mentors
Mental health, medication, therapy… (mehr)

Beyond the sheer amount of trauma in this book (suffering as initiation), it's written in lengthy paragraphs that meander.
For example, the author will start each chapter with a quotation and then talk about part of her induction into witchcraft and the growth of her practice, but it's not linear. So she's walking us through her practice and what it means, how it developed, etc... but then she'll take a break to talk about her past. This is a little confusing, but what made it difficult for me to read was that she'd say something like "I'd do this for the next seven years," but then go right back to I think a few weeks after the events discussed? I had a difficult time figuring out where I was in the timeline of her life and how her practice was developing during each phase. Of course she's speaking from the present day with the benefit of hindsight, but it's tied together in a way that stands somewhat outside of time and reality.
At times it feels like the book is trying to be a how-to and why-to be a witch, which is at odds with the very personal narrative she's trying to shape. Overall, a book that could be one or the other but doesn't quite succeed at being both.
It's gotten rave reviews elsewhere, so *shrug*

Content Warnings: child molestation and rape, discussion of repeated rape and abuse of her mother by mother's father, sex work, drugs, pretty much every traumatic thing that could happen to a cis woman's body, mental illness

I received a copy of this book for review.… (mehr)