What Makes A Good Witchcraft Book

Sabrina Zaczek
May 21, 2025
14 min read

Running a book club is so much fun, even more so when it’s all about witchcraft. Building discussion and reading guides, hosting enlightening meet-ups, crafting rituals, building a community… but most importantly, getting to read so many incredible books. There are so many new books published every year lining the Mind, Body, and Spirit shelves: Witchcraft, Deities, Sacred Traditions... Unless you’re going in for a specific title, it can be hard to find a good book; one that isn’t just informative but a genuinely good read too. That begs the question: what exactly makes one book better than another? Is it the content? Is it how it’s written? Is it enchanted ink printed on charmed parchment that leaves you bewitched? Having no education in literature, and having no formal training in every single form of witchcraft imaginable, I’m not exactly an authority figure on the subject. However, as an avid reader, there are certain things that I believe made a good book on witchcraft.

Types of Books on the Craft

First, we need to acknowledge that there are different types of books within the Mind, Body, Spirit tag. So, while there are certain things I look for across the board, different book types have unique criteria that I keep an eye out for. Think of it like apples and oranges: you can’t judge them the same just because they’re both fruit. I personally tend to classify witchcraft books as one of the following five book types:

Basics/Beginner/Overview book: A book that covers all the basics and/or gives a general knowledge of the craft, practices and more.
Reference Books: Books that aren’t so much for reading, but that you pull out when you are looking to reference something specific. These would be books of correspondences, herbal and crystal guides, and almanacs, to name a few.
Specific Path/Traditions: Books that explore a narrowed topic within the craft, often focusing on a specific practice, tradition, deity, or other.
Divination Books: Books that specifically teach you how to perform divinatory arts. The most common type of divination book you’ll find teaches you how to read tarot cards, but there are plenty of books that cover scrying, pendulums, palmistry, and more!
Book of Spells: A book filled with spells, written by practiced and experienced hands. While this could be considered a reference book, I find the information more in-depth than the lists and tables you usually find in a reference book.

Despite all these books following different formats, being filled with diverse content, and each written with a unique goal in mind, they’re all still books. Literary marvels capable educating, entertaining, and inspiring. But in order for a book to pass my standards, it needs to check off a few boxes first.

Comprehensible Language:

Not every book is beginner friendly, and not every book has to be. But, concepts specific to the topic at hand that likely aren’t common knowledge in the craft should at least be approached with simple and comprehensible language. Even if the author feels it should be common knowledge or basic information for that path of the craft, a brief moment to define terms and concept goes a long way to make sure the reader is on the same page and able to follow along. Beginner books especially should assume the reader knows absolutely nothing and is going in blind. There’s nothing more frustrating than having to read something multiple times and still feeling like you don’t quite understand it because the author assumes that you’ll just get it. It can also feel like a waste of time and money when you have to put the book down and do a deep dive on the internet or reach out to authority figures on the subject to grasp the information in your book. Afterall, why buy and read a book if you won’t be able understand anything in it?

Friendly, Non-Judgement Tone

We all have varying opinions in the craft and in life, and there’s nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree. But nothing is a bigger turn off then reading a book to educate yourself and getting a snarky, egotistical, or judgy tone back, like listening to teacher that thinks they’re above their students. (Cunningham, I’m looking at you!) Being an authority figure on a subject, or even just having the patience to sit down and write a book cover to cover, doesn’t give you the right to pass judgement and make assumptions about your readers. They’re supporting your career and helping to fund your life after all! The author might be sharing their path and traditions with the world, but there is more than one way to cast a spell, honor the ancestors, and connect with a deity. To use a book as a platform to shame people for practicing their craft or living their life differently is disgusting, and can destroy the entire experience of reading a book, even if it’s just one comment or one moment of self-righteousness.

Good Writing:

I’m not expecting witchcraft books to gain any sort of literary clout, winning Pulitzer prizes and other awards, but I am expecting it to be well written. Some of the best books on the craft I’ve read have been really funny, or flow really well, or break up the sections with spells and activities so it doesn’t get too heavy. Just because it’s educational doesn’t mean it can’t be engaging, and exciting, and read well. It doesn’t have to be dry, include big words no one ever uses… It should still be a great book to read, even if you decide the magic taught within isn’t for you. The experience should always be enjoyable.

Balance between readable content and referenceable material:

There’s nothing more boring than a book about magic that doesn’t let you do any magic. Except maybe a book that’s only got magic, but doesn’t explain how any of it works. I’ve read a couple of books that cover magical topics that feel like they suck the, well, magic out it, either by having no exercises and spells, or basically repeating the same one over and over again with minor adjustments to each. I’ve also read plenty of books that contain spells calling for ingredients and components that aren’t covered anywhere in the book, with no explanation as to why you should be using those items for that kind of spell. A book should have readable information to take in, and a book on the craft should give you a chance to experience the magic it’s sharing. Even if it’s a reference book, I believe it should at least have a little blurb explaining the next section of spells, crystals, herbs etc, and special things to take note of. Otherwise, how are you supposed to fully understand what you’re reading and putting into practice?

Specific Qualities For Specific Types

As I’ve mentioned, every book is unique, so every book will bring different qualities that make it an enjoyable read. If we’re talking about mystery books, it has to have surprising twists and turns. If we’re talking about romance, it needs swoon worthy moments. But we’re not talking about fiction at all; we’re talking about witchcraft and the different types of books within that genre. So here are some additional criteria I look for when picking a new book of each type:

Basics/Overview Books:

Books on basics needs to be written like a book for dummies. There can be no assumption that the reader knows anything related to the craft, and it shouldn’t come with any expectation that the reader will even ever commit to the craft. It should be equally informational for someone practicing magic as it should be for someone just wanting to understand what all this witchcraft stuff is about. It should also avoid language that pressures the reader to call themselves a member of the witchcraft community (no “you’ve got this, witch!” kind of motivational statements that might feel like a bit much to someone who’s still undecided.) Lastly, it should also avoid any language that makes big statements about what a true witch should be, or what a true witch should do. I’ve come across some books, as well as social media posts by authors, that claim stuff like “You can’t be a witch unless you’re an activist” or “All witches have relationships with a deity”. Witchcraft can look like a lot of different things to a lot of different people. To promote a certain path as the only true path is harmful to the community. It can also put a lot of pressure on people curious about the craft to give energy towards things that maybe they don’t have room for in their life right now.

Suggested Titles and Why I Love Them:

Solitary Witch by Silver Ravenwolf

This was the book I started my journey with. It covers SO MUCH but doesn’t feel overwhelming. I felt comfortable skipping around, exploring topics I was curious about and ignoring ones I didn’t feel I needed yet. While every subject isn’t super detailed, it gave me enough information to decide whether or not I wanted to dive deeper into the topic. There are no areas that feel like it’s telling you “you have to know this, and you have to master that before you can even consider doing any magic”, and the section of spells is all directed towards specific situations that may have drawn the reader to the craft in the first place, such as stopping bullying, getting a new job, etc.

The Dabbler’s Guide to Witchcraft by Fire Lyte

First of all, this book is hilarious. A truly enjoyable read. There are so many little jokes and humorous anecdotes that bring a lightness and relatability to the book. It’s also written for people who know nothing about the craft, and is the only book I can find that covers topics like why someone might want to claim the title of witch, what the community can be like, gatekeeping and inclusivity, and just generally stuff that doesn’t get talked about enough. Additionally, it’s got a well-rounded view on things, covering different people’s perspectives and why they exist (if you check out his podcast Head On Fire or his Instagram, you’ll see he approaches all of his dialogues in a similar matter.) I personally really appreciate a voice like his, both within and without the witchcraft community. We need more people willing to look at things through different lenses, and have conversations where we can respect people’s differences of opinions rather than judge them for it. This book feels like that sentiment put into practice.

Reference Books

This one is a little tougher, and usually requires skimming the pages a bit to figure out if I’m willing to buy the book. Because there are no set rules in the craft, and because there are technically no right or wrong ways to do something, sometimes I just can’t resonate with what a book and author are trying to teach, even if they are a well-respected authority figure within the community. Therefore, when looking at books on herbs, crystals, and correspondences, I like to look at the items I use a lot a lot in my craft and see if the author’s information aligns with the knowledge I already have. If we have vastly different descriptions of my favorite crystal’s energy for example, the book probably won’t have information that aligns with my personal practice. I don’t usually agree with cherry-picking your sources so they align with your beliefs because it’ll often lead to a narrow and close-minded view on subjects. However, in areas where interpretation can be more subjective and colored by your experience, heritage, and culture, I do believe in looking for sources that align more with yourself. If that feels wrong, and too much like cherry-picking, try looking for books by authors with similar paths or cultural backgrounds as you. If your practice aligns with the druids and Celtic traditions, a reference book written by a Slavic witch likely won’t align with your practice.

Suggested Titles and Why I Love Them:

Kitchen Witchcraft by Laurel Woodward

Most kitchen witch books I’ve picked up consist mostly of recipes with limited explanations about why certain ingredients were chosen. I love to cook, and when I picked up this book, I really wanted something that explained what magical properties that different foods can bring to the table. This is the book I was searching for. Woodward keeps an unbelievably comprehensive list of common cooking ingredients found in north America, and outlines what they’re good for in your kitchen witchery. It goes beyond cooking with herbs and spices, and gets into actual produce, like leafy greens, legumes, fruits, root vegetables, and more. It even goes into pantry items like different kinds of flour, sugars, vinegars, etc. And, like any good book on the craft, it’s got recipes and rituals to try to keep things interesting, and blurbs to introduce each section of the book.

Cunningham’s book on crystals

While I don’t always like his tone (why are you so harsh towards pearl lovers?!), it’s one of the few books on crystals that goes beyond pretty gems and includes minerals, rocks, and metals as well. I’ve been interested in gemology and geology since I was a kid, filling my pockets with stones from the lake, and taking family trips to the Rockhound Gemboree to do some open pit mining. So, when I got into the craft, I wanted to understand crystals from more than just a metaphysical standpoint; I wanted to understand their composition and the science behind them. I appreciated that Cunningham’s book went beyond the obvious and included additional information to help give me the context I was looking for.

Specific Craft/Traditions

I don’t think there’s anything too specific that I haven’t already touched on that I look for in this category. However, all the books in this category that I have not enjoyed possessed a couple of common elements. Something that leaves a bad taste in my mouth is constant reminders of an author’s political and activist opinions. I’ve seen some books go as far as creating this feeling that you’re not an authentic witch, or a disgrace to the community, if you’re not also constantly using your magic to fight every battle there is to fight. That’s a lot of pressure to put on a reader, and a lot of assumptions about their practice. Not everyone finds their path because they want to change the world. Some of us can only commit to enough magic to keep our own lives on track, and no one should feel lesser then for not having the energy to do more. I also really dislike when a book advertises something like “over 50 spells and exercises!”, when really, it’s the same spell rehashed over and over again. It feels like false advertising and dishonest marketing. I would almost prefer if they advertised it as “learning how to adapt a favorite ritual to work through multiple situations”. I would feel less disappointed halfway through the book, less cheated.

Suggested Titles and Why I Love Them:

Of Blood and Bones by Kate Freuler

Not only is this book super easy to read, but it makes the “darker” side of magic super approachable. I’ve always been drawn to the darker side of magic; curious about bones, attracted to deities of the night, and believed in dishing out a curse or two when necessary. So, I was thrilled to find a book that covered topics like bones, blood, bugs, and just some traditionally “scarier” topics, approaching them without any judgement or stigma. This book quickly turned me into a die-hard Kate Freuler fan, and I will forever give any new book she writes a try (Magic at the Crossroads is also phenomenal!) And a fun little bonus: she’s a fellow Canadian! How cool would it be if we found ourselves in the same circle one night?!

Year of the Dark Goddess by Lara Vesta

I found this book to be so inspirational. Not only does it have great information about the rhythms in the year, but the ideas on how to celebrate them and the sabbaths, and ritualize moments of transformation in your life really struck a chord with me. It was exciting, engaging, and also encouraged the reader to be playful in a sense, offering up suggestions to help you customize your craft to resonate with you on a deeper level. My favorite thing about this book though is the encouragement to just be your most wild, feral self. Through my experience as a daughter, as a girl, as a woman, I’ve had so many moments where other people have put their expectations on me of how I should behave, look, talk, and even sit! Through it all, the voice inside me screaming to be feral has remained, and this book has helped me learn how to let that voice out and into the world. I’m much happier and comfortable in my skin for it, and will therefore always recommend this title.

Divination Books

While I am trying to expand my divination skills, most notably in crystal ball scrying and tea leaf reading, my primary form of divination is tarot. Nearly every time you get a new deck, it comes with a guide book, and they’re almost all laid out the same: quick intro to tarot and the author, a couple of spreads, then an interpretation of each 72 cards. If every book is the same, and I get a new one with every new deck, why on earth would I buy a standalone tarot book? It an absolute waste of money and space on my shelves. However, I have found some divination books I’ve been willing to add to my personal library because they are unique. A divination book has to have something new to offer, whether it’s a different teaching structure, a new perspective, or explores ways to use the cards beyond the deck. My standard of uniqueness holds for books on other forms of divination too. If I pick up a scrying book, don’t just teach me how to gaze into a ball and interpret symbols; I’ve got a book of correspondences for that. Teach me about different methods of scrying, ways to elevate the experience, or what other facets of the craft you can bring into your reading. If I’m learning about tea leaf readings, I want to know about the importance of the leaves and herbs you use, the history and culture behind it, how to train your eye to actually see the images inside the leaves. Otherwise, divination books may just as well be reference books.

Suggested Titles and Why I Love Them:

Tarot Every Witch Way by Lilith Dorsey

This book goes beyond the traditional tarot book by including spells, rituals, and recipes that use the energy of the cards in your craft and go beyond your spreads. I’m the type of person who likes to use things in unconventional ways and really get the most out of my items. I may not be in the mood to do a reading, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to play with my cards. This book has all the inspiration I needed to get me playing with my cards in unique ways I wouldn’t have thought about using them. However, if the extra stuff isn’t your jam, it of course covers all the cards and explains how to interpret them. It also includes some fun spreads that you won’t find in other tarot book towards the back.

Book of Spells

This one is a little similar to what I look for in a reference book. I like to skim through the book to make sure the items and actions called for in the spells align with my practice; I’m not going to trust a book selling a cord cutting ritual as a bonding spell, after all. I also like to see a good variety of spells. Unless I’m researching something specific, like Yule, I like my spell books to cover a wide range of situations and technics. I often use spell books when friends and family are in need of magickal help, and I don’t have the time to help them create, prep, and perform a ritual. So, I need books that are versatile, preach magic I can explain if they have questions, and are simple to understand and recreate. I don’t tend to use spell books for myself, because I like to create spells from scratch, but every now and then when I don’t know where to start, I’ll dive into a book and explore the spells to find inspiration. I suppose one day I’ll likely want to engage in some more advanced magic that I haven’t dabbled in yet and need a good, advanced spell book to help me level up my spellcasting. When I reach that point, I may have to re-evalute what I look for in a Book of Spells.

With all that said, there are thousands of books out there; some great, some awful, some I think are great that others swear are awful, and vice versa. Just because I look for specific things, doesn’t mean books that are lacking in those areas are automatically bad. And a book that might not be for me might be someone else’s cornerstone book on the craft. Every book is different, and every person is different. It’s ok that not every book was written with me in mind, and it’s ok if they’re not written for you too. It simply means those words aren’t meant for us, and I hope they find their intended audience someday if they haven’t already. What makes something good is purely subjective. So that just leaves one question: What do you think makes a good witchcraft book? No, I'm serious, I want to know what makes a good book for you!