Tien Hoang “The Urban Shaolin”

I am impressed …

Review: The Apothecary’s Curse by Barbara Barnett

The Mad Scientist reviews The Apothecary’s Curse by Barbara Barnett

This genre-bending urban fantasy mixes alchemy and genetics as a doctor and an apothecary try to prevent a pharmaceutical company from exploiting the book that made them immortal centuries ago.

In Victorian London, the fates of physician Simon Bell and apothecary Gaelan Erceldoune entwine when Simon gives his wife an elixir created by Gaelan from an ancient manuscript. Meant to cure her cancer, it kills her. Suicidal, Simon swallows the remainder—only to find he cannot die.

Five years later, hearing rumors of a Bedlam inmate with regenerative powers like his own, Simon is shocked to discover it’s Gaelan. The two men conceal their immortality, but the only hope of reversing their condition rests with Gaelan’s missing manuscript.

When modern-day pharmaceutical company Transdiff Genomics unearths diaries describing the torture of Bedlam inmates, the company’s scientists suspect a link between Gaelan and an unnamed inmate. Gaelan and Genomics geneticist Anne Shawe are powerfully drawn to each other, and her family connection to his manuscript leads to a stunning revelation. Will it bring ruin or redemption?

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Pyr. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Purpose of Life?

The more I’ve learned the less I am sure of …

Reindeer killed by lightning

Over 300 Norwegian reindeer were killed in a thunderstorm. It’s is believed that the reindeer gathered together during the rough weather. While it is a terrible accident, perhaps it is something more.

Maybe this is the first strike in a war between Santa and Thor? Sorry kids, your Christmas presents may be a little late this year due to transportation issues.

 

In my mailbox: The English Magic Tarot

I want to thank the people at Weiser Books for this free review copy of “The English Magic Tarot”. I’ll do a booktube video of this card-set next week.

This captivating new tarot deck draws us into the vibrant but often hidden world of English magic, evoking a golden age of mysticism when John Dee was Queen Elizabeth’s Court Astrologer, antiquarian John Aubrey rediscovered ancient sacred sites, and the great physicist Isaac Newton studied alchemy.

The English Magic Tarot places the cards in the colorful yet turbulent period of English history that stretches from the time of Henry VIII to the Restoration. During this time of upheaval archetypal forces were very much at play, making this a perfect setting for the cards. Brought to you by renowned artist Rex Van Ryn, colorist Steve Dooley, and writer Andy Letcher, this deck has a dynamic, graphic style. There are unique twists to some of the traditional images, with riddles, references, and lore buried within them that will draw users ever deeper into the mystery and meaning of the cards.

The first deck of its kind to draw explicitly on the English magical tradition, The English Magic Tarot opens up a rich new pathway into the cards that will delight novice and experienced tarot users alike.

 

My weekly wrap-up for August 20th 2016

Spiritual Awakening (The Easy Way) – by Tim van der Vliet: official trailer

Typography Desk Organizer Set Video Tutorial

In my mailbox: Angels and Tarot, oh my…

The mailman managed to wad my books into the mailbox with the skill of an origami expert. Today I received ( http://amzn.to/2aDWngl ) Angels, Plain & Simple: The Only Book You’ll Ever Need, and ( http://amzn.to/2aDX351 )Tarot Triumphs: Using the Marseilles Tarot Trumps for Divination and Inspiration. Both books will be available September 1st. I can’t wait to dig into these books!

I want to thank Hampton Roads and Weiser Books for the free advanced review copies. You guys are awesome!

Angels, Plain & Simple: The Only Book You’ll Ever Need

Throughout time, people of many cultures and religions have believed in angels. Now Beleta Greenaway brings you closer to these wonderful beings in this delightful guide. She shares some of her own experiences with angels and describes how you can make your own connections with them, whether through meditation, in dreams, using decks of special cards, or by other means.

Greenaway covers the entire angelic realm. Included here are:

• Encounters with angels
• Angels in the modern world
• Angelic herbs and plants
• How to work with angels
• Angels, animals, and heaven
• Angels in the Afterlife

This is for anyone who is interested in angels, who wants a little supernatural help, and/or who wants a glimpse of the vast array of other worldly forces and beings that inhabit the universe.

Tarot Triumphs: Using the Marseilles Tarot Trumps for Divination and Inspiration 

Focusing on the major arcana, or trumps, of the Marseilles Tarot, the aim of this book is to encourage the reader to experience the tarot in a direct, fresh, and uncluttered way.

Key points:

• Focuses on the 22 trumps, or the major arcana of the tarot
• Offers advice on how to study each card and find its unique significance
• Provides instructions for laying out and reading the cards
• Explores the tarot in terms of history, divination, symbolism, and esoteric traditions

This exploration of the major arcana includes “The Fool’s Mirror,” a new method for laying the cards out, as well as hints for using the tarot to gain deeper levels of awareness. Cherry Gilchrist offers ways to approach each card, absorb it, and understand its essence. Readers are encouraged to relate this essence to personal experience as the most enduring and rewarding way to prepare for reading the cards.