Personally, I’m fascinated by magical practices. I’m intrigued by all types of belief, but the various designs, systems, and practices of the occult easily make my top ten of things I never get tired of learning about. However, something I find more intriguing than magical systems is magical practitioners themselves. Every time you read a book about a system of magic you may think you’re getting a glimpse of the magician behind it, but in my experience you’re rarely seeing more than a carefully crafted, small facet of the author (obviously there are exceptions).
One exception is The Warlocks Handbookby Matthew Ikonen. For me, this book is just as much a portrait of a practitioner as it is a magical text. This book isn’t so much a handbook as a collection of essays designed to help erase preconceptions, stimulate personal reflection, and encourage research. Ikonen is unabashedly honest about the origins of his practices and dares figures within the magical community to be just as honest. Not for the faint of heart, The Warlocks Handbookoffers a diverse group of experiences, rituals, and information that any magic user should find interesting.