Took this one out of the library to read when Deborah Blake came on my podcast- had to go buy it. And several of her other books. She has such a grasp of practical magick! This is a book (and author)I'll recommend to anyone newly exploring the craft. ( )

My full review can be found at www.paperbackgoddess.blogspot.com
One of the things I absolutely loved about this book is the writing style. It is not stiff and impersonal like many other books I have read. Miss Blake writes in a very friendly and welcoming manner, often using humor, which makes it seem more like a conversation than a lecture. You feel as though she is talking directly to you.

I believe that this is a wonderful book that anyone who feels the need to learn more about Pagans can enjoy. Displaying such warmth and wisdom, Deborah Blake is really in her element here. ( )

Multiple reviewers and the author herself have said that this book isn't intended for beginning Witches. I think it would be suitable for them anyway. This simply isn't a book on the techniques of Wicca. If the books that tell you what esbats and sabbata are, what the significance of the four elements is, or how to cast a circle are Wicca 101 books, I'd say this is a Wicca 102 book. The Goddess is in the Details strikes me as a book that gives a context for all those techniques you're learning from the beginners' books. Blake discusses topics on handling crises, living with non-Pagans, and religious prejudice and tolerance—issues that a witch may have to deal with long before becoming proficient at spell-casting. (Conversely, I'd be a bit worried if someone took the time to master all the techniques and theories of Wicca without grappling with the ramifications of "Harm none" or considering the pros and cons of raising their child as a Wiccan).

That said, I was a little frustrated that this book didn't go deeper into many of these topics. Maybe I'm just craving more 201 books! And the book may not have many surprises for those who've got plenty of life experience; just being alive will expose you to lots of these issues. Still, I really liked the chapter on integrating ritual into your life on a daily, monthly, and yearly basis—life beyond the sabbats, so to speak. Blake has some solid simple rituals that bring out the heart of Wicca without bogging down in the paraphernalia ("How many candles do I need?!"). She also finds ways of integrating Pagan practice with the mundane holidays, which you don't find in most other books on being Pagan. Plus, a 2½-page bibliography at the end helps curious readers find more on the subjects that interested them. ( )

Full review located at http://paganbookreviews.com/2009/03/07/the-goddess-is-in-the-details-by-deborah-...