- Author: Icy Sedgwick
- Illustrator: Becca Thorne
- Publisher: Watkins (watkinspublishing.com)
- ISBN No. 978-1-78678-974-7 (Hardback)
- ISBN No. 978-183681-020-9 (eBook)
- RRP: GBP £18.99
- Reviewed by: Margo Benson
Icy Sedgwick is a folklore writer, researcher and podcaster, investigating the world of European folklore. I’ve followed her work for some time and am very happy to be able to review this book. She saw that love divination and love magic featured predominantly in her studies – something we, as card readers, recognise from our own querents’ requests. The search for love, finding romance and seeking knowledge of a future spouse is an ancient one, and Bring Me Love offers spells, charms and chants, but also tells of how folk in the past used them. The book is full of tales and insights, which makes for wonderful reading.
Bring Me Love is an attractive, chunky book of 272 pages. Each chapter is well presented with illustrations, attributed to Becca Thorne. After a fascinating introduction, which includes information around sustainability and ethics, the contents cover everything from divining during certain Moon phases and times of the year, plant magic, the use of poppets and various household items and foods. There’s also a chapter on Cartomancy, which makes me very happy! There is a thorough bibliography and significant footnotes, plus the author uses herself as an example, which I also like.
Icy Sedgwick’s style is easy, chatty and approachable. She writes concisely and with a lovely light humour. There are plenty of stories and historical anecdotes from around the world – from ancient Greece to rural Shropshire, and the author also includes relevance to how this magic may be used here in the 21st century.
Here’s a simple New Moon ritual from Berkshire asking for a lover to appear:
Before bed, look up at the night sky and say,
New moon, new moon, I hail thee!
By all the virtue in thy body,
Grant this night that I may see
He who my true love shall be!
The book covers intriguing and complicated methods of divining for a future love, but also plenty of magical ideas involving everyday household items such as mirrors, hairbrushes, candles and clothing.
I’d recommend Bring Me Love to anyone with an interest in folklore and old traditions, not just readers seeking love and romance. The author has drawn on extensive historical research and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning about so many applications of magic.
You can find Icy Sedgwick here:
Website https://www.icysedgwick.com/
Icy also hosts the Fabulous Folklore Podcast https://open.spotify.com/show/3ayMEjrJuqkkSwk4pQF3aQ
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