It’s been a year, so I guess, it’s time once again.

Here’s the previous editions. Assuming I haven’t lost count at some point.

First
Second
Third
Fourth
Fifth
Sixth (the Finnish edition)
Seventh
Eighth
Ninth

I actually have a lot of nice Finnish books (including one that’s basically just a spellbook of a witch), but I’ll save those for their own separate edition.

Okay, let’s get this out of the way first:

Edward Brooke-Hitching: Love – A Curious History in 30 Objects
Edward Brooke-Hitching: The Madman’s Orchestra – The Greatest Curiosities from the History of Music
Edward Brooke-Hitching: The Madman’s Gallery – The Strangest Paintings, Sculptures and other Curiosities from the History of Art
Edward Brooke-Hitching: The Devil’s Atlas – An Explorer’s Guide to Heavens, Hells and Afterworlds

I’ve mentioned Brooke-Hitching at least five times in the previous editions. Here’s four more books. They are all wonderful sources of inspiration for all sorts of weirdness. A lot of this stuff is too unbelievable for stories in the real world, but that doesn’t mean your fantasy world couldn’t have all of this stuff.

These books are of a larger size then most, so they are also a great conversation starter, because people do notice Devil’s Atlas in big letters on your bookshelf. You do have a bookshelf, right?

Joan Smith: Unfortunately She Was a Nymphomaniac – A New History of Rome’s Imperial Women

‘Nymphomaniac’ is a very gendered term and there’s a reason no-one knows the male equivalent (satyriasis). It’s used as a weapon against women. It’s an easy way to demonize a woman.

Liz Williams: Compendium of the Occult

Want to know what Saxon ritual tools like? This one has you covered.

Magic Songs of the Finns

Songs and music have a strong role in Finnish mythology, so here’s a bunch. The book doesn’t list an author or even an editor. These are gathered from various late-19th century and early 20th century sources. A lot of the spells have been categorized based on uses.

Ambrosia Hawthorn & Sarah Justice: The Contemporary Witch

One of my problems with magic in roleplaying games is that it gets showy when subtler approaches would be better. Like, everything is just Fireball when a simple ritual to make sure everyone is comfortable in the meeting with the merchants would be much more in line with how magic was used in the real world. I know, for many the showiness is the thing, but you know… at some point that becomes boring.

DeeDee Chutney & Willow Winsham: Treasure of Folklore – Woodlands & Forests

There’s a series of these books with different themes, but I’ve only read this one. I would assume the other ones are pretty similar in spirit. It’s a collection of myths from around the world, in my mind kind of intermediary level, meaning that these are not the ones you stumble on first, but not exactly obscure either.

V. Castro: Tales of the Dark Feminine – Inspirational Stories of the World’s Fiercest Goddesses

Starting with Kali and Lilith, ending with Baba Yaga and Hecate. Also enough lesser known figures (well, lesser known to us in the west).