Wicca and Satanism are two distinct belief systems that often get confused or mistakenly associated with one another. Wicca is a modern pagan religion that focuses on the reverence for nature and the worship of a Goddess and a God. It emphasizes a harmonious relationship with the Earth and the practice of magic. On the other hand, Satanism is a diverse collection of beliefs and practices centered around the symbol of Satan. While some forms of Satanism do involve the worship of Satan as a literal deity, others view Satan as a symbolic representation of rebellion, individualism, and personal autonomy. One of the major differences between Wicca and Satanism is their core principles and ethics.
When rumors of dark magic rise in a nearby kingdom, both are sent to investigate.
It contained almost everything I love, exquisite world building, brilliantly brought to life characters, peak enemies to lovers romance and plenty of twists and turns to keep us guessing. You will fall in love with not only the characters but the story itself, absolutely breathtaking 5 READER REVIEW Every interaction between Aya and Will made me squeal and I am obsessed with them 5 READER REVIEW The first paragraph of chapter one grabbed me and I was immediately hooked 5 READER REVIEW.
One of the major differences between Wicca and Satanism is their core principles and ethics. Wicca follows the Wiccan Rede, which states, "An it harm none, do what ye will." This means that Wiccans strive to avoid causing harm to others and focus on living in harmony with nature.
Serena’s Review: “The Curse of Saints”
Where Did I Get this Book: ARC from the publisher!
Where Can You Get this Book: WorldCat.org| Amazon | IndieBound
Book Description: As an elite spy and the Queen’s Third-in-Command, Aya has dedicated herself to a life of discipline and duty, using her gods-given abilities to keep dark magic from ever returning to the realm. Her oath ensures she will always act to protect those she fights alongside—including Will, the Queen’s Enforcer and Aya’s bitter rival.
Forced by circumstance to work together, Aya and Will struggle to come to an uneasy truce. But when tragedy strikes, Aya instinctively reacts, unleashing a power that hasn’t been seen in over 500 years. Shaken, she’s confronted with an impossible truth: one that threatens the precious grip she keeps on her control. One that forces her to work with Will to discover who—or what—she really is. And one that could turn her into a weapon in a war she doesn’t know how to win.
With Will at her side and untold power at her fingertips, Aya will have to decide: Has she been sent to save the realm she loves…or destroy it?
Review: I knew I wanted to read this book the moment I saw it (though, to be fair, I saw the UK cover which has an awesome golden wolf motif which I think is a much better fit than this cover, but oh well). The description itself is also right up my alley. Always love a good rivals/enemies-to-lovers story. Add on top of that a badass spy heroine who, whoops, discovers she has new powers and is more than she seems. Does this sound like a very tried and true plot description for fantasy stories, especially romantic fantasy? Yes, it does. Did this put me off in any way whatsoever? Absolutely not. Sometimes things are popular for the simple fact that they’re awesome, and that’s all I have to say on that.
Unfortunately, this book didn’t quite live up to my expectations. But there was still quite a lot to like about it. For one thing, I thought the world-building and history of this world was fascinating. Our main characters (the story was multi POV, which was something I wasn’t expecting and more on that later) each are born with powerful abilities. But due to a horrible war that required a terrible sacrifice years and years ago, magic users must always work for the protection and betterment of those around them and are never allowed to rule. I really enjoyed the slow reveal about how this particular history has influenced the various characters in this book, and how so many decisions are based around the fears of a similar power rising or a similar sacrifice being needed.
I also liked the action elements of the story, particularly in the beginning of the book when quite a lot happens in quick succession. We had a few early scenes where we see Aya’s skill as a spy master at work, and we also get some intense magic wolves action scenes. Which, of course, who doesn’t love magic wolves? Unfortunately, some of the strengths of this early section lead directly to some of my struggles with the rest of the book. For one thing, said magic wolves quickly disappear from the entire story, which left me wondering why they were included at all? I mean, they’re introduced as having bonds to Aya, Will, etc., and show up in several early scenes as important, unique creatures, and then they just…disappear for the rest of the book. You could literally take them out of this story and it would make zero difference to the overall plot.
Further, I was very disappointed to see Aya’s character quickly fall off her strong start as a master spy. After her magic flares up in unexpected ways, she seems to lose all sense of her original abilities. As the story continues, she and Will travel to a foreign court where they are supposed to be working to bring their allies onside for a brewing conflict. Aya, as a spy, should have invaluable abilities to bring to this mission. But, instead, she spends the entire time fretting about her powers and fighting with Will. Indeed, she blunders several times in ways that make no sense for a woman we are meant to believe is one of the top three advisors to her queen and a master of her craft.
This wasn’t helped by my increasing frustration with these fights between Aya and Will. Their rivalry and animosity starts off well enough, but as the story continued, it began to feel increasingly unbelievable and silly. Aya is a grown adult and a woman who, being a spy, should have an incredible read of people. So the number of times she flips back and forth from trusting Will to literally threatening to kill him (seriously, she does this flip flop at least 4 times over the course of the book, and, I can’t emphasize this enough, the “flop” side includes literal death threats/murder attempts even though she was trusting him just pages before) starts to become a serious detriment to my ability to respect her as a character.
For his part, I could never quite understand Will’s reasons for such extreme levels of secrecy. Once all of the truths are revealed, it’s never quite clear why he had to keep Aya so much in the dark to the point where he was almost intentionally making her hate and distrust him. So, yes, neither of these two characters really worked that well for me at various points. Which was made all the more frustrating because I think they each started off very strong and had a lot of potential!
Also, bizarrely, a third POV character and the sad hints of a love triangle showed up on the page about two thirds of the way into the book. This was honestly so abrupt a shift in the story that I had to flip forward a ways to confirm that yes, indeed, we were introducing a third POV and this wasn’t just an interlude. This was near the two thirds/half way point of the book, if I remember correctly, so it was just a really strange and abrupt shift. I didn’t have any problems with this third character on his own, but there was simply no recovering from the fact that his story started up so significantly behind the other two. We already were firmly in the heads of Aya and Will, and now here was this third character that was meant to compete with the two of them with his own chapters. It was an odd choice. I think it would have worked better had he been introduced right in the beginning alongside Aya and Will, thus creating an even playing field between the three. Or, honestly, left him out entirely. I’m not quite convinced that his POV really even added much to the story as a whole.
All of this said, I probably will continue with this series. The writing itself was strong, the world-building was intriguing, and even though I struggled with Aya and Will at times, I do feel that the author’s character work was pretty decent. I was frustrated with this particular story, but there seems to be a lot of room for growth and there were a few side characters who I would love to read more about in future books. If you’re a fan of romantic fantasy, especially if you enjoy angsty enemies-t0-lovers story arcs, this might be a good one for you!
Rating 7: While a bit wobbly on the character front, this romantic fantasy will likely still appeal to those looking for an interesting fantasy world and an angst-ridden love story!
Reader’s Advisory:
“The Curse of Saints” isn’t on many Goodreads lists, but it is on Best books of May, 2023 (the UK version was published in May).
**THE INSTANT NO. 2 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER** THE SPELLBINDING NEW FANTASY DEBUT THAT EVERYONE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT! 'A sparkling masterpiece of fantasy! The world building was original and expertly done, the enemies to lovers is unmatched' 5***** READER REVIEW 'I was hooked from the very first chapter. Fans of Sarah J Maas and Jennifer L Armentrout are bound to fall in love with this fast-paced romantic fantasy' 5***** READER REVIEW 'This book has everything I adore about this genre - powerful female lead, full of action and adventure, twists and turns . . . Brilliant!' 5***** READER REVIEW
____________ Has she been sent to save the realm or destroy it? As Spymaster to the Queen, Aya's blood oath ensures she protects those she fights alongside - including Will, the Queen's Enforcer and Aya's bitter rival. When rumours of dark magic rise in a nearby kingdom, both are sent to investigate. But when Aya's power acts beyond her gods-given affinity, she risks being turned into a weapon in a war she doesn't know how to win. And when her relationship with Will unexpectedly shifts, neither knows the danger that will follow . . .
____________ INCLUDED IN COSMOPOLITAN'S BEST BOOKS OF MAY 2023
'I wish I could read it again for the first time. You will fall in love with not only the characters but the story itself, absolutely breathtaking' 5***** READER REVIEW 'Every interaction between Aya and Will made me squeal and I am obsessed with them' 5***** READER REVIEW 'The first paragraph of chapter one grabbed me and I was immediately hooked' 5***** READER REVIEW
Satanism, however, does not have a universal ethical code and allows for a wide range of personal beliefs and values. Another distinction lies in their magical practices. Wicca places a strong emphasis on spellwork and the manipulation of energy for positive purposes. Wiccans often perform rituals and spells to manifest their desires or to connect with the divine. In contrast, Satanism may or may not involve magical practices, as it is not a central focus of the belief system. In terms of religious texts, Wicca has several influential books, such as "The Witch's Book of Shadows" by Phyllis Curott and "Witchcraft Today" by Gerald Gardner, which outline Wiccan beliefs and practices. Satanism, on the other hand, does not have a definitive holy text but draws inspiration from various sources, including works by Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan. It is important to note that both Wicca and Satanism are highly diverse and have different variations and interpretations. Wicca has multiple traditions and covens, each with its own practices and beliefs, while Satanism encompasses different branches, such as LaVeyan Satanism and Theistic Satanism. Despite some misconceptions and stereotypes, Wicca and Satanism are two distinct religious paths with their own sets of beliefs, values, and practices. Both have their own unique histories, philosophies, and communities, and it is important to approach them with an open mind and respect for diversity in religious beliefs and practices..
Reviews for "Wiccan and Satanic Ethics: Personal Responsibility and Consequences"
1. Megan - 2 stars
"Wiccs vs satnism" was not what I expected at all. The production quality was poor and the acting was subpar. The storyline was confusing and lacked depth, which made it difficult to become invested in the characters. Overall, I was disappointed with this film and wouldn't recommend it to others.
2. Ryan - 1 star
I found "Wiccs vs satnism" to be incredibly boring and unoriginal. The plot was predictable and lacked any real suspense or intrigue. The dialogue was cheesy and the special effects were laughable. I was hoping for a thrilling horror film, but this movie fell incredibly short. Save yourself the time and skip this one.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
I had high hopes for "Wiccs vs satnism", but unfortunately, it failed to meet my expectations. The pacing was sluggish and there were several scenes that felt unnecessary or dragged on for too long. The characters were underdeveloped and lacked depth, making it difficult to feel any real connection to them. Overall, this film felt like a missed opportunity and left me feeling underwhelmed.
4. Mark - 1 star
I found "Wiccs vs satnism" to be a complete waste of time. The plot was nonsensical and poorly executed, with many plot holes left unanswered. The acting was wooden and the dialogue was cliché and cringe-worthy. There was no suspense or tension throughout the film, and it felt like a cheap attempt at cashing in on the horror genre. I would not recommend this movie to anyone looking for a quality film experience.
5. Emily - 2 stars
"Wiccs vs satnism" lacked originality and relied heavily on tired horror movie tropes. The scares were predictable and there were no genuine moments of suspense or fear. Additionally, the character development was weak, and it was difficult to care about their ultimate fates. The filmmakers seemed to prioritize shock value over substance, resulting in a lackluster and forgettable movie. I would not recommend this film to anyone looking for a quality horror experience.