Magic and Medicine of Plants Throughout history, plants have held a significant place in both the realms of magic and medicine. The inherent power and healing properties found in various plant species have been harnessed and respected by civilizations around the world. From ancient herbal remedies to modern pharmaceuticals, plants have played a vital role in human health and well-being. In the realm of magic and folklore, plants have been associated with mystical properties and supernatural abilities. Different plants have been used in rituals and spellcasting to invoke certain energies or achieve specific outcomes. For example, the ancient Greeks believed that the laurel tree had the ability to grant wisdom and protection, so it was often used as a symbol of victory and honor.
For example, the ancient Greeks believed that the laurel tree had the ability to grant wisdom and protection, so it was often used as a symbol of victory and honor. Similarly, sage has long been associated with purification and cleansing, and is still commonly used in smudging rituals to clear negative energy. In traditional medicine, plants have been used for centuries to treat a wide range of ailments and diseases.
Review: Curse of the Reaper by Brian McAuley (Out October 4th)
If you are looking for the perfect book to add to your list of Halloween & spooky season reads, look no further. This is the one. Keep reading to find out more, but no need to beware—I won’t be dropping any spoilers here. This is one you have to experience for yourself.
I seriously cannot sing the praises of Curse of the Reaper enough. Fellow horror fans, this one is for us! I don’t even mean just the people who read horror books—I mean all of you. If you are the type who eats up horror and spooky stuff. If your comfort movies are 80s slashers and you know all the tropes. If your T-shirts are emblazoned with the faces of cinema villains. If you have friends who don’t understand why you’re into these “cheesy, gross movies.” This book is for you.
Yes, yes, a little context is in order: Curse of the Reaper follows Howard Browning, an aging actor who made his legacy playing the titular role in The Night of the Reaper horror movie franchise. The Reaper is a villain who blends the supernatural brute of Jason with the quippy, tormenting one-liners of Freddy. He has a backstory that you will immediately recognize as on par with the origin stories of some of our best-known classic villains, making you feel like you’re watching one of your favorite old school slasher movies, but he’s still the kind of villain that makes you want to root for him, and his kills are gorey, splattery, and amusing as he utilizes a chain as one of his weapons in a move that is purely slasher meets Scorpion.
After playing the Reaper in an entire franchise of movies, Browning has spent recent years hitting the horror con circuit and posing for pics with adoring fans like us. But he’s not exactly satisfied with how things are going and he’s not making much money. Then big news arrives: The Reaper franchise is being revived! We all know Hollywood loves rebooting things, and Howard is about to reap—yes, pun intended, and I’m not sorry at all—the rewards.
Except no he isn’t.
Because they’re replacing him. With someone younger.
Okay, he’s not eight. But he is in his twenties and he has been acting since he was a kid.
As Howard processes this, fighting against the production company’s decision and being met with repeated insult added to injury, the line between Howard Browning and the character of The Reaper begins to get very blurry and things get….let’s say messy. Very, very messy. The novel keeps the reader on their toes as we watch Howard walk the line between being a perfectly nice seeming older gentleman who eats a vegetarian diet, loves cats, and enjoys a good cup of tea, and falling prey to the nagging possession of a murderous villain with vengeance on the brain, his connection to the character becoming stronger and stronger.
What I didn’t initially realize going into this novel is that we are gifted with an alternate POV, too—that of Trevor Mane, the young man who has been cast as the new Reaper in place of Howard. Trevor, a former child star from a beloved family sitcom (you know precisely the type), is fresh out of rehab after a gnarly accident and struggling with a heroin addiction, in addition to taking the helm as a much-loved villain from a very popular movie series, even though horror really isn’t his type of thing. The addition of this POV really makes the novel much more dynamic and expands on not just the tale of the struggles of Hollywood and fickle fame, but also the lore of the Reaper himself.
Essentially, Curse of the Reaper is a slasher within a slasher, but it honestly has a lot of heart and also addresses some very serious issues, such as dementia, losing yourself in various different ways, and of course, addiction. The portrayals of addiction and Trevor’s struggles were at times both heartbreaking and infuriating. It was difficult to watch him slip down the slope, and the novel did a great job of highlighting how addiction impacts not just the addict, but also their loved ones. McAuley highlights Trevor’s specific thoughts and manages to make him a very unlikable character at times as we watch the exact thought pattern behind his attempts to manipulate people, and it makes you want to slap him and also offer him help, as you know some part of this is probably the addiction talking. I was surprised to see these more serious elements interwoven, and I thought that McAuley did a really good job of balancing the more serious elements with the more slasher-y elements.
And speaking of slasher-y elements, although I would be keen to remind people that it’s not just a slasher, there’s still plenty of slashing, and a lot of fun elements for fellow horror movie fans to enjoy. In between each section break, we are treated with a few pages of the script for the different Reaper films, including the opening pages from the OG Night of the Reaper from 1980 which could have been ripped straight from a Friday the 13 th film—specifically, Friday the 13 th Part II. I loved reading the little scripts, and honestly, if The Reaper franchise were a real movie series, I would watch it.
and love every second of itThe whole book is full of lots of homages to horror like this, and you can tell McAuley is a big horror fan who knows the “classics” through and through, and he brought a lot of that knowledge to the page. McAuley also brings knowledge of filmmaking and Hollywood to the page, bringing the behind the scenes portion of things to life, and you can tell he knows his stuff there, too (as well he should—his previous writing credits include everything from penning the horror thriller Dismissed, starring Dylan Sprouse, to that episode of Fuller House where Steve attempts to take DJ “back to when they were hottest the couple at Bayview High”—so he’s been on all sides of this, and lends some of that knowledge to the stories and experiences of Howard and Trevor).
All in all, this is easily a new favorite of mine, and I think it will be incredibly successful amongst the horror community. There’s a lot to lose yourself in, and you will absolutely devour it. Easy 5/5 stars, go pre-order it so that you get it in time to read it for Halloween. It’s releasing at the perfect time and will be a flawless addition to any October TBR.
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- ← ARC Review: The Depths by Nicole Lesperance (Out September 13th)
- My Picks for Your Spooky Season TBR →
Because they’re replacing him. With someone younger.
The study of herbalism, or the medicinal use of plants, has been an integral part of many cultures. Indigenous tribes, in particular, have relied on their knowledge of local plant species to heal and strengthen their communities. For example, the Amazon rainforest is home to countless medicinal plants that have been traditionally used by indigenous tribes to treat various illnesses. Today, modern medicine continues to draw inspiration from the natural world. Many pharmaceutical drugs are derived from plants or are synthesized based on compounds found in plant species. Aspirin, for instance, is a synthetic drug that was originally derived from the bark of willow trees. Additionally, many traditional herbal remedies from around the world have been scientifically studied and validated for their therapeutic effects. This integration of traditional knowledge and modern science has led to the development of herbal supplements and alternative medicine practices. However, it is important to approach the magic and medicine of plants with caution and respect. While some plants may have proven medicinal properties, others can be toxic or have negative side effects. It is essential to seek guidance from trained professionals or experts when using plants for medicinal or magical purposes. In conclusion, the magic and medicine of plants have both held significant roles in human history. Whether it be through ancient rituals and beliefs or modern pharmaceuticals, plants have provided humans with healing and transformative powers. As we continue to explore the natural world, it is crucial to maintain a balance between traditional wisdom and scientific advancement, ensuring the safe and effective use of plants for the benefit of all..
Reviews for "Rediscovering Ancient Wisdom: Traditional Plant Medicine in Today's World"
1. Sarah - 1 star - I was really disappointed with "Magic and Medicine of Plants". The book promised to provide a comprehensive guide to the magical and medicinal properties of plants, but it fell short in delivering that. The information provided was scarce and not well-researched. I felt like the author was more focused on the magical aspect and didn't give enough attention to the medicinal side. Overall, I found this book to be a waste of time and money.
2. Mark - 2 stars - As someone who was looking for practical knowledge about plants and their medicinal uses, "Magic and Medicine of Plants" left me feeling unsatisfied. The book was filled with folklore and mystical explanations, but lacked the concrete information I was looking for. I struggled to find details on specific plants and their properties. While the magical aspect might be interesting to some, I wanted a more scientific approach to understanding the medicinal benefits of plants. Unfortunately, this book didn't meet my expectations.
3. Jennifer - 1 star - "Magic and Medicine of Plants" was a complete disappointment for me. The author seemed more interested in weaving tales of ancient legends and myths associated with plants, rather than providing practical information. I expected a well-researched guidebook on using plants for healing purposes, but instead, I got a collection of mystical stories that had no basis in scientific facts. If you're looking for a serious resource on plant medicine, look elsewhere. This book is more suited for those interested in folklore and fantasy.