The Wandmaker's Guidebook
Ed Masessa
Tangerine Press
Fiction, CH Fantasy/Novelty Book
Themes: Wizards
****
Description
Throughout the ages, wizards and magic-makers of all cultures have used wands to harness great powers. Crafted from unique woods and accessories, purified and charged with singular spells or greater magic to span many ordinary lifetimes, these tools take great time, effort, and patience to understand and create. In modern times, where magic is nearly forgotten and time and patience are at a premium, few apprentices have what it takes to create a true and proper wand. Hoping against hope to find one who still wishes to learn, the master wand maker Coralis penned this guide, outlining the principles of wand creation and providing the basic tools for one's first wand. This book includes a pre-crafted wooden wand with removable hollow handle, vials of sand and small stones, and feathers for embellishment.
Review
In the vein of such "extra"-toting books as Dragonology and Wizardology, this "guidebook" offers plenty for lovers of shiny objects and fantasy. Drawing on ancient teachings, it mixes magical principles and wisdom with fiction to create an imaginative, visually appealing experience. Readers young or old will find everything they need to spark the imagination, regardless of how seriously they take the process of wand-making. My only complaint is that most of the book's thickness is taken up with the wand and accessories; I'd like to see a companion booklet, along the lines of Dragonology's followup handbook, to delve a bit deeper into some of the ideas mentioned here.