By Alana Joli Abbott
It's Small Business Saturday! It's a great day to go to your local indie bookstore and grab some titles published by indie publishers. Or travel to one of your friendly local comic shops or game stores and see what they have on their shelves. For your giftees who have everything, there are also some fun alternatives you could try out (and if you can't get to your friendly local stores, try one of mine, linked below!).
If you're looking for something a little different this holiday season and you want to bring a little more magic into your gift exchanges, this list is just for you. Below are some Outland titles that would make great holiday gifts, some projects Outland creators have worked on with other publishers and collaborators, and some additional gifts to put some spells in your stockings.
The Nightcraft Quartet by Shannon Page
Shannon Page's witchy contemporary series concluded in April this year with The Empress and the Moon, and it's the perfect gift for series readers who like a little magic, a little romance, and a lot of saving the world. The series focuses on Callie, a witch scientist who's researching genetics—and who's looking for more out of life than the road her coven has set her on. Looking to carve her own future, she strikes out on her own, and becomes entangled in far more trouble than she expected. This series uses tarot in many scenes, so while the witches in the story are fantastical, a lot of the magic described is down to earth.
For the middle grade reader on your list who loves chills and thrills (and who really wants to watch Stranger Things but keeps getting told it's too old for them), Crooked Hills is a perfect fit. Set in the early 1990s, the series leans into nostalgia from that era (so adults, you may want this one for yourself as well), as a boy and his family move to the most haunted town in America. Though he's initially uninterested in making friends, Charlie discovers that it's dangerous to go alone—and he's going to need some pals to help him confront the dangers that lurk in the woods.
Speaking of Cullen Bunn, his gorgeous omnibus The Complete Harrow County from Dark Horse would make an amazing gift for comics readers who love a fully bound collection! Could Emmy be the reincarnation of a famous witch? Find out in this essential horror series with a Southern Gothic flair, written by Cullen and illustrated by Tyler Crook.
If your holiday gift recipient needs a little soft-hearted necromancy, look no further than Outland game designer C. S. E. Cooney's World Fantasy Award winning novel Saint Death's Daughter. Lanie Stones is a necromancer with a literal allergy violence, who must survive the turmoil of a nation after the ruler is murdered. The sequel, Saint Death's Herald, is due out in April, so giving this one over the winter holiday is a great way to get your friend hooked in time for the next book to arrive! (You can also preorder Negocios Infernales, Cooney's game co-designed with Carlos Hernandez, at the Outland store.)
For more practical witchy titles, look no further than the gorgeously illustrated The Green Witch Illustrated, a collection of spells and blessings to guide witches on the green path. This title feels like a coffee table book—it's hefty, with the type of thick paper that's designed to last, so it feels beautiful just picking it up. Richard's art really enhances the feel, and Murphy-Hiscock's language is both practical and poetic.
Tarot and Oracle Decks
Inspired by both the Nightcraft Quartet and Negocios Infernales, I've really come to appreciate tarot and oracle decks, not just for their practical applications, but for the beauty of their art. Two that I've received this year include the Magic the Gathering Oracle Deck and the World of Warcraft Tarot. Both come with extensive guide books to help you interpret the card draws; the MTG deck is a little more open to interpretation, while the WoW deck offers fairly concrete meanings for each card. The additional fun in these is, of course, the tie in to role playing and card games, each with huge fantasy worlds behind them, so users will recognize characters and settings depicted in the art.
If none of those gifts feel quite right, consider checking out your local magical shop for a special gift, whether it's tea or tools or jewelry. Don't have a local store? Three of my favorite witchy stores have their sites online, so you can check out Tea & Tarot, House of the Triple Moon, or the Rock Garden, all of which have assorted items—crystals, essences, incense, tea, and more—to appeal to your witchy friends.
What's on your wish list this year? Tag us (@outlandentertainment) with your favorite local shop on social media!
And if you're on the lookout for future gifts, remember that Cupcake Dragon is still live on Kickstarter—we'd love your support!
Alana Joli Abbott is the Editor in Chief of Outland Entertainment who loves a magical ambiance during her holiday season.