Rating: 
Summary: Very detailed!
Review: 234 pages full of history, dealing with necromancy, sorcery, astrology, alchemy and prophecy. The book also deals with great occult pioneers like the chain-smoking Helena Blavatsky, the far-seeing Nostradamus and the famous Comte De St-Germain. It explains the origins of magic, black and white, diving deep into its myths, background and evolution.
Rating:
Summary: Very detailed!
Review: 234 pages full of history, dealing with necromancy, sorcery, astrology, alchemy and prophecy. The book also deals with great occult pioneers like the chain-smoking Helena Blavatsky, the far-seeing Nostradamus and the famous Comte De St-Germain. It explains the origins of magic, black and white, diving deep into its myths, background and evolution.
Rating: 
Summary: another author confuses Satanism with Witchcraft
Review: Although this book has a lot of documented information about magicians and Satanists, it continues the widespread belief in the United States that Satanism and Witchcraft are the same religion. Over and over again, Masello interchanges the terms of devil worship and witchcraft. In so doing, he encourages the same beliefs that caused the burning times earlier in our history. As a witch, I was extremely offended by the author's comparing me to people who call down demons to do evil. Witches do not believe in a devil or demons, neither do they cast spells or make potions in order to do evil to another. Witchcraft teaches followers to bless others and to do good. Please do not read this book thinking you are getting honest information about witches and witchcraft. The information maybe true, but it is true only of people who worship the devil.
Rating:
Summary: another author confuses Satanism with Witchcraft
Review: Although this book has a lot of documented information about magicians and Satanists, it continues the widespread belief in the United States that Satanism and Witchcraft are the same religion. Over and over again, Masello interchanges the terms of devil worship and witchcraft. In so doing, he encourages the same beliefs that caused the burning times earlier in our history. As a witch, I was extremely offended by the author's comparing me to people who call down demons to do evil. Witches do not believe in a devil or demons, neither do they cast spells or make potions in order to do evil to another. Witchcraft teaches followers to bless others and to do good. Please do not read this book thinking you are getting honest information about witches and witchcraft. The information maybe true, but it is true only of people who worship the devil.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Reading
Review: For all of those who are novices or beginners in the quest for forbidden subjects, such as necromancy and spell casting, this book provides a great introduction. It's filled with different subjects and settings, so there never really is a point at which is becomes boring or repetitive. A must for all those interested in demonology!
Rating:
Summary: Brief Review of 'Raising Hell'
Review: I don't know which is worse: this book, or the fact that it is the best work for novice's to come out in a long time. The disgusting drivel that floods the modern-day market is appalling. Oh well, thats the price we pay for living in a more 'enlightened' age. It is a very commercial book, obviously geared twords (apply called) "naughty teenagers". It contains good information, but has a very swift 'spin' to it - sometimes nausiatinly so. All in all, though, it is informative - and should make any fan of Mr. King drool. If you are further interested, I would suggest reading:The Black Arts The History of Magic The Powers of Evil Encyclopedia of the Unexplained The World of Ghosts and the Supernatural Man, Myth, and Magic (12 vol.) (all by Richard Cavendish - the leading authority on magic, mythology, and the supernatural) History of Magic and Experimental Science (Lynn Thorndike - one of the best - 8 vol.) The History of Magic (Kurt Seligmann) Encyclopedia of Witchcraft and Demonology (Rossell Hope Robbins - Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature) Witchcraft, Magic, and Alchemy (Grillot De Givry - translated by J. Courtenay Locke) The Book of Black Magic (Arthur Edward Waite) The Secret Teachings of All Ages (Manly P. Hall - a virtual tome of info. from a true believer) Witchcraft and Black Magic (Montague Summers) Satanism and Witchcraft (Jules Michelet) These are some of the better books that grace Mr. Masello's bibliography. It is just unfortunate that he seemed to sacrafice scholorship for a quick 'rise' from his readers. He could have done alot better. Sincerly, Shawn W. Ooten
Rating:
Summary: A fantastic compendium of the occult!
Review: I've got quite an extensive library of books on black magic and the history of the occult, but for sheer readability, this is one of the very best. It gives you a lot of valuable and well-researched information on everything from alchemy to the tarot, necromancy to incantations, in a very clear and lively manner. It's one of the few books I keep on the reference shelf above my desk, where I can always get at it. I give it my whole-hearted endorsement!
Rating:
Summary: very good book
Review: it is everthing you are looking for in this type of book
Rating:
Summary: A quite complete review on the History of the Black Arts
Review: Masello deals thoroughfully and in a very entertaining way with the History of the Black Arts through the five chapters of the book. It is focused on the Western tradition mainly and it is a bit brief. - Chapter 1 tells us about black magic and sorcery, including nice examples of spells and anecdotes.
- Chapter 2 speaks about Necromancy, the art of raising the dead.
- Chapter 3 is devoted to Mystical Orders: Cabbala, Rosy Cross, the Masons and other.
- Chapter 4 includes the History of Alchemy and its adepts, such as Paracelsus and Seton.
- Chapter 5 collects the historical facts about foreseeing the future and divination methods. The book also includes a glossary and a complete Bibliography, as well as some illustrations. The information is complete and enjoyable, though I would have liked it had more data about female witchcraft.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad but...
Review: Not a bad book to begin with, but not something that is going to interest people above 'apprentice' level. The extensive bibliography has some good suggetions. Decent. I recommend it as a starting place for only for serious students. The only people I wouldn't recommend it to are those who confuse witchcraft (not a religion) for Wicca (a religion) (we don't want to offend those who want to white wash 'magic' and the occult). I recommend anything by R. Cavendish as a better read.
| 
