Category Archives: witchcraft

E. C. Ambrose Takes the Fun out of Movies: “Fantastic Beasts” and the Ethics of Magic

Posted on November 22, 2016 by E. C. Ambrose

This weekend, I went to see the new Potterverse film, “Fantastic Creatures and Where to Find Them.”  Let me preface these remarks by saying that I love a good fantasy creature, but I have some issues with Rowling’s work overall … Continue reading →

Posted in essays, fantasy, magic, movies, witchcraft | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A Brief History of the Inquisition: The Original Thought Police

Posted on October 16, 2015 by E. C. Ambrose

When I was playing more actively with the Society for Creative Anachronism, I had a Jewish friend with a Spanish persona, circa 1492.  He used to joke that, contrary to Monty Python’s claims, he *did*, expect the Spanish Inquisition. . … Continue reading →

Posted in Elisha Rex, history, medieval, religion, research, The Dark Apostle, witchcraft | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Book Launch day, Elisha Rex!

Posted on July 7, 2015 by E. C. Ambrose

Today is the big day, the launch of book 3 in my Dark Apostle series of fantasy novels about medieval surgery.  Please help me celebrate and spread the word! Once again, artist Cliff Nielsen has captured the spirit of the … Continue reading →

Posted in book promotion, books, Elisha Rex, fantasy, fiction, historical medicine, history, medieval, publishing, The Dark Apostle, witchcraft | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Fantasy Novella The Grail Maiden Book Launch Today

Posted on April 22, 2015 by E. C. Ambrose

I’ve been working on The Grail Maiden, a novella tie-in to the Dark Apostle series, for a little while now. I enjoy exploring the background of some of the secondary characters in my work, and  I hope to do more … Continue reading →

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The Truth about Bird-brains, Crows and Fantasy

Posted on April 2, 2015 by E. C. Ambrose

I was delighted to see this video recently on the Huffington Post about a girl who, after feeding the crows in her yard for years, has started receiving gifts from them in return.  Elisha Magus (now out in paperback) features … Continue reading →

Posted in Elisha Magus, essays, fantasy, mythology, witchcraft | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Defense Against the Dark Arts: Warding off Witchcraft

Posted on February 18, 2015 by E. C. Ambrose

This month’s Archaeology magazine has some photos from Knole House in Kent showing a series of hatch marks carved into the floor beneath where the protestant King James I would have slept in the early 1600’s.  The marks are intended … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, historical medicine, history, magic, medieval, religion, witchcraft | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Studying Magic in the Middle Ages

Posted on July 10, 2013 by E. C. Ambrose

One of the frustrations of being a fantasy writer is confronting the accusation that one can simply make it all up. The best authors, IMHO, use a combination of reality and imagination to bring a new world to life. To … Continue reading →

Posted in Elisha Barber, fantasy, history, magic, medieval, religion, The Dark Apostle, witchcraft | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Werewolves in Medieval History

Posted on February 27, 2013 by E. C. Ambrose

Whether you’re more Team Jacob or “Werewolves of London” you know that werewolves are hot right now (both in sales, and apparently, in sex appeal). But their prevalence in the Urban Fantasy genre might obscure their long history. My eyes … Continue reading →

Posted in fantasy, fiction, history, magic, medieval, Uncategorized, witchcraft | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Museum of Witchcraft

Posted on May 8, 2011 by E. C. Ambrose

Here’s an interesting resource, both on-line and in the flesh:  the Museum of Witchcraft, in Boscastle, Corwall, UK http://www.museumofwitchcraft.com/index.php  There’s an online guidebook to the museum, a tour of some interesting artifacts, and searchable on-line library and images.  I wish … Continue reading →

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