If you liked Rules of Magic and Practical Magic, you'll also love Magic Lessons. The legend of Maria Owens, already a familiar name to those of us who have read the rest of the series, comes to life in this beautiful and compelling story. This book felt a bit darker than the previous two, but with that it might be my favorite of the series so far! Sometimes prequels can feel forced or shoehorned in, but not this one; it has a beautiful flow that gives even more richness to both the sequels--and if you're anything like me, makes you want to read them both again immediately! This will definitely be a keep-and-reread for me.

Magic Lessons is where the Owens family story begins. Join Maria Owens on her quest to make a better life for herself and her daughter, Faith, during one of the most historic time periods in Salem, Massachusetts. As bloodline witches, the Owens women are enchanting and magical. People, especially men, are drawn to them. This is where the original Owens women curse derives. To love, or not love at all. Is it worth having the threatening death beetle at your door?

This was such a beautiful read. Hoffman does not disappoint with her magical writing. I first fell in love with the Practical Magic story when I saw the movie adaptation. However, I ended up reading the book as well as The Rules of Magic, and my adoration has only grown. Characters in the previous books mention Maria Owens enough to make the reader wonder about this matriarch, so when I found out this book was being published; I was beyond excited. It was a pleasure reading the back story on Maria and how she forged a powerful, and cursed, line of witches.

I ended up giving the book ⅘ stars solely on the fact that some parts were just too detailed. There were paragraphs I either skipped or skimmed because they were just descriptors. I recommend reading Magic Lessons to anyone. Whether you have read Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic, or not. Hoffman is an artist and I look forward to reading more of her books.

I waited more than 20 years for this book. Upon reading Practical Magic in 1998, I kept thinking back to the origination of the Owens curse. When The Rules of Magic came out I, once again, found my curiosity returning to Maria. Magic Lessons gives a beautifully detailed foundation to all that followed. If you haven't read Practical Magic, I would suggest Magic Lessons first. By all means, read the (so far) trilogy for pure enjoyment and don't worry about the order. I'm now wondering if there will be more stories that will cover the centuries leading up to The Rules of Magic which, by the way will become a TV series on HBO Max. I can hardly wait!

I just finished this book and WOW! Alice Hoffman did it again. This origin story of the Owens’ curse is magnificent. I couldn’t put it down! Alice Hoffman has a magical way with words.

Maria Owen’s life story is courageous and moving. It has everything from love to revenge to adventure to thoughtful lessons on life. I didn’t know how much I needed this story until I read this book.

I won’t say I loved this one more than Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic because those two are hard to beat, but I will say this story was incredibly unique and 100% deepened my love for the Owens family.

I will definitely read this book again!

Alice Hoffman has written an origin story set in the 1600s for the Owens family from her Practical Magic series. Beware! Once you begin, you will be enthralled. Hannah Owens lives in an out of the way cottage in England when one night she finds an abandoned baby in the field near her home. The baby’s lovely blanket has the name Maria stitched in blue thread in the border. As the baby grows, it is soon obvious that the baby is gifted in the ways of magic just as Hannah is herself. Maria comes to love a man who abandons her. She seeks him out in Massachusetts and the Owens family curse evolves. Told during the Salem Witch Trials, the historical details are rich. Alice Hoffman is a master at weaving a story that casts a spell that makes you want to read all night.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I have really enjoyed some of Alice Hoffman's work in the past, including The Rules of Magic, so I was excited to see another book about the Owens family. Hoffman's work is always so readable, and once I pick one of her books up I have a hard time putting it down. This was no different. I enjoyed reading about the origin of the Owenses and am always happy to read about strong women in history(real or fictional.) There were a few plot points that felt like they weren't fully thought out. (SPOILER ALERT: Wouldn't the hairpins have come to Maria black if they were already owned by a witch? And the when can and can't Maria "feel" Faith felt more convenient and less convincing.) But I could overlook those for a good story. This is overall a book I would recommend.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I am a big fan of Alice Hoffman and have read several of her books. Practical Magic is my favorite so I was excited to see that there was a prequel now available. It was so interesting to read the story of the Owens women and how they came to be cursed in love. Hoffman is a great storyteller and yet again, she told a creative, interesting, mystical story that fully grabbed my attention and kept me hooked from start to finish.

Absolutely spellbinding! This prequel showcases Hoffman’s extensive skills, prose, historical knowledge, and craft. I love to be so invested in a family of characters!

This novel explores a centuries-old curse to determine the source, as the reader follows the story of Maria Owens. Maria was accused of witchcraft in Salem. Maria is one of the amazing Owens characters featured in Hoffman’s other books, Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic.

This novel begins with Maria Owens, in the 1600s, where she has been left to perish in a snowy field in rural England as an infant. This is not an unusual practice for the time. Under the care of Hannah Owens, Maria learns about the “Unnamed Arts.” Hannah quickly recognizes that Maria has a gift and she teaches the girl all she knows. It is here that she learns her first important lesson: Always love someone who will love you back.

After Maria is abandoned by the man who has declared his love for her, she follows him to Salem, Massachusetts. Here she invokes the curse that will haunt her family. Thus, she learns the rules of magic and the lesson that she will carry with her for the rest of her life. Love is the only thing that matters.

Another Book by Alice Hoffman showcasing her marvellous art of storytelling.

5.0+

I received a complimentary e-book copy of this book from Simon & Schuster through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Magic Lessons, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

I tried my best to portion out this book in small bites, but I could not stop myself from finishing the last half of the book in less than 24 hours.

This book is the prequel to Practical Magic and part of a trilogy. I just have no words to describe how much I loved this book. It was just so powerful. amazing, and this word again: BEAUTIFUL.

This is the eighth or ninth book that I have read by Alice Hoffman and will be one of my absolute favorites. I already recommend THE DOVEKEEPERS for any time that I am asked for a book recommendation. But, this one may usurp my old standby.

Alice Hoffman writes so magically, lushly, and BEAUTIFULLY. I could feel myself in the book with all FIVE of my senses engaged. This book was just OUTSTANDING from the character development to the plotline - I could not find a single flaw in this book other than it ended!

HIGHLY RECOMMEND - especially if you like Alice Hoffman books, the PRACTICAL MAGIC trilogy, historical fiction, or just want to read a BEAUTIFUL book. "Beautiful" was the word that I used when I finished this book. Please read it!


HIGHLY RECOMMEND

I have loved every book in this series. I am drawn to the way magic is shown to surround us all and can be wielded both to heal and harm and that when to do which is not always clear.

Thank you, Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I received Magic Lessons, I was beyond excited to read the second prequel to one of my all time favorite books, Practical Magic. In this installment, the story follow three generations of Owens women and is told in multiple POVs which I loved, but sometimes the POV would change mid page which I felt to be slightly confusing but I was still able to understand the story.

Although this was definitely not my favorite out of the three book and did not blow me away like Rules of Magic did, it was still a very great read and a solid 4 stars. I
would recommend it to anyone who loved the other two books or any of the author’s other books.

5 stars / This review will be posted at BookwormishMe.com on 22 September 2020 .


It is the late 1600s and Hannah Owens has found a baby in a basket in a snowy, open field. The baby is wrapped in a blanket stitched with the name Maria. Perched on the basket is a crow. Hannah takes the baby home and raises her as her own. Hannah practices the Nameless Art, otherwise known as magic, and recognizes that Maria was born with the gift.

As Maria grows, she learns from Hannah. Right from wrong, good magic versus left-handed magic. Many women come to Hannah for love cures - ways to make their lives better with their husbands. Hannah is also known for her black soap that will take 20 years off any woman. One day a woman comes to Hannah for assistance with breaking an enchantment she put on her husband. Rebecca lives in a fine home with a wealthy man, but he’s not the man she loves.

Will Maria learn from the mistakes of the women in her past?

Magic Lessons tells the story of how the Owens women came to be cursed when it comes to love. It is a fabulous story of Maria Owens life, her loves, and the future she leaves for the generations of witches to come. Alice Hoffman treated us to a gem by going back in time, before Practical Magic to introduce us to the woman who set in motion what would happen for generations to come. Being set in the time of the Salem witch trials ties it into historic events, and explains how the trials came to be.

Long, but amazing, I loved this book. Hoping that Alice Hoffman will bring us the next chapter of the Owens story.

Magic Lessons takes the reader to the beginning of the Owens women, before there was a curse, before Sally and Jillian's use of dark magic. Hoffman weaves an enchanting story of Maria Owens, found at birth in a field, and brought up learning the craft from Hannah, another witch. We read about the losses and griefs that Maria had to shoulder in the name of love, which turned out not to be love after all. And all the while we get to witness Maria's lessons in magic, experiencing the truths about magic, and life, that Hannah had taught her from birth.

Hoffman offers an enjoyable backstory to readers who have followed the Owens women over time. With whimsical storytelling, she gives you insight into the life of Maria Owens, making it the perfect companion book to the Practical Magic books.

I am a huge fan of Practical Magic and getting another book about that world is amazing. It did not disappoint, loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my electronic ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published September 8, 2020.

This is my first book by Alice Hoffman, and it’s the prequel to the Practical Magic (1995)and The Rules of Magic (2017) series. It works as a stand-alone book but it also got me excited to read the sequels.

It was fun to get lost in the world of witches, as I haven’t read anything with spells since the Harry Potter series.

This book takes place in the 1600s and crosses 3 generations of women. I especially liked the storyline of mother Maria and daughter Faith.

Original review posted on GoodReads.

I was excited when granted an advanced reader's copy of this lovely story--thank you NetGalley!

I am an avid reader of anything pertaining to witches, and this did not disappoint. The story follows the origin of the Owens women so famously featured in Hoffman's earlier novel Practical Magic and how their family curse came to be. I enjoyed the story and found the ending quite satisfactory. There were moments where I felt the story dragged a bit in the middle, but it quickly picked up near the end. This is definitely a great addition to the shelf of any fan of Alice Hoffman or witchy reads in general!

Another Alice Hoffman great read! She has to be my favorite author & she never disappoints. Her description of chacters are amazing & her storyline is one not to put her book down!
Thank you Ms. Hoffman!

Thank you so much to #NetGalley and Simon Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

OOH I love LOVED this book. This book goes back to the beginning of the Owens family and we hear the story of Maria. We even meet Maria's ' "mother" Helen. This is the story of how the curse came to be. If you have thought about reading Practical Magic and Rules of Magic, read them AFTER you read this one.. Its not required though because if even you read them (as I have) its still a great book and to be honest it had me going back to the Practical Magic and Rules and rereading them. This will give you a whole new outlook on the series.
Thank you again so much for the opportunity to read this. I LOVED IT!

There is quite a bit of information packed into this delightful book. It follows Marie Owens life from birth into adulthood. The reader gets a better understanding of why the Owens family is cursed. Marie Owens had a very tragic life full of ups and downs. One can understand why she became so bitter toward men. The characters are relatable and well written. The author obviously did a great deal of research for this book. The timeline works great and the descriptions of Salem and the events that transpire are right on level for that time period.
If you like books with strong female leads, this is your type of book. Marie and her daughter, Faith, remain true to themselves and never back down when facing adversity. Faith is extremely stubborn and did upset me a few times. There is a period of time when Marie and Faith are separated and Faith never seems to get over it, even though they were separated for a good reason.
The author also throws in some interesting information about herbs and teas and what they are used for. It’s like getting a look into Marie’s Grimoire.