I am a devoted reader of author Alice Hoffman, having devoured almost all 0f her books at least once. PRACTICAL MAGIC is one that I savored as a movie (repeatedly) also. When she wrote the previous prequel, THE RULES OF MAGIC, I yearned for a real prequel, one that began at the beginning, with the first Owens witch. I wrote that in my book review and told everyone I met. So, folks, here it is. It is all that I hoped for and more. The beginning is just a little slow; perhaps I wanted things to move more quickly than the storyteller wished. That can happen with over-eager readers. But once the tale was truly underway, I could not stop reading and remained glued to the page. Having completed this book several days ago, I can tell you the characters stick with you. Their faults and strengths are compelling and intriguing; the depiction of their world is as intricate and lively as any Hoffman has written. I refuse to tell more of the story because it deserves to be enjoyed as I did, without preconceptions or advance knowledge. It’s a tale of mothers and daughters, tied by fate and circumstance. It is a wonderful book. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley .