The moment this landed on my shelf, I had to start reading (even though I have a couple others on my shelf that publish earlier). I am always extremely grateful to get my hands on anything by Alice Hoffman.
The story of the Owens line, going back to the beginning, started off a bit slow for me, but I was soon fully immersed. I savored the details, from herbs and trees, to the mores of the time. Magical, of course, but also a good study of human nature and the bond between mother and daughter. So much I didn't know about the history of New York/Brooklyn/etc.

Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman is an excellent historical fiction that literally has it all: magic, family, suspense, history, love, loss, sacrifice, revenge, loyalty, and a riveting plot that keeps the reader engaged and riveted until the very end.

I have to say I am a huge fan of Ms. Hoffman, however I have not read the Practical Magic series as of yet (even though it is on my bookshelf), but I knew that I wanted to start with this book as soon as I saw its presence. I think the reader could enjoy this book as the first in the series, or as an addition to the books if one has already read them in the past.

This book gives the reader the insight into the beginnings and the origin of the Owens family and sets up the long lineage that follows thereafter of the women that are born into a long line of family members with the gifts, burdens, and insights privy to those that have "the gift". Just as some traits and talents with any family, some are born with the innate gift, some have specific talents that are more unique to that soul then another, some use the magic for good, and some dabble into the left-sided and darker sides of that world.

We first get to meet Hannah Owens, Maria Owens that she comes upon abandoned in a field and adopts as her own, as well as Maria's birth mother Rebecca. We are thrust into the 1660s in Essex County, England and then travel with Maria across seas, lands, and continents in her travels after losses, trials, and obstacles occur. We see how each culture and country during this time treats its fellow humans and how it responds to all that one does not know. I loved reading about Maria's experiences, relationships, growth in herself and her abilities and how they change as she then moves to New England and New York. It was fascinating, and heartbreaking, to see how different she, her daughter Faith, and her loved ones were treated during that time period in each of the locations. It is stunning to see how much of a difference Manhattan was at that time from Salem, Massachusetts (and the other Essex county).

I loved the integration of the herbal remedies, the superstitions, and rules of magic throughout the book. It was intertwined flawlessly with the story, the characters, their transitions, and their stories. I truly enjoyed the relationship between Maria and Cadin, Faith and Keeper, and Maria and Samuel. I loved the romance and their entwined destinies. I loved the plot, the characters, the transitions, the pace, and I truly loved the ending. I had tears in my eyes several times, but I learned so much, and it was truly a joy to read.

This is what a novel should be. I have already started reading the rest of the series. This is excellent and is easily one of the top books for me this year.

5/5 stars enthusiastically.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub reviews immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N account upon publication.

Rich and elegant, poignant and enthralling, MAGIC LESSONS is every bit as captivating as its predecessors. Alice Hoffman never disappoints--and this is one of her finest tales. It's a cliche to say this novel is spellbinding...but it's also the truth!

Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic is the story about Maria Owen's life. I could NOT put this book down! I've read all of the books in the series and by far Magic Lessons is the absolute story Alice Hoffman has written!! I totally enjoyed getting the whole story from beginning to end! How little Maria was left abandoned in a field near a healer's home in the 1600s. It follows her life and how the winds of fate took Maria across the sea and eventually to Salem, Massachusetts. When Maria arrives in Salem the townfolks were not completely insane with their witchhunts. But, that changes over time... But, it is not the crux of the story. Maria very much is the central figure.

Alice Hoffman outdid herself with Magic Lessons! One can tell that she poured her heart and soul into this story! I would love to know if the spells she weaves into the story are actually real spells or if they're just ones that the author made up! As I received the book via NetGalley none of my highlighted posts can be shared.

This is going to become a MUST READ book of 2020!! The timing of the release is just a little before Halloween!!! Women are going to be totally enchanted by Maria's life!! Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic is going to be in my top ten list of books that I believe EVERYONE should read at some point in their lives! This book is going to be one of those rare MUST HAVE in one's library!

Wow! What a lovely, lingering story of love and resilience. I am a longtime fan of Practical Magic & was NOT disappointed by this tale of the original matriarch of the Owens clan. Anyone with interest in witchcraft, the Salem witch trials, American history (especially the history of Manhattan) will love this book.

Oh my, another amazing story about the brave and resilient Owens women. One of my favorite books I read last year was Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman— which is actual what this should be the prequel to before Practical Magic. Either way, however your order of reading goes, this family and these books are so much fun. This book makes the collection even better because now you know where it all began.

This story is more enchanting than her other two in the series, but mainly because of the time period the story takes place. I was worried I’d feel like I was reading a time piece from the 1600’s, but it didn’t feel historical or old. I actually plan to read a lot more about Salem, MA and it’s history.
There’s a little bit of everything in this book. Love, magic, hope, sisterhood and of course a bit of darkness. I was surprised at some of the dark turns in the story, but in the end it made each of the sections of the book even more lovable then the next.

My only critique of the book is that it’s takes a while for the story to get moving along. It sometimes felt like it was a bit wordy with lots and lots of extra details. It really starts to get the most interesting maybe 40% into the book. I hope that readers stick around with the slow beginning because this story was worth the wait. Truly another enchanted tale with twists and turns you know to love from Alice Hoffman.

This is a wonderful addition to the Owens family saga, giving us a look into their family history and the possible beginnings of their curse. Hoffman writes wonderfully of the difficulties and dangers of love, treading the line between what is magical in those dangers, and what may only feel so.

I am a huge fan of Alice Hoffman, especially her work surrounding the Owens Women. I was so excited to receive the advanced copy of Magic Lessons so I could dive back into the Owens family history and learn where it all started. Alice Hoffman does not disappoint! I did not want this book to end. I actually paced myself so I would not devour this book in one sitting.
Magic Lessons is the prequel to Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic. We meet Hannah Owens, a generous woman who takes in a baby, named Maria, and her crow and helps Maria grow into the powers she was born with. You travel with Maria from England, to Curacao to Massachusetts and New York. (Yes, Maria was actually around during the Salem Witch trials!) You get to watch maria give birth to Faith and the struggles and heartbreak that come with raising a child during this time.
Overall, 2 huge thumbs up and 5 stars for Hoffman! I will always love the Owens family and would LOVE to read more about them. I am a forever fan of Hoffman's witch-y, supernatural novels. I highly recommend this book to others and will always be looking out for other works by Alice Hoffman. Special Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Alice Hoffman for the advance digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
#NetGalley

This was different from the other books in the Practical Magic series. While still covering familiarly red-or-raven-haired members of the Owens family, and with familiar lessons in herbs and in magic, this one was much more set in time and place. It's more historical fiction, tying in with noteworthy events and specific people and locations much more firmly. This is not to its detriment, although it's maybe a little long and slow-paced compared to the other two books (Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic).

I am completely enamored of the Owens women. Alice Hoffman takes us back to the very beginning of the Owens story, weaving the Salem witch trials and so much more in this engrossing book. I loved getting to know Maria and Faith. All of Hoffman's novels feature strong women, reliant on friendship and sisterhood, who live their lives on their own terms, as much as they can. Magic Lessons includes the same kind of women.

Alice Hoffman is a beautiful writer, and her newest book is a slower, yet somewhat tumultuous, look at the history of the Owen's family and their magical beginnings in the United States. While I wasn't as intrigued by the historical aspects of this book as I wanted to be, I blame that more on on my brain being somewhat shot during the quarantine than on Hoffman's prose. Despite the slow pace, fans of Hoffman will love this book and all the modern lesson it's historical story has to offer.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I’ve read all Alice Hoffman books, and this certainly did not disappoint! A beautiful marriage of history and magic. I was struck by the fact that although the story takes place in the 1600’s, there are so many parallels to life today, such as people shunned and shamed for their beliefs. The story is filled with beautiful and poignant life lessons. Lessons from the 1600’s that are still relevant in today’s world. Thank you Netgalley, Simon and Schuster, and Alice Hoffman for the early read! This made my whole year! Thrilled and grateful to have been able to read this piece of magic.

Ok so I opened this book on April 20, but I had some stuff happen and then I read another book. I actually read 80% of this today- in one sitting. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t gripped from the very beginning. That’s no fault of Alice’s. Her writing is always perfection- I just have a hard time with historical fiction. I don’t know why, but it just is what it is. For me, Part One dragged a little. I made it through though and didn’t give up on Alice and I’m so glad. Ok, so I’ve been reading about Maria Owens for years and I don’t know what everyone else is going to think or say, but this Maria is nothing like I imagined, in the best way possible. I thought with her being the one who cursed the family she was going to be angry and probably die early in the book. I won’t spoil anything, I just want to say that her character is so rich and so well developed and there is SO MUCH MORE to Maria than the curse she is known for. Enough about Maria though, the star of the whole book is Faith. She may be one of my favorite Alice characters yet. I loved her so much and I just wanted to hug her for the trauma and resilience and growth she shows throughout this book. I also loved the animals- Alice always has a dog that we just fall in love with, but there’s more than that here. This book, gah it may be the best in the series. I don’t know, I love them all, but this was just FANTASTIC and I loved it so much. I loved the allusions to The Crucible and also how Maria and Faith and John were very much like Hester and Pearl and Dimmesdale- just so much literary gold in this whole book. Also it must be mentioned how Alice Hoffman has the ability to touch every sense with her writing. I wasn’t expecting, in the beginning, to love it like I did. I’m so glad that I stuck with it and believed in her to give Maria the story we all wanted. Wonderful book. Thanks so much to Net Galley & Simon & Schuster for this approval and opportunity

I've been craving more information on Maria Owens since Practical Magic came out. This book gave me everything I could ever want. It was every bit as magical as I have come to expect from Alice Hoffman . The book begins with Maria being discovered in a snowy field with a crow by her side. The story continues as we witness how she grows and her adoptive mother teaches Maria her witchy ways. I don't want to spoil it for you but do yourself a favor and preorder this book. I did.

For the love of Owens Family and desperately seeking of my true witchy heritance: this prologue is FAN-TAC-TIC! It’s darker, more intense, more terrifying, grueling, petrifying and extremely emotional. It awakes entire feelings inside of you: hatred, passion, love, regret, horror, shame, guilt, apathy, disgust, sadness. You get exhausted after those emotional gut punches.

We’re moving to the 1600s to the beginning of the story to meet with Helen: mother of Maria to learn more about Owens bloodline. Helen finds abandoned baby in the snowy field in rural England. She becomes mentor, mother, teacher of the girl and her lessons starts with “Unnamed Arts”.
Gifted girl learns the most important lesson from Helen: “she has to love someone who loves her back”

It was slow beginning but when you stay patient and read more, you realize the characters of the book start growing on you and you need to read more about them. Instead of feeling sympathy, you start to adore their achievements, women power and you feel connected with them: This is truly remarkable mother-daughter, betrayal, avenging, love story. If they wouldn’t be the curse ones, you could voluntarily want to be part of the Owens family.

Maria’s journey only starts because of love but when love turns into passionate obsession it may also bring its curse within’. She follows the love left her behind and summons the curse into their family life will haunt them forever.

I’m not gonna give much spoiler because this will ruin the essence of the book but I honestly say if you read the other two books of the series, this is amazing beginning to give enough information for you to understand the reasons behind most of the events and more juicy facts about family dynamics. You will have the most of the answers that you need. And I advise you, after reading this prequel, you gotta read: “Practical Magic” and “The Rules of the Magic” ( If you haven’t read, this is a bliss so you gotta understand family’s story chronologically and every piece of puzzle will make more sense to you. But if you already read it: please go back and reread them: so you may get a brand new perspective and brighter, more clear look to the characters’ evolving with your second time reading.)

Overall: It started slow but as you give not only your full concentration but also your whole heart and clear mind to this story, it enchants and mesmerizes you. As a result you never want to put it down and after finishing it, you keep thinking about those remarkably memorable characters because they already became a part of you: you may find pieces of yourself as you read their journeys.

I’m giving well-deserved, magical, witchery five stars!

So much thanks to NetGalley and Simon&Schuster for sharing this fantastic ARC with me in exchange my honest review.

Oh my goodness did I love this book! This novel really has it all - magic & witches, love & revenge, mystery & history, life lessons & advice, and an incredible set of characters, some who you’re rooting for through it all, and others who you despise. ⁣
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Magic Lessons is the third in a series about the Owens family of witches. This story follows Maria Owens through her childhood in Essex County, England; her teenage years in Curaçao; and her young adult to adult years in the second Essex County in Salem, Boston, and New York. It is a generational story of both Maria and her daughter, Faith - two of the strongest characters I’ve read about in a long time - growing into themselves. ⁣
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Going into it, I did not think this would be a historical fiction, verging on revisionist history, novel - but that’s what it was...and I loved that! I enjoyed how it intertwined with the Salem witch trials, a part of history that has always intrigued me. ⁣
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We are taken back in time to the beginning of the Owens line of witches, before there was a house on Magnolia Street that one could go to for odd cures, before there were pairs of little girls born into the family, before there was the Owens curse. This is the story of the legendary Maria Owens, her life, her love, her magic.

This has got to be my favorite book in the Practical Magic series, and that's saying a lot since I have a growing personal collection of the OG Practical Magic editions. IDK if there are more Owens Family books in the pipeline for Alice Hoffman, but this prequel-to-the-prequel brilliantly incorporates all the history, lore and tradition I've come to love in the other books to a compelling narrative of a woman wronged and almost ruined by her kind and loving nature.

Similar to The Rules of Magic, I went in with expectation of heartache, betrayal and even death, because of all we knew about the Owens women, Maria Owens especially, prior to this book's publication, but I'm glad it all turns out fine for everyone in the end. I'm not gonna say how or in what aspect things turn out fine (bec major spoilers, duh) but it does, and it was spectacular. The book is even more enjoyable in the sense that it takes the reader to that point in the Owens family history we think we already know, AND THEN takes it WAY beyond our expectations.

The setting is rich in historical facts and events seamlessly interwoven with fiction. I found myself looking up factoids about certain places and happenings (and even magical/horticultural references) in the middle of reading because the story painted the western world in the 1600s so vividly, I wanted to believe all of the magical things actually happened. I know v little about American History, and this book is probably not the most accurate if you want to be too nitpicky, but I found it adequately molded from historical facts from where I'm standing, and the tone is clearly for the enjoyment of contemporary readers.

What I loved most were the callbacks to particular traits, behaviors, talents and traditions (we finally get to see where the Tipsy Chocolate Cake came from!) that all generations of the Owens share. (Is it a callback, though? Maria is the source of all of these after all. LOL) The history-repeats-itself device was absolutely effective in the The Rules of Magic vs. Practical Magic comparisons, and now we get to the very root of the reasons why Owens women and men are the way the are.

Magic Lessons is also more fantastical than the other books, IMO, probably bec in the other books there is an element of rejecting their heritage, of wanting to be "normal" but in this one, Maria Owens wholly embraces her true nature, even using it to her advantage several times. The 'magic' is still quite subtle like in the other books, but it is a little more straightforward here and I'd say it made the story, and the overall concept of heirloom magic fresh and exciting. (*I'm not gonna say anything about the curse, bec again, major spoilers, but oh my god the way things happened surrounding the curse were so cleverly written, I CAN'T EVEN!)

As with any of Alice Hoffman's books, central to the story is the women of power. Not just in the supernatural sense, but more on their agency and strength to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds. The Owens always did as they pleased, especially the women, and in this story's time - where women who did so are accused of witchcraft and are quite easily sent to the gallows - Maria had to fight smarter and love even harder. (And oh my god Maria's love for her man and her daughter !!! i can't even as well)

If you are a huge fan of Alice Hoffman's work, you definitely shouldn't skip on this, and if this should be your first book from her, you'll definitely enjoy it and might even make you want to read the other books in this series and then some. Highly recommended.

*The eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley for free in exchange for an honest review. It doesn't affect my opinion of the book. Thank you so much, Simon & Schuster!

Lovely book by one of my favorite authors. I love that she has gone back to the Practical Magic theme a couple times now. Although my quarantine brain had a bit of a hard time with some of the history and spell descriptions, I enjoyed the feeling of empowered women who struggle in a crazy world. They make mistakes but learn from them. So many great life lessons, I found many that I had to write in my own Thoughts notebook. Thanks for letting me read this!

Alice Hoffman may have just written the very best book ever to be written! If I could give it 10 stars, I would! While I’ve been a Hoffman fan for a long time, I didn’t read Practical Magic until Rules of Magic came out in 2017. Magic Lessons tells the story of how it all began for the Owens family. We first meet Hannah, who gives Maria a home and is her first teacher. We follow Maria through many adventures, including a wonderfully visual trip to Curaçao and then a harrowing journey to Salem, Massachusetts and later to New York. We watch Maria fall in and out of love and experience the joy and pain of motherhood. We experience alongside Maria what it feels to be treated horribly for no reason other than being true to oneself. And above all, we experience Magic like no one else can deliver.
Throughout the book, Hoffman tells us her signature story of mothers and daughters and the lengths they go to for one another. She uses the most descriptive imagery for the beautiful flora and fauna along the journey. She writes about teas and cakes and other fantastic concoctions.
There were many times reading this that I caught myself holding my breath from anticipation. I literally did not want to stop reading this book. I, almost defiantly, put it down for a day just to make it last a little longer.
I cannot stress enough how perfect this book is. I will be pre-ordering so I can read again and again along with the other Owens family stories. Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the advanced copy of the wonderful book.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review one of my favorite authors. It came as no surprise that I enjoyed this book as much as Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic. The story went back to 1664 and tells us all about Maria Owen's origin story. Must read for of PM. Definitely recommend.