Very nice, typical Alice Hoffman, senstiivty, mystical, opening the mind to different perceptions.. Salem, witchcrafter, superstitions. Hoffman is a excellent writer and the story moves well, if a little repetitive in places
Love, loss, and this is part of a trilogy.

Magic Lessons is a prequel to Practical Magic, and it was perfect! I loved the depth of the characters in this. Even side characters were so engaging and lovely. It felt as if each one had their own book happening off in the wings and they just happened to cross into this one for a time. Most of all, I found myself entranced by the simple beauty that was Maria and her story. As the story progresses and Faith's story is intertwined with Maria's in different ways, I loved how they played off of one another as well. It was a wonderful blend of magic and history, and I couldn't put it down. While I did find this a little slow to start at first, looking back, I don't think I would want to change it. The story feels both magical and ordinary at the same time in a way that is exactly what I needed out of a story like this. Set against the Salem witch trials and 1600s life, the ordinary and extraordinary came together to build a story that really gave the feel of the time without losing a sense of wonder.

This book is a prequel to the Practical Magic series that we have all come to know and love. It follows Maria Owens in the 1600’s as she is left as a baby in the middle of a field. She is raised by Hannah Owens, who practices the “nameless arts”. Maria has the gift as well, and soon she is teaching her everything she can. Maria’s life is far from easy, and as she moves from England to Salem to New York back to Salem, we see how the early lessons Hannah taught her keep her going.

I love all Alice Hoffman books, so I was so excited when I heard there was going to be a prequel to the Practical Magic series. I love her style, and having the setting be the late 1600’s was awesome! The witch trials and everything going on during that time, made it so magical (forgive the word use!). Hoffman’s prose is always so lyrical and just takes me away, I loved this book!

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. There was nothing wrong with the story, and Alice Hoffman's writing is always lovely. I just wasn't interested in the direction the storyline took. This is on me, as I requested the book without reading the synopsis (or Practical Magic), purely because I had previously enjoyed The Rules of Magic.

Magic Lessons is author Alice Hoffman's prequel to Practical Magic, a previous novel that became a popular film starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. I really enjoy Hoffman's books, and this one had all the elements her readers have come to expect: love, romance, witchcraft, and family.

The story begins with the birth of a baby in the 1600s and her abandonment in a snow-covered field in rural England. Rescued and raised as Maria Owens, she's taught the "nameless arts" that she'll use later when a man she loves proves false. She follows him to Salem, MA, where the infamous witch trials were held--a dangerous place for a woman with magical powers.

Don't miss this mysterious, gorgeous story.

Of Hoffman's tales of the Owens women, this book ranks as my second favorite, behind Practical Magic. Delicate prose, rich storytelling, and a narrative ripe with history and heartache, Maria's story was as gripping as it was heart-wrenching. Though slow to start, I could not put it down.

Historical fiction, rich in detail, which takes the reader back to the beginning of the Owens family saga. The journey of Maria Owens begins in 17th Century Essex, England where she is found and raised by Hannah Owens, a kind witch and healer. Maria learns green magic, which she carries to Curacao, Boston, Salem and New York. The theme of the repression of women is sting, especially when the Owens women have the ability to cure and soothe, while their male counterparts often do not. Other plot points delve into the ability to love when cursed in love, and discrimination. The book provides a wealth of information about herbal recipes, like Courage Tea, black soap, blue thread, black mirrors, and the familiars--Maria's crow and Faith's wolf. Magic Lessons can stand alone and one does not need to have read Practical Magic or The Rules of Magic. Thank you Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for the arc.

I know everyone loves Alice Hoffman, so I wanted to give her another try. I was disappointed by Practical Magic, and I was disappointed with this one.

You can't go wrong with the a magical historical backstory to an already beloved story by a beloved author.

Wonderful book!! Wow.!! I loved this historical fiction but mystical book. The terrible parts of history should always be scrutinized so we can learn and not repeat. It is very interesting to see the way smart women, poor women, old women, and women who wanted to question the status quo were branded witches and burned. All while wrapped into a wonderful fiction book. I didn’t want it to end. I enjoyed reading this one.

Having read the other two books in this series, it was wonderful to get the "whole" back story on the Owens women. Magic Lessons was everything I hoped for.

Alice Hoffman is at her full (magickal) powers in the new novel, tracing her earlier generation of witches from her Salem family. It’s very sweeping in history, but particular in the details and responsibilities of .... being a witch.
Each turn of events is suspenseful and rich in characters, a perfect all-nighter pandemic read.

This book enchanted me from the very beginning. I'm not typically a huge fan of fantasy or books about witchcraft, but I LOVED this book. Having read several Alice Hoffman books, I knew it'd be a beautifully written novel and it definitely did not disappoint. Can't wait to continue reading the rest of the books in this series.

I will admit to having been slightly hesitant about digging into this book. I grew up in a modern witchy household in Salem MA and we loved the Practical Magic movie dearly. I read the book for the first time when I was a teenager and instantly fell deeper in love. While the movie had a nostalgic charm to it, there was something real about the book that reminded me of home. When Rules of Magic came out a few years back I was so excited to read it that I preordered it and eagerly awaited it’s arrival. When I finally got it I devoured it in one sitting, but it left me feeling oddly empty. It just didn’t have that true charm to it that made me fall in love with the original. The characters didn’t sit right and I put it back on the shelf to be forgotten.

If I felt like Rules of Magic was lacking the magical truth of witchcraft and family, then Magic Lessons more than made up for it. In fact, I think I loved it more than Practical Magic. Maria had always been a source of curiosity for me, but I never expected myself to fall in love with her and her daughter as much as I did - even in the moments that I found her unbearably frustrating. Each paragraph of Magic Lessons shimmers with simple witchcraft, becoming itself a lesson in magic in the simplest ways.

This was a good background of witches and the Owens family curse. I love the history and the characters are strong.

3.5 stars.

Magic Lessons is a good novel with rich historical writing. Hoffman presents a lot of description and historical references throughout along with pieces of magical information. This would have likely served the book very well had it not been a prequel for the Practical Magic series. The other two books are written in a more whimsical and magical style, while Magic Lessons leans more toward a darker narrative and has quite a bit of somber overtones. The clash of these two styles partially made this book less enjoyable. Had I read this book before the others in the series, it may well have been rated slightly higher.

The biggest problem for me with this book was the pacing. While I appreciated the historical detail and attention to description (and I indeed learned some historical tidbits along the way), the writing made things a bit more dense and dragged things to a very slow pace. A flattened plot made it difficult to continue in some places, so I ended up reading a good portion of this book in small snippets.

Maria was an interesting character. She has a lot darker soul than the other Owens women and this made her a bit harder to like and connect with. She is somber and in some places quite intense. Her emotional volatility made her feel slightly distant for the reader. She was a bit of an acquired taste. Again, this would have been totally fine had I not had the preconceived notions of what to expect from Owens witches based on the other novels in the series.

I found this read to be okay. I enjoyed the informational content and did like that the backstory for a character frequently mentioned in the other books was presented. However, I was a bit let down by the flavor of the book.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. *

This was my first Alice Hoffman book and what an utter delight. The reader is drawn into another time with Maria Owens and her development feels so real and possible, despite the magical realism of witchery.

Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman is the origin story of the Owens clan featured in some of her other books. This book is a complete story, but no doubt the experience is a different one if you have read the other books. Although witchcraft is a huge part of this book, it is at the same time a relatable story. The character of Maria and the lessons of the book keep me reading until the very last page. I look forward to what Alice Hoffman will write next.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2021/02/magic-lessons.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

Absolutely loved this prequel! Thank you so much for writing. Magic Lessons gives us Maria Owens' complicated story, and it has some historical fiction pieces in with the fantasy/ fiction. This is my favorite type of book!

I absolutely loved this book. The story is set with Maria Owens and all things that happened in her time. The book has lots of awesome little “spells” that I bookmarked and I know any witchy lady/man would love. Great great read!