This book was everything and more than I expected! Going back in time my favorite characters of all time come full circle. Alice Hoffmann has not only made me dying to read more, many questions I had were answered. Though it can be read as a standalone you can read all of them starting with this one easily! A wonderful read and hands down one of my favorites all year! I highly recommended this book!

Thank you to the publisher, for an early release copy of Magic Lessons by, Alice Hoffman. Magic Lessons has been a highly anticipated book for me, and I gave it a beautiful five stars! Many, years ago I fell, in love with the Owens’ women in Practical Magic. Magic Lessons is a prequel to the prequel to Practical Magic. In this story we follow Maria Owens who is the woman who set the family curse on the Owens women. It takes place in the late 1600s during and after the Salem witch trials. It also follows Maria, in her childhood growing up in Europe. We follow Maria through her entire life. I really loved following Maria through her struggles with finding her place in the world, and finding love. Alice Hoffman did great research while writing this book and it shows. I am someone who is a bit of a history buff when it comes to Salem, and the witch trials. I love how she used real people who were involved in the witch trials as main characters of this story, and how it all connects from fact to fiction. I absolutely loved this story and cannot wait for the final book in the series to release!

Being a huge fan of Practical Magic, I was so happy to read Magic Lessons. It was so good! Alice Hoffman wrote such a beautiful and lyrical story and I couldn't put it down. It was absolutely perfect!

Another triumph by Alice Hoffman! I have become an ardent fan of her works but this one was just exquisite! Finally, the story of Maria Owens comes to light and the reason behind the curse that generations of Owens women struggle to defy. Loved every word and flew three every delicious page! Read it!

Grab your copy of Magic Lessons as author Alice Hoffman tells the story of the centuries-old curse and Maria Owens, the woman accused of witchcraft in Salem.
Not only does Hoffman tell us of the amazing women in the Owens family line, but also the men who they loved and their relationships that complicated so many lives.
For the lovers of Hoffman's, Practical Magic, brew the coffee because you're gonna have a book hangover reading this one.

This is the beginning of Hoffman's Magic stories, telling the story of the original Owens, Maria. In this book, we learn the origin of the Owens curse as well as some of the most important lessons that Maria passes down to generations to come, the first being "Always love someone who loves you back." If you enjoyed Practical Magic and Rules of Magic, finish the story with this book.

This was one of my favorite books of the year. Alice Hoffman writes in such a magical way. I loved the characters, the setting, the history, the magic. I didn't want it to end, and know I'll read it again and again.

Magic Lessons is yet another MASTERPIECE from the masterful mind of Alice Hoffman. The emotions that the Owens Family bring out in me are unmatched in any other series, and finally getting to visit the matriarch of this family has truly been a dream come true. Maria Owens is a fierce and loving woman who is navigating life with only the knowledge imparted to her by Hannah and her unfailing connection with the earth and nature. This book is truly one of lessons imparted and learned and brings so much understanding to the events and choices made across The Rules of Magic and Practical Magic. The eloquent and velvety writing of Alice Hoffman is like coming home, wrapping up in your favorite blanket, or hearing your loved ones voice after time apart. I have grown up with this series, figuratively and literally, and I am forever grateful to Alice Hoffman for creating this world for my mind to have explored and grown in as a reader and a woman.

This book was amazing! Hoffman really captured the feel of the 1600s and the pain of heartbreak. I appreciate the multiple points of view with Maria and Faith telling their stories.

Thank you to Netgalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this book. As always, Alice Hoffman's writing was very vivid and rich in detail. I felt the ending may be been a little rush - or perhaps the beginning was a little slow. But all in all, I want to go and read the other two books in the practical magic series and then watch the movie again. :)

I was certain, after the climax, that I was going to rate this four stars and 4.5 on the blog because there were a few plot conveniences (which now that I'm thinking back were so minor I don't even remember what they were), and because the climax itself was rushed and a bit too chaotic. This fast chaos lead to some of those events being mildly contrived. However...

The story is divided into six parts with the sixth part reading like an epilogue, and it was glorious! I immediately wanted to start re-reading the following prequel, The Rules of Magic, while I was still wrapped up in the divine essence of the story ending. For me it was one of those books where, when I next sat down to read, I was sad realizing I had finished. I couldn't start The Rules of Magic right away because of other reading commitments, but I plan to re-read part six of this book, get back into the mood it created, and then dive into the next Owens family story in a few days.

I also consider this story well researched Historical Fiction and Feminist Fiction

As a stand alone novel, I liked this very much. It's such a distant prequel, that I don't really feel it has much to do with Practical Magic at all. I confess that when it comes to Practical Magic, I much prefer the movie to the book, which is a rarity for me.

This book tells the story of Maria Owens, born a witch and going through lots of trails and tribulations on her way to accepting who she is. She starts the strong female lineage of the Owens clan, and sets them on their path. Aside from that fact, this is a stand alone. The imagery was vivid, the emotions were well portrayed, and I did feel the angst of finding yourself in a world that isn't ready to accept who you really are was well done. I enjoyed the historical glimpse of what it was like from her perspective, during the witch trials.

Also, I think the demonstration of a strong female in that time period, was well done and realistic. She had to find ways to be strong and independent, within the system in which she lived.

All in all, I enjoyed this, and had it not been a prequel to Practical Magic, I might not have selected it. But if you're hoping for some link to that popular book, it has not much other than the last name Owens to give you.

A lovely addition to the Practical Magic series and full of Hoffman’s signature beautiful writing. It was fun to finally meet this flawed, interesting matriarch of the Owens family!

4.5 stars rounded up. Alice Hoffman writes beautifully and I wanted to highlight several quotes. This is not only a story about magic and witches, it’s a story about strong women in the late 1600s where men ruled everything and women weren’t supposed to have ideas and independence. There’s strong female characters, magic, history, and romance.

I realize this book took two months for me to read but I ended up loving it. It was a slow start. I would almost- almost- classify it as a family saga as it starts with Hannah Owens finding baby Maria and taking her in, loving her and eventually teaching her spells and Magic. Most of the book follows Maria Owens growing up and making her way to the Salem, Massachusetts from London with her daughter, Faith.

I read the series in order of publication starting with Practical Magic, then The Rules of Magic, and finally Magic Lessons. Maria’s character was not what I imagined when I read Rules of Magic but I say that in the best way possible. I loved Maria’s character. The whole Owens family will always be on my mind. I might need to reread this series.

I devoured this story in a 2 days. The prequel to Practical Magic does not disappoint. It is full of history, witches lore, fascinating characters, and love. Like every book in this series whenever I read one, I find myself needing to re-read them all over again. Yet again, Hoffman’s story of the Owen’s family and witchcraft is magical.

Magical Lessons is.. well, magical. Hoffman returns with her characteristic beautiful prose to tell the story of the Owens clan. In this book the exhilarating, devastating history of the Owens is finally explored. One fateful day, in the midst of a raging storm, Hannah Owens finds a child. This special child soon grows into her own, gifted with magic and beauty as Hannah Owens imparts her lessons to her adopted daughter. Soon, circumstances carry Maria away from her home and across the world. In this riveting tale, Hoffman explores the bonds of family, love, and the darkness within us all.

Alice Hoffman's storytelling is nothing less than magical. There is a princess and a witch and a new born baby - it's not a Disney tale Hoffman weaves, it's so much better. From page one you will be mesmerized by how women in the 1600s are treated and what they must do to survive, especially when they are so smart. They are enchanting, but very powerful when it comes to keeping a roof over their head and protecting their children. All characters are descriptively perfect for their parts in the story. For as far as women have come, unfortunately, some of the situations still strike too close to home today. Thank you to the author, publisher Simon & Schuster, and Netgalley for this marvelous novel.

Alice Hoffman always does her research and it shows. The level of detail she goes into on witchy matters is amazing. It's been awhile since I read Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic, so I think I'll have to go back and re-read them in order to give this a more robust review. On it's own, Magic Lessons is compelling and intelligent, with beautiful, vivid imagery and a story line that traces three overlapping generations of Owens women. As usual, Alice adeptly explores the complexity of mother-daughter relationships, what it means to love someone, and the power of women in a world ruled by men.

I love this trilogy so much. This was perfect for October when I read it. The history of the Owens sisters was everything I imagined and more. Anyone interested in the history of witches and Puritanism should read this book.

“What you give will be returned to you threefold” is a quote from Alice Hoffman’s latest novel -- Magic Lessons. I predict that Alice Hoffman will receive much enjoyment in her life for writing this book for us to read. Magic Lessons, a prequel in her Practical Magic series, is a compelling page turner with wonderful historical references, inspiring quotes about love and wisdom, and an endearing and turbulent story of love. Since I have not read the other books in the series, I am anxious to read more of the family of witches through the female blood line.

#NetGalley #MagicLessons