Poet Mary Oliver writes "To live in this world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, let it go." The time has come to bid farewell to the Owens family, but it seems impossible to let them go-even if they are more than mere mortals. Alice Hoffman first introduced us to this enchanting clan in 1995 with Practical Magic. A mix of quirky and mystical, many know Practical Magic from the film starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock. The Book of Magic brings us full circle to the present after prequels The Rules of Magic and Magic Lessons. With each novel Miss Hoffman draws us deeper into the world of the Unnamed Art and the Owens family- The Book of Magic is an amazing and emotional goodbye to a family that feels like our own (perhaps without the chants and curses) for over twenty five years. The Book of Magic opens with now octogenarian Aunt Jet in her beloved Owens Library hearing the sound (the deathwatch beetle) she knows means her life is coming to and end. From there The Book of Magic spirals back to the curse Maria Owens put on the family over three hundred years ago, to the arrival of Jet's young nieces Sally and Gillian after the deaths of their parents, life on Magnolia Street with Jet as the dispenser of wisdom and advice for the neighborhood women, and all the loves the family has gained and lost over the ensuing decades. The Book of Magic is a beautiful novel with writing so haunting the words sound like they are coming from a faraway land, and echo off the pages even after you've turned them. That the center of the story is Jet and her sister Franny is exactly how it should be. Alice Hoffman is a prolific and brilliant writer-but she has saved her best for The Book of Magic. It's not practically magic, it's absolutely magical. You will be spellbound.

I've read a number of Alice Hoffman's books and find her uneven. But...
This book is the conclusion of the Practical Magic series--the story of Maria Owens and her descendants.

"The Owens family has been cursed in matters of love for over three-hundred years but all of that is about to change. The novel begins in a library, the best place for a story to be conjured, when beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the deathwatch beetle and knows she has only seven days to live. Jet is not the only one in danger—the curse is already at work."

Three generations of Owens women populate the book--as well as Vincent--their long lost brother [who fled to Paris decades earlier and is presumed dead]. Note: I love that her women are strong characters.

The book moves from Massachusetts to Paris to London to the English countryside. Filled with secrets--and of course, love--always looming/threatening--some of which was prescient [for me] and detracted from the story line.

I pretty much plodded along until it picked up [or so I thought] about 3/4 through--when the pace quickened for the neat and tidy ending--to the book and series.

Be sure to read the historical note.

3.5; not rounding up. [in the distinct minority]

Still, though I didn't feel the love, I will continue to read Hoffman's books!

The Book of Magic is the mesmerizing conclusion to Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic series, and unites three generations of Owens family members to break the curse on love set by their ancestor Maria. After Jet hears the deathwatch beetle, she decides to leave the Book of the Raven where her sister Franny can find it and begin the work of breaking the curse but her great-niece Kylie, Sally's daughter finds it instead when a horrible accident leads her to pursue left-hand magic. Franny and Jet's long lost brother Vincent joins Franny, Sally and Gillian as they go after Kylie and try to stop her before her actions can't be undone. The story does a wonderful job of bringing the overall story of the Owens family curse full circle, and while not fully "happily-ever-after", brings a satisfying conclusion to the stories of Franny, Jet, Sally and Gillian. Hoffman's storytelling is as beautiful as always and makes Massachusetts and England, where the story is primarily told, come alive. I wish I'd felt just a little more engrossed in the emotions the characters were feeling, but overall this is a minor complaint for a job well done.

4.5⭐️ The Book of Magic is the 4th and final in the series. What a brilliant conclusion this was. I really enjoyed every single word. It gives you a detailed and historical understanding of the behaviors that led to the accusations of witchcraft. Wildly interesting.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Do you believe in magic? You will after reading this last "magical" book by Alice Hoffman, it was wonderful! My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Full feature for this title will be posted at: @queensuprememortician on Instagram!

Oh that curse! It seemed as though the curse that brought death to any man an Owens loved was broken. NO, the happy endings in prior works about the Owens women, and men were just using work arounds. When Jet (from Practical Magic) loses her second husband she becomes bitter. She avoids magic and keeps her daughters away from magic, water and love. She never warns them about the curse. So when one of her daughters falls in love the curse kicks in and she is unprepared and angry. Jet need help from her aunts and her grandfather to track her daughter and save her and her love from the curse. Will they finally break it this time?

NOTE: I was given early access to this manuscript through netgalley.com in exchange for writing an impartial review. Thank you Simon Schuster. Scheduled Publication: October 5, 2021.

THE BOOK OF MAGIC is the fourth and final novel in Alice Hoffman's Practical Magic series, providing a completely satisfying conclusion to what has been a delightful literary ride. Awarded five stars on Goodreads.

Hoffman, a favorite author of mine, uses this series to explore the historical links between fears and accusations of witchcraft and women who have behaved in ways that violate the norms of a male dominated society, OR have lived independently, OR have possessed knowledge about using herbs to relieve suffering. It turns out unattached women (or any vulnerable population, really), especially those who can read and write when most can't, are an easy target for blame anytime people want an explanation for something they don't understand.

Hoffman's entire series centers on a family curse that is hundreds of years old as well as on the strong ties that connect women, especially those related by blood (sisters, mothers, daughters, aunts). While all four novels have been beautifully written, original, intelligent, and full of wonderful and distinctive characters -- THE BOOK OF MAGIC is my favorite.

This final novel felt the most plot-driven to me, building steadily toward a very suspenseful conclusion. It continues the story of Franny and her sister Jet, their nieces Gillian and Sally, and Sally's daughters, Antonia and Kylie (now young adults).

Without wanting to spoil your own ride of discovery, I'll just say that, once again, there are plenty of surprises and page-turning drama. A college student lying in a coma, his devoted girlfriend willing to give her life to heal him, a long lost brother, and assorted female members of the Owens family -- continuing their love/hate relationship with their special gifts: some eager to employ them, others in total denial. And nearly all of them facing decisions about falling in love.

I'm genuinely sorry to see the end of this series. But fortunately, there are other Alice Hoffman books I've yet to read.

According to the author, she recommends you read the books EITHER in the order in which they were written OR in chronological order:

Order They Were Written:
Practical Magic (2003)
The Rules of Magic (2017)
Magic Lessons (2020)
The Book of Magic (2021)

Chronological Order:
Magic Lessons
The Rules of Magic
Practical Magic
The Book of Magic

Whichever you choose, enjoy then all!

The magic and nuance of Alice Hoffman is alive and well, and this saga that reached back centuries was brought to such a shimmering conclusion with this final title in the series...

I am a big Alice Hoffman fan and this book did not disappoint. Her writing transports the reader and even though this book was set in modern day, you feel like you have gone back in time. It was great to reunite with the characters from Magnolia Street.

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman
The final book in the Practical Magic series connects all of the Owens family in a most satisfying way. While The Book of Magic (Book 4) can be read on its own, the other books in the series – Rules of Magic (Book 2) and Magic Lessons (the prequel) – provide the reader with a much richer experience of this family saga.

The themes that return are the bond between sisters who have opposite natures but are devoted to each other; the pitfalls of trusting the wrong people; the temptation to use dark magic no matter the cost--and there always is a cost; and the power of love. Alice Hoffman wrote Practical Magic in 1995, and while that book is good, she has deepened her talents as a storyteller since then and this book is a delight to read. The story centers on Sally's now grown daughter desperate to save the man she loves. The old aunts and the rest of the family, along with some new enchanting characters, bring the story to a satisfying end.

I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and give my honest opinion of The Book of Magic.

4..3. The following apt and prescient language takes you throughout the novel:
Read as many books as you can. Choose courage over caution. Take time to visit libraries. Look for light in the darkness. Have faith in yourself. Know that love is what matters most.
Language was everything. Trust was for fools. Love came and went. Words could be stolen.
In my opinion, this is probably the best of the Magic novels. This last in the series provides a good conclusion to the Owens family saga, and the three hundred year old curse on family members’ love relationships. Alice Hoffman is an excellent writer and I have enjoyed many of her books over the years, The Dovekeepers, Faithful, The World that We Knew, and The Museum of Extraordinary Things. There are some I didn’t like as much but she is still a gifted writer and has shown she can write in different genres. Really enjoyed this novel, easy to read and kept me captivated throughout. As others have said, would love to see the delicious recipes alluded to in the novel, Chocolate Tipsy cake, Courage tea, apple pie, etc. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an advance copy in exchange for a candid and unbiased review.

Luminous. Heart-breaking. Perfect.
This final book in the Practical Magic series is the ultimate crescendo to a book series that has captured the hearts and minds of millions. The cast of characters who started us off in Practical Magic are here to take us home. I won't give any spoilers, but Hoffman ties off every thread. Don't miss this book!

The wrap up to my favorite book of Jet, Franny and Vincent...

Alice loved to write about how much 'witch' things to combine to fight so and so disease but it lost its appeal when it was described every page. I think she liked to write about that more than changing/developing Vincent's personality because he really fell flat and that was a shame. He was my favorite character in rules of magic, but when he came back he wouldn't even be written into the important scenes part of the time. Everyone evolved in this novel, lovely Sally and even scary Franny, but not Vincent. I loved the relationship Ian and Sally developed, so overall its a 3 star read. Though I don't see how her family could have abandoned Antonio to go overseas in her week out pregnancy, it was a bit cold hearted.

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman~
For three hundred years the Owens family have suffered a terrible curse, anyone who they fall in love with ultimately dies. For years they’ve attempted to break the curse but each time it ends with more sorrow.
Kylie and Antonia grew up knowing that their family was different, maybe even special, but never truly knew the truth. In an effort to save them from the curse, their mother Sally has hidden the family talents, and allowed them to live a life as normal as possible. And of course as normal humans do, they have found love. When Kylie confesses her feelings to her boyfriend, he suffers a severe injury and as he lies trapped in a coma, Kylie will stop at nothing to save him. Her journey will take her through the family’s past, across countries to a world she never even dreamed existed, and to a magic that is more dark than light. The entire Owen’s family will unite to see if the past can change their future.
Practical Magic will always, without a doubt remain my favorite Halloween movie. So naturally I had to request this book, hoping to read before the release date and thankfully Netgalley agreed. The story itself was well written and engaging. I loved the settings and how the author takes you along on the adventure. My only complaint is that the narrative jumps quite a bit between characters but fortunately it all manages to connect. In the past I have related more with Sally, but as the story progressed, I found myself drawn to Aunt Fanny who is a true heroine. An excellent read and I thoroughly look forward to any more additions that the author can dream up! This book will be released October 5th

It was about 3 chapters into this book I realized I don't think I ever officially have read Practical Magic. I adore the movie so all my knowledge of this story came from that and the characters are very different from that of the movie (which is understandable). Keeping that in mind I kept on reading with a different mindset trying not to compare to the movie and I really did enjoy the book. It was nice to see where in life some of my favorite characters had gotten to. So happy with how it ending. The Owens family will always have a special place in my heart. Highly recommend!!

I really enjoy reading magical books and this was a wonderful end to the series. Thank you for the advanced copy to read!

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman is amazing. It is the continued journey of Practical magic then to where it all started Magic Lessons. ( It's a series) To the Book of Magic what happened to everyone in Practical Magic.
The family is cursed first of all with love goes back up to 300 years. Sally Owens experiences the curse first hand. Her sister Gillian Owens thinks differently. All Sally Owens wanted in life was to be normal not from a cursed family. Gillian well she appreciates her gifts. They were raised by their great aunts when they were young Jet Owens and Franny Owens. Who have a love story all of their own.

Kylie finds a possible way to stop the curse yet... She was raised the curse isn't real. Yet after hearing about it she believes it. Her sister Antonia well thinks its all superstition nonsense.

Can curses be broken what is the cost.

Amazing book coming out October 05 2021 I was given this by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This tugs at the heartstrings and really your emotions. I was hooked form the start.

The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman continues the story began in Practical Magic. This book features the Owen’s witches we know and love; Jet, Franny, Gillian and Sally. As the next generation of Owens become young adults, Sally’s daughters, Antonia and Kylie are featured in this tale. How far would you go to break the generations’ long curse on your family once you hear the Death Watch Beatles call? This is a question that Kylie and the rest of the Owen’s women must answer when they find love. Hoffman masterfully weaves together family dynamics, love and loss with just the right amount of magic to make this a delightful continuation of the series. I was spellbound!

There is much to love about this contemporary fiction story combined with history and geography, and of course, magic! I always love it when I can suspend disbelief and melt into the story. I also love how the characters are different on the inside relative to their outward persona. That must be difficult to portray. I love the descriptions of Paris, London, Boston, spring, and summer, and bodies of water. I also love how we learn about the meaning of various colors. The mention of characters and events from prior books really made me think - I love being able to do that too! In the end, we find that the overarching theme is love, and I love that too. Thank you Alice for your unique command of words and ability keep me engaged about a topic I didn’t realize I loved. And thank you NetGalley for the ARC.