Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Nice to read the conclusion of the Owens Family. However, I liked the two prequels more than Practical Magic and The Book of Magic.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book, in return for a fair and unbiased review.

I loved this book - what a terrific resolution of the series!

I did feel compelled to go back and read the previous books in the Practical Magic Series - Magic Lessons, The Rules of Magic, and Practical Magic - which was actually a good thing, since I had enjoyed all of them, and it was a pleasure to revisit them. One suggestion for anyone else doing this - don't get too hung up on complete consistency - since Practical Magic was written in 1995 and two other books have been written in the meantime, there are a few discrepancies. Just let it go - it doesn't affect the overall story arc and there's just no need to fret about it!

This book is a wonderful wrap-up to the series. The characters have developed and grown, and children have become adults. As one would expect, there is dissension, primarily between generations, but the family can work together to save one of its members. The plot is intricate, but not too convoluted to be a good read.

It does not leave me frustrated, wanting to know "what happened to them next?" The book does suggest that Ms. Hoffman really means it, that this is the conclusion to the series, since the book does not leave us dangling.

I highly recommend this book, along with the other books in the series!

What an impactful, amazing story. So powerful and deeply moving! I loved the complex mother daughter relationship explored here.

I was lured by the beautiful cover so I didn’t thoroughly read the description of this story. I didn’t realize it was the conclusion of a series. I haven’t read any of the other books in the series so this prequel was lost on me. I must admit, I didn’t finish the book and only made it 25% through. I just couldn’t get into the story. I didn’t care about the characters and the writing style is too wordy. This might be improved by a good editor but it was not a book for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Spoiler ahead

“She had forgotten this is what happened, that things ended when you least expected them to, that you could not protect those you loved from nature and fate.”

This book was so beautifully written. There was so much heartache and loss throughout this book. Losing the beloved Aunts was so hard. I loved their character development in Rules of Magic, and losing them in The book of magic was so unbelievably painful., but this was an amazing read with relatable life advice and affirmations to live by.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review!

Did not get to this book in 2021.
My review is not a reflection of the work or the writing/plot itself, but rather speaks to other books that caught my attention more.
Hate I didn't manage to squeeze this one in, but there are so many books and only so much time.

I would look to Goodreads or other reviewers on Netgalley who read the title and will offer their unbiased opinion.

Apparently this is the year where I read sequels or prequels and end up mildly disappointed because they don't quite live up to the first book. I was happy to get back to the journey of the Owens family, but this book did drag and meander for me. While I'm glad to know where the story ends, it wasn't the most engaging book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Not sure why connecting with The Book of Magic was hard for me. I loved the others in the series, but something about this one didn’t engage me. Makes me sad that I didn’t feel better about it.

This one was not for me. Rules of Magic is one of my top 5 books of all time but it has been the only one in this "series" that I've liked. I was hoping this one would be a hit for me too, but sadly it was not. I will still have this in my store because I do often recommend Alice Hoffman to customers and I feel like this one just wasn't for ME, not that it is not a great book.

Alice Hoffman delivers on this prequal to Practical Magic in the delightful prose that we've come to love. Full of broken hearts, true love, and that Owens women stubbornness, this title is a definite must read.

I wanted to like this book. Was a fan of Practical Magic, but this one could not hold my attention. Kept skipping forward on chapters, and eventually just gave up.

I have loved all of the books in this series, this one was no exception! So excited for it and I loved every second. I loved it so much that I also bought a physical copy!

Book series goes backward in chronology

“Some stories begin at the beginning and others begin at the end, but all the best stories begin in a library.”

For the most part, I found that the chronology of the series began at the end or so I thought until this book! Ultimately, each book focuses on a generation of the Owens family.

This is story provides closure to many questions and curses which have followed the Owens family for centuries. They tried and failed at love blaming the curse, forcing them into situations to avoid tragedy. But, tragedy does follow them through the years resulting in unconventional relationships. Reversing the curse had remained a mystery for generations which many have tried and failed. Little did they know that the answers to their questions, although closer than they knew, carried years of resentment for another family.

For Jet, she knew her days were numbered the day she heard the watch beetle. She lived a long and happy life surrounded by family and neighbors in the family home. She knew before her time expired she needed to tie up several loose ends to free the family of the curse which has been preventing them from enjoying a full life.
Jet had studied and reviewed the family Grimoire which seemed to be an ode to the Dark Art, Book of Shadows. She goes through the elusive Book of Raven which should be used with love and courage. Her intentions were for it to be found by her sister Franny as she knew she could trust Franny to do the right thing.

Let’s just say that things don’t go according to Jet’s plan and what follows is a series of events which fall like dominoes. It takes the whole Owen family to come together to help each other break free from the curse which haunted them for generations. This is a great ending to this mystical series.

Okaaaaay. So I started this book on October 2nd and I just finished it yesterday (Oct 26). I had such a rough time with this one. I really liked the beginning and the ending (so roughly the first hundred pages and the last hundred) and ended up crying a lot. But it was the middle bit that really lost my interest?

I think it came down to writing style? This book feels sooooo rambly and just so much longer than it needs to be? It's like listening to a story told by someone who just cannot seem to get to the point and, honestly, seems to forget the point entirely. So I had a really hard time concentrating and had to reread a lot of it just because I would zone out whenever it went off on a ramble.

But I also remember having similar problems with the other books in the series so I think it’s just the writing style? Plus my favorite characters are the aunts and they’re really only ~main players at the beginning and the end so that didn’t help. I struggled through the vast majority of this book and honestly spent most of it just waiting to be done with it.

It’s definitely not my favorite in the series but at least I didn’t hate this one as much as Practical Magic! So I guess that's an improvement. I vaguely remember struggling with Rules of Magic too but that's definitely my favorite of this series. For this one, in particular, I just think this could’ve used some editing and been a little more concise but maybe that’s just me?

Anyway. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review!

The final book about the Owens family and its just as wonderful as the rest of the books. It was such a great way for us to say goodbye to the Owens family. It is filled with characters that we have seen before and ties the stories up perfectly.

This book was magical! One of my favorites! I love alice Hoffman and all she writes! Highly recommend

Hoffman has written a beautiful end to the Practical Magic series. Each chapter is heartfelt and has me wanting nothing but the best for the Owen's after almost 300 centuries of being cursed in love. The opening chapters were so emotional with Jet playing out her last few days, as was the ending with Franny living her final moments of sacrifice for the future Owen's generations. I'm sad that the series has met its end, but the book was so well written and full of closure.

The long-awaited sequel to Practical Magic, the Owens family curse of death befalling any person who would dare to love a family member continues. Jet Owens discovers a way to finally end the centuries-old curse, but can she put the steps in motion before her own time comes? The Owens family races to find Kylie Owens, who is risking it all to try to stop the curse from taking the man she loves before it is too late. Can they find Kylie before she meets her own tragic end?
Alice Hoffman finally gives readers what they have been waiting for, more of saga of the Owens family curse. The recently published prequels, Magic Lessons and The Rules of Magic have deepened readers interests be providing the backstory to the origin of the family curse. The Book of Magic pickup the story in modern day. This book was a great conclusion to the series. My only reservation is whether this book could have held its own independent of the series, but why bother finding out? Read them all!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#NetGalley

Alice Hoffman can do no wrong, especially where her Practical Magic series is concerned. The fourth installment of this series finds itself telling the story of Sally’s daughters and their journey as young women who have come under the eye of the Owens family curse—will they finally unwind the spell that has kept their family so unlucky in love for generations? Rules of Magic still reigns supreme for me of the volumes in this series but The Book of Magic is a close second, full of family and longing in all the best ways.

This book was magical. I have loved all of Alice Hoffman's books about the Owens family but this one really was my favorite. It brought everything full circle and was filled with love, loss and those powerful Owens women. I devoured it from start to finish.