I really wanted to love this book after watching Practical Magical relentlessly when I was younger.

Unfortunately I should have read the blurb prior to requesting as I didn't realise the book would be set in the 1600's and historical settings are something I struggle to connect with.

The chapters I did read were so beautiful and atmospheric. I wish I could enjoy it but my mind wanders with this type of book.

For fairness to the author I have given the average star rating.

This is an amazing prequel in the practical magic series
It is beautifully written and well paced.
I cannot recommend this highly enough

This is a beautiful book with a magical plot. I love Alice Huffman’s style of writing and she is one of my favourite authors. She creates such compelling characters and enchanting plots!

I love everything that Alice Hoffman does, and this is no exception. It was so exciting to see the origin story of Practical Magic - an absolute favourite of mine - told with such rich storytelling.

beautifully written, filled with such wonder and mystery,
I absolutely love Alice Hoffmans work, this book was unputdownable,.

This is the first time I've read a book by this author. I was pleasantly surprised and didn't feel I needed to read the past books in the series to understand the plot within this book.

This was my first time reading an Alice Hoffman novel, but as huge fan of the movie Practical Magic, I was excited to discover this origin story.

It certainly didn’t disappoint- I was engrossed from the beginning. The story is beautifully detailed, with gorgeous descriptions and imagery throughout. The characters are well-rounded and vivid, including the witches familiars which were a lovely detail in the story.

The story, set in the 1600’s, seems to be extremely historically accurate and the details relating to witchcraft are respectful and realistic. The true magic of this story is how believable it is, with the witchcraft gracefully weaved into a story of love, feminism, family and devotion.

There are plenty of dark moments in this book but that only adds to the realism of it. This origins story was enchanting and I look forward to catching up on the rest of the series.

Many thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

Magic Lessons is the story of Maria who we first heard about in Practical Magic and The Rules Of Magic the ancestor who started the magical line and curse of the Owens family.

I really enjoyed the writing, and especially the real historical events and people that provides the backdrop to the story.

My only critique was the repetitive use of plants for ailments and spells. I understand they are central to the story-line but for me it was just too much. It didn't spoil the read though.

I would highly recommend it to fans of the previous booksin the series or the author Alice Hoffman.

My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for a copy of this novel in exchange for a fair review.

#MagicLessons #NetGalley

Received an ARC from netgalley for review.
This book was enchanting. Wonderfully crafted and engaging story. Characters you could easily read stories about for years to come. A great foundation for practical magic too. Very much an enjoyable read.

Alice Hoffman has been one of my favourite authors since I first read Practical Magic, many moons ago. I loved Rules of Magic, where we discovered the stories of the aunts when they were young, and now in Magic Lessons Hoffman takes us right back to the beginning, to Maria Owens the ancestor whose history features in Practical Magic. This book is another beautifully written novel that kept me hooked. Five stars from me.

Interesting, Unique and a book I will be collecting for my forever shelf I have found this one hard to put down and have been completely captivated.
I adore the writing style, plot and characters. A great book!

I'm a massive fan of Alice Hoffman and I loved this prequel to Practical Magic.
She's a master storyteller and delivers a gripping and fascinating story that kept enthralled.
Excellent character and plot development, a vivid and well researched historical background.
I loved these strong women who live in a dramatic historical time.
It's strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Not having read or seen the movie practical magic, I went into this book with no preconceptions or thoughts. I really loved this book and after having read it I’m e finitely going to check out practical magic!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately, I was not able to download it before the book was archived.

This is the story of Maria Owens and Faith, her daughter. It is the prequel to the Practical Magic books, which I absolutely loved reading.

What a lovely read this was. It is full of wonderful characters, both good and bad. Emotions run riot as you are drawn into the story. Landscapes are described so well you can imagine being there.

My only dislike was the repetitive use of plants for ailments and spells and i will admit to skimming over a few parts. I understand they are integral to the story-line but for me it was just too much. It didn't spoil the read though.

This was such a lovely book to read, i would most defiantly recommend it.

My Favourite Lines:
"Do as you will, but harm no one.
What you will give will be returned to you threefold."

Full disclosure: I haven't read the other books in this series but I did watch the Practical Magic film in preparation. Reader, I will absolutely be reading those other books asap! Alice Hoffman's writing is intoxicating and hypnotic. I have no idea why, nor do I care to learn for I have no desire to spoil the magic of her prose. "Magic Lessons" is a dark read in places yet still manages to uplift with the inclusion of themes such as love, family and loyalty. Maria Owens is such a well-drawn character that I would really like to be her pal. Although fiction, I imagine that much of the book has basis in fact with reference to historical witch hunts. If you're fascinated by familiars, grimoires and spells then "Magic Lessons" will make your soul sing. I loved it, didn't want it to end and now consider myself Alice Hoffman's newest number one fan.

Apparently by popular request Hoffman has in this her latest novel taken her family of American witches seen in her earlier ones back to their first appearance in the 17th century. In 1664 in Essex, England a baby is found abandoned close to a “hidden” cottage in a wood. She is discovered by Hannah Owens the resident who will choose to raise her. She herself is a healer who it will turn out has been accused of witchcraft in the past. She will name the girl Maria and it will early become apparent that she is a family born witch with significant powers. It will be Maria who will be responsible, directly and through her daughter Faith, for her descendants residing in the United States. The story will be deeply woven through with details of witchcraft and healing, and spells and recipes that might be recorded in a woman’s “grimoire”. A book of this type if it cannot be passed to a female relative should be burnt on the death of its owner. Spells can be powerful and so must be used with care, what one wishes – for good or evil (the black arts) will be returned threefold. A family witch will be born with powers of varying strengths that she must be taught to recognise and use wisely. But witches and healers sit in an anomalous place – welcomed for the help they give (and many see this role as central to their lives), but feared for these powers that can put them in direct conflict with (male) authorities of church and state. As is well known the powers of witches can be minimised by the presence of iron – so they are vulnerable too; especially if they come into conflict with others.
As the novel, and Maria’s life progresses we will be shown the playing out of all these things. We will see the re-meeting with her mother who abandoned her to Hannah. She is herself subject to a powerful “love” spell that has impacted on both her life and that of her daughter and will carry forward to a harsh end. We will see how Hannah is parted from Maria while the latter is still a child. We will see Maria’s years after as she, still a child and lacking family, is exploited but also finds a range of supportive women friends and acquires knowledge as she grows. She will be fascinated by a man John, who away from the constraints of his home in Puritan Boston will become the father of her daughter. But she will also meet men of the family Dias – sailors of displaced Jewish descent who carry their own memories of abuse and loss – but whose lives will entwine with hers for decades.
When her daughter is born she will travel to the USA to find John, only to find that he has married and is unwilling to admit to their relationship. Worse, as a magistrate in the Salem area he will be leading the legal “anti witch” campaign that will leave Maria imprisoned and separated from her daughter. Only by a lucky timing and an intervention by Samuel Dias will she survive. Her life will then be spent trying to track her Faith over many years and then both unravel the damage caused to their relationship and help her manage her powerful natural witch powers for good.
Overall this novel will explore the nature, beliefs and complexities of witching and “healing” across many cultures blending deep traditions and belief with her tale largely of one family and their close friends and supporters who will come forward in spite of the risks. But it also shows how female friendship will develop and quietly support others even at times of great potential danger to all women. But it is about family continuity – love and knowledge that travels across generations. But this part of the tale is set in the 17th century when the European world was changing both politically, socially and in its religious beliefs and how the disputes and disagreements rippled out through people into so any other places and cultures around the world. It shows diversity, change and risk. But the key message is surely about the importance of love and care for others. A timeless belief.

Magic Lessons, Alice Hoffman. 4/5. 🔮

In her long awaited prequel to Practical Magic and The Rules Of Magic, Alice Hoffman reveals the origins of the Owens family magical line and curse.

Written with her usual delicate care, incredible attention to detail and exceptional description Hoffman pulls you into the world of the legendary Maria Owens, the woman who started it all.

This is a story about the power of women, the courage, the strength and the fight that powerful women have always faced when forced to hide who they truly are from those who fear what they cannot understand or control.

Alice Hoffman continues to showcase her phenomenal talents, her stories are truly enchanting.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #Simon&Schuster for my copy of this book.

I was spellbound.
Alice Hoffman such an engaging author.
Maria abandoned as a baby, fortunately found by Hannah, a kind and knowledgeable witch, she sees the potential in Maria, and passes on her skills and spells. Maria falls in love with a liar and a cheat, she follows him overseas to confront him but is met with lies and treachery. their daughter Faith is rejected by Her Father who also tries to kill Maria.
This is an intriguing story of magic which can be used for good and evil.
Spells and potions are scattered throughout the book, showing the hidden power of women.
Such h power.
Thanks Alice and NetGalley.

Magic Lessons

Great book for this time of year!
It's the first book of the series I have read though I have watched the film Practical Magic many times...but am unsure how close it is to the source material.

However my knowledge of the Owen's family comes from that and therefore they are already familiar and loved which worked well from the start and also this shows us the beginning of the curse that is broken in the film Practical Magic...

I very much enjoyed Maria's story.
I didn't really understand her kinship with Salem though...and why she stayed there at any point in the story. 

I enjoyed the spells and potions and the general feel of the book.

Would definitely recommend this to fans of magic and witches alike...a very beautifully written tale.

Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.