I didn't realise that this book was in a series. However, that didn't stop me from the enjoyment of the book. The characters were well developed and the story was easy to follow. I recommended this book to my daughter who has now started reading the Practical magic series.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to see a copy of this book

I loved this authors writing style. It just flows so beautifully. The characters are well developed. There is beautiful magic throughout. A lovely tale of fantasy and witches

Part of the Practical Magic series with this bringing the books to the end. The author handled the delivery of this book perfectly bringing a conclusion to the Owens Family.

Recommend the whole series for fall/halloween reads.

The Book of Magic, by Alice Hoffman, is an epic conclusion to the beloved Practical Magic series. Readers will follow the Owens family as they attempt to break an age-old curse that has cursed them in matters of love, and discover the secrets of the magical powers that have bound them.

Hoffman masterfully weaves an intricately layered story with powerful themes of family love and self-discovery. Told from three perspectives, readers will feel every emotion of love, joy, loss and sacrifice, as the Owens family members battle their personal demons and ultimately face their ultimate destiny.

Hoffman’s writing is spellbinding and engaging, captivating the reader’s attention throughout. Richly described settings will take readers back in time as they journey with the Owens family, while themes of hope, love, and perseverance, combined with gripping adventure and mystery, will leave readers eager to find out the truth behind the magical power of the Owens family.

The Book of Magic is an enthralling tale of adventure, romance and magic. An excellent addition to the Practical Magic series, readers will find this book as powerful and beautiful as its predecessors.

After really loving this series and looking forward to the culmination of the Owen's story I was left feeling disappointed by this sequel. There were lots of loose ends to tie up from the previous books and although these were finished off quite well, I don't think how Alice Hoffman got to those conclusions were particularly enjoyable or engaging. I thought it was too late in the day to introduce so many new characters and they took up a lot of pf page time that could have been dedicated the characters we already know and love. The writing was still lovely, Hoffman has a languid style that flows beautifully from the page, but a bit of a letdown overall.

A wonderful end to the series.

The Book Of Magic brings together the whole cast of characters from throughout the series in one way or another. Although ultimately giving a happy ever after vibe there are losses which had me tearing up.

If you have enjoyed The Practical Magic series you will like this one as the style remains the same, the characters are like old friends at this point & conclusions are reached.

It wasn't my favourite in the series, that would be Magic Lessons as I love historical fiction, but this was a close second &, as you would expect from Alice Hoffman, this is a brilliant witchy read & perfect for spooky season.

The Book of Magic is the sequel to Practical Magic but book 4 in the series (book 2 and 3 are prequels). The Owens family have been cursed for centuries when it comes to love. Anyone they fall in love with meets a horrible end. Sally Owens has kept her family curse hidden from daughters Antonia and Kylie, as well as keeping their witch powers secret. When a family member dies, it's the beginning of the Owens family trying to break the curse once and for all

I've enjoyed this series so I was looking forward to returning to the world of the Owens family. Hoffman writes very lyrically and has done a lot of research into the history of witches. That said, I felt the book rambled a bit too much. There's a lot of repetition of information from the first 3 books. New characters were introduced, some with a lot of backstory which wasn't needed. At times the book was repetitive, especially when came to elements relating to witches and the curse. With too many characters to focus on, I felt like some got pushed to the side (like Sally's sister Gillian). With some editing, this could have been an excellent conclusion to the Owens story. Instead, while at times engrossing, it ended up a bit flat

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for approving me for an ARC of this book. I started reading the Practical Magic series last year and fell in love with it. Whilst I was excited to see how the story concluded I was also feeling sad that this would be the end of the journey. From following Maria Owen’s original story to seeing Sally and Gillian as grown women, it’s become one of my all time favourites.

The Book of Magic focuses on the Owen’s family curse and when the deathwatch beetle comes looking for Jet she sets a plan in motion to break the curse once and for all. Since the second book of the series, Rules of Magic, I have loved the relationship between Fran and Jet as well as their brother Vincent. Whilst we see many sibling relationships throughout the books it’s this one that I love the most. They are deeply connected and it seems that no matter how far they are from each other they are still connected in thoughts and feelings.

Ultimately this story is about sacrifice and what the Owen’s family have endured for centuries. Whether they were classed as outcasts, lost loved ones, orphaned or destined to live alone the women of this family have an unspoken bond that see’s them rise above these difficulties and still create a life for themselves. As cheesy as it may sound it is their love for each other that has seen them through and makes them fight to break the curse.

The magical remedies, spells and witchyness was back in full force in this addition. The black soap, courage tea and chocolate tipsy cake as well as some other familiar remedies were front and centre. I loved seeing these magical features return as well as learning more about left sided magic. Kylie’s dark and dangerous path was very tense and had me wondering if it was she who would rescue her family from the curse?

This was the perfect conclusion to a brilliant series and as I predicted I am now left with an Owen’s family shaped whole in my life. I know all good things must come to an end but I don’t feel ready to say goodbye just yet. This was another that I needed the tissues for as the families journey came to a beautiful end.

I started this book with a sadness that it was the last book in the series. I certainly wanted to read it, but didn't want the series to end because I have loved all of the books and the characters. The entire series is beautifully written and captivating and this book was wonderful! I found this book absolutely enchanting and I immediately fell under its spell.

It starts out with Jet in the library who begins to hear the deathwatch beetle and she has only seven days to live. Also, a young man is near death as a result of the continuing Owens family curse and three generations of the Owens women work together to break the curse and save him and to release the family from the curse.

Alice Hoffman has woven a beautiful tale of family and magic that I know will remain in my memory as one of those special stories. The family is full of love and support for each other and they all work together for the benefit of all. I guess you could read this book as a standalone, but I don't recommend it. The rich history from the previous books make the story so much more meaningful. I can't imagine a more perfect ending for this series.

ARGH this whole series is just my favorite and this book is the icing on the cake. Back in the lives of Franny and Jet, Sally and Gillian. I am just so fond of all of these characters. This time we see them all come together to try and finally beat the curse that has affected their lives for hundreds of years, and I loved seeing a book where everyone was back together fighting for a common cause, and this book did include lots of fights, it was much more high stakes than the previous books in the series.
A brilliant wrap-up (?) to one of my all-time favorite series.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this review voluntarily.
I have not read the previous books in this series and although this can be read as a standalone novel because there are sufficient references to previous events to understand each character I found that there are so many long-lived female characters it was difficult to remember the family relationships. The author's style of writing is full of beautiful prose so it is very enjoyable reading and the story progressed well between the US and England. I thought the underlying story about good versus evil was conveyed throughout the book and the developing relationships were described well. The ending of the book appears to the up all loose ends which is very satisfying after reading a series, and this book has encouraged me to read the whole series in the future.

I had high hopes for this book, and it didn’t let me down. From the moment Jet heard the death-watch beetle and begins a mission to stop the 300-year-old curse for good, I was hooked back into the world where reality is blended seamlessly with magic to discover whether this could be achieved.

The Rules of Magic, which follows the siblings Franny, Jet and Vincent, is my favourite novel in the series so I loved meeting them again, even if they were in their 80s. The journey to find a cure for the Owens’ curse brings the characters to Essex in England, and the descriptions and sense of place reignited my desire to visit there. It has been on my literary tour wishlist since I read Hiding from the Light by Barbara Erskine.

The strength of these books are the original characterisation, depth of magical world building and the lyrical prose that is littered with references to herbal references. This all adds to the central witchy theme.

It is a strong conclusion to a series about curses, forbidden love and redemption and this one in particular is an ode to books and libraries.

Though it could be read out of sequence, you will enjoy it more and be less confused with the multitude of characters if read in order. This could be done in order of the release dates – Practical Magic, The Rules of Magic, Magic Lessons, The Book of Magic – or chronologically –Magic Lessons, The Rules of Magic, Practical Magic, The Book of Magic.

I recall watching the movie ‘Practical Magic’ as a teenager and I fell in love with the story of the Owens family. Of course, it didn’t hurt that the original protoganist was a brunette called Maria. 😉 I wanted to be the funny, wise old woman like Franny and Jet who believed in being true to yourself, and the importance of family. So, when I realised that the movie was based on a book, I had to reserve a copy from my library asap.
Now, the original book and movie tell two rather different, yet equally entrancing stories. The movie does gloss over some of the darker aspects of the “Unnamed Art”, and there is added humour with Nicole Kidman as the troublesome Gillian, but the importance of love, kindness and family shine through in each version.
And then came the delightful news that Alice Hoffman was writing a sequel. ‘The Rules of Magic’ is actually a prequel to ‘Practical Magic’ as it focuses on “the aunts” and reveals the story of Franny (Frances), Jet (Bridget) and Vincent as youngsters and how they discover the world of magic. Followed a few years later by, ‘Magic Lessons’ and the truth about Hannah, Maria and Faith Owens and that pesky curse that had damned all their lives.
And now, the grand finale, the final part of the series ‘The Book of Magic’ which is the fourth book in the series – both in the Owens chronology and publication timeliness. Here, the past and present collide as Kylie learns the truth about her family, only after the passing of Jet and another tragic loss. Now she is faced with making a decision between the light and dark paths in a desperate bid to try and destroy the curse once and for all.
This final book reunites many of our favourite characters, while also introducing some intriguing new faces to the Magic world.
There is a beautiful lyrical flow to the language used, and the reader is transformed to a magical, yet familiar world. This is a world of magic and nature, love and grief, family and loss.
And it with a sense of joy and loss that I realise the story of the Owens family is now complete.

Alice Huffman’s latest novel, The book of magic, is a wonderful addition to her oeuvre. I love every single one of her books without exception and this was an absolute gem into which the reader can relax confident in the world they will encounter. Beautiful prose, engaging and likeable characters and a story that satisfies - this book has it all.
Please read this book and if you have never read Alice Hoffman then go on to read everything else she has ever written.

This is the fourth book in the Practical Magic series, and the direct sequel to “Practical Magic”. The women in the Owens family have suffered under a curse for 300 years, which means that every man they fall in love with will die. The youngest has now decided to return to the root of the curse and see if it can be broken.
The lyrical magical realism and the beautiful language make it a pleasure to read. The pace is occasionally slow, but the atmosphere is so immersive I didn’t mind.

This was genuinely terrible. I did not realize it was part of a series, but the book can apparently be read as a stand-alone. It was very slow to begin as Alice Hoffman tells the background, which presumably other readers would have read in the other books of the series: the Owens family is cursed, and every time one of their members falls in love, the object of their affection inevitably gets into some accident and dies tragically. Oh, and they are a family of witches.
That background story took a while, and it didn't help that the characters all come in pairs (of siblings, sometimes of lovers), and that despite the long factual introductions, they all remain very vague - they mostly have similar personalities, a similar history, and there are lots of them, some not all fulfilling a purpose (what is Gillian doing, for example, apart from driving people around?)
The the action starts, about 15% into the book and it still was messy, confusing, pedestrian... The building of a universe is good; the writing is not bad; but the action is very slow, feels repetitive, and I just could not get into that book. I am sure it will appeal to some readers but that was just not for me.

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

My thanks to Simon & Schuster U.K. Scribner UK for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Book of Magic’ by Alice Hoffman in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sequel to her 2003 ‘Practical Magic’ and picks up the story of the Owens family years later. I had read the original novel many years ago though I have not yet read its two prequels. Still, it didn’t take long for Alice Hoffman to draw me back into her unique magical world.

Now in her 80s, Jet Owens has finally discovered the secret to breaking the family curse. Yet time is running out as she has heard the sound of the deathwatch beetle and knows that she only has seven days to live.

Meanwhile, Sally’s daughters have grown up unaware of their witchcraft lineage or the curse that hangs over the family in matters of love. One of them has fallen in love and the curse strikes again. With her lover’s life hanging in the balance three generations of Owens have to return to where the curse began (Essex) and seek to break the curse that has blighted their lives.

I won’t say more in order to avoid spoilers, though will confirm that I found their quest extremely exciting building up to a breathtaking conclusion as they come up against powerful dark magic and its practitioners.

Such is the power of Alice Hoffman’s lyrical writing that once I started reading, I was completely transported into her world of witchcraft and folk magic, courage tea, and the delicious sounding Chocolate Tipsy Cake. It is also a novel about coming to terms with ageing, loss, and embracing change of all kinds. Books and libraries also feature in the story.

I appreciated Alice Hoffman’s historical note about her inclusion of the Elizabethan poet, Amelia Bassano, as well as a list of books mentioned in the novel.

I still intend to revisit ‘Practical Magic’ and read the prequels, maybe a Halloween 2022 Owens marathon.

Highly recommended.

I first fell in love with Alice Hoffman's stories after watching the 90s film Practical Magic - which, ironically, is nothing like the book!

Since writing Practical Magic, over twenty-five years ago, Alice Hoffman has written two prequels and now this sequel. You could probably read The Book of Magic without reading the other three, or only after watching the film, but you'd be missing out on a wonderful series.

Thanks to falling in love with the wrong man, Maria Owens ends up on a scaffold accused of witchcraft and curses any man who falls in love with an Owens woman ('broken, body and soul'). Four hundred years later and her family are still feeling the tragic effects of this curse. After witnessing her mother's suffering, teenager Kylie Owens has no intention of risking the life of the boy she has fallen in love with and is determined to do anything to break the curse, once and for all. Even if that means abandoning her family and heading back to England (where it all began), and risking her own life by using a dark magic book that was once owned by Maria's daughter...

I loved this story! Although it starts with several shocks - have a box of tissues handy! - it is a wonderful finale to the series. The different branches of the family are finally reunited and they travel to England to walk in the footsteps of their ancestor, Maria. They make friends with other witches, see ghosts, and work together to try to break the curse. It is a lovely, heart-warming story; a kind of family saga but with witches! I adored the references to the previous books, the reappearance of the aunts, and the rules of magic: no walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, and absolutely no books about magic... Utterly fabulous!


Thank you to Alice Hoffman and Simon & Schuster for my copy of this book, which I requested via NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

The Book of Magic, Alice Hoffman

The Owens family has been cursed for years, unable to fall in love. Just as she figures out how to break the curse, Aunt Jet hears the click of the deathwatch beetle and realises she is out of time. She seals the secret away.
The younger Owens line, unaware of their gifts fall in love, find themselves at the mercy of the curse and discover how far they are prepared to go.

Another tale in the story of the Owens family. Alice Hoffman once again brings to life this world with her beautiful and careful writing, stunning historical description and enchanting stories.

At their heart Hoffmans Owens stories are always a love letter to the magic of women. The strength, courage and fortitude of women and this story just the same.

Thanks to #Netgalley and #SimonandSchuster for my copy of this one!

This is the final instalment of Alice Hoffman's magical family saga about several generations of witches and the curse that haunts them.  A fitting finale to an engrossing series with characters that will stay with me forever.