Magic Lessons: Book Review
If you’ve been here a while, you know I’m a sucker for stories that weave history with just the right sprinkle of magic—and no one does that better than Alice Hoffman. Magic Lessons takes us back to the roots of the Owens family saga (yes, the very same Owens women from Practical Magic), and this origin story is every bit as enchanting as it is heartbreaking. From 17th-century England to colonial America, we follow Maria Owens—a fierce, unforgettable heroine—whose choices and curses set the stage for generations to come. This is where the magic truly begins.
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Quick Look
- prequel in the Practical Magic series
- dark vs light
- witchiness: 4/5
- historical romance
Pub Date: October 6, 2020
Publisher's Synopsis
Where does the story of the Owens bloodline begin? With Maria Owens, in the 1600s, when she’s abandoned in a snowy field in rural England as a baby. Under the care of Hannah Owens, Maria learns about the “Nameless Arts.” Hannah recognizes that Maria has a gift and she teaches the girl all she knows. It is here that she learns her first important lesson: Always love someone who will love you back.
When Maria is abandoned by the man who has declared his love for her, she follows him to Salem, Massachusetts. Here she invokes the curse that will haunt her family. And it’s here that she learns the rules of magic and the lesson that she will carry with her for the rest of her life. Love is the only thing that matters.
My Review
From the moment I finished Magic Lessons, I knew this book had cast its spell on me. It’s lush, emotional, and unforgettable—and the kind of story that begs to be shared, even if it took me a little longer than planned to put my thoughts into words.
Alice Hoffman weaves such a beautiful, emotional, and deeply layered story in Maria Owens’s origin tale. The way she incorporates spells, rituals, and elements of the occult makes the novel feel almost like reading a grimoire at times—which is exactly what I want in a witchy book. It’s lyrical, atmospheric, and full of that signature Hoffman blend of history and enchantment.
I especially loved seeing how the Practical Magic universe began, with threads of the Owens legacy pulling through each page. If I could do it all over again, I’d start with this book and read the series in chronological order—it just makes the whole story feel richer. I still have one more to go, but I can already tell it’ll be hard to top Magic Lessons and The Rules of Magic. These books are timeless, and Maria’s story in particular feels like one for the ages.
My Rating
Witches, curses, forbidden love, and the high cost of survival in a world that fears powerful women… Hoffman weaves it together in lush, lyrical prose that feels both timeless and transporting. Whether you’re here for the historical detail, the feminist themes, or just the spellbinding atmosphere, Magic Lessons is one of those books that begs to be savored. If you’ve ever wanted to know how the Owens legacy began—or if you love your historical fiction with a touch of the uncanny—this book will absolutely cast its spell on you. I know I’ll be thinking about Maria Owens and her defiance long after closing the final page.
read the rest of my Practical Magic series book reviews ↓
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