Book Overview
In this " bewitching" (The New York Times Book Review) novel that traces a centuries-old curse to its source, beloved author Alice Hoffman unveils the story of Maria Owens, accused of witchcraft in Salem, and matriarch of a line of the amazing Owens women and men featured in Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic.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. Magic Lessons is a "heartbreaking and heart-healing" (BookPage) celebration of life and love and a showcase of Alice Hoffman's masterful storytelling.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:1982108851
ISBN13:9781982108854
Release Date:September 2021
Publisher:Atria Books
Length:416 Pages
Weight:0.72 lbs.
Dimensions:1.0" x 5.2" x 8.1"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
3.5 stars
Published by INKwitchery , 5 months ago
MAGIC LESSONS by Alice Hoffman
If you’re a Practical Magic fan, you already know all about the Owens family. This is the first (chronologically) book in the series. Essentially, this is the origin story of Maria Owens - the witch that started it all.
Abandoned orphan, Maria, is taken in and raised by Hannah Owens, a local woman/witch. Under Hannah’s watch Maria learns the “Unnamed Arts”. Of course, this is the 1600s so any form of plant medicine or healing arts was deemed “evil”.
Historical details (witch hunts/persecutions, Judaism etc) and botanical info (herb/plant uses and lore) are woven throughout Maria and her daughter Faith’s storyline. That said, the pacing was incredibly slow and the plot was too drawn out. I felt there was too much info and not enough action or dialogue.
Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️
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