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tkuchta's review against another edition
dark
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sararose_cozy's review against another edition
4.0
A beautifully written story. This is the art of story-making. I docked it a star because at times it was hard to keep my interest because of long chapters and little to none dialogue. I enjoyed Hoffman’s art of describing scenes without outright telling you what was happening.
A beautiful tale full of history, love and magic.
A beautiful tale full of history, love and magic.
katiegilley's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an advanced copy of Magic Lessons in exchange for an honest review.
I was thrilled to receive a copy of Magic Lessons. The Practical Magic series is one of my favorites and I love the Owens women. Magic Lessons is a prequel to the prequel of the series. Alice Hoffman is working backwards and has finally made her way to Maria Owens - the first of the Owens women to arrive in the US and the one who put the curse on any man who dares to love an Owens woman.
After her birth in England, Maria is left in a field by her biological mother and is lucky enough to be found by Hannah, a local woman who practices the Nameless Arts. Hannah teaches Maria everything she knows, but notices that Maria has a natural aptitude of her own. She shows all of the signs of a bloodline witch. Maria is forced to flee Hannah's home after a terrifying incident. Maria finds her biological mother and father, who quickly sell her off as an indentured servant to wealthy people in Curaçao. It's there that she meets John Hathorne, the magistrate from Salem who becomes the father of Maria's child and the first recipient of the Owens curse.
This first half of the book was sprinkled with magic lessons - herbs and tinctures to mend what's broken. These magical lessons kept me interested in the novel, and the second half really gained steam.
The second half has Maria and her daughter, Faith, living in Salem and then New York City. We follow Maria and Faith through Maria's own witch trial in Salem and her escape from the gallows. While in jail, Faith is kidnapped by a jealous and petty woman and they run away to Brooklyn. Maria's magic tells her that Faith is in New York City and she spends years searching for her daughter. While in captivity, Faith slowly learns about her own bloodline powers, which she uses for dark purposes.
This is a fantastic edition to this series and is full of cozy witchy-ness that's perfect for this Fall season. You might find that the beginning is a bit slow, but hang in there. The second half easily makes up for it all!
I was thrilled to receive a copy of Magic Lessons. The Practical Magic series is one of my favorites and I love the Owens women. Magic Lessons is a prequel to the prequel of the series. Alice Hoffman is working backwards and has finally made her way to Maria Owens - the first of the Owens women to arrive in the US and the one who put the curse on any man who dares to love an Owens woman.
After her birth in England, Maria is left in a field by her biological mother and is lucky enough to be found by Hannah, a local woman who practices the Nameless Arts. Hannah teaches Maria everything she knows, but notices that Maria has a natural aptitude of her own. She shows all of the signs of a bloodline witch. Maria is forced to flee Hannah's home after a terrifying incident. Maria finds her biological mother and father, who quickly sell her off as an indentured servant to wealthy people in Curaçao. It's there that she meets John Hathorne, the magistrate from Salem who becomes the father of Maria's child and the first recipient of the Owens curse.
This first half of the book was sprinkled with magic lessons - herbs and tinctures to mend what's broken. These magical lessons kept me interested in the novel, and the second half really gained steam.
The second half has Maria and her daughter, Faith, living in Salem and then New York City. We follow Maria and Faith through Maria's own witch trial in Salem and her escape from the gallows. While in jail, Faith is kidnapped by a jealous and petty woman and they run away to Brooklyn. Maria's magic tells her that Faith is in New York City and she spends years searching for her daughter. While in captivity, Faith slowly learns about her own bloodline powers, which she uses for dark purposes.
This is a fantastic edition to this series and is full of cozy witchy-ness that's perfect for this Fall season. You might find that the beginning is a bit slow, but hang in there. The second half easily makes up for it all!
carriesheri's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
lisamchuk's review against another edition
4.0
Another worthy addition to the “series” - I got completely swept up and into following Maria Owens, a journey which was at times heartbreaking but there is also small justices and hope. Rereading the books in chronological order is high on my list now! Perhaps after the final novel is released?!
calebmatthews's review against another edition
4.0
I need one of these books every fall to help me get ready for the season.
ljcagle's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.25
meghan_plethoraofpages's review against another edition
4.0
Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman
The perfect moody fall read
The perfect moody fall read