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Alice Hoffman
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Magic Lessons: A Prequel to Practical Magic (The Practical Magic Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Alice Hoffman (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 10,643 ratings
Goodreads Choice Award nominee
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The extraordinary novel tracing a centuries-old curse back to its beginning from the author of PRACTICAL MAGIC and THE DOVEKEEPERS

We first met the Owens in the glorious novel Practical Magic. We discovered the tragedy of the Owens siblings in Rules of Magic. Now we learn how it all began... with a baby abandoned in a snowy English field in the 1600s. Under the care of gentle Hannah Owens, little Maria learns about the 'Unnamed Arts'. Maria has a gift for them - a gift that may well prove her undoing.

When Maria is abandoned by the man she loves, she invokes the curse that will haunt her family for centuries. Because magic has rules, and they must be followed. This is the lesson that Maria will carry with her for the rest of her life, and pass on to her children and her children's children. 

PRAISE for ALICE HOFFMAN

‘Beautiful, harrowing, a major contribution to twenty-first century literature’
Toni Morrison

‘I am still reeling from The Dovekeepers – from the history Alice Hoffman illuminates, from the language she uses to bring these women to life. This novel is a testament to the human spirit and to love rising from the ashes of war. But most of all, this novel is one that will never be forgotten by a reader.’
Jodi Picoult

‘In her remarkable new novel, Alice Hoffman holds a mirror to our ancient past as she explores the contemporary themes of sexual desire, women’s solidarity in the face of strife, and the magic that’s quietly present in our day-to-day living. Put The Dovekeepers at the pinnacle of Hoffman’s extraordinary body of work. I was blown away.’
Wally Lamb

‘Alice Hoffman takes seemingly ordinary lives and lets us see and feel extraordinary things.’
Amy Tan

‘Miss Hoffman heals wounds with the gentle touch of an angel’
Joseph Heller

'Oh, what a book this is! Hoffman’s exploration of the world of good and evil, and the constant contest between them, is unflinching; and the humanity she brings to us – it is a glorious experience.'
Elizabeth Strout
 
Previous page
  1. Part of series
    Practical Magic
  2. Print length
    412 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    Scribner UK
  6. Publication date
    October 6, 2020
  7. File size
    2614 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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  1. This was true magic, the making and unmaking of the world with paper and ink.
    Highlighted by 1,098 Kindle readers
  2. Do as you will, but harm no one. What you give will be returned to you threefold.
    Highlighted by 1,034 Kindle readers
  3. There are none who can fight as fiercely as a mother and a daughter, and none who can forgive more completely.
    Highlighted by 825 Kindle readers
  4. Do as you will, but harm no one. What you give will be returned to you threefold.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

'Enticing... conjures up spells, herbal lore and romance in harsh, historical times' Daily Mail

'We first met the Owens in the brilliant novel Practical Magic, then we discovered the tragedy of the siblings in Rules of Magic. Now, we learn how it all began…' Bella

'A vivid and evocative tale – prepare to be spellbound’ Woman

'Storytelling is in Hoffman’s bones, and the skill with which she dispenses information and compresses time, so that a year passes in a sentence, so that a tragedy witnessed becomes the propeller for a hundred-page subplot, is (forgive me) bewitching' New York Times Book Review

'Vivid and enchanting, with a can’t-miss-it foray into the Salem Witch Trials, Magic Lessons is another sublime entry in an arresting series' Esquire

'Hoffman writes deftly, and often beautifully, about nature, and she can plot like, well, a witch, casting a spell on her reader' Boston Globe

'A gorgeous new novel you won't want to miss' Bustle

'In Hoffman’s luminous prose, all characters, even the villains, are not only vividly, but also compassionately, rendered... Hoffman adeptly highlights that how one uses a talent, selflessly or selfishly, has a sweeping impact on many lives' Booklist

About the Author

Alice Hoffman is the author of more than thirty works of fiction, including The Book of Magic, Magic Lessons, The World That We Knew, Practical Magic, The Rules of Magic (a Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick), the Oprah’s Book Club Selection Here on Earth, The Red Garden, The Dovekeepers, The Museum of Extraordinary Things, The Marriage of Opposites, and Faithful. She lives near Boston.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0872FMLFS
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scribner UK (October 6, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 6, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2614 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 412 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 10,643 ratings

About the author

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Alice Hoffman

Alice Hoffman

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Alice Hoffman is the author of thirty works of fiction, including Practical Magic, The Dovekeepers, Magic Lessons, and, most recently, The Book of Magic. She lives in Boston. Her new novel, The Invisible Hour, is forthcoming in August 2023. Visit her website: www.alicehoffman.com

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
10,643 global ratings
Great Book but damaged again!
5 Stars
Great Book but damaged again!
5 star rating of book, on point. I want to comment on the way the book arrived to me. Do you see the small tear at the bottom of the spine? This is the replacement of the first book that I received, also torn in the exact same place! This one is quite smaller than the first, but I'm so disappointed and frustrated. I love my books when I actually spend money on them. I read this story via ebook from the library, I loved it so much, I wanted the hard copy for my home library, and the damaged jacket is so disappointing! Do a better job, Amazon! I won't request a replacement of this book because they'll probably just scrap it like they did the first one, but they need to know this shouldn't be happening.
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Top reviews from the United States

Gail L. Castonguay
5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
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Easy read. Wonderful topics
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Tina
5.0 out of 5 stars lessons in love
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2024
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Enchanted story of a time in Americas past that must never be forgotten. Each character a gem of interest that invests the reader and teaches probably one of the most important lessons of life. Love in whatever form is vital to a full and meaningful life. Love from an animal and sometimes even from the wrong person is valuable and brings growth and courage. Life and death both a puzzle for each of us to solve. Easy read and in my opinion suitable for both young and adult readers .
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amanda
4.0 out of 5 stars Glad I read this first
Reviewed in the United States on October 8, 2023
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I love origin stories & this was an impactful blend of history & magical realism. While this was a bit longer than I realized, chunking into parts helped in addition to the pacing of the book. Excited for book 2 to follow up.
3 people found this helpful
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Amy W.
5.0 out of 5 stars Love is magic
Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2024
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This book made me cry several times, which I normally hate, lol, but it was happy tears mixed with sad ones. I loved every minute of reading it. The people in it are too real, I strongly identified with so many of them, I suspect that this writer is simply gifted with words. I even identified with the cruel woman who stole Maria's daughter, Faith, for her own, although I could never be so wicked! But I also understood how Faith might come to hate her captor and run away after years of being stifled from being herself. In the end what you put our in the world does come back to you, multiplied threefold. It's the nicest idea, that the world might be a bit fair, and this novel nearly convinced me. But the one truth I did "buy" into is the idea that love is the one thing that can overcome/cure/counter any curse; the more real the love, the best results ensue. I loved this book, and it explains the curse on Owens women from Practical Magic completely. Further, I especially appreciated the timely reminders of the sad state of women's rights before Roe vs Wade and after that case's overturning so recently by America's Supreme Court. If we don't fight for our autonomy in the next elections, we ladies could be reduced to having as few rights as the women from this book's era, it's that simple. Please read if only to look back at what could become our future.
7 people found this helpful
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G. Buck
5.0 out of 5 stars the series great
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024
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Be sure to read the books in order. They’re well sorta the read, even when the story slows. Time well spent.
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needsmybooks
5.0 out of 5 stars Great ending or beginning to the Owens family story.
Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2024
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I read this book after I finished the other three books. I am so glad I did. This book really ties up all of the story and characters from all of the books. Once you have understood where the family has begun it's roots and where the curse comes from everything else falls into place. We get a chance to see where some of these other family members have come from and where the famous chocolate tipsy cake got it's origins. This book was a delight to read and I really enjoyed it. It was nice to finish the story of this great family.
2 people found this helpful
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Ethel LaGrange-Fiermonte
5.0 out of 5 stars All about the beginning of the Owens women
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2024
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It was easy to lose myself in the prose. Alice Hoffman does have a way with words.
She doesn't back down to spare you a heartbreaking scene, but neither does she hesitate to uplift and bring hope when you're sure this can't have a happy ending. A really beautiful book.
One person found this helpful
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Rachel M. Candelaria
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2023
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This may be my favorite book in the series. Well written characters and an interesting plot.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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Felicitas Ritter
5.0 out of 5 stars A great read!
Reviewed in Canada on May 31, 2023
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I think this might be my favourite in the Practical Magic series - though I do still have one to go! Alice Hoffman just knows how to craft truly beautiful and imaginative stories that keep you engaged all the way to the end. The characters are unique and tragic, relatable and wonderful. I really loved everything about it!
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Roxana
5.0 out of 5 stars Primo libro della serie
Reviewed in Italy on November 10, 2023
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Libro nuovo, senza difetti e con una bellissima copertina!
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Roxana
5.0 out of 5 stars Primo libro della serie
Reviewed in Italy on November 10, 2023
Libro nuovo, senza difetti e con una bellissima copertina!
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Lucy Pidgeon
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully Witchy!!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 13, 2021
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I have always loved the film Practical Magic, it’s one of my all time favourites! When I realised it was based on a book I rushed to get it and then never read it. When I discovered that a few of my book club buddy’s wanted to read the series it made perfect sense to do a buddy read and what better time than Halloween month?

I have always wanted to know more about the Owen’s family and how the curse came about and this book certainly delivered on all the witchy history. The descriptions of different cures for ailments and needs were fascinating and I loved how they were littered throughout the book. The herbal remedies have always intrigued me and it was great to see witchcraft shown in a more natural light rather than the usual hocus pocus! This may be a work of fiction but it’s clear to see that Alice Hoffman has drawn on the historical Salem witch trials for this story. It’s horrendous to think what women lived through in the 1600’s and how owning just a small amount of herbs or healing the common cold could sentence you to death!

Maria Owens certainly had a rough start to life but I’m so pleased that Hannah was the one to find her. I was gutted to see Hannah leave the story so early but it was obvious throughout that she’d had a profound effect on Maria. As Maria grew up I kept finding myself shocked at her age. Some of the things she had witnessed or gone through were horrific but to go through it as a child was unthinkable. She carried herself in a very mature way but given what she’d been through she had to grow up quite quickly.

Faith was an interesting person. My heart broke for her at the beginning of her story and can’t imagine how it must of felt to be under Martha’s care but I did find it hard to warm to her. I could understand why she had so much resentment and her actions I felt were sometimes justified but that didn’t always make me like her.

When I finished this I wanted to dive straight in to the next in the series. I am well and truly hooked to the Owen’s family and can’t wait to see how their story develops. If you’re after a story of female solidarity with a witchy twist then this is for you!
8 people found this helpful
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Lynanne
5.0 out of 5 stars Love it. Very fast delivery
Reviewed in Australia on July 28, 2023
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Love the book, part of the Practical Magic series. Very fast delivery
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Dee Marie
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read.
Reviewed in Canada on September 2, 2023
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This is the first book I have read by this author. I am about half way through. I am enjoying it. Can't wait to read the other books in this series. I will keep them in my collection to reread again and again.
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