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    Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic
    Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic
    Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic
    Audiobook13 hours

    Magic Lessons: The Prequel to Practical Magic

    Written by Alice Hoffman

    Narrated by Sutton Foster

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    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.

    Editor's Note

    Spellbinding…

    This highly anticipated sequel to Alice Hoffman’s cherished Practical Magic series takes us all the way back to 17th century England where kindly witch Hannah Owens discovers baby Maria abandoned in a snowy field. Hannah not only raises Maria, but also imparts all of her knowledge of the “Unnamed Arts,” which have been passed down from generation to generation. The story spans the globe as Maria grows up and becomes obsessed with a man who spurns her, following him all the way to Salem, Massachusetts.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
    Release dateOct 6, 2020
    ISBN9781797111254
    Author

    Alice Hoffman

    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.

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    Reviews for Magic Lessons

    4.5/5

    533 ratings16 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I LOVED this book. I love the history lesson and recipes mixed in with the story. This book did not disappoint.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I never read books of witches and and spells. But I was drawn Into the story very early. It was the combination of the realistic fictional history and the stories of love that kept me spellbound.

      This is a whirlwind book full of history about things I heard of growing up such as throwing salt over the left shoulder if salt was spilled. It made me remember those superstitions that Ive heard of in my childhood and I dismissed it as ignorance. Yet, I clung to those familiar remedies in this story.

      This book is full of all of the things that make a good story; murder, lies, mischief, disobedience of young people, and deceit of the old. The rich characters left me wanting for how their stories would evolve. The plot was was populated with many hearts of love. Simply, this story is about love.

      I’m recommending this book to both of my book clubs. Siri

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Enjoyed this prequel to practical magic and loved listening to Sutter Foster reading this book!
    • 5/5
      A long book but a great read found this book and enjoyed it.
    • 5/5
      Incredibly strong female characters with lovely magic throughout. I adore this book! (Fantastic to listen as an audiobook, also!)
    • 5/5
      The narrator was so good that I felt I was transform into that error the story was explain and it true about in the sixteen century that so many woman was hang because what they were afraid these woman that practice they just use what the earth would give to heal thru plants I really enjoyed anyone who read patrical magic has to read this book Alice Hoffman it an amazing writer
    • 3/5
      I have now read all three books of the Practical Magic trilogy. Magic Lessons was my favorite and this was second place (Practical Magic was my least favorite!). While I loved the historical fiction aspect of it, the plot felt a bit tedious and slow at times. I also thought the narrator's voice lacked variety and dramatization, so it wasn't very interesting to listen.
    • 5/5
      Great story! So we’ll written-flows-excitement-danger-just right! Oh and the narration! Loved it! Might have to listen again! 5 stars-because 6 is not an option.
    • 4/5
      If you've ever read Practical Magic and The Rules of Magic, and wanted to know more about Maria Owens (mentioned in both as the woman who built the Owens home and established the rules by which the Owens lived their lives) here's your chance. My advice - take it. It begins in 1664 and I enjoyed this story of how Maria left England and eventually found herself in Salem, Massachusetts - not the best time/place for someone with her gift to find herself. She of course does survive - not without peril, both for herself and for her daughter. In learning to "go along to get along" in modern terms, she establishes the rules for survival that she passes along for future generations of her family to live by. But the rules are for more than survival, they're also rules that we could all stand to live by. Her journey is an interesting one, full of love and loss and joy and heartache. I highly recommend this one.
    • 5/5
      This is a book that is very captivating. I highly recommend this book.
    • 5/5
      Alice Hoffman has a beautiful way with words. Not only does she have you caring for multiple characters, you get a real feel for the atmosphere and time period with a sprinkle of important life lessons mixed in
    • 5/5
      I have listened to all of the books in the Practical Magic series and this one was by far the best in my opinion. It brought me to tears a couple of times but ended on a better note than I thought it would. I wish I had read this one first.
    • 5/5
      Wow! I'm stoked by how much I like this!

      There are so many elements that made this book good. There's spells and magic. Deceit and revenge. And Salem!!! On top of that the storyline was intriguing and kept me interested and engaged. Loved it.

      4.75 stars
    • 5/5
      This is my favorite of the three books and hits on so many topics relatable for women who never fit in, were unafraid to be who they were, and were demonized because of it. Love the Owens women and the men who fell for them.
    • 5/5
      It was everything. The voice of Sutton Foster was soft and enticing, it drew me deeper into the story than just reading it to myself. The book was delishessly written. The descriptions of living life were perfect. The combination brought me visions in my mind's eye that helped me see between the lines of her story.
    • 4/5
      Well written. The story moved along at a fast pace and was interesting. A little more of the “familiars” story line would have been appreciated. For that matter, a novel on the relationship between a witch/ warlock and their familiar would be another great take off form this prequel.