The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Master storyteller Alice Hoffman brings us the conclusion of the Practical Magic series in a spellbinding and enchanting final Owens novel brimming with lyric beauty and vivid characters. 

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The Owens family has been cursed in matters of love for over three-hundred years but all of that is about to change. The novel begins in a library, the best place for a story to be conjured, when beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the deathwatch beetle and knows she has only seven days to live. Jet is not the only one in danger—the curse is already at work.

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A frantic attempt to save a young man’s life spurs three generations of the Owens women, and one long-lost brother, to use their unusual gifts to break the curse as they travel from Paris to London to the English countryside where their ancestor Maria Owens first practiced the Unnamed Art. The younger generation discovers secrets that have been hidden from them in matters of both magic and love by Sally, their fiercely protective mother. As Kylie Owens uncovers the truth about who she is and what her own dark powers are, her aunt Franny comes to understand that she is ready to sacrifice everything for her family, and Sally Owens realizes that she is willing to give up everything for love.

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The Book of Magic is a breathtaking conclusion that celebrates mothers and daughters, sisters and brothers, and anyone who has ever been in love.

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The Book of Magic

What a wonderful way to end the series!

This book is a bit different than the first three books, but it is the best of them. I loved the movie Practical Magic though I think it influenced me too much where instead of just enjoying the book, I spent most of the time comparing the two. But the two prequel books (written after Practical Magic) were fantastic. Magic Lessons was Maria’s story and how the Owen’s curse originated. The Rules of Magic was the story of Frannie, Jet and their brother Vincent and was so very awesome. This book involves all the main characters from The Rules of Magic and Practical Magic in a great story about love and family.

I can easily see this being made into a movie. The movie Practical Magic takes place when Sally and Gillian are in their twenties and Sally’s children Antonia and Kylie are young. This book takes place when The aunts are in their 80’s, Sally and Gillian are in their 40’s, Antonia and Kylie are both attending Harvard. It could definitely be made into a movie with the same actresses. Though the ages would just need a bit of fudging.

Though I definitely didn’t need it in movie form to picture it all in my head and I really enjoyed every bit of this book. Alice Hoffman has a writing style that truly lends itself to this genre extremely well. It makes even the smallest things sound a bit magical. I liked the way the previous books had so many little touches of magic here and there. These witches are no Samantha, Sabrina, or Charmed sisters. They have small magics, potions for healing and the sight.

Not that they can’t do bigger magic, but a lot of the more showy magic is left handed magic or dark magic and there is always a price to be paid for that type of magic. Left handed magic is what Maria Owens used to curse her descendants, trying to prevent them from heartache like she suffered. So to this day, anyone an Owens loves is ruined and in turn so are they when they lose that love.

The family finds out in this book that to get rid of the curse, you have to walk the crooked path and left handed magic is what will remove the curse, though it will take a sacrifice. The Owens family goes on a journey to save one of their own who sets out to remove the curse and save the man she loves. They want to save her from harm because they know that she will be following a dark path to get what her heart desires most. All I can say is I loved it and when will the movie come out?

I voluntarily read & reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

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