The Book of Magic (Practical Magic 2): A Novel (The Practical Magic Series 4)
The Owens family finally confronts the curse that has haunted them for centuries in this unforgettable conclusion to the beloved Practical Magic series by New York Times bestselling author Alice Hoffman.
The family’s story began in 1620, when Maria Owens was tried for witchcraft, and every Owens descendant was cursed in love. Now, in Cambridge, seventy-eight-year-old Jet Owens hears the deathwatch beetle and knows she has only seven days to live. Before she goes, she discovers The Book of the Raven, a dangerous magical grimoire that may hold the secret to breaking the curse once and for all.
Her sister Franny, nieces Sally and Gillian, and the next Owens generation—Antonia and Kylie—must face the truth of their legacy. When Kylie’s boyfriend falls into a coma after they confess their love, she flees to Europe in search of answers, embracing perilous left-handed magic that could destroy everything the Owens clan has fought to protect.
Spanning from New York City to Europe, Practical Magic 2 weaves a spellbinding tale of Owens family witches, sacrifice, and survival. A breathtaking and masterful conclusion to the beloved series, it brings together three generations of Owens women—and one long-lost brother—for a dazzling finale that proves the only cure for love is to love more.
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Community Reviews
The Book of Magic is a love-letter to the fans of the beloved Owens family, a magical family with a long history of being unlucky in love. At its heart, the Practical Magic series is about the bond between sisters, and the final installment reinforces that theme as the sisters seek the cure to the curse that has plagued their family for generations.
This series includes four books, but each one can be read as a stand-alone. And they were written out of order, starting with Practical Magic, then The Rules of Magic (a prequel), Magic Lessons (a pre-prequel), and finally The Book of Magic, which continues Sally and Gillian’s stories started in Practical Magic. This last installment does a wonderful job of tying all four books together, weaving the stories of all the characters into one book.
If you’ve never heard of the books, you’ve probably heard of the film adaptation of Practical Magic made in the 1990s staring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. It’s somewhat campy and cheesy but nostalgic, and lands on many fall-themed must-watch movie lists.
Back in 2017, I was invited to read an advance copy of The Rules of Magic. I’d read a couple of Alice Hoffman’s other books and enjoyed them (The Dovekeepers and Faithful), and I’d seen the adaptation of Practical Magic, so I was excited to pick it up. I enjoyed it and eventually picked up a copy of Practical Magic to add to my shelves where it has been waiting. When I was approved for The Book of Magic, I knew it was time to read Practical Magic, as well. I read the two books back to back, but I can reiterate, it’s not necessary. Plenty of history is recapped in the beginning of The Book of Magic to catch the reader up to the current storyline.
While I did find myself laughing out loud several times, The Book of Magic is a more somber book than its predecessor, diving deeper into the curse and its consequences. But the sisterly bond readers know and love, the magic they create, their mystical remedies, potions, and rituals are all present in this final book. And, of course, some romance, as well.
All the major players are here: Sally and Gillian, their aunts Franny and Jet, Sally’s daughters Antonia and Kylie, along with many others, including some new memorable characters, as well.
This was the perfect series to start my fall reading, with lyrical writing, historical touches, and plenty of magic. I was sad to see this series end, but it was lovely to revisit some old friends.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon Schuster, and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
#popsugarreadingchallenge2021 (prompt #28 - A magical realism book)
This series includes four books, but each one can be read as a stand-alone. And they were written out of order, starting with Practical Magic, then The Rules of Magic (a prequel), Magic Lessons (a pre-prequel), and finally The Book of Magic, which continues Sally and Gillian’s stories started in Practical Magic. This last installment does a wonderful job of tying all four books together, weaving the stories of all the characters into one book.
If you’ve never heard of the books, you’ve probably heard of the film adaptation of Practical Magic made in the 1990s staring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman. It’s somewhat campy and cheesy but nostalgic, and lands on many fall-themed must-watch movie lists.
Back in 2017, I was invited to read an advance copy of The Rules of Magic. I’d read a couple of Alice Hoffman’s other books and enjoyed them (The Dovekeepers and Faithful), and I’d seen the adaptation of Practical Magic, so I was excited to pick it up. I enjoyed it and eventually picked up a copy of Practical Magic to add to my shelves where it has been waiting. When I was approved for The Book of Magic, I knew it was time to read Practical Magic, as well. I read the two books back to back, but I can reiterate, it’s not necessary. Plenty of history is recapped in the beginning of The Book of Magic to catch the reader up to the current storyline.
While I did find myself laughing out loud several times, The Book of Magic is a more somber book than its predecessor, diving deeper into the curse and its consequences. But the sisterly bond readers know and love, the magic they create, their mystical remedies, potions, and rituals are all present in this final book. And, of course, some romance, as well.
All the major players are here: Sally and Gillian, their aunts Franny and Jet, Sally’s daughters Antonia and Kylie, along with many others, including some new memorable characters, as well.
This was the perfect series to start my fall reading, with lyrical writing, historical touches, and plenty of magic. I was sad to see this series end, but it was lovely to revisit some old friends.
Thank you to the publisher, Simon Schuster, and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
#popsugarreadingchallenge2021 (prompt #28 - A magical realism book)
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