The Book of Magic (Practical Magic, #2)

by Alice Hoffman

‘Full of Hoffman’s bewitching and lucid prose and vivid characters, The Book of Magic is ultimately about the very human magic of family and love and actions that echo through generations… it casts a spell’  —Matt Haig

THE STUNNING, UNFORGETTABLE CONCLUSION TO THE BELOVED PRACTICAL MAGIC SERIES

For centuries, the Owens family has been cursed in matters of love. When beloved aunt Jet Owens hears the sound of the deathwatch beetle, she knows that it is a signal. She has finally discovered the secret to breaking the curse, but time is running out. She has only seven days to live.

Unaware of the family’s witchcraft lineage and all it entails, one of the young sisters of the new Owens generation has fallen in love. As the curse strikes once again, her love’s fate hangs in the balance, spurring three generations of Owens to venture back to where it all began and use their gifts to break the spell that has marked all their lives.

But doing so threatens to destroy everything the family has fought so hard to protect. How much will they give up for the greatest gift of all?

'This page-turning Atlantic-crossing caper is, above all, a paean to family love... These fast fairytales for grown-ups are full of enchanting comfort – more escapist than curse' —Sunday Times

'A satisfying tale springs from a slow beginning, packing in escapist fable, real-world savvy and incidents galore' —Mail on Sunday

'Delightfully witchy... Alluring on its own, it's also a satisfying end to a timeless saga' —New York Times Book Review


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
 

• ISBN10: 1398509949
• ISBN13: 9781398509948
• Publish Date: 6 January 2022 (first published 12 October 2021)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd
• Imprint: Scribner UK
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 400
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

It's here! It's finally here! Wait, am I ready for this? The Book of Magic, written by Alice Hoffman, is the final novel in the Practical Magic series. It's time to see how the Owens witches remove the curse that has plagued their family for generations (no, the movie ending isn't canon – though it is still delightful).

Jet Owens has lived a long and good life. So she is not surprised on the morning she hears the deathwatch beetle. She knows it means her time is nearly here – and that she must get her affairs in order.

Yet Jet is not the only one getting the warning signs. A young man – the newest victim of the curse – is at grave risk as well. It will take three generations of Owens witches to work together in order to save him and finally put this curse to rest.

"Some stories begin at the beginning and others begin at the end, but all the best stories begin in a library."

The Book of Magic is a novel that had me so conflicted. On the one hand, it's the book that I've been waiting years for. On the other hand, it's also the end of an era. I wasn't sure that I was ready to say goodbye. Not to any of these delightful characters. But time goes on, and so must I.

I'll be honest: I didn't know what to expect from The Book of Magic. I knew that it wasn't going to end the way the movie did (duh), but beyond that, I couldn't even begin to guess how it would all finally come together.

What I got? Was amazing. Bittersweat in every sense of the word. It was a perfect ending for the series, the characters, and the fans. Again, I'm sad to see the series go, but I am so happy that Alice Hoffman found a way to do justice to it all.

I should probably mention: to those that have only ever read Practical Magic; I would strongly advise picking up the prequels before finishing the series. Magic Lessons and The Rules of Magic are both fantastic reads. More than that, plots and characters in those books will be essential for The Book of Magic. It may not make as much sense without their words.

Thanks to Simon Schuster and #NetGalley for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Read more reviews over at Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks