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.
