4.5 stars. I actually enjoyed this prequel better than the original book (Practical Magic). The writing felt much more mature and lyrical and I just found myself getting lost in the story. The characters are really explored well, especially Franny, and I liked the multiple POV approach. There are a lot of magical tidbits sprinkled throughout the narrative, which is totally my jam and made me super happy. I also appreciated the attention to detail in how much historical information was woven into the plot. The inclusion of these events and pieces of historical knowledge added depth, realism, and really created a great atmosphere. I very much enjoyed this story and I'm SO glad I read it.