Three siblings grow up knowing they are different than others. Their mother tries to keep their heritage hidden from them. But “what is meant to be is bound to happen, whether or not you approve.” In June, 1960, an invitation arrives and the teenagers take off to stay with their great aunt Isabelle in Massachusetts.

Every book of Alice Hoffman’s is different. The only thing in common is the wonderful writing. This book is described as a prequel to Practical Magic, which I haven't read. And it's not necessary to have done so. It easily stands on its own. Usually I'm not one for magic and potions and everything else witchy. But here I bought into it, hook, line and sinker. Each one has a gift; the ability to read minds, clairvoyance, kinship with animals. The one thing they are forbidden is love and it's the one thing they are all seeking. In fact, the entire book is about love. Love found and love lost and what we will do for those we love. It's a bittersweet book.

My thanks to netgalley and Simon & Schuster for this truly magical book.

https://lynns-books.com/2017/10/05/the-rules-of-magic-practical-magic-0-by-alice-hoffman/
I confess I wish I had Alice Hoffman’s way with words so that I could review this book in a way which it deserves. Perhaps I could seek a charm to improve my ability to conjure the best things to say to entice you to pick this up. As it is, well, I’ll have to make do and just gush profusely at every opportunity because as much as I expected to love this book, having read a good few books by this author previously, this still exceeded my expectations in every way.

Beautifully written, this story has a light, almost ethereal touch. It tells the story of three children born into a family with a curse and looks at the ways in which they try to overcome the limitations they face and at the same time come to terms with who they really are. Strong character focus is key to the story. The characters are wonderfully developed and I simply couldn’t help falling in love with them a little (okay a lot). Hoffman sketches them in an easy way, making it appear effortless, which is far from the truth. The story builds with a sense of ‘impending doom’ and the fact that the characters are so enjoyable to read about just helps to increase the sense of foreboding that you feel as you read on. On top of that this is well paced and enchanting. There’s a whimsical feel to it all particularly in terms of the times and places depicted. Those are my immediate feelings, now for a little bit more.

In terms of plot. Hundreds of years ago the Owens family were cursed. The history of why and how will be explored in good time but in the meantime this is a look at one particular branch of the Owen’s family tree. Susanna Owens removed her three children to New York, where she lives with her husband, many years ago. Susanna is desperate for them to enjoy a regular childhood, she knows they’re different and realises how dangerous this can be. Susanna has many strict rules about what the children can and can’t do but no matter how much she exerts her authority their own natures will eventually surface. Franny, Jet and Vincent are the three children and their stories make for wonderful reading as we watch them struggle with their abilities, their differences and their desires. It’s difficult to go into great depth really. This isn’t a story that can easily be elaborated upon as ultimately it’s a coming of age tale. Each of the characters has their own individual storyline, although they’re all intertwined, but what comes across really strongly is the strength of feeling that they share as a family and this is something that holds strong throughout.

The three of them finally begin to make their own voyages of discovery when they first visit their aunt in Massachusetts. The people in the village where Aunt Isabelle lives believe the stories of witchcraft and fear the Owen’s family, at the same time they all, from time to time, pay visits to the family home in search of more than tea and sympathy As soon as the three arrive things start to fall into place. Vincent is the first to embrace who he really is with the two sisters following at their own reluctant pace until they finally reveal the extent of their own family gifts and discover the truth behind the family curse.

Now, I realise I’ve probably made this all sound very tame and I’m certainly not going to pretend this is an action packed, war filled adventure because it isn’t. It’s a magical tale, written with style and compelling to read. I cold barely put this down and must have read it in two days at the most, even though I was at the same time desperate for it not to finish.

For information, The Rules of Magic is a prequel to Practical Magic. I think I can confidently say that you could read this without having read the earlier book – in fact, if you haven’t read Practical Magic you could pick it up when you finish this one.

I loved this, it has such incredible heart and soul, The characters are wonderful and I adore stories about witchcraft. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending.

I received a copy courtesy of the publisher for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.

I have to confess I’m really struggling with how to rate and review this. I finished it quite late in the evening yesterday and hoped that after a good night’s sleep I’d know how I felt about it but unfortunately my feelings are still all over the place.

I think it’s pretty safe to say when I first started reading it I struggled. Practical Magic is one of my favorite films (I haven’t read the book – sorry) so I think I was expecting something very similar in style and tone. When I was faced with a slow and drawn out story that felt more like a family saga I have to admit I was disappointed. Hoffman’s writing is brilliant and very vivid and she really makes siblings Frances, Jet and Vincent come to life but it’s done in such a slow and meandering way that it just couldn’t hold my attention.

The focus of the story is very much on the family and the relationships between them. There is however a lot of magic in this book, particularly in the beginning as the siblings set out to discover who they are and what they can do. Forbidden by their parents to dabble, they learn first from a hidden magical text and some experimentation and then from their Aunt Isabelle all of the rules, potions and spells they could ever need to know.

Like a lot of the story though there is no big bang or excitement when it comes to magic. It’s all very gently introduced with a focus on the theory rather than the practical. As information on what each and every herb could be used for or what ingredients are required for specific potions was presented I must admit I found my attention wandering. I began finding excuses to put the book down and go do something else and on a few occasions I was pretty close to just giving up on the whole thing.

This wasn’t really helped by my inability to really connect with any of the characters or the relationships between them. With Hoffman’s wonderful writing ability they are drawn beautifully and you get a real sense of even the most minor characters but there was something about them that left me a little cold. They are all well rounded, with both strengths and flaws but I just couldn’t relate to them. Given the nature of the story, it should have been packed with emotion but I just couldn’t feel it.

I think it was around the midpoint, when Franny, Jet and Vincent are on their own, that I finally began to feel and it was at that point I became engrossed in the story. Whereas previously I’d been struggling to pick it up I began to find it difficult to put down. I’m still not sure I really liked any one particular character, a lot of the time I wanted to shake them, but somehow, very stealthily they managed to sneak in and I found myself truly caring about them and hoping things would work out for them.

This is a story about family, love and accepting who you are more than a story of witchcraft and magic. The pace is slow and the writing full of vivid imagery and detail. There isn’t much in the way of fun or light and to be honest the whole thing left me feeling pretty depressed, I cried a lot, but overall I am glad I stuck with it and read to the very end.

It’s probably not a book I would recommend everyone reads, I think it’s more suited to the type of reader who likes a slow paced story about family and relationships rather than one looking for magic and excitement, but I did enjoy it.

I do not like fantasy books, I do not like magic books, I will be upfront and say that right away. Alice Hoffman has a new follower now. I didn't care for the witchcraft piece of it but you fall in love with the characters. There are 3 main characters and you can't help but want to know what happens next. You have Franny, Jet and Francis who are all siblings and are decedents of true witches. There are rules they need to follow and some of them are followed and some are not and the consequences that happen because of both sometimes you don't see coming. I really liked this book.

I was so excited to read this book, a prequel to Practical Magic that follows the Owens siblings through to adulthood. A subject very close to my heart this book didn't disappoint. A perfect October/Halloween read! I loved it!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for my advance copy in return for an honest review.

I am so excited to tell you about THE RULES OF MAGIC by Alice Hoffman. I watched Practical Magic years ago and loved the story. I only recently found out it was based on a book when I saw a review for it on Avalinah’s Books. It was then that I decided to request this book. Of course I want more of the Owen’s family. I want to know all their secrets and see if their origins give any hint to where they end up (in the movie, I have yet to read the book).

This story follows siblings Frannie, Jet (Bridgette), and Vincent as they come of age in the 1960s and into their own. The story starts with the Owen’s siblings visiting their aunt in Massachusetts. There they learn more about their unique gifts and why their mother, Susanna, had them follow what they thought were superstitions. It turns out that all of the Owens are gifted with Magic and it is in their aunt’s home that they learn the real reasons for the rules their mother imposed on them.

Susanna’s Rules for Her Children:

Harm none
Never fall in love
No walking in the moonlight
No red shoes
No wearing black
No cats
No crows
No candles
No books about magic

Some of the siblings go on to find out more about their own strengths, while others go on to break every rule. The first rule makes sense, but the rule about never falling in love is nearly impossible for all of them to follow. The Owen’s family has been cursed since 1620 when their ancestor Maria Owens swore off love after being scorned by the man she loved. Ever since then ever Owens that has fallen in love has lost that love to tragic circumstances.

The foundation for this book is the three siblings and indeed, the story follows them into old age as they deal with their fates and come to terms with their losses. Each of them comes to understand that they can’t hide from who they truly are, although some take much longer than others to realize this. Each sibling has a different temperament and natural magic ability, but they all end up practicing magic.

I enjoyed getting the know the whole family. There are a few key side characters that aid the siblings, and they were all worth knowing well. I admit to being anxious to see where the girls from Practical Magic came in and I was completely satisfied with their placement in this book.This story is mainly about the aunt in Practical Magic and it explains their parentage.

This story is told in 3rd person which left me feeling like a voyeuristic outsider, but I still really enjoyed this story. I think a story like this really needed to be told in that way lest we loose track trying to imagine their emotions as they deal with what life hands these siblings. Although this did make really connecting with the characters a bit difficult for me. I almost wish each character could have their own book because they are all so very interesting.

I also has a bit of an issue with this story. View Spoiler »

Their magic plays a part in this story but it isn’t used a crutch to move the story forward. The story’s pacing was beautiful. I loved that we covered so much time and that the story really focused on the most important parts of these character’s lives. I am so happy with the ending of this story because I know that the Owen’s story does continue with Sally and Gillian.

I would highly recommend this to readers who enjoy a good story about family and magical realism. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

I have always loved Alice Hoffman and this was classic! A prequel to Practical Magic, the novel delves into the storyline of the aunts, Frances, Jet, and bother, Vincent. The family, of course, has been cursed because of witches in their past and each of the children has abilities beyond the normal--some good and some bad. They've been warned not to fall in love as only evil will befall the loved one, but who can resist the lure of love? So we are drawn into their lives as well as the lives of their quirky Aunt Isabel and cousin, April. Magical realism has never really been my thing, but as usual, Hoffman's writing is so lyrical and rich that I can't help but believe everything she writes. Beautifully woven story and characters that are warm and tender. One can't help but want this magic in your life!

The storyline was entertaining and Ms. Hoffman’s writing is beautiful, as always. I enjoyed this book.

I enjoyed Practical Magic years ago, so I was excited to read the prequel, The Rules of Magic. It’s wonderful as a stand alone, but having seen the movie Practical Magic, I had a vision of the family home in Massachusetts and how the relatives might look and dress.

In The Rules of Magic, readers are introduced to Franny, Jet and Vincent Owens. The three siblings are close in age and all share special gifts, such as reading people’s thoughts and being unable to sink in water. They descend from a long line of Owens witches and are avoided by most people in the community.

This is more or less a coming of age story of the siblings, but it also follows them into their adult lives as they discover who they are and the importance of being true to themselves.

This is a wonderful October/Halloween read with witches and curses that are presented in a light-hearted way. After I finished reading, I had an overwhelming urge to watch Practical Magic--again!

I would like to thank NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

*I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Alice Hoffman has always been one of my go-to authors. Her use of magic realism is how I came to love my favorite genre. When I heard about this book last year, I couldn't contain my excitement.

The thing that I love most about this book is that you don't have to read Practical Magic in order to understand the plot. While I try to watch the movie every year, it's been a long time since I've actually picked up the book.

Hoffman does a fantastic job of creating characters that are both vivid and old friends. The three Owens siblings--Franny, Jet, and Vincent--are the most interesting group of young witches in a long time. Each one has his or her own distinct personality, and that makes you love them even more. Their trials and tribulations make you wish for happy endings and love for each.

The book takes us through the interesting decade of the 1960s, where free love and social justice was rampant but often came with a deadly price. The author intricately wove the plot into history to create wonderful piece of work. I loved the chaotic scenery of Central Park and the whimsical Owens family home. One of my favorite additions was definitely the animals.

This is a book that has just enough magic in it to be perfect for fall.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for letting me read an ARC of this book to review!
I absolutely love the book Practical Magic -- It was one of the first books that got me back into reading after college & graduate school, so to say I was thrilled by the prospect of a prequel would be an understatement. The Aunts were intriguing characters, to say the least, so I couldn't wait to learn their history.
I love backstory & knowing how characters got to be who they are, and this book fits that bill exactly. We follow Franny, Jet, and their brother Vincent as they come of age in the Sixties. They have to contend with all of the regular travails of growing up, but also the family legacy and the family curse.
This book is about so much more than just magic -- It's about growing up and learning to be true to who you are, something I am definitely still learning.

I received an ARC of this ebook, from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first novel I've read by Alice Hoffman and I was absolutely enchanted. The story, which can no doubt be considered the prequel to the well-known Practical Magic unfolds beautifully. Each character offered something to love/hate, at any given moment, but you were able to watch each one grow and contort into full-fledged adults with very real practicalities about life and love.

Having never read Practical Magic, I thought I might feel lost, or disconnected from the story, but that was not the case. This novel is every bit as good as a stand-alone, whether you ever find a reason or want to read it's predecessor. If anything, the reading of this may inspire many to seek out the other.

What I loved most about reading The Rules of Magic was the way each character developed as they blossomed from children into adulthood: in love, in loss, and in tragedy, you could see how every one of them changed. Each experience, for better or worse, marked them and changed their philosophy about how they should live and what is most important.

And while you felt their pain, with each successive emotional (and physical) challenge, as individuals, you also understood their triumphs.

Jet was by far my favorite character in the story. She endured so much and had the most reason to be made bitter by life's unfairness. Yet, she made the decision to continue to live a life based on her own terms, centered around its goodness. She remained bruised, but never broken, and her decision to do so, in light of all she went through, took an unspeakable amount of courage.

Franny and Vincent were interesting, but I liked them considerably less. That said, they offer much in the way of learning how often we all tend to pass judgment and offer intolerance, as opposed to acceptance.

Even so, in my opinion, because each appeared to be utterly self-serving in their pursuits of living a life worthy of contentment, they left much in the way of collateral damage. That was tough to watch and left me unsympathetic to their pain much of the time.

Having said all that, however, each of their journeys was fascinating because evolution-even when it is born of unexpected circumstances-is always expected. Each character evolved in his/her own way and, eventually, don't we all?

I truly enjoyed this book.

In a time when humanity seems to be lacking, in the real world, it's always lovely to escape into one where it can so skillfully exist.

Great read.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2131029306

A little out of my comfort zone, the Owens family current generation highlighted in this book is made up of three siblings who are each trying to figure out who they are. With magic abilities running through their blood, trying to figure oneself out may be a little harder. AND then throw in a curse!

I don't tend to read books with magic, but when I saw a release date of 10/10 and I am trying to push myself out of my comfort zone again and again, I decided to try this one out. It had the right amount of magic where the characters were still human, but they all had great abilities where they could see the future or see things in other people, but at the end of the day the weren't floating around which made me enjoy this more than most books with fantasy and magic.

I loved at the heart of the story was family. I love a good family drama, so with the foundation of the book being a family dealing with pain and tragedy and maybe a dash of a family curse. I was so glad to read a book with magic with a male in the family with abilities. I don't read a lot of books with magic and witches, but I still feel like every time witches are mentioned it is a female connotation, so I enjoyed some male witch action.

I have only read one other Alice Hoffman book and I two-starred that one, so I may need a suggestion or two of where to go from here with Alice Hoffman.

One of my favorite authors is back and I could not wait to get my hands on her latest, due out November 10 (thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy!). While I loved The Musuem of Extraordinary Things and The Marriage of Opposites, The Dovekeepers of 2011 remains my favorite due to its setting in biblical times and the extraordinary four women who tell the story of the Masada. In Hoffman's latest venture, she returns to the world of one of her earliest works, Practical Magic, and the Owens family of witches. Thanks to the long-ago Salem witch trials, the intermingling of two families, and a dark curse that hangs over the Owens' head every generation, falling in love can be a deadly prospect. The three Owens children, Fran, Jet, and Vincent, are each highly unique. Hoffman uses magical realism in a delightful way, with mischievous happenings, some humor, and then some dark magic thrown in as well. I was mesmerized by this story - it is what I call a 'delicious' read that will keep you entertained until the very last page.

Another well written tale by this author, who adds magic to every story. This one I couldn't put down. it was very absorbing/

To be in the world of the Owens' is to be a world of wonder and wonderful warmth. I love all the characters and their twisting plotlines surrounded by magic. Alice Hoffman has done it again creating a world i can get lost in

I'm rounding up from 3.5--a lyrical story of three siblings who are born with magical powers and a curse. Despite the length, I didn't find the characters that well developed. Their stories were poignant and while the book started slowly, the pace quickened in the later parts. I have not read Practical Magic. The book is well written. Story intriguing but somehow a bit superficial. Some of the material about witches felt discordant from the story. Ultimately, I never did understand the curse, I found the siblings interesting but ultimately a bit under developed and opaque other than their physical descriptions. A pleasant book.

I'm a fan of Hoffman, most of the time, and this turned out to be one of the times I can give her a total thumbs up. I haven't read Practical Magic (which this is a prequel to), but I watched the film, so I had a smidgen of an idea about the storyline. I really enjoyed the characters in this one, though once in a while, some of the twists felt very token. However, it was well written, well paced, and I read through it quickly, which indicates to me that it was engaging. Fans of magic stories, sister stories, and good writing will enjoy.

I have a love/hate relationship with Alice Hoffman books. I always love her writing. So lyrical and engaging. But her stories aren't always my favorite. I am happy to say that this is one big A plus! I had not read Practical Magic, or even seen the movie. But luckily that did not matter. This book stands alone. Now I need to read Practical Magic and see what happens next. I am hooked.

Classic Alice Hoffman, engaging and sharp from the get go. Stands alone as the prequel to Practical Magic.