The Rules of Magic
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-01-25 09:16:45
- Update Date：2025-09-23
- Status：finish
- Author：Alice Hoffman
- ISBN：1398515507
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
Find your magic
For the Owens family， love is a curse that began in 1620， when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man。
Hundreds of years later， in New York City at the cusp of the sixties， when the whole world is about to change， Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique。 Difficult Franny， with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair， shy and beautiful Jet， who can read other people’s thoughts， and charismatic Vincent， who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk。
From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight， no red shoes， no wearing black， no cats， no crows， no candles， no books about magic。 And most importantly， never， ever， fall in love。 But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle， in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong， they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are。 Back in New York City each begins a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse。
The Owens children cannot escape love even if they try， just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart。 The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the revered， and sometimes feared， aunts in Practical Magic， while Vincent， their beloved brother， will leave an unexpected legacy。
For the Owens family， love is a curse that began in 1620， when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man。
Hundreds of years later， in New York City at the cusp of the sixties， when the whole world is about to change， Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique。 Difficult Franny， with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair， shy and beautiful Jet， who can read other people’s thoughts， and charismatic Vincent， who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk。
From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight， no red shoes， no wearing black， no cats， no crows， no candles， no books about magic。 And most importantly， never， ever， fall in love。 But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle， in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong， they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are。 Back in New York City each begins a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse。
The Owens children cannot escape love even if they try， just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart。 The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the revered， and sometimes feared， aunts in Practical Magic， while Vincent， their beloved brother， will leave an unexpected legacy。
Reviews
Amy
，
I never became invested in the characters。 I'm not a fan of fantasy， although this was modern witchcraft rather than fantasy， but the characters just seemed flat to me。 I never became invested in the characters。 I'm not a fan of fantasy， although this was modern witchcraft rather than fantasy， but the characters just seemed flat to me。 。。。more
Sarah
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Didn’t even know this was a prequel to the Practical Magic series before reading！ I really liked this book。 I cried several times and felt like I really connected with each of the siblings， although they are all very different。 I loved how each of them had their own love story too。 Wasn’t planning on reading the Practical Magic books but I think after reading this book I will。 I love the generational aspect and since I know the characters as children， I am excited to see what they’re like as adu Didn’t even know this was a prequel to the Practical Magic series before reading！ I really liked this book。 I cried several times and felt like I really connected with each of the siblings， although they are all very different。 I loved how each of them had their own love story too。 Wasn’t planning on reading the Practical Magic books but I think after reading this book I will。 I love the generational aspect and since I know the characters as children， I am excited to see what they’re like as adults。 。。。more
Nalz
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I am loving the this series！ Love how in the beginning Fanny said she wouldn’t be like aunt Isabella， by the end she was exactly like her to Regina kids。
Michelle Lockhart
，
My dream finally came through i never believe this will happen to me， i am here to share my testimony on how Dr Abuu helped me to cast a death spell on my uncle who killed my parents because of his company， and the matter was taking to court and was not giving justice， because i was not having any prove， not until i came across this great spell caster online and i explain everything that happened to him and he promise to help me cast the spell within 48 hours that i should send my uncle full nam My dream finally came through i never believe this will happen to me， i am here to share my testimony on how Dr Abuu helped me to cast a death spell on my uncle who killed my parents because of his company， and the matter was taking to court and was not giving justice， because i was not having any prove， not until i came across this great spell caster online and i explain everything that happened to him and he promise to help me cast the spell within 48 hours that i should send my uncle full name and his picture that he is going to confess before he dies， which i did as he instructed"， within 2 days my uncle started confessing and finally died。 am grateful for what Dr Abuu did for me and with that i promise to share this testimony to all the viewers around the globe， If you are having similar issues please do contact him， you can contact Dr Abuu， for any death spell， such as to kill your superior in the office and take his or her place， death spell to kill your father and inherit his wealth， death spell to kill anyone who have scammed you in the past， spell for increase in salaries， spell for promotion at the office， spell to get your ex lover back， if things is not working well in your life then you need to contact him call/whatsapp him via +2348073861816 or email him now drabuuspelltemple@gmail。com Do this and thank me 。。。more
Meg Lauber-DeLuca
，
I enjoyed the book， almost as much as Magic Lessons， but I wish that the author had stuck to the same facts she’d put in previous books。 Specifically， when， in relation to her death， Maria Owens had written the journal that appears in both Magic Lessons and Rules of Magic。 It’s different from one book to the other， and that’s such a simple thing to have made sure to be consistent about。
Clarketta Lynn
，
Cannot wait to read book 3
BiancaBooks
，
I actually quite enjoyed the story of the siblings。 Might read the next book too。
Angela Argo
，
read the other 1 star reviews and believe them！
Lisa Kost
，
I am reading the series in chronological order rather than written order。 I really enjoyed Magic Lessons， but this one fell short for me。 The middle seemed as if it could use some editing as it seemed repetitive to me。 The book also seemed confused on if it wanted to be a YA novel which I was not expecting after Magic Lessons。 If I had read this one first， I am not sure I would have chosen to read the others。
Kristin Winfrey
，
This would make a good children/family movie but is not for mature audience reading。 I didn’t finish it for this reason as there are many good books that are but this book is indeed well written and engaging。
EJ1201
，
3。5 stars
Brooke Trew
，
I couldn’t give this less than 5 stars because it swept me up and took me away on such a journey。 It was beautiful， and sad and inspiring all at once and I know I’ll be thinking of it for long after I’ve finished it。
Pam Strickland
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Best of the trilogy。I always loved Practical Magic but I now consider the lives of Franny， Jet and Vincent the best in the 3 book series。
brenda janowiecki
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A very additive story about three siblings。 These two sisters and brother are very close and each have different magical abilities。 Through the hardships of life， they work together to make the most of it and protect each other。 It’s a beautifully written story。
Kaylen
，
Books that refer to people as being at the height of their beauty at 15 rub me the wrong way。。 that being said， Alice Hoffman did the thing where she started fastforwarding through the time-line progressively and that writing style always really hits me in the emotional sector。 Now I'm all reflective and nostalgic about the rest of my life that I haven't even lived yet。 So， that's always a welcome refreshing feeling。 Books that refer to people as being at the height of their beauty at 15 rub me the wrong way。。 that being said， Alice Hoffman did the thing where she started fastforwarding through the time-line progressively and that writing style always really hits me in the emotional sector。 Now I'm all reflective and nostalgic about the rest of my life that I haven't even lived yet。 So， that's always a welcome refreshing feeling。 。。。more
Anna
，
This is a prequel to Practical Magic which covers the lives of "the aunts，" Franny and Jet as well as their brother， Vincent， and a bit of Sally and Gillian's mother。 I love Practical Magic （the book and the movie） so I really enjoyed this。 In the book they have Aunt Isabell's Tipsy Chocolate Cake so I found a recipe online （on the blog Potpourri with Rose Marie） and whipped one up this evening after finishing the book。 This is a prequel to Practical Magic which covers the lives of "the aunts，" Franny and Jet as well as their brother， Vincent， and a bit of Sally and Gillian's mother。 I love Practical Magic （the book and the movie） so I really enjoyed this。 In the book they have Aunt Isabell's Tipsy Chocolate Cake so I found a recipe online （on the blog Potpourri with Rose Marie） and whipped one up this evening after finishing the book。 。。。more
Linnja （Lynn）
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Loved it
Nicole
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I enjoyed the story but I found it hard to read。 It was very narrative without a lot of dialogue。
Janet And Her Books
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So boring。
Nathan
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It was a bit boring to me， it took me so long to get through。
Natasha Zagorodnyaya
，
I am probably not the right audience for this book。 When I started reading the book， I didn't take it seriously。 Now， when I finished， I wished this book was just about people。 The author makes some good points and makes you think but magic and witches just got me distracted from the story。 I was constantly analyzing inconsistencies in their abilities and how the curse really works， etc （why they can do this and can't do that？） I am probably not the right audience for this book。 When I started reading the book， I didn't take it seriously。 Now， when I finished， I wished this book was just about people。 The author makes some good points and makes you think but magic and witches just got me distracted from the story。 I was constantly analyzing inconsistencies in their abilities and how the curse really works， etc （why they can do this and can't do that？） 。。。more
Kathy Ebbert
，
I honestly don’t remember reading this book in 2017…I wanted to read it （again？） after finishing Magic Lessons in 1/2022。 So glad I did！
Amy
，
Alice Hoffman books can be hit or miss for me。 I loved The Marriage of Opposites and The Red Garden， but I read Faithful and don't even remember anything about it。 Magic Lessons， which is the origin story of the Owens family， was very good。 This one was just ok。 As an audiobook， it made my long car trip across the Midwest much more enjoyable。 Alice Hoffman books can be hit or miss for me。 I loved The Marriage of Opposites and The Red Garden， but I read Faithful and don't even remember anything about it。 Magic Lessons， which is the origin story of the Owens family， was very good。 This one was just ok。 As an audiobook， it made my long car trip across the Midwest much more enjoyable。 。。。more
Jane
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interesting book but dragged a bitFor some reason I was expecting a different type of book。 I was looking forward to a book that was more lyrical and special。 It’s just an ok book with lots of eccentric， disfunctional characters and somehow the book seemed forced rather than a story that unfolds naturally。 Every character has enormous emotional situations to deal with but somehow they aren’t especially sympathetic figures and often seem more whiny and neurotic rather then fun and quirky。 I guess interesting book but dragged a bitFor some reason I was expecting a different type of book。 I was looking forward to a book that was more lyrical and special。 It’s just an ok book with lots of eccentric， disfunctional characters and somehow the book seemed forced rather than a story that unfolds naturally。 Every character has enormous emotional situations to deal with but somehow they aren’t especially sympathetic figures and often seem more whiny and neurotic rather then fun and quirky。 I guess I was looking for a very different prequel to Practical Magic， one of my favorite books。 The characters were very rigid and self destructive and I just was hoping for a lighter， less sad story。 。。。more
Tracy Beckerman
，
definitely a little magicalThis was my first Alice Hoffman book， and now having read it， I definitely think I’ll be checking out some of her other books。 I really liked it but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was reading a YA novel。 I think the problem for me is that she told us what the characters were always feeling， instead of showing us。 Still， I always like a good witch story， （loved The Lost Apothecary） and found it a good afternoon read on a rainy day。
Ruth Mitchell
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Really enjoyed this book， and I don't usually read books about Witchcraft because they are so predictable。 I kept picturing actor Timothee Chalamet as Vincent so I guess that colored my enjoyment a little。 I don't think I've ever read anything by this prolific writer before， but I think I will try another soon。 Really enjoyed this book， and I don't usually read books about Witchcraft because they are so predictable。 I kept picturing actor Timothee Chalamet as Vincent so I guess that colored my enjoyment a little。 I don't think I've ever read anything by this prolific writer before， but I think I will try another soon。 。。。more
Lauren
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Love the story of these three siblings in this book of the series so much， I grew attached to each of them。
Susan
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 Couldn’t decide between 4 stars or 3。Really kept my interest bc I cared about the characters， but， the story line was just ok。 Turned into more of a love story then I would have liked， but， I loved the idea of this family of witches and how they couldn’t fall in love or they’d be cursed。 So， each member had hardships over feelings of the heart。 Two sisters and one brother， a cranky old aunt and lots of animals。 They live in Boston in a house everyone is afraid of。 States with children in beginni Couldn’t decide between 4 stars or 3。Really kept my interest bc I cared about the characters， but， the story line was just ok。 Turned into more of a love story then I would have liked， but， I loved the idea of this family of witches and how they couldn’t fall in love or they’d be cursed。 So， each member had hardships over feelings of the heart。 Two sisters and one brother， a cranky old aunt and lots of animals。 They live in Boston in a house everyone is afraid of。 States with children in beginning and ends with them being old cranky aunts living in the house taking in their orphaned great nieces， just like what happened to them in the beginning。 Girls father faked death to avoid draft and lived in France the rest of his days with his partner。 Didn’t understand why curse of love didn’t get in his relationship， only the girls？ Still， I looked forward to reading it each day。 。。。more
Julie Krick
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I straight up love this series。 Alice Hoffman creates a world which brims with history and family， love and magic。 The Owens Family are wonderful characters。 Hoffman can write about love and loss very lyrically。
Vanessa
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I am genuinely surprised about how much I liked this book。 I bought this book spontaneously just to have something to read during a 3h train ride。 Already after some chapters this book revealed itself as a true page turner。 Even though I didn‘t like Franny and Jet in the beginning， my opinion on them changed halfway through。 Each character goes through a great development and each has a unique story。 The magic portrayed was something different。 I liked that just because magic blood runs through I am genuinely surprised about how much I liked this book。 I bought this book spontaneously just to have something to read during a 3h train ride。 Already after some chapters this book revealed itself as a true page turner。 Even though I didn‘t like Franny and Jet in the beginning， my opinion on them changed halfway through。 Each character goes through a great development and each has a unique story。 The magic portrayed was something different。 I liked that just because magic blood runs through one‘s veins， doesn‘t mean in particular that they have extreme powers or are invincible。 It is truly fascinating to see magic in a more realistic way。 The only two critiques were the time skips （I‘m in general not a fan of time skips since I can‘t imagine that for example 20 years pass without something interesting is happening， especially in this book） and the fact that almost every character had found their true love already before they even got onto their twenties。 I think life is more about searching your better half or "soulmate" for some time rather than just meeting your first love interest and then they turn out to be coincidently your soulmate。 Also I think a lot of things could have been solved earlier when the characters would communicate with each other， especially regarding Franny‘s and Hay‘s relationship。 。。。more
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Rules of Magic
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Rules of Magic&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Rules of Magic&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0