The Rules of Magic

Starred review from August 21, 2017
Hoffman delights in this prequel to Practical Magic, as three siblings discover both the power and curse of their magic. Susanna Owens fled her home in Massachusetts and settled in New York, where she marries and, with her husband, raises their three children, Franny, Jet, and Vincent. Susanna has done her best to keep them away from the powers of magic by forbidding such things as wearing black and using Ouija boards. But the children can’t deny their special abilities to perform such feats as communicating with animals and reading others’ thoughts. As they continue to grow older in the rapidly changing world of the late 1950s, the children’s curiosity about their heritage is rewarded when they are invited to visit their Aunt Isabelle in Massachusetts. There, the children hone their magical skills and discover that an ancestor had cursed them so that disaster would befall anyone who fell in love with them. The three siblings struggle with the curse, sometimes pushing away their beloveds and at other times succumbing to the allure of love only to see it end tragically. Hoffman’s novel is a coming-of-age tale replete with magic and historical references to the early witch trials. The spellbinding story, focusing on the strength of family bonds through joy and sorrow, will appeal to a broad range of readers. Fans of Practical Magic will be bewitched. Agent: Amanda Urban, ICM Partners.

A prequel to PRACTICAL MAGIC, this audiobook, narrated by Marin Ireland, is an enchanting performance of a charming story. The Owens siblings grow up with odd and inexplicable restrictions from their mother. They cannot wear red shoes, walk in the moonlight, or fall in love (else their love will be cursed). When older, the three siblings journey to New York City to break the spell. Unlike some performers, Ireland doesn't focus on creating extremely distinct voices for each character; instead, she provides a perfect match for author Hoffman's creative style, which is warm and lyrical. Ireland speaks clearly, enunciating every word, and reads at a smooth pace. G.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award � AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine