The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This engaging story is pure magic from the first page. It is Alice Hoffman at her best: full of magic, love, hope, despair, and of course powerful women. Witches are among us! Published in 2017, it is a prequel to Practical Magic, published 14 years earlier and stands alone, but having read (and loved) the earlier book I especially enjoyed it. Frannie and Jet, the girls of this story become the aged aunts of the earlier novel. It is told over a generation of time, but the story also includes a brief fictional Owens family history beginning during the 1692 Salem witch trials. The characters are vividly drawn and the narrative compelling with many sweet surprises throughout the story and many life lessons. This is an enchanting escape into magical realism and like Hoffman's other novels, it is beautifully written. . . a wonderful, metaphorical story of love, fear, loss, and living. Highly recommend.

View all my reviews