Reviews

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

lulu_canread's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

bethwolf's review against another edition

3.0

This was maybe a 3 or 3.5 for me. Read this book if you have a love of magic, history, beautiful prose, and family epics. Avoid this book if, like me, you are a short chapter girlie. Also avoid if a book with very little plot is not for you. This prequel is definitely an exploration of what came before the novel that is more well known. I don’t think this novel as a whole has an overarching plot or point to it. It was good but it wasn’t great. It felt magical and like a vivid, beautiful world. But I like my books with a little bit of plot in them.

kimelsalvador's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Magic isn’t something I enjoy reading about but this book was given to me a while ago and I also noticed it on Reese’s book list so I thought I’d give it a try and check it off the list. 

It still isn’t really my thing. Strangely after reading a book that covers a whole life time I feel like barely any story was actually there, just a lot of hopping around. I do like the distinctive characters of each of the different siblings. Franny is my least favourite because I find her attitude to change too much. One moment she acts like she needs to be the most responsible and hold down house, the next she’s making spare of the moment decisions. 

keen23's review against another edition

4.0

So good. I'm mad at myself for letting it sit for so long in my TBR.

diazepamreads's review against another edition

5.0

“Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free.“

xxtarniixx's review against another edition

4.0

4 ⭐️

juliannar's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

charlmax's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ttimbrook's review against another edition

4.0

Loved building upon the world I first read about in Magic Lessons and can’t wait to continue with the classic Practical Magic! ✨

erinrae's review against another edition

2.0

I read Practical Magic a few months ago and really enjoyed it. Lots of Alice Hoffman fans, and fans of the Owens family, have raved that the prequel book The Rules of Magic is so much better. I have to go ahead and sort of disagree on that. The Rules of Magic is painfully slow with a pretty weak plot. It has too many characters so none of them are developed enough. The POV is a mess and confusing. The whole premise of the book seems to be about what extraordinary and special people the Owens kids are, yet when given times to show these traits, Hoffman writes with such a matter-of-fact tone that it makes their actions sound completely commonplace. The last part of the book was really rushed and felt awkward as if Hoffman had to hurry up and remind everyone how this book relates to Practical Magic.

All in all, this book was just okay. There were parts that I enjoyed and I hung on to finish the novel just out of curiosity.