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Preview
  • The Rules of Magic

  • A Prequel to Practical Magic
  • By: Alice Hoffman
  • Narrated by: Laurence Bouvard
  • Length: 11 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (251 ratings)

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The Rules of Magic

By: Alice Hoffman
Narrated by: Laurence Bouvard
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Summary

In this prequel to Practical Magic, we meet the Aunts: sisters Frances and Jet, and Vincent, their brother. Their mother, Susanna, knew they were unique: pale, red-haired Franny, who could commune with birds; shy, beautiful Jet, who knows what others are thinking; and charismatic Vincent, built for trouble.

Susanna sets some rules of magic: no walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles and absolutely no books about magic. But, desperate to uncover who they really are, the Owens siblings head down a life-altering course, filled with secrets and truths, devastation and joy, and magic and love.

©2018 Alice Hoffman (P)2018 Oakhill Publishing
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What listeners say about The Rules of Magic

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazon reader

So unusual, never knew what was going to happen but really engaging and intriguing. Loved it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I absolutely loved it.

This was truly an amazing book, so good to get the aunts backstory. wonderful.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story, unfortunate reader

I liked the book, but was not keen on the narrator. I found the delivery awkward at times, particularly the “voices” put on, especially those of the young child characters at the end.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

outstanding

just like the first book was, this one was outstanding. the story, characters, world-building - all of it. Simply magical!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Entertaining and Intricate

I’m really enjoying this series. Glorious, twisting and turning stories and magically jump around giving insights to the future and filling in the past. Brilliantly narrated, bringing character and understanding to the books.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Please don’t use this narrator again!!

The story I would have enjoyed if the Narrator had not been so awful! The voices she put on were so annoying. I was pleased when the parents were killed off just so I didn’t have to listen to the dad’s voice again but more even more irritating ones followed!!! A real shame as the story was quite good and I love the film Practical Magic so was looking forward to this one. Think I’ll be reading book 2 on kindle though!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely

The story is lovely and makes you reflect on the things that are important in life.
The narration however was interrupted by the constant voice impressions which were distracting and not necessary.
The narrator has a naturally soothing voice so I think her natural delivery would have been preferable.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Worth listening to

good read although the narrator's voice was a tad annoying but I struggled on as the aunts In practical magic always intrigued me.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

It was ok

With the other Practical Magic books I've been immediately immersed by the story, with this one I just couldnt seem to get into it, not sure why.

To be honest it didn't feel like it added much to the overall story of the Owens family. I suppose, there wasn't the high drama we see in the other books. Just fairly regular lives with ups and downs and loss and love. It was ok

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Breathtaking

This is a joyful, heartwarming and beautifully told tale of twisty paths that life and love can take.
The heartbreaking sections are wonderfully balanced by the gorgeous descriptions of how to love and use growing things.
I appreciate the underlying theme of, ‘above all love, unconditionally, and do no harm.’
Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.

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