The Rules of Magic

The Rules of Magic

By Alice Hoffman

Hardback

Fantasy 

366 pages

This is the prequel to Practical Magic

I remember not liking the book Practical Magic becuase I had watched the movie first (without even realizing there was a book) and I loved the movie so much. The book was very different. 

I'm guessing that the continuity aligns with the novel Practical Magic. My brain keeps wanting it to line up with the movie though, and there are some large differences. 

But it was a good book, for all that, and did make me cry at the end.

author info

Sweet & Bitter Magic

By Adrienne Tooley

359 pages

Hardback

YA Fantasy 

Owlcrate 

It's a very pretty book. 

Cover

the page edges were a lovely lavender color

synopsis

author letter & signature

author info 

It was a readable book, but it did feel super cliché at times, and fairly predictable. I did enjoy it, but I don't think I'll be compelled to read it again. 

We Ride Upon Sticks

By Quan Barry

360 pages

YA Fiction 

Hardback

Library

Book Club

A field hockey book is not something I would probably have picked up on my own, but it was the book club pick, so I was willing to give it a try. 

It's like a modern Crucible. Sort of. 

Well, modern in that it's set in the late 1980s rather than the 1700s. 

It was rather slow going at first, honestly, because so much sports talk. 

But I finally got into it. 

I really liked the ending. It had surprises. 

author info

Would I read it again? No. Would I recommend it? Maybe if someone was really into witches, and high school coming of age stories, and had at least a passing interest in sports. 

Book of Life

All Souls Trilogy
By Deborah Harkness

You know, vampires & witches & demons. But the vampires don't sparkle and the characters are all interesting. 

Book 1 was the best, book 2 was weaker, and the conclusion of the trilogy was fine.

It's the favorite series of a student, and I'm glad to have read it, but I don't I'll read it again.

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Three Dark Crowns

By Kendare Blake
398 pages
Hardback
September 2016 Owlcrate

Oh my gosh. Can I have the next book now? Please?

Okay, so, three protagonists, all teenage girls. All Queens. When they come of age, they will have to determine who has the strongest gift and will rule.

It's an interesting world - the gifts in the world are poisoner, naturalist, elemental, war, and sight. The protagonists each have one of the first three.

The characters are fascinating and I found myself rooting for all of them.