Esteban Torres reviewed The rules of magic by Alice Hoffman
Review of 'The rules of magic' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This is what the first book should have been; and the first shouldn't even be used as fuel for a fire.
More magical, characters way less flat and you get to bond with them and grow attached while they grow as characters.
Enough mysticism to keep you interested but not much to make it pure phantasy.