Rufus and the Dark Side of Magic: Rufus and Magic

by Marilyn Levinson

Rufus attends his first Samhain celebration with his mother, grandmother and Aunt Ruth. He finds the evening boring and wishes he'd gone Trick or Treating with Billy and his other friends. When the entire circle of witches is outside watching a display of fireworks, a witch appears in the night's sky and puts on a show of magic that outdoes the fireworks. This is Rufus's evil uncle Hector, his father's brother, whom Rufus has never met. Later that evening, Uncle Hector shows up outside Rufus's room and takes him for a magical ride. He tells Rufus he has decided to make him his heir apparent.

Though he's been warned to have nothing to do with Uncle Hector, Rufus makes secret visits to his uncle's amazing estate that includes a stable of horses and a small zoo. Hector tells Rufus that everything he owns—his many businesses and enterprises—will eventually belong to him. Hector teaches him powerful spells his mother would never teach him.
Rufus is bedazzled by his uncle's wealth and power, but he's beginning to notice Hector's occasional cruel behavior toward innocent parties. Finally, Hector orders Rufus to do something bad, something Rufus refuses to do. Hector warns Rufus not to ask anyone in his family for help or there will be dire consequences. Sure enough, Hector stirs up trouble in a way Rufus has never imagined.

What can Rufus do to stop his evil uncle, once and for all, from bringing harm and danger to the people he loves?

196 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 13, 2025

Reviews

[Karen Siddall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rufus meets his Uncle Hector, a rich and powerful witch with an evil reputation whom he never knew existed, at the annual Samhain celebration.

Rufus and the Dark Side of Magic is the third book in author Marilyn Levinson’s fun and exciting children’s fantasy series, featuring 5th-grade magic initiate Rufus Breckenridge and his family and friends. When the Breckenridge family attends the annual Samhain night celebration, they are surprised when Hector, Rufus’s father’s brother, shows up during the evening’s fireworks display.

Rufus realizes Uncle Hector has come to the party looking for him even though they’ve never met before. Hector leaves after making eye contact with his young nephew; however, on the way home, Grandma Lavinia and Aunt Ruth caution Rufus to stay away from the evil witch, and for good reasons. But later that night, Uncle Hector makes another surprise visit, this time outside Rufus’s bedroom window.

Rufus finds his uncle charming and fun and is persuaded to pursue a relationship with him despite his family’s warnings and without his parents’ knowledge. Uncle Hector has a beautiful estate but soon expresses some ideas and uses some magical spells that are contrary to what Rufus has been taught are right. But has Rufus gotten too close to his uncle to come clean with his family and escape his evil demands?

Except for his magical gifts, Rufus is the epitome of what regular fifth-grade boys are like, and it was easy to understand how he was persuaded to disobey his parents and embrace the lavish lifestyle his uncle offered him. He is tempted to try out spells on his friends, even though he knows it is wrong to take advantage of them in this way, and crossing that line causes him to rethink his choices. Young readers will find the relationship between Rufus and his little sister, Griselda, relatable, and even younger children will be able to understand the lessons presented in the book when read aloud. The chapters are short enough to provide easy stopping points, and even though this is the third book in the series, the story can be read as a stand-alone. Readers new to the series should have no trouble jumping into the story at this point.

With its themes of friendship, respecting boundaries, the use of power, and respecting parental rules, there are numerous opportunities for further discussion and enrichment. I recommend RUFUS AND THE DARK SIDE OF MAGIC to upper-elementary and middle-grade fantasy readers.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tours.

[Nanasbookreviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rufus and the Dark Side by Marilyn Levinson is a children’s fantasy novel and the third installment in the Rufus and Magic series.

In this story, Rufus joins his family for a Samhain celebration. At first, he feels bored and wishes he were out trick-or-treating with his best friend instead. But by the end of the night, chaos erupts when an evil magician appears—Rufus's uncle. Although Rufus was warned to stay away from him, he doesn't listen. His uncle Hector deceives him by pretending to be kind and offering him anything he desires. When Hector reveals his true intentions, Rufus finds himself trapped and unsure of how to escape. Can he stop his uncle before he hurts the people Rufus loves?

This is a great book for both younger and older readers who enjoy fantasy stories. The plot is engaging, filled with fun magical moments. Even though it's part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone. The story centers on a boy tempted by things he doesn’t have and magic he’s told not to use, delivering a clear and valuable lesson. It’s an entertaining read, and the way all the empowered characters united for the big finale was truly incredible.

My favorite character was Rufus’s little sister—she was both adorable and powerful.

I highly recommend this book to fans of the genre!