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Charmed #1

The Power of Three

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In this night and at this hour,
I call upon the Ancient Power.
Bring your powers to we sisters three.
We want the power. Give us the power!


Prue, Piper, and Phoebe Halliwell didn't think reading a magical incantation would really work. But it did. Now Prue can move things with her mind, Piper can freeze time, and Phoebe can see the future. They are the Charmed Ones—the most powerful of witches.

But being enchanted has a price. There's a warlock who wants to steal their powers. And he'll do it any way he can—even if it means killing them!

181 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1999

86 people are currently reading
3370 people want to read

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Eliza Willard

28 books41 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
Profile Image for Persephone's Pomegranate.
99 reviews574 followers
April 6, 2024
I absolutely love Charmed! It's my go-to show when I need some comfort. The story revolves around three sisters who unexpectedly discover they possess magical powers. But here's the twist, they're not just ordinary witches; they are the legendary Charmed ones - the most formidable witches in history. Prue, Piper, and Phoebe Halliwell.

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The power of three will set us free.

SPOILERS.

Following the passing of their grandmother Penelope Halliwell, who had taken care of them since their mother Patricia's death and their father Victor's abandonment, Prue, Piper, and Phoebe, the Charmed witches, come together once again at their childhood residence, the Halliwell Manor.

Prue, played by Shannen Doherty, is the eldest sister. Her strong personality and unwavering reliability make her a formidable presence. However, there are times when her assertiveness may be perceived as bossy and judgmental. Piper, portrayed by Holly Marie Combs, adds a compassionate touch to the group as the middle sister. She often plays the role of mediator between Prue and Phoebe, diffusing any conflicts that may arise. Phoebe, played by Alyssa Milano, is the carefree youngest sister (before Paige's arrival). She is a free spirit with a knack for finding trouble.

During a stormy evening, Phoebe stumbles upon The Book of Shadows and unknowingly taps into their magical abilities. They soon discover that they are not just regular women but the legendary Charmed ones - the strongest benevolent witches in history. Prue gains the gift of telekinesis (and later astral projection), Piper of molecular immobilization (and later molecular combustion), and Phoebe is granted the power of premonition (and later empathy and levitation).

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I'm calling the cops.
And tell them what? That we're witches? That some creep with powers beyond comprehension is trying to kill us?


In the thrilling season three finale, Prue sadly meets her demise, leaving a void in the lives of the Charmed Ones. However, in the first episode of the fourth season, a new character named Paige Matthews (portrayed by Rose McGowan) enters the scene. Paige is a remarkable addition to the family as she is the secret offspring of their mother, Patricia, and a Whitelighter. It's important to note that relationships between witches and Whitelighters are strictly prohibited, which led Patty to make the difficult decision of giving Paige up for adoption. Paige possesses incredible powers, including telekinetic orbing, the ability to heal, and an orb-shield.

Look, I have just found out that I am a witch, that my sisters are witches, and that we have powers that will apparently unleash all forms of evil. Evil that is apparently going to come looking for us. So if you excuse me, Phoebe, but I'm not exactly in a homeopathic mood right now.

The early seasons are iconic. The series underwent significant changes following the exit of creator Constance Burge and the demise of the eldest sister, Prue. Constance wanted the show to focus on sisterhood and female empowerment. Brad Kern took the show in a new direction. Brad ignored Constance's ideas for the characters and shifted the focus to male heirs, random romantic interests, and more revealing clothing in the later seasons. While it remained enjoyable, it failed to reach the same level of excellence.

Phoebe is my favorite Charmed witch. I quite enjoyed Paige, their half-sister. She proved to be a suitable successor to Prue.

Leo: Piper, this is completely illegal.
Piper: Yeah? Well, so is marrying a dead guy, okay?
[She holds up his death certificate]
Piper: Let's not get technical now.


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In addition to defeating demons and eliminating evil, the sisters found time for love. Among the most captivating love stories portrayed in the show were the forbidden romance between Piper, the middle sister, and Leo, a Whitelighter, and the intense relationship between Phoebe, the third-born sister, and Cole, a demon. Personally, Phoebe and Cole were my preferred couple, and I will forever hold a grudge against the writers for ruining their relationship.

Dear Phoebe, if I'm dead right now, I know it was at your hand. No one else in heaven or hell had power over me. Please, don't cry. I was dead before I met you. I was born the day you loved me. And my love for you will keep me alive... Forever. Love, Cole.

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I'm not particularly fond of the later seasons. It makes me ponder what could have unfolded if Constance Burge hadn't been practically ousted from her creation by Brad Kern and the rest of the less talented individuals. Nevertheless, I will always cherish the first few seasons and this novelization.
Profile Image for Allison ☾.
437 reviews17 followers
January 6, 2020
I obviously didn't pick this up looking for a brilliant piece of literature lol. Charmed was my favorite show all throughout my school years. I read this for nostalgia purposes only and I loved every minute of it.
Profile Image for Kathi.
752 reviews20 followers
June 19, 2023
„Hexenpower“ ist der erste Band der „Charmed“ Buchreihe. Die Bücher erzählen teilweise die TV-Serie nach, viele davon beinhalten aber auch eigenständige Geschichten. Dieses Buch ist im Prinzip eine genaue Nacherzählung der ersten zwei Episoden der TV-Serie. Der Roman ist in zwei Abschnitte unterteilt (Folge 1 und Folge 2).

Ich habe die Serie vor Ewigkeiten gesehen, deswegen ist so eine kleine Auffrischung ganz nett. Leider bleiben die Gefühle und Gedanken der Protagonisten aufgrund der sehr genauen Nacherzählung etwas auf der Strecke, da hätte man bestimmt ein bisschen besser darauf eingehen können. Für Fans der Serie ist dieses Buch auf jeden Fall ein Muss. Mir hat „Hexenpower“ gut gefallen, ich werde bestimmt auch noch alle anderen "Charmed" Bücher lesen, falls ich alle gebraucht erwerben kann. Neu kaufen kann man die Bücher leider nicht mehr.

Von mir gibt es 4 Sterne und eine Leseempfehlung an alle „Charmed“ Fans und eventuell auch an alle, die noch welche werden wollen.
Profile Image for Oliver Clarke.
Author 100 books1,967 followers
October 2, 2024
A super quick but enjoyable read. This is, I think, the adaptation of the first episode of the show and has the three sisters leaning about their powers and going up against a witch-killing warlock. Fun and kind of charming in how happily silly it is.
Profile Image for Dawnie.
1,423 reviews133 followers
May 3, 2022
in short: you like the show? you like this book!

since this is the first two episodes of the charmed tv show in novel format.

which i very much enjoyed and think was such a fun way to experience (or reexperience as it was for me).
this written version seems a bit less … i don’t know the right word. the horror elements of the democratic fights and the demons themselves seemed bit less violent in written format to me. less shocking maybe?

i think this is a great book for younger readers that’s interested in something a bit less childish like many witch-y kids books are but still not overly violent.
also since it’s very easily written and short books that are sectioned of into two separate stories it wouldn’t be overwhelming for anyone not used to reading a lot.


i enjoyed this a lot more than i expected and plan to continue reading this book series for now.

and very possibly rewatch charmed -yet again.
Profile Image for Kati.
2,277 reviews66 followers
September 11, 2017
A very well written novelization of the TV show's pilot. But I would say that it was based on the unaired, scrapped pilot, before TW King was cast as Andy and before they decided to go in a different direction with Andy. Still, it was interesting to read, especially the sisters' POV, what they thought and felt, since sometimes, that doesn't come across so well on TV.
Profile Image for Tommy Verhaegen.
2,895 reviews5 followers
July 16, 2022
De cover geeft de gezichten van de 3 actrices uit de originele tv-reeks weer. En daarmee worddt de link tussen boek en tv duidelijk gemaakt. Alsof dat nog nodig zou zijn staat het er onderaan ook nog eens expliciet op vermeld ook.
Het boek volgt de reeks dan ook minutieus (of andersom).
Bijna een klassieker is hoe de heksen die zich bewust worden van hun krachten zich daar zo hard mogelijk tegen verzetten, het zelfs ontkennen. Toch worden ze er toe gedwongen als ze de kennismaking willen overleven. Het overgrote deel van dit boek gaat daar dan ook over. En de verwarring als de drie jonge vrouwen proberen de goeden en de slechten te detecteren tussen hun kennissen. Op het einde heeft de lezer al heel wat van het framework ,waarbinnen de reeks zich zal afspelen, meegekregen. Toch is overduidelijk (het wordt tig keer aangehaald) dat het in de volgende delen over steeds meer en steeds hardere confrontaties zal gaan.
De spanning in dit deel is er vooral op het einde physiek, in de loop van het boek wordt die geleidelijk vooral psychologisch opgebouwd.
Profile Image for Liza Koppens.
201 reviews15 followers
January 18, 2021
Dit is niet het best geschreven boek ooit en de vertaling laat wat te wensen aan zich over, maar overal was het een leuk boek om te lezen.
Het boek volgt de aller eerste aflevefing van de Charmed serie, waarin de zussen Halliwel: Prue, Piper en Phoebe hun magische krachten krijgen.

Met een lichte obsessie voor alles heksen en jeugdherinneringen van het kijken van de serie met mijn pa, maakt het al moeilijk om het minder dan 3 sterren te geven.

Ik was een beetje teleurgesteld dat (in tegenstelling tot de laatste paar Charmed boekjes die ik vorig jaar heb gelezen) het heel precies een aflevering volgt in plaats van een opzichzelf staand verhaal is dat zich af speelt tussen de episodes door.

Alles om alles, als je een fan bent van de charmed tv series (de oude), is het een bekend en leuk boekje om te lezen, maar niets spectaculairs.
Profile Image for Ingrid.
490 reviews53 followers
April 19, 2020
Trip down memory lane <3
I absolutely adored this. Oh, and I finished my O.W.L.s with this book. So I’m an alchemist now! :p
Profile Image for Jessi.
563 reviews28 followers
June 23, 2025
That deviated heavily from the show’s pilot but some was the same. Glad to have this in my collection.
Profile Image for Chené Tuck.
Author 1 book33 followers
May 19, 2014
rating 3.5/5 stars

I was so excited when I saw this book at the library. I absolutely loved the Charmed series when it was on TV, and couldn't wait to squeeze this pocket read in somewhere. Reading this was like visiting an old friend - I wanted to run and put on my dvd's and watch my box set all over again.

Was it the best written book? No. But I still loved it and read it in 2 sittings (it could easily have been one if we didn't get visitors). I adore Prue, Phoebe and Piper. These characters are memorable and strong in this quick read. I'm not sure if the plot is predictable or if I just remember what happened in the TV show but I still enjoyed it.

Final Thoughts: I loved this quick read and will be reading the rest of this series!
Profile Image for Menna.
14 reviews
August 14, 2012
I love this anything about charmed is probably the most amazing thing in the world. the book was really nice really easy to understand and i loved it
not as much as i liked the show but it is still AMAZING
Profile Image for Courtney Gruenholz.
Author 13 books23 followers
October 13, 2024
When Charmed the TV series debuted in 1999, I didn't really watch it because I was more into Buffy.

Around 2002, I began watching it because well...not a lot of TV up where I was going to college but they had The WB for entertainment. It was in the Paige era of The Charmed Ones but thanks to TNT, I caught up on reruns before buying the whole series on DVD.

I bought 3 tie-in novels of Charmed and only one was with Prue. I never really got around to buying any more of them but as Fate would have it...I stumbled on a lucky or unlucky situation depending on how you look at it.

Not long after Shannen Doherty passed away from breast cancer, I happened to be out with my husband and daughter at a pass at the Half Price Books. I stumbled on a box of books that had yet to be put on the shelves due to lack of room: all of them Charmed tie-in novels.

Most were duplicates but I walked away with eight of them so here I am...filling up the rest of October with seven of my new ones and re-reading the three I already had.

In Remembrance of Shannen Doherty for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

So The Power of Three is a novelization of the original pilot because the proper first episode "Something Wicca This Way Comes" is just a little different.

For anyone who has never watched the show a quick rundown:

Prue Halliwell and her sister Piper have moved out of the apartment they shared and back into the home of their recently departed grandmother they affectionately called Grams. Grams raised the girls and their youngest sister Phoebe after their mother died and their father was nowhere around until she had a heart attack and died from complications.

The sisters, mainly Prue and Phoebe, fought over matters of selling the home and personal issues involving Prue's fiance, Roger. Phoebe moved away to New York to try and live on her own and track down their dad, a person Prue has never wished to see again since she had to take care of her sisters as the oldest.

Grams left the house to all three girls in her will so the oldest two have moved in to make repairs and Prue is no longer with Roger but he is her boss at her job. Piper is looking to get a job as a chef at the new restaurant Quake in their hometown of San Francisco and is dating a reporter named Jeremy.

Phoebe moves back at what can only be seen as the wrong time and not just because Prue is still cross with her...

In the city, someone is going around a murdering women. The women all have one thing in common and that is a tattoo that indicates them as witches, practitioners of Wiccan magic.

That night when a powerful storm knocks out the power, Phoebe makes her way up to the attic while Prue and Piper check the basement. The door had been locked but it opens and Phoebe finds herself drawn to a trunk which she opens to find a book but not just any book.

It is a Book of Shadows, a book of spells for witches to use. Phoebe finds that it has belonged to ancestors of their family descended from Melinda Warren, the first witch of their line. On the day she was burned at the stake, she proclaimed that daughters would be born of her line and that the day would come that three sisters would inherit each of her powers.

The power to move objects with the mind, to freeze time and to see the future that would make them the most powerful witches of all...The Charmed Ones.

A quick read of an incantation and boom...Phoebe has just awakened their family powers!

The ghost of Melinda Warren, not all pretty but burned and disfigured, appears to Phoebe to warn her that now evil will becoming after the sisters to steal their Book of Shadows and their powers.

Yet the only way to take a witch's power...is to take her life.

Demons and warlocks, or evil witches, will be after them now and Phoebe can not get either one of her sisters to believe her. It also doesn't help that Prue's high school boyfriend, Andy Trudeau, is an inspector with the SFPD on the case of the murdered women. He has known all three girls since childhood and his detective skills are methodical so Andy can tell when Prue seems...different from the girl he has always known and Phoebe is more on edge than ever.

The girls learn of their new powers and get use to them one after the other but soon, all three of them will have to band together to fight an evil that will only be just the beginning...

Profile Image for Yolanda Sfetsos.
Author 78 books235 followers
February 10, 2021
I loved watching the show Charmed. So when I found this book in a local Street Library, I had to grab it.

The Halliwell sisters aren't exactly close. After their grandmother died, Prue and Piper moved back into their childhood home. They get along well enough and lead their own lives. But when Phoebe returns and reads a magical incantation from a book she finds in the attic, everything changes.

Now, the three sisters must face their dangerous destiny as the Charmed Ones...

Wow. I enjoyed the hell out of this little book. What a fun and quick read!

This is the novelisation of the very first episode of the show, but because the narrative features the alternating POVs of the three sisters, there's extra insight into each of their personal experiences, thoughts and emotions. This added depth to what I already knew about the sisters and made the book even more interesting.

There's something about this story that felt like slipping into a very familiar and comfortable place. Like catching up with old friends. It made my reading experience so much better.

As far as the story goes, there weren't many surprises for me because I've watched this episode multiple times, but it was still exciting. And I really liked the author's writing style. It was straightforward, mysterious and delved deep into each POV.

Always enjoyed how the Halliwell sisters get back together and become the Charmed Ones.

I loved this story so much I'm going to have to read more books in this series. 😈
Profile Image for Lynette Floyd.
269 reviews15 followers
November 14, 2022
Loved the novelization of one of my favorite characters. As an older child I related a lot to Prue when I watched the show - but boy did her internal thoughts make me wince in this story.
Profile Image for Piper.
1,774 reviews21 followers
January 19, 2020
Very easy reread for me 30 minutes at maximum. Nice story for the start of the Charmed series
Profile Image for Ashley.
447 reviews73 followers
August 6, 2019
Nice reread of a book I read ages ago. There were some minor differences at times from the show that made me eh but overall I liked the book still.
Profile Image for Ash Ebrahim.
387 reviews
March 4, 2017
Was lucky enough to find this copy in a bookshop since all of them are out of print. Once I saw the first volume I just grabbed It and read it.
The volume adapts the pilot episode of Charmed. It just brought good memories of childhood that itself was an amazing experience.
The novel adaptation was decent and gave more depth to the characters with their thoughts added on text.
Profile Image for Victoria Kennedy.
Author 8 books39 followers
March 25, 2016
Originally published on My Books Are Me

Six months after the death of their grandmother, three sisters are reunited, and within hours of Phoebe Halliwell's return, she's read an incantation and turned her and her sisters Prue and Piper into witches!

Based off the first episode of the hit TV series Charmed, the first book in this novelization series follows Prue, Piper and Phoebe discovering they are actually descended from a long line of witches, and that they are the most powerful witches the world has ever known - the Charmed Ones. When Phoebe reads a spell in The Book Of Shadows, and old book of witchcraft she finds in the attic, they finally receive their powers, and the dangers that come with them. There is a warlock killing witches throughout San Francisco, and now the sister's could be next. The warlock could be anyone - Prue's boss and ex-fiance Roger, her high school sweetheart Andy, Piper's boyfriend Jeremy, or even the mailman!

I love Charmed! Apart from being an amazing series, it holds a special place in my heart as it's attached to some wonderful memories with my cousins when we were younger. I never knew that these books existed back when I was into the series (I jumped on the Charmed train during the last season), and I know I would have loved to pick these books up when I was on a Charmed high.

Even though this book is almost an exact retelling of the first episode, there are some aspects that have been slightly altered and we get to go into the minds of the sisters and find out what they really think. There are also some bonus scenes to the episode (like when Phoebe sat up all night reading the Book of Shadows) and it really adds to the Charmed experience.

The only problem I had with this book was the way Andy was written. I love Andy as a character, but throughout the book he just didn't feel like the character I loved from the show - his actions and character felt so different to how he is portrayed onscreen. In saying that, he did redeem himself in the end, when he became that character we all know and love.

Overall, reading this book was such a fun experience. It's a nice quick read, and really brings back a lot of memories. A must-read for any Charmed fan! I can't wait to continue on with the next 40 books (yes, there are 41 novels in this series!) and see what the Charmed Ones get up to. (The rest of the books are not retellings of episodes, expect 'Charmed, Again')

If you are interested in delving into this book series, I recommend checking eBay for used copies since the books are now out-of-print - there are hundreds for sale at bargain prices :)
Profile Image for Kerrie-ann.
92 reviews25 followers
April 20, 2011
The first ever Charmed novel. This novel is all about three sisters called Phoebe, Prue and Piper who discover they are witches and become the Charmed Ones. The Charmed Ones are the most powerful witches ever. You find out in this novel about the Halliwells background history which they were never aware of, they discover their powers and find out that an evil warlock is set to kill them and steal their powers.

Prue is the oldest of the sisters, then Piper and then Phoebe is the youngest. Without giving too many spoilers away no one believes Phoebe when she tells her sisters about their past and that they could be witches. Two of the sisters have love interests in this story. Piper has Jeremy and Prue has Andy. If you are a fan of the Charmed series then you will know what each of the sisters powers are. Prue has telekinesis, Phoebe can see the future and Piper can freeze time.

This novel is for any fan of the Charmed series as it is the first novel and it will start you off on your Charmed reading adventure. However, if you are a fan of witches, warlocks, demons and all other evil creatures then this is definitely the book for you. My overall rating for this book is 4/5 stars as it isn't as long as the rest of the books in the series. It is quite a short book with only 181 pages. Therefore it got a rating of 4 stars from me. The text is average size so you can get through the book quite quickly. The rest of the novels I'm sure will be much better, but as this was a quick read it never got the full 5 star rating. Charmed fans get reading this series.
Profile Image for Rianne Heartfilia.
500 reviews29 followers
July 28, 2015
This book is written after the episode. So for this part I think it's very easy. It's totally the same. Maybe not all discription for Roger or Jeremy but it must have been easy.

I want to watch Charmed again. It's been the first series I've watched fully when I was a kid because my dad loved it and I've rewatched it every now and then or only a few episodes.
Now a good friend of mine start watching this and I was actually jealous. I'm studying for Finals. Have to many other series to rewatch and no time for eight seasons of Charmed.

After a time I finished a book and realized that the fourth in this series (Wicked) was way to big to take to school or only read in the bus so it had to wait till I finished with Finals. On the other hand I wanted to read something, so I crossed my bookcase to look up any book that was good for light-reading. I came upon the Charmed books and thought: Why not?! I've only a few but my dad has every single one of them so I already planned to read them again because I've not read them all.

So here I am. Waiting for something light and starting this up again. After finals I'm going to finish Wicked series though but this is fantastic to read while having many other things to do! Perfect length and perfect plots, not too much.
Profile Image for Christy Roberts.
1,473 reviews50 followers
May 7, 2019
The Charmed ones Prue, Piper and Phoebe Halliwell. Sisters that aren't as close as they were when they were little; at least not Prue and Phoebe.

It mirrors the episode except for some extra scenes that are put into it. Andy and Phoebe both return to San Francisco one from Oregon one from New York. Both coming on for the first time in a while. Andy's Prue's ex-boyfriend from high school who is now an inspector.

Phoebe returning after six months of being away searching for her dad who she has not found yet. Prue is not happy about her return because of their past problems. Piper auditioning for a job at Quake a restaurant and Prue working at the Museum until her boss takes the project she's worked on for months away from her.

All three sisters having their own personal problems get more troubles pilled on top when Phoebe goes into the attic and reads from a 'so called' harmless book. Now everybody is a suspect and they are no longer safe.

The power of three will set us free.
Profile Image for Megan.
1,734 reviews199 followers
September 29, 2015
This novelization of the first episode of Charmed delves deeper into the characters, letting us know exactly what they were thinking and feeling instead of having to guess based on facial expressions. There are several changes to the story, such as when certain characters first appear and meet other characters, but this isn't a big deal to me as the overall outcome is still the same. I think fans of the show will enjoy this book, I know I did.
Profile Image for Ajla.
459 reviews44 followers
December 20, 2014
For a hardcore Charmed fan like myself this book can only be amazing and adorable! I read it one sitting and thoroughly enjoyed it. I wish I could read more of these because they just make me love the TV show even more.
Profile Image for Marilyne.
87 reviews
March 6, 2021
J’ai vu la série plusieurs fois, et j’ai lu les livres plus jeune. Ça fait toujours du bien de se replonger dans ses souvenirs, surtout en période difficile!
Profile Image for Serenity.
107 reviews
August 27, 2021
I love this series! The book is a fantastic companion to the tv show. I can't wait to read the rest, and I hope it follows the tv show.
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