The Chronicles of Chrestomanci: Conrad's Fate / The Pinhoe Egg

Conrad's Fate is...perhaps the least interesting Chrestomanci book, for me. Conrad is such an idiot at times - he's being strong and tricky and figuring out how to get his way, and his uncle has him so neatly wrapped around his finger.... It took me two readings to figure out what the heck was going on at the castle, and it's still not really clear. The sidelight on Christopher's youth is mildly interesting, though I thought he and Gabriel had reached an agreement by the end of Lives of Christopher Chant. And like that. Not a favorite. Not bad, and a good addition to the Chrestomanci series, but it doesn't stand on its own very well.
The Pinhoe Egg, on the other hand, is magnificent. Marianne is a great character, and the other Pinhoes show more are firmly established too - simplistic but not cardboard. I like Cat best - his was the first Chrestomanci story I read - so this illumination of his life is great. Not sidelight, it's a continuation of his story, since we haven't seen him as an adult or Chrestomanci yet. Joe and Roger together are nicely mad; Janet and Julia are left out of things a bit but when they do show up they're well-drawn. The way all the various storylines intertwine - Grammer's 'illness', the empty forest, Joe at the castle and Marianne in the village, the Pinhoe house, the egg, all the rest of it - is great. They seem quite individual to start with, then start getting mixed, then they turn out all to be facets or reflections of one problem. Though I have to say Chrestomanci's summing up, though no doubt accurate, comes way out of left field. I wish we'd seen some of the research that produced those answers.
Anyway - one good book, one great one. Love Chrestomanci - in all his incarnations! show less

Third volume of this fantasy series. In the first novel, a boy is told that he has bad karma and that someone in the local castle has the ability to remove it. It turns out not to be the case. Why it turns out thus is a fascinating story of complexities, wizardry, and family rivalry. In the second novel, rival hedge-witch families are in conflict, and also trying to stay out of the Chrestomanci's sight. A bit difficult as he is literally right next door.

The fifth book is Conrad's Fate which is about a young boy named Conrad and also the teenaged Christopher Chant. Both boys take menial jobs in a magical castle but have ulterior motives for why they are there. Eventually they trust each other and help each other in their quests. Christopher has become mature and cocky and yet is a positive influence on Conrad in some ways - if only by helping him find his confidence. Even though this story was set in a different world than the original one, it flowed with the first two.

Finally we have The Pinhoe Egg. This book focuses on the villages around Chrestomanci Castle and returns to the story of Cat Chant. There is some bad magic going on and it takes the strength of a few brave children to set show more everything right. I thought this was the best story of the bunch, with the most complex plot and the most character development.

http://webereading.com/2008/07/chronicles.html show less

The series of loosely-interrelated novels was a lot of fun. I'd recommend these.

Omnibus of two recent Diana Wynne Jones YA fantasies. Whimsical and delightful.

If you've read and like the other Chrestomanci novels this is a no-brainer - read this now! If you're new to Chrestomanci but like fantasy YA literature which is also suitable for adults then I recommend starting at the beginning with volume 1.

Just like most of Diana Wynne Jones' books this was fantastic. I loved it. Sadly, that means I only have two of her books left to read for the first time... Still, now I know what all the people who have raved about the Chrestomanci series in the past, were talking about. I agree 100 %! I won't go into the plot and spoil it for others who haven't yet read these books, but all I can say is that anyone who likes most of (or all) DWJ:s books, will certainly like these as well. In my opinion, DWJ is probably the author who writes best about magic. She makes it seem so natural and realistic. As if almost anyone could find that she/he has a talent for magic. I love that too. :)