Product Description

Welcome to the worlds of Chrestomanci, where magic is as common as mathematics!

Everybody says that Gwendolyn Chant is a gifted witch with astonishing powers, so it suits her enormously when she is taken to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Her brother Eric (better known as Cat) is not so keen, for he has no talent for magic at all.
However, life with the great enchanter is not what either of them expects and sparks begin to fly!
Winner of the Guardian Award.

Ages 9+

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #113950 in Books
• Published on: 2000-05-25
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 272 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Omnibus paperback editions combine two Chrestomanci novels in each volume: Charmed Life and The Lives of Christopher Chant make up The Chronicles of Chrestomanci: Volume I; Volume II has The Magicians of Caprona and Witch Week.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 5-8–In this recording of Diana Wynne Jones's first novel in the Chrestomanci quartet (Morrow Avon, pap. 1998), British actor Gerard Doyle strikes just the right tone as he delivers the story of Cat Chant and his sister Gwendolen, orphaned as the result of a tragic boat accident and adopted by their relative, the mysterious sorcerer Chrestomanci. Cat begins to settle in at Chrestomanci Castle, but Gwendolen hates it. No one—least of all Chrestomanci—seems to appreciate Gwendolyn's magical powers, and after weeks of playing nasty magical practical jokes on the various inhabitants of the Castle, Gwendolyn finally leaves by going into a parallel world and replacing herself in Cat's world with a double called Janet. Cat and Janet eventually find the way to set the worlds right again, with some help from unexpected quarters. Doyle's pacing and voices are well executed and entertaining. This would be a good way to introduce a new generation of children to Diana Wynne Jones's magical fantasy, and it will encourage them to read the other novels in the Chrestomanci series.–Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, San Jose, CA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

-- Times Literary Supplement
"An outstandingly inventive and entertaining novel. Altogether a delightful book."

Customer Reviews

Charmed book
Older than and superior to Harry Potter is: Chrestomanci, the tales of the world's most powerful enchanter, and the magical worlds that he goes through. This particular tale starts off very slow, but rapidly turns into a magical adventure at Chrestomanci's castle.

Gwendolen and Cat Chant lose their parents in a tragic paddleboat accident, and end up having to live with a mildly talented local witch. But it soon becomes evident that though Cat has no magical powers, Gwendolen has enough for several people. She's so powerful and skilled, in fact, that she attracts the interest of Chrestomanci, who has her and Cat brought to his castle. But then things start to deteriorate. Gwendolen is an arrogant, spoiled girl who seems to think that since she has magic, she isn't restricted by the same rules as the others. She isn't allowed to do magic, pick the plants, mouth off to Chrestomanci's kids or the teachers, she has to do math and ordinary lessons. Gwendolen finds that Chrestomanci, not her, is the ruler of the castle -- and she doesn't like that at all. (Oh yeah -- she also wants to rule the world) Cat likes being at the castle, is intimidated by Chrestomanci, and likes hanging out with Chrestomanci's two kids.

So she starts off on a one-witch campaign to make Chrestomanci notice and respect her: She infests the lawn with moles, causes apparitions in the windows, giant earthworms, fighting stained glass windows -- and then propels herself into another world, leaving her double with Cat. Cat must learn more about himself, his hidden power, and gain Chrestomanci's help before things get even worse.

This book starts off slowly -- the first twenty pages are pretty dull, chronicling the background of Cat and Gwendolen and how they came to live with Mrs. Sharp. Not very magical. But things pick up as soon as Chrestomanci comes into the picture, and the magical goings-on are sprightly and delightful.

As always, Jones shows great insight into kids' minds: Though Cat seems a little too passive at first, kids will like him, as they will the calm Roger and Julia. People who've read "Lives of Christopher Chant" will also see a familiar face in Chrestomanci's wife Milly. Chrestomanci is, as always, dapper and intelligent and cool-headed and thoroughly enjoyable.

Though this book is compared to Harry Potter, it's superior in every way. Jones never tries to dazzle us with wow-isn't-that-amazing? magic, and her jokes never descend to low humor -- for example, the dueling stained glass windows, and the earrings that scream "I BELONG TO CAROLINE CHANT!" so they'll never get lost. As this is another world where magic is prevalent over science (due to different events long ago), the magic is more casual. There is also respect for authority figures (Chrestomanci); kids who don't save the world entirely on their own, but do play a pivotal part in it; and her villains aren't bad just because they ARE: Gwendolen is merely a brat with magical powers.

This is a delightful fantasy book for all ages, especially for kids who feel oppressed by their siblings. (Read the rest of the series too!)

First Chrestomanci Book
If you do not know the Chrestomanci series yet, this is the book to begin with, according to the author, and it is also the first that was written, although some written later take place earlier in the chronology of the story.

The Chrestomanci Series will please those who like "Howl's Moving Castle" and the books that follow it, as this series has more of less the same kind of humour and adventure.

This first book I like especially, as I find the characters and situations particularly touching.

An entertaining and light read
This was a nice little book and I would suggest it for parents to read to their children; for 8-12yr olds to read themselves; or for 20-odd somthings who like reading children's fantasy. It has interesting characters, just enough little plot twists, and sequels -- what more could you ask for.

A brief summary: A boy named Cat Chant and his sister -- who is a witch -- move to Chrestomanci Castle after an unfortunate accident leaves them orphans. While his sister is a talented up-an-coming little witch, Cat himself seems to have no magical gift whatsoever. Things start to get interesting when Chrestomanci, one of the most powerful enchanters in the Related Worlds, offers to have them educated at his castle. Only Cat doesn't seem to realize that his sister's motivations might not have his best intentions in mind... Not giving anything away, this is a good starting point for the whole Chrestomanci series (though it's not the chronological start).

If you enjoy light fantasy with some new ideas and a world that resembles ours (but not too closely), I'd reccommend you give it a try!