Reviews

The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Vol. I by Diana Wynne Jones

lost_tooth's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

lsparrow's review against another edition

4.0

I particularly loved "the lives of Christopher chant". It felt like a great combination of lion the witch and the wardrobe and harry potter. why has this not become a classic?

meme_too2's review against another edition

4.0

My kids read this book and loved it. And the book has sat in our shelves without me ever reading it before. It's a fun book about magic and wizardry. A young boy learns his lesson about how to use magic without wasting all his nine lives. And he also learns what he is capable of doing if he simply puts his efforts in the right place.

despenkhenk's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sidel's review against another edition

4.0

I really liked both stories in this volume. Both of the main characters were wonderful and I found myself really rooting for them. My only issue was that the stories can be slightly hard to get in to. I still definitely recommend.

listen_learn's review against another edition

4.0

Jones books are a cozy visit to childhood for me. Her descriptions are vivid, her main characters likable, but imperfect, and her magical worlds are such inventive fun! Besides which, she always has a plot that is climatic, but actually makes sense, and is fun to read through even when you've read it so many times you already remember who the villain is and how it will all come together. Intellectually understanding how hard that is to pull off just makes them even more enjoyable to read.

2catmom's review against another edition

5.0

This is one of my fav Chrestomanci books. I Love the Lives of Christopher Chant.

abbyjennhm's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny informative lighthearted mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

booksnorkel's review against another edition

4.0

First Book: This is a fun book to read if you are in the mood for some Secret Garden meets wizards sort of deal. I was hesitant to read Wynne Jones again, since I found the ending to Howl's Moving Castle to be rushed and unorganized. I honestly enjoyed this book.

Second Book: An interesting companion to the first. You get the origin of the Chrestomnci and this book reminds me of Narnia, mixed with 100 Cupboards set in Victorian England. I enjoyed the different worlds, and the story. Fun read for those who want some light magic reading.

readcover2cover's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this book - far more than I thought I would! I've had this on my shelf for years (probably at least 10!) and I decided I either need to read it or get rid of it. So I finally read it and I will definitely read the next one! It was really well-written. I hope my son reads it when he gets older. It's a fun, creative storyline with likeable characters. I can't wait to read more by this author!