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alexandrabree's review against another edition
3.0
I am loving how Jones writes.
I do wish that the stories had a different order and I would have read this book before the first one, and I accidentally read the Magicians of Caprona (book 4) before I read two but that doesn't seem to have made much of a difference....
I do wish that the stories had a different order and I would have read this book before the first one, and I accidentally read the Magicians of Caprona (book 4) before I read two but that doesn't seem to have made much of a difference....
loper100's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A fun entry in the series but felt very similar in theme and events to the first.
atelierofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
This is a lot of people's favorite Chrestomanci novel but I personally liked [b:Charmed Life|244572|Charmed Life (Chrestomanci, #1)|Diana Wynne Jones|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1396706429s/244572.jpg|6594671] better. Maybe because adult Christopher Chant has fully honed his bone dry sarcasm and fabulous dress sense in a way that would be strange for child Christopher to have done. But I absolutely recommend reading this one as the second in the series after Charmed Life, because these books are in conversation with each other.
It's still so incredibly English, full of irony and wry humor. And as per usual Diana Wynne Jones says some very pointed things about adulthood and human nature through the eyes of a very put upon young boy. I do wish she was still alive and writing because I miss her very much.
This is a lot of people's favorite Chrestomanci novel but I personally liked [b:Charmed Life|244572|Charmed Life (Chrestomanci, #1)|Diana Wynne Jones|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1396706429s/244572.jpg|6594671] better. Maybe because adult Christopher Chant has fully honed his bone dry sarcasm and fabulous dress sense in a way that would be strange for child Christopher to have done. But I absolutely recommend reading this one as the second in the series after Charmed Life, because these books are in conversation with each other.
It's still so incredibly English, full of irony and wry humor. And as per usual Diana Wynne Jones says some very pointed things about adulthood and human nature through the eyes of a very put upon young boy. I do wish she was still alive and writing because I miss her very much.
dreamgalaxies's review against another edition
5.0
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Diana Wynne Jones is damn good at writing unique children, and the difficulty adults have connecting with them. This made me feel seen as a child and thoughtful as an adult. Christopher's viewpoint is often painful to read but also quite realistic. I love the temple cats and Millie.
Diana Wynne Jones is damn good at writing unique children, and the difficulty adults have connecting with them. This made me feel seen as a child and thoughtful as an adult. Christopher's viewpoint is often painful to read but also quite realistic. I love the temple cats and Millie.
bboduffy's review against another edition
This series is like a sherpa blanket and mug of tea and lapcat on a gloomy November day
jenmkin's review against another edition
4.0
Maybe it was just because I was now familiar with the world, but this second book felt much more fully realized & aware of itself and its setting than the first in the series
theshonz0705's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bluestarfish's review against another edition
4.0
Christopher would just like to play cricket thank you very much. Preferably at the school with all his friends. And not be learning useless magical theory in a stuffy old castle filled with too-busy adults. He does have some cool dreams though, and practical magic is fun.
He wasn't kidding either when in the Charmed Life he said he was rather careless with his lives - we get to know how he looses them now. (Yikes!) It was fun to know more of the current Chrestomanci's backstory, even if it took me way too long to work out who the Living Goddess of Asheth was.
He wasn't kidding either when in the Charmed Life he said he was rather careless with his lives - we get to know how he looses them now. (Yikes!) It was fun to know more of the current Chrestomanci's backstory, even if it took me way too long to work out who the Living Goddess of Asheth was.
chrisscorkscrew's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0