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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
three and a half, really, but i'm rounding up because i like and share diana wynne jones's fondness for terrible flamboyant wizards with literally three hundred garishly coloured silk dressing gowns
3.5 rounded up
I enjoyed this one, but not as much as the Howl's Moving Castle series. A little darker, and I was often frustrated with the character, but still quite interesting and engaging
I enjoyed this one, but not as much as the Howl's Moving Castle series. A little darker, and I was often frustrated with the character, but still quite interesting and engaging
just a very charming children’s story. not as expansive as i remember it, but i’m bigger now.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was not overly impressed by this book. The main characters were unlikeable. There were not enough details to really picture it in my mind. Some of the aspects of the story were fun, but needed more depth.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Fun to get back into the world of Diana Wynne-Jones! I'm still struck by how some of the humour has not aged well (fatphobia abounds), but I am amused by how very English it all is
Her books are consistently very good except for the fact that she occassionally has a line or so that is Highkey racist which is very frustrating
Orphaned Eric Chant, also known as Cat, can only rely on his sister Gwendolen, a promising and extremely ambitious young witch - that is, until they're adopted by the powerful and mysterious Chrestomanci, who forbids her from using her magic. Gwen escapes to a parallel universe to fulfill her prophecy of greatness, leaving behind Janet, a double of herself from another world, and a whole lot of trouble for her and Cat to sort out. But Cat himself is much more powerful than he knows...
I've had this book for quite a while - actually, since when I was about six or so - but I only just finished it, nine years later. For some reason, I was terrified of it - I think my bad habit of flipping through the book and reading excerpts at random landed me on the description of the ghoulish creatures. I'm still as much of a scaredy-cat as I was before, but reading them in context isn't so bad, so children probably won't have a problem with them.
This is also the first book by DWJ I've read - I picked it up after discovering she was the author of Howl's Moving Castle, which is definitely in my to-read list as well - and I found her writing to be absolutely delightful! Not pretentious and overly complex, just as you'd expect from a book aimed at children, but not condescending either, and I couldn't help but fall in love with the world setting either.
I found the main characters, Cat and Gwendolen, extremely compelling - Janet not so much, for some reason she didn't quite resonate with me and felt a bit like the overused tomboy with a heart of gold character. But, to me, Gwen's schemes and bratty, egocentric personality were absolutely delightful, as well as the development of her relationship with Cat. I've seen some people complain about the lack of willpower in Cat, but overall I think he's a well-built character and a rather original protagonist. (I've heard some say DWJ wanted to portray an autistic character, I'm not sure if that's true but if so kudos to her, media representation of minorities without stereotyping is important!)
Chrestomanci himself was also a fascinating character (Miyazaki's version Howl reminds me a bit of him, to be honest), and Millie, their kids and everyone else at the Castle were just lovely and endearing. All the characters are very human, flawed but lively.
The only thing that's stopping me from giving this book a 5-star rating (my issues with Janet aside) is the predictable plot twist towards the end (come on now,), and the last chapters, which felt a bit rushed and lacking in information at times (or maybe that was the translation's fault - unfortunately, I couldn't read this in the original and had to settle for the Portuguese version). But I'm pretty sure these problems won't stop younger kids - or, in fact, anyone who loves whimsical fantasy books like I do - from loving it.
I've had this book for quite a while - actually, since when I was about six or so - but I only just finished it, nine years later. For some reason, I was terrified of it - I think my bad habit of flipping through the book and reading excerpts at random landed me on the description of the ghoulish creatures
Spoiler
that are actually Cat's deathsThis is also the first book by DWJ I've read - I picked it up after discovering she was the author of Howl's Moving Castle, which is definitely in my to-read list as well - and I found her writing to be absolutely delightful! Not pretentious and overly complex, just as you'd expect from a book aimed at children, but not condescending either, and I couldn't help but fall in love with the world setting either.
I found the main characters, Cat and Gwendolen, extremely compelling - Janet not so much, for some reason she didn't quite resonate with me and felt a bit like the overused tomboy with a heart of gold character. But, to me, Gwen's schemes and bratty, egocentric personality were absolutely delightful, as well as the development of her relationship with Cat. I've seen some people complain about the lack of willpower in Cat, but overall I think he's a well-built character and a rather original protagonist. (I've heard some say DWJ wanted to portray an autistic character, I'm not sure if that's true but if so kudos to her, media representation of minorities without stereotyping is important!)
Chrestomanci himself was also a fascinating character (Miyazaki's version Howl reminds me a bit of him, to be honest), and Millie, their kids and everyone else at the Castle were just lovely and endearing. All the characters are very human, flawed but lively.
The only thing that's stopping me from giving this book a 5-star rating (my issues with Janet aside) is the predictable plot twist towards the end (come on now,