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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
This volume was different to Volume 1, where Vol. 1 is about kids finding out they're the next Chrestomanci and enchanter (while losing a lot of lives! haha) The Magicians of Caprona and Witch Week is more on witches and what have you than Chrestomanci, who is featured very little in these books but obviously plays a part in putting things to right.^^^^It definitely wasn't what I had expected, I thought it would be more focussed on Chrestomanci, but when I realised it wasn't, I tried to figure out which Chant was in each book! Hehe... I couldn't, but I have a sneaking suspicion it might be Cat... or Christopher... hmm... (yeah, the *only* two Chants I know haha)^^^^Anywho, The Magicians of Caprona was about two feuding family and an impending danger to the Italian state of ... something, though strong as each family was, they didn't know who the bad enchanter was. (AND they got turned into puppets! Punches and Judies!)^^^^Witch Week was about a world that witches are illegal and burnt on the stake (heathens! =P) and these kids at the boarding school discover one-by-one that they're witches. Loved the ending =)^^^^I really like Ms. Jones' writing style and the characters she creates - been a fan of hers since my high school days =) hehe (so old! T_T)"
Unlike the first volume, the Chrestomanci is not the protagonist in the two novels featured although he does make an appearance. The stories take place in one (different for each) of the numerous parallel universes, where a magical crisis requires the intervention of the Chrestomanci. The Magicians of Caprona is an adorable allusion to Romeo and Juliet although the stars are the younger siblings of the two lovers. Witch Week is a slightly darker tale, and centers around persecution of the magically talented at a boarding school. Both have creative (no real twists and turns, but fun nonetheless), charming plots in an in an intriguing world, which make it a fast, easy read.
Delightful, and a wonderful testament to how stories for kids can still be engaging reads for adults.
These two books were almost as good as the first two books! I kind of preferred Christopher and Cat as protagonists, but these books were still really fun and Magic filled. Out of both of these books, I think Witch Week was better, but the Magicians of Caprona was still good. The Magic system was interesting, with the different songs and volumes creating different spells. Witch Week was a more fun read to me though because I thought the idea of a world going wrong was cool, and when Chrestomanci fixed the world and helped witches become legal it was cool to see that many other characters were also going through struggles to conceal their identities.
The Chrestomanci books are fun books of magic that form an ingenious series. These books make quite the interesting magic based infinite worlds purview.
witch week is fantastic and gets brownie points for better use of guy fawkes than v for vendetta
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
But is there a magic Pope in magic Italy.
The first Story in this volume Is good. I enjoy stories based on big close-knit families. I really quite liked the second story. Anyone who is a fan of Dianna's other stories will enjoy these as well.
adventurous
medium-paced
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I decided to give up reading the second book in this volume. It's too slow getting anywhere, all the characters are nasty and unlikable, the titular Chrestomanci is once again nowhere to be seen five chapters in, and I have a physical sense of resistance every time I think of reading more. There's not even a cool cat character (yet) to make the reading worthwhile. There are so many more books waiting in my TBR pile that I no longer wish to waste my limited reading time on something that brings me dread rather than joy.
As for the first book in this volume, which I did finish, the story was overall so predictable that I didn't really enjoy it. Even the cat character eventually felt somewhat repulsive, and not particularly charming, since he was described as a feral tomcat reeking of cat pee. As someone with a lifelong, visceral knowledge of that smell, it easily stains the entire story in one's mind, leaving it less than attractive.
I wish I could have enjoyed these stories more, especially seeing how handsome the cover illustration and book design is, but...it is what it is...
As for the first book in this volume, which I did finish, the story was overall so predictable that I didn't really enjoy it. Even the cat character eventually felt somewhat repulsive, and not particularly charming, since he was described as a feral tomcat reeking of cat pee. As someone with a lifelong, visceral knowledge of that smell, it easily stains the entire story in one's mind, leaving it less than attractive.
I wish I could have enjoyed these stories more, especially seeing how handsome the cover illustration and book design is, but...it is what it is...