A review by the_cheerful_necromancer
Charmed Life by Diana Wynne Jones

funny lighthearted fast-paced

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

4.5

Ported over from my now-abandoned Goodreads:
Glorious fun! I was lucky enough to discover the Chrestomanci series right before I aged out of their target audience.
Wynne Jones' world pulls me in perfectly every time; every single setting feels wonderfully real and charming, if you'll excuse the pun. These are definitely comfort books for me and Charmed Life is no exception. It's a great little tale of strange new beginnings, surprisingly dark circumstances, and stepping out of someone else's shadow. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Death of parent, Bullying, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, and Fatphobia

Minor: Racism, Child death, and Incest

Readers should note that this book, unfortunately, falls into the all-too-common trend of "fat people are usually mean or unpleasant." There are some 'plump' characters who are good or morally grey, but unfortunately it does play into this trope all the same. Otherwise, I've not rated any of the themes as "severe" as none of them are graphic, they are all age-appropriate. However, note that the main characters are orphans and the main character's sister is emotionally abusive. [child death]:

the main character has nine lives, and lost one in childbirth (being born) and another when his sister made him sick by magic.

The main characters' parents are mentioned to be cousins.