Scan barcode
A review by silquesoleil
The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 1: Charmed Life / The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones
5.0
read for the 2015 reading challenge: a book that came out the year you were born
I don't think you understand how stoked I was for this book. The second one of the Crestomanci novels came out in 1988, and the same can be said of this edition which contains the first novel as well and since I had planned to read the entire series at some point (and Howl's Moving Castle as well), buying this version seemed to be the smartest decision, financially.
The thing is, one doesn't even need to have read the first novel before starting the second one, but I don't regret one minute that I invested into reading it. It was just so delightful, truly magical and fun. It also seems like Diana Wynne Jones is a cat person, which is more than fine with me.
In terms of worldbuilding, it was beautifully done, although it lacked a bit on the theoretical side of the magic system. It's quite obvious that there are ranks, and that the magic obeys to rules, however I wish there was more information on how it was cast.
Words can not describe how much I love Millie especially. She is competent, she is a darling, she is so average-looking, it's beautiful.
I'm still burning to find out about the younger Michael, I hope he will appear in one of the other books.
I don't think you understand how stoked I was for this book. The second one of the Crestomanci novels came out in 1988, and the same can be said of this edition which contains the first novel as well and since I had planned to read the entire series at some point (and Howl's Moving Castle as well), buying this version seemed to be the smartest decision, financially.
The thing is, one doesn't even need to have read the first novel before starting the second one, but I don't regret one minute that I invested into reading it. It was just so delightful, truly magical and fun. It also seems like Diana Wynne Jones is a cat person, which is more than fine with me.
In terms of worldbuilding, it was beautifully done, although it lacked a bit on the theoretical side of the magic system. It's quite obvious that there are ranks, and that the magic obeys to rules, however I wish there was more information on how it was cast.
Words can not describe how much I love Millie especially. She is competent, she is a darling, she is so average-looking, it's beautiful.
I'm still burning to find out about the younger Michael, I hope he will appear in one of the other books.