The truly remarkable aspect of this book is that there seem to be at least two additional novels' worth of plot simmering beneath the surface of what we actually witness, and Diana Wynne Jones simply couldn't care less. She casually tosses out plot points and tropes as if they were items on clearance, and whether or not they ever receive any form of resolution or explanation is left entirely to caprice. There isn't just one, but TWO secretly-evil and manipulative uncles ("I get it, bro" - Christopher Chant). There are two offscreen secret romances. There's one beautiful and scheming witch attempting to marry her way into power and money, and one ugly fat witch who keeps powerful enchanters prisoner for no particular reason. She is defeated because in her reality, cameras steal souls, but then she still manages to become a ghost in another reality. There's something about the stock market (?), a magic computer that alters reality, Dementor-like spectres that one can summon at will and who perhaps work for the Lords of Karma (?), and a bad mother feminist harridan scholar and/or dupe. Oh, and there are "Gypsies" aka Travelers who can journey between realities. Meanwhile, the main story is simply "Conrad wants to go to school and is forced to be a servant instead, which is annoying for him." I believe DWJ was in her 70s when she wrote this. With in her toolkit a) a world where basically anything can occur and b) stock characters like Evil Uncle, Conniving Witch, Ugly Fat Witch, and most female characters really, she just set it all on shuffle and let it rip. Lest you think I didn't enjoy this jumble of questionable tropes and the occasional cultural insensitivity, it was actually great fun. I would devour a million books about teen Christopher Chant and Millie's adventures, and Conrad can tag along too. THE MORE THE MERRIER.

BTW Evil Uncle #2's actual crimes are: giving up his title to become a butler instead; trying to maintain a fancy house that the universe feels should fall to ruin. Egads.

This book is not quite as excellent as MAGICIANS OF CAPRONA or LIVES OF CHRISTOPHER CHANT, yet all of Christopher's works are good.

I do wish that the final resolution was more distinct. I am still attempting to figure out who is who.

If Amos is actually Conrad's uncle, that is, the brother of his father, then who is Uncle Alfred? I sort of think that Alfred is the brother of Conrad's mother. But then, how can he pretend to the lordship of the castle after eliminating other family members? Wouldn't Conrad himself be a more likely heir?

And there is a certain shakiness in the reasons why people do things and how they do them, which you have to overlook. However, stories about Christopher are always a delight. If only Jones had written twenty more!

It would be wonderful to have more of Christopher's adventures and the complex web of characters and relationships that he weaves.

The mysteries and uncertainties in this book add to its charm, making it a captivating read despite its few flaws.

I look forward to exploring more of Christopher's works and seeing what other imaginative worlds he has created.

The first few chapters of this book were a real slog for me. I just felt so sorry for Conrad and his sister. The adults in their lives are clearly manipulative or selfish, and as a result, the kids have to suffer.

However, once Conrad is in the castle with Christopher, things start to pick up and become a whole lot more interesting. In the last half (or maybe it's the third?) of the book, it suddenly morphs into a sort of Wodehousian adventure. It feels like a stage farce, similar to something like Noises Off.

Fun, farce, and zaniness ensue as the story throws in various plot elements. I have to say that I really enjoyed it immensely after those initial chapters. It was like a whole new world opened up, filled with excitement and unexpected twists. I found myself completely engaged and couldn't wait to see what would happen next.

Overall, despite the slow start, this book ended up being a real delight to read. The transformation from a rather depressing tale of childhood woes to a lighthearted and entertaining adventure was quite remarkable. I would definitely recommend it to others who enjoy a good story with a bit of humor and a lot of heart.

Reread, obviously.

Every single time I come back to this book, I find myself liking it even more. The vivid details描绘了 of life as a servant in a Victorian-ish House are truly captivating. The strange rules that govern their existence, the behind-the-scenes personalities that emerge, and the occasional chaos that ensues are all among the highlights.

My only minor gripe is that the exposition towards the end feels a bit overly detailed. There was just so much to neatly wrap up, and perhaps it could have been done in a more streamlined way.

Also, with each rereading, the theme of Conrad's family dynamics becomes increasingly prominent. He experiences some difficult awakenings along the way. I never noticed before that Christopher offers his support to Conrad at a crucial moment after Conrad has a conversation with his mother. Christopher's words, "I went through something very similar once," carry a lot of weight. Indeed he did, didn't he?

I have such a soft spot for Anthea, even though she is essentially a minor character. When she apologizes for not taking Conrad away with her, my heart goes out to her. Conrad may not understand the reason at that particular moment, but as the reader, we do.

Overall, this book continues to draw me in with its engaging story and well-developed characters.

I hadn't reread this since it first came out, so rereading now was an odd and delightful experience.

Teen!Christopher (along with Conrad and Millie) is as delightful as ever, and the plot is filled with exciting hijinks that keep you on the edge of your seat. However, I was taken aback by how abrupt the ending is.

A lot of the stuff involving the Travelers now seems a bit cringey. Also, it was truly wild to realize how very little we get of Anthea. I have such an enormous fondness for her and such a strong sense of who she is, but that just isn't fully captured on the page.

It really brought home to me how immersive a reader I was when I was young. And it made me think about how many middle grade books seem to intentionally leave that space for readers to project their own interpretations and imaginations into. It's quite fascinating to see how our perception of a book can change over time, yet still hold onto the essence of what made it special in the first place.

Review from A Journey Through Pages

In my previous reviews of the other two volumes of Chrestomanci, I combined the stories. However, this time, both stories have much more depth and have improved in quality. Therefore, I'm splitting my post to cover each one separately.

First and foremost, I absolutely adore Christopher, also known as Cat's Chrestomanci, in this book. It showcases how his personality has evolved from The Lives of Christopher Chant to the character we know in all the other books. He has begun to adopt that dramatic and well-dressed air that he is famous for. Additionally, he makes a very pleasant contrast to Conrad, who is a completely different type of character. In fact, Conrad reminds me somewhat of Cat.

Throughout the book, there is an overwhelming mystery that keeps you guessing. Christopher is in search of Millie, who seems to be present but not truly there. Meanwhile, Conrad supposedly has a terrible fate upon him that he must rectify by destroying someone with a being called a Walker. The Stallery proves to be even stranger than initially imagined, somehow disrupting all the possibilities for whatever outcome.

This book also features some brilliant caricatured side characters. One such character is the Lady of the house, who has the habit of constantly asking: "But WHY?" She is so well-described that I can hear her voice in my head, and it makes me burst out laughing almost every time as her children roll their eyes at her.

This book stands out as a bit different from the others in this series.

It commences by introducing the main character and delving into his history, which immediately grabs the reader's attention.

As the story unfolds, it takes numerous twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat as the mystery is gradually uncovered.

One aspect that I particularly liked was that Christopher Chant was more deeply involved in the story.

He interacted with the main character throughout, rather than simply making a cameo appearance only when it was time to save the day, as was the case in some of the other books.

This added a new dimension to the narrative and made the story more engaging and dynamic.

Overall, this book offers a fresh and exciting take on the series, with its unique approach to character development and plot progression.

My favorite of the Chrestomanci books so far is this one.

However, I have to admit that I've said the same thing about all of them.

What I really liked about this particular book was that it was narrated from the first person.

This made it feel more personal and engaging.

I also loved the characters.

They were well-developed and had unique personalities.

Compared to her other books, this one is definitely the least "out there".

The chaotic final scenes that are so characteristic of her other works are not quite present here.

Nevertheless, it was still very fun to read.

The story had its own charm and kept me hooked from start to finish.

I can't wait to read more of her books in the future.

It still remains only to be amazed at how such books are overlooked by Lithuanian publishers. How, having forgotten about Ghibli, these books are not filmed if not by Hollywood, then by some independent Icelandic or Romanian animation studio. Why aren't spectacles, coloring books, and balloons painted in strange colors released based on these books. I don't want to compare this series here with a child who survived, but for me there is more fantasy and excitement here. Super #Recom #LEBooks #ConradsFate #Chrestomanci #DianaWynneJones

These wonderful works by Diana Wynne Jones seem to be hidden gems that are unjustly ignored. The stories within the Conrad's Fate and Chrestomanci series are filled with rich and vivid worlds, unique characters, and captivating plots. It's a pity that they haven't received the widespread recognition and adaptation they deserve. Whether it's through film, animation, or other forms of media, these books have the potential to reach a much larger audience and bring joy and inspiration to many. We should encourage more publishers and creators to take notice of these amazing works and give them the chance to shine on a bigger stage.

It is truly funny when one bumps into people from earlier stories.

This is a really nice story indeed.

It was a fascinating account of how the castle and magic functioned and who all the people were in the end.

Definitely, this is a captivating story within this series.

It might very well be one of my favorites, along with the Lives of Christopher Chant.

The details of the magic and the characters added an extra layer of intrigue to the narrative.

One can't help but be drawn into the world created by the author.

The way the story unfolded was both unexpected and engaging.

It left me eager to read more about this magical universe and the adventures that lie ahead.

Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable read that I would highly recommend to others.

Not bad. Grotesque, a bit squashed, but not bad.

There are many interesting moves, strange characters, a detective story, ghosts, family traumas.

All the things we love.

This description seems to capture the essence of a rather unique and captivating experience. The use of words like "grotesque" and "strange" implies that there is an element of the unusual and perhaps even the macabre. The mention of a detective story adds an air of mystery and intrigue, while the presence of ghosts and family traumas gives the whole thing a sense of depth and emotional weight.

Overall, it sounds like something that would be both fascinating and engaging, appealing to those who enjoy a bit of the unexpected and the spooky. It makes you wonder what exactly this "thing" is that contains all of these elements and how they come together to create such a memorable experience.

I was initially inclined to pen individual book reviews for each novel within the Chronicles of Chrestomanci series. However, the manner in which I recall and engage with them is invariably as a unified whole. Consequently, it seems far more sensible to undertake a review of the series itself.

In broad terms: Diana Wynne Jones weaves a captivating world that is just a few steps apart from our own. In fact, I'm certain that our world is one among the multiple worlds that exist within this universe. Nevertheless, the majority of these tales unfold in a world that closely resembles ours, yet is imbued with magic. Out of the nine series of worlds where nine distinct individuals who are identical to one another can be born, every now and then all nine lives converge into a single body in one world, thereby creating a nine-lifed enchanter. That enchanter will typically assume the official role of Chrestomanci, a man entrusted with the responsibility of overseeing magic usage in all the worlds and enforcing various rules and prohibitions to ensure the safe and responsible employment of magic. Picture the Ministry of Magic, but confined to a single man and his domestic staff, and it's not an appointed position, but one that people are born into (albeit not usually hereditary!).

If you're in search of old-school magic that doesn't necessitate wands and makes a distinction between witches, warlocks, enchanters, sorceresses, and so forth, then this would be the ideal series for you. The laws of magic are not entirely logical—if you believe that a magic system must adhere to rules in order to be plausible, then I would suggest the Young Wizards series instead. But if you don't mind a touch of whimsy and you relish middle grade literature for its charm and engaging protagonists, then do yourself a favor and pick up these books.

This and other reviews by me can be found at www.annaimber.com