I absolutely adored this one. There is truly something极其令人欣慰的 about this series.

Each and every book commences at a slow pace, unfurling a scenario that gradually constructs and builds.

And then, suddenly, everything transpires at the end, catching you off guard yet in the most wonderful way.

The worlds within these books are teeming with poetic magic, as if they have a life of their own.

It's as if you can step right into these vividly created universes and become a part of the enchanting stories that unfold.

The slow build-up allows for a deep immersion in the details and the development of the characters and the plot.

And when the climax arrives, it's like a burst of绚丽多彩的 fireworks, leaving you in awe and longing for more.

This series has a charm that is truly unique and captivating, making it a must-read for any lover of fantasy and magic.

So exciting! Hoo!

This is the kind of feeling that makes your heart race and your spirit soar.

It's like a burst of energy that fills you from head to toe.

Whether it's the anticipation of a long-awaited event, the thrill of a new adventure, or the joy of achieving a goal, excitement has the power to transform our lives.

It makes us feel alive, passionate, and ready to take on the world.

When we're excited, everything seems possible, and we're willing to push ourselves beyond our limits.

So, embrace that excitement, let it carry you forward, and make the most of every moment.

Because life is too short to live without excitement! Hoo!

Diana does it again.

It truly makes me feel so sad that I'll never have the opportunity to meet her. She is an absolute genius.

Her books may sometimes be a miss or a hit, but they all possess a magical something that only she can create.

Conrad's Fate has become my favorite among all the Chrestomanci books I've read so far, and it's the first one that I really love.

In fact, it made me eager to re-read Charmed Life so that I can see Christopher and his family once again.

There is nothing much left to say except that I enjoyed this book quite a lot.

Thanks to it (and my goal to read all of DWJ's books), I'll be continuing with this series without hesitation.

I'm looking forward to exploring more of the wonderful worlds and stories that Diana Wynne Jones has created.

Each book seems to offer a new adventure and a chance to discover something truly special.

I can't wait to see what lies ahead in the next installment of the Chrestomanci series.

Although this volume was published later, it can be read as a continuation of 'The Lives of Christopher Chant' as Chrestomanci, as a teenager, is a main character.

However, the story is told in the first person by Conrad, who has been raised in a bookshop in the alternative universe known as series 7. This is a world where magic works, and the town is nestled below a mountain in the English Alps (where there is no British Isles and the land forms part of continental Europe) and a big house called Stallery is situated. The rich aristocrats who live in this house are believed to be responsible for the occasional probability shift - known as pulling the probabilities - which affect the town and the wider world, resulting in changes to books in the shop or turning post boxes from red to blue, for example.

Conrad's father is dead, having committed suicide some years before and supposedly leaving half the bookshop to Conrad's uncle, Alfred, a magician. Conrad has to manipulate this uncle - by occasionally refusing to do the cooking for example - in order to obtain any of the ordinary things his friends are given, such as a bicycle or pocket money. For Conrad's mother is totally neglectful of him - she is a feminist writer who spends her time writing books and articles and doesn't want to be bothered by either of her children. Initially, older sister Anthea is there to take care of Conrad but she has been studying in secret and passes a scholarship - only announcing on the day of her departure that she is off to university. Her mother and uncle denounce this as selfishness and ingratitude, and her uncle creates a spell to keep her there if she comes back for the holidays - because he wants her to carry on working for free in the bookshop as well as doing the household chores - but she is too wise to that and Conrad does not see Anthea again until quite late in the story.

Conrad hopes to go to senior school with his friends and learn magic - there are hints that he has some gift for it - but his plans are wrecked when his mother signs the part of his school leaving form to say he is going off to a job. Aghast, Conrad learns he is to apply for a trainee servant's job at Stallery, although his uncle convinces him it is essential as Conrad has such a dark spell over him - his fate - that unless he kills someone at Stallery whom he should have killed in a past life, he will die horribly himself before the year is out.

As soon as Conrad arrives at Stallery he meets a tall, charming but arrogant young man known as Christopher whom any reader of other stories in the series will soon recognise as Christopher Chant who later becomes Chrestomanci, the nine lived enchanter. Both he and Conrad are there under false surnames - Conrad because his father's name is the same as the aristocrats living there - and Conrad is soon drawn into Christopher's quest to find his friend (and future wife) Millie who ran away from a terrible school in their own world when their guardian the present Chrestomanci refused to listen to either her or Christopher. It now seems that Millie has become trapped in one of the probability shifts affecting the house and which general opinion is are caused by the rich family manipulating possibilities to increase their wealth.

As in a lot of the author's fiction, a lot of the adults are unreliable or outright liars who betray and let down the child characters. I enjoyed the pseudo nineteenth century setting reminiscent of Upstairs Downstairs or early Downtown Abbey, with the life of the servants, and the way they have to behave before the family. The story for me, however, is a bit spoiled by the very convoluted resolution which is extremely rushed and not very clear. Certain people end up dragged off to face justice - but there are some inconsistencies, since certain servants were apparently at the house from an early age in which case why isn't the true identity of various characters known? An epilogue is then tacked on in which we learn about the eventual role of Conrad in his world as a representative for Chrestomanci. Quite a nice happy ending but a bit of an uneven jump from the end of the story proper. So I would rate this as a solid 3 star read.

So much fun!

Diana Wynne Jones' writing is truly excellent, just as it always has been. Her ability to create complex and intriguing characters is simply remarkable. Each character she crafts has their own unique personality, motives, and flaws, making them feel like real people rather than just fictional creations. It's a joy to follow their adventures and see how they grow and change throughout the story. The way she weaves together the plotlines and the relationships between the characters is masterful, keeping the reader engaged from beginning to end. Whether you're a fan of fantasy or just a lover of great literature, Diana Wynne Jones' work is definitely worth checking out. You won't be disappointed!

This was a thoroughly enjoyable adventure that was filled with exciting magical houses, great friendships, and a forbidden romance. It truly captured my imagination and took me on a thrilling journey.

However, it also made me feel upset, especially as a parent. I couldn't help but notice how the parental figures in the story let down, neglected, and even lied to their young charges. It was disheartening to see the children having to fend for themselves and face the challenges of the magical world without the proper guidance and support from the adults.

In this magical world, one must always be cautious and never trust the adults blindly. Additionally, beware of the witches who are knitting, for they may have hidden motives and pose a threat to your safety. Overall, this adventure was a mix of excitement and disappointment, leaving me with a lot to think about.

My review: https://perfectretort.blogspot.com/20...

Diana Wynne Jones' "Conrad's Fate" is a captivating and enchanting read. The story follows Conrad, a young boy with a mysterious fate. The author weaves a rich and detailed world, filled with magic, adventure, and interesting characters. The plot is full of twists and turns that keep the reader engaged from start to finish.

The characters in the book are well-developed and relatable. Conrad is a likable protagonist, and his journey of self-discovery is both touching and inspiring. The supporting characters also add depth and flavor to the story, with their unique personalities and quirks.

The writing style of Diana Wynne Jones is engaging and accessible, making the book suitable for readers of all ages. She has a talent for creating vivid images in the reader's mind, bringing the story to life. Overall, "Conrad's Fate" is a must-read for fans of fantasy and adventure.

My Chrestomanci series buddy-read continues. This time, we're delving into one of the newer instalments from 2012 that I hadn't read before. It slots in perfectly with the other books, especially when it comes to the tongue-in-cheek atmosphere and humour.

I adored the upstairs/downstairs aspect of Conrad's life as a valet-in-training. The various terrifying yet strict butlers, chefs, and housekeepers added to the charm. The panicked reactions of the servants to the presence of the Family were hilarious, as were funny details like Mr Amos hiring a bunch of actors to pose as waitstaff. Some of the comedy was so vivid that I could easily envision it as a movie.

However, it's very much a Diana Wynne Jones book when it comes to adults, often family members, manipulating and using children for their own purposes, and Conrad is no different. Meeting Christopher Chant as a teenager was a real treat. He's not as young as in The Lives of Christopher Chant, nor is he the established adult of Charmed Life. He's in that in-between stage, cocky, cheeky, and still growing into his role as an enchanter. Spending time with him is a joy, and seeing him from an outside perspective is equally interesting. I loved witnessing how much he and Millie care for each other, and I really wanted more Millie in this story overall. (Also amusing was how all the maids swooned over Christopher and developed instant crushes on him.)

I also greatly enjoyed the mechanics of the probability shifts, the way the world details kept changing around the characters, and how it mostly just became a nuisance for them.

After a relatively slow-building mystery throughout the book, the ending is very rushed. It resolves extremely quickly and then skids into a time-jump epilogue, which is also rushed! But I didn't really mind because the ending was, firstly, full of delightful chaos, and secondly, it ended on such a cute note that warmed my heart. The arc of Conrad and Christopher's newfound friendship is wonderful, and I wish we could have seen an older Conrad Tesdinic in one of the other novels.

Overall, I'd rate this book 3.5 stars, rounded up.

I have just completed reading my third Chrestomanci book, Conrad's Fate. Overall, I still had a great deal of enjoyment from it. However, I must admit that I believe the previous two books I read, Charmed Life and The Lives of Christopher Chant, were slightly better.

This particular installment was indeed fun. We accompanied young Christopher Chant during the years before he took on the role of Chrestomanci. This time around, he was masquerading as a domestic in the magnificent estate of Stallchester in the dimension of Series 7. His mission was to search for his enchantress friend, Mille, in the ever-changing worlds that surrounded the mysterious estate. Christopher also befriended another young boy, Conrad, who was at the estate for false pretenses. Conrad had gone there under an alias to find the supposed source of his bad karma and resolve his fate.

As I have now come to expect from Diana Wynne Jones, there were numerous twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. I can truthfully state that although I had an inkling that something was amiss with some of the characters, I did not anticipate the revelations that emerged at the conclusion. I absolutely love being surprised by books, and it is not often that a children's book can keep me in the dark for such a long time.

The only drawback of this book was that at times, it became a bit mired in the daily activities of Christopher and Conrad as servants in the estate. To be fair, it was interesting, but it just seemed like an excessive amount of exposition on occasion. In the middle, it did seem to drag a little, but it picked up around three-fourths of the way through, and the suspense then endured for the remainder of the novel. I wholeheartedly recommend it, and it appears to be a wonderful follow-up when read as the third book. I think the next one I will read is Witch Week. I'm not certain where this one falls in the publishing order, but since it's the one Diana Wynne Jones recommended reading next, I'll trust her judgment. The great thing is that it seems like you can really read these books in just about any order and still be fine. I think you gain a bit more coherence from the order I've been following so far, but it's not essential.

I truly respect the extent to which Wynne Jones is dedicated to representing the nefarious uncle. Lol.

In general, I think this book was far more enjoyable than any of the other Chrestomanci books I've read previously. It's not outstanding, but it's an improvement. However, there are still elements of racism and fatphobia present. Literally, why does Jones have such a strong hatred for fat people? Lol.

It's quite concerning that these negative aspects are still found in the story. It makes one wonder if the author is aware of the impact such portrayals can have on readers.

Despite these flaws, the overall narrative and the characters in this particular installment managed to engage me more than the others. Maybe there's hope for future books in the series to address and overcome these issues.

Nonetheless, it's important to be critical of the content we consume and to question any potentially harmful or offensive themes.

There's truly something extremely lovely about witnessing a character at various points throughout their life.

Take, for example, the case of Christopher. There's the small Christopher who presents himself as a grumpy snob. His little face is often contorted with displeasure and he looks down on others with an air of superiority.

Then comes the teenage Christopher. He's an irritatingly cheerful still snob. Despite his constant good mood, he still maintains that snobbish attitude, which can be quite off-putting at times.

And finally, there's the adult Christopher. He's a quiet and composed kinda still snob. He has mellowed a bit with age, but that underlying snobbery still lingers.

Personally, I have a particular fondness for teenage Christopher in this. There's something endearing about his combination of cheerfulness and snobbery that makes him stand out among the different versions of the character.

The classic formula of Diana Wynne Jones is to present a child living in a realistically vivid family/situation and then fantastically remove it from there. And I have lived for such books ever since the first encounter with Oliver Twist.

Konrad, just like many other protagonists of Diana Wynne Jones, is not even aware how bad it is for him with his uncle the bookseller and his mother the feminist writer, simply because no one has told him. It is a bit strange for him that since he was eight years old (when his older sister ran away from home) he has to cook and clean for all three of them and that he doesn't get any pocket money or new clothes when he outgrows the old ones unless he goes on strike, but such is life, you deal with what you have at your disposal. And the fact that since he was twelve years old his uncle sends him to be a servant instead of further education, with detailed instructions on how to find and kill some unknown person, Konrad is ready to accept because for years he has been convinced that all his problems stem from bad karma from a previous life which, believe it or not, he earned by not killing someone he should have. And Konrad, although he became independent at an early age, is still small and doesn't know some important things about life.

And that's where Hrestomant :) comes in, that is, fifteen-year-old Christopher Chant who is the main competition for the desired servant position. Chant is, similar to the wizard Howl, charming and as cheeky as a stone, and beneath that facade lies a good heart and great magical powers, which we know from probably five or six books in which he appears. So here too, as soon as he appears, the reader knows that he can relax and just watch how the two boys rush around with the master's property while going through butler training, trying to sort out the complicated relationships between servants and masters and at the same time discover whether bad karma really exists. Somewhat like Gosford Park. Only fantasy. For children.

Among the minuses, I would highlight that Diana Wynne Jones here at the end also crammed a plot and an epilogue into a space that would realistically require at least fifty pages. This is actually characteristic of her, but here it seems as if she got tired of writing. And when I look at the chronology, I have to admit that her books written in this century, that is, towards the end of her life, are perhaps not so rushed, but certainly more tired and more predictable than the earlier ones. Which still doesn't mean that they are not enchanting, it's just that one shouldn't start getting to know her from them.