Conrad's Fate is a captivating first-person narrative told by Conrad Tesdinic himself. He inhabits a world where England remains geologically connected to continental Europe, residing in the alpine town of Stallery, overshadowed by the slightly menacing Stallery Mansion. The irony lies in the possible origin of the name, perhaps derived from St Allery (of French origin, a variant of St Hilaire, meaning cheerful), as Stallery is far from a happy place.

Like many traditional fairytale heroes, Conrad is plunged into a magical adventure. He must balance his innate gifts with the resourcefulness typically demanded of such a hero. His gifts remain unidentified until the end, but his other talents seem to involve getting into trouble. When he ventures to Stallery Mansion to resolve what is据称 to be his Fate, his troubles multiply upon meeting the young Christopher, who has his own set of problems to solve, not the least of which is finding a girl named Millie.

I was drawn to the underlying concept that, while much of fantasy depends on the fulfillment of predictions, prophecies, and "fate," Conrad must grapple with whether such a fate is predetermined (as everyone claims) or if he is truly the master of his own destiny, capable of changing the expected future.

This was the first book in the Chrestomanci sequence that I read, and it attests to its standalone qualities as the story was understandable without prior familiarity with the other books in the series. The claustrophobic atmosphere is powerfully enhanced by the setting in the upstairs-downstairs world of a large country house. The strange world of the master-servant relationship is not only effectively conveyed but also subverted in the typical Jones style. Additionally, there is a distinct classic crime novel feel to the denouement, reminiscent of something from an Agatha Christie or a Cluedo board game, which I suspect Jones was deliberately evoking.

This book is not my favorite in the Chrestomanci series so far.

However, it is definitely worth my time. The story is very imaginative, taking the reader on a wild and wonderful adventure.

I particularly enjoyed the British humor that is sprinkled throughout the book. It added a lighthearted and entertaining element to the story.

The characters are well-developed and engaging, and I found myself rooting for them throughout their journey.

Overall, while this may not be my absolute favorite in the series, it is still a great read and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy and adventure.

I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Maybe I should just convert this blog into a dedicated Diana Wynne Jones fan blog, considering how much I've been engrossed in her works lately. Her books are truly outstanding and flawless!

Conrad's Fate is a continuation of the Chronicles of Chrestomanci series. I have a particular fondness for this series as each book offers a distinct atmosphere, thanks to their diverse main characters and settings in different universes. In this installment, Conrad's uncle informs him that he has bad karma and a dreadful fate, compelling him to ascend to the castle and secure a job as a servant to identify and eliminate the person responsible for his misfortune. However, Conrad soon realizes that the situation within the castle is far more intricate than he initially imagined.

I adore the fact that Christopher is introduced right from the start. You sense that there's more to the story as he meddles in it, yet you're confined to Conrad's perspective and completely in the dark. Jones is a virtuoso at constructing suspenseful and captivating plotlines that initially seem to lead in separate directions until they miraculously intertwine at the end, forming a coherent and engaging narrative, which I absolutely relish. She also possesses a mischievous sense of humor, making her books an absolute delight to read. Although this is the fifth book in the series, it occurs relatively early in Christopher's training, and it's immensely entertaining to witness him make errors and grapple with uncertainty.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one; it's a wildly entertaining story that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Also posted on Purple People Readers.

The great Crystalmanci, Christopher Chant, and Diana did the job with us and didn't skimp. In that life or Christopher Chant, you know him as a small, spoiled and arrogant child with a great talent. Then in Conrad Fitt, she meets Christopher again as a teenager after years of living in the Crystalmanci Castle, more arrogant, pompous and intelligent. And in Charmond Life and the Sorcery of Kabourne, we see Christopher as a grown man, married to Millie and with lovely children, confident but still keeping some of his bad character in his pocket for emergencies.

I really enjoyed the story. All the characters are beautiful, the events are charming and the imagination is vast.

I liked Diana's courage in presenting the family and the family in different situations, whether it was a loving and careless family like in the Sorcery of Kabourne, or a broken family like in That Life of Christopher Chant, or a hateful, cruel and exploitative family like Conrad Fitt, or even without a family like Charmond Life, and leaving her heroes to deal with these difficult situations, and all of them end up as heroes who rely on themselves and resist the evil-intentioned people, even if they are the closest relatives.

Any time you desire a potent dose of the fantastical, Diana Wynne Jones is at your disposal!

This captivating book chronicles the tale of a child burdened with a dreadful uncle. This uncle forces him to quit school and secures him a job at a house perched on a dimensional rift. The inhabitants of this house, quite actively (and accidentally), strive to exacerbate the situation.

Regrettably, it proves somewhat arduous to resolve interdimensional magical conundrums when one is simultaneously attempting to learn how to perform their very first job.

Nonetheless, this book is truly delightful and wonderful! Astonishingly, it achieves this despite the rather dire fate and the accidental murder that occur within its pages. It weaves a spellbinding narrative that keeps readers enthralled from beginning to end.

I have a profound love for the Chrestomanci series, and yet, I never anticipated that it would become one of my all-time favorite series.

Diana Wynne Jones is an exceptionally talented writer who has a remarkable ability to infuse magic into her books.

Neil Gaiman once said that Diana Wynne Jones was an enchanting individual, and it seems that she might possess secrets that could surprise you when you sense her magical aura, which can effortlessly influence those around her. I firmly believe that her magical prowess is vividly presented in her writings, leading me to suspect that she might actually be a witch. After all, how can a writer who crafts fantasy books filled with magic tricks for young readers also manage to skillfully hide profound messages for adults, creating a perfect balance that appeals to readers of all ages? Diana's books are not merely for transitional readers; they can be enjoyed at any time. I am deeply enamored with the world in which her characters reside and the relationships that exist between them. Her characters all have their flaws, but these imperfections do not detract from their charm.

In "Conard's Fate," Conard is a boy who believes he was born with bad karma. His uncle presents him with a mission in exchange for the opportunity to rid himself of this karma. He disguises himself as a servant and sneaks into a magic fortress. There, he meets Christopher, and together they uncover numerous secrets hidden within the fortress, such as a witch fugitive, a levity machine that can change the gravity of the castle, and an unpredictable royal wedding. Reading this book is a source of great joy and merriment for me.

I don't think we should overly concern ourselves with whether karma exists or not. We are living in a world that is still largely unknown to us, so there is no need to trouble ourselves with proving the existence of karma in our lives. It is our choice to decide what kind of lifestyle we want to lead, rather than trying to foresee our future. After all, we only have one life, not like Christopher. So, don't be too hasty in deciding what kind of life you desire.

I was truly inspired to finally pick up and read this particular book after listening to Emily Tesh and Rebecca Fraimow’s engaging Diana Wynne Jones podcast. There is an abundance of enjoyable DWJ shenanigans within its pages. In fact, there are many quite good parts throughout the story. However, it must be said that nothing really stands out as being particularly outside her usual wheelhouse.

As the story progresses, it becomes evident that the author really seems to run out of ideas on how to neatly wrap it up. It's a bit of a letdown in that regard.

Also, the Travelers stuff in the book is not ideal. It feels a bit disjointed and perhaps not as well-developed as it could have been. Overall, while there are aspects to enjoy, there are also some areas that could have been improved upon.

I love this book, just as I love all of them. Here are my uncollected thoughts on this particular reread.

DWJ's novels often feature adults who are truly despicable, and this is another example. On this reread, I had such problems with Anthea. I could somewhat understand and almost forgive her for leaving Conrad behind to escape a toxic family environment. However, I really started to resent her when she went off riding with her beau in his sports car while her poor brother was slaving away in the house. How could she do that after already abandoning him?

Also, I'm very sorry, but in the first scene where we see Hugo and Robert interacting, all I could think of was "GAY". It was just gay, gay, gay, gay, gay, gay, gay, GaY, GaY, GAY, GAY, GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY.

And that wedding ring at the end! It was so cute!

Fun book, though the pacing is a little odd, I think.

At the beginning, the story unfolds in a rather leisurely manner, allowing the readers to get to know the characters and the setting. However, towards the end, it suddenly gets frantic. So many events are cramped into a very short space that it feels a bit overwhelming. It's as if the author wanted to fit everything in before the end, without giving the readers enough time to fully absorb and understand what's happening.

That didn't quite work for me. It was a bit like going from a sedate walk to a breakneck run in five seconds flat. But then, that happens a lot in Diana Wynne Jones' work, to a greater or lesser extent, for me.

Besides, it's another one of those books where the answers are right in front of the main character the whole time and he just doesn't get it. This can be a bit frustrating at times, but it also adds to the mystery and the sense of anticipation.

Still, it's a fun read. It's interesting to see Christopher from Conrad's point of view and learn all over again how insufferable he can be. I also kept expecting to see Howl at any minute, which added an extra element of excitement to the story.

This book is not as enjoyable as the previous two. The reason is that there is less magic present, which makes it a bit less exciting. Also, I really wanted to have more of Christopher's point of view. I think it would have added more depth to the story.

The ending felt a little rushed, and the epilogue seemed a bit cheap in my opinion. However, there are still some nice aspects to it.

My hold for "The Hate U Give" has come through, so now I'm not sure if I should start the next book in this series or read both concurrently. I need to think about it. Maybe I'll try reading a few pages of each and see which one grabs my attention more. What do you think I should do?

I haven't read any of the Chrestomanci books since I was quite wee.

I'm not sure what made me want to pick this one up now. However, it was enjoyable even with a blurred memory of the context of the rest of the series.

I truly enjoyed the first half of the book the best. During that time, Conrad has no idea what's going on and Christopher gets to be cocky, mysterious, and delightfully obnoxious.

The end, in comparison, was unfortunately rather muddled. There was just too much happening at once, and then that big jump forward in time. I think it didn't service the story very well at all.

I'd have greatly preferred if the book had ended with Conrad getting to go off to school. Instead, it ended with him going, "Well, it's many years later and I'm back from school, where I became AWESOME."

Just like this book's set-up in comparison to its payoff, the anticipation was better.

Still, this was fun enough to make me want to reread this series—in order, from the beginning!—sometime soon.

This is a brand new Chrestomanci novel. This time, it is set in a Series Seven world. In this world, Christopher Chant, for a variety of good and sufficient reasons of his own, has defied his guardian and teacher, Gabriel de Witt.

However, this is truly the story of Conrad Tesdinic. He has grown up in a bookstore. His mother is inattentive, spending all her time writing. His uncle is generous, allowing his sister and her family to live with him after her husband sold his share of the bookstore to her brother, gambled away the money, and then committed suicide. His sister is intent on her own very sensible agenda of completing her education and getting out of the house before her magician-uncle realizes what she's doing and takes steps to keep her there permanently.

Conrad, who has his own plans to continue his education and move out, is horrified when his uncle tells him he has bad karma from an important deed left undone in a previous life. If he doesn't take the opportunity to complete the task immediately in this life, he'll soon die and be forced to start over in his next life. In order to do this, he has to leave school now, take a job as a servant in Stallery Mansion (the home of the local Count), find the person he didn't deal with in the last life, and kill him.

Conrad would almost rather die than leave school and take a job as a servant at the Stallery. But not quite. Reluctantly, he boards the tram, armed only with a false name—Conrad Grant—and a wine cork and a spell to summon a Walker and get "what he needs" when he's identified the villain and is ready to do the job. Almost the first person he meets, of course, is Christopher Chant, who's looking for his missing and possibly trapped friend Millie and has also come to take a job at the Stallery in order to look for her. From there, things get delightfully strange as Conrad and Christopher attempt to sort out who's who, and who's putting what over on who, and not get caught or killed in the process.

It's truly great fun.