The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 1: Charmed Life / The Lives of Christopher Chant

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Summary: Meggie a 12 yr. olds review
Review: This book was beyond good! I agree all her books are good but nothing can beat The Chronicles Of Chrestomanci! She should make more!! *^.~*

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Summary: An outstanding book!!!!!!!!
Review: This book has brought me many hours of enjoyment. The Chants and their adventures are fun to read as I have expierienced. I hope the author writes many more stories like it.

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Summary: A WONDERFUL BOOK!!
Review: The author of this book is not only incredibly talented, but she also has a very vivid imagination! I felt as though I knew every single character in the book, especially Cat and Christopher! I loved reading the plot slowly unfold and thinking "So that's why this happened!" Even though the books are backwards chronologically, it made it more interesting to find out exactly where Christopher was coming from and who his wife was and knowing what will happen to them in the future because you've read about the future first. This book is very hard to describe without giving away the entire plot, but I STRONGLY advise you to read it!

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Summary: Crestomanci deserves a little more credit.
Review: It's a shame that this book (or books rather) isn't more popular. Until I stumbled upon volumes I and II in a bookstore, I had never heard of them before. Diana Wynne Jones is fairly well known, but her work seems to have taken the backseat to other wildly popular childrens books. This is unjust! Charmed Life and the Lives of Christopher Chant are both well written and refreshingly original. If the books have one flaw, it is that they start out fairly slowly. Since this is all plot building and setting the scene, it doesn't become that terrible of a distraction. If you do decide to read this book(I hope you do!) then here's some advice: Even though Charmed Life is before The lives of Christopher Chant in the book, chronologically Charmed life happens after Christopher Chant. If you like to read things in order, keep that in mind, otherwise you know what has happened to the characters in T.L.O.C.C. before you read it.

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Summary: Chrestomanci books are great
Review: I just finished reading The Chronicles of Chrestomanci Volume One. I have also read the four Harry Potter books, and frankly, they are uncomparable. The Chrestomanci books are way better written. The Harry books have strange words and well, Diana is a better author than most young adult writers. Even though there's not much blood and gore, the books are highly entertaining and I am going out soon to buy the second volume. I recommend this book.

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Summary: Harry Potter is a cheap rip-off
Review: Anyone reading Harry Potter books over the Chrestomanci books is just wasting his/her time. And while we're considering Jones, might as well mention that besides being better written, Howl's Moving Castle is more entertaining than any other "young adult" novel out there. Unless you have a collection of E Nesbit, you are stocking your shelves with inferior literature.

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Summary: Very enjoyable
Review: Although I read these books some years ago I still remember them fondly. In "Charmed Life" Cat Chant and his domineering sister are sent to live in Chrestomaci Castle after the deaths of their parents. Although his domineering sister dislikes the inhabitants of the castle Cat finds friendship and adventure which eventually heads into a showdown with evil magic makers who want to rid themselves of the Chrestomanci's oversight of the magical world. The old Chrestomaci in "Charmed Life" (Christopher Chant) is a cousin of Cat's and there is a reference to his "losing lives" In "The Lives of Christopher Chant" we meet the old Chrestomaci as a young boy and find out how he lost them as well as how he started his career as an agent for the evil magicians, met his wife (after she quit her job being a Goddess), and went over to the right side of the law. I really liked these books despite their being aimed at a young audience (these are NOT adult fantasy books) These books are comparable to the Harry Potter books even though I think they are better written and more realistic than the Harry Potter books. (less weird words and cheap jokes) A word about the author: When I was younger she was my favorite author, now that I'm a little older I still enjoy her stories. I still reread her "Archer's Goon" sometimes Bottom Line: If you liked Harry you'll like this even more.

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Summary: Chrestomanci Crazy!
Review: My only gripe with Vol. 1 is that it's precisely that--WHY did the publishers put two very different books in one volume, and, having made that poor decision, why did they compound it by putting the books in the wrong order? (They simply put it in the order DWJ wrote them, but they should have put them in chronological order.)

I hear that they are reissuing these books in preparation for Jones' new Chrestomanci book, due to come out in March--but this is only hearsay, and I have no idea if it's true. I hope it is, though.

But of course, my gripes have absolutely nothing to do with the books, which are both terrific. I think the second one, about young Christopher Chant is perhaps the stronger of the two, but only slightly. It's just a fabulous book, with many twists and turns, a highly imaginitive world, and Jones' usual incredible cast of well-observed characters. It's particularly painful and brilliant how Christopher's perceptions change as he gets older and is exposed to more people (when he goes to school). I've read this book three times now, and enjoyed it thoroughly each time. I"m an adult, by the way (42), and enjoyed it as much as a kid (perhaps more). This is an excellent book for reading aloud to children, boys and girls--you will enjoy it as much as they.

The second book, Charmed Life, is also wonderful. I found the character, Cat, to be really painfully well-drawn--a wide-eyed look of a child who has been abused and manipulated by his evil older sister. Yes, Cat is passive--but that is because he's been so beaten down by his sister. When he finally realizes his own powers and stands up to everyone in the end, it's just a wonderful moment. My only gripe with this book is not really a gripe--it's just that I got so caught up with Cat that I wanted to read about him more,a nd find out how he did as Chrestomanci; but I guess that's not really a gripe....And once again, Jones surpasses with her marvelous characters. I especially love how she doesn't hesitate to show flaws, and how many of her 'good' characters are not physical beauties--Millie, for instance, the wife of Chrestomanci, is just chubby and plain, and their two chidlren as equally dumpy and have a tendancy to breathe loudly...Cat's snobby sister can't stand this! IT's just great.

I encourage anyone who hasn't to read all of Jones' books. Some are weaker than others, but most are terrific, and even the weakest ones don't disappoint, as they are still filled with her imagination and sense of humor.

This author really deserves to be better known. Perhaps she already is in England--but she deserves to be better known here in the US. I can't think how many people I've hooked onto her--& I myself was hooked by a friend. No one I know was introduced to her in schools or libraries or Scholastic or what-have-you, and that is a shame.

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Summary: More Enchanting Then Harry Potter
Review: I have only read the first half of this book, but am totally hooked.

The first section of this book follows Eric "Cat" Chant. He and his sister Glendowlen move from a small town, into Chrestomanci's Castle. Chrestomanci is a title given to those enchanters that hold 9 lives, a very rare trait to find. Apparently only the current Chrestomanci and Eric hold them.

Through the book, Eric learns more about himself, and about witchcraft, with several interesting plot twists.

I am a very avid fantasy/sci-fi/utopian reader, and have to admit that The Chronicles of Chrestomanci is one of the best books I have read. Chrestomanci for some can compete with J.K. Rolling's "Harry Potter".

One side note, there are two sections, the first following Eric Chant, the other takesp lace 25 years before, and follows Chrestomanci. It is a slight change, but still very well written.

A MUST HAVE for any Fantasy or any of you who like to read.

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Summary: Fabulous
Review: Fantasy being one of my favorite genres, I am always on the lookout for a decent magical novel. Too often, I find that fantasy authors take themselves too seriously. If I really want to read pages and pages of dull prophecies, I'll go read the book of Jeremiah in the Bible. Fortunately, The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume I is nothing like this. It is a charming novel, with just the right amount of magic, humor, suspense, and intellect.

Many reviewers have compared Diana Wynne Jones' books with the Harry Potter series, and with good reason. The stories mostly revolve around children, and they have the same lighthearted and charming yet clever feel. However, The Chronicles of Chrestomanci are not simply a cheap Potter knock-off. Jones has created an original world (well, many worlds actually) where the legendary enchanter Chrestomanci (it's a title, not one person) must keep the various mages, warlocks, witches, enchanters, magicians and other magical folk from misusing their powers. The first volume deals with the stories of two boys and how they come to be Chrestomanci. The stories are actually two different books, although they are related.

The writing is somewhat abrupt, and by that I mean that I thought there was less description than comparable novels, and it took me some time to understand the author's voice, but once I did, it was marvelous. Once you understand how things work in the world DWJ has created, you will delight in the stories she relates about Cat Chant and Christopher Chant, who seemingly have no magical talent at all. The characters are well drawn and interesting, although some readers may become irritated with the complacent Cat.

I highly recommend this book, especially for readers who long for a less 'adult' fantasy novel. It is a fairly quick read, and never slows to the dragging pace that some of the longer fantasy novels do. Diana Wynne Jones has written an amazing work, and I hope she gets the attention she deserves for it.