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50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nine lives, and better every time, August 10, 2002
Ever since the publication of J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit," people have imagined wizards as tall, elderly men with long gray beards, loose robes and pointed hats. Diana Wynne-Jones shatters the cliched image with Chrestomanci, a dapper Englishman who happens to be the nine-lived magician in charge of all the magic -- in all the parallel worlds. "Charmed Life" is the story of Cat and Gwendolen, siblings who are orphaned in a tragic steamboat accident. While Cat is shy, Gwendolen is the opposite: She is an unnaturally powerful witch, and intends to rise high enough to rule the world. She thinks that she's got it made when Chrestomanci brings her and her brother to his castle. But Gwendolen has met her match in Chrestomanci -- and a magical war of wills has begun! "The Lives of Christopher Chant" is the backstory of Chrestomanci. Once he was an ordinary boy, whose ambition was to become a cricket player. But when he is tested by a powerful magician, Christopher Chant is found to be Chrestomanci: An amazingly powerful magician with not one, but NINE lives. The problem is, Christopher doesn't want to be Chrestomanci -- and he's already enmeshed in a wizards' smuggling ring that may spell doom for his new friends... Diana Wynne-Jones is at her best here: the books are funny, dramatic, well-characterized, well-written and well-plotted. The parallel worlds are well-thought out, such as Chrestomanci's world, where magic exists rather than science as we know it. As in many of her books, she shows unusual insights into the thought processes of both young and adolescent children. While readers may sometimes want to smack the lead characters, it's hard not to like the heroes and despise the villains. After reading this two-pack, readers should immediately read the next two books in the series, as well as the new short-story collection. Chrestomanci is too good to be missed.
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40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great story for parent / child reading, September 27, 2002
My husband read both of these books to our 8-year-old daughter (3rd grader) and they were both entralled by the stories. Harry Potter, Chronicles of Narnia, and A Wrinkle in Time fans will most likely enjoy these chronicles. It's got parallel worlds, enchantment, and humor. We meet and watch Christopher Chant's life unfold among different worlds. He has a big job on his shoulders -- to keep people from abusing their magic abilities. My husband excitedly told me about the story, something he doesn't do unless he enjoys it. He's a Star Trek, Lord of the Ring, and Star Wars fan. So, fathers or adults who enjoy those will probably get a kick out of these.
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32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better Than Harry Potter!, July 10, 2002
I discovered these wonderful books quite typically...I was a Harry Potter fan, and I was looking for something similar to read while waiting for the fifth book...and I had read 'Dogsbody' by Diana Wynne Jones before. So, I stumbled upon these magnificent books. I totally adore them! If I were hardpressed to pick between the two, I would choose 'Charmed Life', but both stories are great. Chrestomanci is such a wonderful character, and the world that D.W. Jones creates is much more original than that J.K. Rowling creates. Of course, I shall always be a Harry Potter freak, but these books are much better. There is so much intrigue, action, humor, and wonderful characters, that I have read them over and over again. I highly, highly reccommend these books (and Volume II as well) to *anyone* who enjoys Harry Potter, fantasy, or just a good story. Read them...you will NOT be disappointed!
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