The Magicians of Caprona

In books by fantasy author Diana Wynne Jones, nothing is ever as it seems. And so it is with one of her finest creations--"The Worlds of Chrestomanci".

Here, there are hundreds of other, parallel worlds--each one formed when the result of a big event in history, like a battle or an earthquake, could have been two quite different things. Both things happened, but because they could not exist together, the worlds split apart and took their new courses independently. What's more, it is common for people to have at least one exact double populating several of these other world...

Confused? Don't be--The Magicians of Caprona is the second instalment in the fascinating life of Christopher Chant (better known as Chrestomanci) and explains everything you ever needed to know about magic, witchcraft and the black arts. There are new characters, more surprises, slippery spells and an enchanted romance too!

In the Italian Dukedom of Caprona, the houses of Montana and Petrocchi control everything magical, watched over by its magnificent guardian statue, the Angel. But the families have been feuding for years so when all the spells that are meant to vanquish the threat of war from other city-states all start going wrong--each predictably blames the other. It is only when the young Tonino Montana and Angelica Petrocchi suddenly disappear that rumours of a White Devil who threatens the Angel of Caprona are taken seriously. Family differences must be cast aside to save the day from an evil enchanter, and lives cannot be saved without the involvement of the magic man they call Chrestomanci.

The Magicians of Caprona is the slightly more serious sequel to Charmed Life, and is followed by two further Chrestromanci novels--Witch Week and The Lives of Christopher Chant and a new collection of short stories, Mixed Magics. (Ages 10 and over) --John McLay

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Its great and really follows on the sequence! - Rated
Its amazing and magical.About friendship with excitement jumping in.Its like a folded piece of paper which unfolds slowly as you read on.It leaves you really excited untill the end and you want to read more and more. Take my advice and read it!

Delicate but funny! - Rated
DWJ adds an Italian feel to the Chrestomanci series. This book was, I think, the first book of hers I ever read. It takes the Capulet/Montague theme from Romeo and Juliet, but sets it down in a city with two warring families of magic practitioners. The main characters are children rather than teenagers, but I don't think it's meant as a reworking of the play, it's an original in itself. They have to learn to work together (despite their family feud) to try and rescue the city...any more and I would give the plot away. But it's a good read if not as *complex* as some of Diana Wynne Jones' work, and highly recommended for younger readers.

Pretty good, but not the best. - Rated
Well I read it all in one afternoon, curled up in the school library after my exams were over, which I suppose is a good recommendation...BUT...it just wasn't as great as Diana Wynne Jones so often is. Not as sophisticated as Howl's moving castle or as amusing as A Sudden Wild Magic, it was actually a tad banal in places. But good fun if you need something light.

Awesome!!!!!!! Splendid!!!!!!! Great!!!!!!!! - Rated
The Magicians of Caprona is undoubtly one of the best books i've ever read.It beats Harry Potter hands down.If you have read other Chresomanci or Diana Wynne Jones books and love it, then this is the right book for you. What more can i say? Its the best!!!!!!!! Its more than the best......its simply......AWESOME.

It was great, everything a book could have. - Rated
The Magicians of Caprona was great I couldn`t put it down.It was funny, scary and sad plus it contained all other emotions of the emotional rainbow. If your looking for something less heavy than Harry potter with a bit more of a thrill-I recomend you read this.