Reviews
The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 2: The Magicians of Caprona / Witch Week by Diana Wynne Jones
silquesoleil's review against another edition
3.0
Not to whine, but there is not much of Chrestomanci in these Chronicles of Chrestomanci Vol II
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyable Jones fantasy stories, though less organized than the first two. There are some creepy puppet scenes and sadly less extravagant dressing gowns, but generally still solid Chrestomanci fare.
justinecm's review against another edition
5.0
The first Story in this volume Is good. I enjoy stories based on big close-knit families. I really quite liked the second story. Anyone who is a fan of Dianna's other stories will enjoy these as well.
pine_wulf's review against another edition
4.0
Magicians of Caprona is a solid 3 stars. It was fun but didn't really grab hold.
Witch Week is more like 4. I should have taken a break between stories because I wasn't much in the mood for the first few chapters to read another light kid's story. After reading some thrilling manga I was able to be more in the mood. This one is a solid story that's a lot of fun too. I felt for some of the characters a lot more than the first story. Was really feeling it for Nan and hating on Charles. The ending was clever and I didn't see it coming.
Witch Week is more like 4. I should have taken a break between stories because I wasn't much in the mood for the first few chapters to read another light kid's story. After reading some thrilling manga I was able to be more in the mood. This one is a solid story that's a lot of fun too. I felt for some of the characters a lot more than the first story. Was really feeling it for Nan and hating on Charles. The ending was clever and I didn't see it coming.
hollyeula's review against another edition
4.0
I first read Chrestomanci when I was in middle school. Re-reading it is like visiting an old friend. Diana Wynne Jones was a master of language, but her true gift lay with making her young characters feel real.
chandaurtara's review against another edition
5.0
Let me break this down, okay?
I. MAGICIANS OF CAPRONA
What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful premise. The start of the story was pretty Romeo-and-Juliet-esque, but then things began to spice up when the magic entered the mix. Diana Wynne Jones has this way of writing that just feels super unreal. As if what you're reading doesn't really exist. She doesn't describe very much, and if you're looking for a detailed dissection of what each character is, you are reading the wrong book. References from previous stories and references that start making sense when you read the next few books are interspersed through-out the narratives in this entire series, and you are left to draw your own conclusions.
I thought that this style of writing was beautiful.
II. WITCH WEEK
A realistic, humorous portrayal of schools and friendships, types of kids in schools, and the serious issue of bullying. Also another very interesting premise.
I. MAGICIANS OF CAPRONA
What a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful premise. The start of the story was pretty Romeo-and-Juliet-esque, but then things began to spice up when the magic entered the mix. Diana Wynne Jones has this way of writing that just feels super unreal. As if what you're reading doesn't really exist. She doesn't describe very much, and if you're looking for a detailed dissection of what each character is, you are reading the wrong book. References from previous stories and references that start making sense when you read the next few books are interspersed through-out the narratives in this entire series, and you are left to draw your own conclusions.
I thought that this style of writing was beautiful.
II. WITCH WEEK
A realistic, humorous portrayal of schools and friendships, types of kids in schools, and the serious issue of bullying. Also another very interesting premise.
halfcentreader's review against another edition
4.0
I have never been disappointed by one of the Chrestomanci books. ever.
lkmreads's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it a little bit less than volume one, however, it was certainly a fun read.
thearbiter89's review against another edition
4.0
The middle two stories in the Chrestomanci sextet are quite odd in that they only sporadically feature the titular character, being stories set in worlds parallel to Chrestomanci's own. But they are no less engaging from the outset even as they feature new characters.
Of the two novellas, I prefer Witch Week for its almost dystopian character: a world of computers and gas-powered cars where magic-users, including children, are tracked down and burned at the stake; wherein Jones' bucolic prose never obscures an essential grimness; where her characters are outcast and suitably angry; where the use of magic as described has potentially Lovecraftian levels of existential dread-inducement.
But Magicians of Caprona has its own, rather Continental charm, being a tale of two feuding Italian families a la R+J but without the tweeny romance. It even has war-themes and conscription - and again I have to remark on Jones' propensity to slide in grimmer themes so matter-of-factly in the lives of her pre-teen protagonists. But the rather feeble villain and bow-neat resolution blunt the force of this tale's thematic thrust.
I give this collection: 4 out of 5 rebellious broomsticks
Of the two novellas, I prefer Witch Week for its almost dystopian character: a world of computers and gas-powered cars where magic-users, including children, are tracked down and burned at the stake; wherein Jones' bucolic prose never obscures an essential grimness; where her characters are outcast and suitably angry; where the use of magic as described has potentially Lovecraftian levels of existential dread-inducement.
But Magicians of Caprona has its own, rather Continental charm, being a tale of two feuding Italian families a la R+J but without the tweeny romance. It even has war-themes and conscription - and again I have to remark on Jones' propensity to slide in grimmer themes so matter-of-factly in the lives of her pre-teen protagonists. But the rather feeble villain and bow-neat resolution blunt the force of this tale's thematic thrust.
I give this collection: 4 out of 5 rebellious broomsticks
squishies's review against another edition
4.0
This volume was different to Volume 1, where Vol. 1 is about kids finding out they're the next Chrestomanci and enchanter (while losing a lot of lives! haha) The Magicians of Caprona and Witch Week is more on witches and what have you than Chrestomanci, who is featured very little in these books but obviously plays a part in putting things to right.^^^^It definitely wasn't what I had expected, I thought it would be more focussed on Chrestomanci, but when I realised it wasn't, I tried to figure out which Chant was in each book! Hehe... I couldn't, but I have a sneaking suspicion it might be Cat... or Christopher... hmm... (yeah, the *only* two Chants I know haha)^^^^Anywho, The Magicians of Caprona was about two feuding family and an impending danger to the Italian state of ... something, though strong as each family was, they didn't know who the bad enchanter was. (AND they got turned into puppets! Punches and Judies!)^^^^Witch Week was about a world that witches are illegal and burnt on the stake (heathens! =P) and these kids at the boarding school discover one-by-one that they're witches. Loved the ending =)^^^^I really like Ms. Jones' writing style and the characters she creates - been a fan of hers since my high school days =) hehe (so old! T_T)"