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A review by shimauchiha
The Chronicles of Chrestomanci, Volume 2 by Diana Wynne Jones
4.0
The magicians of Caprona : 3 stars
[May contain mild spoilers]
In relation to pacing, the magicians of Caprona is exactly the opposite of [b:Charmed Life|244572|Charmed Life (Chrestomanci, #1)|Diana Wynne Jones|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396706429s/244572.jpg|6594671] In Charmed life the beginning wasn't at all interesting, yet the ending was filled with action and great twists.
In the magicians of Caprona however, the beginning was great. First of all it's set in an alternate Italy, it also has that great family dynamics that immediately draws the reader in.
Unfortunately from then forward, it also follows the complete cliche formula of two families and their age old rivalry. The moment you read that what kind of plot do you imagine?
Two people from different families falling in love? Some outside enemy pitting the families against each other in order to distract them from the real evil? The only way for them to defeat the evil is to work together? And of course the start of this animosity has been nothing but some misunderstanding?
Check, Check, Check and Check.
The books follows exactly along this used and predictable lines. All that I predicted the first time I heard of Montanas and Petrocchis came to pass, just in the way I predicted, and I first heard of them in the very first page, so you can see why from the middle forward the book was a tad predictable and boring. (And in case you didn't get that, here a tad means a lot)
Witch Week : 4.5 stars
Without a doubt the best Chrestomanci book so far.
Witch week was great right from the start to the end. Basically we're dealing with a modern world in every way except that witches are hunted and burned at stake. A world that shouldn't exist. So how did it came to be?
However the world building is but one of the great things in this book. The characterization is also masterful. Within just the first few pages you get a pretty good grip on who the characters are, yet as the book goes on you get to see new layers to them.
The plot is also really really great. At first we are dealing with a few different characters's stories in different POVs and all of them are great, but of course near the end they all come together and it gets even better, and the ending doesn't disappoint.
I reduced half a star for some details in the plot that didn't make too much sense and a few unanswered questions, but overall it had five star quality.
[May contain mild spoilers]
In relation to pacing, the magicians of Caprona is exactly the opposite of [b:Charmed Life|244572|Charmed Life (Chrestomanci, #1)|Diana Wynne Jones|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1396706429s/244572.jpg|6594671] In Charmed life the beginning wasn't at all interesting, yet the ending was filled with action and great twists.
In the magicians of Caprona however, the beginning was great. First of all it's set in an alternate Italy, it also has that great family dynamics that immediately draws the reader in.
Unfortunately from then forward, it also follows the complete cliche formula of two families and their age old rivalry. The moment you read that what kind of plot do you imagine?
Two people from different families falling in love? Some outside enemy pitting the families against each other in order to distract them from the real evil? The only way for them to defeat the evil is to work together? And of course the start of this animosity has been nothing but some misunderstanding?
Check, Check, Check and Check.
The books follows exactly along this used and predictable lines. All that I predicted the first time I heard of Montanas and Petrocchis came to pass, just in the way I predicted, and I first heard of them in the very first page, so you can see why from the middle forward the book was a tad predictable and boring. (And in case you didn't get that, here a tad means a lot)
Witch Week : 4.5 stars
Without a doubt the best Chrestomanci book so far.
Witch week was great right from the start to the end. Basically we're dealing with a modern world in every way except that witches are hunted and burned at stake. A world that shouldn't exist. So how did it came to be?
However the world building is but one of the great things in this book. The characterization is also masterful. Within just the first few pages you get a pretty good grip on who the characters are, yet as the book goes on you get to see new layers to them.
The plot is also really really great. At first we are dealing with a few different characters's stories in different POVs and all of them are great, but of course near the end they all come together and it gets even better, and the ending doesn't disappoint.
I reduced half a star for some details in the plot that didn't make too much sense and a few unanswered questions, but overall it had five star quality.