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meganbmooreThe two books in the second Chrestomanci omnibus, The Magicians of Caprona and Witch Week, are not actually about Chrestomancis, but set in the same multiverse, with Chrestomanci(I’m assuming both are Christopher?) playing a supporting role later in the books.
TMoC is set in an alternate Italy, focusing on the feud between the Montanas and the Petrocchis, two clans of wizards who have been enemies for two hundred years, and who provide the city of Caprona with its war spells. When Tonino Montana and Angelica Petrocchi-two children who aren’t good with magic-are kidnapped and the families told not to make anymore war spells, the two clans are quick to blame each other. Thankfully, the younger generation hasn’t had time to get that bad. In addition to Tonino and Angelica working to save themselves, there’s also Tonino’s brother, Paolo, and Angelica’s sister or cousin (I forget which) Renata working to save them. There’s also our version of Romeo and Juliet, Marco and Rosa, who thankfully are much more sensible than R&J. Actually, they’re pretty clever in trying to get around that whole “our families want to annihilate each other” thing. This one was just a pure blast, and I wouldn’t have minded it being a bit longer. I’d love a sequel a few years down the road, with the families still stuck with each other.
WW is set in an unhappy boarding school in a world where magic is outlawed and the inquisition is still going on, but many people are still born with magic. Nan is the daughter of a witch and gets bullied for it, but doesn’t think she’s a witch herself, Charles doesn’t get along with anyone, Estelle is a secret witch sympathizer, Nirupam watched a family member be burned alive, and Billy is bullied for being a teacher’s son. The first half with everyone wondering who the witch was and the mysterious spells and such was good, but I wasn’t overly into it. But then halfway through, we had people showing their true colors and running away and Chrestomanci was showing up in a huff and talking about realities being wrong and there was all the fixing of realities, and suddenly, I was having fun. Though, I probably shouldn’t have bulldozed through it right after bulldozing through TMoC.
TMoC is set in an alternate Italy, focusing on the feud between the Montanas and the Petrocchis, two clans of wizards who have been enemies for two hundred years, and who provide the city of Caprona with its war spells. When Tonino Montana and Angelica Petrocchi-two children who aren’t good with magic-are kidnapped and the families told not to make anymore war spells, the two clans are quick to blame each other. Thankfully, the younger generation hasn’t had time to get that bad. In addition to Tonino and Angelica working to save themselves, there’s also Tonino’s brother, Paolo, and Angelica’s sister or cousin (I forget which) Renata working to save them. There’s also our version of Romeo and Juliet, Marco and Rosa, who thankfully are much more sensible than R&J. Actually, they’re pretty clever in trying to get around that whole “our families want to annihilate each other” thing. This one was just a pure blast, and I wouldn’t have minded it being a bit longer. I’d love a sequel a few years down the road, with the families still stuck with each other.
WW is set in an unhappy boarding school in a world where magic is outlawed and the inquisition is still going on, but many people are still born with magic. Nan is the daughter of a witch and gets bullied for it, but doesn’t think she’s a witch herself, Charles doesn’t get along with anyone, Estelle is a secret witch sympathizer, Nirupam watched a family member be burned alive, and Billy is bullied for being a teacher’s son. The first half with everyone wondering who the witch was and the mysterious spells and such was good, but I wasn’t overly into it. But then halfway through, we had people showing their true colors and running away and Chrestomanci was showing up in a huff and talking about realities being wrong and there was all the fixing of realities, and suddenly, I was having fun. Though, I probably shouldn’t have bulldozed through it right after bulldozing through TMoC.
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Date: 2008-06-22 01:49 am (UTC)I read Magicians of Caprona to my son. It's a lot of fun to read aloud.
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Date: 2008-06-22 01:53 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-22 01:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-22 01:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-22 02:58 am (UTC)In the short story collection, there's a story starring Cat and Tonio that's very cute.
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Date: 2008-06-22 03:00 am (UTC)