Fantasy

Charmed Life

Charmed Life

  • Downloads：8987
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2022-05-30 11:16:37
  • Update Date：2025-09-23
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Diana Wynne Jones
  • ISBN：0007255292
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary

"There is one absolute rule，" said Chrestomanci。 "No witchcraft of any kind is to be practised by children without supervision。 Is that understood？"

No witchcraft？ Gwendolen Chant - a gifted witch in the making - has other ideas and is determined to get the better of the great enchanter。 Her brother Cat， who has no magical gift， is powerless to stop her。

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Reviews

Óli Sóleyjarson ，

Þessi bók fór alveg í innilega aðrar áttir en ég hélt。 Mjög vel gert。 Galdrar í heimi sem líkist okkar。

John ，

I'm reading a bunch of middle-grade books over the summer to learn the structure， patterns， and ideas within them。 This one was the start。 I heard so much about Jones' writing and her writing of this book so many years ago is still quite relevant。 Though some vocabulary and idioms have definitely changed， her multiverse and magic together really create an original story that is about characters。 And that is the winning point of reading Jones'- characterization。 She is so subtle but shows so much I'm reading a bunch of middle-grade books over the summer to learn the structure， patterns， and ideas within them。 This one was the start。 I heard so much about Jones' writing and her writing of this book so many years ago is still quite relevant。 Though some vocabulary and idioms have definitely changed， her multiverse and magic together really create an original story that is about characters。 And that is the winning point of reading Jones'- characterization。 She is so subtle but shows so much depth in characters its superb talent。 I recommend if you read this type of book。 。。。more

Filipa ，

Diana Wynne Jones' imagination is really something。Absolutely adored Charmed Life。 I grow more and more fond of it as time goes by （finished it yesterday but already look back to it with nostalgia - and sooooo much fondness）。You get swept by the intricacies of the world and can't help to grow fond of the characters - or at least some of them。It's enigmatic， charming， full of magic， secrets and spellbinding storytelling。（Cat and the way he loves/ hangs on to his family and the people that care f Diana Wynne Jones' imagination is really something。Absolutely adored Charmed Life。 I grow more and more fond of it as time goes by （finished it yesterday but already look back to it with nostalgia - and sooooo much fondness）。You get swept by the intricacies of the world and can't help to grow fond of the characters - or at least some of them。It's enigmatic， charming， full of magic， secrets and spellbinding storytelling。（Cat and the way he loves/ hangs on to his family and the people that care for him - or he think should care for him - is heart warming/wrenching。 You wanna hold him in a cocoon and protect him from all evil and pain， to tell him he is loved and appreciated。 As an adult reading this， I couldn't help feeling the weaving undertone of sadness and tragedy sewed into it all。 The ending ！！！ My heart still aches。）My head was saying 4 starts but my heart is singing 5。 。。。more

Anna ，

Chrestomanci my beloved… what a dumbass

Sophia ，

A cozy fantasy that I really liked when I was younger。 （audiobook）

Margaret ，

3。5？

Vivi ，

The writing style I liked but that was it。 Half of the plotline was formed from misunderstanding and active decisions not to communicate。 The other half was because of a literal hellspawn - a psychopathic， selfish， and egotistical sister creating drama for 99% of the book。 Janet and Cat are about the only two nice folks around， but they weren't treated nicely nor were they ever apologized to。 There may be some worth in this series if it followed Cat growing up and expanded on Gwendolen's villain The writing style I liked but that was it。 Half of the plotline was formed from misunderstanding and active decisions not to communicate。 The other half was because of a literal hellspawn - a psychopathic， selfish， and egotistical sister creating drama for 99% of the book。 Janet and Cat are about the only two nice folks around， but they weren't treated nicely nor were they ever apologized to。 There may be some worth in this series if it followed Cat growing up and expanded on Gwendolen's villainous role in a more complex manner。 But judging from the short summaries of each book after， the author seems to have discarded this chapter in a lighthearted manner in favor of other protagonists。 Fine with me but atm the world isn't compelling enough to hold my interest in this series。P。S。 And don't mind my saying that I don't like this line， "She took hold of the corners of her crossed eyes and pulled them long and Chinese， and stuck her tongue out as far as it would go。 （p。126）" 。。。more

Cynthia ，

Diana Wynne Jones has a certain way of writing that makes me miss something that I've never had， and will never have。 Diana Wynne Jones has a certain way of writing that makes me miss something that I've never had， and will never have。 。。。more

Graham Whittington ，

3。75* An often odd but also solid and fun intro to this series。 Not quite as exciting as others of its ilk， but I still enjoyed it and look forward to the rest of the collection。

Mr。 Southmayd ，

Love DWJ's Magical WorldThe problem\solution and absolute mayhem mixed with Italian airshow disaster styles really keep the reader engaged with the characters。 Give DWJ a try if you haven't。 Love DWJ's Magical WorldThe problem\solution and absolute mayhem mixed with Italian airshow disaster styles really keep the reader engaged with the characters。 Give DWJ a try if you haven't。 。。。more

Mira ，

3，5

Tabitha ，

I forgot how compelling this is-- and what a great writer Diana Wynne Jones was！

Stephanie Doyle ，

This was a really， light hearted read to follow up some grittier reads I'd read recently。It was really funny and quick to read， even for me。 I will actually look for the next in this series as it was so good， it's worth carrying on with This was a really， light hearted read to follow up some grittier reads I'd read recently。It was really funny and quick to read， even for me。 I will actually look for the next in this series as it was so good， it's worth carrying on with 。。。more

Deedee ，

Lexile 720L IL: MG - BL: 4。8 - AR Pts: 9。0

Theresa Hargitai ，

Really for kids -they'd love it。 A bit uncomfortable when she gets a bit rude about chubbiness， but it is a real reflection of how we were brought up to think back then。 Apart from that， a brilliant magical series well worth the read。 Really for kids -they'd love it。 A bit uncomfortable when she gets a bit rude about chubbiness， but it is a real reflection of how we were brought up to think back then。 Apart from that， a brilliant magical series well worth the read。 。。。more

Kyla Ren ，

Such a lovely and captivating read， featuring children as our leads with out feeling like you're stuck in the bad side of the YA genre。 Reading this feels like being a kid at story time， captivated by the story。 Such a lovely and captivating read， featuring children as our leads with out feeling like you're stuck in the bad side of the YA genre。 Reading this feels like being a kid at story time， captivated by the story。 。。。more

Verónica Fleitas Solich ，

3。5A whimsical story that takes place in a magical atmosphere that transports。Adorable and entertaining， ideal to clear your mind and forget everything。I will continue with the series。

Jessica ，

As with some of her other books， this one has some unfortunate fat shaming in it， but is otherwise a delightful book about a world where magic is the norm。

Lucy Andrews Cummin ，

Two orphaned children， sister and brother， are whisked off to Enchanter Chrestomanci's home in Charmed Life after he receives a letter from the sister。 The children are Chants， as is Chrestomanci， and are therefore related to him and from the letter he becomes aware that the girl， Gwendolyn， has ambitions that go beyond the magical ethics that he has been appointed to maintain。 The brother believes he has no magic at all。 Of the three novels in the Chrestomanci series I've read so far， this firs Two orphaned children， sister and brother， are whisked off to Enchanter Chrestomanci's home in Charmed Life after he receives a letter from the sister。 The children are Chants， as is Chrestomanci， and are therefore related to him and from the letter he becomes aware that the girl， Gwendolyn， has ambitions that go beyond the magical ethics that he has been appointed to maintain。 The brother believes he has no magic at all。 Of the three novels in the Chrestomanci series I've read so far， this first is the most lively; the sister is most enjoyably wicked！ **** 。。。more

Mary Beth ，

Charmed Life is a surprisingly intense tale， as the implications of what’s been happening to poor Cat gradually become clear and one character in particular is revealed to be even more monstrously cruel and selfish than initially appeared。 But for all that， it’s a fun read， with some dramatic turns and a wild approach to magic and alternate worlds。2022 Read Harder Challenge 9。 The book that’s been on your TBR the longest。

Kat ，

Well that was an enjoyable story。 I can always count on DWJ/an old fave to get me out of a slump （I’ve been saying this a lot but whatever） （I do miss Howl tho）

Nebel ，

ADORABLE。 So cute omg。 Just as good as Howl's Moving Castle。 Diana Wynne Jones at her finest。 ADORABLE。 So cute omg。 Just as good as Howl's Moving Castle。 Diana Wynne Jones at her finest。 。。。more

Camilla Chester ，

I really liked the concept of this book， the parallel worlds and witches/warlocks etc， but it felt very dated。 All the children sounded terribly terribly if you get what I mean and I was reminded of Enid Blighton。 If you can get past all the ‘bother it’ and foot stamping then the story is pretty good。 The writing felt rushed to me and there was a big explanation at the end that was very Scooby Do but overall I did enjoy it。 Lashings of fun！

David ，

Willy Wonka och chokladfabriken vibe

Kelley ，

3+

Mikael ，

This is good because its Diana Wynne Jones but its also just ok becasuse the main character "Cat" is throughly passive and spends most of the book doing nothing。 The ending explains alot of what was happening but by then its already over。 This is good because its Diana Wynne Jones but its also just ok becasuse the main character "Cat" is throughly passive and spends most of the book doing nothing。 The ending explains alot of what was happening but by then its already over。 。。。more

Danielle ，

A charming good time that was a little messy at times。 Reading this reminded me so much of the wind singer where a bunch of biazzare ideas are just simply thrown together。 It was alright。 Exciting and engaging but otherwise messy。

Ariel Lobdell ，

Having loved Howl's Moving Castle， I was hoping this would be a blockbuster for me more than it ended up being。 While the plot was imaginative， I was feeling a bit ho-hum throughout most of it I think because I found the characters not very likeable until they reached some satisfying personal development and mysteries were unveiled towards the end。 There was a sort of lack of explanation throughout until the resolution that disoriented me also。 I think I didn't feel that same lack of context wit Having loved Howl's Moving Castle， I was hoping this would be a blockbuster for me more than it ended up being。 While the plot was imaginative， I was feeling a bit ho-hum throughout most of it I think because I found the characters not very likeable until they reached some satisfying personal development and mysteries were unveiled towards the end。 There was a sort of lack of explanation throughout until the resolution that disoriented me also。 I think I didn't feel that same lack of context with Howl's Moving Castle possibly because I had seen the movie beforehand so I felt like I understood what the world was already。But as I alluded to， the clever and compelling last few chapters and how the climax emerged and the tale was wrapped up really bumped this up a star for me。 I loved Cat's redemption line and reveled in my own personal metaphors on co-dependency "enneagram 9 stuff" and Gospel redemption。 I wasn't sure if I would read the next in the series， but now I have to！ She is a really creative writer。 。。。more

Sara Qalabata ，

Frustrating yet brilliant。Two orphaned siblings were taken under the care of the great enchanter Mr。Chrestomanci。 Gwendolen Chant， a selfish young girl， with the gift of magic。 Unlike her brother Cat who has no magic。 Gwen wanted to show Mr。 Chrestomanci that she can do much more than others with magic， even the great enchanter himself。 But Chrestomanci batted no eye and the more he ignored her the more she became evil and wicked。 Cat on the other hand， with all his sister's wicked plans， kept s Frustrating yet brilliant。Two orphaned siblings were taken under the care of the great enchanter Mr。Chrestomanci。 Gwendolen Chant， a selfish young girl， with the gift of magic。 Unlike her brother Cat who has no magic。 Gwen wanted to show Mr。 Chrestomanci that she can do much more than others with magic， even the great enchanter himself。 But Chrestomanci batted no eye and the more he ignored her the more she became evil and wicked。 Cat on the other hand， with all his sister's wicked plans， kept silent。This book was frustrating （not that it's a flaw）。 I wanted to enter the book myself and slap Gwen so bad。 and Cat's silence was even more annoying， like do something。Nevertheless， I love this book so much。 。。。more

Miriam ，

Do I prefer this to Howl's Moving Castle？ Possibly。 It's absolute genius and a surprisingly intricate and complex novel， despite being very fun and accessible。 I absolutely adore the life of the family and the exploration of magic， one of the best fantasy novels ever written。 Do I prefer this to Howl's Moving Castle？ Possibly。 It's absolute genius and a surprisingly intricate and complex novel， despite being very fun and accessible。 I absolutely adore the life of the family and the exploration of magic， one of the best fantasy novels ever written。 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Charmed Life

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Charmed Life&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Charmed Life&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0