Chronicles of Chrestomanci Series by Diana Wynne Jones 7 Books Collection Set

This seven-book set brings together Diana Wynne Jones’s Chronicles of Chrestomanci, spanning the parallel universes known as the Twelve Related Worlds. At the centre is Chrestomanci, an enchanter described as having nine lives and charged with controlling the misuse of magic.

Across the collection, the stories move between worlds where magic is feared, outlawed or dangerously unstable. The novels include episodes focused on Christopher Chant and the Chant family, mysteries shaped by shifting realities, and adventures in settings where enchantment affects everyday life. One volume, Mixed Magics, is a four-story collection influenced by Chrestomanci.

Included titles

• The Lives of Christopher Chant
• Conrad's Fate
• Charmed Life
• The Magician's of Caprona
• The Pinhoe Egg
• Witch Week
• Mixed Magics

Key details

• Seven-book collection from the Chronicles of Chrestomanci series
• By Diana Wynne Jones
• Set across the Twelve Related Worlds of parallel universes
• Includes a four-story collection in Mixed Magics
• Centres on Chrestomanci, an enchanter described as having nine lives

Synopses

The Lives of Christopher Chant

In the Twelve Related Worlds, only an enchanter with nine lives can hold the title Chrestomanci and curb the misuse of magic. Christopher Chant and Cat Chant come from a family known for magic, yet neither can manage even simple spells. Both are born with nine lives, and they may lose them far too quickly.

Conrad's Fate

At Stallery Mansion, someone is changing the world, beginning with small details that grow into major alterations. Conrad, a twelve-year-old staff member with terrible karma, tries to discover who is responsible. Christopher Chant, arriving from another world, is also searching for a friend lost in an alternate Stallery Mansion.

Charmed Life

Gwendolyn Chant is said to be a gifted witch with astonishing powers, and she is taken to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Her brother Eric, known as Cat, has no talent for magic and is far less enthusiastic. Life with the great enchanter proves very different from what either expects, and tensions quickly rise. The source notes this title as a winner of the Guardian Award.

The Magician's of Caprona

In the Dukedom of Caprona, music works as enchantment and spells can be as slippery as spaghetti. Two rival families, the Montanas and the Petrocchis, run the magical business and blame each other when spells begin to fail. Chrestomanci suspects an evil enchanter, while others fear a White Devil, and Caprona may need a different kind of magic to be saved.

The Pinhoe Egg

Cat Chant and Marianne Pinhoe find an egg that is strange, precious and not meant to be discovered. Chrestomanci, described as Cat’s guardian and the strongest enchanter in the world, is certain to take an interest, which is exactly what Marianne’s family of secret rogue witches wants to avoid. As secrets unravel and spells cause havoc across the countryside, Marianne and Cat may be the only ones who can put things right.

Witch Week

Within the Twelve Related Worlds, there are places where Caprona is threatened by the schemes of a mysterious enchanter, and others where magic is outlawed and witches are burned at the stake. In two worlds where magic has gone dangerously wrong, the solution is to call upon the Chrestomanci.

Mixed Magics

Chrestomanci is presented as dapper, debonair and wise, with nine lives, strong magic and a strong personality. This collection contains four stories shaped by his influence. The tales include a warlock fleeing justice to another world, an uneasy alliance between Cat Chant and Tonino Montana, a best-selling dreamer who can no longer dream, and a young Sage of Dissolution aided as gods threaten an orderly world.