Awwh man, this was definitely my favourite of the Chrestomanci series - such a shame it was the last one! It's another one set in the castle during Christopher Chant's reign as Chrestomanci, with Cat as his apprentice. I do love me some Chrestomanci in his dressing gowns XD

Initially I didnt really know where the Pinhoe/Farleigh storyline was going, and I spent many a page wanting to stab Gammer and all the Pinhoes. But all tied up wonderfully in the end, especially with the stories of the hidden creatures, and the Pinhoes slightly redeeming themselves - though I still find myself wanting to stab Marianne's father.

This is by far the cutest book of the series, and everytime Klartch was mentioned my face literally went like this ^_^! I think I loved this one the most because it dealt with magical creatures, and the story about Gaffer and the unicorn, and the sinister misdirection spells and barriers were genuinely mysterious, unlike [b:Witch Week|47572|Witch Week (Chrestomanci, #3)|Diana Wynne Jones|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170347858s/47572.jpg|7122639], which I hated with a passion.

Don't want to spoil it for any potential readers, but this book is positively ADORABLE and definitely redeems any faults with the other books in the series. Diana Wynne Jones creates cute and fascinating mythology, and yet again manages to create utterly frustrating characters that make you want to throttle them XD

I first discovered Diana Wynne Jones when I was twelve and shelving books in our middle school library. There I found Witch Week which I love. Since then I’ve read and reread all of the Chrestomanci books, and several of her other books, and always loved them. She’s a fantastic author.

The Pinhoe egg is very good. It explores more of Chrestomanci and Cat’s worlds, it has griffins and magical creatures… but honestly? After the others, it is a bit of a let down. The action takes a long while to build up, and then climaxes quickly with no real “the characters figure things out for themselves” per say. No real danger in a typical way for her books. So, whilst I liked it, I don’t find it comparable to her other books.

4.5

I wish it hadn't been so long between reading this book and the DWJ novel that introduced Cat Chant (was it Charmed Life? I forget). I think I would have enjoyed it even more. Still I am constantly in awe of the originality and the completeness of the Crestomanci world that DWJ has created. There is an earthy, imperfection about the characters and events and even attitudes that make it a totally believable place.

Perhaps the best written book of the series so far, but I still think the sheer delight of discovering this author through reading 'The Nine Lives of Christopher Chant' makes that my favourite.

Diana Wynne Jones has a distinct style that works beautifully with her subject matter, and this book is no exception

This last Chrestomanci novel to be published is also the latest within the setting's chronology and the final volume in author Diana Wynne Jones's suggested reading order. I don't know that it completely works as a grand finale for the series -- nor if it was intended as such, since it was released only a few years before the writer's death -- but it's certainly a fun low-stakes adventure to go out on. I like the idea of all these hedge witches secretly practicing their rustic magic right underneath the enchanter's refined nose, although that would admittedly be a richer development had the earlier books spent more time here at the castle rather than jet-setting around the multiverse.

As usual, we've got big squabbling families, peculiar spells, temperamental cats, and children who are tasked with stepping in and sorting things out when the grown-ups aren't acting responsibly. I've enjoyed reencountering these stories as an adult myself, and I'm glad they were a part of my early experiences with the fantasy genre.

Find me on Patreon | Goodreads | Blog | Twitter

Going back to Chrestomancy and the castle was such bliss. They have always been my favourite family she created.