Book #70 of 2020:
The Magicians of Caprona by Diana Wynne Jones (Chrestomanci #4)
Returning to a book from one’s childhood can sometimes be a letdown, but I’m pleased to report that this fourth Chrestomanci volume (in the author’s preferred reading order; actually the second to be published and roughly the fifth chronologically) is far better than I had remembered. There’s a strong Romeo and Juliet vibe to the Italian setting and its feuding noble families, and Diana Wynne Jones fleshes out the new worldbuilding with the same sort of amusing slice-of-life details that help make the Harry Potter titles so enjoyably immersive.
I do wish that the character voices of our two main protagonists were differentiated more — or that the perspective jumped between them less — and I still think the novel is weird for assuming an audience familiarity with the Punch and Judy puppet shows that play such a large role in events. But overall, this is another fun magical adventure livened by the chaotic household dynamics that Jones writes so well. I regret skipping it so often on previous passthroughs of the series.
★★★★☆
The Lesser Joke: book reviews and more 
Leave a comment