Reading order · 6 books · 1977 to 2006 · Set in the Related Worlds
Chrestomanci Books in Order
The Chrestomanci books are set across a series of parallel worlds, where magic is common and is policed by the Chrestomanci, a nine-lived enchanter. Each book has its own young hero.
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Series facts
- Books
- 6
- Published
- 1977 to 2006
- First book
- Charmed Life
- Latest
- The Pinhoe Egg (2006)
- Setting
- Set in the Related Worlds
- Order
- Story order differs from publication order
The reading order
Every Chrestomanci book in publication order, with the story order a switch away. Choose a title for its cast and summary.
6 books · Set in the Related Worlds
- 1Charmed Life1977With Cat ChantOrphans Cat Chant and his sister Gwendolen, a gifted young witch, are taken to live at Chrestomanci Castle, where Gwendolen is furious to find her magic restricted.Buy on Amazon
- 2The Magicians of Caprona1980In the Italian city of Caprona, two great spell-making families, the Montanas and the Petrocchis, have hated each other for centuries, while the city faces war.Buy on Amazon
- 3Witch Week1982Someone in class 6B at Larwood House, a boarding school, is a witch, in a world where witchcraft is punished by burning.Buy on Amazon
- 4The Lives of Christopher Chant1988With Christopher ChantYoung Christopher Chant can travel to other worlds in his dreams, and his uncle uses the gift for his own schemes, until Christopher learns who he really is.Buy on Amazon
- 5Conrad's Fate2005With Conrad TesdinicTwelve-year-old Conrad is sent to work as a servant at Stallery Mansion, high in the English Alps, to put right his bad karma, and there he meets a fellow new servant, a young Christopher Chant.Buy on Amazon
- 6The Pinhoe Egg2006With Cat ChantMarianne Pinhoe’s family of witches resent Chrestomanci’s control of magic, and Cat Chant is drawn into their secrets after he is given a mysterious egg from their attic.Buy on Amazon
Do you need to read them in order?
The books can be read alone. Charmed Life is the usual starting point; The Lives of Christopher Chant tells how Christopher became Chrestomanci.
Who appears in which book
The series’ main characters, book by book. Lead means the book is told around them; minor covers cameos.
| Book | Cat Chant | Christopher Chant | Conrad Tesdinic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Charmed Life | LLead | MMajor | |
| 2 The Magicians of Caprona | MMajor | ||
| 3 Witch Week | ·Minor | MMajor | |
| 4 The Lives of Christopher Chant | LLead | ||
| 5 Conrad's Fate | MMajor | LLead | |
| 6 The Pinhoe Egg | LLead | MMajor |
Characters in the Chrestomanci books
4 characters from Diana Wynne Jones’s chart, with the number of Chrestomanci books each appears in.
| Character | Books | First in this series |
|---|---|---|
| Cat ChantOrphan with nine lives | 3 | Charmed Life 1977 |
| Christopher ChantThe Chrestomanci | 6 | Charmed Life 1977 |
| Conrad TesdinicBoy sent into service at Stallery | 1 | Conrad's Fate 2005 |
| Gwendolen ChantCat's ambitious sister | 1 | Charmed Life 1977 |