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Review:
Conrad’s fate by Diana Wynne Jones
London: Harper Collins Children’s Books, 2005
ISBN 0-00-719086-7
Conrad's Fate, a Chrestomanci Book, is a welcome addition to Diana Wynne Jones’ memorable fantasy series. It is possible to start with this book without reading any of the others in the series as the story will stand alone. Sufficient information is provided about parallel universes, Chrestomanci and Christopher Chant for the reader to feel comfortable.
The hero of this book, 12 year old Conrad, lives at home in Stallchester with his Uncle Alfred, who practises magic and sells books, his feminist author mother and his sister Anthea. When Anthea leaves home to go to university, he is left to do all the household work. He desperately wants to go to high school, but his uncle persuades him that he must find and destroy the evil magician who is causing magical side effects in the town. His uncle insists that he has really bad karma because he has failed to kill this evil person in a past life. Conrad leaves school to go up the mountain to Stallery Mansion to work as a domestic and uncover the magic doer. This is supposed to rid him of his evil karma and keep him alive. When he arrives at Stallery Mansion he meets Christopher, a strong, confident boy. Both of them are accepted to work as “Improvers”, training to be valets. However strange things begin to happen when the two boys start to look for Millie, Christopher’s friend.
The author keeps the action moving in this is exciting adventure fantasy. The use of magic, and the concept of parallel universes that shift, where things like book titles change, and where people and animals can be moved in and out, is fascinating.
Diana Wynne Jones is a master at using subtle humour and word play. There are many situations that will have the reader chuckling with delight. The servant master scenarios provide much of the fun in the story. For example Conrad and Christopher are described as “living pieces of furniture” when they are training to be valets and the description of the way they work out how to dress as Improvers is hilarious.
The author has drawn engaging characters that should appeal to the reader. Conrad is equally as well portrayed as Christopher and both work together to find Millie and to improve Conrad’s bad karma.
This book will appeal to readers who are already familiar with the Chrestomanci series, but it is also one to suggest to readers who have liked the Harry Potter stories. Highly recommended.
Pat Pledger

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