Conrad's Fate

Glorious new rejacket of a Diana Wynne Jones Chrestomanci novel - now a book with extra bits! Conrad is young, good at heart, and yet is apparently suffering from the effects of such bad karma that there is nothing in his future but terrible things. Unless he can alter his circumstances - well, quite frankly, he is DOOMED. Conrad is sent in disguise to Stallery Mansion, to infiltrate the magical fortress that has power over the whole town of Stallchester, and to discover the identity of the person who is affecting his Fate so badly. Then he has to kill that person. But can any plan really be that simple and straightforward? Of course it can't! And things start to go very strangely for Conrad from the moment he meets the boy called Christopher... This is trademark DWJ - packed with laugh-aloud humour, insane logic, spot-on observations, organised chaos, and all wrapped up in a rattling good adventure which oozes magic from every seam. Literally.

"CONRAD'S FATE is quintessential Chrestomanci - funny, smart, twisty, exciting, tricky, delightful and always perfectly magical." Neil Gaiman "Diana Wynne Jones ought to be crowned with coloured garlands because she is the best writer of magical fantasy for children in this country ... you'll gleefully swallow Conrad's Fate as another unpredictable dose of animal spirits." Evening Standard "Diana Wynne Jones could teach Stephen King and JK Rowling a thing or two ... [she] has a skill for inserting just the right amount of detail in her written words, leaving you satiated but not stuffed." SFX "This witty, satisfying story can be read on its own, but is much richer when read as part of the series. It's a must for all Jones fans." School Library Journal "A wild romp with a fast-paced and satisfying conclusion, Conrad's humorous adventures will appeal to Christopher's existing fans and Jones neophytes alike." Kirkus.

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Diana Wynne Jones (1934-2011) spent her childhood in Essex and began writing fantasy novels for children in the 1970s. With her unique combination of magic, humour and imagination, she enthralled generations of children and adults with her work. She won the Guardian Award in 1977 with Charmed Life, was runner-up for the Children's Book Award in 1981 and was twice runner-up for the Carnegie Medal.