Cat Chant and Marianne Pinhoe have discovered something exciting–something truly precious, very strange, and valuable. An egg.
An egg that has been hidden away in an attic for who-knows-how-many years. An egg protected by some strong “Don’t Notice” spells. An egg that Marianne gives to Cat, even though he lives at nearby Chrestomanci Castle. Chrestomanci himself, the strongest enchanter in the world, is sure to be interested in the egg–and interference from the Big Man is the last thing Marianne’s family of secret rogue witches wants.
But how much longer can the Pinhoes keep their secrets? Gammer, the leader of the clan, has gone mad, a powerful bad luck spell is wreaking havoc, and there’s an unexplained plague of frogs. Not to mention the mysterious barrier Cat finds in the forest.
Marianne and Cat may be the only two who can set things right. But first Marianne must accept her own powerful magic, and Cat must uncover the secrets behind the mystical Pinhoe Egg.
This is going to be a very short review, but I just want to emphasize that this is a very lovely book and deserves a much longer review! I’m feeling emotionally messy this week. A lot of change has happened in the past few weeks, and I’m still trying to adjust, adapt and move forward with positivity. I’m taking things one day at a time.
I definitely needed a change of pace when it came to reading. Romance novels are often my go to comfort reads when I’m feeling a little down, but I really haven’t been feeling romance this week. I wanted a different kind of comforting, and so I once again dove into the Chrestomanci series. The Pinhoe Egg is the last book in Diana Wynne Jones’ beloved and wonderful children’s series. There is a collection of short stories as well, but I may save that for just a little bit longer.
The Pinhoe Egg was just as wonderful and delightful as Conrad’s Fate, although in a very different way. In this book, Cat lives at Chrestomanci Castle as a nine-life enchanter with the rest of his family. Marianne Pinhoe is part of a family of witches, but they like to try and keep their powers secret from Chrestomanci. Her family is constantly butting heads with another clan- the Farleighs. Gammer, the leader of the Pinhoe’s loses her mind, and she is moved out of her home to live with relatives who can properly care for her. When the house is being shown for sale, Cat and Marianne are both there, and Cat discovers an egg that was hidden. Marianne tells him he can have the egg, but the egg ends up containing something special and magical that will change everyone’s lives forever.
I don’t want to spoil it! This is a lovely story with lovely magic. I really enjoyed seeing more of Christopher Chant, and I loved watching Cat and Marianne grow into their powers and learn more about themselves and who they are. Diana Wynne Jones is an incredibly talented author. I love her stories, her enchanters, her wizards so much. Her stories are true gemstones, beautiful and bright, and these were the books I really needed this week.
If you read middle grade, I would love some more recommendations. If you’ve read Diana Wynne Jones, please feel free to share your favorite books by her. I’d love to continue my journey into the pages of her worlds.
I hope you are all having a wonderful week. A new month and another chapter begins tomorrow.
Of Worlds Forgotten 
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