Jones, Diana. The Magicians of Caprona.
I read this for Jenny's Dianna Wynne Jones Week, and I've been so lazy that I have waited until the week is almost over to review it. It is a YA novel that is part of the Chronicles of Chrestomanci. However, both of the works I've read have been completely different narratives, so reading them out of order has not mattered.
The Montannas and the Petrocchis are two families of spell-casters who have been feuding for many years. There is a Romeo and Juliet element to the story, but it is not the main narrative. The main story is about how the feud between the two families has caused such a rift that when war threatens Caprona, the feuding families cannot work together in the cities defense, and in fact, cannot even work effectively alone because of the many problems caused by the feud.
In order to save the city, the original words to the song of the Angel of Caprona must be discovered, yet the two feuding families are so involved with their hatred of each other that neither family is having much success. Chrestomanci, the powerful magician responsible for keeping balance in order, has informed the families that an evil enchanter is at work.
When Tonino Montano and Angelica Petrocchi, the youngest members of each family (who each have difficulties in their spell casting) disappear, the two families are even more at odds. The two children discover the identity of the wicked enchanter and must work together to save themselves and their city.
A fun read about an unusual world of magic with interesting characters and lots of adventure! More about those who are participating and their reads at Jenny's Books.
Fiction. Fantasy. 1999. 224 pages.
I think it's neat that the Romeo and Juliet story is happening around the edges of Tonino's life. It's identifiably R&J but it's not the point of the book.
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