Rating: 4
Description: For as long as anyone can remember, the Montanas and the Petrocchis have been Caprona's two leading spellhouses. Unfortunately, the two casas hate each other with a passion. When Caprona's spells start going bad right when the city-state is on the brink of war, each casa blames the other and neither is interested in working together to find out what's really going on. And when young Tonino Montana and Angelica Petrocchi, each house's worst spellcaster, are both kidnapped, each casa believes that the culprit is the other. It will be up to the casas' young people to work past their prejudice, both for Tonino and Angelica and for Caprona itself, for only when Montanas and Petrocchis work together can the powerful enchanter who is weakening the city be stopped and war avoided.
Review: The third book in the Chronicles of Chresomanci (see "Charmed Life" and "The Lives of Christopher Chant"), "The Magicians of Caprona" does not disappoint. While very different from the previous two books, the story is intriguing and unique. The evil that threatens Caprona is a secondary antagonist to the houses' own prejudice, which makes for an interestingly original story. The characters in the story are not quite as enjoyable as in the other Chronicles, but the plot makes up for it. Fans of Chrestomanci may be disappointed that the enchanter plays such a minor role, but they should enjoy the story nevertheless.