Cat and Gwendolen are two orphans whose parents drowned in an accident. Cat is now protected by his unusual big sister, Gwendolen. She's one of the most promising young witches ever to live on Coven Street in Wolvercote. But it's not easy to find a proper school for her talents. Soon Chrestomanci, a mysterious and powerful man who knew their parents, invites the children to come and live in his castle. That's when the trouble --- and magic --- really begin. This is the first of the Chrestomanci Novels, followed by THE LIVES OF CHRISTOPHER CHANT, THE MAGICIANS OF CAPRONA and WITCH WEEK.