[2] The Chrestomanci books are collectively named after a powerful enchanter and British government official in a world parallel to ours, where magic is accepted as commonplace.

Gwendolen's allies appear and capture the two children before forcing Cat to summon Chrestomanci before quickly using his weakness - silver - to subdue him.

Gwendolen switches places with Janet, and reveals her plan to sacrifice her brother on the magic plinth before killing Chrestomanci in order to permanently open gateways to other worlds.

When Gwendolen reveals to the others that they will have to sacrifice Cat multiple times as he has 9 lives, they are angered as it means he is a powerful enchanter and they will also need to kill him with his weakness on the final life.

Cat is heartbroken by Gwendolen's betrayal, but Chrestomanci galvanises him into taking back enough magic to break his bonds as the witches return.

[4] The novel was also a commended runner up for the Carnegie Medal from the Library Association, recognising the year's best children's book by a British subject.

Danish, Italian, and French editions were published in the 1990s (when the four early novels were in print); later Polish and Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese, Serbian.