Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful story, though...
Review: As a sequel to "The Dark Lord Of Derkhom", this book does not continue the plot of Derk, the former "Dark Lord", but instead follows his young griffin daughter, Elda, as she attends Wizard's University. Elda, the kind-hearted giant golden cat/bird, makes several friends (each with their own different and strange pasts and personalities) and a crush on a certain teacher.The plot of "Griffin" does not really stay the same. It basically follows the first year of Elda and her friends' year at the Wizard's University. Through strange magic (using oranges, which the group seems to adore), the friends must protect one of their own from his kingdoms assasins. If only they could convince the teachers that there really are assasins... Hopefully DWJ will follow this up with a sequel to finish the love insinuations at the end of the book, but it looks doubtful. Nonetheless, read this book if you want a twisted, funny outlook on a traditional fantasy story!
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful
Review: Dark Lord of Derkholm is a great standalone book, of course, but Year of the Griffin adds to the world, with returning characters and new ones. Elda, daughter of the wizard Derk, sets off to attend the Wizards' University. There, she meets five other students who each have problems in their own societies that they are trying to escape. The result is both humourous and almost disastrous, and all the loose ends are tied up by the novel's end.
Rating:
Summary: I love the woman, but she doesn't do well with sequels.
Review: Diana Wynne Jones is my all-time favorite author.
But she doesn't do well with sequels.
Her characterization is flawless. Her ability to weave life's little nuisances and quibbles into great world-changing events is what gives her her universal appeal.
But when she writes a sequel, she always seems to have lost interest in her characters and their world already. And that is the problem with this book.
She should probably swear off the sequels... and keep moving into new worlds.
Rating:
Summary: "Year" passes quickly
Review: Diana Wynne-Jones' "Dark Lord of Derkholm" remains the cleverest spoof of pretentious fantasies. The sequel, "Year of the Griffin," takes a slightly different turn, focusing on some rather strange young wizards-in-training, as they try to keep themselves in the frying pan rather than the fire. Because the offworld tours have stopped, money has become scarce. Wizard Corkoran, the new head of Wizard University (who is obsessed with reaching the moon), hopes to soak the parents of the new first years. They consist of a mysterious young foreigner, a pirate girl, an impoverished prince, a half-Marsh girl with a jinx, a runaway dwarf, and the griffin daughter of Wizard Derk. None of them have any money, and quite a few aren't even supposed to be there. To top it off, their magic is anything but normal. When Corkoran stupidly sends out money-seeking letters to their parents and relatives, the students start trying to magically protect themselves from the Emir, a pirate, the dwarf overseers, and the Romanesque Empire. Add some primitive griffins, a vindictive teacher, and some magic gone horribly awry, and it's a year to never forget... especially when they take an unexpected trip to Mars. Those expecting a retread of "Dark Lord" will be disappointed; "Year" is more along the lines of "students at a wizard school battle evil," albeit far more imaginatively than most books with that theme. Jones happily mashes together Roman empires, pirates, fantasy dwarves (complete with armor and underground cities), and ties it together with her previous book. Don't worry, reading "Dark Lord" is not necessary, though it is recommended. Writing is amusing, descriptive and often pleasantly quirky; Jones never stops juggling personal quirks and weird relationships. However, the final chapters are the weakest part of the book. While the conclusion is being cooked up through the entire book, it feels a bit lifeless. The way the problems are dealt with feel a bit contrived. However, the long-suffering tiny assassins and the wandering furniture add the typical Jones sparkle to the proceedings. (Things never go quite smoothly in her worlds) The quirky cast is mostly quite well done. Elda is a pleasant heroine, although her crush on Corkoran is a little distracting. Felim and Ruskin are delightful, while Olga and Lukim are just engaging. (No pun intended) Claudia and Corkoran, while well-written enough, never really come to life. While not really on the same theme as "Dark Lord of Derkholm," "Year of the Griffin" is still an entertaining fantasy tale with a bit of botched magic, student crushes, and the occasional dizzy assassin.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not great
Review: DWJ is a wonderful author, but this book is definately not one of her best. The characters, although they are very well developed and such, kept confusing me. For instance, Olga and Claudia I kept getting mixed up with one another. Which one was the half marshwoman again? Which one was the royalty? Wait-- wasn't that Claudia? I kept asking myself those questions as I read this book. The only two I managed to keep straight were Elda and Ruskin-- only because they weren't exactly human. However, I did enjoy this book... but not as much as Dark Lord of Derkholm. It has its funny bits, and its touching bits, and all around rather good, but not great. Also, I suggest you read "The Tough Guide to Fantasyland" and "Dark Lord of Derkholm" (In any order) before reading "Year of the Griffin." "Year of the Griffin" may spoil some things from "Dark Lord of Derkholm." All in all, I did enjoy it, but I enjoyed "Dark Lord of Derkholm" more. DWJ is a great author.
Rating:
Summary: Read the Prequal First, if you can
Review: I love D.W.J, and this book is great! This time, the main character is Elda, Derk's griffin daughter, who has gone to school at the wizard university. "Year of the Griffin" includes assasination attempts, crushes, pirates, idiot teachers, and new griffins. Read "Dark Lord of Derkholm" before "Year of the Griffin" if you can find it, because that will help you understand it beter. You might find "Dark Lord" in a local library, but it is out of print and might be hard to find. I think that "Year of the Griffin" deserves another sequal.
Rating:
Summary: I really love this book!
Review: I loved this book I couldn't stop reading it all day. I cannot wait untill she writes her next book in this series because a lot of things were left unfinished. All I know is I am going to check everyday to see if a new one is out!
Rating:
Summary: Definitely as good as the first
Review: I really enjoyed this book. Dark Lord was a change of pace for me; not what I usually read; but it hooked me. So when I found out it had a sequel, it made my day.
Year of the Griffin is entertaining, funny, somewhat unpredictable, and just plain marvelous.
It was nice to get to know Elda, and her five classmates ensure that the beginning of school will be anything but normal.
The descriptions of their spellcasting were very funny, and I must admit to laughing outloud when Felim was encased in a beehive of books.
I would recommend this book highly to anyone who wants to finish a book with a smile on their face.
Rating: 
Summary: Loved it(not as much as Darklord of Derkholm)
Review: I really loved this book but unfortunatley it did not reach the high and extremely lovable standards of Darklord of Derkholm but it was still wonderfully Diane Wynne Jones!!!
Rating:
Summary: A great sequel
Review: I thought this book was a great companion to The Dark Lord of Derkholm. I also thought that it was great of Diana to shed more light on the youungest of Derk's daughters.Derk sends Elda to the university he had hated after she pushed a mountain out of shape. The university he knew ass a child however is even worse than before, andd is now run by incopitant wizards. One of whom is trying to get to the moon even thouh he's afraid of hights. At school Elda finds friends, all have some reason for not wanting to be discovered.
I'm looking forward to another sequel.
|
