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Summary: Great return to the Great Duane's fantasy universe
Review: At Grand Central Station, Rhiow and her feline peers (do not tell Rhiow that they are her peers) guard the magical gate that links worlds through time. Because of a malfunction at the London gate, Rhiow and her associates, Urruah and Arhu, travel together to investigate the problem. They quickly learn that a "timeslide" is moving people back and forth through eternity. Someone deliberately caused the time warp. The Lone One wants nuclear weapons introduced into society long before the twentieth century in an attempt to destroy civilization. The cats accompanied by a young child, Arthur Conan Doyle, must stop the critical focal point from being changed or the alternate time continuum will replace the current time stream. The foursome must simply stop the assassinations of the multiple Queen Victorias who populate the endless worlds that make up the current universe. TO VISIT THE QUEEN, the return to that wacky humorous universe of THE BOOK OF NIGHT WITH MOON, is a winner in its own right. The story line contains non-stop action, jocular interactions, and mounting danger as the very fabric of the universe is shredded. The cats seem real and intelligent, not cute. Diane Duane weaves a terrific tale that canine fantasy lovers will cherish. This is a 14 karat gold collar winner for anyone who loves a good book. Harriet Klausner
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Summary: A Follow-up book from Night With Moon
Review: A wonderful follow-up to the fabulous Night With Moon. I wondered at the time how Duane was going to be able to top Night With Moon. She does an excellent job of surpassing herself & the ending of "To Visit The Queen" was surprising. There are sad moments in this one, which make it a slightly more introspective book than the other title, but it has equally rapid plot & strong action plotlines. I loved seeing Arthur Conan Doyle as well. Wouldn't he love to still be starring in our literary achievements? :)
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Summary: Five stars
Review: Ah...she's done it once again. Makes me want to read E. Wallis Budge
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Summary: A cat may look at a queen...but can it save her?
Review: All Duane's fantasy--the "Tale of the Five," the "Young Wizards" series which takes place in the same Universe as this book and its prequel--turns on the unending battle between the Powers That Be (the forces of life, or what a Star Wars fan might call "the Light Side") and the Lone Power (the renegade god whom Christians term "the Devil"), each aided by its own mortal adherents and sometimes willing, sometimes unaware pawns. In this story, feline wizard and Worldgate technician Rhiow and the survivors of her team--opera-loving tom Urruah and visionary kitten Arhu--must travel to London to try to repair a malfunctioning gate (cats, unlike humans, can both see and manipulate the "strings" that make the gates work). Gradually they discover that an alternate England has been brought into being through the scheming of the Lone Power, and threatens to overwhelm their own reality and end all life on Earth. To prevent it from doing so, they must forestall the assassination of the alternate Queen Victoria in her very bed--and the way they do it could only be accomplished by cats. As always seems to be true in Duane's work, there are touches of tragedy--the fate of the gallant London teamleader Huff and his beloved mate Auhlae may make you reach for the Kleenex box. But her alternate England is splendidly imagined, and there are light moments as well, like Rhiow's reflections on the possibility of finding a mate for her widowed human, Mike. Saurian wizard Ith reappears and performs gallantly, and his and the cats' interaction with a young Arthur Conan Doyle is charming. Now, Diane, when can we hope to see another adventure of Rhiow and her team?
Rating: 
Summary: Nothing exciting
Review: Another plain dragging story of a powerful girl. When will these stereotypes end?! It's so sickening to read of another magical girl who gets powers out of nowhere. I want to read something new, fresh, and exciting.
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Summary: Not "Boooring"!
Review: Another reader has stated that they found both books in the series 'boooring' in comparison to the books for younger reader based in the same world. I disagree with this statement. The 'Nita and Kit' books were mostly children's books and were written for children and young adults, though I agree they are some of the most amazing books I have ever read, and the fact they were written for children does not in any way hamper my love of them. "To Visit the Queen", (or as it is titled in the UK "On Her Majesty's Wizardly Service"), and the earlier book in this series ' The Book of Night with Moon' are most certainly NOT children's books, they being deeper and on a different level than the series for younger readers. I would heartily recommend both the beautifully written books in this series as well as the 'Nita and Kit' books'. None of them are in any way boring, but I would recommend being sure to read 'Book of Night with Moon' before this one: for though it is possible to understand and enjoy it without the history of the pervious book, in may leave the reader somewhat confused in several places.
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Summary: Excellent continuation of the "Wizards" series
Review: I enjoyed this book very much. Duane has a wonderful talent for world-building -- even when the book is set in (more or less) our own world. The only thing I had a problem with was the denoument of the main plotline: I couldn't quite reconcile the timeline as stated -- why were the wizards doing what they were, where they were, when they knew where and when they had to be anyway?
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Summary: ailurophiles will love it!
Review: I just finished reading the book about 10 minutes ago! What a great sequel to "Night With Moon"... it carries forward some of the unresolved feelings and events from the first book, and leaves you feeling a bit easier about them. I do disagree with some of the other reviews that found this book too drawn-out or some of the plot points contrived. The book built up slowly but steadily, not with as much action as "Night With Moon" but with more detective work on the part of Rhiow, her team, and their new allies -- more the literary equivalent of a good suspense movie than an action-hero one. And also unlike some other reviews, I didn't think the battle with the Lone One was "tacked on" or unnecessary. In fact, it was almost inevitable after the cats foil Her plans for Queen Victoria. Think about it -- if you were a selfish, vindictive Power who was absolutely sure you were going to win, and suddenly your scheme was stopped in its tracks, wouldn't you be furious and decide to rid yourself of the "obstacles" once and for all? The book even leaves room for another sequel (maybe the further adventures of Arhu and Siffha'h?) and more bliss for cat lovers. I'll be keeping my figurative whiskers attuned for it!
Rating:
Summary: ailurophiles will love it!
Review: I just finished reading the book about 10 minutes ago! What a great sequel to "Night With Moon"... it carries forward some of the unresolved feelings and events from the first book, and leaves you feeling a bit easier about them. I do disagree with some of the other reviews that found this book too drawn-out or some of the plot points contrived. The book built up slowly but steadily, not with as much action as "Night With Moon" but with more detective work on the part of Rhiow, her team, and their new allies -- more the literary equivalent of a good suspense movie than an action-hero one. And also unlike some other reviews, I didn't think the battle with the Lone One was "tacked on" or unnecessary. In fact, it was almost inevitable after the cats foil Her plans for Queen Victoria. Think about it -- if you were a selfish, vindictive Power who was absolutely sure you were going to win, and suddenly your scheme was stopped in its tracks, wouldn't you be furious and decide to rid yourself of the "obstacles" once and for all? The book even leaves room for another sequel (maybe the further adventures of Arhu and Siffha'h?) and more bliss for cat lovers. I'll be keeping my figurative whiskers attuned for it!
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Summary: cat fantasies, but a little too much techno babble
Review: I love cats and this book was engaging with wonderful soft fuzzy kitties. They worm their way into your heart. There is intrique and sub plots there is bonding with humans and a means to enjoy them. the story is about a lapse in time during Queen Victoria's reign where cats from our time must go back and save her life. There is a little too much use of techno babble in regards to spell casting and a dinosaur wizards.. give me a break.. I can't think of any reason for that other than explaining the lost world stories by sir arthur conan doyle. But all in all it is a fun happy novel with enjoyment abounding. I would like to see the protagonist bond a bit more with her human, and I think that the ending was forced it came out of no where with no hint that auhlae was jealous giving an opening for a super natural bad guy to come in at the end. But the cats still defeat them. If you love cats you will like this book. If you like cats you will like this book. If you want a decent urban fantasy with a bit too much techno then you will enjoy it... Don't hold your breath though waiting for insight into cat/human relationships you won't find any unless you have a cat.
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