Rating: 
Summary: Buy This Book!
Review: I am not a big fantasy fan -- I like hard SF better. However, I like Diana Wynne Jones's books a lot. I read Howl's Moving Castle on recommendation of a friend and loved it. At the age of 34, I bought Hexwood in a 1st edition hardback on a whim and thought it was fabulous. It is a weird combination of archetypal fable, Arthurian legend, romantic story, and futuristic SF tale. It reminded me of the movie Pulp Fiction with its complete disregard of a linear timeline. I was consistently surprised as I read along, waiting anxiously for the next plot twist. Jones manages to keep all her plot twists in order and ties everything up at the end. The only drawback about this book is that it is probably too advanced for most teenagers.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: I am so happy to finally own this book after reading it so many years ago. Hexwood- the name may give you some tiny clue...Diana Wynne Jones drops plenty of clues in the book as she writes, but nothing will prepare you for the intricate snarls of this books, even rereading it for the zillionth time I still feel amazed! Wynne Jones takes some classic ideas in building this book, space and time are mixed together, people are capering around in what really appears to be a role playing game, and one poor (but horrible) man is shaking his fist at the sky for not being gifted with hobbits on a grail quest "AND NOT ONE HOBBIT HAVE I SEEN!" Lets not forget the robot Yam, the wyrmblade, sundry evil Reigners, one Servant with a "death heads grin" who happens to be very loveable indeed, a wood with a mind of it's own, Hume - who will cease to exist if he leaves the 'paratypical' field, and you may get some idea of why people cannot put this book down one it's been picked up. And then there's Ann who is also trying to make sense of everything, despite the voices in her head who ARE NOT real, and yet behave as if they are. When you finish the book you'll be left satisfied with the ending, mourning because it's over, amazed at how it all came together, envious because you aren't a character in the book...the only way to overcome your longings is to find another Wynne Jones book and experience it all over again!
Rating:
Summary: BEYOND BRILLIANT
Review: I cannot begin to say how glad I am that this woman, Diana Wynne Jones, is on planet earth, writing at this time.Without her imagination, the world would be a much less interesting placeand my world would have lost some of its most delighful and magical hours.Each of her books is different. Hexwood is a complex, brilliantly conceived and executed work, and yet is equally suited to adults and children.The virtual reality aspect is handled flawlessly, the characters are believable and fascinating. A blow by blow description of the plot would not give any adequate sense of the book. The only thing to do is buy it and read it for yourself. I long for a sequel, but feel that way about everything she writes. I truly envy anyone reading Wynne Jones for the first time. There is so much to be delighted by!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: I love all of Diana Wynne Jones' books, and although this one isn't my favourite, it was still great.Ann Stavely always thought that she was a 12 year old girl growing up in a small town in England. When a succession of strange people enter the old Hexwood farm estate down the road, Ann discovers a strange man called Mordion, a young boy called Hume who's age doesn't seem to follow any chronological order, and a robot by the name of Yam. Sometime later, Ann discovers that she is really Vierran, a girl who works in the house of balance, headquarters of the evil reigners. And so on. The plot is very complicated, but I love the way the reigners are all deceived into thinking they are something else by the bannus, especially Sir Fors. I found the end very confusing, like why did Hume become Uncle wolf or whatever it was? I also felt that the end was a bit too good to be true. What I really love about this book and others by DWJ is that they really make you think. To work out what actually happens in the end takes a lot of puzzling but is so satisfying. Why do you say this is too complicated for teenagers? I first read this book when I was ten or eleven and I understood it as well then as I do now that I'm 14. Please, if you're not a teenager don't assume that you know what's best for us.
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking!
Review: I managed to devour this book in one day--and I have two small children at home, so that was quite a feat. :-) Diana Wynne Jones does NOT disappoint in this novel! Her clever, thoughtful, and well-laid plot really hooks you in, and the characters are so heart-felt that I truly felt I knew them by the end. The resolution was quite satisfying. Highly recommended for anyone, but most especially for thinking readers who like a challenging puzzle (and where the author gives them all the pieces they need to solve the puzzle right along with the characters.) ...
Rating:
Summary: Confusing... in a good way
Review: I read this book because of the reviews... I had read one other book by Diana Wynne Jones, and loved it. Feeling like I needed a break from the formula fantasy novels that are all alike, I gave Hexwood a try. From the first page, I was hooked. I couldn't put it down. I even had it at the dinner table, which my parents didn't like, but it was such a wonderful book! Hexwood Farm is at the edge of a town near London. Inside the farm is the Bannus, a machine that plays with time and identity. It has been turned on, and nobody can turn it off. Ann, a girl living by Hexwood Farm, is sick in bed. Through her window, she sees people going into the farm--and not coming back out. She ventures into the wood to see what's going on, and she is swept into the confusing and time-warping field of the Bannus. She meets Mordion, a man who says he's been asleep for a century; but Ann knows he entered Hexwood Farm just a day ago. And Hume, the boy who is a different age every time Ann sees him. Ann wonders just who is real and who isn't; and after all, if they aren't who they seem to be, is she who she thinks she is? This book moves at a fast pace, and the action starts right away. Time, places, and identities are changed and warped so often that it's useless to try and straighten it out. It's much more enjoyable to let yourself be carried along in the confusion. At first I was extremely frustrated trying to read the book, but after a few chapters I got into the story, and I loved it. When I finished, I nearly cried. Not because it was a sad ending, but because I couldn't believe I was done. I wanted it to go on forever. Despite a misleading cover and a confusing start, this book instantly became a favorite. It's worth reading, and it will stay in your mind for weeks after you're finished reading.
Rating:
Summary: Don't let the cover fool you...
Review: I read this book not because of the cover, but because I read all of these great reviews on Amazon.com. I am also a fan of Diana Wynne Jones, so I couldn't wait to get started on this book. It is hands down the most confusing, enthralling, beautiful, and joyful book I have ever read. It is impossible to accurately describe the plot without confusing people and myself even more. What I can say is that once you pick up this book, you won't be able to put it down... except to eat. Though my parents had to take it from me, since I was reading it at the dinner table. If you are a fan of science fiction & fantasy, or you appreciate a deliciously complicated plotline, you must read this book. It instantly became one of my favorites, and I know I will read it many times in the future. P.S., I know I won't thoroughly enjoy a story unless there is romance. Those of you who are like me, rest assured: you will get your bit of romance.
Rating:
Summary: Utterly amazing
Review: I read this book quite a while ago, but it is one of my favorites. The plotline is beautifully woven (though you may not see the patterns when you start), and the characters are wonderful, especially Ann/Vierran, who quickly became one of my favorite literary heroines (ranking right up there with Cooper and Jane from Isobel Bird's Circle of Three books, and Alianne and Alanna of Tamora Pierce fame [from the Trickester duo and the Song of the Lioness quartet, respectively])Masterfully written, a fantastic book for anyone with a lot of patience and a love of fantasy and books that Make You Think. My final thought for those who don't get the plot line - read it twice. I did, due to a VERY long car-trip, and I did not regret it. The phrase "Ooohh!" sprang from my lips so many times my father once turned around and asked me if I would PLEASE be quiet so he could drive, and hadn't I read that book already? *giggles* Ah, good times. Sadly, I passed my copy on to a friend, so I am in dire need of another one. On the Wish List you go! Now, off to the library web-page...
Rating:
Summary: COMPLETELY BRILLIANT!
Review: I've been reading Diana Wynne Jones since I was nine years old (my first book was "The Lives of Christopher Chant" which I read during one really long car ride to the beach - I couldn't look up from the book!!). BUT despite a slight prejudice for her early books which I read first, "Hexwood" blew me away and has quickly become one of my favorites. This book combines everything I love about her writing into one great book; complete with complex plot, believable and unforgettable characters, and surprise endings (I LOVE her surprise endings!). If you've never read Diana Wynne Jones you might find it difficult as a first exposure to her writing (you might want to try one of her other books first), but if you're a diehard scifi/fantasy fan no doubt you'll be able to jump right in. Also I definitly agree with one of the other reviewers who said the cover is disappointing - don't let it be a deterrent. One last point: don't open this book unless you know you have a free 4 or 5 hours ahead of you - because once you start reading you won't be able to put it down until you've reached the end!
Rating:
Summary: COMPLETELY BRILLIANT!
Review: I've been reading Diana Wynne Jones since I was nine years old (my first book was "The Lives of Christopher Chant" which I read during one really long car ride to the beach - I couldn't look up from the book!!). BUT despite a slight prejudice for her early books which I read first, "Hexwood" blew me away and has quickly become one of my favorites. This book combines everything I love about her writing into one great book; complete with complex plot, believable and unforgettable characters, and surprise endings (I LOVE her surprise endings!). If you've never read Diana Wynne Jones you might find it difficult as a first exposure to her writing (you might want to try one of her other books first), but if you're a diehard scifi/fantasy fan no doubt you'll be able to jump right in. Also I definitly agree with one of the other reviewers who said the cover is disappointing - don't let it be a deterrent. One last point: don't open this book unless you know you have a free 4 or 5 hours ahead of you - because once you start reading you won't be able to put it down until you've reached the end!
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