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Summary: Dark Lord of Derkholm
Review: As a long and loyal fan of Diana Wynne Jones I admit that I'm slightly biased - I'll eagerly devour anything that she writes! But regardless of that I still have to say that this was a fantastic book! It was incredibly funny (I actually laughed out loud several times) as well as brilliantly written. I've worked as a tour guide many summers in a row and the satirical aspect of this book as it played out all the different aspects of tourism was great. To anyone who has not read Diana Wynn Jones' other masterpieces, I encourage you to. I've never read another author who compares in this genre!
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Summary: Apporved By THIS Teen
Review: As a rather picky reader who goes through an average of 66 books a month, I am particularly choosy with my fantasy and sci-fi books. Only a precious few authors ever write a book that is to my liking. For instance, I have never liked any of Philip Pullman's books. I always try and read them when a new one comes out, but they don't keep my intrest. However, with this book, Jones was able to keep me glued to the page throught the whole story. Upon finishing, I immediatly returned to the libraey to get the sequel, Year of the Griffon. All in all, the whole thing is thrilling, fun, and rather charming, with the griffon children and Blade screaming in people's faces and canivourus sheep. I love the sheep.
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Summary: incredible characters
Review: Definately a wonderful book. The characters were incredibly realistic and I felt they were people I'd met in a previous life or such. A very good read.
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Summary: Blade and his family save the world
Review: Diana Wynne Jones has created another wonderful story of a magic-filled world. Unlike "A Sudden Wild Magic," where Earth was being depleted by a magic-filled world, in "Dark Lord of Derkholm" the world in which the Wizard Derk and his children (human and griffin) live, is being sucked dry by the Pilgrim Parties, organized by Mr. Chesney, and ruled by the demon he has is his pocket. On certain levels and allegorical tale of the depredations that connivers like Mr. Chesney perfidiously perform on our own world, the plot revolves around families, how they function, and what the members mean to each other. Ms. Wynne Jones has developed ever more rich, complicated plots with successive books. Fans will be delighted, and those new to her writing will appreciate the complex plot with flashes of levity. A very rapid ending leaves the reader whirling, but on the whole a satisfying, one-sitting read.
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Summary: Good, but not her best
Review: Diana Wynne Jones has written many wonderful fantasy novels, and often they have included controversial elements (the child trying to kill the stepfather in The Ogre Downstairs, for example). Usually, they are essential to the plot. I didn't care for, however, the gang rape of the 16 year old which occurs barely offstage, since it could have been excised without affecting the plot. But more than that, the plot is confusing and unfocused. Having looked at (it is hard to say "read") her Dark Guide to Fantasyland, or whatever it is called, I think Jones wrote this to poke fun at D&D, and it really didn't work. She's far better when she starts from a blank canvas--her recent "Deep Secret", while including equally disturbing elements (the murder of three young children, for example), was a wonderful book, and those murders were essential to the plot and to the character development of at least one main character.
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Summary: Oh wow!
Review: Don't be put off by the dark cover of this book, it's actually very witty and fun! I love everything in this story, and my favourite characters are...well, the geese, even though they have a tiny role! I suggest reading "Year of the griffin" after this, because it involves most of the same characters. These are two fun reads you won't want to miss out on!
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Summary: Confusing!
Review: Even by reading the back cover I could tell I would not understand it. The book has a plot Im sure but I couldn't find it. There was barely any detail at all and the author didn't describe the characters well enough. I'm still not sure, after reading the book, how Barnabas fits into the story. My advice to you is DON'T READ THIS BOOK!
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Summary: "Not too Bad, but Good"
Review: Evil wizards, magic spells, and dragons are just some of the stuff contained in this book. Derk, the newly appointed dark lord, is the main character in the book, who defeats the main evil dark lord, Mr. Chasney,at the end. Derk creates half-human, Half-beasts for a living before he was appointed. He, as dark lord, has to bring pilgrum parties from one place to anther filled with criminals. I like the book some because of the magic in it, but it was too long of a book.
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Summary: Jones does it again!
Review: Fans of Dianna Wynne Jones's "Chrestomanci Quartet" will fall in love with this terrific example of the way fantasy writing should be. She combines the fantasy elements we know and love with the comedy and adventure we have come to expect from this great writer. In the book, the Wizard Derk, along with his wife, his two human children, and his five griffin children, is stuggling to complete his job as Dark Lord even though he has no desire to do so. Plus, he has to do this while dealing with issues such as his two sons' untrained magical power, his daughter's ill-fated boyfriend, and his own near-fatal encounter with a very bedraggled dragon. This often funny and constantly exciting novel is a must for all fantasy lovers.
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Summary: Great!
Review: For forty years Mr. Chesney has cotroled a world in a scheem to make money. The scheem is ruining the world, and it seems like know one can stop him. In this world everyone hates Mr. Chesney and his Pilgrim Parties. Mr. Chesney's Pilgrim Parties are tour groups from another world. Mr. Chesney has people create a evil world that he thinks will entertain the tourists. This creates problems for the world, and Mr. Cheney doasen't care, so long as he gets his money.
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