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Summary: "We Now Tip the Balance of Magic into Our Hands..."
Review: "The Merlin Conspiracy" is Diana Wynne Jones's latest and long-awaited move back into the fantasy arena, as a sequel of sorts to "Deep Secret". In saying this, it only includes one character from its predecessing novel - Nick - and if you haven't read it, it doesn't mean you won't be able to understand "The Merlin Conspiracy". However, I suggest reading "Deep Secret", not just because it's a good read for its own sake, but because it will give you a basic understanding of the concepts of the Multiverse and Magids that Jones once again instigates in this latest story.Arianrhod "Roddy" Hyde is the daughter of two court wizards who travel with the King's Progress, the on-going court progression of the King, the Merlin and his entire court that ensures the wellbeing of the Isles of Blest (a parallel-world version of the Isles of Britain). Her life revolves around rituals, ceremonies, court life and looking after her young friend Grundo, who has a rather nasty mother and sister. This mother Sybil seems to have a secret plan - after the death of the old Merlin and the appointment of the new, and an enchantment that renders everybody except Roddy and Grundo under her spell, Roddy seeks the help of her two grandfathers who might shed some light on the situation. Meanwhile, Nick Mallory (the only returning character from the afore-mentioned "Deep Secret") lives a rather ordinary life (not surprising since he lives on our Earth) but has big dreams of becoming a Magid and travelling into other worlds. His wish is abruptly granted when he finds himself in another world, mistaken for somebody else, and soon dodging police officers and assassins in order to reach the dark paths - the place that allows for travel between the worlds. After meeting the intensely powerful Romanov, and Roddy who summons his help in Blest, Nick is soon a player in the unfolding tangle of secrets and plots. Their two stories are told in alternating chapters as the Merlin Conspiracy unravels, and has everything one has come to expect from Diana Wynne Jones: magical islands, time manipulation, races through the universe, contemporary myths, quirky characters, imposters, and an elephant! As usual the author comes up with some fascinating ideas such as personified cities and magical, intelligent dinnerware, and a twisting, intricate plot in which every little detail can end up having great importance and ramifications. This indeed seems to be the main theme of the book - that one tiny word or gesture can have life-altering consequences, for either good or bad. Roddy and Nick are both great characters that speak to the reader directly in first-person narrative, and in doing so the reader is able to learn the characters' impressions of each other, making them more three-dimensional figures. After all, a person talking in first-person narrative is hardly qualitified to point out their *own* faults, but Nick and Roddy are more than able to analyse and critise each other! Unfortunately, most of the likeable characters from "Deep Secret" are not back, but Jones has always been original, and it is to be commended that she can create an entirely different story within the same regulations of her created universe without resorting to repeating herself.
There are more nasty villains, in the form of Sybil, Sir James, Alicia and the severely annoying Izzies, and Jones again shows her skill in forming realistic human behaviour and relationships - take for example the prickly meeting that Grandmother Heppy and Roddy share. Furthermore, Jones's trademark use of time-travelling and parallel universes are used in such a way that they make you think, not go cross-eyed with confusion. "The Merlin Conspiracy" is perhaps geared toward older readers than most of her other books (there is a *huge* cast of characters), but anyone who knows Jones and her books well will concede that although this is not her greatest story, but it still a very entertaining read.
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Summary: Yay! Another new DWJ!
Review: As always, I highly recommend all of Diana Wynne Jones books. She's been around for some time. I wish all the Harry Potter fans would discover her books. She well deserves the fame/acclaim. I especially enjoy her creative imagination. Each book is set in a different world or group of world and each setting is complex, and each plot is satisfying and leaves you wanting more. That was my main complaint about this book. It wasn't LONG ENOUGH! A complicated plot, lots of interesting worlds, many fascinating characters, etc., etc. I wanted more. It was great to see Nick from 'Deep Secret' again and I enjoyed Roddy. The budding romance was fun "to watch". I enjoyed seeing what was going on from both character's points of view. I would have loved to get an update of the other characters from Deep Secret - Maree especially. That book has been one of my favorites so far. I wish DWJ would write MORE adult novels. In some ways, she's wasted on children :-) My only caveat: the ending was rushed and simplistic --unsatisfying. Let's hope there are more books to come with Nick, Roddy and etc.
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Summary: Engaging characters, interesting magic
Review: Diana Wynne Jones has been publishing wonderful fantasy novels for over 30 years. Most of her work has been aimed nominally at "young adults", but it most definitely appeals to adults of any age. Her new novel, The Merlin Conspiracy, is set in the same Multiverse as her 1997 novel Deep Secret, and it features Nick Mallory, a character from the earlier book, but it is an independent story. The Merlin Conspiracy follows two characters. Arianhrod ("Roddy") Hyde is the daughter of a weather magician at the Court of the King of Blest, the England-analog in her universe. She and her young friend Grundo discover a plot involving Grundo's unpleasant mother and her new boyfriend as well as the new Merlin of Blest. The rest of her family becomes enchanted in various ways and unable to move against this plot. Roddy and Grundo become separated from the Progress of the Court (the King cannot stay in any one place for long) and they gad across Blest, looking for help from Roddy's two powerful Grandfathers, and her eccentric Grandmother. Along the way she inherits the magical knowledge of a long-dead Welshwoman, and she summons a wizard to help her. This wizard turns out to be Nick Mallory, who is the adopted son of an Earth writer, but who really comes from another part of the Multiverse, and who aspires to wizardry but hasn't actually learned much. Somewhat by accident, he has ended up lost in another universe, from which he wanders to some additional ones, after a threat from a powerful wizard named Romanov. Nick follows Romanov to his strange island, in several universes at once, and there he meets an elephant named Mini. He is also contacted by Roddy, and it becomes clear that he is supposed to help her, and also that he is very attracted to her. Eventually all the principals end up in Blest, where things are getting worse and worse. The plot seems on the verge of succeeding, and the two young people, with help from a few others they've gathered along the way, must risk the balance of Magic in the entire Multiverse by Raising the Land, in hopes of foiling the conspirators. This is a fine novel, but not quite Jones at her very best. Jones's magical imagination is delightful as ever, but at times things do seem a bit arbitrary. And the plot, though in the end worked out pretty nicely, also seems arbitrary for long stretches. Still, even if not her best work, it's very good -- Nick and Roddy are interesting characters, and well-portrayed, with real and believable problems and shortcomings. Many of the minor characters are delights as well -- particularly the elephant Mini. Recommended.
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Summary: Read Deep Secret first, then this immediately.
Review: Diana Wynne Jones is a marvel. This is a children's book, a sequel to her adult scifi/fantasy "Deep Secret," but everyone should read both, one right after the other. This book is *very* sophisticated for a kid's book, mostly because in part the narrative has the weird, disjointed atmosphere of dreams. Still, it's a terrific story, and some parts of it are laugh-out-loud hilarious (particularly if you're a fan of Douglas Adams, Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett, etc.). Once again Wynne Jones has created two utterly great protagonists (Nick Mallory from Deep Secret, and a new character named Roddy who is another of Wynne Jones' standard feisty, mercurial, unsentimental heroines), plus a bunch of completely great supporting characters, including a girlishly nervous elephant and twin witches who are more maddening than a roomful of Eloises. The story careens around in time and space, every action is not without a reaction in the future, and in the process Wynne Jones actually makes a convincing case for *not* having to like horrible relatives just because they're your blood. Amazing! I hope to God she never stops writing, as her imagination and vision are mind-boggling, as well as being wildly entertaining.
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Summary: Another delight from Diana Wynne Jones
Review: Diana Wynne Jones is probably the best British fantasy author out there, and she is finally starting to get her recognition. This is a semi-sequel to "Deep Secret", since it carries on the story of Nick Mallory, one of the principal characters. Still casting about for a way to develop his magical talents, he becomes swept up in the efforts of our other point of view character, Roddy, a teenage girl on the world of Blest (an alternate England where the King progresses around the kingdom most of the year) to defeat a magical conspiracy led by some nasty characters. Filled with delightful moments...and captivating characters, from Nick himself to the enigmatic, powerful character of Romanov, a very strong mage whom Nick encounters while floundering from world to world, to an escaped elephant named Mini. As is usual in Jones's work, it is not all sweetness and light. Not all of the "good" characters are entirely good, and learning that will be part of the growing-up process for our teenage heroes. There are dark moments, deaths, family conflicts, mistakes by our characters, all of which is part of life and which Jones never spares us. The ending did seem sort of hurried, not as though Jones had run out of ideas (I can't imagine that) but as though she were forced to keep the book within reasonable bounds. And, to a certain extent, the ending is telegraphed within the book. Usually, Jones is a bit more clever about that. As usual, Jones borrows liberally from legend and story, and makes it all her own. While not quite as good as "Deep Secret", still a fine, fine addition to her works--and leaving enough unresolved (I could have heard more about Nick's panther and what it indicates about him) to hope for more episodes in Nick's story, and that of Roddy and her world as well. Highly recommended.
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Summary: Another delight
Review: Diana Wynne-Jones is one of the best authors of fantasy still living, from her hilarious spoof "Tough Guide to Fantasyland" to the wizard Chrestomanci. And fans of her imaginative books won't be disappointed with "Merlin Conspiracy." Roddy has lived a fairly ordinary existance in an alternate version of Britain, as the daughter of two Court Wizards and part of the Progress (which goes around the Islands of Blest and gives various rituals where they are needed). Soon the Merlin (the sort of magical leader) dies and a new Merlin is chosen -- except the new Merlin may not be right for the job, because suddenly rituals and magic are going awry. In a different world, a teenager named Nick slips into what seems to be a dream world -- but is actually another universe altogether. He wants to go to other worlds, but it turns out to be a lot more dangerous than he had believed it would be. And Roddy needs his help to fix the magic, before the conspiracy overwhelms them. "Merlin Conspiracy" is, like most of Jones's books, complicated and twisted without being bewildering. The characterizations are tight and realistic, and the writing is quite good. "Merlin Conspiracy" shows a certain polish that comes from long experience, and Jones knows how to use her strengths by now. Like many of her books, "Merlin Conspiracy" is funny and well-plotted. The dialogue is excellent ("If you say "Alicia" quickly it sounds just like a well-behaved sneeze - just like Alicia, in fact.") And though this book is written in the first person, unlike many of Jones's books, it doesn't detract from her deft writing. Roddy and Nick are flawed in a likable way. Roddy is a bit bossy and fussy at times, and Nick is more languid and inclined to take things less seriously. They seem very real. Grundo and the "Merlin" are also quite well written; so is the very large and unusual cast, including obnoxious witch twins, assassins, the lord of the dead, dragons, goats, silver tea services, and plenty of wizards... "Merlin Conspiracy" is a fun fantasy for adults and kids alike (regardless of age, you have to be drawn in by the complex plotting). Definitely an entertaining read, and no sign of Jones's talents on the wane.
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Summary: The Merlin Conspiracy
Review: Do you believe in coincedences? Roddy, Grundo, and Nick (who is from a different world and is accidentally summoned by Roddy) don't. So when the Merlin dies of a heartattack at the worst possible moment they refuse to believe his death is "natural". But who's going to believe a couple of kids? Absolutely no one, until they meet Maxwell Hyde and Romanov, two extremely powerful wizards who finally believe them. But will even their help be enough to take on the new Merlin and everyone helping him? This is a wonderful book, when I finished reading it I went back to the beginning and read it another two times.
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Summary: Decent for a Sequel
Review: I liked it, but Deep Secret was better. The planet hopping and time changes made it hard to keep track of some details. Also, the ending didn't really give much closure, and was more rushed than hers usually are. I liked the flower system though, and the new characters are right up to her usual standards. It is probably like many of her other books and will get better upon rereading as details are picked up that previously weren't noticed. If you're a fan definetly worth reading. If this is the first of her books that you're trying, I recommend reading Deep Secrets first.
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Summary: Another great book
Review: I love Diana Wynne Jones' books. They are fun to read, she makes wonderful personalities, and they always makes you feel good, in one way or another. Forget about Harry Potter, she made great magical books long before the Potter-hysteria. This book is one of her best, along "The tale of time city", "Dogsbody" and a couple of more (but no book can compete with Charmed life, and The dark lord of Derkholm, her best!). This book has great and interesting characters, a nice story and lots of imagination. You just have to love the wizards house when he's sick, and the city she describes. She has a way of telling a story with both some tragic, dark and bad things, and things that make you happy and feel good. I always have a smile on my face after reading one of her books. Most of her books are made for a pree-teen or teen reader, but I think more adults should read her. Why read a boring novel about a life like your own, when you can disappear into another world? She has written some books for adult readers, I really recommend them too. They are a little bit more serious, but otherewise just the same, with a fantastic imagination and characters with real depth.
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Summary: Not her best...
Review: I waited a long time for this book to come out. When I finally got it, I was disappointed. The first few chapters of the book felt promising...I was glued to the pages. As the book went on though, the plot went downhill. Unlike her similar book, Deep Secret, The Merlin Conspiracy didn't seem to flow right with the multiverse that DS created. Merlin Conspiracy seemed more to be a cross between the multiverse of infinity, and the worlds of Chrestomanci. I would still recommend this book to readers. It was a fun read, even if it was disappointing. I would prefer Deep Secret to the Merlin Conspiracy anyday.
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