- Library Binding: 468 pages
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1435287436
- ISBN-13: 978-1435287433
- Product Dimensions: 19 x 13 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Master fantasist Diana Wynne Jones, author of the Chrestomanci books, scores another winner in The Merlin Conspiracy. This absorbing tale of magic and courtly intrigue is told in two voices. In the world called Islands of the Blest, Roddy is a young page who has grown up travelling with her family in the King's Progress, a constant journey around the kingdom. Just after she and her younger friend Grundo spot a growing conspiracy to overthrow the King and change the balance of magic, they are whisked away to visit Roddy's grim and silent grandfather; when they return the Progress has moved on without them. Meanwhile in another world, Nick Mallory, 14, blunders into a dreamlike adventure that leads him to the powerful wizard Romanov and involves him in Roddy's mission to save the worlds from the upset planned by the conspiracy.
The story moves through several precariously linked worlds in vividly imagined episodes told alternately by Roddy and Nick, as their journeys begin to mesh. Part of the fun for the reader is sorting out Roddy's many wizardly relatives from the double perspective and clicking them into place in the plot. Wynne Jones's many fans will pounce on this complex but fast-moving fantasy that features not only 34 characters, but a panther, a goat, a dragon, and an extremely charming elephant. (Ages 10-14) --Patty Campbell, Amazon.com --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Review
“The characterisation is first rate, the ideas are fabulous … This is fantasy at its most inventive – canny, funny and far-reaching.” The Telegraph
“A curiosity shop of a book … a pleasure to lose yourself in.” The Sunday Times
“The Merlin Conspiracy is Wynne Jones on top form … [her] powerful narrative and her ability to create extraordinary charachers with real emotions make her more than a worthy rival to J K Rowling.” Financial Times
“A must for all Wynne Jones fans, past, present and future.” Limited Edition
--This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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First Sentence
I have been with the Court all my life, traveling with the King's Progress. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
I have been with the Court all my life, traveling with the King's Progress. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Merlin Conspiracy is a good basic story, the characters are beautifully developed and the various links and connections between them both compelling and enthralling.
The only problem is it seems to take forever just to build up the story. Don't get me wrong, I've no problem with big build ups, they usually lead to big climaxes.
However, the climax to this story while exciting seems rushed. It seems to me The Merlin Conspiracy could do with being a series of books, and the end is left fully open to a sequel, it just seems that the real story doesn't start quick enough to enthrall a less than dedicated reader.
In a time where big action is the big thing this wonderful fantasy might be lost to most readers who prefer the short more action filled journeys. It should not be overlooked however as the characters excel at being intresting, from the complexities of the main characters Roddy and Nick, to the sublimely awful Izzies.
A compelling read that, while it could be longer, is still a fantastic and classic story.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a great romp through familiar DW-J territory - alternative worlds, and magical families. Arianrhod (Roddy, one of the two narrators) and Grundo are part of the King's Progress, the travelling Court, but have to travel alone through the Isles of Blest (a "squished and stretched" British Isles) to stop a plot to take all the magic in the land and use it for evil. The Little People advise Roddy to raise the land to stop the plot, but she has little to go on until she figures out her inherited magic "database".
Meanwhile Nick, the other narrator, already a refugee from one world, gets drawn through a few other worlds looking for Romanov, a man who might just have the power to solve the mystery of who is trying to kill whom and why. He promises to help Roddy as part of a journey quest, befriending an elephant on the way, and encountering a malevolent goat named Helga.
The plot's intricate but all comes together in a satisfying ending as Roddy works out just what "raising the land" involves - dragons, Stonehenge, and all her extended and rather mad family...
Meanwhile Nick, the other narrator, already a refugee from one world, gets drawn through a few other worlds looking for Romanov, a man who might just have the power to solve the mystery of who is trying to kill whom and why. He promises to help Roddy as part of a journey quest, befriending an elephant on the way, and encountering a malevolent goat named Helga.
The plot's intricate but all comes together in a satisfying ending as Roddy works out just what "raising the land" involves - dragons, Stonehenge, and all her extended and rather mad family...
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I would like to say that this book is great. The storyline is amazing, especially how their lives come together and you find out who everybody is. But, sadly, I can't give it the 5 stars it deserves because I feel that if you are one of those people who needs the end of a book to be good expect a disappointment as this one isn't. I couldn't put the book down and I was reaching the end and you get to the climax, it calms down once more and then it stops. As if she just stopped writing, not even as if she got fed up and brought it to a quick close. It just finishes, and I'd like to say I'm disappointed. Yet, even so, I would still recommend you to read this book. As it is one of the best.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
What happened?
I'm a big fan of Diana Wynne Jones, so I'm maybe being a little tough on this review because I have high expectations. Read more
Published 1 month ago by rose_ginger
Follows on, a great sequel
This one follows on from "Deep Secret" and continues the adventures of Nick Mallory, who wants to be a Magid and travel between worlds, bringing a whole host of new characters in. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Torrie Lloyd
The balance of magic
There are so many things that I usually love about Diana Wynne Jones' books and while there is plenty to be marvelled at in "The Merlin Conspiracy", I have to say it isn't a book... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Belochka
Worth the effort
This is a really great book that is told from 2 different perspectives, Nick lives in a world like ours but knows that magic exists and works but is hidden, Roddy lives in a... Read more
Published on 29 July 2007 by J. Tippet
a nice surprise to have a familiar character appear
i liked nick mallory's character when i read 'deep secret' a couple of years ago, a book i still love, so it was a wonderful surprise to find him as one of the main... Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2005 by "felidae_13"
I was expecting more
To be honest I really really did not like this book at all not only was the plot incredibly slow but in many places had me completely lost! Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2005 by "pukemire"
A bit weird...
In general I did enjoy this book, but it is a bit childish... usually books for that age, are perfect with me (I'm 24), but this one was definitely like it says on tin, 11-13. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2004 by M. Ivanova
The Best book I ever read!
I think The Merlin Conspiracy is the best book I ever read because it is an exciting story.It is written from two people's points of view, Roddy and Nick. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2004 by Joshua Dorrington
Buy it, borrow it, but whatever you do read it.
I bought this book mainly because I heard really good reviews and because I've liked the author before. Read more
Published on 15 Oct 2003 by Chloe Bernard
Magical but not a patch on Harry Potter...
This was the first book by Diana Wynne Jones I read, so I came to it with no expectations. Although I'm not a child any more, I do enjoy reading books such as the Harry Potter... Read more
Published on 5 Jun 2003
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