The Merlin Conspiracy (Hardcover)

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

Review
Diana Wynne Jones has written over 40 books for children, including the famous Chrestomanci series, and the many prestigious awards she has won in both the USA and Britain give some indication of how highly she is regarded by lovers of fantasy writing. The Merlin Conspiracy has been eagerly awaited by her legions of fans, and they are in for a treat. Arianrhod Hyde and Nick Mallory are two teenagers who live in very different worlds. Arianrhod (known as Roddy) inhabits a world not dissimilar to the court of King Arthur. Daughter of the court's Weather Wizard, she accompanies the court during the King's Progress round the Isles of the Blest. This is a mysterious land where modern inventions such as 'far speakers' (a type of telephone), computers and buses co-exist quite happily with magic and witchcraft. Nick on the other hand lives in a place which seems very like modern-day Britain, but we soon learn that he has the uncanny knack of slipping into other worlds. While accompanying his father to a detective writers' conference, Nick finds himself drawn into an alternative world - but this time he has a vital part to play before he can go back. Events in the two worlds run parallel for the first part of the book, before gradually drawing together and becoming inextricably entwined. A new Merlin has been invested in Blest, but there is a conspiracy afoot. Roddy and her devoted friend Grundo are on a desperate mission to thwart the Merlin Conspiracy before it is too late, and they need Nick to help them. As the novel charges towards a thunderous climax, Roddy and Nick join forces to battle against the powers of evil and to learn what the future holds in store for them. This is a gripping fantasy, fast-paced and exciting, with a good helping of humour thrown in as well. The plot twists and weaves with a mesmeric power which leaves the reader gasping for breath. Wynne Jones has guaranteed an increased following of ardent fans and some serious reading under the bedclothes after lights out. Ages 10+ (Kirkus UK)

In a stand-alone companion to Deep Secret (1999), Jones takes the kitchen-sink approach to plotting a gloriously twisty adventure. Arianrhod (Roddy) has spent all of her 14 years traipsing about an alternative Britain as part of the King's Progress, until she stumbles upon a conspiracy by the court wizards to pervert the magic of several worlds. Meanwhile, on our Earth, Nichothodes (Nick) yearns for the ability to walk between worlds, a feat he is unable to accomplish until pushed into yet another England, where he gets tangled up in a number of assassination plots, including one aimed at himself. Roddy's and Nick's parallel accounts continue in alternating chapters, spanning many fascinating worlds and involving a cast including (but not limited to) a dyslexic magician, a famous mystery writer, a multiversal uber-assassin, a hypocritical Prayermaster, a charming lady elephant, a pair of obnoxious twin witches, the Welsh Lord of the Dead, the living personifications of three cities, a voracious goat, a sleeping dragon, and a sentient silver service. Many readers will long for a flowchart detailing how all these characters relate to each other (or, sometimes, turn out to be each other), but those accustomed to Jones's labyrinthine narrative pyrotechnics will settle back to enjoy everything crashing together in a universe-tilting climax. Nick-as charmingly lazy and self-centered as a cat-and Roddy-snobbish, bossy, and ferociously protective-are delightful companions for the ride, and it's hard not to hope that their stories aren't finished. Overstuffed and over the top, but a delicious romp. (Fantasy. YA) (Kirkus Reviews)

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