Reviews

The Year of the Griffin by Diana Wynne Jones

effervescentsoul's review against another edition

4.0

I wish there were more books in this series! Diana, why did you have to die?

I picked this one up because Neil Gaiman told me to. Well, so did my son, but I heard about her from Neil first. I am glad I read it. This story has a great plot and fun characters, and underneath the somewhat silly approach to fantasy, Jones manages to pull of a wonderful commentary on educational reform. I will be reading more of her work in the future.

oscarhp's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

celiapowell's review against another edition

4.0

Awww - this follow up (some eight years later) to The Dark Lord of Derkholm is a wonderful fantasy novel. Elda, Derk's griffin daughter, attends the University, and becomes mixed up in assasination plots, and a trip to the moon. Elda is a terribly sweet character, and all the friends she makes at University (with their variety of dark pasts they're hiding from) are wonderful as well. This is typical Diana Wynne Jones - funny and very, very engaging.

kassandrik's review against another edition

5.0

Рейтинг: 5. «Год Грифона» или ”Year of the Griffin”, так как читала я в оригинале.
Сразу скажу, что это та книга, которую можно смело брать, если не уверены в своих лингвистических силах, или наоборот, хотите расслабиться, читая легкий слог авторки. Для меня было отрадой каждый вечер, перед сном почитать пару глав. Книга достаточно небольшая, по сравнению с первой частью. Поэтому сложилось впечатление, что книга писалась как будто на волне первой истории, и мне тоже не хватило немного объема и глубины, а также интриги. Кроме космических путешествий ничего удивительного не происходило, да и неожиданного тоже. Очень сладкие и ровные любовные истории. Но, что восхитительно в Годе Грифона - юмор и фантазия авторки, какие смешные приключения у студентов, какие неприятности выходили с магией. И по сравнению с первой частью не было того тяготения главного героя и нагнетающей обстановки. Всё очень ровно, чудесно и совсем нестрашно. Я поставила 5, потому что книга и правда хорошая; Темный повелитель несомненно лучше и подробнее. Может, и хорошо, что на этом серия и завершилась.

gillothen's review against another edition

funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Sequel to "Dark Lord of Derkholm", and, like its predecessor, satirical; this time education, universities and parenting take the brunt. I enjoy it even more, with the incompetent tutor turned into a bar stool probably my favourite. DWJ was surrounded by academics and university life, so it's not really surprising she skewers it so well, but she also conveys the hunger for learning and enthusiasm of the best sort of student.

anonymousreader's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

peregrine's review against another edition

3.0

Sigh... I love DWJ and I love all these characters and their instant college friendship group, but I gotta say, on this reread I really dislike the ending. It just... semi-randomly pairs off over a dozen characters, some of whom literally decide to get married after just seeing each other once, and Blade and Flury are like, "haha the girls we like are too young for us, but let's stick around and make sure we ingratiate ourselves with them so that when they grow up they'll want to get with us" and I'm sorry but that is creepy my dudes!

WHATEVER, DWJ never finished her third book in this series so I'm just gonna headcanon Kit and Ruskin as like, extremely aroace since they're literally the only major characters who didn't get paired off

bethc46f8d's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful

5.0

andreastopit's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

lizard13's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0