Diana Wynne Jones, The Merlin Conspiracy: Multiple worlds linked by magic; teens struggling with big powers and fighting adult conspiracies and dismissals; barely a decent adult woman to be found (there is a wise old crone, at least); parents who are sometimes awful for no reason and sometimes busy running the world, which is not always that big a step above--it's reasonably standard Jones, with some people turning out to be very different from who they initially seemed to be. I can't say I was drawn in, but I think younger RT might have liked it more. ( )

Summary: Roddy is a young member of the King's court, and she has been a member of the King's Progress (his continual trek around the Islands of Blest, an alternate England) for as long as she can remember. When she and Grundo, her young ward, overhear a magical plot to overthrow the king, they're taken away to Roddy's relatives - all of whom have some magical power of their own. In alternating sections, Nick Mallory, a young man, stumbles into an alternate dimension, where he meets some powerful wizards, and ultimately winds up in Roddy's dimension, where he must take what he's learned to help her save the kingdom.

Review: I need to stop listening to Diana Wynne Jones's books. I don't mean I need to stop reading them, because the ones I've read have all been imaginative, fun, and well-done. I just need to stop consuming them in audiobook form.

Jones is a huge fan of dropping readers right into the middle of a story without much (if any) explanation, and of making readers piece together what the heck's going on as they go. That's fine, and probably part of what makes her books enjoyable, but it's not a format that's well suited to audiobook. So much is happening at such a fast pace that if your attention wanders even for two minutes (as it invariably does), you wind up irreparably lost.

That was my problem here. I'm sure there was a really great book going on, but because I don't always listen to audiobooks with 100% of my brain (that's their point, after all), I never got my footing as to what was going on in the story, to the point where I spent the last hour or so thoroughly confused as to who several of the characters that kept getting mentioned even were. So, while the writing was good, and it was definitely funny, and imaginative, and I'm sure the story was great, I'm not really the best judge. From here on out, no more DWJ audiobooks for me (plus I might have to go back and re-read this one) - I hate feeling like there's a good story I'm missing! 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: I'm assuming, based on what I heard and understood, that it's worth reading... with the emphasis on the read. ( )

The Isles of Blest are in danger and it is up to an intrepid band of youngsters to discover the danger, cause the danger and resolve the danger. And resolve some personal problems along the way. And they just about successful.

It is a well-told tale and, if you can get around the issue of maintaining an absolute monarchy that terrorizes its subjects/citizens into keeping the streets clean and the front doors painted, a fun read. ( )

I love Diana Wynn Jones, and this is one of her best. I have been reading her for a long time, and for some reason have read bits of this one before but never the whole thing.
I'm extatic that I have been able to finally have time to read it. The plot is Jones' typical complicated almost too many characters, but great fun anyway. There is never really a pause in the action, and her descriptions of how the alternate worlds work is wonderful. She has the most amazing voice. ( )

As I started The Merlin Conspiracy I found myself confused about what was happening, who was who and who was where. It was a hard slog there's no question about it.
Yet, I persevered as I knew that Jones can deliver.
And as I reached the mid-way point and the bigger picture started becoming clearer, I found the story had this new sense of purpose and direction which the first half had been lacking. Eventually I found myself unable to put this book down until I had reached it's thrilling conclusion. ( )