A hilarious fantasy sequel to The Dark Lord of Derkholm, set at the Wizard University, and centred around six fantastical students. From the 'Godmother of Fantasy', Diana Wynne Jones.

The Year of the Griffin is the sequel to the Dark Lord of Derkholm, set in the same world several years after the abolition of commercial 'fantasy world' tourism from our world.

Running a University for Wizards was never going to be easy. And with no money, no staff and no idea what he's doing, Wizard Corkoran is struggling. Especially when his students, handpicked from the wealthiest families around, turn out to be rather different than expected.

The daughter of the world's Ruling Wizard is an enormous Griffin; King Luther's son is penniless. The emperor's sister is a jinxed exile, and the dwarf is a runaway slave.

And that's all before the assassins start arriving...

About the Author

Diana Wynne Jones (1934-2011) spent her childhood in Essex and began writing fantasy novels for children in the 1970s. With her unique combination of magic, humour and imagination, she enthralled generations of children and adults with her work. She won the Guardian Award in 1977 with Charmed Life, was runner-up for the Children's Book Award in 1981 and was twice runner-up for the Carnegie Medal.

Reviews

For Diana Wynne Jones:

"The best writer of magic there is"
Neil Gaiman

"...Her hallmarks include laugh-aloud humour, plenty of magic and imaginative array of alternate worlds. Yet, at the same time, a great seriousness is present in all of her novels, a sense of urgency that links Jones's most outrageous plots to her readers' hopes and fears..."
Publishers Weekly

"Truly magical - guaranteed to leave you gasping - even hotter than Potter"
The Bookseller

For The Merlin Conspiracy:
"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

Book Information
ISBN 9780007507603
Author Diana Wynne Jones
Format Paperback
Page Count 480
Imprint HarperCollins
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Weight(grams) 310g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 129mm * 28mm