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4.04 AVERAGE


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.

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.
funny inspiring lighthearted fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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.
adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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
adventurous funny hopeful
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
lizard13's profile picture

lizard13's review

4.0
adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
smaugerella's profile picture

smaugerella's review

4.5
adventurous funny hopeful medium-paced
atsumeri's profile picture

atsumeri's review

3.5
adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes