Year of the Griffin Audiobook By Diana Wynne Jones cover art

Year of the Griffin

Derkholm, Book 2

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Year of the Griffin

By: Diana Wynne Jones
Narrated by: Gemma Dawson
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It is eight years after the tours from offworld have stopped. High Chancellor Querida has retired, leaving Wizard Corkoran in charge of the Wizards' University. Although Wizard Corkoran's obsession is to be the first man on the moon and most of his time is devoted to this project, he decides he will teach the new first-years himself in hopes of currying the favor of the new students' families - for surely they must all come from wealthy, important families - and obtaining money for the university (which it so desperately needs). 

But Wizard Corkoran is dismayed to discover that one of those students - indeed, one he had such high hopes for, Wizard Derk's own daughter, Elda - is a huge golden griffin and that none of the others has any money at all.  

Wizard Corkoran's money-making scheme backfires, and when Elda and her new friends start working magic on their own, the schemes go wronger still. And when, at length, Elda ropes in her brothers, Kit and Blade, to send Corkoran to the moon...well...life at the Wizards' University spins magically and magnificently out of control.

©2000 Diana Wynne Jones (P)2018 Tantor Magic Users Fantasy Wizardry Magic Fantasy & Magic Fiction Funny Student Science Fiction & Fantasy Humorous Fiction Comedy Literature & Fiction Money
Strong Storytelling • Magical Worlds • Melodic Voice • Terrific Series • Fun Plots • Cute Story • Brilliant Narration

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This book is a terrific part of this series. I am so sorry DWJ is deceased and can’t write more. I wish all of her books were available on Audible in the United States.

Such a fun listen!

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If you listen carefully (twice in my case), you can capture the intrigue of the not-your-usual school story. It's the multitude of variations on what one might expect that I enjoyed, but I had to listen twice to appreciate the separate threads. If you want action, this might not satisfy. The narration maybe had its dry points, but I think Gemma is at her best when voicing the many characters.

It's the characters not the action

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overall it was very difficult to enjoy as much with the narration having little inflection or enthusiasm. I had to check if it was just AI narrating.

narration diminished story

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I was beyond excited when I saw that this was released so soon after The Dark Lord of Derkholm! It is a totally different type of story, but still delightful. Ms Dawson's narration is fabulous.

This made my week!

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I liked Derkholm and was not disappointed by the follow up. If you like magical worlds you will like this book. I have been a fan of this author for years.

world of magic and characters

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