I'm a great fan of Diana Wynne Jones' work and came to this book with high expectations. It is obviously pitched at adults and YA rather than the younger children a lot of her other work is aimed at, given the focus on two main characters in their twenties and the occasional sexual reference and one instance of f*** in dialogue, which I've never seen in her other work. However, I was left a little disappointed although there is a lot of good writing and interesting set pieces, possibly because her characters didn't 'grab' quite as much as usual, and there were pacing and structural problems.

The book starts with the POV of Rupert Venables who is junior Magid on Earth. Magids are wizards who are responsible for keeping the multiverse, of which Earth is a tiny part, in balance. Magids have various abilities, a key one being that they can travel from one world to another to get to wherever their services are required. Rupert is stuck with the responsibility of helping a particularly nasty Empire world that has a number of other worlds under its thumb. Early on in the story he has to attend a trial there, where he is shocked by the Emperor's verdict. Soon afterwards, a major incident puts the whole Empire in jeopardy, and over the course of the book, Rupert is increasingly drawn in to try to help those who are fending off a civil war.

When he returns from the trial, he discovers that his mentor Stan is dying. Stan gives him a list of possible replacements, as Rupert will no longer be the junior Magid and must train the new junior. The first candidate he manages to track down is Maree who is completely impossible - so impossible that I found I disliked her also and the effect was slow to wear off. Another character, a 14-year old boy Nick, is Maree's best friend. He is totally self centred so is also rather irritating. He goes on to appear in the second Magid story, The Merlin Conspiracy.

After the first few chapters the story suddenly switches to Maree's POV, at which point I realised she was going to be important, and we do gradually learn why she is the way she is. It did make her a little more sympathetic, but I still wasn't a fan. Or of Rupert either, as he is rather bland and boring.

Rupert has huge problems tracking the other possible Magids down and resorts to magically luring them all to a science fiction/fantasy convention being held at a town which is a node of power - where his troubles really begin, as all the other candidates turn out to be even more awful than Maree. Someone is making mischief with the power they are drawing from the node. And as the story progresses, it's obvious that whoever is behind the problems in the Empire is completely ruthless and will balk at nothing, including child murder. Meanwhile, Rupert starts to realise that his feelings for Maree are changing.

A lot of the story is about Rupert balancing his two heavy responsibilities: finding a suitable person to train, and resolving the problems in the Empire as they escalate. Pacing is uneven with the story dragging in places. After the pivotal scene where Rupert has to return to the Empire to meet a certain individual with key information about possible heirs to the Emperor, things do swing into high action and it proceeds much faster.

The book is quite humorous, with the various characters at the SF/Fantasy con sketched well and all sorts of farcical misunderstandings where the con-goers witness magical events - though readers may find the constant 'jokes' about fat people rather wearing. There are also clonky wrong notes that bring the reader to a halt with a bump such as when Rupert picks up Maree who is, to all intents and purposes, dying and says he is 'puzzled to discover that, holding her like this, light, limp and frost cold, was one of the most sexual experiences I have ever had'!

The structural problem that really grinds the story to a halt is the very odd decision to include the first person narratives of various characters in a big talky scene at the end, instead of dropping them in at the point where they would naturally occur. Presumably this was to leave the fate of certain characters in question for longer, but it could still have been managed without having to shoehorn this whole section in at the end after everything was otherwise resolved, just so we found out what had happened to the rest of them. This, added on to a long denouement scene at the convention, made the story reach a rather limp conclusion.

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A very readable and after a measured start, absorbing multiple world fantasy. The characters are over all a bit high on the quirk scale, but there are reasons. Some of the scenes at PhatasmaCon are screamingly funny, although there is a mild fat phobia on display. ( )

I've read this book at least a dozen times, but never entered it into GR before. So it totally counts towards my goal of 52. Sue me. :) I still return to DWJ at least once a year, and her books always hold up to rereading. ( )

I love this book so much and its a must read if you are as in love with DWJ as I am... On a different note, whenever I read this book I get an intense and somewhat unsettling déjà vu type feeling from the final chapter, as if Ive meet the people described somehow. Clearly this is ridiculous but in any case please send me a message if you have experienced this also.

Edit for 2021 reread: Maree is one of my all time favorite characters but the way I relate to her has definitely changed now that I'm a good ten years older than her. She is a feral baby and I love her. ( )

https://tamaranth.blogspot.com/2021/11/2021144-deep-secret-diana-wynne-jones.htm... ( )

Magid must select trainee in midst of dynastic crisis in another Empire

Slow to start, but it gets madcap and delightful somewhere in the middle. ( )

In my first review some years ago, I wrote Clearly conceived after attending a Fantasy writers conference. Hilarious and poignant.
In this second reading, I read more slowly and observed small hints and foreshadowing. The story is still the same to me, especially the family dynamics and the action in different worlds coalescing with each other. DWJ excelled herself in this story.

However I'm dropping half a star because the characters 'reporting' to the Upper Room in the last chapter, is a fail. I can't understand why these insights couldn't have been told as they occurred simply by switching to the relevant character. . After all, most of the book's chapters give us alternative views (Maree and Rupert frequently alternate). ( )

Jones was a master of dark whimsy - it was fun to visit one of her multi-verse stories taking the piss on science fiction conventions and mixing magic and technology in unexpected ways. A young magid has the task of replacing a deceased colleague and keeping an empire from crumbling with the help of colleague's ghost, his brothers, and some unsuspecting heirs to the empire. Watch out for ugly sweaters. ( )

The senior Magid responsible for Earth and the adjacent Koryfonic Empire (which is considerably more magic-infested than Earth) has died, and his successor has to recruit a new junior Magid, while dealing with the total disaster that the Koryfonic Empire has become in the aftermath of the assassination of the Emperor, who had m ade sure that his heirs were completely safe from being located and used against him while he was alive. Careful consideration of his problems yields the useful discovery that he can deal with the problem of recruiting a new Magid by meeting all of the likely candidates at a science fiction convention (Eastercon). It's not that simple, of course, and his problems not only become intertwined, but turn out to have been intertwined since before he became aware of them. Poor Rupert Venables, just trying to do his job, has more troubles than anyone should have in any two lifetimes. Great fun.
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DNF

An entertaining novel, not a young adult book per se, but not unsuitable for that audience. I was reminded more of Friesner than Pratchett in this tale of Magids, wizard-types charged with keeping various parallel worlds moving along some sort of "Intended" path. Some humor, some dark bits, but mostly just straight-ahead fantasy adventure, set in modern day England, largely at a fantasy convention, and several more magical realms. There's an interesting narrative choice to tell one key part of the story in a final "report" after the main narration has finished.

Recommended. ( )

Thanks to Tor and Goodreads for a free copy of this book!

Despite meaning to read Howl's Moving Castle for years now, I've never read any of Diana Wynne Jones' books. So, I was really intrigued to see what Deep Secret would be like.

In short, I love her writing style. Every paragraph feels like it's packed with information, and worldbuilding, and quirks. I love her characterization. And I love all of the weird, and twisty plotlines.

There were some things that didn't quite click for me with this book. Some of the more sexual content, for example, seemed out of place. I don't think I found the weird-convention-goers thing as funny as I was supposed to. And I loved the character of Maree so much that she left me wishing that more of the chapters were from her point of view.

But, in general, this was an amusing read. I'm definitely going to be checking out more of Diana Wynne Jones' books. ( )

The Magids have a problem—several problems. Earth needs a new one to keep magic in order, and also the Koryfonic empire, on another world entirely, is falling apart. Rupert Venables is assigned to both worlds, and as he tries to figure out which potential Magid to recruit he’s also dealing with appalling plots against the empire. And, as it turns out, a sci-fi/fantasy convention held on a powerful node, in a hotel that has different configurations for different times. Lots of quirkiness that probably would have appealed to me more if I had better memories of her other works. ( )

This book is an absolute must-read for anyone who makes a habit of attending sci-fi conventions. Everyone else may find it entertaining enough, but it's really for con-goers.
Rupert Venables is a magid - a member of a secret brotherhood of magicians assigned to to different worlds throughout the various planes of existence, who are supposed to keep things running smoothly. Unfortunately, his mentor has recently passed away (although he is still with Rupert in spirit, in an advisory sort of position), and it is now Rupert's job to find someone to step into the vacant position and start magical training. His mentor has given him a list of candidates from our Earth - people who may have some natural aptitude in that direction. Unfortunately, when Rupert starts investigating them, they all seem more hopeless than he could possibly imagine. The first candidate - a young woman that he has high hopes for (and some hopeful fantasies as well), disappoints him sorely when he finds her - and not only is she dumpy, plain and nerdy, but is holding up traffic to do a "witchy dance" in the middle of the road. The next candidates he tries to locate are even worse. Apparently people with such aptitudes also tend to be wack jobs, emotional cripples, or downright evil.
Through a series of coincidences - and a little bit of magical help, Rupert gathers all of his candidates for easier examination at a science-fiction convention - but nothing goes as simply as he hopes, and things progress from bad to worse when the complex politics - including assassinations - of the other world he's assigned to start breaking through into this world - and soon there's a centaur running around the hotel, evil magicians wreaking havoc, and nothing is running smoothly at all. ( )

Now that I have more free time for recreational book-reading - as well as the renewed desire to expand that reading - I've been trying to acquaint myself with Diana Wynne Jones, famed fantasy writer and favorite of one of my mentors. For some reason, as a child, I only ever came into contact with one Jones novel: Dogsbody, which I recall being quite pleasant, actually. Here recently, I've been breaking myself into her more well-known works: the excellent Archer's Goon, the Howl's Moving Castle series (if you can really call it a series), and coming up soon, the Crestomanci sequence.

Deep Secret, though. Deep Secret. Hmm.

I think my expectations were a little bit off from the start, because I'd read or been told (I don't remember which) that this was DWJ's "adult" novel. And yes, there are definitely a couple of elements - passing references, really - that firmly place it out of the realm of a children's story. It comes off, though, as adolescent. Almost *weirdly* adolescent, like someone who's been writing for children too long decided to try a story for grown-ups. The plot is complicated, the magical mechanics of the universe are largely presumed or half-explained, and the whole thing just feels...fractured. There were parts of the story where I really felt like I was reading a mid-series book, and that somewhere, other readers had been introduced to these characters and worlds in a more traditional manner. But no. DWJ just drops you off the cliff and lets you fend for yourself.

I'm left with the impression that Deep Secret is, in many ways, supposed to be a comedy. There are certainly funny moments; for me, many of the came from DWJ's keen observation of the types of people who frequent sci-fi/fantasy conventions, and how those events are laid out. It certainly wasn't a laugh-a-minute book, though, and I often found what might have been an attempt at lightness or a P.G. Wodehouse-style comedy of errors actually rather distancing. That's not to say I'm giving up on DWJ; far from it. I would, however, probably avoid another of her books written in this particular voice. ( )

In the book which is the first volume of a series the writer crated a great world. Maybe it's not the most unique, Zelazny's Amber cycle came into my mind several times, but it's not lessening the value of the book. Entertaining read with interesting characters and storyline. ( )

A charming, amusing and somewhat moving fantasy novel. I hadn't read any of the DJW's adult books before, so when I came across this title (while weeding the library's science fiction/fantasy collection), I couldn't rest checking it out. Although it dragged a bit at the beginning, once it got going, I found it hard to stop reading. The characters were likable (even if it took some time) and the setting of the science fiction/fantasy convention was particularly entertaining. ( )

Slow to start, but enjoyable overall. ( )

This once gets "I liked it" for Maree Mallory. If only it had all been about Maree instead of, yet again, handsome young men.

Compared to [b:A Sudden Wild Magic|47536|A Sudden Wild Magic|Diana Wynne Jones|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51MQVz30F6L._SL75_.jpg|28479] this one had fewer annoying female characters but that could just be because there were fewer female characters.

Does the author manifest her particular attention to fatness in other books? I don't recall it from [b:Hexwood|47528|Hexwood|Diana Wynne Jones|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170347755s/47528.jpg|1121869] or [b:Howl's Moving Castle|6294|Howl's Moving Castle (Castle, #1)|Diana Wynne Jones|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165560187s/6294.jpg|2001] but perhaps I was less aware then? Other than that, if she was a fan fiction author, she'd be the coldest prickliest writer ever.
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I read this at the same time as [b:Fantasti*Con|13508793|Fantasti*Con|Rob Osterman|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1335574369s/13508793.jpg|19037639] due to the fact they were both set around conventions. Maybe not a good thing as I sometimes was confused between the two conventions wondering where certain characters were. But in the end I separated and enjoyed them both.

This novel is set in an alternate (or perhaps not) universe where they are a group of people known as Magids whose job is, well it's a bit unclear. They help their assigned worlds with various issues and help maintain the magical equilibrium around the great Infinity. I think. It's not exactly clear. One of Earth's Magids, Rupert, is tasked with finding a new Magid after his supervisor passed away. There has to be the same number of Magids at all time. At the same time as trying to check all potential trainees Rupert is called upon by the Korfyros Empire, a PITA he also assists, after a dramatic upheaval threatens to destroy the whole thing. Throughout the book these two plots intertwine and inevitable become one.

It was a good book and quite enjoyable but the pacing suffered at times. Sped up then slowed down then sped up then slowed down. The book starts in Ruperts POV then abruptly shifts to the other main character, Maree, then forward and back. I liked the way it showed both sides of what was going on but it did sometimes make things feel a bit repetitive.

I wasn't a fan of Nick and I think the characters of Rob and Andrew needed a bit more time, same with Nick's mother. My main issue was with the ending. It ended rather quick and there was no closing POV chapter from Maree, instead we had the first and final chapter from Nick. It made the book feel unfinished and left me a little disappointed.

Overall not a bad book though I think I will take a break from Diana Wynne Jones for a while now. ( )

This is a young adult fantasy novel which goes on the premise that the best place to consider candidates for a magically-important position may be a British science-fiction/fantasy convention. Unfortunately our hero, Rupert Venables (despite the old-fashioned name, he's 26 years old) is being distracted from this job by the hunt for the missing heir to an empire in another dimension. Jones leaves it to the reader to fill in much of the background to this story. This may either leave you feeling glad she didn't spoon-feed you everything, or frustrated if you think she didn't tell you enough. Be patient: most of it will come together by the end. ( )

Rupert Venables is a Magid, with particular responsibility for the corrupt and unpleasant Koryfonic Empire. When his mentor dies and, soon afterward, almost the entire Koryfonic court is killed in an act of terrorism, Rupert has his hands full with trying to find a new junior Magid whilst simultaneously trying to decipher a bunch of encrypted alien files to find the Koryfonic heir. He manages to manipulate things so that all his Magid candidates will be drawn to the same hotel at the same time – only to find that the ‘book lovers convention’ that’s occupying the hotel that weekend is a science fiction con. And then an injured centaur runs through the bar …

This is another of DWJ’s adult titles; it doesn’t make much difference to the plot, but there’s a bit of swearing. And there are goings-on at the con that I certainly never encountered at any I went to.

A complex plot, but some less-than-engaging characters; this isn’t an especial favourite of mine, and I don’t find the convention scenes as hilarious as some people seem to. What is hilarious, though it probably shouldn’t be, is the late-90’s technology from the perspective of fifteen years on: faxes and floppy discs abound, and there’s not a mobile phone in sight ( )

A rather scrambled story, which makes it hard to review. I like many (many) bits of it, but overall it somewhat annoys me. Too many people with different agendas - Janice, Nick, Rupert, Rupert's subconscious, the Upper Room, Knarros, Rob...bah. I like Maree, and I really wish we'd gotten to see more of her and Rupert. And I'd love to know if Nick managed his plan. I guess I'm reading the other Magid book next (as always!). ( )

Deep Secret doesn't really classify as vintage Jones. There's nothing wrong with the book per se, but by the same token it ends up being hampered by some of her more pronounced stylistic tics. Fine enough for a weekend or a fan, but certainly not one to recommend for Jones neophytes.

Rupert Venables is a Magid - a kind of wizardly world steward, responsible for several of the multiple worlds that cluster around Earth. When he's charged with finding a new apprentice and dealing with the collapse of an empire in a neighboring world, things quickly start spinning out of his control.

Readers familiar to Jones will notice the similarities here to a lot of her other books: the parallel worlds, the issues of succession, and the young protagonists struggling with troubles before they are really due for them.

The problem with these themes this time, is that they feel a little rote. Jones' jocular, somewhat teasing authorial voice dominates too much of the narrative; challenges are resolved quickly - almost perfunctorily - and nothing ever really feels at stake. The existential questions underpinning the best of her books like A Tale of Time City and Archer's Goon are underplayed here, and it makes it difficult to really *care* about the characters. Additionally, outside of the too-few chapters narrated by potential protege Maree, the characters are underdone, relying more on congenial cliche than real character.

The book is aimed at an older audience than Jones' typical novels; as evinced by the more graphic violence and romantic subplots, but her somewhat didactic tone doesn't scale up with the violence. There is no doubt as to any character's emotional states and an awful lot of telling and not showing.

The other thing that bothered me was Jones' willingness to take on some very serious subject matter like the break-up of Yugoslavia and cancer to use quite flippantly in the story. I can't lie, it bothered me when one of the characters sagely notes that cancer "is mostly in your head, you know".

This hardly sounds like a recommendation, but it's important to put the book in its historical context - YA literature is prepared/permitted to go into much darker territory in 2011 than it was when this was written nearly 15 years ago, and even darker than the era most of her work was created and shaped in.

Deep Secret isn't a bad book, but it's just so very very average - as writing, as YA fiction, as worldbuilding - and from a writer like Jones, average is usually the last thing you expect. ( )