Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #19153 in Books
• Published on: 2008-02-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 224 pages

Synopsis
A dark castle in Ireland, a mysterious, secret game, and a host of magnificent characters -- Diana Wynne Jones' latest magical offering is a splendid blend of the familiar and the unusual. Hayley's parents disappeared when she was a baby, so she has been brought up by her grandparents. Then one day she is packed off to Ireland to live with her aunts -- and a whole host of cousins she never new about! Here she is introduced to "the game" which involves adventures in the forbidden "mythosphere". And here also is where Hayley discovers the truth about her family.

Customer Reviews

Myth and Magic - a clever novel with a twist
The first book I've read by this author - and as an adult reading an older child's book, I enjoyed it thoroughly, especially as I have a basic familiarity with Greek and other myths. I felt a child might feel a bit lost with all the mythology, although there is a helpful section at the end to tell you who all the main characters are.
The plot started off classically with young Hayley who hasn't seen her parents since she was tiny, sent off in disgrace by her grandmother to live with her aunts and cousins in Ireland who turn out to be wonderfully eccentric. So far so normal - then she gets to take part in a rather special game where all the cousins are able to travel into the mythosphere and race to collect various objects from the stuff of legend. Naturally this leads to problems, not least with Uncle Jolyon, and many adventures in this supernatural world before everything gets resolved tidily and ends happily ever after.
This book was very clever, but seemed rather short and hurried, when more development and explanatory fun in the mythosphere could have helped. An intriguing read that does make me want to read more of her work though.

Gods and games
Diana Wynne Jones has dabbled in mythologies in a modern setting before, though she usually sticks to multiverses. But she tries out a new approach in "The Game," a solid fantasy novella that dips into Greek mythology for the biggest family drama this side of Olympus.

After angering her grandmother -- she's not sure how -- Hayley finds herself being shipped off to her aunts in Ireland. Upon arriving, she finds herself swamped in dozens of family members, including quite a few cousins. Soon her cousin Harmony introduces her to The Game, where the children travel into the mythosphere (all the legends and great stories), and fetch back enchanted items.

But they have to do it in secret, lest the forbidding Uncle Jolyon learns of it. And when the children play the last round of the Game, Hayley finds herself having to fetch a golden apple from a dangerous garden -- and learns of her mysterious past, and the prophecy that has Uncle Jolyon wanting her out of the way.

Jones always comes up with the most incredible ideas -- in this case, a sort of mythological scavenger hunt, and a story that includes a bunch of minor Greek deities. In fact, it's kind of surprising that Jones didn't expand this novella into a slim book, with a few more adventures in the mythosphere and some more family antics.

The family antics and descriptions are tightly written, but Jones really hits her stride when the Game comes into play -- then we have the larger-than-life depictions of things like the Hesperides, as well as a very modern version of Hades. And the dialogue has that touch of humor, with a nod to J.R.R. Tolkien during one round of the game.

Hayley's a pretty likable kid, with a melancholy side about her missing parents and her ultra-strict grandmother. The book really flourishes when she discovers what she can transform into. And Jones sprinkles the story with a few nasties -- the bratty Tollie and dictatorial Jolyon -- as well as a bunch of minor deities, Titans and the odd celestial hunter. (One of the few plot threads that gets lost).

"The Game" is a solid little novella from Diana Wynne Jones, a mythological adventure with a likable heroine. A nice little fantasy with an unusual twist finale.

a great story
Diana Wynne Jones always writes exciting, thought provoking stories. This is another one. If you have read 'Dogsbody' you will see the similarities...if you haven't read it lucky you, you get to read it for the first time! The story involves a girl who finds out all kinds of exciting things about her family and ends up rescuing them all from her 'wicked' uncle. The story is too short(my only complaint) but its well worth reading. I just hope there are lots more Diana Wynne Jones stories to come. They are all good and many are truly brilliant. My personal favourites include 'Hexwood' and 'The Merlin Conspiracy'...but having read all her novels I can say they are all worth reading and many are worth re-reading!