By: Diana Wynne Jones
Hayley doesn’t really know what she has done wrong only that whatever it was it was bad enough that her grandmother packed her off to live with aunts and cousins she’s never met. It’s so very different there, noisy and chaotic. She begins to feel welcome and cared for in a way she hasn’t previously. Then there is the game – something that takes them into the mythosphere, pursuing quests and going deliberately against the wishes of the mysterious uncle Jolyon. Hayley is about to discover the mythosphere holds the key to her family’s secrets, her past and her future.
This is another fun read from the remarkable imagination of Diana Wynne Jones. It is filled with interesting characters that will either be vaguely familiar, if you have some knowledge of mythology, or an interesting introduction to it. Jones has painted a vivid and wonderful picture that takes us on a fantastical journey with Hayley as she discovers herself and her family. It is a story that draws you in and sweeps you along as you champion Hayley in her efforts. The characters are well described and fit together in a way that seems just right, the good and the not so good all having their place. A thoroughly enjoyable story woven by the delicate touch of a master craftsman. I have yet to pick up one of Jones’ stories that hasn’t pulled me in, in a way that keeps me wanting to turn the pages and only reluctantly put it down unfinished to do what else is required of me during the day.
If you haven’t read one of her books then you certainly should.
Publisher: HarperCollins Children’s Books
Published: 04 February 2008
Format: Hardback 224 pages
Categories: Fantasy
ISBN 13: 9780007263790
Purchase: here or use logo on side of page to visit Booktopia
TheKylieVerse 
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