Diana Wynne Jones

The Wizards' University is short of money. Nothing comes in from tourists any more since Mr Chesney's offworld tours have stopped. High Chancellor Querida has left Wizard Derk and his family to run the world and handsome Wizard Corkoran to run the University. Corkoran is really only interested in being the first man to walk on the moon, but he does send begging letters to the students' parents.But Wizard Derk's daughter Elda turns out to be a large golden griffin, King Luther's son is penniless, the Emperor's sister has been disowned by the Senate and the dwarf, far from owning a hoard of treasure, turns out to be a runaway slave. And then the first reply from a student's family arrives - in the form of assassins . . .The situation is definitely out of control.

The Year of the Griffin

Christine

diana wynne jones WHAT THE FRICK
this is one of the most ridiculous unhinged books i have ever read i am in LOVE. did i eschew sleep for this again? yes (my 3am nights are uh. yeah) but MY WORD things were TRULY HAPPENING. im so glad we got the gang from the last book eight years later and our new gang was fun. college firsties REALLY DO BE LIKE THAT as one myself. 
genuinely i think this is one of the most chaotic DWJ books i have read which says A Lot. somehow 98235 things happening at the same time while also managing to talk about Trauma (ye gods, Olga) and Dysfunctional Families and Standing Up For Oneself and The Power Of Friendship and Overthrowing Your School's Messed-Up Council (after the most messed up guy in the multiverse messed up your world in the first place). also the pairing up of everybody was hysterical my word. definitely a little dubious about the very end it feels so un-dwj-like rushed but still.
dwj books aren't about magic they're about growth (thumbsup emoji)

Luca Masters

Julia M

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 wealth, 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 hugh 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. This breathtakingly brilliant sequel to Dark Lord of Derkholm is all one would expect from this master of genre.

The Year of the Griffin

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