Customer Reviews

To Visit the Queen (Cat Novel)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Another reader has stated that they found both books in the series `boooring' in comparison to the books for younger reader based in the same world. I disagree with this statement. The 'Nita and Kit' books were mostly children's books and were written for children and young adults, though I agree they are some of the most amazing books I have ever read, and the fact they were written for children does not in any way hamper my love of them. "To Visit the Queen", (or as it is titled in the UK "On Her Majesty's Wizardly Service"), and the earlier book in this series ' The Book of Night with Moon' are most certainly NOT children's books, they being deeper and on a different level than the series for younger readers. I would heartily recommend both the beautifully written books in this series as well as the 'Nita and Kit' books'. None of them are in any way boring, but I would recommend being sure to read `Book of Night with Moon' before this one: for though it is possible to understand and enjoy it without the history of the pervious book, in may leave the reader somewhat confused in several places.

I just finished reading the book about 10 minutes ago! What a great sequel to "Night With Moon"... it carries forward some of the unresolved feelings and events from the first book, and leaves you feeling a bit easier about them. I do disagree with some of the other reviews that found this book too drawn-out or some of the plot points contrived. The book built up slowly but steadily, not with as much action as "Night With Moon" but with more detective work on the part of Rhiow, her team, and their new allies -- more the literary equivalent of a good suspense movie than an action-hero one. And also unlike some other reviews, I didn't think the battle with the Lone One was "tacked on" or unnecessary. In fact, it was almost inevitable after the cats foil Her plans for Queen Victoria. Think about it -- if you were a selfish, vindictive Power who was absolutely sure you were going to win, and suddenly your scheme was stopped in its tracks, wouldn't you be furious and decide to rid yourself of the "obstacles" once and for all? The book even leaves room for another sequel (maybe the further adventures of Arhu and Siffha'h?) and more bliss for cat lovers. I'll be keeping my figurative whiskers attuned for it!

I'm puzzled by the comment left by the Reader from Kentucky--this book is not about a powerful girl at all, but about cat-wizards whose job it is to guard our world from evil. In this story they travel back to the time of Queen Victoria in order to save her from assassination (and save our own world at the same time). If you love cats, you'll love the way the author presents them here!

In this sequel to The Book Of Night With Moon, feline wizards Rhiow and Urruah, along with new wizard Arhu, journey to London, England to help the Tower Hill gating team with a faulty worldgate that keeps activating at irregular times, throwing unsuspecting humans into other times and demensions. But soon they find that they have more problems than they thought. A technical book has somehow come into the hands of an alternate Victorian England (with some aid from the lone power). Rhiow & company (along with the team of Brit cats) find that they must journey back in time to prevent alternate Q. Victoria's death and recover the tech book, or else that demension will be plunged into nuclear winter; a winter that, due to the ripple effect, could reach into our demension as well. Add to this a possible traitor in the team's midst, the reapearance of Ith (lizard wizard from TBONWM) to help research a desperately needed spell, and Ahru's lost twin sister (if you think they all died in the first book, wait'll you see the nifty explanation) and you have an awesome read. There is even an appearance by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, along with a cute twist to the story about his future. I found this book fun, but it doesn't move with quite the speed of light pace as TBONWM. It is a must to read TBONWM first, as this new book contains several spoilers. This book was slow to get going and seemed to contain some very mundane details. The end is also quite hurried and seems to be quite confusing, although I found some elements of the end quite predictable (but then, I read a lot). It is still a very good book, but I was biased somewhat against it in the first place, in expecting it to be as absolutely awesome as TBONWM. p.s.: Cool Fact: the covers of the books are different and (I think) better in Europe. check out some web pages about the books to see what I mean.

A wonderful follow-up to the fabulous Night With Moon. I wondered at the time how Duane was going to be able to top Night With Moon. She does an excellent job of surpassing herself & the ending of "To Visit The Queen" was surprising. There are sad moments in this one, which make it a slightly more introspective book than the other title, but it has equally rapid plot & strong action plotlines. I loved seeing Arthur Conan Doyle as well. Wouldn't he love to still be starring in our literary achievements? :)

At Grand Central Station, Rhiow and her feline peers (do not tell Rhiow that they are her peers) guard the magical gate that links worlds through time. Because of a malfunction at the London gate, Rhiow and her associates, Urruah and Arhu, travel together to investigate the problem. They quickly learn that a "timeslide" is moving people back and forth through eternity. Someone deliberately caused the time warp.

The Lone One wants nuclear weapons introduced into society long before the twentieth century in an attempt to destroy civilization. The cats accompanied by a young child, Arthur Conan Doyle, must stop the critical focal point from being changed or the alternate time continuum will replace the current time stream. The foursome must simply stop the assassinations of the multiple Queen Victorias who populate the endless worlds that make up the current universe.

TO VISIT THE QUEEN, the return to that wacky humorous universe of THE BOOK OF NIGHT WITH MOON, is a winner in its own right. The story line contains non-stop action, jocular interactions, and mounting danger as the very fabric of the universe is shredded. The cats seem real and intelligent, not cute. Diane Duane weaves a terrific tale that canine fantasy lovers will cherish. This is a 14 karat gold collar winner for anyone who loves a good book.

Harriet Klausner

To Visit The Queen was highly imaginative and suspenseful. In my view, the ending was a little confusing. The character traits frollow through from the previous book.

The New York gating team from Grand Central is called out to London to help another gating team. The problem is that there are all of these people coming through the gates, but they are from different times. As a team the seven come to a solution and as will be expected with Duane, there is a surprise ending. With plot twists this book was highly enjoyable and I could not put it down.

WARNING: IF you are going to read this book, you MUST read have completed the previous book first! Otherwise it spoils the ending of The Book of Night with Moon!

New York City as a setting was more appealing to me than Britain. I suspect Duane has spent more time in NYC and can make the place more vivid than London as well. Still, the book is entertaining and definitely worth reading even if you haven't read the first book in the series.

"To Visit the Queen" will stand alone from "Book of Night with Moon", but I believe reading the two books in order is a better option.

All Duane's fantasy--the "Tale of the Five," the "Young Wizards" series which takes place in the same Universe as this book and its prequel--turns on the unending battle between the Powers That Be (the forces of life, or what a Star Wars fan might call "the Light Side") and the Lone Power (the renegade god whom Christians term "the Devil"), each aided by its own mortal adherents and sometimes willing, sometimes unaware pawns. In this story, feline wizard and Worldgate technician Rhiow and the survivors of her team--opera-loving tom Urruah and visionary kitten Arhu--must travel to London to try to repair a malfunctioning gate (cats, unlike humans, can both see and manipulate the "strings" that make the gates work). Gradually they discover that an alternate England has been brought into being through the scheming of the Lone Power, and threatens to overwhelm their own reality and end all life on Earth. To prevent it from doing so, they must forestall the assassination of the alternate Queen Victoria in her very bed--and the way they do it could only be accomplished by cats.

As always seems to be true in Duane's work, there are touches of tragedy--the fate of the gallant London teamleader Huff and his beloved mate Auhlae may make you reach for the Kleenex box. But her alternate England is splendidly imagined, and there are light moments as well, like Rhiow's reflections on the possibility of finding a mate for her widowed human, Mike. Saurian wizard Ith reappears and performs gallantly, and his and the cats' interaction with a young Arthur Conan Doyle is charming. Now, Diane, when can we hope to see another adventure of Rhiow and her team?

There are two people I must agree with. First the person who said it was "not 'boooring". I couldn't put down this book just like its prequel, however I am still a kid (12) and I loved it. It is perfect for cat lovers and fantasy lovers alike. The second person I must agree with is the one who said it was almost as good as TBONWM, but not quite. It was another of Duane's masterpeices, but it lacked the wonderfully satisfying ending of the first book and a few other minor details. This book is still a great read, and should not be missed.