When Rupert's mentor, Stan, dies, it is up to him, the junior Magid, to find a replacement. Lucky for him, Stan left a list. Not so lucky for him, interviewing each one separately could take forever. To make things easier, Rupert decides to join all their fatelines at a science fiction convention rather than hunting them down individually.

Rupert's got other problems, however. The Koryfonic empire is crumbling with the death of its emperor. It is also Rupert's job to hunt down the next ruler. This is proving problematic though. Timon IX was paranoid and has hidden his heirs away.

How is Rupert going to find the time to manage all this?

This book was great. At times it was serious, at time it was just absolutely silly, but always it was a pleasure to read. I found the whole concept of a fantasy novel taking place at a science fiction convention absolutely hilarious and very clever. I loved the characters, though at times they were a bit over the top. Both Rupert and Maree had their sarcastic sides, which is always a plus for me. I love witty characters and these ones had wit in spades.

Honestly, the only part I didn't like was the sudden change in romantic interest for Rupert. He hated Maree and then, the first time he sees her admiring another man, he realizes his hate is really just jealousy and he actually really likes her. It was just too quick and unbelievable for me.

I'm excited to read the next book and discover more about Magids. I found them fascinating and I hope to learn more about the workings of the Magids as there wasn't nearly as much detail as I would have liked in this book. ( )

Rupert Venables is the Junior Magid assigned to Earth and also to the planets of the Koyrfonic Empire. When the Emperor dies without a known heir, Rupert begins his investigation and attempts to find the heir, whom Rupert knows must be there somewhere... Then, to complicate matters, Rupert's senior dies and appoints Rupert the senior, which, of course means that Rupert needs to leave the Koyrfonic empire and search Earth for a suitable magid to fill his old position.

The intense and sometimes humorous tale of Rupert's adventures - and mis-adventures - appeals to fantasy lovers, both young and old. The setting of the story in an alternate England adds a layer of charm to the story, even though the envelope of suspension of disbelief is pushed a bit far in some places. Readers deeply engrossed in the story likely won't notice the unbelievability too much.

Recommended for readers age 10 and up who are looking for a page-turning, fun to read adventure.

This review was simultaneously published on Amazon.com, Dragonviews, LibraryThing and YABooks Central.com. ( )

After reading my way through my local library's entire collection of Diana Wynne Jones books as a young teen, I was delighted to find out from a pen-pal that there were more books out there I had missed.

Deep Secret, set in a just-slightly-unbelievable alternate England, is funny, geeky, and engaging. The book is written mostly in first-person by a fairly ordinary-sounding programmer named Rupert, who also happens to be the Magid in charge of handling the diplomatic breakdown of the Korfyonic Empire, located over several alternate universes... The plot dips and spirals, sometimes clever and sometimes just a little bewildering, until the climax and satisfyingly tidy denouement in the last 60-odd pages of the book.

It was great comfort reading and probably one of my favourite Diana Wynne Jones novels yet: tailored toward a less 'goofy' audience than Howl's Moving Castle or the Chrestomanci Chronicles. ( )

Rupert, one of the Magids, people with the power and responsibility to use magic to shape the course of the worlds, has been left with two tasks. Find and appoint the newest Magid for Earth, and look after the Koryfonic Empire, which has just lost its Emperor. These two tasks come together at a science fiction convention, and they're a lot more complicated than even Rupert had thought.
This is one of my favourite books, and certainly one of my favourite DWJ's. My only disappointment is that Rupert and Maree don't appear in the loose sequel to this.

love it! ( )