Reviews for Deep Wizardry (So You Want to Be a Wizard Series #2)

The average rating for Deep Wizardry (So You Want to Be a Wizard Series #2) based on 2 reviews is 4.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2011-08-12 00:00:00 Paul Simard If ever anyone asks you what exactly is the point of a site like Goodreads, do please direct them to this review. A few months ago, I read the first in this series, 'So You Want To Be A Wizard', and although I liked it, I had no great desire to read any more in the sequence. But when I posted this in my Goodreads review, a friend begged me to carry on, because this, the second book in the series, was one of her all time favourite books. So I took her advice, and you know what? I love it too. It's astonishing how many wonderful stories I've found through Goodreads - not just friends' recommendations, but other reviews, discussion groups or simply surfing around, following links from book to book to author to book... It's an invaluable resource for readers. This is a children's (or perhaps more properly a young adult) book, the second of a long series, but it's also an excellent read for adults. I am several decades above the intended demographic, but I absolutely loved it. The first half of the book is a fairly straightforward tale of two kids, Nita and Kit, learning to enjoy their newfound powers of wizardry, while avoiding Nita's pesky younger sister and trying not to be caught out by her parents. There's a sprinkling of politically correct ecology (pollution is bad, children), plus some swimming with dolphins and whales and such like fluff. But then, about half way through, the story transforms into something deeper, darker and much more interesting. Suddenly it's about love and death, and willing sacrifice, and keeping your word no matter the cost. Oh, and a little about the innateness (or not) of male aggression. Which was unexpected. Even though you know, of course, that Nita and Kit will be fine (since the series goes on and on) and even I saw what had to happen to make things come out right, it was still exciting and scary and very moving. I cried, a lot, and that's embarrassing at my age (and I was on a train, too). Not sure what teenage (or younger) readers would make of it, but I thought it was terrific. A good 4 stars.

Review # 2 was written on 2019-07-28 00:00:00 Daniel George This review contains spoilers for So You Want to Be a Wizard. I remember, in my younger years, not liking this book as much as So You Want to Be a Wizard (which I'll be referring to as SYWTBAW from now on because geez that's a long title). My reasoning? It was "too weird." I don't know why humans shapeshifting into whales was "too weird" but I didn't have a problem with humans teaming up with a celestial object and a sentient sports car to fight evil in a parallel universe. Seems like a pretty arbitrary place to draw the line. With my inexplicable aversion to shapeshifting behind me, I was finally able to enjoy Deep Wizardry to its fullest during my most recent reread. Whereas SYWTBAW is a blend of fantasy and science fiction, this book is pretty straightforward fantasy. It's also tonally different; SYWTBAW had a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat feel to it, while Deep Wizardry feels slower and more ponderous. It fits the underwater theme of the story, in my opinion. I'm still head-over-heels in love with Nita Callahan as a character. In this book, we get to see a more introspective side of her, which is great for her character development. Because the entire book is written from her perspective, the insight into Kit is more limited, and focused specifically on his relationship with Nita, how she sees him, and what she thinks of him. And Diane Duane's cast of side characters is just as vibrant as it was in book one. Something that really impressed on me this reread was how Duane doesn't shy away from darkness and depth. Obviously everything is still age-appropriate for a middle grade novel, but there's an added layer underneath it all that I appreciate. Maybe that's another reason this wasn't my favorite when I was younger; there are a lot of complicated concepts explored in the text. As I mentioned in my review of SYWTBAW, Duane adds a philosophical twist to her stories, which in the first book was occasionally a bit too much, but I thought was executed much better here. I'm glad I went back and reread this one as an adult. I enjoyed it much more this time around. Up next, book three, which I remember loving the first two times I read it. Let's hope that hasn't changed.