Title: The Lake of Tears
Author: Emily Rodda
Series: Deltora Quest #2, World of Deltora #2
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Easy reading, Medieval fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Year: 2000
5th sentence, 74th page: Sometime after midnight, Lief stirred.

Lief, Barda, and Jasmine must outwit the monster-sorceress Thaegan in the second action-packed Deltora Quest adventure.

Lief, Barda, and their unpredictable new companion Jasmine are on an urgent mission to find the seven stones from the magic Belt of Deltora. The golden topaz has already been found. But only when all the stones have been restored to the Belt can their land be freed from the dark power of the evil Shadow Lord.

To find the second stone, Lief, Barda, and Jasmine must travel through territory ruled by the monster-sorceress Thaegan and overcome their biggest challenge yet–the hideous guardian of the enchanted Lake of Tears

The next step in Lief, Barda and Jasmine’s journey is just as good as the first. It’s a perfect sequel to follow up the beginning of their adventure, and begins to show the hand of fate on everything that they’re doing on their epic journey.

The Lake of Tears hints at the emotional aspect of the site of true evil that the trio is forced to face. As Lief and his companions eventually end up on the shores of the lake, they are confronted with the dangers and perils that true evil can create. It is now that the penalties of the Shadow Lords’ rule start to be felt, and the difficulties of the next journey (to the City of Rats) will only increase the feeling of overarching horror at the presence of evil throughout Deltora.

Although the trios final destination is incredibly miserable, and a shadow of what it once was, The Lake of Tears also leads to Lief, Barda and Jasmine finding their first allies. The Ralads are such a sweet folk, and one of the ancient races of Deltora, something that becomes immensely important throughout the remaining series (if I remember correctly).

I can’t wait to travel to the next destination with Lief, Barda and Jasmine.

Image source: Booktopia

Book Review Australian Authors Deltora Quest Easy Reading Emily Rodda Medieval fantasy World of Deltora