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

Title: The Forests of Silence
Author: Emily Rodda
Series: Deltora Quest #1, World of Deltora #1
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: His voice was casual, but Lief was sure that the question was a test.

The evil Shadow Lord is plotting to invade Deltora and enslave its people. All that stands against him is the magic Belt of Deltora with its seven gems of great and mysterious power. When the gems are stolen and hidden in dark terrible places throughout the kingdom, the Shadow Lord triumphs, and Deltora is lost.

In secrecy, with only a hand-drawn map to guide them, two unlikely companions set out on a perilous quest. Determined to find the lost gems and rid their land of the tyrant, they struggle towards their first goal – the sinister Forests of Silence.

I haven’t read the Deltora Quest books since I was a kid and they were a series that I loved dearly. But, it’s something I’ve been reluctant to return to. After all, sometimes revisiting something that is held dearly in your minds’ eye just isn’t as good when you have had a few more years of experience. Luckily for me, this wasn’t quite the case.

Although this is very much my just before bed, I’m exhausted but can’t quite get my mind to turn off read. It was still really enjoyable and, well, fun. There’s a reason that I loved it so much as a kid. The mistakes of the parents are to be fixed by those of the child. Not only is this the beginning of a coming of age story, but it is also a great tale about the ways in which pride and ignorance can have some incredibly powerful impacts. Not only on ourselves, but also those of the people who rely on us.

The first section of this book powerfully investigates the evils of blind obedience, but it is only when Lief is forced to undertake the quest that his father can no longer face that the true evils become known. The Shadow Lord’s hand is upon the whole of Deltora, and Barda and Lief are forced to overcome obstacle after obstacle to make the first, dangerous step in an epic journey.

Yes, there’s a reason why I loved this so much as a kid.

Image source: Booktopia