Reviewed by Karen Hendriks
The much-loved first series of eight books is
bound in this volume, celebrating 21 years of Deltora magic and mystery by
award-winning master story-teller Emily Rodda.
This perilous quest follows Leif, Barda, and
Jasmine as they try and find the seven lost gems of the Belt of Deltora. They follow
a map of Deltora which they use to try and defeat and overcome the evil Shadow
Lord and his rule of tyranny. The sprawling kingdom is filled with magic and
monsters, bordered by the sea and a vast, curving mountain range, that protects
the unknown territory called the Shadowlands. Lief, Barda and Jasmine trust
each other and work together to solve puzzles, clues and mysteries.
This series is as relevant today as when it
was written. It shows that good can triumph over evil and leaves the reader
with hope. The writing really shines. Rats
in their thousands – in their tens of thousands! Suddenly Lief understood why
the earth of the plain was bare. The rats had eaten every living thing. The
detailed planning, sequencing, characterisation, and plot development make this
quest one that hooks readers.
The three teenage characters have strengths
and weaknesses, and their internal journey is as important as their external
one. The fantasy world is both believable and imaginative. Rhodda supports and
builds the fantasy world with each chapter. The longer and shorter sentences
pace the action and each chapter is titled appropriately. The size of each
chapter allows a reader to determine how little or how much they want to read
in a sitting. The ending is surprising and satisfying. ‘Prison walls can fall’ Lief said softly. ‘Gardens can become forests.
Del can be beautiful once.’
Emily Rhodda uses plots twists, red herrings,
and foreshadowing masterfully in this fantasy genre. This series was first
published in Australia in 2000, and has since been published in more than 30
countries. The series has sold over 18 million copies worldwide. Deltora
Quest is the collective title for three distinct series of children’s
fantasy books, Delora Quest, Deltora Quest 2 and Deltora Quest 3 comprising 15
books in total. The series is marketed for 8- to 14-year-old readers, but it
can appeal to any age. This is one of the best fantasy quest series ever
written.
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