Fantasy, Deltora Quest

Deltora Quest is one of the hallmarks of my childhood. I eagerly read and reread each book in the series when the next one came out. When they were all out, I read and reread the series whenever it struck my fancy. Which, quite frankly, was a lot. It's hard not to love them though, they're just typical fantasy and fantasy is my one true genre - no matter what else I read, it's always fantasy I come back to.

Quest stories are the quintessence of classic fantasy. There's nothing like a hero with a quest against evil. In Deltora Quest, the hero is Lief - a sixteen year old boy who wants nothing more than to return peace and happiness to his kingdom. When he is offered the chance to fulfil a promise his father made, he jumps - leaping headfirst into danger to try to make a difference.

The Belt of Deltora is the only thing that can defeat the Shadow Lord who rules but it was broken many years ago, the seven gems scattered across the realm and guarded by only the most evil creations. Lief sets out to find the gems and reunite the belt so that the Prince of Del can claim his throne and push the evil of the Shadow Lord back into the Shadowlands and away from the kingdom. Lief begins his journey with the beggar Barda, an old friend of his parents and former palace guard but it's not long before they're also joined by Jasmine, the wild orphaned girl they meet at their first stop - and her companions Filli (a possum? mouse? type thing?) and Kree, a raven.

Each book follows the trio as they travel the land for the lost gems, weaving a tightly written narrative with lots of action and adventure. Along the way they meet new people both friends and enemies, have to confront their own hopes and fears and figure out and solve many riddles, puzzles and problems to complete their quest.

Having freed the Valley of the Lost, Lief, Barda and Jasmine are at a loss as to what to do next. They have no clue where the royal family are hiding and the Belt they thought would guide them seems to just be a Belt. But when Doom and Dain return, they, the Torans and Fardeep discuss their quest and come up with some options.

Lief uses the last of the Dreaming Spring water to spy on the enemy - choosing to visit the Grade 3 Ol Fallon - Prandine's replacement. He learns that his parents are still fighting on and confirms Doom's suspicion of a spy in the Resistance. Fearing their plans being leaked, the three of them pack up in the middle of the night and try to quietly flee - only to run into Nevets. Doom saves them and they realise that in order to protect their knowledge of a spy they need to pretend all is well, so the planning continues.

Dain remembers the history of the Belt and suggests they might need to reunite all seven tribes to renew the oath of fidelity so the gang set out to pick up all the friends they've made on the way using the Resistance to send messages. Or at least the Resistance does while Lief, Jasmine and Barda travel hidden in Steven's caravan. I liked the messages bit the best. It was cool catching up with all the characters the gang have met on the way and seeing them passing on the messages to help the Resistance. My favourite was Manus though;

Manus lifted his head from his work in the vegetable beds of Raladin to swat the flies that were swarming around him. Then he stared. The flies were not flies at all, but bees. The air seemed full of them. As Manus watched, easing his aching back, he frowned. The bees were acting strangely. They were not hovering around the flowers, but buzzing in the sky. They were clustering together, making patterns. And the patterns … Manus’s jaw dropped. The spade fell from his hand. With his long, blue-grey finger he began tracing in the soil the patterns the bees were making, black against the blue.

1 → ♥ !! V (the v is the resistance symbol)

Manus sat back on his heels and read what he had written. The message was clear. “One person — travel to — friends — quickly. For freedom!”

Rodda, Emily. Deltora Quest #8: Return to Del (pp. 42-43). Scholastic Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Lol, I was amused by the bees giving the message, the translation and I adored that the love heart meant friends.

The seven tribes unite and Lief is certain of the presence of the heir but before he can pass on the Belt, they are attacked and Dain is taken by the last son of the sorceress Thaegan, Ichabod. Planning to save Dain and restore the heir, they all pack and up and head towards Del.

Once there they find that all is still not what it seems. I honestly adore the twists and turns this series has. Like for every reveal there's another ten twists behind it. Finding Dain in danger of burning, Lief throws himself into the fight but is horrified to discover Dain is not the heir but an Ol!!! Woaha. Mind blown. And the reveals just keep coming. Doom's identity, the heir's identity, hidden treasures.

“The people are being summoned to the palace, Kree,” he said grimly. “And we must go there, too. But not to stand outside the walls with the rest. We must get inside.” He walked to the fireplace and picked up the worn scrap of paper that Jasmine had dropped on the rug. Carefully he refolded it and put it in his pocket. It was time for the bear to be woken once more.

Rodda, Emily. Deltora Quest #8: Return to Del (p. 113). Scholastic Inc.. Kindle Edition.

So badass Lief.

Lief had no plan. No plan at all. But somehow it seemed right that he was here. Where this story began, so it will end, he thought. One way or another.

Rodda, Emily. Deltora Quest #8: Return to Del (p. 114). Scholastic Inc.. Kindle Edition.

I really liked the sense of conclusion. Everything wraps up neatly, mirroring the beginning of the quest and it's great. Plus I liked that the Belt spells Deltora;

… complete as it was first fashioned by Adin … … together the seven make a spell … a spell … SPELL! Lief pulled out his dagger, crouched over the Belt. His fingertips tingled as quickly, quickly, he used the dagger’s tip to lever the gems from their places, one by one. It seemed to him that they came easily, helping him. Helping him again as he replaced them — but this time in a different order. The right order. Diamond. Emerald. Lapis lazuli. Topaz. Opal. Ruby. Amethyst. DELTORA.

Rodda, Emily. Deltora Quest #8: Return to Del (p. 121). Scholastic Inc.. Kindle Edition.

And;

Once, he would have tried it. Now, he had learned wisdom. Steadying himself, he sheathed his sword. He clasped the Belt around his waist … And — time seemed to stand still. What …? A rush of heat swept through Lief’s body. There was a strange, crackling sound. Then the Belt seemed to explode with light. A furious roar shook the palace to its core. Red smoke recoiled, hissing, into the boiling clouds. But the gems of the Belt of Deltora blazed like fire, their rainbow brilliance streaming outward, filling the air, banishing the night, dancing on the faces of the cheering, weeping people. And in the center of the light stood Lief. Lief, the true heir of Deltora, revealed at last.

Rodda, Emily. Deltora Quest #8: Return to Del (p. 128). Scholastic Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Hot damn. Lief!!!

Endon smiled. “That is fitting,” he said. “For all along, Lief, this has been a story where nothing is as it seems. I have always liked such tales. For such tales usually have happy endings…. As does this one.” His eye closed. Lief clasped his mother’s hand, and bowed his head.

Rodda, Emily. Deltora Quest #8: Return to Del (pp. 134-135). Scholastic Inc.. Kindle Edition.

I like such tales too. And Jasmine's going to stick around!

And so ends the quest for the Belt of Deltora with the King restored to his rightful place reunited with his family, friends and subjects.

The End.



5 stars. ( )

So in the end Lief is the true heir, and Doom turns out to be Jarred. What an astonishing plot twist! All in all, it delivers a satisfying finale to this cute fantasy juvenile story. ( )

A great finish to the series.

I loved all the twists and turns at the end. This one was a little more violent than the previous books, but still appropriate for young readers.

A good amount of riddles and things to figure out along the way, creating a fun and interactive read. ( )

the most simplest of stories is the best. same with this one. with a twist at the end. ( )