The Dalemark Quartet, Vol. 2: The Spellcoats & The Crown of Dalemark

The Dalemark Quartet #3-4

by Diana Wynne Jones

It is a country divided by war. For centuries, the earldoms of the North and South have battled. Now, four young people from different times -- with the help of their mysterious gods, the Undying -- must unite to save their beloved land. When the great floods come to their village and Tanaqui and her family are driven out, they suspect the workings of the evil mage Kankredin. As Tanaqui tells the story of their journey, she begins to fit together clues that could halt his destruction and help her family fulfill their destiny. Against his will, Mitt has been commanded to assassinate a young girl named Noreth, who travels to unite Dalemark. Joining the travelers, he meets the powerful musician Moril and discovers that Maewen, a girl from the future, has taken Noreth's place. Can they defeat Kankredin's ancient evil?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Fiction, Childrens, British Literature, Middle Grade

784 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Diana Wynne Jones was a celebrated British writer best known for her inventive and influential works of fantasy for children and young adults. Her stories often combined magical worlds with science fiction elements, parallel universes, and a sharp sense of humor. Among her most beloved books are Howl's Moving Castle, the Chrestomanci series, The Dalemark Quartet, Dark Lord of Derkholm, and the satirical The Tough Guide to Fantasyland. Her work gained renewed attention and readership with the popularity of the Harry Potter series, to which her books have frequently been compared.

Admired by authors such as Neil Gaiman, Philip Pullman, and J.K. Rowling, Jones was a major influence on the landscape of modern fantasy. She received numerous accolades throughout her career, including the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize, two Mythopoeic Awards, the Karl Edward Wagner Award, and the World Fantasy Award for Life Achievement. In 2004, Howl's Moving Castle was adapted into an acclaimed animated film by Hayao Miyazaki, further expanding her global audience.

Jones studied at Oxford, where she attended lectures by both C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. She began writing professionally in the 1960s and remained active until her death in 2011. Her final novel, The Islands of Chaldea, was completed posthumously by her sister Ursula Jones.

Reviews

[Josephine Draper · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Spellcoats, set in an earlier time than Cart and Cwidder and Drowned Ammett tells of a family and their travels up The River. It becomes clear that weaving of words into fabric creates magical forces and we follow Tanaqui, daughter of the family as she tells of the land’s creation through her weaving of Spellcoats - magical garments. This book seemed a bit too heavily involved with the undying gods of the world- the journey down river of an ostracised family was actually the most interesting part rather than the mystical stuff - I would have preferred a bit more about ordinary people, but a lot of it is setting up for the fourth and final chapter so is helpful context.

The Crown of Dalemark, the longest of the quartet, is the book that brings together all three of the previous books while introducing a fourth character, Maewyn, from 200 years into the future from the time of Moril and Mitt. All four of our heroes appear in this book, along with most of the side characters we have met before. It was on one level a typical fantasy, seeking out magical objects on a quest, but the humour is what sets this apart from fantasy which takes itself too seriously. I liked the way several of the characters told each other off when they are irrational- it’s this down-to-earthness which makes Diana Wynne Jones’s fiction so enjoyable.

This is children’s fantasy and so some of the concepts and risks are slightly underplayed for an adult reader. However this quartet is worthwhile reading for children and adults alike. Not quite her best work but enjoyable easy reading nonetheless.

[Tamsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

The Spellcoats - 4 stars
The Crown of Dalemark - 3 stars

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last two stories in the Dalemark Quartet are the most connected of the four, though the fourth one unites all the characters as well as the villain from the third book. In my years-prior reading of these books, I’ve always thought these last two books were the weakest. However, I’m actually much more fond of the fourth book than I remember being, though I still think it has a few problems.

The Spellcoats takes us back to early Dalemark, with Tanaqui and her four siblings: Robin, Gull, Hern, and Mallard. Their journey begins when their father dies in the war and Gull comes back changed. This book introduces Kankredin, the villain of this book and the next, and his quest to take over Dalemark. It’s nice that Jones took the time to both build and show the history of Dalemark in these four books; all five of these characters are mentioned as legendary figures in the first two books, as well as in the last one. Jones also introduces the Undying in this book, godlike people with great power. Though some showed up in Drowned Ammet, I don’t remember them actually being called the Undying in that novel. Anyway, I quite enjoyed this look at early Dalemark, and the plot is actually quite twisty, with some great reveals—though the ending, in my opinion, leaves a little to be desired. It had to be that way because of the nature of the storytelling, but still, I wasn’t fond of it.

The Crown of Dalemark was published almost 15 years after The Spellcoats, which makes me wonder if Jones planned a quartet in the first place, or if she decided to make one more book after a while. This novel takes the characters from the first, second, and, yes, the third book as well, and puts them all together in a quest to find the missing crown of Dalemark in an effort to unite the country. The cleverest bit of this book is the time-travel—I love time-travel novels, and the fact that Jones did it in her own fantasy world is neat.

I really enjoyed this book, much more than I thought I would, and definitely much more than I remember liking it before. The time-travel is clever, and it’s nice to have all the characters come together. There are some great revelations in this book, and the ending is delightfully endearing. Mitt remains my favorite character, though Maewen is pretty great, too. As for its problems, I’ve simply always thought that Kankredin as the villain seemed too abrupt since he’s introduced in the third book and isn’t mentioned in the others at all. And, because of the gap in the publication dates, I’m guessing, some elements of this book seem to ring a little false in terms of worldbuilding, as if Jones had trouble remembering what she had already established. I’m thinking mostly of the Undying. Mostly, the problem with this book seems that Jones was trying too hard to connect this book, and the first two, with The Spellcoats. However, I now think I like this book second behind Drowned Ammet, though to be honest, all four of them are pretty solid.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay fantasy series, but I was expecting more. It is definitely aimed at young adults with all the main characters being young. Each book is a stand alone which is nice, and each is a relatively quick read though all four of them take some time to get through. I like Dianne Wynne Jones when she is funny, but she wasn't particularly funny in this series. I felt the stories could have been a lot better, and the character development was weak. I didn't really like any of the characters. I did like how the three previous stories came together in _The Crown of Dalemark_ but I did not like the abrupt end. After rushing to get the series over with because I wasn't enjoying it that much, I would have liked just a bit more at the end.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana Wynne-Jones is best known for her wizards and humorous magic, but in the Dalemark Quartet she takes a trip into more serious fantasy, complete with warring earldoms and strange gods. Jones' writing is quite detailed in this book, since she not only describes the clothing, woods and people, but also the alternative world of Dalemark. Both stories are connected, but independent, and Jones carefully crafts the politics and conflicts that run under all the magic and the godlike Undying. Certainly not many authors can make an invented world that is simple, yet realistic.

[Kirsti · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than the first volume, which is odd. Perhaps I should say that the last two books put the other two books into context. Each book told a different story in the history of Dalemark. In the last book the previous three combine characters and plot to finish the series. I liked especially that the author really created a world, with history and religion and perhaps even some applications to today. A good read but not a must.

[Jenalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. Diana Wynne Jones is certainly a master of her craft. The three seemingly unrelated stories of the first three books came together in the last, tying the entire story together. The very end was a little iffy, but I still really enjoyed reading it.

SENSITIVITY WARNING: Death. Not really much else.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

For some reason, I avoided reading this series for year and years, but in the end I found it fairly absorbing. As always, there is something about Jones's style that fails to satisfy me—a hollowness to the characterization, perhaps—but she held my attention, at least.

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked book three much better than book four. Book four was told in 3rd person limited, sometimes jumping between people in the same paragraph. This annoys me.

Still a very good story and still something that I enjoyed.

[Kylee Ervin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Diana Wynne Jones has the fascinating talent of making her readers feel what the characters are feeling. When I read this, I felt every moment. I literally couldn't put it down. I have so much respect for this woman.

[Fira Rosli · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say? You can never not love the superb Diana Wynne Jones.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed these two very much. Diana Wynne Jones is on my "Read Anything by this Author" list.

[Ananthini Chandran Segaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

a beautiful book.. was full of magic but yet not so overwhelming. had a hint of historical story line to it... overall was good

[Jenny Burridge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.