La caverne de la peur

Deltora Shadowlands #1

by Emily Rodda, Christiane Poulain (Translator)

DELTORA IS A LAND OF MONSTERS AND MAGIC . . . The Shadow Lord¹s evil tyranny over Deltora has ended. He and the creatures of his sorcery have been driven back across the mountains. But thousands of Deltorans are still enslaved in the Shadowlands, the Enemy¹s own terrifying and mysterious domain.To rescue them, Lief, Barda and Jasmine, heroes of the quest for the Belt of Deltora, must find a weapon powerful enough to combat the Shadow Lord’s magic on his own ground. According to legend, the only thing the Shadow Lord fears is the fabled Pirran Pipe. But does the mysterious Pipe still exist?

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Adventure, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Magic

163 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2002

About the author

Emily Rodda (real name Jennifer Rowe) was born in Sydney, Australia and graduated from the University of Sydney in 1973 with an MA (Hons) in English Literature. Moving into a publishing career, first as a book editor, and finally as a publisher at Angus & Robertson, Rodda's first book was published in 1984.

Reviews

[Sara Kamjou · Rating 4 out of 5]

چند تا راز باقی موند که تا آخر کتاب بهش پاسخ داده نشد که آدم رو ترغیب می‌کنه زودتر بره سراغ جلد بعدی.
قسمت نبرد با هیولاها یه کم خسته‌م می‌کنه گاهی. جز این خیلی دوستش دارم، هم داستان و هم شخصیتاش رو.

[Amelia Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the Deltora Quest series but still a very enjoyable read

[helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing that I love about the Deltora Quest series, is how short it is. It manages to have short chapters and shot stories but it still packs a lot of information and action into it.
I have no idea how Emily Rodda creates all these riddles and plot twists.
I really enjoyed the first book and I can’t wait to read all the Lief and Jasmine parts again :)

[Saja]

I loved this book so much I was in tears in the last chapter because my favourite character died fighting for his people so they can be saved it was very emotional for me I think this is a perfect book to start season two as Leif bard a and jasmines journey starts again ♥️ 😭 😊

[Nastaran · Rating 3 out of 5]

من واقعا روند صعودی داستان رو تا زمان مبارزه و مرگ "وحشت" دوست داشتم. اما با توجه به تصویرسازی‌هایی که شده بود و روند مبارزه انتظار بیشتری داشتم از لحظه‌ی مرگ "وحشت". دلم می‌خواست حماسی‌تر و سخت‌تر باشه🤔و اینکه انگار بعدش نویسنده می‌خواست این خلاء رو با مرگ گلاک پر کنه. یهویی پیدا شدن دهنی فلوت پیران هم جالب بود واقعا اما باز هم به نظرم باید بیشتر طول می‌کشید و روی اون قسمت داستان بیشتر کار می‌شد، حس اینو بهم داد که هول هولکی نویسنده می‌خواسته داستانو تموم کنه فقط😅
اما در کل نوشته‌های امیلی رودا از فانتزی‌های موردعلاقه‌ی منن و در عین سادگی قلمش دلچسب و هیجان‌انگیز هستن. حتی اگر سناریو و الگوی داستان‌ها مثل همدیگه باشن من باز هم می‌تونم لذت ببرم.
برای بقیه‌ی داستان مشتاقم.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember being nine years old and devastated that Lief might marry someone other than Jasmine - the sentiment remains at 26.

[Zahra Labbafan · Rating 4 out of 5]

خوب این کتاب که اولین کتاب از مجموعه ۳ جلدی سرزمین سایه‌های دلتوراست و در ادامه داستان مجموعه ۸ جلدی در جستجوی دلتورا نوشته شده، خیلی بهتر از ۸ جلد قبلی بود
رمز و رازها
روند داستان
اتفاقات شانسی همراه شون
نشون دادن شخصیت ها به ویژه اینکه وقتی آخر داستان میگن "همه به خوبی و خوشی در کنار هم زندگی کردند"، واقعا اینطور نیست.
و از بین رفتن ارباب سایه ها که تو جلد آخر سرزمین دلتورا به نظرم خیلی مسخره بود منطقی اومد چون از بین نرفته فقط فرار کرد به سرزمین سایه‌ها

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Bethany Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

With books like Harry Potter and the Hobbit, I can read and enjoy so much I stop remembering its a children’s book. But when reading Cavern of the Fear, I was pretty aware it was written for children the whole time. However, the way Rodda writes her descriptions and the action swept me to another world nonetheless. It was a very engaging book to read, despite it being a bit childlike. The characters are simple, but just well written enough that I ended up caring about them. I’ll definitely be reading more in the series.

[Emmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad to see that Emily Rodda's next Deltora series does not disappoint! The story is a little different, and the characters, too, but the gang's all here, and it's just as much of a page-turner as the previous books!

[Ashley Case · Rating 3 out of 5]

This 9ne starts out slow, but keep reading. It gets better in 2 and 3.

[Anahita Solot · Rating 3 out of 5]

جاسمین این جلد روی اعصابم آفتاب بالانس می‌زد. فشار خونم بالا رفت از دستش. چه می‌کنی زن؟ یه دقیقه صبر کن. بدو بدو به سمت مرگ می‌دوی که چی بشه؟

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled Pirran Pipes 🪈✨

[Skye · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book in the follow-up series to Deltora Quest is really quite good. Normally with a young children’s book / series like this, the original tale is really good, and then the rest kind of fall flat on their face. Not so with the World of Deltora. After becoming king and restoring the belt to its former glory, Lief has to deal with the hardships that a evil reign of tyranny have left behind. The secrets and the division that this has caused not only leads the trio on yet another incredibly dangerous quest, but it also causes large divisions in the trio themselves.

I like the completely different nature and setting of this quest. Where the length and breadth of Deltora, Deltora Shadowlands takes you underground and across the border. A completely different world that begins a new journey. A short tale that I managed to start and finish within 24 hours – easy, fun and with just enough of a twisting plotline to keep me coming back to the story again and again and again.

Secrets are not a good thing, although sometimes they are necessary. And it’s this idea that is the main driver for the beginning of the tale. It hurts when you know that someone you love is keeping a secret, but as I’m sure everyone can attest to, sometimes it is necessary to help and protect them. And as the story unfolds, it becomes more and more apparent that the secrets kept between friends might actually be a necessary evil. Albeit one that can be exploited.

[Hunter H · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a detailed book

[DivaDiane SM · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of the same great adventure!

[Tanu · Rating 3 out of 5]

CotF is a rather straightforward go-and-kill-‘em monster hunting book. Still fun, but DQ2 doesn’t quite hit the mark.

[Taylor Depuydt]

4.5 rounded up

[Jay Wagemans · Rating 3 out of 5]

+ de achtervolging met Fury had voor mij een Harry Potter vibe, heel leuk!

Spoilers als je de eerste acht delen nog niet hebt gelezen!

Het eerste deel van het verhaal was vrij saai en politiek, heel anders dan je van Deltora gewend bent. Dat werpt dan wel weer een mooi dilemma op: moet Jord veilig binnen blijven of strijden voor zijn idealen? Ik vind de karakterontwikkeling die Jasmine in dit boek doormaakt heel erg jammer, maar het heeft wel echt inhoud. Het is interessant op een manier waarvan je denkt 'nee, doe het nou niet!'. Ook hoe de relatie tussen Jord en Jasmine zich ontwikkelt, vind ik leuk om te zien. Ik stond ook zeker te trappelen om weer met de reizigers op avontuur te gaan!

Mijn grootste probleem met dit boek is het feit dat de gordel eigenlijk niets meer waard is. In de vorige acht boeken is de kracht van de gordel en de magie van Tora onmetelijk en nu kunnen beide niet helpen. De gordel is eigenlijk alleen nog maar een teken van Jord's status en dat vind ik echt jammer. Nu moeten ze ineens een fluit gaan zoeken omdat die wel sterk is maar toch ook weer niet heel sterk? Dat zorgde ervoor dat ik moeilijk in dit boek kwam. De legende van de Pirranfluit had wat mij betreft ook echt wel wat meer uitgewerkt kunnen worden. Hij is nu vrij dun. Het verhaal van de drie volken vind ik heel interessant (doet me denken aan een aflevering van The Last Airbender), maar hoe de fluit precies bescherming biedt tegen de Schaduwheer is me nog helemaal niet duidelijk. Wel goed dat er aangestipt wordt dat de Schaduwheer bij elk volk precies dezelfde tactiek gebruikt, ook interessant.

Het einde vond ik heel heftig. De Angst is weer een fantastische bewaker en hoe hij verslagen wordt, ik moest bijna huilen. Dat had ik nooit verwacht na het lezen van de eerste zeven boeken! Wat op zich zelf alweer een mooie karakterontwikkeling aangeeft van een zekere strijder. Wel een beetje jammer dat ze ineens zo makkelijk aan de fluit komen, terwijl het eindgevecht juist heel spannend was. Al met al weer een goede basis voor een nieuw verhaal, maar een aantal dingen hadden ook zeker beter/uitgebreider gekund.

[Shamarer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Rodda took a chance with a rather traditional fantasy/sci-fi approach and it worked with a fresh Deltora twist.
But that's all in the end. The majority of this trilogy is a mission to save the enslaved of the continent, the means a journey through underground kingdoms of a forgotten people who had their own nasty run-in with the Enemy. As with DQ, the stories are full of delicious fantasy and puzzles, with serious nods to the hard-learned wisdom of listening to past mistakes. I will admit these are darker books, but the writing and the imagination is none less for that.

The Shadow lands series picks up where the Deltora Quest series left off. The same characters experience more adventure, excitement and danger as they are faced with another quest of good vs. evil. I really enjoyed the first series and am thrilled to see that Emily Rodda continued the captivating storyline. After Lief, Barda, and Jasmine restore the gems from the Belt of Deltora, the Shadow Lord takes thousands of Deltorans hostage and Lief, Barda, and Jasmine must save them.
I liked this book because I like the characters and monsters. You will like this book too if you like books with adventure, action, and puzzles. It is fun to try to figure out what the answer to the puzzle before they tell you.
Warning: Spoilers and Discussion of Essential Plot Elements Follow
Exposition
This book has a very gripping theme. The characters all have their own personal portrayals. Jasmine is a wild and Adventurous girl, because she grew up in a dangerous forest. Lief, the main character, Is a mysterious character, who keeps important secrets. Barda is a Brave and Strong character, he cares for Jasmine and Lief when they are in trouble. He`s curious, cautious, secretive and mysterious
He can keep important secrets, careful, he makes careful decisions. Lief is adventurous and doesn't trust other people easily.
Settings
The Shadow Lord has been driven back across the mountains, but he's not finished with Deltora. He's taken prisoners from across the land and enslaved them. Worse, he plans to use them in a diabolical plot to take over Deltora. Lief and his friends must prevent Deltora from falling into the Shadow Lord's hands.
Protagonists
Three unlikely heroes Lief, Jasmine and Barda. Lief, Barda, and Jasmine, heroes of the quest for the Belt of Deltora, must find the Pirran Pipe, the only weapon the Shadow Lord fears. They embark on the dangerous quest and finds the first broken piece of the Pipe. There they encounter The Fear, a giant squid, whom they defeat.
Antagonists
In Deltora, a land of magic and monsters, the Shadow Lord's evil tyranny has finally ended; He and the creatures of his sorcery have been driven out of Deltora. But thousands of Deltorans are still enslaved in the Shadowlands, the Shadow Lord's terrifying and mysterious domain.
Conflict
The Shadow Lord and the creatures of his sorcery enslaved thousands of Deltorans in the Shadowlands
Secondary Characters
Some secondary characters include: Doom (Jarred), Jasmine, Kree, Filli, Sharn, Barda, Glock of the Jalis, Jinks, former palace acrobat, Flash, Glock's fighting spider, Fury, Jinks' fighting spider, Faith, Marilen of Tora, Zeean of Tora, Josef, the palace librarian , Ranesh, Josef's apprentice, The Granous, Clef of Plume, Azan of Plume, Worron, the Piper of Plume, Nols of Plume
Memorable Quotes
“Deep in the cavern of the infant`s beast ;the father’s nature lurks and lives anew”
“Something inside me had dropped away, and nothing came in to fill the cavern”
“Man has closed himself up, till he sees all things thro` narrow chinks of his cavern”
Overall assessment
When I first started reading this series, I got complexly lost. It is a very confusing book if you didn`t read the ones before me which I didn’t which as you can imagine me was very hard trying to figure out the book, but overall it is a very interesting book and I would recommend you read it but make sure you read the ones before it first or you’ll be one confuse reader.

[Harumichi Mizuki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masih ada misteri yang menunggu Lief meski kini ketujuh pertama Sabuk Deltora sudah lengkap dan Raja Bayangan berhasil diusir kembali ke negerinya di Shadowlands.

Para rakyat Del termasuk suku Jalis dan suku Plain di Noradz dibawa ke pulau itu sebagai budak. Kini setelah sang pewaris tahta sudah ditemukan, rakyat memohon agar raja melakukan sesuatu demi mengembalikan keluarga mereka yang ditangkap oleh pasukan Raja Bayangan.

Sebuah Legenda mengatakan bahwa Raja Bayangan takut akan sebuah suling sakti bernama Piran Pipe. Namun, suling itu sudah terpisah menjadi tiga bagian dan kehilangan kekuatannya gara-gara tipu daya Raja Bayangan. Sementara itu Jasmine tak sengaja melakukan kontak dengan adiknya yang meminta pertolongan dari Shadowlands saat ia menerobos ruangan Lief yang disegel. Tanpa memberi tahu Lief dan Barda, Jasmine nekat pergi ke Shadowlands sendirian.

Sementara itu Josef sang pustawakan istana di zaman Raja Alton kembali ke istana untuk mengantarkan kumpulan catatan sejarah Deltora yang tadinya sudah akan dimusnahkan oleh Prandine. Josef kabur dari istana setelah memalsukan kematiannya dan pembakaran catatan itu. Dari catatan itu, Lief mempelajari bahwa Piran Pipe memang benar-benar ada. Begitu ia menyadari kepergian Jasmine, ia, Barda, dan Jinks (yang sengaja diseret) langsung menyusul sang gadis liar.

Namun, di Perbukitan Os Mine, mereka ditawan sekawanan Granouts dan harus menyelesaikan teka-teki maut demi menyelamatkan diri. Emily Rodda lagi-lagi jago memukau pembacanya dengan teka-teki sederhana yang cerdas. Setelah berhasil lolos, mereka tiba di sebuah hutan tersembunyi di bawah tanah. Mereka tiba di sebuah pulau rahasia tempat para goblin berada. Di sana mereka pun bertemu dengan Jasmine dan Glock yang sedang dipersiapkan untuk dipersembahkan pada The Fear, monster gurita yang sudah meneror bangsa itu sejak bertahun-tahun yang lalu.

Lokasi sang monster tepat menutupi gerbang masuk menuju Shadowlands. Lagi-lagi mereka dihadapkan pada bahaya mengerikan yang mengancam jiwa.

[Brittney Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Star Rating: 5 stars

Note: This is the 1st book in the Deltora Shadowlands series but the 9th book in the over-arching Deltora saga so this will not be an in-depth review.

In an effort to make my Goodreads as accurate a picture of my reading as possible, I decided to re-read the series that got me into fantasy in the 1st place when I convinced my mom to buy the box set for me out of a book order in elementary school, the Deltora series by Emily Rodda, and I just finished book 1 of the Deltora Shadowlands series and book 9 in the over-arching series, Cavern of the Fear. This series tells the story of Leif and his friends as they try to rid their world of Deltora of the evil Shadow Lord. In the 1st series, they were looking for the magic gems of the Belt of Deltora, and in this one, they are looking for the pieces of the Pirran Pipe.

Besides the obvious of introducing young readers to the fantasy genre, this book delves into the effect that losing one’s history can have on a people. For instance, this book showcases the fact that most problems can be solved with quick thinking and through research, but how does one do this when the information that they are seeking has been forgotten or lost to the ravages of time, war, and occupation. This could cause anyone to lose hope of every finding a solution or could cause a myriad of misconceptions to form. I loved how this book introduced and developed this theme and I hope it becomes an even stronger part of other books in this series.

If you are looking for a series to start young readers on the path to loving fantasy or you want to introduce them to some important ideas in unchallenging and undaunting way, then this is the one for you. 5 stars!!!!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been having trouble focusing on reading recently, for a number of reasons which I won't go into detail here. Suffice it to say that when this happens, I find that jumping back into a children's or YA book is the best way to get me back on the reading train. I think it's partly to do with the nostalgia I get from such books, and Deltora Quest is as nostalgic as it gets for me. Emily Rodda was the author of choice when I was in primary school in Australia. She was the author who got me into creative writing, and even now, so many years later, her books still make me feel like I've stepped out of the door with Lief, Barda and Jasmine on a warm sunny day, to embark on an adventure.

I remember starting Deltora 2 when I was young, but I don't believe I ever finished the series. So I'm getting a sort of new reader experience with this one. And while I tend to pick up sequel series with trepidation, this book did not disappoint.

I did find one instance where the passage of time was a bit wonky - Lief sets out for Tora soon after Jasmine leaves the room. She is only gone for minutes, but when she bumps into Sharn, Sharn says Lief must have arrived in Tora already. I only wish travel could be that quick!

Having said that, one of my main issues with the previous series was that the big boss fights were over too quickly. In this book, that was not the case, and I appreciate Rodda fleshing this one out more.

I also enjoyed getting some more Deltoran lore, and meeting Josef from the Deltora Book of Monsters.

There are new and intriguing characters, new and intriguing monsters, and new conflicts and mysteries.

So over all, as a sequel series, this one has not disappointed so far, and I'm excited to see where this goes.

[♡☆Fatima☆♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ This is not the Leif I know and love. THE REAL LIEF WOULD NEVER AVOID THE SHADOWLAND WHEN THE WHOLE POINT OF THIS STORY IS TO GET RID OF THEM FOR GOOD. Honestly, the king stuff got to his head. I feel like they just ruined his character like I swear this Leif and the OG series lief are two different people. And it's not about his age.

Explain to me how Leif was JEALOUS when dain talked to her and he was like "get this mother fucker away from my girl" to "eh don't care about her. ima marry a tora girl and dodge all my responsibilities on the shadowland." I swear he's leaving her out of everything. THIS FUCKER CAN'T SURVIVE ON HIS OWN WITHOUT JASMINE AND CREE. Literally when they split up a couple of days, already got kidnapped on the boat💀 but anyways we move on from that

I'm giving it a 3 because the storyline itself was good. I love this some what new adventure. same enemy just different quest this time. I was entertained by it. I don't exactly hate it, it's just his character development that flopped HARD!!! WHY MESS WITH PERFECTION!!!! and it's the way he keeps down grading Jasmine that urks me. he only cares that he confines her in the palace and not out in the forest. anyways the ending to that, wasn't expecting a death😭😭 I'm waiting for a sike right now🥲 I think the girl Lief is marrying named marlieen and yk what she can go back to tora because at this rate, he ain't coming back. and if he is coming back, I'd expect he makes Jasmine Queen😌 only ending I accept

[Lillian Martin]

I kinda absolutely loved reading this. The book itself was great—fast-paced, packed with action and plot twists, just like the others—but also different from the first series in a way that surprised me. It actually made me a little sad… but in the good kind of way.

You really get to see how much the characters have grown. Leif doesn’t just rush headfirst into danger anymore—he actually thinks things through. They all do. There’s this deep sense of trust between them now, and they’re more aware of the stakes. They plan. They care. It feels more solemn, darker, and there’s a lot more description that adds to that mood.

I loved it. I loved how everything—tone, stakes, characters—feels like it’s grown up alongside them. The development is seriously well done.

…Though I am mad at Jasmine. Just talk to Leif, please.
And LIEF—NO. You're not allowed to fall for anyone else. He’s meant for Jasmine. Marilen can get lost. I mean, I know we don’t know for sure what’s going to happen… but still. Leif NEEDS to marry Jasmine. He wonders why he was jealous when Dane paid so much attention to Jasmine. Because LIEF is JASMINE's. Jasmine 'isn't jealous of his Toran bride'. YES YOU ARE GIRL. GO AND GET HIM.
Uhg. Their relationship is slower than pouring molasses out of an empty bottle.
JUST COMMUNICATE, PEOPLE. DON’T DESTROY YOUR RELATIONSHIP OVER MISCOMMUNICATION.
(Seriously, grow up.)

[Lia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Series 2 of Deltora Quest starts off with some bangers, but also some frustrations. As always, the writing is solid, and Rodda does an amazing job in immersing us in a world that is far more complex than first meets the eye.

We start off with Lief, a new king struggling mentally in the aftermath of defeating the Shadow Lord and casting him out from Deltora. Various attempts on his life have been made, and he has become more withdrawn, especially from Barda and Jasmine. Despite being driven back across the mountains, the Shadow Lord's evil still hangs over the land as he has taken prisoners from Deltora and enslaved them. Our companions must now find the fabled Pirran Pipe, the only weapon the Shadow Lord has ever feared, to try and bring their people home.

The thing that sets all of this in motion is an evil table which the old Advisors would use to contact the Shadow Lord directly, and Lief had decided to seal it up rather than deal with it. Of course, Jasmine stumbles upon it, and through it speaks to a girl named Faith who Jasmine believes is her younger sister. So she takes off to the Shadowlands in an attempt to save Faith and the people trapped there, believing that Lief had hidden Faith's existence from Jasmine to keep her safe.

I personally really hate the whole 'miscommunication' trope in stories, and it's never more evident with Lief and Jasmine not speaking to each other about their doubts or problems, and instead allowing it to continue for the ENTIRE three books of this arc. It seems absolutely nuts to me that Lief wouldn't just... I don't know, LITERALLY TELL TO HER AND BARDA ABOUT THE EVIL TABLE IN THE PALACE?? Maybe something like, 'Hey, the table is evil, so don't trust it'???? ARGH! I understand that there needed to be a motivation for Jasmine to take off on her own, but sadly this felt a lot more clumsy compared to the other books before it.

Regardless, the rest of the book is still incredibly gripping to read, and we finally get our first mention of Doran the Dragonlover! The Topaz dragon also makes an early appearance, which is lovely. And we arrive in a vast underground sea where the people of Pirra (now the Shadowlands) have come to dwell. The little side plot of Glock and Jinx's spiders wanting to have it out with each other is entertaining, we meet the first tribe of Pirrans called the Plumes, and discover that the pipe had been separated into three parts, one for each of the tribes to keep.

We get a big battle with a monster called the Fear, a huge tentacle creature with a beak like an octopus and a shell that has grown into the cavern wall, blocking the way forward for our heroes. Glock dies saving Jasmine and killing the Fear, and conveniently having the mouthpiece of the Pirran pipe in his little token bag.

Overall still a fun read, but man is it still frustrating to go back to.
3/5, onwards to The Isle of Illusion!!

[Lidya · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I thought Deltora Quest 1 ended in a way fitting for the series, I was still so so excited to find that Rodda continued the story. In Deltora Shadowlands, the episodic, high-stakes but predictable nature of the retrieval of the gems still remained in essence, but I could definitely tell that that tone of the narrative was much darker. Despite the belt being restored at the conclusion of Deltora Quest, readers find that there are still plenty of issues that still need to be rectified, not just from the rule of the Shadow Lord, but also the neglect of the previous Deltoran monarchs. One of the greatest being the capture and enslavement of many of Deltora's citizens.

This lends itself to the driving force behind our beloved trio's exploration of the secret world underneath Deltora, and while the magic of seeing a new environment and encountering different people added to the enjoyment of the series, what I found truly captivating was how explored the relationship between our established characters. LIEF AND JASMINE ARE 💓💓💓💓

If you loved the first series, you'd love this book, too <3

[Ethan Westerfield · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled with how I was gonna rate this. On one hand, once it gets going, it's a great example of the wonderful and weird things Rodda can come up with. I think the idea of an underground ocean dotted with islands of life is absolutely fascinating. The titular Fear is a horrific creature up there with the likes of the Glus and the Hive. Glock goes out like a champion taking the tentacled beast down.

On the other hand, this book takes FOREVER to get going and includes a number of tropes that I cannot stand. I greatly dislike it when characters hide things from one another or engage in miscommunications solely to get the plot going. It makes reading feel like an absolute slog and so bad was it in the first part of this book that I put it down for over 6 months before returning to it to finish. I know you have to get the story started in some way, but having your group of formerly close knit heroes start acting distrustful and secretive around one another is not how I prefer it.

I really did like the horrid tentacle thing though.

[Alina the Goblin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm probably not the first to say that this sequel trilogy is my least favorite of the three Deltora series (I am VERY excited to reread the Dragons of Deltora quartet). There's just something more chilling and depressing in these three books and I remember feeling that as a kid. Also, the lack of communication between Lief and Jasmine is awfully annoying. Yes, if they'd actually talked and discovered how the Shadow Lord was deceiving Jasmine, there wouldn't be a plot, but I know there are more interesting ways to write and further a plot than miscommunication. I just wish there had been a lengthier scene at the end of Return to Del where they all actually had a good time, relaxed, and weren't keeping secrets from each other for once. Or maybe even the beginning of this book could've allowed for some levity, I dunno. Either way, onwards to the next dark and slimy novel!

[Brittney Perry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I don't like how much of a baby Jasmine is being. Most of these problems could have been solved with a simple conversation. It's frustrating how the driving force of conflict is lack of communication. I suppose that matches real life pretty well, though. Even towards the end, she never really got better. There wasn't really any character development going on, to be honest.

That story with Alyss and Rosnan. What a savage, lol. I loved it!

It's slightly irritating that they all felt sad for Glock. They spent the entire time all hating each other and now all of a sudden everyone's upset and they want what's best for him and whatnot? All he does is mess everything up and make everything harder.

There were good things despite that, though. I liked the fight scene, riddles, new race, new place. I'm glad she is using "plainly" a tad less, lol.