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Deltora Quest #2
The Lake of Tears
Lief, Barda, and Jasmine must outwit the monster-sorceress Thaegan in the second action-packed Deltora Quest adventure--now with an amazing lenticular 3-D cover!
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!
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!
144 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2000
174 people are currently reading
1985 people want to read
About the author
Emily Rodda
297 books2,115 followersEmily 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
June 24, 2023
5 Golden Stars
98%
finally decided to write a small review
forever the Lake of Tears will be one of my Deltora favourites, the pace & the constant riddles & turn of events, constantly on the run. also the riddles, I saw them in other places, magazines or those playing books that I used to play when I was a kid, but using them in a book as a thrilling scene was just ingenious. (or maybe the first time was in this book? I can't remember)
Nij & Doj!
the golden giant
the Raladin
Thaegan!
the riddle poems
-
Plot: ★★★★★/5
World Building: ★★★★/5
Characters: ★★★★★/5
Written style: ★★★★/5
General idea: ★★★★★/5
-
you can find my more detailed review about this series in the review of book 1, the Forests of Silence or even more in Full-Deltora reviews
98%
finally decided to write a small review
forever the Lake of Tears will be one of my Deltora favourites, the pace & the constant riddles & turn of events, constantly on the run. also the riddles, I saw them in other places, magazines or those playing books that I used to play when I was a kid, but using them in a book as a thrilling scene was just ingenious. (or maybe the first time was in this book? I can't remember)
Nij & Doj!
the golden giant
the Raladin
Thaegan!
the riddle poems
-
Plot: ★★★★★/5
World Building: ★★★★/5
Characters: ★★★★★/5
Written style: ★★★★/5
General idea: ★★★★★/5
-
you can find my more detailed review about this series in the review of book 1, the Forests of Silence or even more in Full-Deltora reviews
June 25, 2017
کتاب دوم رو هم مثل کتاب اول یک نفس خوندمش و لذت وافری ازش بردم. خوندن فانتزی کهن چهقدر لذتبخشه!
خطر لو رفتن داستان: اوج داستان برام اونجا بود که جاسمین برای زخم خودش از پماد و برای زخم کری از اون شهد نایاب استفاده کرد و شدیدا با جاسمین همذاتپنداری کردم.
اواخر کتاب هم قسمتی که جادوگر تاگان به دست کری کشته شد، هم خیلی الهامبخش بود هم یه مقدار دم دستی بود.
خطر لو رفتن داستان: اوج داستان برام اونجا بود که جاسمین برای زخم خودش از پماد و برای زخم کری از اون شهد نایاب استفاده کرد و شدیدا با جاسمین همذاتپنداری کردم.
اواخر کتاب هم قسمتی که جادوگر تاگان به دست کری کشته شد، هم خیلی الهامبخش بود هم یه مقدار دم دستی بود.
June 21, 2020
1.) The Forests of Silence ★★★★★
2.) The Lake of Tears ★★★★
-----------------------------------------------
BOOK #25 READ FOR BELIEVATHON ROUND 2.
I reread this book for my rereading childhood favourites video!
representation: a character described as having dark skin (but their true form is a bird, so does it count? Probs not).
[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]
★★★★
One of the weaker books in the series, but still so good!
trigger warnings: character taken captive, injured animals, violence, gender stereotyping (if boys cry, it's unmanly *smh*), leeches and other gross blood-sucking creatures.
2.) The Lake of Tears ★★★★
-----------------------------------------------
BOOK #25 READ FOR BELIEVATHON ROUND 2.
I reread this book for my rereading childhood favourites video!
representation: a character described as having dark skin (but their true form is a bird, so does it count? Probs not).
[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]
★★★★
One of the weaker books in the series, but still so good!
trigger warnings: character taken captive, injured animals, violence, gender stereotyping (if boys cry, it's unmanly *smh*), leeches and other gross blood-sucking creatures.
May 3, 2021
اين جلد به دلم نشست:)
سه ونيم..
شايدم چهار
احتمالا بعدا باز چهار بدم:)
سه ونيم..
شايدم چهار
احتمالا بعدا باز چهار بدم:)
August 25, 2025
3,5 ⭐️
dużo bardziej mi się podobało niż tom 1.
dużo bardziej mi się podobało niż tom 1.
August 1, 2022
4 stars - English Ebook
Lief, Barda and their unruly new companion, Jasmine, are on a perilous quest to find the seven gems stolen from the magic Belt of Deltora. The golden topaz has already been found.
But only when all the gems 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, the three heroes must travel through territory rules by the monster-sorceress Thaegan.
Their journey is filled with treachery, trickery and danger, and at its end they must face the hideous guardian of the enchanted Lake of Tears.
The first book in this series was good enough to read more, and I am glad I diThere was enough good and evil battles, and those that had suffered from the evil that has befallen the land of Deltora were freed.
So many in this book, that it boggled the mind how strong a hold the evil forces had in Deltora, and how strong only part of the magical Belt of Deltora can be.
Lief, Barda and their unruly new companion, Jasmine, are on a perilous quest to find the seven gems stolen from the magic Belt of Deltora. The golden topaz has already been found.
But only when all the gems 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, the three heroes must travel through territory rules by the monster-sorceress Thaegan.
Their journey is filled with treachery, trickery and danger, and at its end they must face the hideous guardian of the enchanted Lake of Tears.
The first book in this series was good enough to read more, and I am glad I diThere was enough good and evil battles, and those that had suffered from the evil that has befallen the land of Deltora were freed.
So many in this book, that it boggled the mind how strong a hold the evil forces had in Deltora, and how strong only part of the magical Belt of Deltora can be.
November 5, 2020
هیجانی که این جلد بهم منتقل کردو هیچی نمیتونه توصیف کنه جز خودش!!!
July 21, 2020
تا وقتی آدم های شجاعی وجود دارند و ناامید نمی شوند، هیچ آرمانی از بین نمی رود ...
احساس میکنم که لیف نماد یک شخص آرمانگرا، باردا یک شخص اومانیسمی و جاسمین در نقش انسانی معمولیِ که مجموعه ای از احساس های مختلفِ ... ادامه دارد
احساس میکنم که لیف نماد یک شخص آرمانگرا، باردا یک شخص اومانیسمی و جاسمین در نقش انسانی معمولیِ که مجموعه ای از احساس های مختلفِ ... ادامه دارد
September 6, 2015
3.5 stars. This series is pretty good but I wish I'd read it as a child.
January 22, 2023
So my Deltora Quest readathon continues with the second installment, The Lake of Tears.
The world continues to grow in this second book slowly adding more obstacles in Lief, Barda, and Jasmine's way in their quest in finding the lost gems of the Belt of Deltora.
This book introduces new foes - Jin, Jod, Theagan, Soldeen, and the allies that our trio meets along the way, the Raladin who are expert builders who have done a Panem District 13 and hid underground hiding from the Shadow Lord and his allies until its safe to come out from hiding.
My favourite part was the escape from Jin and Jod. However, the ending I found was a bit anti-climatic for me but bittersweet at the end giving the trio and their allies some glimmer of hope of being able to achieve their ultimate goal.
Even though I am enjoying my re-read of this series. I have to admit, the writing style, it's very simple. Younger audiences would be more stimulated, whereas adults would need something less predictable and more suspenseful.
The Lake of Tears is an enjoyable, nostalgic read and I feel that kids would enjoy this second book of the series with the cryptic messages and symbols within the story and have fun decrypting these as I was reading this, I couldn't help but remember the time when I was younger reading this the first time having a blast decoding the messages.
What I find fascinating is the world-building and how the magic system of the Belt of Deltora works and learning more about the gems, especially the Topaz and Ruby, which is pivotal in the trio's success in evading and defeating the Shadow Lord's flunkie.
I'm hoping as the series continues so does the storytelling and writing style mature (I doubt it) due to the author's target audience and also curious to see the characters further develop as the story progresses.
I would still rate this 5 stars, as this is a classic fantasy novel for young children, and even though the writing is very simple, the chapters are short but it's still thoroughly entertaining and I'm loving seeing this magical world being further explored.
The world continues to grow in this second book slowly adding more obstacles in Lief, Barda, and Jasmine's way in their quest in finding the lost gems of the Belt of Deltora.
This book introduces new foes - Jin, Jod, Theagan, Soldeen, and the allies that our trio meets along the way, the Raladin who are expert builders who have done a Panem District 13 and hid underground hiding from the Shadow Lord and his allies until its safe to come out from hiding.
My favourite part was the escape from Jin and Jod. However, the ending I found was a bit anti-climatic for me but bittersweet at the end giving the trio and their allies some glimmer of hope of being able to achieve their ultimate goal.
Even though I am enjoying my re-read of this series. I have to admit, the writing style, it's very simple. Younger audiences would be more stimulated, whereas adults would need something less predictable and more suspenseful.
The Lake of Tears is an enjoyable, nostalgic read and I feel that kids would enjoy this second book of the series with the cryptic messages and symbols within the story and have fun decrypting these as I was reading this, I couldn't help but remember the time when I was younger reading this the first time having a blast decoding the messages.
What I find fascinating is the world-building and how the magic system of the Belt of Deltora works and learning more about the gems, especially the Topaz and Ruby, which is pivotal in the trio's success in evading and defeating the Shadow Lord's flunkie.
I'm hoping as the series continues so does the storytelling and writing style mature (I doubt it) due to the author's target audience and also curious to see the characters further develop as the story progresses.
I would still rate this 5 stars, as this is a classic fantasy novel for young children, and even though the writing is very simple, the chapters are short but it's still thoroughly entertaining and I'm loving seeing this magical world being further explored.
June 2, 2023
Another good entry into the series, though not as good as its predecessor in my opinion. The group has to face some brief but interesting challenges here, and I like how them achieving their goal in book one influences the events of this one.
Overall a decent read, but a relatively significant step down from the first book, I think.
Rating: 7/10
Overall a decent read, but a relatively significant step down from the first book, I think.
Rating: 7/10
November 9, 2012
First I have to confess that I've begun listening to Deltora Quest after I have watched the anime made based on these books and realising, that the books tell the story further.
I considered skipping the first eight books as I believed that they will be the same as what I've already seen, but in fear that I'd miss out on something I started with the first book.
And I was right to do so, as this book, too, contained new or simply differently told events I truly enjoyed. For example Theagan's defeat or the moment of Kree's reappearance.
But my favourite was the escape from Jin and Jod. Listening to it was nothing like watching it. It made my heart beat faster and even knowing they would escape I feared for their lives.
The only downside I could find is the downside of all audiobooks: there's only one voice for all characters. It was a bit weird to here a man mimic Jasmine's voice, especially after hearing it!
All in all this story kept me on my toes for the whole 2 hours and 54 minutes and I would recommend it to everyone.
I considered skipping the first eight books as I believed that they will be the same as what I've already seen, but in fear that I'd miss out on something I started with the first book.
And I was right to do so, as this book, too, contained new or simply differently told events I truly enjoyed. For example Theagan's defeat or the moment of Kree's reappearance.
But my favourite was the escape from Jin and Jod. Listening to it was nothing like watching it. It made my heart beat faster and even knowing they would escape I feared for their lives.
The only downside I could find is the downside of all audiobooks: there's only one voice for all characters. It was a bit weird to here a man mimic Jasmine's voice, especially after hearing it!
All in all this story kept me on my toes for the whole 2 hours and 54 minutes and I would recommend it to everyone.
April 27, 2023
Another 5 start Deltora adventure. I read this one also in one sitting as I could not get enough. There was never a dull moment as there is always something exciting happening and some kind of high risk situation. I’m loving being able to see the personalities in each character come out more and more and also meeting some new characters that I hope may be in books to come. Absolutely loving this series!
January 6, 2017
سه و نیم
پیشرفت از همه جاش موج میزد.
پیشرفت از همه جاش موج میزد.
March 15, 2020
SN: I remember loving this series when I was a kid but I don't remember if I actually finished it. I might have moved on to another series by the time the last book was published. So here goes my attempt at rereading the entire thing!
I forgot how fun the puzzles in this series are! I love how the characters are slowly starting to learn more about each other's strengths and weaknesses along with learning more about how characters outside of Del view the monarchy.
I forgot how fun the puzzles in this series are! I love how the characters are slowly starting to learn more about each other's strengths and weaknesses along with learning more about how characters outside of Del view the monarchy.
June 28, 2025
Two gems down, five to go 💎💎
April 25, 2025
these just get better and better
August 11, 2018
As the second book in the Deltora Quest series, this novel focuses on Leif and co. on their quest for the second gem of Deltora to add to the belt that they are trying to complete. In this one, they journey from the Forests of Silence (where they received their first gem) to the Lake of Tears, an area in Deltora which was previously a beautiful city full of song and laughter before being cursed by the evil sorceress Thaegan.
I thought the novel was a pretty good continuation of the series. Once again while this story is pretty short, Emily Rodda is able to squeeze in quite a lot without you feeling that she’s doing too much in too short a time.
I liked that some of the ‘villains’ that Leif and co came across were not actually villains at all, but instead innocent people (or birds) who had been enslaved to Thaegan’s will after pissing her off, and that Leif and co were able to free all of them through their defeat of Thaegan and her machinations. The fact that it was in the end a bird that defeated Thaegan was pure poetic justice as far as I’m concerned too ;D
I thought the novel was a pretty good continuation of the series. Once again while this story is pretty short, Emily Rodda is able to squeeze in quite a lot without you feeling that she’s doing too much in too short a time.
I liked that some of the ‘villains’ that Leif and co came across were not actually villains at all, but instead innocent people (or birds) who had been enslaved to Thaegan’s will after pissing her off, and that Leif and co were able to free all of them through their defeat of Thaegan and her machinations. The fact that it was in the end a bird that defeated Thaegan was pure poetic justice as far as I’m concerned too ;D
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 25, 2022
I am really enjoying rereading this series since I haven't read it since like elementary school. It is such a feel good series but still has dark elements that make it enticing to read.
In this one we begin right after the ending of the first book while we follow our lovely three travelers. They must go to The Lake of Tears to get the next gemstone. They meet new friends along the way and quite a few interesting villains.
I love how this book is written and how speedy it is to read! You just can not put it down once you pick it up. The ending was such a feel good ending and kept me wanting more. This series kind of reminds me of the book Brave Story by Miuki Miyabe, which I read last year and really enjoyed, so it is nice to pick up something with a sort of? similar plot line. I can't wait to read the next one and see the next adventure our travelers take!
In this one we begin right after the ending of the first book while we follow our lovely three travelers. They must go to The Lake of Tears to get the next gemstone. They meet new friends along the way and quite a few interesting villains.
I love how this book is written and how speedy it is to read! You just can not put it down once you pick it up. The ending was such a feel good ending and kept me wanting more. This series kind of reminds me of the book Brave Story by Miuki Miyabe, which I read last year and really enjoyed, so it is nice to pick up something with a sort of? similar plot line. I can't wait to read the next one and see the next adventure our travelers take!
December 9, 2015
The storyline to Deltora Quest keeps getting better and better. The characters have a lot of will and power, and they're always ready to face any challenge that meets them head on. They have gotten stronger because of their new companion, Jasmine, and an advantage to see what's coming up because of her pet crow, Kree. Their companionship has helped them in the story greatly and has will help them get stronger as the serie continues.
June 30, 2020
Of all the books in DQ1, this one is perhaps the closest to its particular gem, and much more tightly plotted than its predecessor. Apart from the usual theme of deception, there are a couple of very good, child-friendly riddles here to add some colour.
The meat of the book, however, is in the pure joyful music of Manus and his fellow Ralads, and in Soldeen, whose sadness and despair are pitch-perfect. The Lake of Tears is wonderfully evoked, with unsettling descriptions of creepy-crawlies.
The meat of the book, however, is in the pure joyful music of Manus and his fellow Ralads, and in Soldeen, whose sadness and despair are pitch-perfect. The Lake of Tears is wonderfully evoked, with unsettling descriptions of creepy-crawlies.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2022
I KEEP FORGETTING HOW SHORT THESE BOOKS ARE! DOESN'T MEAN THEY'RE NOT GREAT THOUGH!
In fact, the first 2 books in this series proves that Novella's can be amazing.
We continue on with the quest to find the (spoilers) and it was fun! I love how Rodda just slips in these erudite moments as well as these action packed moments that keep me on the edge of my seat.
Will definitely read book 3 next month.
4 Stars!
xoxo.
In fact, the first 2 books in this series proves that Novella's can be amazing.
We continue on with the quest to find the (spoilers) and it was fun! I love how Rodda just slips in these erudite moments as well as these action packed moments that keep me on the edge of my seat.
Will definitely read book 3 next month.
4 Stars!
xoxo.
April 23, 2016
This second installment is even better than the first! Some extremely clever puzzles and jam packed with action. It seems hardly possible these books are only around 110-120 pages long!
Again, it's someone completely unexpected who saves everyone and makes the world a better place by vanquishing the sous-bad-guy du jour.
Again, it's someone completely unexpected who saves everyone and makes the world a better place by vanquishing the sous-bad-guy du jour.
February 4, 2024
I thought this book was pretty cool. meeting scary creatures who want to eat you and it seems like there is no way to escape...
February 14, 2023
I’m loving revisiting these books after all these years.
February 15, 2020
Sekarang aku ingat. Sepertinya buku kedua inilah yang beneran bikin aku tergila-gila dengan Deltora Quest. Puzzle-nya itu loh. Kueren! Meski sederhana dan mudah ketebak, tapi tetep aja terasa keren. Soalnya enggak akan kepikiran sebelum baca buku ini. Permainan kata-katanya juga asik. Justru kesederhanaannya itu loh. Uwaaaah!
Paling memorable buatku ya puzzle "ubah 11 batang kayu ini menjadi 9 tanpa mematahkan sebatang pun". Ini adalah tebak-tebakan bahasa Inggris yang divisualisasikan. Ya Tuhan, rasa excitedku masih terasa sekali seperti saat pertama kali membacanya nyaris 1 dekade yang lalu. UHUK!
Aku juga masih ingat saat pertama kali membacanya dulu, betapa kaget dan nggak kepikirannya aku soal fakta di balik misteri Nij dan Doj, juga arti dari bahasa mereka yang sebenarnya ya simple bangets uhuuu.
Cerita buku kedua, setelah lolos dari bahaya Hutan Kesunyian, trio Lief, Barda, dan Jasmine berangkat menuju Danau Air Mata untuk memburu permata Deltora kedua. Di tengah perjalanan, mereka menyelamatkan seorang dari Suku Ralad yang ditawan Pasukan Kelabu. Namun, penyelamatan itu malah membuat mereka nyaris terisap pasir isap dan terjebak ilusi yang membuat mereka jadi santapan makhluk jahat.
Di kota Raladin, kota tempat tinggal Manus sang Ralad yang sudah mereka selamatkan, mereka menemukan kita bawah tanah yang indah dan canggih yang dibangun untuk menghindari Pasukan Kelabu dan Penyihir Thaegan. Jadi pingin lihat visualisasi kota bawah tanah Raladin.
Penyihir Thaegan adalah teror utama di sini. Dengan rasa irinya, ia mencabut kemampuan orang-orang Ralad untuk bersuara dan menyihir kota ajaib D'or menjadi tempat yang sangat mengerikan.
Dalam buku ini, lagi-lagi Jasmine memperlihatkan kesiagaan, ketangkasan dan kecerdikan yang bisa menyelamatkan mereka ketika dikejar monster saat menyeberangi pasir isap. Lalu aku bertanya-tanya apa Lief di sini punya kemampuan ingatan fotografis, ya? Karena tiap dia berusaha mengingat-ingat buku sejarah Deltora untuk mengais informasi soal batu-batu permata Deltora, dia bisa melihat seolah lembar buku itu benar-benar terbuka di dalam kepalanya. Wuah. Gimana ya rasanya bisa kayak gini.
Berikutnya? Lanjut ke City of Rats, dong. Either aku pinjem dari perpuskot, atau langsung baca versi Inggrisnya di OpenLibrary.org. Pokoke insyaallah tahun ini aku bakal menamatkan semua seri Deltora secara urut! Aamiin YRA.
Ah, semoga bisa mengoleksi semua seri buku fisiknya untuk melengkapi koleksiku yang baru dua ini. Aamiin YRA!
Paling memorable buatku ya puzzle "ubah 11 batang kayu ini menjadi 9 tanpa mematahkan sebatang pun". Ini adalah tebak-tebakan bahasa Inggris yang divisualisasikan. Ya Tuhan, rasa excitedku masih terasa sekali seperti saat pertama kali membacanya nyaris 1 dekade yang lalu. UHUK!
Aku juga masih ingat saat pertama kali membacanya dulu, betapa kaget dan nggak kepikirannya aku soal fakta di balik misteri Nij dan Doj, juga arti dari bahasa mereka yang sebenarnya ya simple bangets uhuuu.
Cerita buku kedua, setelah lolos dari bahaya Hutan Kesunyian, trio Lief, Barda, dan Jasmine berangkat menuju Danau Air Mata untuk memburu permata Deltora kedua. Di tengah perjalanan, mereka menyelamatkan seorang dari Suku Ralad yang ditawan Pasukan Kelabu. Namun, penyelamatan itu malah membuat mereka nyaris terisap pasir isap dan terjebak ilusi yang membuat mereka jadi santapan makhluk jahat.
Di kota Raladin, kota tempat tinggal Manus sang Ralad yang sudah mereka selamatkan, mereka menemukan kita bawah tanah yang indah dan canggih yang dibangun untuk menghindari Pasukan Kelabu dan Penyihir Thaegan. Jadi pingin lihat visualisasi kota bawah tanah Raladin.
Penyihir Thaegan adalah teror utama di sini. Dengan rasa irinya, ia mencabut kemampuan orang-orang Ralad untuk bersuara dan menyihir kota ajaib D'or menjadi tempat yang sangat mengerikan.
Dalam buku ini, lagi-lagi Jasmine memperlihatkan kesiagaan, ketangkasan dan kecerdikan yang bisa menyelamatkan mereka ketika dikejar monster saat menyeberangi pasir isap. Lalu aku bertanya-tanya apa Lief di sini punya kemampuan ingatan fotografis, ya? Karena tiap dia berusaha mengingat-ingat buku sejarah Deltora untuk mengais informasi soal batu-batu permata Deltora, dia bisa melihat seolah lembar buku itu benar-benar terbuka di dalam kepalanya. Wuah. Gimana ya rasanya bisa kayak gini.
Berikutnya? Lanjut ke City of Rats, dong. Either aku pinjem dari perpuskot, atau langsung baca versi Inggrisnya di OpenLibrary.org. Pokoke insyaallah tahun ini aku bakal menamatkan semua seri Deltora secara urut! Aamiin YRA.
Ah, semoga bisa mengoleksi semua seri buku fisiknya untuk melengkapi koleksiku yang baru dua ini. Aamiin YRA!
August 2, 2018
This will be the second of my re-reads and reviews of the entire Deltora series. While I have not yet read any of the sequel series, this will be my third time reading the original series – once during my childhood, a second time a few years ago, and now a third time for these reviews. I'll be keeping these reviews free of spoilers for future entries, revealing only what is in the book being reviewed and the preceding ones. I encourage you to check out my review for the previous book, The Forests of Silence, to get a more complete picture of my thoughts on the series.
Going back through Lake of Tears is a pleasure. This is the first book in which Rodda fully shakes off the shackles of conventional fantasy in favor of her own wild imagination, and although it doesn't achieve the consistent heights of certain later books, it is no doubt a worthy addition to the inimitable world of Deltora. I think this book makes the series' true theme even clearer than the Forests of Silence did: nothing is ever what it seems. Keeping reading, and I think you'll start to see it everywhere.
Right off the bat, Rodda has already begun indulging her tastes even more thoroughly than in the previous book. The very first incident our heroes find themselves in is, to me, one of the most memorable in the whole series (I'd be inclined to say every incident in this series is memorable, except that I have in fact forgotten quite a lot about the later books in the series – all the better to experience them all over again, I say).
The trio are confronted with a chasm and a rope bridge, with a supernatural guardian who asks them questions in order to cross, in the style of Monty Python and the Holy Grail – or, more accurate to the series' roots, the myth of Oedipus and the Sphinx. The first two questions are common riddles which would only be unfamiliar to children (the same children these books are meant for, so I don't fault Rodda for that), but the third is a wickedly clever little creation. To summarize, the guard tells the following rhyme:
Thaegan gulps her favorite food
In her cave with all her brood:
Hot, Tot, Jin, Jod,
Fie, Fly, Zan, Zod,
Pik, Snik, Lun, Lod
And the dreaded Ichabod.
Each child holds a slimy toad.
On each toad squirm two fat grubs.
On each grub ride two fleas brave.
How many living in Thaegan's cave?
Lief appears to answer correctly: 105. But the guard promptly informs Lief that he is off by 1, because Thaegan's favorite food is a raven – swallowed whole, and thus still alive in her stomach. For getting his answer wrong, Lief must die. His method of getting out of this situation is nearly as a clever as the mistake that got him into it.
What a brilliant concoction this scene is! But I haven't yet mentioned the further details that add so much – like the fact that the group is itself accompanied by a raven who has a personal grudge against Thaegan, or that the guardian is soon revealed to be a bird himself, transformed into a minion as a punishment from Thaegan (both details which pay off excellently during the climax of the book, which again features a masterful, intricate confluence of events like that of the previous one).
The next encounter, in which the trio walks straight into the illusory trap of Jin and Jod, sets the tone for much of the series to come, although I never found it quite as compelling as the previous threat. Nonetheless, most of the things I could criticize about it aren't really fair – sure, Jin and Jod's trickery is blatantly obvious and even a bit goofy, but this is a series for young kids (and even the characters point out some of the more ridiculous stuff). But above all else I enjoy it for being a sort of Deltoran homage to the age-old tale of Hansel and Gretel, and I wonder if other parallels will show up as the series goes on. It also works well to further build up to the eventual appearance of Thaegan and the rest of her children, as well as a great way to introduce the magical powers of the Belt and make it a credibly useful item rather than just a vague MacGuffin.
Speaking of credibility, I find myself appreciating the relative realism of how Rodda writes her protagonists. A surprising amount of focus is put on how tired and scared Lief frequently is through his adventure, and he's not the only one. Though I tend to harp on the darkness throughout this series, and it is indeed constantly present, this particular choice serves to make the story even more inspiring: in spite of their suffering, Lief, Barda and Jasmine never back down from seemingly insurmountable odds.
Indeed, I appreciate how often they put themselves into unnecessary danger for the sake of a good deed that more pragmatic heroes might have ignored, like rescuing Manus from the Grey Guards. Rodda may portray cruelty and tragedy, but she doesn't indulge in it, and her heroes resolutely oppose it at every turn, and this lets us appreciate them not only as clever problem-solvers but as brave and virtuous people, worthy defenders for Deltora.
If I have one major sticking point with this book, it's the Ralads. I appreciate that Deltora is not just populated by normal humans, but the Ralads strike me as being a touch too idealized, giving some scenes a patronizing tone as the trio fawns over how lovable these little blue people are. If anything, they can come across as being more of a MacGuffin than the gems themselves, a convenient boon the heroes find along their way, make use of and leave behind.
But don't let that issue make you think I disapprove of the book. Even the Ralads have plenty to offer this story, and I especially like their contributions to the Deltoran staple of drawn symbols found on the page itself, as a result of Thaegan's curse of silence.
Lastly I'd like to mention Soldeen, the guardian of the titular lake. This is one case in which McBride's illustrations don't match the text very faithfully; he draws Soldeen as an enormous, green and sharp-toothed but otherwise normal catfish, whereas Rodda not only goes on about his repulsive appearance for some time but curiously never describes him in aquatic terms at all. This isn't a criticism of the prose or the picture – McBride's illustration is iconic on its own (there are further drawings of him in the Deltora Book of Monsters, if you're curious), and Rodda's writing of Soldeen is compelling. Really, I'm just curious what a more accurate portrait of Soldeen might look like. Perhaps too horrifying to bear?
As for Soldeen himself, in typical Rodda fashion he's built up in one role, only to end up being something quite different. While I can't say his eventual defeat is quite as intuitively neat or satisfying as the rest of the book, it's more than compensated for by his fascinating personality and the exceptionally satisfying fate of Thaegan, which is like something straight out of an old folktale.
Next time, join me as I delve into the City of Rats, which in my view is the series' first masterpiece – and hopefully not its last.
Going back through Lake of Tears is a pleasure. This is the first book in which Rodda fully shakes off the shackles of conventional fantasy in favor of her own wild imagination, and although it doesn't achieve the consistent heights of certain later books, it is no doubt a worthy addition to the inimitable world of Deltora. I think this book makes the series' true theme even clearer than the Forests of Silence did: nothing is ever what it seems. Keeping reading, and I think you'll start to see it everywhere.
Right off the bat, Rodda has already begun indulging her tastes even more thoroughly than in the previous book. The very first incident our heroes find themselves in is, to me, one of the most memorable in the whole series (I'd be inclined to say every incident in this series is memorable, except that I have in fact forgotten quite a lot about the later books in the series – all the better to experience them all over again, I say).
The trio are confronted with a chasm and a rope bridge, with a supernatural guardian who asks them questions in order to cross, in the style of Monty Python and the Holy Grail – or, more accurate to the series' roots, the myth of Oedipus and the Sphinx. The first two questions are common riddles which would only be unfamiliar to children (the same children these books are meant for, so I don't fault Rodda for that), but the third is a wickedly clever little creation. To summarize, the guard tells the following rhyme:
Thaegan gulps her favorite food
In her cave with all her brood:
Hot, Tot, Jin, Jod,
Fie, Fly, Zan, Zod,
Pik, Snik, Lun, Lod
And the dreaded Ichabod.
Each child holds a slimy toad.
On each toad squirm two fat grubs.
On each grub ride two fleas brave.
How many living in Thaegan's cave?
Lief appears to answer correctly: 105. But the guard promptly informs Lief that he is off by 1, because Thaegan's favorite food is a raven – swallowed whole, and thus still alive in her stomach. For getting his answer wrong, Lief must die. His method of getting out of this situation is nearly as a clever as the mistake that got him into it.
What a brilliant concoction this scene is! But I haven't yet mentioned the further details that add so much – like the fact that the group is itself accompanied by a raven who has a personal grudge against Thaegan, or that the guardian is soon revealed to be a bird himself, transformed into a minion as a punishment from Thaegan (both details which pay off excellently during the climax of the book, which again features a masterful, intricate confluence of events like that of the previous one).
The next encounter, in which the trio walks straight into the illusory trap of Jin and Jod, sets the tone for much of the series to come, although I never found it quite as compelling as the previous threat. Nonetheless, most of the things I could criticize about it aren't really fair – sure, Jin and Jod's trickery is blatantly obvious and even a bit goofy, but this is a series for young kids (and even the characters point out some of the more ridiculous stuff). But above all else I enjoy it for being a sort of Deltoran homage to the age-old tale of Hansel and Gretel, and I wonder if other parallels will show up as the series goes on. It also works well to further build up to the eventual appearance of Thaegan and the rest of her children, as well as a great way to introduce the magical powers of the Belt and make it a credibly useful item rather than just a vague MacGuffin.
Speaking of credibility, I find myself appreciating the relative realism of how Rodda writes her protagonists. A surprising amount of focus is put on how tired and scared Lief frequently is through his adventure, and he's not the only one. Though I tend to harp on the darkness throughout this series, and it is indeed constantly present, this particular choice serves to make the story even more inspiring: in spite of their suffering, Lief, Barda and Jasmine never back down from seemingly insurmountable odds.
Indeed, I appreciate how often they put themselves into unnecessary danger for the sake of a good deed that more pragmatic heroes might have ignored, like rescuing Manus from the Grey Guards. Rodda may portray cruelty and tragedy, but she doesn't indulge in it, and her heroes resolutely oppose it at every turn, and this lets us appreciate them not only as clever problem-solvers but as brave and virtuous people, worthy defenders for Deltora.
If I have one major sticking point with this book, it's the Ralads. I appreciate that Deltora is not just populated by normal humans, but the Ralads strike me as being a touch too idealized, giving some scenes a patronizing tone as the trio fawns over how lovable these little blue people are. If anything, they can come across as being more of a MacGuffin than the gems themselves, a convenient boon the heroes find along their way, make use of and leave behind.
But don't let that issue make you think I disapprove of the book. Even the Ralads have plenty to offer this story, and I especially like their contributions to the Deltoran staple of drawn symbols found on the page itself, as a result of Thaegan's curse of silence.
Lastly I'd like to mention Soldeen, the guardian of the titular lake. This is one case in which McBride's illustrations don't match the text very faithfully; he draws Soldeen as an enormous, green and sharp-toothed but otherwise normal catfish, whereas Rodda not only goes on about his repulsive appearance for some time but curiously never describes him in aquatic terms at all. This isn't a criticism of the prose or the picture – McBride's illustration is iconic on its own (there are further drawings of him in the Deltora Book of Monsters, if you're curious), and Rodda's writing of Soldeen is compelling. Really, I'm just curious what a more accurate portrait of Soldeen might look like. Perhaps too horrifying to bear?
As for Soldeen himself, in typical Rodda fashion he's built up in one role, only to end up being something quite different. While I can't say his eventual defeat is quite as intuitively neat or satisfying as the rest of the book, it's more than compensated for by his fascinating personality and the exceptionally satisfying fate of Thaegan, which is like something straight out of an old folktale.
Next time, join me as I delve into the City of Rats, which in my view is the series' first masterpiece – and hopefully not its last.
November 9, 2022
This book follows the events of the previous book in the series, The Forests of Silence. Like its name suggests, this book is a sorrowful tale, in comparison to the previous book, and it really shows just how deep the Shadow Lord's minions have entrenched themselves into the lives of the citizens of Deltora. I read this series when I was in middle school and can confirm that they are just as fun to read as an adult. Or maybe, I'm just hungry for nostalgia.
One interesting aspect of this book is the way in which riddles and illustrations were used to make the story more interactive. For example, partway into the book, Barda, Jasmine, and Lief are stopped by the guardian of a bridge that they needed to cross. In order to cross the bridge, each person had to solve a riddle, posed by the guardian. It adds a tad of entertaining to the reading experience.
Overall, an enjoyable, short read.
One interesting aspect of this book is the way in which riddles and illustrations were used to make the story more interactive. For example, partway into the book, Barda, Jasmine, and Lief are stopped by the guardian of a bridge that they needed to cross. In order to cross the bridge, each person had to solve a riddle, posed by the guardian. It adds a tad of entertaining to the reading experience.
Overall, an enjoyable, short read.
September 20, 2023
Loved this book, even more than the first - which surprised me, because I was wondering how interesting I would find the first half of the book before finding the gem considering how much I’d enjoyed the almost-half-book-prologue of book one. This surpassed my expectations though - it was so fast paced and engaging, and I loved how all the happenings leading up to the events in the Lake of Tears were woven together to become relevant in this finale. Excellent writing.
-1 star from a full 5 for fantasy-genre-typical biological essentialism. if you can have one character summarise an entire “race” of people based on stereotypes and then have those stereotypes be true, that’s a big olde racist passive ideology you got going on there, alas.
-1 star from a full 5 for fantasy-genre-typical biological essentialism. if you can have one character summarise an entire “race” of people based on stereotypes and then have those stereotypes be true, that’s a big olde racist passive ideology you got going on there, alas.
December 21, 2023
omg this monster had me GAGGING. I loved the introduction of a new set of minor baddies- Theagan was giving what the girls wanted and I loved all the little riddles and wordplay throughout. Manis & the Ralads were also a lovely addition and expanded the world by introducing a new race. I fr felt bad for the main baddie :( he was just sad and wanted a friend. Excited to read the rest of the series!
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