The Battle for Rondo

Rondo #3

by Emily Rodda

Peril awaits Leo and Mimi on their return to the fantastic world of Rondo.

With the help of Rondo's seven best witches and wizards, their friends have made plans to combat attacks of the Blue Queen. But it soon becomes clear that defence is no longer enough. The queen has a dragon on her side, and is plotting a terrible revenge on all those who have defied her.

A daring plan, a reckless quest and a mysterious prophecy text the friends' wits and courage to the limit as they plunge into an adventure packed with suspense, shocks and danger and ending at last in the battle that will decide Rondo's future forever.

Praise for The Key To Rondo: "...a very neatly written distillation of fairytale elements that combine, collapse and reappear like a dream had after an evening spent with the Brothers Grimm, Madame Leprince de Beaumont and Walt Disney. Talking pigs, malevolent ducks and menacing swans bustle through its pages, family mysteries are solved, allies are found and lost, and extravagant evil and deception is punished. Great fun." - Sydney Morning Herald

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

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

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

[Emma Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think it's possible to express in words how much I love Emily Rodda. Her imagination and creativity blows my mind every single time I pick up one of her stories, even if I've read them a million times (ahem Deltora Quest).

The Battle for Rondo is the perfect end to a brilliant trilogy. I wish it could have gone for longer, but Rodda wrapped everything up really well that I can't help but feel satisfied upon turning the final page. It was so exciting and clever, the way everything came together in the end had me jumping up and down with joy. This was a re-read but I'd completely forgotten the ending, I mean, I knew the gist, bad guy defeated and all that, but I couldn't remember how it happened, probably because it's something I never would have thought of, it's just that brilliant.

In the final installment of the Rondo Trilogy, Leo and Mimi return to Rondo for the third time. The Blue Queen is growing in strength and is hatching evil plans hidden behind her castle walls. It's now or never, Leo and Mimi, with the help of their new friends must defeat The Blue Queen once and for all or Ronda as they know it will be destroyed forever. The story was a little slow to start, but once the quest team got going there was non-stop excitement, there was even a, sorry, The Magic Fish.

I can't wait to re-read this series again in a few years times. The magic is still alive.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Third and last in the Rondo fantasy series for middle-grade readers and revolving around a dimension-jumping family. The focus is on the youngest two members of the Langlander family to have the care of the antique magical music box.

My Take
There are two themes in The Battle for Rondo: how walking in someone else’s shoes helps you to see the other side and how being a hero doesn’t mean you have to stop being you, all using third-person point-of-view.

Rodda references a wide range of fairy tales — you could make a game out of identifying them with the kids! — from Cinderella to Snow White and the Seven anythings to Beauty and the Beast, Bluebeard, the Wicked Queen of so many possibilities, the assorted tales of swans, and more. It makes for an interesting aside as I tried to figure out if there was indeed a tale to this one or that one.

That Spoiler is a busy fellow. Busy escaping, busy impersonating a woman, busy being a very bad boy, and with that one “minor” blip, he is consistent to the end.

It’s a tale of hair-raising adventure with dragons, witches, and Ogres — kid-level, of course — with some nice moral points and plenty of humor.

The Story
It’s that Spoiler, spoiling everything again. As for the Blue Queen, she’s raging over Rondo looking for something and destroying anything she touches.

It doesn't help that the music box was running in our world, allowing the Blue Queen to further her plans to bring the Dark Time back to Rondo.

It will be up to Leo, Mimi, and the best witches and wizards in Rondo to take the Blue Queen down, if only they understood that prophecy.

The Characters
Leo Zifkak inherited the box from his great-aunt Bethany. Suzanne and Tony are his parents. Mimi Langlander is his cousin who inherited the Key. Mutt is her scruffy little dog. Great-great-great-aunt Alice, a.k.a., Spark, who played harp and ran off to the circus, was a Langlander dear to the dragon.

Rondo is…
…the world within the music box. Leo’s and Mimi’s friends there include Hal, who is actually their great-great-uncle Henry who escaped to Rondo when he "drowned" and ended the queen’s Dark Time; Tye the Terlamaine is a tiger woman; Conker and Freda, a duck, are dot-hunting partners; and, Bertha is, or was, a watch pig on Macdonald’s farm. And quite the celebrity.

The wizards are part of TUFFS — Team United for Farm Security — and include Wurzle, Whitebeard, Zillah, the Thorn Witch, Plum, No-Name, Pandora, Crabclaw who is a coast witch, and Bing. Rhoda is one of the rats on cloud watch. Marmaduke is a ginger cat and the TUFFS treasurer. Snoot, a rooster, is the son of Dawnbreaker, Guardian of the Flock of Macdonald, and Vice-President of TUFFS. Barbara, a sheep, is the secretary.

Suki is the Queen’s stepdaughter; her sister princesses include the boring Sweet, Pearl, Adora, Grace, Charity, Daisy, Dimples, Jewel, and the nasty-tempered Pretty who’s married to Claude. Ella is the good queen married to the Crystal King. Nanny cared for the princesses when they were younger. Clogg’s Shoe Emporium in Hobnob gave Pretty a lovely present.

Jim is the woodcutter who had been sent to kill Suki; he and Polly have a baby and live with her Grandma. Walter is Polly’s grandmother’s brother. Peg runs a camping store and turns into a bear at night. Spot is a dancing dog. Jolly runs the Black Sheep tavern and is Macdonald’s brother. Scribble is an unscrupulous reporter with the Rondo Rambler; Verity is with the Rondo Herald. Monsieur Rouge-et-Noir runs the art gallery.

Stitch is a tailor, Clogg is mayor of Hobnob, Bun is a baker and Patty is his wife, Candy Sweet runs a candy store, Simon Humble is married to Tilly, Moult is their little brown hen, Master Sadd is the gravedigger, and Bodelia Parker owns the antique shop.

Flitters are tiny green fairy-like creatures. A Safe Place is a sentient safe deposit box. The Tavern of No Return is not a safe place and is run by Grim and Misery Merk. Don't trust them! Old Winkle has a junk shop. Marjorie is a large black crow with news; Boris and Nevermore had been her friends. Crumble is a pie seller. Officer Begood is a constable. Sir Clankalot is a mercenary knight. Pop sells balloons. Posy is a flower-seller. Brewer sells potions and ingredients. Gravis is an owl spy. Gaps are a quick way to travel around Rondo — Mimi reckons they’re the tiny spaces left blank by the Artist.

The Ogre of Cruelcliff feels he has to make up for his brother turning nice. Magic Fish can lead our friends to the Tideseer, who knows all. For a price she will answer three questions.

The Blue Queen is a wicked witch with new powers who wants to destroy her world. Spoiler is also known as Tom but is actually Wicked Uncle George Langlander, Hal’s brother, so another great-great-uncle, a.k.a., Dame Dally, who is being held prisoner. Sly is the wicked fox who took over Bertha’s job at the farm.

The Cover and Title
The cover is oranges and yellows with flames the backdrop for a fierce and angry dragon roaring out at us, yellow flames firing at us. The author’s name is at the top in white while the title is in a white with gray shadowing embossed gothic font.

The title is war, The Battle for Rondo.

[Brit McCarthy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone's favourite questing team is back and this time they need to save Rondo from the clutches of the evil Blue Queen for good. She is getting stronger and gathering the ingredients for a powerful Potion which will return Rondo to her clutches.

Everything you love about Emily Rodda's stories is here in this last book in the trilogy - daring adventure, incredible creatures (including dragons this time!) plus beautiful character growth particularly for our Langlanders Leo and Mimi. They've learnt some tough lessons in Rondo and are finally starting to trust each other.

Rodda has created yet another wonderful fantasy world and a colourful cast of characters for all to enjoy! I also loved that I couldn't work out how it would all end - it turned out to be very satisfying.

We are so lucky to have some incredible Aussie authors writing for both children and adults here in the land down under.

[V · Rating 2 out of 5]

Na poslední díl jsem se těšila. Ne proto, že by to už mělo končit, ale protože jsem čekala, že bude opravdu nejdobrodružnější ze všech. A taky že ano!
Když Leo s Mimi uvidí na hrací skříňce kouř vycházející z hradu Modré královny, neváhají a vydávají se do Ronda zjistit, o co jde. Nevysvětlená napadení, podivné chování zvířat a únosy je donutí jednat. Zatímco jedna polovina spojuje síly všech čarodějů a čarodějek Ronda, ta druhá se vydává najít někoho, kdo jim může pomoci v boji proti královně. Kazisvěta, tak se bývalý spojenec Modré královny jmenuje, najdou velmi brzy, ale cesta za odpovědmi je zavede do sídla obra Ogra z Krútesu, k sestře Modré královny Vidím, do Křišťálového paláce a Mihotavého lesa. Vše vychází podle plánu, ale v posledních chvílích jsou Leo s Mimi zrazeni Kazisvětem, který se nechal zlákat mocí klíče. Až logické myšlení a královnino opovrhování dokáže vše obrátit v dobré a Modrá královna je poražena, jednou provždy!
Když jsem dočetla poslední stránku, za kterou už nic nebylo, bylo mi trochu smutno. Tak je to vždycky, když knížky končí... :)

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is just great! I love Leo, he's a great character, and I love Mimi as well. It was fun to see them both mature over the trilogy, and it was fun to get to learn about Rondo.

It took me ages to get the book, a year!! It wasn't for sale anywhere in the USA, only Australia and New Zealand!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a comfort read

[Madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Battle for Rondo is a hell of an ending for the Rondo trilogy. It feels like so much is packed into this book, but that makes sense when the stakes are so high.

This was a fun end to the trilogy and I enjoyed it. But I do think, compared to its predecessors, there are some parts that strike me as noticeably weak. The main thing that comes to mind is the heroes' plan for defeating the Blue Queen. It's honestly ridiculous and wasn't something I ever wanted to see played out. There's also the continuing problem in this series of easy, deus ex machina resolutions. I guess it's fine for the target audience, but I still think, even for them, it's more satisfying when all the hints and clues were there beforehand; when you can really appreciate the storytelling and ultimately appreciate the ending. Also in reading The Battle for Rondo as an adult, some things, like the Tideseer's prediction, were just so obvious in many ways that should have been more obvious to the characters.

That said, it was still a fun read. Rondo is an interesting world and I quite like the cast that Rodda has built up in these three books. And of course I enjoyed actual dragon content in The Battle for Rondo!

[Teri B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is possibly one of the most intriguing children's series that I have read this year.

The third book brings the story to a conclusion.

Leo and Mimi have to find a solution in the world they have discovered behind the music box.

It is a hard won battle, as they have got to negotiate within themselves, with each other as well as with the inhabitants of Rondo to find a solution to the threat of the Blue Queen.

The balance between inner monologues, action, conflict and drama is very well held

Again, I found it difficult to listen to the audiobook, as I did not gel with the narrator, and was a couple of times on the verge to not finish this book.

However, the intricate weave of the main characters and their friends' story lines, the popping up of fairy tale tropes and the actual plot kept me going through this last book as well, and I am glad I got the conclusion of this story.

I'd wish these books were easier available here in the UK.

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the first two books in the Rondo trilogy probably five times apiece, and spent years trying to find a copy of this final book. I was over the moon when I finally found it, and Rodda did not disappoint. The stakes stayed high, and despite the series' whimsical tone, I bit my nails throughout the book. This conclusion was unexpected, twisty, and everything I had hoped for. A thrilling conclusion to a series I thoroughly enjoyed.

Oh, and did I mention there were dragons?

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book Riot Read Harder Challenge 2020 Task #9: The LAST book in a series

[Sarah Thornton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little disappointing for a trilogy ending, but everything was well-plotted and resolved.

[Kavin P · Rating 3 out of 5]

After the Key to Rondo, book 2 was a big dip.
While the plot line could have been stronger, the ending made up for it.
Interesting new characters, especially Tideseer

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a fitting end to the Rondo trilogy. Leo, Mimi, and crew are racing against the clock to beat the Blue Queen before she unleashes her evil plan to conquer Rondo and turn its inhabitants into her drones.

I found things a bit predictable with how everything was resolved but that didn't stop me from enjoying the story. My only complaint is that I couldn't find a print copy of the book anywhere. Not even used. I had to buy an audio copy of the book. I don't know why.

I'd say that the Rondo series is an excellent addition to anyone's YA fantasy library. Definitely worth the money to have a copy that is your own rather than borrowing from the library.

[Johnny Bennett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let's start this by asking the question, why would a library system have two books in a series but the third book is only available as an audio book?
Battle for Rondo would probably be getting a four star rating if the paperback had been available. Instead, the audio book includes a narrator who does special voices for each character. A few of these voices are annoying enough that they may have added to my inattentiveness while listening. Overall, I feel this book could have been on par with the rest of the series. There should have been plenty of excitement and drama - but this narration left everything feeling contrived.

[Gabby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

Was really dreading this read since I didn't like the first two, but this one was an odd mix of stupid and unimaginative, yet whimsical and creative that it was had to rate. I did enjoy it so 3.5 stars sits well with me. It probably doesn’t help that I don’t remember much of the plot or characters from the previous books.

A younger child may enjoy it more (but even at that age I wasn’t a big fan of this series), but it was really disappointing because Emily Rodda is my favourite children’s author of all time. I love all her other works!

[Kat!e Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect end to the trilogy (though I want more now... I would love to read about Mimi's adventures with the dragons.) I'm in love with the world, and I really love the characters. Spoiler was especially interesting, and I appreciated his relationship with both Leo and Hal.

I really love these stories. Emily Rodda never fails to entrance ❤

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was glad to read this final book in the Rondo trilogy but didn't finds it as good as the first two.Still I had to read it to see how it all ended. The three books had a great concept for the story line and one that children would find appealing.

[Freckles · Rating 4 out of 5]

V téhle sérii se mi nejvíc líbí jména... Rytíř Řinčíř, strážník Buďhodný, květinářka Kytka apod. :) Spousta věcí je tak nesmyslná, až je to geniální. Tajné díry, které se člověku nabídnou, když potřebuje schovat; kotlík, který se zlobí když ho necháte doma. Prostě úsměvné.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was just as good as the last. Leo & Mimi learn more about Rondo & magic as they test there chances against the Blue Queen. I gave this book a 4 star because some times it went into that much detail that it got boring.

[Matthew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick notes:
Rodda has a terrible sense of humour.
The origin of Rondo was not explored enough - or at all, really.
I liked the characters enough to want to hear more about them.
The ending was abrupt.

[HanaBanana · Rating 4 out of 5]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH i LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD this series when i was little!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing end to the series and I can't believe how much detail was used that it made you feel like you were experiencing it first hand. It had the heros, the evil queen and the devius theif all of whom have creating a fantastic series.

[KayDee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this children's series from the moment I picked up the first book. I strongly recommend the audio version. Edwina Wren does a fantastic job reading this book. Aw! I love the Aussie accent.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved this series, and couldn't wait to read the third and final 'Battle for Rondo'. I love this world that Rodda has created, and the plot and characters kept the pace moving. Wonderful for readers from upper primary onwards.

[William Wang · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting fanatsy book, totally different from Harry Potter. An excellent read

[Tyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was cool

[Leeza Jayde · Rating 4 out of 5]

A spell-binding tale of great power, friendship and bravery; the ultimate ending to a stupendous trilogy that warmed my heart and brought many smiles to my face.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was definetly not as good as the other two rondo books, but i would recommend it you really didn't have anything to read.

[Michael Earp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I would have liked I more if I'd read it myself and not done the audio book.