Deltora Quest - book 5 - Dread Mountain

Due to the nature of how I found this series, I started this book immediately after book 1. I wasn't lost at all. I could pick up immediately where I left off, without even reading the recap. That's amazing. To write sequential books that share a strong continuity but with minimal confusion if as many as three are skipped is impressive. There's a list of which gems the party has recovered and some stuff about how this guy named "Doom" saved them from a spot of trouble, but that's all.

Again, the Tabletop Roleplay Gaming vibe is strong. Explore the environment, befriend NPCs, travel to a dungeon and solve puzzles to traverse the dungeon. There's even diplomacy-style checks that can replace combat. All the way to, once again, the final boss and quest rewards. One thing in particular that I want to highlight is a part where Lief has a moment that can be described as "Oh yeah! I have a thing in my inventory that I forgot about till now which can totally save the day!"

Chekhov's Boomerang for the win.

Trickster Eric Novels gives Deltora Quest - book 5 - Dread Mountain an A+

Click here for my previous book review:   Today's Menu for the Emiya Family - volume 3 (read for fun)

There is no "next" book review link this time. Writing book reviews "for fun" takes too long. It's not fun anymore. Now that I have a new book published, I will be spending that time to promote it and the rest of my bibliography. All future book reviews will be by request.  If you'd like me to review a book, send this page here: Book Reviewer.

Brian Wilkerson is an independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor's degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).

His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback.

New book up! Catalyst for Glorious Change!

Today's Menu for the Emiya Family - volume 3 (read for fun)

More sweet and cozy stories featuring tasty-looking foods. I'll share some personal highlights. 

A spotlight for Assassin. He gets so little focus, it's nice to see someone befriend him.

The backstory for Sakura was heartwarming. The contrast between the start in the past and the continuation in the present is wonderful.  

A spotlight for Archer-Gilgamesh. He's out shopping to do the spinning wheel lottery thing. It was pretty fun to see his good luck invert itself, and the shot of him asking Lancer (he of the infamously bad luck stat) was also worth a chuckle. 

Trickster Eric Novels gives "Today's Menu for the Emiya Family - volume 3" an A+

Click here for my next book review:  Deltora Quest - book 5 - Dread Mountain  

Click here for my previous book review:   Deltora Quest - book 1 - Forest of Silence

Brian Wilkerson is an independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor's degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).

His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback.

New book up! Catalyst for Glorious Change!

Deltora Quest - book 1 - Forest of Silence

This was a fun read. It was a quick read. I think it was written for a pre-teen audience, but that does not mean it is shallow in the least. 

This story has the Big Bad Evil Guy spend a thousand years slowly subverting a country by the gradual accumulation of rules and traditions. He essentially already rules the country at the start, long before launching the official conquest. That's deep stuff, but it is presented in such a direct way that I think a child would understand. 

It's also a vivid and persuasive defense of the value of history and the importance of accessible public libraries. So that's extra bonus points from me. 

I imagine this book was quite innovative in its time, because even now its conventions are seldom used. At least, as far as I've seen. 

 Jarred is not the hero of this story, even though it starts with him. The main trio includes two swordsmen, yet no problems are solved with sword fights. Neither Anna, Sharn nor Jasmine are passive characters whose primary role is to be a love interest. The concept of "destiny guided me" is used a lot for the heroes, but if the Shadow Lord is allowed to have an unbroken chain of royal advisors stretching across a thousand years, then I'm willing to give the heroes a similarly huge boon. 

Finally, this feels like a TTRPG adventure. Think about it - receive a quest, travel, make skill checks, go through a dungeon, final boss, and then loot. More extra bonus points. 

Trickster Eric Novels gives "Deltora Quest - book 1 - Forest of Silence" an A+

Click here for my next book review:  Today's Menu for the Emiya Family - volume 3 (read for fun)

Click here for my previous book review:   Elemental Masters novel - Blood Red (Read for fun)

Brian Wilkerson is an independent novelist, freelance book reviewer, and writing advice blogger. He studied at the University of Minnesota and came away with bachelor's degrees in English Literature and History (Classical Mediterranean Period concentration).

His fantasy series, Journey to Chaos, is currently available on Amazon as an ebook or paperback.

New book up! Catalyst for Glorious Change!