The Shifting Sands (Deltora Quest 1, #4) (Deltora Quest, #4)

by Emily Rodda

Deltora Quest is one of the hallmarks of my childhood. I eagerly read and reread each book in the series when the next one came out. When they were all out, I read and reread the series whenever it struck my fancy. Which, quite frankly, was a lot. It's hard not to love them though, they're just typical fantasy and fantasy is my one true genre - no matter what else I read, it's always fantasy I come back to.

Quest stories are the quintessence of classic fantasy. There's nothing like a hero with a quest against evil. In Deltora Quest, the hero is Lief - a sixteen year old boy who wants nothing more than to return peace and happiness to his kingdom. When he is offered the chance to fulfil a promise his father made, he jumps - leaping headfirst into danger to try to make a difference.

The Belt of Deltora is the only thing that can defeat the Shadow Lord who rules but it was broken many years ago, the seven gems scattered across the realm and guarded by only the most evil creations. Lief sets out to find the gems and reunite the belt so that the Prince of Del can claim his throne and push the evil of the Shadow Lord back into the Shadowlands and away from the kingdom. Lief begins his journey with the beggar Barda, an old friend of his parents but it's not long before they're also joined by Jasmine, the wild orphaned girl they meet at their first stop - and her companions Filli (a possum? mouse? type thing?) and Kree, a raven.

Each book follows the trio as they travel the land for the lost gems, weaving a tightly written narrative with lots of action and adventure. Along the way they meet new people both friends and enemies, have to confront their own hopes and fears and figure out and solve many riddles, puzzles and problems to complete their quest.

This one opens with the gang trying to get off the island plain that holds the City of Rats. Thankfully Kree manages to find a place for them to cross. I enjoyed this part though.

“Jasmine, take care!” Lief called after her. But Jasmine waded on without pausing or turning. The water rose to her waist, then to her chest, but no further. She began moving steadily towards the opposite shore. Barda and Lief hastened after her, splashing into the cool stream. “When it was my task to keep you out of trouble on the streets of Del, Lief, I thought that you were the most impulsive, troublesome young pest in creation,” muttered Barda. “I apologize. Jasmine is just as bad — or worse!”

Rodda, Emily. Deltora Quest #4: The Shifting Sands (pp. 4-5). Scholastic Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Barda has been so vocal about Lief being impulsive, nice to know it's not just him that is. It's also amusing about the fish saving them from the Ak-Baba seeing them. Jasmine is so resourceful, making friends everywhere she goes.

She patted her hands on the rippling surface. “Ah, you were clever, fish,” she laughed. “You hid us well.” The fish swam about her, lazily blowing bubbles. They seemed pleased with themselves.

Rodda, Emily. Deltora Quest #4: The Shifting Sands (pp. 10-11). Scholastic Inc.. Kindle Edition.

I like that Lief may not understand but he's willing to try to.

The girl shrugged. “They are no ordinary fish,” she repeated. “They would speak to you, too, if only you would listen.” Lief stared at the shapes beneath the water and concentrated with all his strength. But all he could hear was rippling and the sound of bubbles.

Rodda, Emily. Deltora Quest #4: The Shifting Sands (p. 11). Scholastic Inc.. Kindle Edition.

Unfortunately although they've escaped the City of Rats - they're starving and they have no remaining supplies. Luckily Jasmine spots an orchard with apples and nicks a few. Which is how they meet Queen Bee of Queen Bee's Cider - a restorative honey drink that is very expensive and high in demand. Queen Bee realises quickly who they are and begs them to leave quickly and forget they ever saw her. They soon stumble upon a flyer for the Rithmere Games and decide the prize of a 1000 gold coins is worth them entering and trying their luck.

They enter the games and meet their fellow contestants but not all the contestants are happy to see them. Doom, the mysterious stranger from Tom's store is definitely not. But then the trio are not happy at all either once they realise the games they've entered are brutal fights for sport and they have no choice but to participate. I loved that Jasmine manages to win her fight with Doom and the entirety of the contest by accident. It was pretty funny that she manages to knock him out.

They prepare to leave when Mother Brightly (the innkeeper) suggests they leave out the secret back way to avoid any potential thieves. And promptly find themselves kidnapped as competitors for the Shadow Arena by Grey Guards. They are rescued by Doom who is the leader of a secret resistance and he invites them to join him. When they decline he is angry and storms off. They continue on to the Shifting Sands with the Grey Guards following their trail.

They soon learn the danger of the Sands when the Grey Guards are eaten by a Sand Beast. They're particularly shaken because the only reason it wasn't them was that they backtracked in their own footsteps to trick the guards. I liked Lief using his smarts to execute that. They continue on, scared but drawn towards the Center.

The Shifting Sands are a giant hive, the Sand itself the Guardian. Which is kind of creepy if you think about it too long. Jasmine and Barda hoist Lief down the hive on a rope and Lief uses smoke and slow steady movement to invade the hive and retrieve the gem. The fourth gem is the Lapis Lazuli and is near the top of a giant tower of money, jewellery, weapons, bones and anything else that was lost and taken by the Sands. Lief replaces the gem with a tiny wooden bird to stop the tower falling and gets hauled up before the trio leave the Sands and go on their way.

I enjoyed this one. I always love seeing Jasmine triumph and I'm pretty fond of Lief too. I liked him using his smarts to out think his enemies. And I liked seeing more of Doom.



5 stars.