The Lake of Tears

The Lake of Tears is the second installment in Emily Rodda's Deltora Quest series, following three companions on their vital mission to recover the missing gems of Deltora. Lief, Barda, and Jasmine venture through dangerous territory controlled by the sorceress Thaegan, facing her monstrous children and the Shadow Lord's Grey Guards. The quest leads them to the mysterious Lake of Tears, where dark magic has transformed a once-thriving city into a cursed body of water. Along their journey, they encounter Manus from the city of Raladin, whose people suffer under a century-old curse of silence. The story connects themes of courage and perseverance with deeper questions about the impact of evil on innocent communities and the power of unity against tyranny.

Readers found this second Deltora Quest book darker and more suspenseful than the first, with several memorable challenges and monsters. Many noted it was a quick read that kept their interest throughout. Readers appreciated: - The puzzles and riddles scattered through the story - Character development, especially Jasmine's backstory - The creepy atmosphere and descriptions - Fast-paced plot with constant action Common criticisms: - Some found it too scary for young children - A few readers thought the challenges were repetitive - Several mentioned the writing style was basic Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (17,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (200+ ratings) From reviews: "The riddles actually made me think and try to solve them before reading on" - Goodreads reviewer "My 9-year-old had nightmares from some scenes" - Amazon parent "Perfect for reluctant readers who want adventure" - School librarian on Goodreads

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🌟 Emily Rodda is the pen name of Jennifer Rowe, an Australian author who has written over 100 books for children and young adults. 🌟 The Lake of Tears draws inspiration from traditional European folklore, particularly in its portrayal of the witch Thaegan and her thirteen monstrous children, each named alphabetically from A to M. 🌟 The series' fictional land of Deltora features a unique magic system where each gem in the Belt of Deltora represents different powers and protects against specific types of evil. 🌟 The silent people of Raladin were inspired by real-world historical communities that developed complex non-verbal communication systems to survive persecution. 🌟 The book was first published in 2000 and has been translated into 28 languages, becoming particularly popular in Japan where it was adapted into an anime series.