Landovel by Emily Rodda

This fantasy quest comes in a lavishly illustrated sealed box containing three books, The Poison Taster, The Secret Keeper and The Truth Teller; all have a map showing the twin isles of True Landovel and Free Landovel, divided by the Channel of the Comet. A natural disaster 75 years ago divided what was once a single island and since that time each has followed a different course, Free pursuing development at any cost, its inhabitants enjoying a good standard of living while polluting the environment, while True is ruled by a seemingly immortal King who shuns development and machines, condemning the populace to rural poverty and fear of the King’s soldiers. The story follows Derry, who remembers nothing of his past, taken with other children by a slave trader and imprisoned on Cram’s Rock, a fortress where he becomes Cram’s poison taster and reader. One of the books Derry loves is Legends of the El, the supernatural beings who secretly go amongst the people and are immortal, renewed at a legendary island ringed with gold. When a desperate woman appears at the rock pursued by two sinister figures she entrusts Derry with a book with the plea 'tell no one'. Book two follows Derry as he and other children are rescued from the rock and taken to a safe site at Free Landovel. Derry keeps the book secret as they are cared for and prepared for their new lives. It seems he and companions Straw, Cat and little Num, who only speaks through a doll head called Say, have been chosen to go to True Landovel, making their way through the countryside on a secret mission to make contact with a missing agent called Hant. The third volume sees Derry as the King’s truth teller, as Derry finds all is not as it seems in the castle at Scarlet City and the fractures between the companions threaten their survival.

Moving seamlessly between volumes the story maintains a fast pace with rich descriptions along with plenty of action and adventure. The characters learn to develop their individual strengths and identities after lives defined by betrayal and suffering. Thrust together they find it difficult to trust but they courageously take on each challenge relying on their own moral compass where their decisions are conflicted. The individual books would not easily stand alone but as a set young readers will be delighted to be able to launch into the next book nestling in the lovely box just waiting to be read. Fans of the Deltora Quest books will welcome another story from this accomplished author.

Themes: Fantasy, Quest, Adventure, Courage, Identiry.

Sue Speck