The Maze of the Beast was always my favourite entry in the first Deltora Quest series, so I was very keen to revisit this particular book in my reread.

After leaving Dread Mountain, our heroes find themselves following the river Tor towards the coast where they knew the sixth gem would be. They are saved from two shapeshifters called Ols by Dain, the boy who they had previously seen travelling with Doom back in Rithmere.

The introduction of the Ols were fantastic, adding that extra level of paranoia to our companions travels and interactions - not knowing if at any point, they could be caught unawares by these shapeshifters in various guises.

Dain himself is an interesting addition, and you can see the little hints and clues that Rodda is leaving that he is more than what he seems (it's a double twist!! But I get ahead of myself).

Jasmine deciding to travel apart from the group half way through as she is the most recognisable one of the party definitely upped the stakes, as she is by far the most competent out of the trio.

I had completely forgotten the whole plot with the pirates, and they really feel very bizarre compared to the rest of the story. It felt like they were only added because this story was on the coast/river, therefore pirates.

The maze section itself with the Glus is still great, with well written atmosphere and terror, and I can definitely see how this left a huge impression on me back then. Our companions being forced to listen to the other pirate who ended up in there with them running away from the Glus, screams and splashing footsteps echoing through the twisting maze is just wonderfully visceral.

The Amethyst just being in a random rock in the maze was a little... uninspired? Confusing? Eh. Bit disappointing compared to the rest of the book.

4/5, onwards to The Valley of the Lost!