Shadows of the Master

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Shadows of the Master
General information
Series Star of Deltora
Author Emily Rodda
Illustrator Marc McBride (cover)
Cover The Star of Deltora sailing with the Isle of Tier in the horizon and Britta's face in the background.
Publication
Publisher Scholastic Press, a division of Scholastic Australia
Published August 1, 2015
Chronology
Followed by Two Moons

Shadows of the Master is a fantasy novel written by Emily Rodda. It is the first book in the Star of Deltora series. The series is set in the same universe as Deltora Quest, The Three Doors and Rowan of Rin. Shadows of the Master was released on August 1, 2015.

The book deals with some heavy subjects, such as post-traumatic disorder in the case of the Shadowlands survivors, and racism.

Synopsis

"Britta of Del wants nothing less than to be the new Apprentice Trader of the Rosalyn fleet. Family and friends and even the terrible secret of her parentage will not stop her. But how can she succeed when her true identity must surely be guessed by Trader Mab, who knew her father, and her crew of the Star of Deltora? Relying on no more than her wits and the kind acts of friends she makes along the way, Britta is drawn closer to her terrible destiny."

Plot

Far away, in a cavern in the isle of Tier, the King of Tier sits, remembering a time long past. Images come into his mind of their own accord: a darkening sky; black, red-rimmed clouds hurtling towards Del; a tall woman standing on the stern of a ship moored in Del harbour, a woman with fiery red hair. The King gives her a name: Mab. In the memory, he relives the time just before the Shadow Lord's invasion, when he was found by the deckhand Mikah while trying to stowaway on Mab's ship, as he had heard that a time of darkness was coming and he did not want to be caught in Del 'like a fish in a net'. He recalls how he pleaded with Mab to take him along, and how Mab finally agreed.

The Rosalyn Fleet escaped Deltora and went into exile moments before the Shadow Lord's arrival, taking with it the original Rosalyn Trust Deed and the prized portrait of the first Trader Rosalyn. However, Mab never forgot her homeland—when she heard that the Shadow Lord had been driven away and the monarchy restored, she returned her fleet to its rightful place in Del harbour. She quickly became a legend for her actions, but some people still thought badly of her for not letting her ships burn on the day of the invasion. 

In a shop in the centre of Del, a girl named Britta is bargaining with a new customer over a whole cheese and a jar of onions when she receives a message through the polypan Bosun, from her old friend Captain Gripp. Gripp tells her to come immediately to his hut in Del harbour. Alarmed at this, for this is not usually how Gripp sends her messages, Britta quickly finishes her bargaining and hurries over to his home.    

As she is walking through Del she is joined by her old friend, Jantsy, who offers to come with her to the harbour. Britta is glad for his company, but feels bitterness at what her life has become since she, her mother and her sister fled Del harbour exactly eight years ago for a little shop in the centre of Del. She is tired of hiding and sick of being shadowed by her father's traitorous actions, and longs to achieve her dream of becoming a trader and gaining back her father's ship, the Star of Deltora, which was comandeered by the Rosalyn Fleet after Dare's betrayal. As she and Jantsy arrive in the harbour, Jantsy notices an old woman gazing at Britta and giving her the sign of evil. Thinking that she may mean her harm, Jantsy gestures at her to stay away. The woman warns him that Britta does not walk alone, to which Jantsy responds that of course she does not, because he is with her and will not let any harm come to her if he can help it. The woman shrinks away then, warning Jantsy that there will come a time when he will wish he had listened to Lean Alice. 

Jantsy and Britta continue on, and as Britta sees the Star Jantsy realises just what the ship means to her. At the entrance to Gripp's hut, Jantsy refuses to go in and offers to wait for Britta outside so that he can walk her home when she is finished. Britta walks into the hut, where she is greeted with surprising news: Gripp has enrolled her in the Rosalyn Trust competition, a contest in which an apprentice is chosen for the current Trader Rosalyn. Though afraid of discovery, knowing fully what it would mean for her and her family, Britta decides to take part in the competition. 

Britta returns home with mixed feelings about her choice, feeling guilty at what she is about to do, knowing full well that Maarie will disapprove and that it could have disastrous consequences for them if it ends badly. To comfort herself, Britta reads the tale of the sorcerer Tier from A Trader's Life, a book she gained through trade when she was a child. This fuels her determination and sense of purpose, as she had hoped it would, and she resolves not to let her father's wrongdoing control her life.      

Character List

Listed in order of first appearance (or mention): 

• Dare Larsett
• Lean Alice
• Trader Mab
• Captain Gripp
• Mikah
• Sorrel
• Britta
• Margareth
• Maarie
• Jantsy
• Sven
• Tier
• Bar-Enoch
• Jewel of Broome (a Candidate)
• Zoolah
• Sky of Rithmere (a Candidate)
• Sisely (a Candidate)
• Lenah (a Candidate)
• Vashti (a Candidate)
• Captain Hara
• Master Sheevers
• Healer Kay

Trivia

• The series is set around twenty years after the end of Deltora Quest 3.