The Islands of Chaldea - Diana Wynne Jones

The Islands of Chaldea by Diana Wynne Jones (completed by Ursula Jones)
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Publication Date: April 22, 2014
Source/Format: Edelweiss (Thanks Harper Collins!) || e-galley

[I received this book for review from the publisher. This in no way affects the thoughts expressed in my review.]

Aileen comes from a long line of magic makers, and her Aunt Beck is the most powerful magician on Skarr. But Aileen's magic has yet to reveal itself, even though she is old enough and it should have, by now. When Aileen is sent over the sea on a mission for the King, she worries that she'll be useless and in the way. A powerful (but mostly invisible) cat changes all of that-and with every obstacle Aileen faces, she becomes stronger and more confident, until her magic blooms. (from Goodreads)

What a fun fantasy read! That is basically the sum of all my thoughts on The Islands of Chaldea, a book started by Diana Wynne Jones and finished by her sister Ursula Jones after her death. I’d never read a book by Diana before, but had heard pretty strong positive things about her writing. It’s why I decided to take the plunge with this novel, and I can definitely say it was worth my time.

The story of The Islands of Chaldea is whimsical and imaginative. It’s the type of story I would’ve gotten lost in as a child, completely willing to go along with the flow and see where it took me. As an adult though, I had a harder time allowing myself a full immersion in this world and characters. The beginning felt slow, and I nearly lost interest in this story. 

But then Aileen, along with a couple of others, is sent on a quest that involves travel and magic and intrigue. I love a good quest! This is the part of the story that finally drew me in. Aileen and her companions travel to many different places, and have many strange (and sometimes dangerous) encounters. There was magic, and fantastical creatures, and hints of peril – and it was fun and exciting.

The Islands of Chaldea was a great diversion for a couple of hours. Even though it’s clearly geared towards a younger audience, it’s still an enjoyable fantasy read.