Book Description
The High Druid of Shannara trilogy draws to a thrilling close as a young hero nears completion of his trial by fire, a banished ruler fights for her life in a wilderness of dread, and forces of darkness and light square off in a battle unto death for the right to absolute rule. Prepare to be spellbound by the masterly hand of bestselling legend weaver Terry Brooks, conjuring at the peak of his skills.
For reasons known only to himself, the King of the Silver River has charged young Penderrin Ohmsford, barely more than a boy, with the daunting task of rescuing his aunt, Grianne, Ard Rhys of the Druid order, from her forced exile in the terrifying dimension of all things damned: the Forbidding. With the noble dwarf Tagwen and the prodigal elven princess Khyber Elessedil by his side–and with the outcome of the bloody war between the Federation and the Free-born at stake–Pen has accepted his mission without question. But not without risk . . . or sacrifice.
Because Shadea a’Ru, the ruthless Druid responsible for imprisoning the true Ard Rhys and usurping leadership at Paranor, has sent her agents and assassins in relentless pursuit of Pen and his comrades. And in securing the talisman he needs to breach the Forbidding, Pen has paid a devastating price. Now if the Free-born forces–already decimated by the Federation’s death-dealing new weapon–should fall, Shadea’s domination of the Four Lands will be assured. Nothing short of Pen’s success can turn the tide.
But Pen’s challenge grows greater when he learns that his parents, Bek Ohmsford and Rue Meridian, have fallen into Shadea’s hands. He must try to help them–but once within the walls of Druid’s Keep, where Shadea’s minions and dark magic lurk at every turn, Pen’s survival is far from assured. Yet it will all pale in comparison to the horrors that wait inside the Forbidding–horrors poised to break free upon the Four Lands when the time is right. . . .
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
Praise for Terry Brooks
“A great storyteller, Terry Brooks creates rich epics filled with mystery, magic, and memorable characters. If you haven’t read Terry Brooks, you haven’t read fantasy.”
–Christopher Paolini, author of Eragon
“Terry’s place is at the head of the fantasy world.”
–Philip Pullman, author of The Golden Compass
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Peace returns to the Four Lands!.......2007-09-28
Jarka Ruus announced Terry Brooks' re-emergence as a master of the fantasy genre. Then Tanequil pushed that envelope further and showcased his skills as a writer that could add realism, extended character development and thoughtful, probing philosophical discussion to an exciting, perfectly-paced action filled plot! Straken is the icing on the cake - the exciting conclusion to a trilogy weaves together the myriad plotlines and allows the reader to turn the final page and sit back with a smile and a satisfied sigh of contentment!
The threads of each of the story lines are gathered up, woven together and brought to a stunning conclusion. Young Pen Ohmsford's quest to enter the Forbidding, discover the magic of the "darkwand" and release his aunt Grianne Ohmsford, Ard Rhys of the lawful Druids and the Straken queen is completed. Grianne, in turn, must face her usurper and arch-foe, Shadea a'Ru in a final cataclysmic confrontation at Paranor, the ancient Druid's keep. The Free Born's struggle against Sen Dunsidan and the forces of the Federation with their unstoppable fire weapon is concluded and peace returns to the Four Lands.
Frankly, I don't think it's a spoiler to let potential readers know all's well that ends well! Most readers of the Shannara universe and this particular trilogy would probably be devastated to discover otherwise. But, you will find the ending to be a superb unexpected twist nonetheless that proves Terry Brooks can still keep a hidden ace up his sleeve to play at an opportune moment. I've only got one question left, Mr Brooks! Where in the world is Weka Dart?
Highly recommended!
Paul Weiss
Excellent read for Sword & Sorcery fans.......2007-08-25
While this book at times felt like it lacked as much substance as previous books, I feel it was a great ending to the trilogy. I really liked the ending which was unexpected, yet brought a good sense of closure to the trilogy.
Aaayyyy (putting hand out flat and twisting it left to right and back).......2007-04-12
Tremendous build up over the first two books than..bleeaah. I got to within 40 pages of the end and couldn't finish, it was like..."yeah. I get it..evil dies, good wins..blaa"
Not nearly as awesome as the trilogy before this one, (Flight of the Jerle Shannara) read that instead, fantastic.
Straken: High Druid of Shannara.......2007-04-10
Not the best of the series. I thought it got a little dry and predictable in parts/
Good book but not Terry's best, by a long shot........2007-04-06
I've read every single Terry Brooks release so far except for the Star Wars one. I read Straken primarily because I'm a fan of the Shannara series, BIG fan.
Without spoiling anything, I will say that if you didn't read the Voyage series, you won't be able to fully appreciate what's going on in the High Druid series. You won't get lost or anything - you just won't have a full appreciation of certain characters and events, and why some things are as they are now.
Straken started off very slow, attempting to pick up the pieces left over from Tanequil, the previous version in the series, due to the mandatory year-long delay between book releases. So it tries really hard to tie up loose threads to bring the story back to a sensible medium. The problem is that this approach feels like fluff, as the first few chapters of the book really don't feel that compelling. The "climax" of this entry doesn't feel climactic at all, as Brooks chose to go a different path than what the reader expected to see. Some might see this as smart writing, I see it as a cop-out. To say any more would spoil it, but trust me...it didn't make me happy when I read it.
That said, the ending was top notch. I'd say the last 5 chapters in particular were very well written, and even a slight plot twist that actually gets you emotionally involved, causing you to express feelings for one particular character. It leads one to question exactly what more could be done at this point in the Shannara series.
Would I recommend this book? ONLY if you've read the Voyage series and ONLY if you've read both Jarka Ruus and Tanequil. If you don't read the Voyage series you won't appreciate what's going on, and if you don't read both Jarka Ruus and Tanequil you will be confused.
Amazon.com
War threatens the Four Lands, and Shannara's only hope lies in Penderrin Ohmsford, but it's a dreadfully slim hope. To save his world, Pen must restore his aunt, the former Ilse Witch, to her rightful position as High Druid of Shannara. But first Pen must free his aunt Grianne from the Forbidding: the world of the demons. To have the slightest chance of freeing her, he must find the mystical tree called the Tanequil, and somehow craft a talisman from its wood. But Shadea a'Ru, the treacherous usurper of his aunt's position, will do anything to stop Pen--and she has already captured Pen's parents and forced them to reveal their son's whereabouts. Sen Dunsidan, the monstrous Prime Minister of the Federation, has armed his greatest airship with a horrible new weapon. And Pen is just a boy, accompanied on his dangerous quest by only a Dwarf, a young Elf, and a blind Rover girl.
Filled with action, treachery, and sacrifice, Tanequil will enthrall Terry Brooks's millions of fans as it roars to a shocking conclusion. However, newcomers to the Shannara series should not begin with Tanequil. It's the middle book of the High Druid of Shannara trilogy, and the thirteenth novel of a complicated high-fantasy series with numerous characters and sentient races. Newcomers should start with Jarka Ruus, the first book of the High Druid trilogy--or, better yet, with The Sword of Shannara, the first book of the series. --Cynthia Ward
Book Description
Dark magic has opened a gateway to the Forbidding and trapped within it Grianne Ohmsford, rightful High Druid of Shannara. Rescuing Grianne will be merely the beginning of the effort to return the Four Lands to some semblance of peace. Only her young nephew, Penderrin, has any hope of returning her to power. But to breach the Forbidding and bring Grianne back to the natural world, Pen must find the fabled Tanequil . . . and the talisman it alone can provide. That means journeying into the Inkrim–a dreaded region thick with shadows and haunted by harrowing legends. And there, Pen will strike a bargain more dire than he could ever imagine.
Download Description
One
Sen Dunsidan, Prime Minister of the Federation, paused to look back over his shoulder as he reached his sleeping chambers.
There was no one there who shouldn¿t be. His personal guard at the bedroom doorway, the sentries on watch at both ends of the hallway¿no one else. There never was. But that didn¿t stop him from checking every night. His eyes scanned the torchlit corridor carefully. It didn¿t hurt to make certain. It only made sense to be careful. He entered and closed the door softly behind him. The warm glow and sweet candle smells that greeted him were reassuring. He was the most powerful man in the Southland, but not the most popular. That hadn¿t bothered him before the coming of the Ilse Witch, but it hadn¿t stopped bothering him since. Even though she was finally gone, banished to a realm of dark madness and bloodlust from which no one had ever escaped, he did not feel safe.
He stood for a moment and regarded his reflection in the full-length mirror that was backed against the wall opposite his bed. The mirror had been placed there for other reasons: for a witnessing of satisfactions and indulgences that might as well have happened in another lifetime, so distant did they seem to him now. He could have them still, of course, but he knew they would give him no pleasure. Hardly anything pleasured him these days. His life had become an exercise conducted with equal measures of grim determination and iron will. Political practicalities and expediencies motivated everything he did. Every act, every word had ramifications that reached beyond the immediate. There was no time or place for anything else. In truth, there was no need.
His reflection stared back at him, and he was mildly shocked to see how old he had become. When had that happened? He was in the prime of his life, sound of mind and body, at the apex of his career, arguably the most important man in the Four Lands. Yet look what he had become. His hair had gon
Customer Reviews:
Supersize paperback book?? C'mon!!.......2006-12-07
Ok, to others, it may be known as the "Trade Paperback."
To me, it's the paperback book that would look out of place with my regularly-sized paperback books on the shelf.
Del Rey, listen up!!! I REFUSE to buy this until it comes out in a regular paperback edition! End of story! I will not settle for this monstrous volume that might feel small in some NBA player's hands.
Does that mean I won't get to see how the story progresses?? OH WELL!!! I'm NOT going to compromise just so you can pocket another $5-$6 on material that cost you far less.
no title.......2006-11-10
I bought this for my grandson. He has read all of the series, and really enjoyed them. He is 21 yrs old. He also has dyslexia, and has never liked to read. So this was special to both of us that, He said he got so into the book that he forgot where he was.
Middle novel of a Terry Brooks story.......2006-07-31
Terry Brooks has made a career out of a complicated fantasy world where magic rules as well as politics and inter-racial warfare keeps the balance of good versus evil in a constant state of flux. In all of his books there are several steady components: The Ohmsford family through all of its generations is imbued with a strong strain of magic that they are regularly called upon to exercise even if they do not wish to do so.
In this installment, we are reading about the adventures of a 14 years boy named Pen Ohmsford, his parents whom we were introduced to in the previous trilogy, his aunt who was a major character in the previous trilogy and the new situation where the Federation is still fighting the Freeborn, there is much conflict amongst the Druids, and the Demons are making their plans to come back from the Forbidding to which they were banished thousands of years ago.
If all this seems too convoluted for a single book of about 350 pages in length, you are correct! Terry Brooks writes complex stories and to help resolve the plots, he actually needs about 1000 pages and so the story gets cut up into three volumes. This leads always to a silly device in which at the end of each volume, there is a cliffhanging plot development (this volume is no different). As a longtime reader of this series, I find this little affectation rather annoying, but I suppose the author and the publishers want to ensure that you do not hesitate to purchase the next volume.
Anyway, this book is the middle volume which means that none of the plot lines gets resolved but instead, the world seems headed for the dumpster. As is standard in Terry Brooks stories, this is the time in which things are at their darkest and most splintered. In this one, Grianne Ohsmford is struggling to understand why she is in the Forbidding and what are the plans that the Demon Lord has for her; Penn Ohmsford manages to fulfill the first part of his quest and loses much of what is dear to him in the process; Rue and Bek find out about the plot and try to save Penn only to be caught in the Druid machinations and are imprisoned in Paranor Keep; The Federation discovers a new weapon and uses it to defeat the Elf army while killing its king and causing them to retreat; as well as other smaller sub-plots that are too numerous to detail here.
Suffice it to say, that I trust Terry Brooks to bring all the threads together in the final volume and resolve the situation for this generation.
If you are new to Shannara and Terry Brooks DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK! you MUST have the background provided by Jarka Ruus and the previous series' to make any sense out of this and understand the flow of what is going on. If you are a fan of Terry's and have read Jarka Ruus, then you MUST buy this book to be prepared for Straken.
The only improvement I would wish for would be for these three volumes to be combined into one book that contains the complete story. One thousand page fantasy books are out there and would contain the complete story from start to finish which would be an improvement. But perhaps that is too much to ask for?
series in decline.......2006-07-10
Although I loved the first Shannara series, something of the magic has departed the more recent books. Picking up where Book I left off, Tanequil tells the stories of what has happened to the world since Griane Ohmsford's betrayal. As her enemies work to solidify their rule, her family tries to find her. Spurred by the words of the King of the Silver River, her nephew, Pen, searches for the Tanequil, a magical tree, somewhat like the Ellcrys, to craft a dark wand so he can journey into the Forbidding to rescue her, but he did not count to cost before setting out, and it is dear. Meanwhile, Griane's plight is more desperate than she can imagine. Now the prisoner of the Straken Lord, she is forced to call upon her own evil to survive, risking losing herself in the process.
Though a good story, too much of it revolves around politics. Had the focus remained on the Ohmsfords, it would have been more engaging. Still, Terry Brooks is a safe bet to read.
A great story with some re-used ideas.......2006-07-03
I'm definitely an avid Brooks fan, and this book is not a disappointment. There are some very similar elements between Tanequil and the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara series (
a girl with special sight who sacrifices herself for her airship companions, e.g. ). Even so, it kept me up at night, wanting to finish. I can't wait start Straken!
Amazon.com
With Jarka Ruus Terry Brooks embarks on yet another journey with the legendary Ohmsford family. Beginning 20 years after the conclusion of the The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, the High Druid of Paranor Grianne Ohmsford finds herself struggling to unite the druids amid political morass risen from her prior history as the dreaded Ilse Witch. Her enemies' schemes come to fruition quickly and she is banished behind the wall of the Forbidding, the anti-demon security feature that collapsed so spectacularly in the magnificent Elfstones of Shannara. Her fate falls in the lap of the youngest Ohmsford, Penderrin, who unlike his Aunt Grianne and his parents is without the gift of magic. Pen along with Khyber and her uncle, the Elven Prince Ahren Elessedil, learn they must jump through the usual Brooks' hoops to unlock the door of the Forbidding and free Grianne.
Brooks is right at home in this formulaic addition to the Shannara franchise. All the furniture is here: the Druid Keep of Paranor, dark creatures in pursuit of reluctant young heroes and, of course, the Elfstones. The good news is that Brooks remains a master of description and the book hums along with comfortable ease. Devout Shannara fans will find their favorite magical realm exactly as they left it and no doubt anticipate this cliffhanger's sequel. --Jeremy Pugh
Book Description
More than a quarter of a century after The Sword of Shannara carved out its place in the pantheon of great epic fantasy, the magic of Terry Brooks’s New York Times bestselling saga burns as brightly as ever. Three complete series have chronicled the ever-unfolding history of Shannara. But more stories are still to be told—and new adventures have yet to be undertaken. Book One of High Druid of Shannara invites both the faithful longtime reader and the curious newcomer to take the first step on the next extraordinary quest.
Twenty years have passed since Grianne Ohmsford denounced her former life as the dreaded Ilse Witch—saved by the love of her brother, the magic of the Sword of Shannara, and the destruction of her evil mentor, the Morgawr. Now, fulfilling the destiny predicted for her, she has established the Third Druid Council, and dedicated herself to its goals of peace, harmony among the races, and defense of the Four Lands. But the political intrigue, secret treachery, and sinister deeds that have haunted Druid history for generations continue to thrive. And despite her devotion to the greater good as Ard Rhys—the High Druid of Paranor, Grianne still has bitter enemies.
Among the highest ranks of the Council she leads lurk those who cannot forget her reign of terror as the Ilse Witch, who covet her seat of power, and who will stop at nothing to see her deposed . . . or destroyed. Even Grianne’s few allies—chief among them her trusted servant Tagwen—know of the plots against her. But they could never anticipate the sudden, ominous disappearance of the Ard Rhys, in the dead of night and without a trace. Now, barely a step ahead of the dark forces bent on stopping him, Tagwen joins Grianne’s brave young nephew, Pen Ohmsford, and the wise, powerful elf Ahren Elessedil on a desperate and dangerous mission of search and rescue—to deliver the High Druid of Shannara from an unspeakable fate.
Expect no end of wonders, no shortage of adventure, exhilaration, suspense, and enchantment, as Terry Brooks demonstrates, once again, that there is no end to his magic of invention and mastery of storytelling.
From the Hardcover edition.
Download Description
More than a quarter of a century after The Sword of Shannara carved out its place in the pantheon of great epic fantasy, the magic of Terry Brooks's New York Times bestselling saga burns as brightly as ever. Three complete series have chronicled the ever-unfolding history of Shannara. But more stories are still to be told -- and new adventures have yet to be undertaken. Book One of High Druid of Shannara invites both the faithful longtime reader and the curious newcomer to take the first step on the next extraordinary quest.
Twenty years have passed since Grianne Ohmsford denounced her former life as the dreaded Ilse Witch -- saved by the love of her brother, the magic of the Sword of Shannara, and the destruction of her evil mentor, the Morgawr. Now, fulfilling the destiny predicted for her, she has established the Third Druid Council, and dedicated herself to its goals of peace, harmony among the races, and defense of the Four Lands. But the political intrigue, secret treachery, and sinister deeds that have haunted Druid history for generations continue to thrive. And despite her devotion to the greater good as Ard Rhys -- the High Druid of Paranor, Grianne still has bitter enemies.
Among the highest ranks of the Council she leads lurk those who cannot forget her reign of terror as the Ilse Witch, who covet her seat of power, and who will stop at nothing to see her deposed... or destroyed. Even Grianne's few allies -- chief among them her trusted servant Tagwen -- know of the plots against her. But they could never anticipate the sudden, ominous disappearance of the Ard Rhys, in the dead of night and without a trace. Now, barely a step ahead of the dark forces bent on stopping him, Tagwen joins Grianne's brave young nephew, Pen Ohmsford, and the wise, powerful elf Ahren Elessedil on a desperate and dangerous mission of search and rescue -- to deliver the High Druid of Shannara from an unspeakable fate.
Expect no end of wonders, no shortage of adventure, exhilaration, suspense, and enchantment, as Terry Brooks demonstrates, once again, that there is no end to his magic of invention and mastery of storytelling.
Customer Reviews:
Quintessential Brooks.......2007-02-11
I've read the entire Shannara series multiple times over the last 25 years. It just keeps getting better.
"The One that Plays the Others as a Master Does his Puppets...".......2006-05-28
It's been twenty years since the events of "The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara", in which a combined group of Elves, Men and Dwarves sailed under the leadership of the Druid Walker Boh in an attempt to reclaim archaic knowledge from lost islands far to the West. Though the mission failed in this respect, it did achieve one of Walker's chief desires; to redeem the life of Grianne Ohmsford. Kidnapped from her family when she was a child, she was raised as the evil Ilse Witch and only made aware of her true identity by the intervention of her brother Bek Ohmsford.
My assessment of "The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara" trilogy was not a favourable one, as I ultimately felt it was nothing more than an introduction to ideas that Brooks planned to go into more detail on in later books; namely the persona of Grianne Ohmsford and the reforging of the Druid Council in the Four Lands. After reading "The High Druid of Shannara" trilogy, I felt this was a pretty fair judgement. All the major characters and plots here had their roots in "The Voyage" series, and one can almost see in the writing that Brooks is far more interested in his subject matter here than he was in "The Voyage". This of course adds up to a much more satisfying read, and contrary to some of the editorial reviews, for the first time Brooks is brave enough to veer away from some of his more predictable story structures.
For instance, the primary objective of the protagonists in this book is not to fight already-existing villains and monsters, but to halt an unravelling plan of evil-doers before it even reaches fruition. For the first time there is no back-up from the Leah family or the Sword of Shannara. The time difference between this and the previous series is also markedly different; a mere twenty years rather than several hundred. Most importantly, allies and enemies are not so clear-cut this time around; there are positive and negative factions to each organisation and species that are included here; and even the undisputable bad-guys are only trying to reclaim what was technically theirs to begin with.
However, Brooks still hangs on to some tried-and-true methods. The main character is still a young Ohmsford - here called Penderrin, the son of Bek and Rue of the previous trilogy - who is given a task by the mystical King of the Silver River and is joined by representatives of other species (Trolls, Elves, Dwarves and Rover-men) in order to complete it.
Grianne Ohmsford has put her past behind her, and established the third Druid Council in an attempt to bring wisdom and peace to the Four Lands once more. Unfortunately, though it started out hopefully, the Council is slowly breaking apart with several mutinous Druids plotting against Grianne. One group in particular, led by the treacherous and ambition Shadea a'Ru has come up with a plan to rid themselves of Grianne forever (and no, I won't share the details!) With her disappearance, Shadea seizes control of the Council and begins to organise her enemies from her allies. Long allied to Sen Dunsidan, Minister of the Federation, Shadea pledges her support in the elimination of the Free-Borns, whilst sending out assassins to dispose of her greatest threat: the Ohmsford family.
Whilst his parents are away, Pen is enjoying his freedom... till he's warned of the danger he's in and given a task to perform in order to save his aunt Grianne. In order to free her he must find a talisman called a darkwand, obtainable only from the living, conscious tree called the tanequil, found on an island in the mountains. Aligning himself with the dwarf Tagwen, uncle-and-niece duo Ahren and Khyber Elessedil and an airship of Rovers (including love-interest, the blind and beautiful Cinnaminson), Pen sets off on his journey to rescue his aunt.
Brooks juggles a lot of separate story-strands, from the central quest of Pen and his friends, the intrigues that go on concerning Shadea and her band of Druid allies (each with their own agendas), the war rising between Federation and Free-Born armies, and Grianne's toils when she discovers the horrifying truth as to where she's been exiled too. Among these tangled threads, Brooks cleverly hides a deeper plot at work that all - heroes and antagonists alike - are ignorant of; unbeknownst to all of them, they are being played by a greater power with plans of its own. Not since "The Heritage of Shannara" quartet has Brooks set up such a sophisticated mystery at the core of his story, and here's hoping it will be sustained throughout the next two installments.
As mentioned, Pen is a typical Brooks hero; young, inexperienced, naive, impulsive, optimistic - you get the idea. As such, he can be a little annoying at times, but his heart's in the right place and he's backed up by a strong cast of supporting characters. However, it must be said that in this case the antagonists overshadow the heroes in terms of strong characterisation, motivation and reader-interest - whenever Shadea or Sen Dunsidan show up on the page with their twisted mechanisations, we forget all about what Pen is up to.
"Jarka Ruus" is a promising start to a new Shannara series, with plenty of intrigue and adventure, strong characterisation and steady pacing. Because it is set so closely after the events of "The Voyage" we get updates on several characters, and many of the problems and situations dealt with (such as Grianne's past as the Ilse Witch, or Sen Dunsidan's role in the Federation War) have more weight to them given our prior familiarity with them. However, this does mean readers may miss certain characters of that trilogy that do not make an appearance here - Quentin Leah and Redden Alt Mer for example - and those who are new to the Shannara world are best advised to start way back with "The Sword of Shannara", considering this is the twelfth book in the overall series!
Revisit the amazing world of Shannara!.......2006-04-29
Grianne Ohmsford, struggling with the inner demons of her former evil life as the Ilse Witch, also wrestles with the politics of her new role as Ard Rhys, High Druid of Paranor, responsible for the unification of the third Druid Council. Peace and harmony among the races of the four lands seems a distant, faint hope as her enemies on the council, the dissenting druids led by Shadea a'Rhu, refuse to accept the reality of Grianne's redemption and plot to bring her down, each striving to achieve their own ends and bring their own agenda to completion. When Grianne vanishes, seemingly defeated by the circle of treasonous plotters surrounding her and locked behind impenetrable magic walls in the land of the Forbidding, her trusted servant and aide, Tagwen, realizes that his own life hangs in the balance and narrowly escapes Paranor himself. Relentlessly pursued by Terek Molt, another rebellious Druid on the Council and Aphasia Wye, a deadly assassin, Tagwen seeks help from the only people he can think of - Pen Ohmsford, Grianne's resourceful, young nephew and Ahren Ellesdil, a self-exiled elf Druid and master of no small amount of magic himself!
The thrilling chase is on as the Druid Council seeks to eliminate the only loose ends that can spoil their nefarious plans and Pen and Ahren seek to release Grianne from her hellish prison in The Forbidding and seal what appears to be a hole in the magic wall that might well see the re-appearance of the evil warlock in the Four Lands!
With The High Druid of Shannara, Brooks has once again burst onto the fantasy scene and re-established himself as a master of the genre! As a reader who first fell in love with The Sword of Shannara over twenty years, I felt like Brooks was making me the gift of that experience all over again - good vs evil; battles; treachery; magic of a bewildering array of flavours and strengths; love and loyalty; a beautifully crafted landscape replete with its dazzling population of fantasy inhabitants; and the imaginative, unique device of a cruelly, twisted "copy" of the Four Lands called The Forbidding that serves as a magical prison for the banished shade of Brona, the dreaded warlock lord.
While Jarka Ruus is primarily a plot-driven book that moves headlong at the pace of the finest thriller, Brooks has not neglected to provide a richly detailed cast with a fully developed range of emotions, strengths, failings, foibles and habits. I smiled as I watched Pen struggle with the conflict between his first young love for Cinnaminson, daughter of the Rover Captain, Gar Hatch, and the duties he knew he had assumed in the search for his aunt. Barely out of girlhood, Khyber Ellesdil, granted the genetic gift of magic and control over the Elfstones, seems overcome with typical teenage doubt and angst over her abilities and her place in the world. Tagwen, brave, loyal and well-intentioned, seems ... well ... simply overwhelmed, over-matched and out of his league!
The choice of endings for this novel, the first installment in a trilogy, is unfortunate and ill-conceived! In fact, it is no ending at all and every sub-plot and narrative thread is simply abandoned in mid-stream because, I expect, Brooks and the publishers wanted this novel to be a particular length. A minor aggravation in the overall scheme of things, I expect, because I've already pick up the next part - Tanequil - and started to eagerly read on!
Two thumbs up - more if I had `em!
Paul Weiss
WOW. That pretty well sums it up........2006-04-18
I've loved Terry Brooks since 1979 when I first read The Sword of Shannara. Was it essentially the same plot outline as Lord of the Rings? Yes. But I was 11, and had just finished reading LOTR for the first time. Shannara worked well for me, and I was quickly hooked.
As I've gotten older and (hopefully) matured, the series has matured as well. We've learned the costs of the magic weilded by the characters. We've learned that those with great power aren't always the happiest, and are often quite troubled. We've learned that heroism comes with a price.
High Druid of Shannara promises to be a series about redemption. 20 years after the return of the Jerle Shannara expedition, Grianne Ohmsford, the Ilse Witch, has taken her place as the High Druid at Paranor. But there are many who cannot forgive her, who won't forget her past life, and want her dead. And there are others who seek the power of the Druid Council for their own purposes.
Grianne disappears, and it falls to another Ohmsford to rescue her - her nephew. Pendarrin Ohmsford is not the unwilling hero that his ancestors were - at least not at first. He is so ready for adventure and excitement that it's clear he isn't a full-blooded Ohmsford; the Rover blood is deep in him, and at times he acts like a prince of Leah rather than an Ohmsford. He quickly learns that adventures are far more frightening than anyone has ever told him. Especially when he is told that he is the only one who can save his aunt, buy finding a legendary tree, the Tanequil, and obtaining a talisman that only he can get.
It has been enjoyable watching Brooks' writing mature. His works have gone from a formulaic fantasy quest book to a deeper exploration of human emotion and failings. His characters tend to be slightly stock, but they're his stock of characters. I often find myself wondering what previous character each newcomer is related to, or what mold they have been cast from. Fortunately, Brooks most often combines qualities of several characters when creating a new one, so they seem fresh.
I devoured this book. I had planned on reading this at the beach this year on vacation - it didn't last long enough for me to even take with me. The books are addictive.
But it's a good addiction. Really.
Good.......2006-01-19
Jarka Ruus was as good as I hoped it'd be. A good beginning to the Huigh Druid.
Average customer rating:
- good book-enjoyable read
- Best of Heritage
- Brook's greatest novel
- "I Envy Your Past...I Have None..."
- The hunt for the Black Elfstone and the rise of Walker Boh
|
The Druid of Shannara (Heritage of Shannara)
Terry Brooks
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Shannara | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Brooks, Terry | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Paperback | Brooks, Terry | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Brooks, Terry | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Paperback | Brooks, Terry | ( B ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:
-
The Elf Queen of Shannara (Heritage of Shannara, Book 3)
-
The Talismans of Shannara (Heritage of Shannara)
-
The Scions of Shannara (Heritage of Shannara)
-
The Wishsong of Shannara
-
First King of Shannara
ASIN: 0345375599
Release Date: 1992-01-22 |
Book Description
In the three hundred years since the death of the Druid Allanon, the evil Shadowen have seized control of the Four Lands. If they are to be saved, the black Elfstone must be retrieved, at whatever cost to life or love....
Download Description
In the three hundred years since the death of the Druid Allanon, themysterious, evil Shadowen have seized control of the Four Lands. Theshade of Allanon summons the four scions of Shannara: Par, Coll, Wren,and Walker Boh. To Walker Boh he gives the duty of restoring the lostDruid's Keep, Paranor. For that, Walker Boh needs the black Elfstone,but his search leads him into a trap.
Quickening, the daughter of the ancient King of the Silver River, findsWalker Boh dying after an attack by the Shadowen Rimmer Dall. She healsWalker Boh and tells him that the Elfstone is in the hands of the StoneKing, who seeks to turn all the world to stone. To secure the Elfstonethey must travel through the Charnal Mountains into the perilous,unknown land beyond. And no one knows what horrible monsters the StoneKing has set to guard his citadel.
They form a strange company to undertake the quest: Walker Boh, withonly one arm and no longer able to summon his magic; Morgan Leah, whoseonce-magic sword has been broken; Quickening, who must depend on themen for her defense; and Pe Ell, an assassin who plans eventually tokill her.
Thus, the quest for the Black Elfstone begins.
Customer Reviews:
good book-enjoyable read.......2007-02-23
i rate this a good book, while i had the first book above average. nothign astounding but wortht the time.
Best of Heritage.......2006-11-24
By far the best book in the Heritage Series, Brooks paints a completely new story with none of the recurring threads of his others (except perhaps the ending, *ahem*). Although this book is a part of a series, it is written in such a way that it is not really necessary to read the others to enjoy this one. They add little to its plot anyway.
(+) A great new adventure, the characters are all new and fully 3D. Brooks paints great images of his landscapes, which does loads to draw the reader into the story. Walker's stuggle to understand his destiny, and his futile efforts to change it are great.
=Spoilers=
(-) Somewhat lengthy dialogues and descriptions. Time in Eldwist drags on, but this kinda adds to the feel of the story anyhow, cause thats what the characters think too. Giant rats is a rather stupid idea, and the character of Carisman, though a novel touch, is rather pointless. (except to get rid of the stupid rats!)
(=) Brooks really outdid himself on this one, and the other Heritage books don't have the same flare that this did. That's what makes this the best.
Brook's greatest novel.......2006-09-18
Walker Boh was given an impossible quest. A quest he swore never to even attempt. But his curiousity got the better of him and an ancient trap has left him battered and broken. Now he has accepted the quest whole hearted, for the sake of revenge, if nothing else. His companions are Morgan Leah, whose magic sword is now usless, Quickening the elemental, whose power cannot help him, and Pe Ell, the assasin who is just waiting for an opportunity to strike.
I have been a fan of Terry Brooks since I was 15 and consider this to be his greatest book. It is the second part of an excellent series, but if you are not the sort who reads series you can easily catch on to what has happened in the first novel and skip the chapters that do not directly affect the main plot (there are only three or four of them if memory serves), I have read this book over many times in that fashion. If you are a fan of fantasy this book is not to be missed.
"I Envy Your Past...I Have None...".......2006-08-14
The second book in the four-part series "The Heritage of Shannara", focuses on Walker Boh, the most unique and intriguing character that Brooks has ever created. In an ongoing series that is filled with grim wizards, plucky farm-boys, feisty love-interests, and bland members of the Leah family thrown in for good measure, Walker Boh is a breath of fresh air and makes a compelling protagonist for the best installment of Brooks's best Shannara-based series.
In the previous novel "The Scions of Shannara", three members of the Ohmsford family were summoned by the shade Allanon to complete three specific tasks in order to combat the rising threat of the mysterious Shadowen: to find the lost Sword of Shannara (Par), discover the hiding place of the lost elves (Wren) and restore the Druid Keep of Paranor - the mission appointed to Walker. But unlike his nephew and niece who accept the tasks, Walker has no interest whatsoever in doing what Allanon requires. Suspicious of manipulation and secrecy, he furthermore has no desire to help a world who treated him like an outcast.
But unforeseen circumstances are occurring at the edges of reality; the King of the Silver River as created a daughter out of his domain who is sent out into the world with a mysterious plan in play to assist the scions of Shannara. Her name is Quickening, and she gathers together a small band of followers to travel with her into the realm of Uhl Belk the Stone King, the King of the Silver River's brother, in order to retrieve the Black Elfstone that he so long ago stole from the Druids.
It is this Elfstone that is essential in Walker's task to restore Paranor to the physical realm, but it is also the talisman that has heightened the Stone King's power; the entire land of Eldwist has gradually succumbed to stone around him. But Quickening is resolute in her determination to gain possession of the Elfstone, and soon has recruited three men whom she says will be essential to the success of the quest: Walker himself, Morgan Leah (a friend of Par who was separated from him in the last book) and Pe Ell, a shady assassin who has been sent by the Federation to dispose of Quickening - but who has decided to halt this plan till he has ownership of the Elfstone. With each of these characters distrustful of each other, and yet inexorably bound to Quickening, they set off on their journey into dangerous territory.
"The Druid of Shannara" is a success because of its character motivations and interactions; in particular Pe Ell and Quickening, who have deeply laid secrets at work within the story. The uncovering of these secrets and the unravelling of the travellers' journey into the deadly Eldwist keep the reader sustained for the entire length of the book. There are a couple of side-issues that aren't really of much importance to the overall story arc (such as a character called Carisman who has been made king of a group of primitive gnomes; it doesn't really add much to the story) and a few silly bits (giant rats?!) but on the whole the threats are both credible and frightening. The city of Eldwist is haunted by the Stone King's monstrous child whose creeping influence changes everything around it to stone, as well as the formidable Rake, a creeper like the one seen in the previous book - only worse.
As well as this, a few chapters are devoted to what's going on with the other scions: Par is hiding out with the lovely Damson in the sewers of Tyrsis, convinced that he's responsible for the death of his brother Coll, whilst Wren and her companion Garth arrange a meeting with the mysterious Addershag who has information on the missing elves.
It is probably through Morgan's eyes that we witness most of the story, and though he isn't quite as interesting as Walker, he's a nice enough guy and has a crucially important part to play throughout the progression of the quartet (as opposed to other members of the Leah family that pop up in other books), and there is a bittersweet romance at work between Morgan and Quickening that is handled surprisingly well by Brooks (who tends to get corny when dealing with love-stories). Quickening herself is an enigma, childlike and yet devoted to her purpose, and her relationship with the members of the groups (not just Morgan, but Walker and Pe Ell as well) make for interesting character interactions.
Unfortunately, "Druid" suffers from a continual defect that appears throughout Brooks's work: a tendency to waffle on. If Brooks is going to remark on something within the text, he'll compose a lengthy paragraph that ends up repeating the same point several times. Take for example Walker's dialogue on the advantage they have over Uhl Belk: "It is true that we appear to be little more than beggars off some Southland city street, that we have nothing with which to threaten Uhl Belk, that we are as insignificant to him as the smallest insects that crawl upon the land. But that appearance may be an illusion we can use. It may give us the chance we need to defeat him. He sees us as nothing. He does not fear us. He distains to worry about us at all. It is possible that he has already forgotten us. He believes himself invulnerable. Perhaps we can use that against him."
This is but one example, but it is a trait that shows up in every single story that Brooks has written; a long-windedness that bloats the length of the books, repeats the obvious and almost makes it seem as though Brooks considers his readers idiots who have to have certain points hammered into their heads. It's intensely frustrating, especially when all Walker needs to say is this: "Uhl Belk considers himself so powerful that he'll underestimate our chances. We should use that to our advantage." There! I've probably saved at least seven trees!
But despite the fact that Brooks needs a more ruthless editor, "The Druid of Shannara" is good stuff, the best installment of the best quartet within the Shannara saga.
The hunt for the Black Elfstone and the rise of Walker Boh.......2006-05-26
This second installment in the Heritage of Shannara series is great. Page-turning action and sob-inducing emotional drama make this one of my favorite of Brooks' novels. Great supporting characters, including Quickening and Pe Ell, contribute immensely to a roller coaster of a book that focuses on Walker Boh and Morgan Leah as they follow the King of the Silver River's elemental daughter to the land of the Stone King and his minions in search of the Black Elfstone, which could turn the tide of the battle against the Shadowen by bringing back lost Paranor and the druids of old. Evil and enormous monsters and lots of action and close calls for the heroes make for an exciting read, and the emotional drama between characters (especially Morgan Leah and Quickening) brings the story to life.
I strongly reccomend all of Terry Brooks' books.
Amazon.com
Antrax is the second book in the Voyage of Jerle Shannara trilogy, part of an epic started by famed fantasy writer Terry Brooks more than two decades ago with The Sword of Shannara. In this installment, we join the Druid Walker Boh and his companions in the search for Antrax--a powerful and malevolent technological guardian. Walker believes Antrax's magic is potent enough to help restore the Druid council to the Four lands, a struggle that has consumed his life. But while the unlikely heroes journey in the Jerle Shannara across the Blue Divide to the city of Castledown, the Druid's archnemesis--the Ilse Witch--and her band of Mwellrets closely follow in an airship of their own. The race is on, and the prize is the power of Antrax. Meanwhile, Bek Rowe discovers that his destiny is inextricably linked with the Ilse Witch herself.
Mixing several subplots into the main story, Brooks cooks up a satisfying stew of fantasy with just a taste of science fiction. Brooks quickly reels the reader in with nonstop action, and, in classic style, leaves the reader yearning for the third and final installment, Morgawr. --Robert Leavengood
Book Description
A new novel by Terry Brooks is always a cause for celebration. For more than twenty years, the New York Times bestselling author of the classic Shannara epic has proven himself one of the modern masters of fantasy, winning the hearts and minds of devoted readers around the world. In his last acclaimed novel, Ilse Witch, a brave company of explorers led by the last Druid, Walker Boh, traveled across unknown seas in search of an elusive magic. Yet perhaps Boh and his team were lured there for sinister, unforeseen purposes . . .
Now in Antrax, as the crew aboard the airship Jerle Shannara is attacked by evil forces, the Druid’s protégé Bek Rowe and his companions are pursued by the mysterious Ilse Witch. Meanwhile, Boh is alone, caught in a dark maze beneath the ruined city of Castledown, stalked by a hungry, unseen enemy.
For there is something alive in Castledown. Something not human. Something old beyond reckoning that covets the magic of Druids, elves, even the Ilse Witch. Something that hunts men for its own designs: Antrax. It is a spirit that commands ancient technologies and mechanical monsters, feeds off enchantment, and traps the souls of men.
With the Jerle Shannara under siege and Antrax threatening the bold and unwary, the Ilse Witch finds herself face-to-face with a boy who claims to be the brother she last saw as an infant. Now a young man, Bek wields the magic of the wishsong and carries the Sword of Shannara upon his back. Unsure whether to trust Bek or to slay him, the Ilse Witch takes him prisoner. One has come pursuing truth, the other revenge. Yet both seek Walker Boh–with the fate of the Four Lands hanging in the balance.
Return to the world of beloved novelist Terry Brooks, where creatures drift up from the earth like mist, a hypnotic song can kill, a sword can cut through a veil of lies–and one man, the true heir of an ancient magic, must choose between betrayal and redemption.
Download Description
A new novel by Terry Brooks is always a cause for celebration. For morethan twenty years, the New York Times bestselling author of the classic Shannara epic has proven himself one of the modern masters of fantasy, winning the hearts and minds of devoted readers around the world. In his last acclaimed novel, Ilse Witch, a brave company of explorers led by the last Druid, Walker Boh, traveled across unknown seas in search of an elusive magic. Yet perhaps Boh and his team were lured there for sinister, unforeseen purposes....
Now in Antrax, as the crew aboard the airship Jerle Shannara isattacked by evil forces, the Druid's protégé Bek Rowe andhis companions are pursued by the mysterious Ilse Witch. Meanwhile, Bohis alone, caught in a dark maze beneath the ruined city of Castledown,stalked by a hungry, unseen enemy.
For there is something alive in Castledown. Something not human.Something old beyond reckoning that covets the magic of Druids, elves,even the Ilse Witch. Something that hunts men for its own designs:Antrax. It is a spirit that commands ancient technologies and mechanicalmonsters, feeds off enchantment, and traps the souls of men.
With the Jerle Shannara under siege and Antrax threatening the bold andunwary, the Ilse Witch finds herself face-to-face with a boy who claimsto be the brother she last saw as an infant. Now a young man, Bek wieldsthe magic of the wishsong and carries the Sword of Shannara upon hisback. Unsure whether to trust Bek or to slay him, the Ilse Witch takeshim prisoner. One has come pursuing truth, the other revenge. Yet bothseek Walker Boh -- with the fate of the Four Lands hanging in the balance.
Return to the world of beloved novelist Terry Brooks, where creaturesdrift up from the earth like mist, a hypnotic song can kill, a sword cancut through a veil of lies -- and one man, the true heir of an ancientmagic, must choose between betrayal and redemption.
Customer Reviews:
The trap is sprung!.......2006-09-21
Walker Boh, the 'Dark Uncle,' is the most powerful magic wielder in the Four Lands, but when he's pitted against Antrax, the 'old world' artificial intelligence, it seems he's finally met his match. Below the ruins of Castledown, they engage in a battle of wills that will see one of them destroyed.
On the surface above, the Ilse Witch has taken Walker's companions prisoner and seized his airship, leaving Walker no escape should he survive.
But Walker has set a trap of his own for the Ilse Witch. A trap which seeks not to destroy, but free her.
This book and trilogy are exciting and entertaining. The ever changing world of the Four Lands is as amazing and fantastic as ever. Brooks' ability to create well rounded four dimensional characters with personal conflicts that people can relate to is something that is sorely lacking other fantasy/science fiction novels.
If you are new to Terry Brooks, or new to the `Shannara' novels I would recommend this book (and trilogy) as an excellent place to start. If you are familiar with the Shannara novels you might want to check out my full review of the trilogy under "Morgawr (Voyage of the Jerle Shannara 3)."
Fantastic!.......2006-08-27
If you are looking to relax and get away from it all, reading the adventures in Terry Brooks novels will certainly help. This book is no exception, I could hardly put this book down there is nearly non-stop action from beginning to end.
More Hints At Post-apocalypse.......2005-04-26
Antrax, the title character is a sentient machine, that controls the city of Castledown. It is very smart and has lured the voyagers to it's awaiting maw. It needs magic to stay alive. After waking years after technology crumbled Antrax found a new power source: magic. It was built as the perfect weapon and ultimate protector. Maybe too perfect. It has outlived its masters but must still follow its orders. Protect Castledown at all costs.
It is this machine that Walker knows that the strongest magic is held. But there is no way of extruding it. So he is seduced by the sentient being. Meanwhile, the Ilse Witch, now revealed as Grianne Ohmsford has captured Bek who claims to be her dead brother. He knows that the only way to save her is by using the Sword of Shannara. His only way of escaping is Truls Rohk a strange but undaunting protector. It all culminates with a conflict between the Ilse Witch and Walker Boh. But a new enemy is on his way the Morgawr.
"Death Steals Away All Our Chances...".......2004-09-16
"Antrax" (not to be confused with Anthrax, the nasty white powder) is the second book in the "Voyage of the Jerle Shannara" trilogy, dealing with the second great foe that the intrepid crew of the "Jerle Shannara" face. It's also possibly the best of the three books, though as usual suffers from several fantasy cliches, dull characters and predictable situations. Within this trilogy, it seems to me that with the exception of Walker, the antagonists are the main characters - each book is named after one of them, and are certainly a lot less bland than the good guys who spend most of this book on adventures that have little purpose in the overall context of the book, or running around like headless chickens. The archaic super-computer that has long-planned the "Jerle Shannara's" capture and defeat is certainly the star of this book.
In the previous novel "Ilse Witch" the Druid Walker brought together a crew on board a flying airship and set off to discover a treasure of knowledge on a faraway island that is said to belong to the Old World. The way was chartered on a map found on a half-dead elf prince, but it is half way to the island that Walker begins to suspect that their entire voyage has been a carefully plotted trap planned out by the great evil awaiting them. To add to the danger, the crew is being pursued by the dreaded Ilse Witch and her untrustworthy ally the Morgawr, who are also out to seize the treasure and destroy the ship.
After reaching the keep of Castledown, the crew is suddenly and violently separated after the Antrax activates its first weapon - threads of scorching fire. With the Antrax attempting to capture those that have magic, and destroy those that are of no use to it, the company is soon scattered -
Our hero Bek Ohmsford and his protector Truks Rohk are attempting to convince the Ilse Witch that she is in fact Grianne Ohmsford, and that Bek is her brother, whilst simultaneously moving through a strange and unwelcoming land. Walker has gone into the depths of Castledown to find the sought-for books of knowledge that come out of the Old World, whilst the seer Ryer Ord Star and elfin Prince Ahren Elessedil follow; she to rescue Walker, and he to retrieve the lost Elfstones.
Quentin Leah and an elfin tracker named Tamis (she has no last name, so you can tell she's a goner) come up against the robot-zombie figure of their former comrade Ard Patrinell (yes, you read that right, I said robot-zombie). Meanwhile, back on the ship Redder Alt Mer, his sister Rue Meridian and the Wing Rider Hunter Predd attempt to take back the invaded "Jerle Shannara" and then go after the Ilse Witch's own vessel "Black Moclips".
I mentioned these two story plots together simply because they are utterly unimportant to the continuation and completion of the overall story - they come across as padding to make the book a bit thicker. Rue's story in particular has no real meaning - she single-handedly takes "Black Moclips," neither learns nor gains anything of value, and then abandons ship once it heads into a storm. What was the point?! Likewise, the Ilse Witch creates a wolf-like magical creature which had no real purpose, and I'm still wondering why Panax the dwarf decided to come on the trip - he hasn't done anything yet!
There are long-winded paragraphs on the island's locals, the character's internal struggles (they're conflicted, we get it) and Brooks is the master at speeches that become so lengthy that they're funny. Consider this: "Your face is not who you are. You might appear a monster, but you're not. You're my friend. You saved my life. But you wouldn't trust me with the truth about yourself. You hid that truth because you deceived yourself into thinking that it was something else. I would rather know you this way, terrible though it is, than have the truth hidden." People just *do not* talk like this, and every time a character launches into one of these declarations, it is a cause for laughter - and that's not a good thing.
Ultimately the very purpose of the voyage is made null and void, with the discovery that the books of knowledge cannot be accessed - they belong on technological disks that Walker cannot understand. Despite this, I wondered at the possibility of him drawing them out mentally/magically, and then passing them on to the Ilse Witch...but no. When he says that Grianne is the new purpose of the mission it's not because she now carries the ancient knowledge, it's because...actually, we have to read Brook's *next* trilogy "The High Druid" to find out what. Sigh - aren't you glad Brooks has grasped the basics of milking a story for all it's worth?
The Antrax is probably the most interesting part of the book, though your liking of it will depend on whether or not you appreciate the presence of technological remnants in an otherwise entirely fantasy-oriented world. I found that I didn't mind it too much, and although Brooks is frustratingly hazy on what the original purpose of the Antrax *was*, pitting his characters against an incorporeal and virtually unstoppable machine is rather compelling.
I'm being *very* kind when I give this book three stars, especially since the final book in the trilogy "Morgawr" is quite awful. As it stands though, Brooks deserves credit for finally drawing away from writing Tolkien-clones (though he's still copying from his own previous work), and for adding a few splashes of good ideas and originality into this particular book.
Fantasy by Numbers.......2004-07-07
First of all, this installment from Terry Brooks does have a few unique features, such as a sentient city-sized computer built by a lost civilization, horrifying half-human cyborg killing machines, and somewhat intriguing themes on technology and knowledge. But otherwise, you have to wonder if Brooks keeps cranking out new volumes simply by following a manual called "How to Write a Fantasy Novel." He may have even written that manual himself, as he's deservedly a popular and famous master of the genre. But once again there is little new or unexpected here. Consider the following rules of thumb from the typical fantasy writer's manual.
Build the story around a journey or quest to find some enchanted items like magic stones. Speaking of magic, throw that word around often but don't worry about describing it in too much detail. Add some other magic items, such as swords, that give power to those who know how to use them, but peril to others without that special inner strength. Give the people and places vaguely Celtic or Gothic names like Quentin Leah or Ryer Ord Star or Castledown. Add a bunch of elves and dwarves, and maybe a druid for good measure. Have the characters converse copiously about honor and courage and loyalty, preferably right in the middle of dangerous chases or battles. Show the good guys wracked with fear and indecision, only to dramatically realize their potential heroism in inspirational ways. Make your bad guys unquestionably evil monsters of alien races. And finally, write in the trilogy format, so instead of one large but focused book, you can crank out three inconclusive medium-sized books.
Sound familiar? Fantasy writers have done all this a gazillion times. So has Terry Brooks, and he does it again here without deviating from expectations. [~doomsdayer520~]
Customer Reviews:
The Scions.......2004-03-15
The Scions of Shannara is a fictional book with classic adventures and romances. The story tajes place in the Four Lands. There are different races like the dwarves, elves, humans and several others.
Three hundred years have passed since Allanon the Druid died. The Four Lands have changed since then. The Elves have vanished and the Dwarves have been enslaved. The Southland is under the rule of the Federation. However, Par Ohmsford still has the power of the wishong. Allanon's spirit summoned Par and Coll and a few others to rid the Four Lands of the dangerous shadowen.
Par's cousin Wren has to find the elves. His uncle, Walker, has to bring back the Druids Keep in Paranor, and Par and Coll have to find the Sword of Shannara. Once all the quests are complete, the Four Lands will be back to normal.
I would recommend that you read the first Shannara books before you read this one. Several of the characters are descended from previous characters and knowing the history helps to understand the book.
Terry Brooks' writing style is one of a kind. He focuses on description and details so that one can see everything. When Brooks describes a character, it is thorough and one might find them selves agreeing or disagreeing with a characters thoughts.
I liked the book because there was a little bit of suspense and mystery. Just when you think you have figured it out, something else happens to twist the story around. The end of the story is surprising and it makes you want to read the rest of the series of Shannara.
There were some things I didn't like about the book. For one thing, it was kind of repetative. I read all the books before the Scions of Shannara and they were pretty much the same. Another thing was the characters didn't interact much. Sometimes, in the book, it would be days before anyone talked to someone else.
Overall, I thought that this book was unique because even though the story line has been seen before, Terry Brooks came up with new ideas that suited the setting and made it his own.
Really Good Book.......1999-09-23
I have never even heard of the Shannara before. I bought book 3 when I was in grade 8. It sat on the bookshelf for about 7 years. I was sitting at home and began to read it. I couldn't put the book down. I read to about page 100 and my dad told me I shouldn't start a series without reading the first book first. So I went to the Grande Prairie Public Library and got out The Scions Of Shannara. I read this book in about 4 or 5 days. I loved it. It had a good story line. The way Terry Brooks, described Par Ohmsford, kind of made him sound like a bad ass. Which describes me. So I really liked it. I am just starting book 2 and am on about page 120 and it is still the same. The Shannara Heritage is very interesting, and would reccommend it to anyone. Especially if your still young and exploring the library's to see whats out there
A really good book (The Scions of Shannara)........1999-07-02
It follows in the footsteps of the Shannara Trilogy, with more magic and more energy that keep you guessing and hoping and right on the edge of your seat. It was a very well written and exciting book and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks became the master of epic fantasy with the publication of his legendary debut, The Sword of Shannara. Since then, each new novel in the Shannara saga has brilliantly built upon and deepened the world of breathtaking magic, adventure, and intrigue he created. In The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara—his third enchanting series—he literally took his legions of loyal readers soaring to new heights as a colorful contingent of characters took to the skies aboard a magnificent airship on a quest fraught with wonder and danger.
Now in Morgawr, the quest at last draws to its climactic conclusion, as the forces of good and evil vying against each other to possess an ancient magic race towards an explosive clash—and whatever fate awaits the victor . . . and the vanquished. Harrowing confrontations with the merciless Ilse Witch and the monstrous Antrax have already taken their toll on the intrepid heroes of the Four Lands. But their darkest adversary now snaps at their heels, in the form of the Morgawr—master of the Ilse Witch, feeder upon the souls of his enemies, and centuries-old sorcerer of unimaginable might.
With a fleet of airships and a crew of walking dead men at his command, the Morgawr is in relentless pursuit of the Jerle Shannara and the crew that mans her. For the Morgawr, the goal is two fold: to find and control the fabled ancient books of magic, and to destroy the dark disciple who betrayed him—the Ilse Witch. But the Ilse Witch is already a prisoner . . . of herself. Exposed to the awesome power of the Sword of Shannara, and forced to confront the truth of her horrifying deeds, she has fled deep into her own mind. Now at the mercy of those who seek vengeance against her, her only protector is her long-lost brother, Bek Ohmsford, who is determined to redeem his beloved sister . . . and deliver her to the destiny predicted for her by the Druid Walker Boh.
Once again, Terry Brooks weaves together high adventure, vividly wrought characters, and a spellbinding world into an irresistible story of heroism and sacrifice, love and honor. In Morgawr, fans of the Shannara mythos will find both a satisfying finale and the promise of new wonders yet to come.
Download Description
New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks became the master of epic fantasy with the publication of his legendary debut, The Sword of Shannara. Since then, each new novel in the Shannara saga has brilliantly built upon and deepened the world of breathtaking magic, adventure, and intrigue he created. In The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara -- his third enchanting series -- he literally took his legions of loyal readers soaring to new heights as a colorful contingent of characters took to the skies aboard a magnificent airship on a quest fraught with wonder and danger.
Now in Morgawr, the quest at last draws to its climactic conclusion, as the forces of good and evil vying against each other to possess an ancient magic race towards an explosive clash -- and whatever fate awaits the victor... and the vanquished. Harrowing confrontations with the merciless Ilse Witch and the monstrous Antrax have already taken their toll on the intrepid heroes of the Four Lands. But their darkest adversary now snaps at their heels, in the form of the Morgawr -- master of the Ilse Witch, feeder upon the souls of his enemies, and centuries-old sorcerer of unimaginable might.
With a fleet of airships and a crew of walking dead men at his command, the Morgawr is in relentless pursuit of the Jerle Shannara and the crew that mans her. For the Morgawr, the goal is two fold: to find and control the fabled ancient books of magic, and to destroy the dark disciple who betrayed him -- the Ilse Witch. But the Ilse Witch is already a prisoner... of herself. Exposed to the awesome power of the Sword of Shannara, and forced to confront the truth of her horrifying deeds, she has fled deep into her own mind. Now at the mercy of those who seek vengeance against her, her only protector is her long-lost brother, Bek Ohmsford, who is determined to redeem his beloved sister... and deliver her to the destiny predicted for her by the Druid Walker Boh.
Once again, Terry Brooks weaves together high adventure, vividly wrought characters, and a spellbinding world into an irresistible story of heroism and sacrifice, love and honor. In Morgawr, fans of the Shannara mythos will find both a satisfying finale and the promise of new wonders yet to come.
Customer Reviews:
Brooks is Awesome.......2007-06-26
As always, when it comes to a fantasy series - Terry Brooks is the master.
The finale and a review of the trilogy.......2006-09-21
The Isle Witch has discovered the truth about herself, and seeks to make amends for herself by helping those she once considered enemies escape from the land of Antrax. But her ex-ally and mentor the Morgawr has other plans for his protégé and the crew of the Jerle Shannara.
This final book of the "Voyage of the Jerle Shannara" trilogy is not to be missed, but is all conclusion and would not be enjoyable if you have not first read the first two installments: "Ilse Witch," and "Antrax."
If you are not familiar with Terry Brooks, or have not read any of his "Shannara" novels this trilogy would be an excellent place to start, and may want to stop reading this review now. If you are familiar with the Shannara series you may want to read the notes I have added below.
This series features the return of Walker Boh, who I consider to be Brooks' greatest characters and one of the top characters of this genre. We find Walker right where we left him at the end of the "Heritage" series. Battling with his own internal conflicts regarding his new mantle as Druid, and trying hard not to become the deceiver he always considered Allanon to be. His thought processes and conflicts are always very real, no matter how fantastic the setting of the story might be.
The antagonist of the trilogy is the Ilse Witch, whose true identity can be guessed almost immediately by those familiar with the `Shannara' novels. Like Walker, she is extremely well rounded as a character. Her anger, irritations and emotions are so real that I constantly found myself remembering my own sister as a teenager ( In my mind's eye they have the same face). She is the perfect rival for Walker and their relationship, while all original and all Brooks, has just a hint of Star Wars in it (Master vs. Apprentice (or in this case would-be apprentice)).
These two characters and their struggles, as well as the descriptions of the airships and some of the supporting characters make this book highly readable and enjoyable.
However, for Brooks fans there are a couple of downers, namely; Quentin Leah and Bek Rowe (Ohmsford) .
Quentin Leah's character was a great disappointment to me. His ancestor Morgan Leah was my favorite character from the "Heritage" series and like Walker was one of the characters who truly grew and changed throughout the series. He was an amazing well written and real character (particularly for a novel of this genre). Quentin, however, is not. He begins the trilogy just as Morgan did, brash and confident and ends the trilogy the exact same way. It's as if he experiences nothing throughout the whole journey. He is similar in this way to Menion and Rone Leah (of `Sword of S.' and `Wishsong of S.'), but they were supporting characters, one dimensional by nature, and didn't take up as many pages as Quentin does. Brooks would have been better off mixing Quentin with one of the other supporting characters to make a more dynamic character, or simply leaving him out altogether.
Bek Rowe (Ohmsford) is another character we have seen before. His character is part Par and part Jair (which might be overly critical of me to mention as he is their ancestor and part each by default). His personal conflict revolves around his identity, or lack of, as he was orphaned at a young age. His lineage is fairly obvious to anyone who is familiar with `Shannara,' and I felt the tension building as he came closer to discovering the truth, but when the truth is revealed the tension just fizzles. After pages and pages of `Who am I really?" Bek accepts the amazing truth rather casually. "Oh, really I am a member of that famous family, and have all sorts of magic abilities I didn't know about. No kidding."
The reality is that it wouldn't matter how well Brooks had written Quentin and Bek, they would still be been there, read that. I enjoy all of his books and think he is a tremendous writer, but every Shannara novel at some point involves tracking down an Ohmsford, and usually a Leah. The Leah is always reckless and brash and the Ohmsford is always reserved and not too sure. They are also nearly always hunting or fishing (or about to go hunting or fishing) in the highlands of Leah. Brooks could have quite easily made them two soldiers in the Freeborn Army (who we know Morgan fought with for a time) or made them tavern keepers in Varfleet (Par's father-in-law, Padishar, owned a bar there). It seems that despite all the adventures their families have been involved in that they always end up right back there in the middle of no where. Maybe we'll meet them there again. I hope so.
One Circle Closes, Another Opens.......2005-09-19
Morgawr begins with Sen Dunsiden witnessing the terrible power of the Morgawr himself. We jump to a world away as the last remnents of the Jerle Shannara, try to repair the ship so they can make their way towards home. But there is a new snag, the Morgawr is in Parkasia, looking for not only Walker Boh, but also Grianne Ohmsford the Ilse Witch.
But Grianne is not herself. Because of the power of the Sword of Shannara, she is now locked inside herself. The truth of who and what she has become to devestating she has shut down. Her only hope is Bek, her brother. But can he convince everyone else that she deserves a second chance.
So, the Voyage trilogy comes to a close, as the crew an party make their way home, haunted by the Morgawr. And one woman may find the strength to forgive herself, even if she can never recieve redemption from the ones she has hurt.
"Your Time for Regret will be Short...".......2004-09-22
"Morgawr" is the third and last book in Terry Brook's "Voyage of the Jerle Shannara" trilogy, which concerns the last of the triad of villains that the "Jerle Shannara"s crew goes up against. In the previous two books "Ilse Witch" and "Antrax" the Druid Walker led a range of characters to the faraway island of Parkasia in order to find a great treasure trove of ancient knowledge. Stalked by the Ilse Witch and then attacked by the archaic machinery of the Antrax, the crew found themselves utterly divided. Walker has been fatally wounded by the Antrax after unsuccessfully attempting to gain this treasure, but now bids Bek to save the one thing that they can salvage from the mission: the Ilse Witch.
Bek Ohmsford and the mysterious shape-shifter Truls Rokh are attempting to convince the Ilse Witch that she is not only Bek's sister Grianne Ohmsford, but that her mentor the Morgawr was the one that killed her parents - not Walker as she had been led to believe. After the truth is revealed to her by the magic of the Sword of Shannara, she slips into a state of catatonia that Bek cannot awaken her from. Meanwhile, the elf prince Ahren Elessedil and the seer Ryer Ord Star have retrieved the long-lost Elfstones only to find themselves captured by the Morgawr who seeks to use them in the attempt to trap the rest of the crew.
Everyone else is engaged in fairly dull activities: Quentin Leah does a lot of walking, and Rue Meridian, her brother Redder Alt Mer and the Wing Rider Hunter Predd take control of "Black Moclips" only to abandon it in a storm - a needless and pointless plot line. Panax's presence in the story is still a mystery. With the Antrax gone and the Ilse Witch converted, the story basically follows the surviving members of the crew trying to find one another, flee the island and avoid the Morgawr and his crew of reptilian Mwellrets.
The problem with this is that for all intents and purposes, the voyage is over. They came, they looked for the treasure, they didn't actually get the treasure (making the whole trip fairly pointless) and now they're leaving again. There is no sense of moving forward, only going back, and as such it's less interesting. To make things worse, the Morgawr is a rather humdrum bad guy, with nothing of the Ilse Witch's mystery or the Antrax's incorporeal threat. This is just a bad guy that wants to kill the goodies, because that's what bad guys do.
There are more problems: the love story between Bek and Rue is forced and unconvincing, there are more pointless encounters (including a man-eating plant) and it ends on a silly "here we go again" note. There are endless sermons on the nature of love and loyalty, and often the long-winded dialogue that Brooks gives his characters is painfully unnatural and often repetitive: "They fly no flag, and their crews act like dead men...the ones he could see were men, but they didn't act like men. They acted like machines. They didn't look as if they were alive. They were all still and empty-eyed." This sentence could be boiled down to half this length, without making the speaker sound like a robot and the reader like an idiot that has to have the situation pounded into him a number of times.
Neither Ryer nor Truls is given a satisfactory send-off, and the conclusion of the story screams "sequels are coming!" And in fact they are - Brooks continues his story in a new trilogy called "The High Druid". The fact that the treasure itself ended up being inaccessible and the mission switched instead to Grianne, makes the entire thing seem like one big introduction to this next series of books.
It was a promising start, and an interesting middle, but this final book is only worth reading in order to finish what you started --and see if Brooks can bring himself to let just one Elf Hunter (ie, nameless extra crew-member) to survive. Don't count on it.
I'd Read It Again.......2004-09-11
I thought this book really was the perfect finish, it had great twists in it, and unexpected events. Terry did himself proud in my opinion!!! After reading The Isle Witch and Antrax I couldn't wait to get started on the third. When I did, I couldn't stop and was disapointed I came to the end so quickly-I couldn't put it down! I found this trilogy refreshing-'The VOYAGE of Shannara!' Loved it, couldn't think of anyhing to criticise it on, except maybe how it pulled you into the book at the saddest parts and nearly had me covering my eyes at the scary bits. Hope this helps!x x x x
Amazon.com
Terry Brooks's new Shannara epic, The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, kicks off its first volume, Ilse Witch, with the discovery of a mad elf drifting on wreckage miles out at sea with his tongue and eyes removed and a map secreted among his possessions. The elf is revealed to be a lost prince who set out decades earlier to find old magics on another continent. Walker Boh, the Druid we last saw in The Talismans of Shannara, persuades the Elf King that both vengeance and prudence dictate a second expedition and assembles the usual crew of talented misfits to travel by airship into unknown territory. The forces of evil are on their way as well--the shadowy figure known as the Ilse Witch and the lizard-like mercenaries forced on her by her untrustworthy ally, the Morgawr, are closing in, with acquisition and murder in their hearts.
Fans of Terry Brooks will know precisely what to expect from him: undemanding sword-and-sorcery adventure with touches of the gloomily mysterious and of more complex emotions. This is Brooks at his best and this novel is the least dependent on earlier models as it becomes clear that in this sequence the relationship between good and evil is more complicated than usual. --Roz Kaveney, Amazon.co.uk
Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks returns to the fantasy that launched his career--the fantasy that remains closest to his heart, and to the hearts of millions of fans around the world. More than twenty years have passed since Brooks set the new standard for the genre with his astonishing first novel, The Sword of Shannara, the now-classic commencement of a centuries-spanning epic of good and evil. Now Brooks embarks on what promises to be his masterpiece--Ilse Witch: Book One of The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara.
When the mutilated body of a half-drowned elf is found floating in the seas of the Blue Divide, an old mystery resurfaces. Thirty years ago, the elven prince Kael Elessedil--brother to the current king--led an expedition in search of a legendary magic said to be more ancient, more powerful, than any in the world. Of all those who set out on that ill-fated voyage, not one has ever returned . . .
Until now. For the rescued elf carries a map covered with mysterious symbols only one man has the skill to decipher. That man is Walker Boh, the last of the Druids. But someone else understands the map's significance, someone dark and ruthless: the Ilse Witch, a beautiful but twisted young woman who wields a magic as potent as his own. She will stop at nothing to possess the map--and the magic it leads to. To stop her, Walker must find the magic first.
So begins the voyage of the Jerle Shannara. Aboard the sleek, swift airship are an elven prince; a Rover girl; a monstrous creature part man, part enigma; and a young man named Bek Rowe, who may unknowingly hold the key to the success of the mission--or to its cataclysmic failure. Now, as old secrets come to light, sowing seeds of mistrust and suspicion among the crew, the Jerle Shannara flies into the face of unknown terrors, while the Ilse Witch and her dark allies follow, waiting to strike . . .
Download Description
New York Times bestselling author and the master of epic fantasyTerry Brooks returns to the fantasy that launched his career -- thefantasy that remains closest to his heart, and to the hearts ofmillions of fans around the world. More than twenty years have passed sinceBrooks set the new standard for the genre with his astonishing firstnovel, The Sword of Shannara, the now-classic commencement of acenturies-spanning epic of good and evil. Now Brooks embarks on whatpromises to be his masterpiece -- Ilse Witch: Book One of TheVoyage of the Jerle Shannara.
When the mutilated body of a half-drowned elf is found floating in theseas of the Blue Divide, an old mystery resurfaces. Thirty years ago,the elven prince Kael Elessedil -- brother to the current king -- ledan expedition in search of a legendary magic said to be more ancient, morepowerful, than any in the world. Of all those who set out on thatill-fated voyage, not one ever returned....
Until now. For the rescued elf carries a map covered with mysterioussymbols only one man has the skill to decipher. That man is Walker Boh,the last of the Druids. But someone else understands the map'ssignificance, someone dark and ruthless: the Ilse Witch, a beautifulbut twisted young woman who wields a magic as potent as his own. She willstop at nothing to possess the map -- and the magic it leads to. Tostop her, Walker must find the magic first.
So begins the voyage of the Jerle Shannara. Aboard the sleek,swift airship are an elven prince; a Rover girl; a monstrous creaturepart man, part enigma; and a young man named Bek Rowe, who mayunknowingly hold the key to the success of the mission -- or to itscataclysmic failure. Now, as old secrets come to light, sowing seeds ofmistrust and suspicion among the crew, the Jerle Shannara fliesinto the face of unknown terrors while the Ilse Witch and her darkallies follow, waiting to strike....
Customer Reviews:
bibliokleptomaniac says:.......2007-02-01
LOVE IT! no kidding, i really do. in the Ilse Witch, follow a young boy in a quest to find a wealth of magic, find out his true identity, and find his heart. you will fall in love with the characters, just like me! if you don't read this book, you have been warned.....YOU R MISSING OUT!
A charge unfulfilled.......2006-09-21
Generations after his victory over the Shadowen, the `Dark Uncle' Walker Boh has still failed to establish a new order of Druid scholars and peace keepers. His suggestions and efforts have been met by all nations of the Four Lands with distrust. He is on the verge of giving up when fate throws him an opportunity, in the form of a castaway. A broken and presumed dead prince, bearing a map to an unknown countinent across the sea. A map which promises treasure in the form of "old world" magic. Walker is the only man who can undertake such a quest, and as such finds himself with the bargaining power to see all his goals fulfilled.
But the Ilse Witch, a girl who Walker once sought to make his apprentice, has learned of the map and treasure as well. She has already put her own plans into motion to make the treasure her own, and destroy Walker in the process.
This book and trilogy are exciting and entertaining. The ever changing world of the Four Lands is as amazing and fantastic as ever. Brooks' ability to create well rounded four dimensional characters with personal conflicts that people can relate to is something that is sorely lacking other fantasy/science fiction novels.
If you are new to Terry Brooks, or new to the `Shannara' novels I would recommend this book (and trilogy) as an excellent place to start. If you are familiar with the Shannara novels you might want to check out my full review of the trilogy under "Morgawr (Voyage of the Jerle Shannara Book 3)."
Formulaic structure...but not bad.......2006-04-24
Reading a Shannara series book is like going back to meet an old friend. You will have an enjoyable time rehashing old stories, reacquainting each other on family and friends with no surprises or expectations of being surprised. But this doesn't have to be a bad thing.
"The Ilse Witch" is like meeting an old friend. Brooks has steadily decreased his series ambition from the original Shannara series and the Heritage Series, which were outstanding reads in the field of heroic fantasy. Unfortunately he seems to mail it in for the Shannara voyage series and a constant reader will be able to guess future plot events pages before they occur.
A castaway is rescued in the blue divide by wing rider Hunter Predd and turns out to be one of the two sons of the ruling Queen Elessedil (at the time)who spearheaded a voyage into the divide to locate a potentially new form of magic that could aid the Westland/elvish nation in their new struggle against the Federation which is again making territorial moves against Callahorn and the Freeborn. Ominously, the castaway is found with his eyes and tongue removed and in possession of a map that can lead adventurers to the place of the magic.
Druid Walker Boh gets involved and recruits the customary characters of a dwarf, a few elves, rovers, some humans who may or may not be members of the Ohmsford Family (0f Shannara fame) as well as a shapeshifter, fortune teller/empath and a few surprises kept under wraps through Druid Magic. Instead of walking, these adventurers fly to their fates through an airship that uses ambient light as a means of fuel.
There are bad guys as well, a warlock named the Morgawr and a beautiful and thoroughly nasty young woman known as the Ilse Witch who possesses the wishsong (Ohmsford anyone?) and harbors a grudge against Walker Boh because she believes he killed her parents and brother. She wants the magic as well although her primary goal is getting Walker Boh's head on a stick.
The Ilse Witch is a thoroughly formulaic novel but Brooks is an entertaining writer and makes this interesting. Just because you can guess what is going to happen doesn't mean that you can't enjoy how Brooks leads us there. If you are a Shannara fan you will enjoy this book despite it's lack of surprises.
Fantastic.......2006-01-29
Excellent book. Great, heartpouding action, and as always, leaves you waiting for the next book to be written.
High Druid of Shannara: Tanequil (High Druid of Shannara)
Jarka Ruus (High Druid of Shannara, Book 1)
Armageddon's Children (The Genesis of Shannara, Book 1)
Morgawr (The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Book 3)
Angel Fire East (The Word and the Void Trilogy, Book 3)
