Amazon.com
Like David Almond's 1998 Whitbread-winning Skellig, this powerful, eerie, elegantly written novel celebrates the magic that is part of our existence--the magic that occurs when we dream at night, the magic that connects us to family long gone, the magic that connects humans to the land, and us all to each other. As Kit's grandfather puts it, "the tales and memories and dreams that keep the world alive."

It seems fated that 13-year-old Christopher Watson, nicknamed Kit, would move to Stoneygate, an old English coal-mining village where his ancestors lived, worked, and died. Evidence of the ancient coal pit is everywhere--depressions in the gardens, jagged cracks in the roadways, in his grandfather's old mining songs. A monument in the St. Thomas graveyard bears the name of child workers killed in the Stoneygate pit disaster of 1821, including Kit's own name--Christopher Watson, aged 13--the name of a distant uncle. At the top of this high, narrow pyramid-shaped monument is the name John Askew, the same name of Kit's classmate who takes the connection between this monument and life--and death--very seriously.

The drama unfolds as the haunted, hulking, dark-eyed John Askew draws Kit and other classmates into the game of Death, a spin-the-knife, pretend-to-die game that he hosts in a deep hole dug in the earth, with candles, bones, and carved pictures of the children of the old families of Stoneygate. Kit the writer and Askew the artist belong together, Askew keeps telling him. "Your stories is like my drawings, Kit. They take you back deep into the dark and show it lives within us still.... You see it, don't you? You're starting to see that you and me is just the same." Are they, though?

Kit's Wilderness conjures a world where the past is alive in the present and creeps into the future--a world where ancestral ghosts and even the slow-changing geology of the landscape are as tangible as lunch. Powerful images of darkness exploding into "lovely lovely light" filter throughout the story, as Almond boldly explores the dark side and unearths a joyful message of redemption. (Ages 11 and much, much older) --Karin SnelsonBook Description
Read by Charles Keating
5 hours 4 minutes, 3 cassettes

The Watson family moves to Stoneygate, an old coal-mining town, to care for Kit's recently widowed grandfater.When Kit meets John Askew, another boy whose family has both worked and died in the mines, Askew invites Kit to join him in a game called Death.As kit's grandfather tells him stories of the mine's past and the history of the Watson family, Askew takes Kit into the mines, where the boys look for the childhood ghosts of their long-gone ancestors.

Written in haunting, lyrical prose, Kit's Wilderness examines the bonds of family from one generation to the next, and explores how meaning and beauty can be revealed from the depths of darkness.Download Description
Thirteen-year-old Kit goes to live with his grandfather in the decaying coal mining town of Stoneygate, England, and finds both the old man and the town haunted by ghosts of the past. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (91)

Beautiful and Poetic.One of My Favorite Books
This is such a beautiful and poetic book.The characters are so alive and the story is enchanting.I would rank Kit's Wilderness up there with The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe and A Wrinkle in Time.

Surprisingly Good Book for both Young Adults and Adults!
David Almond's book was assigned to my juniors for their outside reading assignment. At first, it took me a little while to get accustomed to the author's style of writing but once I got into Kit's Wilderness, I got hooked by the story, the creepiness, suspense, and storylines. Kit Watson is a young man who moves to Stoneygate and gets involved with a bunch of his peers and a strange game called death. Of course, it's only a game but is it? Kit and his new friends are involved in this game. Kit's grandfather recalls stories of his youth and the stories of his past as well as the ghosts of Stoneygate. I found it fascinating that Kit and his friends have this morbid curiousity in contacting their dead ancestors or trying to experience death in this bizarre game.

Slow Start
Christopher Watson, nicknamed Kit, is thirteen when his grandmother dies and he and his parents go back to the old mining community of Stoneygate to live with his grandfather.There Kit meets Allie Keenan, the girl who protect him and drives him crazy, and John Askew, a loner most other kids avoid.John is drawn to Kit, though, telling him that their lives are connected, that the two of them are alike.He tells Kit to look at the monument to children who died several generations ago in the mines, and Kit finds that the top line of the monument reads "John Askew, aged thirteen."The bottom line reads "Christopher Watson, aged thirteen."At first Kit thinks that this coincidence means nothing, but then he starts to see the ghosts of the dead children.He writes a story with characters who seek him out in his dreams and leave him feeling they are just a little too real.Is Kit communicating with the dead?Or is everything just in his imagination?

There were some great things about this story.I liked the supernatural aspect; it worked really well.I liked the relationships Kit had with his grandfather and with Allie.I also liked the ending of the book.The beginning, though, was very slow.It took me about twenty pages to get into the story, instead of being hooked right from the beginning.

GREAT BOOK!!!
This book is great. It is about kids that play a game that no one would ever imagine. It is very interesting and I did not want to stop reading it. I definately recommend it to anyone who dosent enjoy reading or even people that do.

Original and atmospheric plot
This is one of the most amazing young adult novels I've ever read, and I sincerely hope that it becomes a classic one day.It's narrated by a very imaginative kid named Kit who recounts his adventures in an old mining town called Stoneygate.After his grandfather tells him stories of the history of the mines, Kit begins to "see" children from the past who died in the pit.Are the ghosts real?It's never really clear, just as the ghosts themselves are not clear, flickering at the edges of Kit's vision. It ultimatley doesn't matter.This is not a ghost story, but a testimonial to how certain places can retain an atomosphere from the past, in this case the old mines.Almond uses magical realism to make this very convincing.The images of the ancient children in the pit are not too detailed, challenging the reader's imagination to supply the details.


The only reason I didn't give it a five star rating is because the writing isn't as accessible as, for example, Harry Potter.This book isn't for everyone.Only kids who can appreciate imagery and subtleness will want to read it.They are the lucky ones.

... Read more

Book Description

In With No One as Witness, her thirteenth novel, Elizabeth George has crafted an intricate and absorbing story sure to enthrall her readers. Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley, along with his longtime partner, the fiery Barbara Havers, and newly promoted Detective Sergeant Winston Nkata, is back, and on the hunt for a sinister killer.

Customer Reviews (204)

book
Elizabeth George is one of my favorite authors and this book is awesome!You never know who is the bad guy till the very end.

Wonderful, as usual
I discovered Elizabeth George when she only had two books in print. I've read each one as it has come out, and have enjoyed all of them.

One of the things I have always loved about this series is the continuing back story on all of the characters. They have grown and changed over the years that I've read the books. The books are both about the mysteries and about the people trying to solve the mysteries.

It is possible that this is a pivotal book and that the direction of any future stories is going to move to characters that were more minor in the past. I've decided that is OK.

Sordid but fascinating
This addition to the excellent Thomas Lynley and Barbara Havers series deals fairly convincingly with pedophelia and sexually-motivated serial killings. This is not intended as a spoiler, but fans should note that this is a very sad story for some of the favorite characters in the series.

Bittersweet
I love Elizabeth George's novels...all of them.I have never read one that I didn't love, and this one is no different.She kept me guessing all the way to the end.The only thing I didn't like about the book was the death of Helen Lynley.I have read every single one of the Lynley novels, so I have followed the story of these main characters and feel like I know them.I feel like I too lost something when Helen died, and I'm wondering what the future will hold for the other characters, especially Thomas.Or perhaps there won't be any more novels after the follow-up to this one.That would be truly be sad.All in all a great read.

It's the subtext, of course
Elizabeth George's Lynley/Havers procedurals are always carefully researched, full of details about investigations, richly rouned in character, and there is usually the kicker "mystery" solution to boot (no pun intended).This latest Lynley/Havers is no exception.And like most of the earlier books in this series, it has a VERY serious subtext.In the case of "With No One As Witness," what lies beneath the detective work is the fully fleshed-out investigation of the plight of just-barely-adolescent boys from impoverished backgrounds, with parents (those who are in evidence at all) who are often detrimental; with all manner of adults preying on them; with banding together in gangs for self-preservation; not to forget, of course, the attempts (Colossus) to bring some order, some education to these blighted lives.As shocking as the end-of-the-book shooting is, it is all of a piece with the thesis of this novel, and it is certainly no surprise that George's follow-up book is a prequel to this horror, an investigation of the young killer.
Very thought-provoking book, well crafted.A stunner. ... Read more

Book Description

A dramatic saga set against the backdrop of growing unrest in Ireland and a world on the brink of the First World War, Redemption weaves together a cast of unforgettable characters that form the heart and soul of three extraordinary Irish families. They love freedom more than life, and they will fight to the death to win it.

From the magnificence of New Zealand's green mountains, to the bloody beaches and cliffs of Gallipoli, to the streets of Dublin and the shipyards of Belfast, Redemption follows three Irish patriots on their odysseys of freedom and passion -- in a monumental tale of the men and women who loved, fought, and died for the chance to live free.

From the magnificence of New Zealand's green mountains, to the bloody beaches and cliffs of Gallipoli, to the streets of Dublin and the shipyards of Belfast,Redemptionfollows three Irish Patriots on their odysseys of freedom and passion- in a monumental tale of the men and women who loved, fought, and died for the chance to be free. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (44)

sequel to Trinity-Redeemtion
I was disappointed that the first 52 chapters reviewed and repeated what he had written in Trinity.I should have started at chapter 53.I was determined to get through both books and I did. I have read almost all of Uris' books and want to read them all. bb

Continued saga from novel "Trinity."
Trinity was based upon Uris's Irish experiences. While living in Dublin, he had written a photo-essay entitled Ireland, a Terrible Beauty. Trinity was a chronicle of a Northern Irish farm family from the 1840s to 1916, whose fate is connected with two other families, one representing the British aristocracy and the other coming from Scotland. The central characters are a young Catholic rebel and a Protestant girl, who try to find their own place in the country divided by religion and wealth. The story of the Larkin family continued in The Redemption. In these works Uris developed further one of his central themes, the restorative capacity of love and forgiving. Also the situation in the Northern Ireland, from Ireland to New Zealand, Egypt, and Gallipoli.

A Good Story
My only regret with this book is that I think I read it out of order. I believe that Trinity was the first of a two part story. But even by itself it stands as a really compelling story. I wasn't prepared for the places it would take me. It was surprising but nice to be transported to New Zealand. And the story of a very bloody battle (Gallipoli) which I had no previous idea of. I first thought that Leon Uris would only be an author of middle east books (having read Exodous and The Haj). But it was a pleasant surprise to find he is a master story teller.

Gallipoli novel derailed?
The 200 or so pages in this novel that Leon Uris devotes to the battle of Gallipoli Peninsula in WWI are very well-written and extremely interesting. I have to wonder if Uris originally planned to write an entire book about Gallipoli but didn't have the energy left in his old age.He knew he'd make a pile of money with a sequel to his popular book "Trinity" so he stuck the Gallipoli story into the sequel.
The first 300 pages of this book are a rehash of Trinity and I skimmed over them very quickly.The parts after Gallipoli are mildly interesting but not worth spending a lot of time on.

A wonderful ending to Uris' book Trinity.
I read this book quite awhile ago, and picked it up agin to skim through.This is a wonderful epic saga of the Larkin family.It spreads across about 25 years, and frrom Ireland, to New Zealand to Australia to Egypt.It also encompasses the First World War.We also see a young Winston Churchill who can almost single-handedly be blamed for the Gallipoli fiasco.This is a book that takes you by the throat and won't let go until you turn the final page.I think it is a true classic and is a fitting finish to the also truly wonderful "Trinity". ... Read more

Amazon.com
The tradition of the cozy English children's mystery, so sweetly portrayed in classics like Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce and Mandy by Julie Andrews, has been revived in Charmian Hussey's exquisitely wrought The Valley of Secrets. Stephen Lansbury never knew his parents. So the orphan is stunned to receive a letter informing him he has inherited a large estate in the English countryside from his long lost great-uncle Theodore. Upon his arrival to Lansbury Hall, two things immediately strike Stephen: the exotic plant life that seems to bloom everywhere, and the meticulous upkeep of the old manor. When Stephen finds the water-stained journals of his uncle's youthful travels up the Amazon River, the unusual greenery suddenly makes sense. But who (or what!) is maintaining the tidy kitchen garden and replenishing his woodbox? As Stephen pores over his uncle's journals, his curiosity and apprehension grow. Are plants the only thing Uncle Theodore brought back from the rain forest all those years ago?

Charmian Hussey has given the stale orphan premise a clever 21st century twist by inserting loads of facts and figures about the devastating deforestation of the Amazon into her old-fashioned tale. There is even a list of mentioned flora and fauna included for aspiring young naturalists, who will no doubt be charmed by Stephen's surprising "discovery" of a whole new species. For more mystery melded with Amazon lore, follow up The Valley of Secrets with Eva Ibbotson's equally wonderful Journey to the River Sea. --Jennifer HubertBook Description
When Stephen, raised as an orphan, learns that he has inherited an estate in the Cornish countryside, he has no idea what to expect. And when he arrives at Lansbury Hall, there is no one to greet him . . . or so he thinks.But waiting for Stephen are his great uncle's diary of a journey long ago up the Amazon with a native guide . . . and a hidden valley filled with creatures from the Amazon rainforest. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Excellent but not without setbacks
I have read this book three times I think and I still love it. Its a wonderful book if you like mystery and suspense, and a bit of exploring as Stephen does.This book is also very good for people reluctant to read because the chapters are short, some one or two pages longs. I personally like short chapters compared to thoughs that drone on and on and on. But as the the review title says, there are some setbacks. Its interesting in the beginning but as it goes on it starts to drag along and nothing seems to happen. Some chapters are not even needed. I also think that for a boy of his age, he whines and is scared of a little too many things! In the beginning when he enters the house he is too scared to open any of the doors! Most boys 10 years of age would just barge in without thinking about anything! For a 10-year old he acts more like hes 15-16. And he whines a a little too much about all the things he does too!

This is an excellent book and I would recommend it for anyone. The Valley Of Secretsholds a place on my selves and always will! Good Reading!

Passable
I found this book at a used book store and thought it looked interesting, so I picked it up.Frankly, I was under the impression that it had fairies or something of the kind in it, and for the first hundred pages or so (during which precious little actually happens) I kept waiting for Stephen to discover magical creatures on his great-uncle's land.But of course there are none.Once I got over that disappointment, I re-evaluated what I'd read and decided that it was still an interesting and well written book.... somewhere around pg200 I had changed my mind about that!The author builds up, and builds up, and builds up.. to.. NOTHING!at least nothing that any reader with half a brain can't see coming 50 pages away.Aside from that, the whole story is extremely improbable.One of the most bothersome things to me is the way that Stephen's great-grandparents, grandparents, foster-grandparents, and parents ALL died untimely deaths... I mean, seriously, what are the chances??And Stephen himself is just nuts.He's a young man who goes around talking to plants.And he cries actual tears for the rainforest.Come on now, I would say that most of us care about the rainforests, and we are generally upset about them being destroyed, but how many people sit at home in their arm chairs and shed tears for the trees?How many of us go out and tell the tree growing in our backyard not to worry because we will never let anything happen to it?If I found out that one of my friends was doing that I would probably suggest that they seek help from a psychiatrist.Also, on a side note, what is the author's obsession with bathrooms?She apparently feels the need to describe in infinite detail every bathroom that Stephen sees, paying far more attention to them than any other room....weird.
I gave this book 3 stars because, despite all these flaws, it is still mildly entertaining, and because the way it is written (especially in the beginning) reminds me of old-fashioned books.People just don't write like that any more, and I kind of miss it.

Captivating
I really liked this book because it is suspenseful, captivating, and mysterious. I would put it in a category with A Wrinkle in Time and Harry Potter. I'm almost ten years old, I read a lot and this is one of my favorite books.

Great read, well paced. A new favorite.
I always take a new book to read aloud together with my 8-year-old grandson when we visit. This one was a big success. He declared this book the best he had ever read.
I chose this for our holiday because I thought it would appeal to his keen interest in nature and the environment, and because the protagonist was a boy not much older than he is. I liked that the language was not "dumbed down", but written clearly enough to be accessible. We took turns reading and he had no trouble getting through it, although a few British terms ("torch" for "flashlight, for example) needed clarification. There were enough surprises and mysteries to keep the 5-year-old and the adults engaged as well.
The only problem was that the holiday ended before we finished the book. I may have to get a copy of my own to find out what happens.

Can I Get my Money Back?
I really wanted to like this book. And to give it credit, it tried very hard to be a well-written book. It just didn't do a very good job of it.

It starts off okay. The chapters are short, which may be good for reluctant readers (we all know how good it feels to read ten chapters, even if those chapters are two pages long). For the first ten chapters or so, the book really isn't TOO bad. The author introduces you to various characters and creatures; sets up background and mystery; and . . . that's about it. It's far too long, and the book would have done well to have been edited. I strongly agree with some of the other readers; it's a long read that takes you nowhere. The plot is not substantial, the characters underdeveloped. My friend and I were reading this at the same time, and we FORCED ourselves to finish the book, simply because we don't like starting books and not finishing them (although I was willing to make this an exception).

The Valley of Secrets has such wonderful potential. The author DOES write very prettily (try reading it out loud; very lyrical), and I think that if she were better focused with her plot, this could have been an extraordinary book.

Unless they stop making children's books, say, tomorrow, I wouldn't recommend this to any child. You might as well give them Joyce's Portrait of an Artist. (They'd probably enjoy it more.) ... Read more

Book Description
Fantasty fans, rejoice!Seven years after writer and editor Robert Silverberg made publishing history with Legends, the acclaimed anthology of original short novels by some of the greatest writers in fantasy finction, the long-awaited second volume is here.

Each of the bestselling writers represented in these selections from Legend II returns to the fantasy universe he or she made famous throughout the world. Whether set before or after events already recounted elsewhere, whether featuring beloved characters or compelling new creations, these masterful short novels are both mesmerizing standalones – perfect introductions to the work of their authors – and indispensable additions to the epics on which they are based.

Diana Gabaldon turns to and important character from her Outlander saga – Lord John Grey – in "Lord John and the Succubus," a supernatural thriller set in the early days of the Seven Years War.

Terry Brooks adds an exciting epilogue to The Wishsong of Shannara in "Indomitable," the tale of Jair Ohmsford's desperate quest to complete the destruction of the evil Ildatch . . . armed only with the magic of illusion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Not Free SF Reader
The second Legends anthology isn't as good as the first, and doesn't have the one outstanding piece like Martin's Hedge Knight in the first book, but there is still a handful of good stories.

Another look at Orlando Gardiner from Otherworld was appreciated, and Gabaldon and Haydon were new - one ok, one bad, it seems.

Legends II : Homecoming [Elderlings] - Robin Hobb
Legends II : The Sworn Sword [Song of Ice and Fire] - George R. R. Martin
Legends II : The Yazoo Queen [Alvin Maker] - Orson Scott Card
Legends II : Lord John and the Succubus [Outworlder] - Diana Gabaldon
Legends II : The Book of Changes [Majipoor] - Robert Silverberg
Legends II : The Happiest Dead Boy in the World [Otherland] - Tad Williams
Legends II : Beyond Between [Pern] - Anne McCaffrey
Legends II : The Messenger [Riftwar] - Raymond E. Feist
Legends II : Threshold [Symphony] - Elizabeth Haydon
Legends II : The Monarch of the Glen [American Gods] - Neil Gaiman
Legends II : Indomitable [Shannara] - Terry Brooks


Rain Wild changes.

3 out of 5


Short people got no reason to slap me just for being a hick knight.

3.5 out of 5


Bowie knifeless.

2.5 out of 5


Opium seduction strategy.

3.5 out of 5


Historical poetry captive inspiration.

4 out of 5


Network reproduction strategy.

4 out of 5


Transporter accident haunting.

4 out of 5


Freezing cold, both ways, and people trying to kill you still gets little respect.

4 out of 5


Rescue ship.

2 out of 5


Huldersave.

3 out of 5


Missing page problem.

3 out of 5




3 out of 5

A great introduction to the masters of fantasy.
I originally bought this collection simply for G.R.R. Martin's story.I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed all of the stories included.Robin Hobb, whom I have not previously read was especially good.And the Raymond E. Feist story of the messenger was great.Basically, this collection does a great job of introducing the reader to a wide and varied number of fantasy authors.I found it at Barnes & Noble in the bargin section.It was a great deal!Get it if you can find it!

Going back for more
Both Legends I and II are must haves for any SF/Fantasy fan.I orginally purchased Legends I for Robert Jordan's and Tad William's short stories.I then promptly put it up on my shelf for a few years.I picked up Legends II for the Robin Hobb short.I then also filed it on my shelf.Somehow I have made it through tons of fantasy while dodging some of the most "advertised" names.I recently ran out of books to read.In my search for new authors, I scowered the net, and asked several friends for recommendations.One of my friends suggested I pick up Terry Pratchett, my net search said try George R.R. Martin... I had a fleeting thought that "hey they are popular, wonder if they are in Legends".Sure enough they are and then some.I pulled both Legends I and II off of my shelf and devoured several of the stories that I had previously ignored.It made a perfect way of deciding which authors I would like to read more of and which ones I could probably pass on.Both Legends I and II are treasures which should not be overlooked.I sincerly hope there is a Legends III.

disappointed in ebook
I recently purchased the electronic format hoping I could free up some shelf space because I already own the hardback.

What a disappointment.I expected links in the Table of Contents but there wasn't even a Table of Contents.

I'd return this if I could.If it was print, I would.

Two stars only because I liked the print book.

It's better than they think.
This is a phenomenal collection.

There has been a tendency among reviewers to compare this volume with the first in the series.The first "Legends" collection (Buy it if you don't have it!) showcased such amazing items as an original Gunslinger story (by Stephen King) and the fundamental prequel to "The Wheel of Time" (Robert Jordan).Let's face it: that's a tough act to top.

And yet, this volume holds its own and more.From the missing fragment of Shannara (Terry Brooks) to an original "American Gods" novella (Neil Gaiman) and even an Otherland epilogue (Tad Williams - one of the best in our time), "Legends II" has both a broader scope and a far more intense vision than the original.Any one of these novellas could carry the book alone.

Is "Legends II" better than the first "Legends"?Tough question.It's close.The only thing I can say for certain is that there needs to be a "Legends III".It's too good to stop with just two.(Besides, how else will we ever find out how Ser Duncan the Tall survives long enough to... But I don't want to spoil it for you.Read it yourself!)

... Read more

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.


From the Hardcover edition.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 (82)

Brooks is Awesome
As always, when it comes to a fantasy series - Terry Brooks is the master.

The finale and a review of the trilogy
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
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..."
"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
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 ... Read more

Book Description
Horror stalked the Four Lands as the Ildatch, ancient source of evil, sent its ghastly Mord Wraiths to destroy Mankind. Only Druid Allanon held the magic power of wishsong that could make plants bloom instantly or turn trees from green to autumn gold. But she, too, was in mortal danger, and Ildatch waited for Brin to fall into his trap....


From the Paperback edition.Download Description

An ancient Evil is stirring to new life, sending its ghastly MordWraiths to destroy Mankind. To win through the vile growth thatprotects this dark force, the Druid Allanon needs Brin Ohmsford -- for she aloneholds the magic power of the wishsong. Reluctantly Brin joins the Druidon his dangerous journey. But a prophecy foretells doom, as Evil nursesits plans to trap the unsuspecting Brin into a fate far more horriblethan death.

Thus continues the enthralling Shannara epic, a spellbinding tale ofadventure, magic, and myth. The Wishsong of Shannara is thefourth volume of the classic series that has become one of the mostpopular fantasy tales of all time.

Customer Reviews (85)

Surprisingly great!
I was told that this books was not very good by a friend. I also had my doubts after reading the Elfstones and wondering how anyone could counter after a book like that. But I was glad to find out that this book is not bad at all, infact, its great! Definitly worth reading!!

Just good enough to keep my interest
This novel continues the ambivalence that I feel toward Brooks' writing.He is a good writer as far as style, plot progression and character development go.All of these strengths are present in this book.However, his glaring weaknesses of unoriginality and being too simplistic also show up strongly.Brooks is the kind of writer I feel like I should like but he always gives me reasons to view him as just an average fantasy writer.If you've read the series this far, go ahead and read this to finish the triology--just expect more of the same.

Other Books
Bad books need bashing, unfortunately through singing.


The descendants of the elf boy etc. in the first couple of books are now needed to save the place from a Tome of Evil.Of course, your manipulative magic druid guy is still around to make suggestionsInheriting magical talents is one thing, but having to sing them?No thanks there, ancestor people.Each book in this series gets worse.

A fitting end to a fabulous trilogy!
The third and final book in the trilogy is wonderful book. I don't think it's quite as good as the Elfstones of Shannara but it's a pretty exciting tale nonetheless. Allanon is back yet again to fight a new (sort of) evil that has showed itself with the intention of destroying the lands of Shannara. There are two main stores in this book, the journey of Jair Olmstead(?) and Brin Olmstead(?). Both are extremely interestesting and exciting. There is a ton of action but not so much that they don't have time to develop the main characters. It was awesome to see both Jair and Brin mature through the book along with Slanter, the gnome.

If you are looking for an exciting trilogy that you will have a hard time putting down, if you are looking for great action, plot, great characters and a little romance then this is the series for you. All three books are exceptional!!!

This series is great for younger readers as well, while there is a lot of action and battle scenes there is no swearing and no sex, implied or otherwise. It just goes to show that you can make a great action series without filling it with garbage.

I can't wait to read more form Terry Brooks in the future!!!

bibliokleptomaniac says:
Es Cantabile! it sings for me! the world of elves and men and dwarves and trolls...ect, is the most magnificent in this story. When a young girl finds that she has innate power due to her father's meddling with magic, she is swept away in attempt to destroy the evil lurking in the world. I loved it, i love it still, and you will too! ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Despite challenges from Ruth Rendell and (more recently) MinetteWalters, P.D. James's position as Britain's Queen of Crime remains largely unassailable. Although a certain reaction has set in to her reputation (andthere are those who claim her poetry-loving copper Adam Dalgliesh doesn'tcorrespond to any of his counterparts in the real world), her detractors canscarcely deny her astonishing literary gifts. More than any other writer, shehas elevated the detective story into the realms of literature, with the psychology of the characters treated in the most complex and authoritative fashion. Her plots, too, are full of intriguing detail and studed with brilliantly observed character studies. Who cares if Dalgliesh belongs more in the pages of a book than poking around a graffiti-scrawled council estate? As a policeman, he is considerably more plausible than Doyle's Holmes, and that's never stopped us loving the Baker Street sleuth. Death in Holy Orders represents something of a challenge from James to her critics, taking on all the contentious elements and rigorously reinvigorating them. She had admitted that she was finding it increasingly difficult to find new plots for Dalgliesh, and the locale here (a theological college on a lonely stretch of the East Anglian coast) turns out to be an inspired choice. We're presented with the enclosed setting so beloved of golden age detective writers, and James is able to incorporate her theological interests seamlessly into the plot (but never in any doctrinaire way; the nonbeliever is never uncomfortable). The body of a student at the college is found on the shore, suffocated by a fall of sand. Dalgliesh is called upon to reexamine the verdict of accidental death (which the student's father would not accept). Having visited the College of St. Anselm in his boyhood, he finds the investigation has a strong nostalgic aspect for him. But that is soon overtaken by the realization that he has encountered the most horrific case of his career, and another visitor to the college dies a horrible death. As an exploration of evil--and as a piece of highly distinctive crime writing--this is James at her nonpareil best. Dalgliesh, too, is rendered with new dimensions of psychological complexity. --Barry Forshaw, Amazon.co.ukBook Description
P.D. James's great detective, Commander Adam Dagliesh, returns after four years.

An untimely death brings him to the East Anglian coast, where, atop a sweep of cliffs, sits the small theological college of St. Anselm's.At the base of these cliffs, buried in sand, lies the body of one of the school's young ordinands.He is the son of Sir Alred Treeves, a hugely successful and flamboyant businessman who invariably gets what he wants.And he wants Daliesh to investigate his son's death.Dagliesh doubts that there is much to investigate, but he agrees--mostly out of a desire to revisit a place where he spent several happy summers as a youth. No sooner does he arrive than he finds himself inextricably drawn into the labyrinth of a violent mystery.

Here is the classic detective story elevated by P.D. James to a brilliantly realized novel—gripping as much for its extraordinary pcychological and emotional richness and the complexity of its characters as for the suspense and horror at its heart.And here, once again, is proof that P.D. James is not only a master of the detective novel but also one of the finest novelists at work today.Download Description
Commander Dalgliesh, P.D. James's great detective, returns after four years. An untimely death brings him to the East Anglian coast where a young man has fallen from a cliff at the small theological college of St. Anselm's. He agrees to investigate, but no sooner does Dalgliesh arrive than he finds himself drawn into the labyrinth of a violent mystery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (109)

Another Excellent James Novel
Pd James is quite simply a marvel.A Death In Holy Orders is yet another example of her excellent writing skills.I cannot think of another author, especially in the Mystery genre, quite so evocative.The mystery in this book made for a nice puzzle.The characters were numerous, yet well-rounded and complete.The star of this book of course is Adam Dalgleish, smooth as usual.Is the book long... yes it is.However, with P.D. James, the books are meant to be savored, not read in one sitting.

Another 5 star outing!

Bored to death by Death In Holy Orders
I admit I haven't read much P.D. James, and this book certainly won't make me anxious to change that.With good editing, this could have been a reasonably entertaining 200 page novel, instead of a boringBORING 400 pager.No wait ... even cutting it in half wouldn't have made the mystery any more mysterious, or the outcome any more believable, or the characters any more interesting, or the writing any more entertaining.

And what was the need for the incest and pedophile sub-plots?The character of the caretaker might have been reasonably interesting, in an outdated Agatha Christie sort of way, but the incestuous relationship with his sister seemed to have been added in for no reason other than just being distasteful.It certainly had no bearing on the plot.

But even more offensive was the sympathy expressed by virtually every character for the pedophile priest Father John, who everyone seemed to feel was just a sad victim of circumstances instead of a confessed and convicted molestor of young boys entrusted to his care.Not a single character expressed any outrage at Father John's actions, or any sympathy for the boys whose lives he undoubtedly ruined.And the one character who was instrumental in having Father John sent to prison was roundly and soundly despised for it by everyone of the eclesiastical college where the story takes place.The pedophile was seen as a sympathetic character, and the man who sent him to prison was seen as mean-spirited and uncaring.Go figure.And on top of that, the whole pedophile issue had nothing at all to do with the plot.Again, included for no apparent reason except for the additional distaste.

If that's any indication of P.D. James's outlook, then I can certainly do without reading any more of her work.

Beguiling Murders
Ms. James cleverly navigates her readers through personal sins, management quandary, and society turmoil. Scores of secrets materialize in a minute community. With so many confusions introduced, one forgets that a clear motive might be an answer to any mysteries. Very cunning of Ms. James in weaving her tale and I applaud her in compelling me to think too deeply into matters all throughout the book. I do not understand the reasoning behind writing only one chapter for book four but Ms. James must have an experienced writer's artistic and logical answer in doing so. Ms. James' vibrant use of the English language together with her vast vocabulary results in a pleasurable read.

Overlabored and obvious
As a psychological novel, Death in Holy Orders is middling to good.As a mystery, it fails entirely.The culprit of the murder is obvious half-way through, with no attempt to even hide his guilt -- I wondered why on earth I should keep reading.Keep reading I did out of sheer stubborness, but even at the end, when the motive and mechanisms of the crime were all laid out, none of it really was all that convincing.If this is P.D. James at her best, I'd imagine some of her "lesser" works might send me into a coma.

Never ceases to amaze
I've come to the conclusion that P.D. James is one of my favorite mystery writers. I only recently picked up another one of her novels; I immediately went and got this one as well. I have no idea why I had never heard of James before a few weeks ago. James does a fantastic job of portraying her characters psychologically. She is adept at getting into the head and heart of the people she writes about.

A young man at a small theological seminary is found buried in the sand, naked. The woman who discovers him, the housekeeper Margaret Munroe, dies about a week later; everyone assumes that her death was due to a heart attack. Or was it? It turns out that the college, established by Agnes Arburthnot in the mid-19th century, is on the verge of closing down for good. The woman's strange will only allows her direct descendents to inherit; since there are none, the college and everything in it goes to the trustees. In addition, there is a priceless Van Der Weyden paiting which hangs above the altar. All four of the archbishops stand to inherit handsomely. A search for a killer ensues; the case is intensened by the death of an archbishop.

P.D. James keeps her reader guessing until the very end. I highly reccomend this book, or any of the other Adam Dalgliesh mysteries. ... Read more

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 PughBook Description
Devotees of the Shannara series will delight in this sequel to Voyage of the Jerle Shannara: Morgawr.In the previous novel, the love of her courageous brother, Bek, enabled the Ilse Witch to renounce her evil existence and resume her younger identity as Grianne Ohmsford.The new book begins twenty years later, when Grianne, now head of a Druid Council formed to defend the Four Lands from anarchy and warfare, is challenged by those who cannot forget her former malevolence.When Grianne disappears, only a few loyal friends can help her escape from her prison among the Jarka Ruus.Joined by stalwarts Elf Prince Ahren Elessedil and Tagwen the dwarf, Grianne's charming nephew, Pen Ohmsford, takes the spotlight as the hero of the new trilogy.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 (77)

Terry Brooks is my favorite author!!!
Terry Brooks has done it again with this three book series! Fantastic descriptive writing. I can see everything unfolding in my mind while reading it. Thanks for the temporary escape from reality!

Jarka Ruus
Book arrived on time & in perfect condition. Brooks is a great writer & am waiting for book 2 to come out.

Condensed Fantasy...
Fantasy readers are a demanding lot.They expect EVERYTHING in a book they devote their time to, as well they should, as they are the most devoted of fans, and always hungry for a new world to devour.Terry Brooks has been writing about one of those worlds for years and years now, the world of Shannara.Shannara is a complex world, whose tale is told over centuries, and it's lore continues to grow.This is the reason I decided to pick up this book and rekindle my love of Shannara.

Jarka Ruus, for whatever reason, is quite streamlined, leaving very very very little in terms of anything other than plot.All the development of the story is told through a frenetic pace, which I feel is to prevent anyone from calling this series slow, but this might be a mistake.Surely there could be a balance between describing the world you are reading about and pouring out the plotline.It makes for an exciting read, but my imagination can scarcely keep up with the winding plot.You lose some of the "reality" of a place, if you describe it too simply.Terry tries to make up for some of the scarcity of descriptive passages by using emotionally charged adjectives in many of his introductory paragraphs.

Sometimes Terry seems to miss the mark in terms of characterization.there are times when rather astute observations are made by a teenager, and this just leaves you scratching your head.Despite this inconsistency, the teenaged characters have genuine teenaged moments, AND the "bad guys" are nicely described in somewhat disturbing detail.The supporting cast has a definite supporting feel, and the overall tone of all the characterization leaves you feeling lacking.It just seems like you should be able to relate to these characters more, but you oftentimes feel like they are too composed for teenagers, and the supporting characters are just not unique enough.

The plot is really quite good, and the pacing is excellent.This is a book should combust in your hands because you read it sooo fast.I mean, you can't get enough.And that is really the problem: there is just not enough story in between the covers.

On a personal taste note, Brooks has come up with some of the dumbest names EVER in this book.Khyber sounds just a little too much like Cyber doesn't it?Khyber space?And Cinaminson?Come on!Give me a break!I guess he thought that one up some flash back weekend listening to "Cinnamon girl."And Pen?I mean Pen goes to a forest which is called Inkrim in the next book.Pen, in the INK rim?Writers block with names?!Bah!Just use objects in your office!

Jokes aside, this is a great book.And Terry (I use his first name as I've been a fan since childhood) really has grown as an author.This book really is amazingly good considering how much MORE he could have added.My biggest regret is that this isn't a five book pentulogy... or is it pentilogy?pentology?Oh, well, try this one.You'll be glad you did.

Quintessential Brooks
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..."
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!
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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 WardBook 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 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (53)

Sophmore slump?Bah!
The modern world is one that is full of prejudiced expectations.We EXPECT the second book of a trilogy to fill in the gap between the exciting start and the big finale, therefore, the book itself is almost a lame duck.Not so in this case.If you expect the second book to be "typical" of sophmore offerings (usually worse than the first), how can you truly appreciate it for what it is?There are SOME things that must be true of EVERY second book of a trilogy, but if you can get past that part, then you can truly appreciate this book, which is better than its predecessor in many ways.

Tanequil starts off much the same way Jarka Ruus starts off, at a frenetic pace.This style has certainly established the series as a "plot-driven" series, which has tendency to ruin my enjoyment of a series unless it is well written.This series is well written, for the most part, and it is a very enjoyable read.The pages fly by your fingers as you get into this book, as the pacing and minimalist level of detail leaves you hungering for more.

There are two major reasons why this book is better than Jarka Ruus.Firstly, characterization is much better.There are better opportunities to develop characters in the second book of a series, so this is to be expected.The interactions between the primary characters is much more intense, personal, and well developed.Not only this, but more characters are introduced (as is typical in the second book) and each one is done quite well.These new characters greatly broaden the scope of the novel, in terms of character depth, which leaves the reader feeling more satisfied.

Secondly, the plot is much better.The Tanequil itself is much more interesting than I personally expected, as well as the other creatures they face.The plot twists are much more sinister, and have more of a "human" face on them, since the characters are developed much better.The plot itself is less straight forward, and more unpredictable than before (although the rough outline was given in the first book).Even the cliffhanger at the end feels right in pace with the rest of the book, and it is not as disconcerting as it feels in other series.

Things always get worse for the protagonists in the second book, but hopefully things don't get worse for the reader.Tanequil tells the tale of how things get worse for our heroes, just like countless sophmore books before it.This book just does it with a style that I find more compelling than most, and that is why I highly recommend this book.

ask your doctor about Tanequil...
Tanequil.Sounds like a prescription sleep aid. Reads like a prescription sleep aid.

Side effects may include dry mouth, loss of appetite, primary systemic ennui, and rickets. In clinical trials these effects were mild to moderate and comparable to placebo. If you experience blurred vision, sexual side effects, or thoughts of suicide, discontinue using Tanequil and consult a decent fantasy author immediately.

Supersize paperback book??C'mon!!
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
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
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 to