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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
An exiled High Druid with a price on his head, a young woman with the power of the wishsong who longs to help her brother. So begins the story of The Fall of Shannara. Brooks takes us on a journey across the Four Lands, filled with intrigue to the very last page and leaves us pining for more. I can not wait for the next book in the series though I am loathe to see the end.
By Hextor, this is excellent! I am a long-time follower of the series, though not always a fan; this one, though, takes me back to the glory that Shannara was during the 90s. :) Wonderful book, and quite possibly the introduction to a last, strong circle of stories! :)
It has been a very long time since I last read a Terry Brooks novel but, as was the case with Raymond E. Feist bringing his Riftwar Cycle to a close, the prospect of seeing Shannara come to an end brought me back.
The Black Elfstone feels very much like a return to form for Brooks, despite it's disappointing page count and its unprecedented weight of darkness. It's a broad-sweeping epic fantasy, with multiple stories intertwined, a dire threat to the Druids, and a seemingly unstoppable force marching upon The Four Lands.
Everything and everyone here are in conflict, ranging from the intimate (between individuals) to the massive (between races). The only problem is, with such a short novel to kick-off the series, it isn't always clear how or why those conflicts are relevant. For instance, the whole storyline with Tarsha Kaynin' brother is a bit muddled, although I suspect his magical madness is establishing him as a foil for his sister somewhere down the line.
The characters are reasonably strong and interesting, something Brooks has always excelled at, but their motivations are somewhat suspect. For instance, Drisker Arc is an ex-Druid who evokes memories of Allanon, complete with his estrangement from Paranor, but his willingness to trust in old foes is foolish. Similarly. Dar Leah is a swashbuckling sort of hero, at the forefront of the action throughout the book, but it seems like he can't decide on when to take a stand - and it costs him. Finally, Tarsha Kaynin may be one of the strongest female characters Brooks has written, but even she can't decide between loyalties and impulsive frustration.
What ultimately redeems all of those flaws, however, is the finale. The Black Elfstone has a big climax, and pays off beautifully.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
The Black Elfstone feels very much like a return to form for Brooks, despite it's disappointing page count and its unprecedented weight of darkness. It's a broad-sweeping epic fantasy, with multiple stories intertwined, a dire threat to the Druids, and a seemingly unstoppable force marching upon The Four Lands.
Everything and everyone here are in conflict, ranging from the intimate (between individuals) to the massive (between races). The only problem is, with such a short novel to kick-off the series, it isn't always clear how or why those conflicts are relevant. For instance, the whole storyline with Tarsha Kaynin' brother is a bit muddled, although I suspect his magical madness is establishing him as a foil for his sister somewhere down the line.
The characters are reasonably strong and interesting, something Brooks has always excelled at, but their motivations are somewhat suspect. For instance, Drisker Arc is an ex-Druid who evokes memories of Allanon, complete with his estrangement from Paranor, but his willingness to trust in old foes is foolish. Similarly. Dar Leah is a swashbuckling sort of hero, at the forefront of the action throughout the book, but it seems like he can't decide on when to take a stand - and it costs him. Finally, Tarsha Kaynin may be one of the strongest female characters Brooks has written, but even she can't decide between loyalties and impulsive frustration.
What ultimately redeems all of those flaws, however, is the finale. The Black Elfstone has a big climax, and pays off beautifully.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
In the case of Shannara, “parting is such sweet sorrow.” [a:Terry Brooks|9629|Terry Brooks|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1280785812p2/9629.jpg] has written in the world of Shannara for the past 40 years. As a reader, I have been reading these stories for over 30 years. It is bittersweet knowing this series is the chronological end of the chronicles.
Brooks has been a master-writer of the formulaic quest. With the release of The Black Elfstone, he is back on top of his game. Here of late, his stories have been smaller in scale, but Elfstone is an epic breath of fresh air. It diverts from the standard quest formula his past several novels followed, and it results in his best book in years. The scope is truly epic, and the cost of failure is high for the denizens of the Four Lands.
Begin this new adventure with a banished former High Druid, the current High Druid’s Blade, and the newest generation of Ohmsfords. Elfstone alternates the point-of-view between these differing characters set over 200 years after The Defenders of Shannara series. While it includes several mysteries, do not expect most to be answered in the first book. Who hired assassins? What are the origins of the latest generation of Ohmfords? Who are the mysterious invaders? Is a Druid Order in decline capable of handling this new challenge?
Elfstone was fast-paced and hard to put down. It will be a sheer pleasure to read for fans of Brooks.
Note: An ARC was received from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Brooks has been a master-writer of the formulaic quest. With the release of The Black Elfstone, he is back on top of his game. Here of late, his stories have been smaller in scale, but Elfstone is an epic breath of fresh air. It diverts from the standard quest formula his past several novels followed, and it results in his best book in years. The scope is truly epic, and the cost of failure is high for the denizens of the Four Lands.
Begin this new adventure with a banished former High Druid, the current High Druid’s Blade, and the newest generation of Ohmsfords. Elfstone alternates the point-of-view between these differing characters set over 200 years after The Defenders of Shannara series. While it includes several mysteries, do not expect most to be answered in the first book. Who hired assassins? What are the origins of the latest generation of Ohmfords? Who are the mysterious invaders? Is a Druid Order in decline capable of handling this new challenge?
Elfstone was fast-paced and hard to put down. It will be a sheer pleasure to read for fans of Brooks.
Note: An ARC was received from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
medium-paced