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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Terry Brooks has a few archetypes that he likes for his main characters: the Naive Prodigy, the Reckless Spitfire and the Mature Chosen One. Paxton, our new protagonist, has traits from all three of these. He’s the elder brother, mature and level-headed, yet ready to make impulsive and reckless decisions when it comes to protecting his sister. He’s completely clueless about magic but takes to it naturally. All in all, he’s a pretty compelling character to follow, especially in contrast to his younger sister Chrysallin, who’s free spirited and immature at the start of the book.
This new Shannara story brings us to a world seemingly recovered from the almost-war of the previous saga, yet still on the cusp of conflict, as always. We get to see Alphenglow Elessedil again, now the leader of the Order of Druids, which is a nice addition to the character roster.
As many mentioned, this book is more character driven than other Shannara novels. There isn’t any world ending cataclysm or noble quest, at least not yet, it’s mainly the story of Paxton, his sister and his discovery of magic and the risks that come with it and his family’s legacy.
The villain, the dark mage Arcannen, is pretty standard and actually much less intimidating that many others in the saga, and the real dark twist of the book in my opinion comes from the side antagonist, but still the threat of magic evilness is combined with more real world dangers such as trafficking and abuse, which keeps the story engaging and decently paced.
All in all I’d say this is a good first book, though it does lack in a strong set up for a full trilogy. Not much is left unanswered, and what is seems pretty standard. However the characters are compelling enough to make you want to read the rest.
This new Shannara story brings us to a world seemingly recovered from the almost-war of the previous saga, yet still on the cusp of conflict, as always. We get to see Alphenglow Elessedil again, now the leader of the Order of Druids, which is a nice addition to the character roster.
As many mentioned, this book is more character driven than other Shannara novels. There isn’t any world ending cataclysm or noble quest, at least not yet, it’s mainly the story of Paxton, his sister and his discovery of magic and the risks that come with it and his family’s legacy.
The villain, the dark mage Arcannen, is pretty standard and actually much less intimidating that many others in the saga, and the real dark twist of the book in my opinion comes from the side antagonist, but still the threat of magic evilness is combined with more real world dangers such as trafficking and abuse, which keeps the story engaging and decently paced.
All in all I’d say this is a good first book, though it does lack in a strong set up for a full trilogy. Not much is left unanswered, and what is seems pretty standard. However the characters are compelling enough to make you want to read the rest.
It has been many years since I returned the the Four Lands, so I was a bit hesitant. Again, I had not read any significant reviews of this book before picking it up, so I had no idea what to expect! My past experience with Shannara is that most of Brooks' books are conveniently organized into sets (usually trilogies), so I figured I could push thru The Defenders, if needed. Lastly, I had found the preceding 2 sets to be difficult to read, certainly not my favorites in the Four Lands - motivating the many years of delayed return to Shannara.
I was so very wrong!
This is a personal story, of Paxon Leah and those within his orbit. It is NOT an epic end-of-the-world fantasy tale, but rather one of a brother's care of his sister, and his willingness to sacrifice even "the big-picture good" for this relationship.
If you love Shannara, especially the stories about the people that make up this world, then check this one out - I don't think you will disappointed.
Rating 4/5 "really liked it"
I was so very wrong!
This is a personal story, of Paxon Leah and those within his orbit. It is NOT an epic end-of-the-world fantasy tale, but rather one of a brother's care of his sister, and his willingness to sacrifice even "the big-picture good" for this relationship.
If you love Shannara, especially the stories about the people that make up this world, then check this one out - I don't think you will disappointed.
Rating 4/5 "really liked it"
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have never read a Terry Brooks book, and if this book bears any resemblance to his other work, I'm also done reading Terry Brooks books. The first quarter of the book I almost gained interest. The second quarter of the book, I felt I was being lectured to. The start of the third quarter almost had me stop the book in its entirety. I had a hard time finishing it.
This book, for me, was awful for the following reasons:
1.) All telling, and no showing. This is lazy storytelling, pure and simple. You have a fantastic idea for a book, and you want to communicate so much to your audience (I get it, you have a ton of amazing ideas), but you do so by writing summaries of these ideas instead of letting them show up organically. It takes all the fun out of reading and world-building. I can't get sucked into a book of summaries. I want a story with a plot I can follow, not whole pages establishing why one character is awful without any actual plot or interaction. I have no idea what the history of this world is, and I also don't really care. This can happen in any genre, but in the fantasy genre? It's not even boring; it's aggravating.
2.) The "good" characters seem to know literally everything and are also courageous and talented. Boring. They have no flaws, nothing to make them seem like actual well-rounded characters. I really don't care what happens to them.
3.) The lack of editing. The plan for Chrys is a good example. You really only need to see it once; it's summarized about five times. So I suppose there's a lack of coherence and the book could probably be three quarters as long as it is. I'm not arguing the length, exactly; that last quarter could be filled with description or dialogue or anything useful.
I did like that Paxon didn't go after Arcannen in the end. It showed a modicum of growth in the character, who was not really as impulsive as the author kept mentioning. He was uncharacteristically judgy of Leofur, and there's a hint of a future romance there (which kind of makes me gag, although I do like the idea of her being older and more resourceful than him). The ending was brutal and sudden, and I didn't much like the end of Sebec. It's possible they couldn't have used him against Arcannen.
Were I to actually read more of this series, I'd love to see more about the Ard Rhys, Aphenglow Elessedil. She reminds me of the ageless vampire who sees everyone around her pass away. So much of the Druid order remains unexplored in this book, and that's unfortunate.
This book, for me, was awful for the following reasons:
1.) All telling, and no showing. This is lazy storytelling, pure and simple. You have a fantastic idea for a book, and you want to communicate so much to your audience (I get it, you have a ton of amazing ideas), but you do so by writing summaries of these ideas instead of letting them show up organically. It takes all the fun out of reading and world-building. I can't get sucked into a book of summaries. I want a story with a plot I can follow, not whole pages establishing why one character is awful without any actual plot or interaction. I have no idea what the history of this world is, and I also don't really care. This can happen in any genre, but in the fantasy genre? It's not even boring; it's aggravating.
2.) The "good" characters seem to know literally everything and are also courageous and talented. Boring. They have no flaws, nothing to make them seem like actual well-rounded characters. I really don't care what happens to them.
3.) The lack of editing. The plan for Chrys is a good example. You really only need to see it once; it's summarized about five times. So I suppose there's a lack of coherence and the book could probably be three quarters as long as it is. I'm not arguing the length, exactly; that last quarter could be filled with description or dialogue or anything useful.
Spoiler
4.) This is unique to me, maybe. The torture of Chrys just felt super unnecessary. In a way, I'm glad that the torture was so poorly described. As the reader, you're expected to do extra homework to figure out what the torture was, and I have no interest in doing that. But also why have the torture, and why make it so awful especially for a young woman? Like here we have a female character; obviously we have to make the torture be sexual without actually using that word, because that's the absolute worst thing she'll experience, right?I did like that Paxon didn't go after Arcannen in the end. It showed a modicum of growth in the character, who was not really as impulsive as the author kept mentioning. He was uncharacteristically judgy of Leofur, and there's a hint of a future romance there (which kind of makes me gag, although I do like the idea of her being older and more resourceful than him). The ending was brutal and sudden, and I didn't much like the end of Sebec. It's possible they couldn't have used him against Arcannen.
Were I to actually read more of this series, I'd love to see more about the Ard Rhys, Aphenglow Elessedil. She reminds me of the ageless vampire who sees everyone around her pass away. So much of the Druid order remains unexplored in this book, and that's unfortunate.
Here I am with another fantasy-read from Orbit, who have been putting out some amazing fantasy books lately. Many thanks to Orbit for allowing me to be part of the blog tour for The High Druid's Blade and providing me with the copy of the novel.
This was the first novel I have read by Terry Brooks, whose Shannara-series are loved my fans all around the world. The High Druid's Blade is the first stand-alone novel from Brooks in almost twenty years and as such might be a great place for me to get into the world of Shannara. The novel introduces the reader to the character of Paxon Leah, who within the first few chapters goes on a rescue mission for his sister Chrys and discovers the existence of magic. This beginning was almost too fast, with not enough time given to the reader to truly get settled in with the characters and start caring for them. When Chrys is kidnapped the reader doesn't really know her yet and as such it is hard to care for her. It's similar for the main character, who is not given quite enough time to really be explored by the reader.
The High Druid's Blade is a fast-paced, interesting read which hits a lot of high points Personally I was expecting a bit more, yet this novel is meant for younger readers. I would recommend this book to lovers of Fantasy.
My full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/review-high-druids-blade-by-terry-brooks.html
This was the first novel I have read by Terry Brooks, whose Shannara-series are loved my fans all around the world. The High Druid's Blade is the first stand-alone novel from Brooks in almost twenty years and as such might be a great place for me to get into the world of Shannara. The novel introduces the reader to the character of Paxon Leah, who within the first few chapters goes on a rescue mission for his sister Chrys and discovers the existence of magic. This beginning was almost too fast, with not enough time given to the reader to truly get settled in with the characters and start caring for them. When Chrys is kidnapped the reader doesn't really know her yet and as such it is hard to care for her. It's similar for the main character, who is not given quite enough time to really be explored by the reader.
The High Druid's Blade is a fast-paced, interesting read which hits a lot of high points Personally I was expecting a bit more, yet this novel is meant for younger readers. I would recommend this book to lovers of Fantasy.
My full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/review-high-druids-blade-by-terry-brooks.html
The Elfstones of Shannara was one of the very first fantasy books I've ever read, and I've been hooked on Terry Brooks ever since. I haven't gotten back into Shannara for many years, but after reading the High Druid's Blade, it felt like coming home again.
It's fantasy comfort food - there are a ton of fantasy tropes here, but they're all FUN fantasy tropes. This book in particular is the definition of a classic adventure - a young village boy yearning for more, an evil sorcerer, allies to be found, betrayals and twists around every corner. None of it felt incredibly new, but it still felt fresh and exciting.
Two major positives for me were the pacing, and the callbacks. In the first 70 pages of the book, so much happens that I wasn't bored for a second. I read 160 pages in a single sitting and that does not happen very often to me anymore. There's not an ounce of fat on here.
The second are the callbacks to Shannara legends like Allanon, Walker Boh and a few others. To even see those names mentioned 25 years later after reading of their adventures in other Shannara books is thrilling. I always love a good callback and I'm glad Brooks' doesn't forget his own history.
I can't recommend this to non-fantasy fans, it's definitely intended for a young adult audience mostly, but this was one of the most fun reads I've had in a long time and I'll be crushing the (last?) six Shannara books with great delight.
It's fantasy comfort food - there are a ton of fantasy tropes here, but they're all FUN fantasy tropes. This book in particular is the definition of a classic adventure - a young village boy yearning for more, an evil sorcerer, allies to be found, betrayals and twists around every corner. None of it felt incredibly new, but it still felt fresh and exciting.
Two major positives for me were the pacing, and the callbacks. In the first 70 pages of the book, so much happens that I wasn't bored for a second. I read 160 pages in a single sitting and that does not happen very often to me anymore. There's not an ounce of fat on here.
The second are the callbacks to Shannara legends like Allanon, Walker Boh and a few others. To even see those names mentioned 25 years later after reading of their adventures in other Shannara books is thrilling. I always love a good callback and I'm glad Brooks' doesn't forget his own history.
I can't recommend this to non-fantasy fans, it's definitely intended for a young adult audience mostly, but this was one of the most fun reads I've had in a long time and I'll be crushing the (last?) six Shannara books with great delight.
“The High Druid’s Blade: The Defenders of Shannara” by Terry Brooks is the tale of a young man, Paxon Leah, who journeys to save his kidnapped sister, Chrysallin, from a mysterious sorcerer named Arcannen. Paxon comes from a legendary family and discovers that he has inherited the magical blade of his ancestors. What follows is a tale of magic, intrigue, action, adventure, and secrecy.
Set in a world where magic has banned by the ruling government called Federation, things come to a shocking start when the relic sword hanging in Paxon Leah’s house proves to possess magical ability. However, Paxon doesn’t know how to wield such magic...yet. Only the isolated Druids have the answers to the many secrets of magic.
The first half of the novel takes a while to build up, but things really pick up when Paxon is summoned to train in Paranor, the keep of the Druids. In Paranor, we learn more about the world of magic and the conflicts surrounding it. The plot really takes shape and all of the motivations of the characters, both bad and good, come to light. Secondary characters, such as Leofur Rai, Grehling Cara, and the Ard Rhys, provide colorful countenance to the personal tale of a brother trying to save his sister from doom. The antagonist, Arcannen, proves to be more complicated than I thought at first. There is more at play to the whole situation than what appears on the surface and that will keep you turning the pages.
“The High Druid’s Blade” is more of a personal saga of the Paxon’s life than the usual quest that Brooks often features in his novel. Brooks has been writing books set in the Four Lands of Shannara since the 1970s. Being a fan of Brooks’ earlier novels (“The Sword of Shannara,” “The Elfstones of Shannara,” & “The Wishsong of Shannara”), I couldn’t help but notice how different and modern “The High Druid’s Blade” was in comparison. Unlike his other ‘epic’ novels, “Druid’s Blade” is a way more personal story that takes place on a much smaller scale than his other books. Instead of a grand epic quest, it is more a personal growth story. But don’t count out the fun, action, mysteries, or grand fights -- they are all there and brimming with excitement. Brooks ends this one on a cliffhanger, so stayed tuned for more...
For someone who has never read any of the “Shannara” books before, don’t be afraid of this book. In fact, it might even be a great place to introduce yourself to all of Brooks’ novel. “The High Druid’s Blade” is a great standalone book and will definitely throw you headfirst into the world of Shannara. I found this book refreshing and new in comparison to Brooks’ other novels. For any fans of fantasy/epic novels, this would certainly be a fun addition to your reading list!
Set in a world where magic has banned by the ruling government called Federation, things come to a shocking start when the relic sword hanging in Paxon Leah’s house proves to possess magical ability. However, Paxon doesn’t know how to wield such magic...yet. Only the isolated Druids have the answers to the many secrets of magic.
The first half of the novel takes a while to build up, but things really pick up when Paxon is summoned to train in Paranor, the keep of the Druids. In Paranor, we learn more about the world of magic and the conflicts surrounding it. The plot really takes shape and all of the motivations of the characters, both bad and good, come to light. Secondary characters, such as Leofur Rai, Grehling Cara, and the Ard Rhys, provide colorful countenance to the personal tale of a brother trying to save his sister from doom. The antagonist, Arcannen, proves to be more complicated than I thought at first. There is more at play to the whole situation than what appears on the surface and that will keep you turning the pages.
“The High Druid’s Blade” is more of a personal saga of the Paxon’s life than the usual quest that Brooks often features in his novel. Brooks has been writing books set in the Four Lands of Shannara since the 1970s. Being a fan of Brooks’ earlier novels (“The Sword of Shannara,” “The Elfstones of Shannara,” & “The Wishsong of Shannara”), I couldn’t help but notice how different and modern “The High Druid’s Blade” was in comparison. Unlike his other ‘epic’ novels, “Druid’s Blade” is a way more personal story that takes place on a much smaller scale than his other books. Instead of a grand epic quest, it is more a personal growth story. But don’t count out the fun, action, mysteries, or grand fights -- they are all there and brimming with excitement. Brooks ends this one on a cliffhanger, so stayed tuned for more...
For someone who has never read any of the “Shannara” books before, don’t be afraid of this book. In fact, it might even be a great place to introduce yourself to all of Brooks’ novel. “The High Druid’s Blade” is a great standalone book and will definitely throw you headfirst into the world of Shannara. I found this book refreshing and new in comparison to Brooks’ other novels. For any fans of fantasy/epic novels, this would certainly be a fun addition to your reading list!
Nice that the ending was more amicable. It feels like a rehash of other stories. Still an enjoyable visit to an old friend.
Very good start to this trilogy. Bad guys, good guys. Who is the traitor? Loved it.
I think this would have made more sense if I had read the original chronicles beforehand. It seemed like nothing really happened in this book, which made it difficult to get through. The "twist" at the end seemed really unbelievable, I would have liked to see that developed a little better.