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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
Not my favorite of Brooks's work but I do like that it feels more separate from other Shannara series despite Paxon and his sister being both Leah and Ohmsford.
It's been a long time since I've read any books in the SHANNARA series, but THE HIGH DRUID'S BLADE promised to be a stand-alone, so I gave it a try. It was funny reading some place and character names and having that little ringing bell in the back of my mind: didn't I read about that sometime long ago? It didn't matter, though, because this book does seem to stand on its own (it's the start of a new series). Readers more familiar with the world will probably appreciate the callbacks to other books, but for me, this clipped along like a typical fantasy. I enjoyed reading it, though it was a bit slow to get started. It really harks back to fantasy I read when I was younger: the plot is boy with a magic sword on a quest to save his sister. This is probably what made the beginning slow for me, since you read through all the bits about "there once was magic and now there's not, but here's this ancestral sword, and I have to use it as a weapon--and oh, look, it does magical things!" While not written badly, lots of books do this, and there's only so many times you can read similar passages before it gets a little boring.
Once we get into the rescuing phase, however, the action picks up. Time speeds along as our MC, Paxon, realizes he needs training after a sound thrashing by the villain, and Paxon goes to the druids (who have political machinations of their own). But wouldn't you know it, Paxon's sister gets kidnapped (again, by the same baddie), and now that he has the skills to take the villain on, he takes off in his airship to do so. Here's where the story turns dark: mind manipulation and magic come together to make for some scenes that will make you squirm, and a pretty satisfying finale. Obviously, given that this is the first in a series, there is more to tell.
This book makes me want to search out the old SHANNARA books I have and see if any of them aren't third in a series. If I come across the next book in this series, I'll take a look at it too. Terry Brooks may be recycling well-used writing tropes, but he does it well, and obviously people like his stories, so I guess he's onto something.
Once we get into the rescuing phase, however, the action picks up. Time speeds along as our MC, Paxon, realizes he needs training after a sound thrashing by the villain, and Paxon goes to the druids (who have political machinations of their own). But wouldn't you know it, Paxon's sister gets kidnapped (again, by the same baddie), and now that he has the skills to take the villain on, he takes off in his airship to do so. Here's where the story turns dark: mind manipulation and magic come together to make for some scenes that will make you squirm, and a pretty satisfying finale. Obviously, given that this is the first in a series, there is more to tell.
This book makes me want to search out the old SHANNARA books I have and see if any of them aren't third in a series. If I come across the next book in this series, I'll take a look at it too. Terry Brooks may be recycling well-used writing tropes, but he does it well, and obviously people like his stories, so I guess he's onto something.
The originality from the series is just gone.
I wish when reading this i can enjoy the world like I used to. But so much of the book is just obvious, and seems like the book is a cookie cutter copy from other books.
I wish when reading this i can enjoy the world like I used to. But so much of the book is just obvious, and seems like the book is a cookie cutter copy from other books.
This was another great start to a new series.
The first third of the book reads like an episode of Grimm. Instead of the typical quest for a talisman, Paxon & Starks are solving magical mysteries. It's a different type of story than we've seen in Shannara before, and it is a welcome change.
It was nice to see that the Federation and Druids are no longer at each others throats for no reason other than centuries old hatreds.
The world as a whole is finally moving forward and I am happy to be along for the ride.
The first third of the book reads like an episode of Grimm. Instead of the typical quest for a talisman, Paxon & Starks are solving magical mysteries. It's a different type of story than we've seen in Shannara before, and it is a welcome change.
It was nice to see that the Federation and Druids are no longer at each others throats for no reason other than centuries old hatreds.
The world as a whole is finally moving forward and I am happy to be along for the ride.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I enjoyed this trip back to Shannara but it just wasn't long enough. I want more, hopefully Terry Brooks comes back to this storyline and we can have some more adventures with Paxon and Chrys.
A wonderful fast paced novel that new and old Brooks’ fans will enjoy. I thoroughly enjoyed this more than some of his other Shannara novels because it was more of a fun read with less of the complex bits and pieces that you need to recall in the other stories. Parts of it had a bit of the Running with the Demon series or Armageddon’s Children with a touch of his Magic Kingdom for Sale, Sold! Or it could just be me seeing the best of his work. It is also amazing that it tells a complete story in one volume instead of the classic trilogy.
I was a little put off by the length of the novel because in all honesty some of his other standalone books are thicker with more detail. And yes in parts I found the details a tad lacking for my personal taste for what I have come to expect from him. It also follows the traditional pattern of boy discovers he has power, gets the training needed, before he goes onto bigger and better things out there. If you are looking for a play by play by this point you are not going to find it because let’s be honest that is what the book blurb is above and on the dust jacket.
I believe this is a great book for those who have never experienced the world Mr. Brooks has created over the past few decades. It gives them just enough of a taste to decide if they want to dive feet first into all the complex works he has created for his Shannara world. I will admit this is not the best fantasy novel I have read this year but it is not by far the worst.
I was a little put off by the length of the novel because in all honesty some of his other standalone books are thicker with more detail. And yes in parts I found the details a tad lacking for my personal taste for what I have come to expect from him. It also follows the traditional pattern of boy discovers he has power, gets the training needed, before he goes onto bigger and better things out there. If you are looking for a play by play by this point you are not going to find it because let’s be honest that is what the book blurb is above and on the dust jacket.
I believe this is a great book for those who have never experienced the world Mr. Brooks has created over the past few decades. It gives them just enough of a taste to decide if they want to dive feet first into all the complex works he has created for his Shannara world. I will admit this is not the best fantasy novel I have read this year but it is not by far the worst.