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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
A bit more formulaic than I would expect from Brooks' writing. But interesting story. Going to read the second in the series to see if it is back at the level of his previous work.
I think I should have read the author's beginning series first.
I have loved Terry’s books since grade school. I haven’t read the newer ones yet though which is why I picked this one up. The High Druid’s Blade was just as enjoyable to read as any of the other Shannara novels. You can’t help but admire how everyone in the Shannara chronicles learns something of themselves and share a part in shaping the world of Shannara with each journey.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Gore, Gaslighting
Minor: Gun violence, Rape, Slavery, Medical content, Trafficking, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
You can find this review and others on The Nomadic Reader.
The High Druid’s Blade started out with a strong story, but the writing style (in my opinion) did not do it justice. The reader meets Paxon, a young boy doing what he can to help out his family. He has a sister who he is very protective of. She gets herself into some pretty serious trouble, and he goes to rescue her out of it. It felt like the first half of the book was missing a lot of descriptions. I likened it to an overview, it went along the lines of “John got up. John had breakfast. John got on his airship and flew for 5 hours, then John landed.” – I couldn't relate to the characters or their world because I wasn't given enough information.
Through an unusual series of events (ie: I couldn't believe just how things “worked out”) Paxon goes to stay with the Druids who are training him for combat. They need a protector after all. While he is staying with them his sister is kidnapped by the evil Arcannan (or so he assumes) and he once more has to go to her rescue. About mid way through the book the story shifts to the sisters point of view. Things start getting a LOT more detailed but because it’s a torture scene with an underaged girl it felt very awkward. Not because of the scene itself but because this descriptive writing wasn't in the first half of the book and I found it frustrating that the author had decided to inject it only for the torture scenes.
It felt like throughout the story things just naturally seemed to be ‘too good to be true’ making Paxon, his sister, the druids, and the small handful of other characters unbelieveable. Near the end things get more realistic, more descriptive and that is the portion I enjoyed. I started connecting to the characters just as the novel was ending. I’m not sure if I'll continue with the series as this was only the first book, but it was enough to pique my interest.
The book releases March 11th, and while I did have issues with the writing style I really enjoyed the plot. I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3/5 stars
The High Druid’s Blade started out with a strong story, but the writing style (in my opinion) did not do it justice. The reader meets Paxon, a young boy doing what he can to help out his family. He has a sister who he is very protective of. She gets herself into some pretty serious trouble, and he goes to rescue her out of it. It felt like the first half of the book was missing a lot of descriptions. I likened it to an overview, it went along the lines of “John got up. John had breakfast. John got on his airship and flew for 5 hours, then John landed.” – I couldn't relate to the characters or their world because I wasn't given enough information.
Through an unusual series of events (ie: I couldn't believe just how things “worked out”) Paxon goes to stay with the Druids who are training him for combat. They need a protector after all. While he is staying with them his sister is kidnapped by the evil Arcannan (or so he assumes) and he once more has to go to her rescue. About mid way through the book the story shifts to the sisters point of view. Things start getting a LOT more detailed but because it’s a torture scene with an underaged girl it felt very awkward. Not because of the scene itself but because this descriptive writing wasn't in the first half of the book and I found it frustrating that the author had decided to inject it only for the torture scenes.
It felt like throughout the story things just naturally seemed to be ‘too good to be true’ making Paxon, his sister, the druids, and the small handful of other characters unbelieveable. Near the end things get more realistic, more descriptive and that is the portion I enjoyed. I started connecting to the characters just as the novel was ending. I’m not sure if I'll continue with the series as this was only the first book, but it was enough to pique my interest.
The book releases March 11th, and while I did have issues with the writing style I really enjoyed the plot. I received this ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3/5 stars
Really more like a 3.5...
I'm happy to just have my interest in Shannara stories restored. This was, by no means, a particularly strong entry in the series - but it's the strongest in a while and it shows Terry flexing writerly muscles that had seemed long atrophied. He can introduce a cast of characters and set the various plot points in motion like few others in the biz these days, so it's nice to see him do it without getting caught up in the same-old-same-old. Here's hoping the rest of the 'trilogy' remains as standalone as it has been touted - for when you've only got one book to live and die by, it apparently keeps the writer on his toes.
More at RB: http://wp.me/pGVzJ-104
I'm happy to just have my interest in Shannara stories restored. This was, by no means, a particularly strong entry in the series - but it's the strongest in a while and it shows Terry flexing writerly muscles that had seemed long atrophied. He can introduce a cast of characters and set the various plot points in motion like few others in the biz these days, so it's nice to see him do it without getting caught up in the same-old-same-old. Here's hoping the rest of the 'trilogy' remains as standalone as it has been touted - for when you've only got one book to live and die by, it apparently keeps the writer on his toes.
More at RB: http://wp.me/pGVzJ-104
I'm sure there's a true Ohmsford lurking somewhere, but for now, I was pleased to just follow the Leah family around. I'm excited for Terry to finish out this series on a high note.
If you have never read anything from Terry Brooks' Shannara series, this is a great starting point, you do no need to have read anything of the many before it.
If you have, all of the magic is still right there between the pages, enticing and teasing with what readers of the Shannara series know and expect.
Long may Terry Brooks reign.
Maybe this wasn't the best place to start with Terry Brooks' work but I liked it. The things/people that preceded this novel were eluded to and explained enough for me right now. In this novel you meet Paxon and his sister Chrysallin who are descendants of Kings who were powerful magic users. Now magic has been removed from their land except for those who seek to use it for evil or who have latent abilities or magic items but no knowledge of their use....or Druids who try to gather it all up for safe keeping. Paxon is one with the latent powers passed on to him by his descendants and he soon goes from a shipper of freight on airships to a protector in training for the Druid order.
I usually don't enjoy fantasy with all the Trolls, Druids, Paladins, etc or science fiction where characters are using such technology as airships or weapons powered by crystals. This book took all my pre conceived notions and challenged them. I liked the world. I wanted to understand the reasons why the magic system was so strictly monitored. The villain was evil but with strange vulnerable spaces that almost made you feel sorry for him...almost. I recently won an ARC of book 3 in this series so this book made its way onto my TBR. Yet one more epic fantasy series on my list to finish!
I usually don't enjoy fantasy with all the Trolls, Druids, Paladins, etc or science fiction where characters are using such technology as airships or weapons powered by crystals. This book took all my pre conceived notions and challenged them. I liked the world. I wanted to understand the reasons why the magic system was so strictly monitored. The villain was evil but with strange vulnerable spaces that almost made you feel sorry for him...almost. I recently won an ARC of book 3 in this series so this book made its way onto my TBR. Yet one more epic fantasy series on my list to finish!
*I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I'm going to give this book a 3.75 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed this! It left me feeling nostalgic for the first time I read the Shannara books. That being said, this had a different feel compared to the first Shannara books but it's a good different! There's airships in this one! It took me a bit to get into the story, but once I was in I devoured the whole thing.
You can see my full review for this book over at Jessie Reads Everything.
I'm going to give this book a 3.75 out of 5 stars. I really enjoyed this! It left me feeling nostalgic for the first time I read the Shannara books. That being said, this had a different feel compared to the first Shannara books but it's a good different! There's airships in this one! It took me a bit to get into the story, but once I was in I devoured the whole thing.
You can see my full review for this book over at Jessie Reads Everything.