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ramblingbard's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jaredpence's review against another edition
2.0
This one was harder to get into. I think maybe it felt choppy compared to the others in the series because Wren's mission is so cut off from everyone else (literally on an unknown island) and then basically everyone she meets dies. The reveal about Garth was intense! And I never trusted the seer, but I guess she was a good person all along?
jasmyn9's review against another edition
4.0
I've been looking forward to Wren's story for awhile now. I love her character and I love elves - so it was a great combo. Her quest to find the long lost elves takes quite a few twists and turns until she finds her lucky break - the hag that finally has many of the answers she's looking for, but it only gets more dangerous and exciting from there.
When she finds the island the elves have retreated to, it isn't anything she expected. Taken over by demons, she is forced to discover some very hard truths to find her way there safely. She meets some really great creatures along the way and I loved learning about them and what they were and how they came about being there. Each has it's only very important part to play in her quest - even if their parts aren't entirely clear at first.
The elves themselves have quite a few secrets to hide - none of which are good. As Wren discovers the truth of why they left and what they have done since, she's faced with a crisis of conscience about helping them return to their old world. Brilliantly written, I was on the edge of my seat as it all unfolded.
There's a lot of great epic moments of heroism from just about every person in the story. Terry Brooks isn't afraid to let Wren's friends steal the spotlight for their moment in the sun and a chance to save the day. There were some sad moments and a few of the characters I've grown to love do not make it through the book - but that only made me love those characters even more.
Again, the only downfall was that I wish I could see what the other main characters from the previous books were up to while Wren was on her quest. We get bits and pieces, but I feel like their stories could have been merged a bit more so they weren't "forgotten" when their story wasn't being told.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-elf-queen-of-shannara-by-terry.html#sthash.TO2egO3N.dpuf
When she finds the island the elves have retreated to, it isn't anything she expected. Taken over by demons, she is forced to discover some very hard truths to find her way there safely. She meets some really great creatures along the way and I loved learning about them and what they were and how they came about being there. Each has it's only very important part to play in her quest - even if their parts aren't entirely clear at first.
The elves themselves have quite a few secrets to hide - none of which are good. As Wren discovers the truth of why they left and what they have done since, she's faced with a crisis of conscience about helping them return to their old world. Brilliantly written, I was on the edge of my seat as it all unfolded.
There's a lot of great epic moments of heroism from just about every person in the story. Terry Brooks isn't afraid to let Wren's friends steal the spotlight for their moment in the sun and a chance to save the day. There were some sad moments and a few of the characters I've grown to love do not make it through the book - but that only made me love those characters even more.
Again, the only downfall was that I wish I could see what the other main characters from the previous books were up to while Wren was on her quest. We get bits and pieces, but I feel like their stories could have been merged a bit more so they weren't "forgotten" when their story wasn't being told.
- See more at: http://hotofftheshelves.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-elf-queen-of-shannara-by-terry.html#sthash.TO2egO3N.dpuf
ferrisscottr's review against another edition
3.0
My first re-read of this book since 1992. Third book (of four) in the Heritage of Shannara series.
99% of the book is focused on Wren and the task given her by the Shade of Allanon to find the Elves and bring them back to the four lands.
Probably 3.5 stars but I'm rounding down because I never really felt like "I got" Wren - it was described to me, her history, growing up, parents, heritage, etc. but I never felt any of it, it felt like I was reading a history paper when learning of her background.
It was action packed, a page turner, tons of fights and battles and magic and monsters.
And who doesn't love spinterscat?!
A perfectly fine addition to the series but nothing great and not as good as the first two books in the series. It has been over 25 years since I've read this book so I honestly forgot every detail of the book so it was nice to revisit this book and this series.
One more to go.
99% of the book is focused on Wren and the task given her by the Shade of Allanon to find the Elves and bring them back to the four lands.
Probably 3.5 stars but I'm rounding down because I never really felt like "I got" Wren - it was described to me, her history, growing up, parents, heritage, etc. but I never felt any of it, it felt like I was reading a history paper when learning of her background.
It was action packed, a page turner, tons of fights and battles and magic and monsters.
And who doesn't love spinterscat?!
A perfectly fine addition to the series but nothing great and not as good as the first two books in the series. It has been over 25 years since I've read this book so I honestly forgot every detail of the book so it was nice to revisit this book and this series.
One more to go.
catherine_dalton08's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
hotsake's review against another edition
4.0
A low 3.5/5.
There were really good moments and lots of main character casualties which kept a sense of danger throughout but there were also lots of dull moments and times where the same issue kept being brought up until I started to get frustrated.
There were really good moments and lots of main character casualties which kept a sense of danger throughout but there were also lots of dull moments and times where the same issue kept being brought up until I started to get frustrated.
energyrae's review against another edition
5.0
“How could she come home to a place she had never been, had never seen, and hadn’t even been certain existed until this moment?”
I read this when it first came out in the 90s. Then I abandoned Sci-Fi and Fantasy for years, decades, really. Thankfully, I came back a few years ago, and this month, I wanted to revisit this treasure of my youth. Enough time has passed that this was entirely new to me, yet felt like coming home.
“It was in the air, in the earth, in the life about them, a kind of madness that whispered insidious warnings and stole life with casual disregard.”
I haven’t read the previous two books, and I don’t plan to go backward. Rather, I plan to read book 4 to see what becomes of Wren. There were tears along this journey for so many people lost. I am so glad I reread this.
I read this when it first came out in the 90s. Then I abandoned Sci-Fi and Fantasy for years, decades, really. Thankfully, I came back a few years ago, and this month, I wanted to revisit this treasure of my youth. Enough time has passed that this was entirely new to me, yet felt like coming home.
“It was in the air, in the earth, in the life about them, a kind of madness that whispered insidious warnings and stole life with casual disregard.”
I haven’t read the previous two books, and I don’t plan to go backward. Rather, I plan to read book 4 to see what becomes of Wren. There were tears along this journey for so many people lost. I am so glad I reread this.
tarana's review against another edition
5.0
This book primarily focuses on Wren's charge of finding and returning the elves. This is a hard one to stop and do stuff like go to sleep.
This is reread. Last read when it first came out in the 1990s.
This is reread. Last read when it first came out in the 1990s.