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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
I really like this series. Since I have read all these books I feel like Brooks repeated some of his themes in the Genesis of Shannara series. Several things that happen in this series also occur in the other Shannara books. Still they were very enjoyable.
This is the second book in the Genesis of Shannara series so expect spoilers if you have not read the first, Armageddon's Children, which I reviewed here. The second thing to note is that I am not a previous fan of the Shannara series. When I first attempted to read it, I gave up due to boredom. My brother told me this series was really good, so I'm working my way through with an eye on possibly attempting the original Shannara books again.
The Elves of Cintra jumps right in where Armageddon's Children left off, with the various groups all coming together and separating in new and interesting ways to pursue their now clear-ish quests. Logan Tom, now with the Ghosts, is searching for Hawk, with the once-men hot on their trail. Meanwhile, Hawk awakens in the presence of a magical being who cryptically explains his new status as the gypsy morph and his destiny to save everyone by taking them to the promised land. The elves Kirisin and Erisha, now joined by Kirisin's sister Simralin, are still seeking the elfstones and trying to convince Erisha's father, the king of the importance of their mission to move the Ellcrys to a safe location. They are aided by an old historian elf named Culph and they are joined by Angel Perez and her fae conscience, Ailie. Angel is still pursued by the demon Delloreen, now fully transformed into a wolf-lizard creature.
The previous book spent a lot of time introducing the characters and giving them all backstories that made it clear that every human had suffered horrible childhoods that have led them to their currently place in this dystopian world of mutation and violence. They are all survivors in their own way. At the end of the last book, everyone has been set on the quests mentioned above so now, we are reading about how they survive the various pitfalls they meet along the way. Despite the efforts made to define the characters, I have not yet come to care about many of them. The ones that died in this book were not overly memorable and I can't say a I felt like their friends' reactions to their deaths were well written enough for me to feel their loss.
A new character was introduced, Catalya, and she alone is the bright spark in the series. A survivor just like the others, she actually doesn't get one of the melodramatic backstories. Her actions and personality in the face of danger and contempt make up for that loss and easily make her a favourite. When she teams up with one of the Ghosts on a rescue mission, things perked up a bit, but that part of the story continues in the sequel.
But what about the elves? The title implies that this is their story and their quest to find the elfstones and the Loden certainly seems important. But Erisha, Kirisin and Simralen are so unmemorable. Some of the elves they deal with on their journey are quite interesting, but they are not around nearly long enough.
I previously listened to the audiobook, but chose to read the hardcover to see if it affected my judgment. I can conclude that listening to an audiobook would definitely have made the tedium more tolerable, however, it's much easier to skim over pages when actually reading. The Elves of Cintra did not impress me enough to care about the future of Shannara, but I'm still just interested enough to at least find out how this trilogy ends. Eventually.
The Elves of Cintra jumps right in where Armageddon's Children left off, with the various groups all coming together and separating in new and interesting ways to pursue their now clear-ish quests. Logan Tom, now with the Ghosts, is searching for Hawk, with the once-men hot on their trail. Meanwhile, Hawk awakens in the presence of a magical being who cryptically explains his new status as the gypsy morph and his destiny to save everyone by taking them to the promised land. The elves Kirisin and Erisha, now joined by Kirisin's sister Simralin, are still seeking the elfstones and trying to convince Erisha's father, the king of the importance of their mission to move the Ellcrys to a safe location. They are aided by an old historian elf named Culph and they are joined by Angel Perez and her fae conscience, Ailie. Angel is still pursued by the demon Delloreen, now fully transformed into a wolf-lizard creature.
The previous book spent a lot of time introducing the characters and giving them all backstories that made it clear that every human had suffered horrible childhoods that have led them to their currently place in this dystopian world of mutation and violence. They are all survivors in their own way. At the end of the last book, everyone has been set on the quests mentioned above so now, we are reading about how they survive the various pitfalls they meet along the way. Despite the efforts made to define the characters, I have not yet come to care about many of them. The ones that died in this book were not overly memorable and I can't say a I felt like their friends' reactions to their deaths were well written enough for me to feel their loss.
A new character was introduced, Catalya, and she alone is the bright spark in the series. A survivor just like the others, she actually doesn't get one of the melodramatic backstories. Her actions and personality in the face of danger and contempt make up for that loss and easily make her a favourite. When she teams up with one of the Ghosts on a rescue mission, things perked up a bit, but that part of the story continues in the sequel.
But what about the elves? The title implies that this is their story and their quest to find the elfstones and the Loden certainly seems important. But Erisha, Kirisin and Simralen are so unmemorable. Some of the elves they deal with on their journey are quite interesting, but they are not around nearly long enough.
I previously listened to the audiobook, but chose to read the hardcover to see if it affected my judgment. I can conclude that listening to an audiobook would definitely have made the tedium more tolerable, however, it's much easier to skim over pages when actually reading. The Elves of Cintra did not impress me enough to care about the future of Shannara, but I'm still just interested enough to at least find out how this trilogy ends. Eventually.
Terry Brooks has been one of my favorite authors since the sixth grade, when I was first given a copy of "The Sword of Shannara" for Christmas. I've always enjoyed his books and been drawn in by his deep themes, dynamic characters, and unique way of looking at things. The Elves of Cintra was no different.
This is a continuation of Armageddon's Children, Brooks's post-apocalyptic story of a world destroyed by mankind's greed and inaction. But what makes it unique isn't the dystopian aspect, but the fact that this destruction is spurred on by a deeper evil, by demonic forces that mankind has given into and that is intent on destroying everything. The mix of science fiction and high fantasy is an unusual one that takes some adjustment, but I think Brooks pulls it off fantastically. And, although it's a sort of prequel to his first Shannara books and sequels to the Word & Void trilogy, it ties everything together magnificently as well.
My only complaint is that I would have liked to get deeper into the mind of the major antagonist, Findo Gask. As in the Shannara books Antrax and Morgawr, getting into the minds of inhuman bad guys is one of Brooks's fortes, but I found it somewhat lacking in this series. He has created many characters who are just plain evil with no motivation other than that's what they are, but it was hinted at that Findo Gask was a bit deeper and more complex, which I would have liked to explore some.
Overall, however, it was a great book, as always. I always expect great reads from Mr. Brooks and have yet to be disappointed.
This is a continuation of Armageddon's Children, Brooks's post-apocalyptic story of a world destroyed by mankind's greed and inaction. But what makes it unique isn't the dystopian aspect, but the fact that this destruction is spurred on by a deeper evil, by demonic forces that mankind has given into and that is intent on destroying everything. The mix of science fiction and high fantasy is an unusual one that takes some adjustment, but I think Brooks pulls it off fantastically. And, although it's a sort of prequel to his first Shannara books and sequels to the Word & Void trilogy, it ties everything together magnificently as well.
My only complaint is that I would have liked to get deeper into the mind of the major antagonist, Findo Gask. As in the Shannara books Antrax and Morgawr, getting into the minds of inhuman bad guys is one of Brooks's fortes, but I found it somewhat lacking in this series. He has created many characters who are just plain evil with no motivation other than that's what they are, but it was hinted at that Findo Gask was a bit deeper and more complex, which I would have liked to explore some.
Overall, however, it was a great book, as always. I always expect great reads from Mr. Brooks and have yet to be disappointed.
I very much enjoyed Elves of Cingra as a followup to Armeggedens Children. It picks up the story of Hawk, twoKnights of theWord and Kirisin, an elf and chosen of the tree that protects the elves. It is in danger though and Kirisin needs to find the elf stones in order to save it. Theses threads are woven together against the backdrop of the detestation of the world Blythe demons and once men. We haven't quite made the transition into the fantasy realm that is Shanarra but can see it forming and that is exciting. I have already picked up book 3, the Gypsy Morph, and look forward to reading on as the world of Shanarra forms.
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Star Rating: 5 stars
Date: 12/9/23 – 12/16/23
Note: This is the 2nd book in the Genesis of Shannara series and the 19th in the overarching Shannara epic so this will not be an in-depth review.
On my own-going mission to make steady progress through all the series that I am currently reading so they don’t get lost and accidently dropped in amongst all the new things I want to try, I picked up The Elves of Cintra, book 2 of the Genesis of Shannara arc and the 19th book in the overarching Shannara epic. This installment continues the story of Logan Tom and Angel Perez as they struggle to complete their missions for the Word and save some vestige of civilization from the clamoring world-ending forces of the Void.
My favorite part of this installment and every book in this series is the atmosphere that Brooks is able to create with his writing style and word choice. There were multiple times across this book and series in general where he will convey an emotion or build the atmosphere with just a few simple phrases and words. I mean I love flowery, complex writing too, but the fact that Brooks is able to do the same thing with so few words is amazing to me, and where he proves that he is a master of his craft that been writing for 30 years with nearly every book being a best seller.
Another way he shows this is by using a lot of the themes and motifs that we have come to expect from classic fantasy and makes them unique to his narrative- themes of family, the “chosen one”, the juxtaposition between light and dark, and the reoccurring motif of talismans. As everyone knows classic fantasy tends to use the same themes and motifs a lot and I always enjoy seeing how a new author that I decide to pick up will make them work in new and exciting ways for their narrative, especially since most of these reoccurring themes are some of my favorite to explore. There is just something about classic fantasy and science fiction that seems so homey to me, no matter how anxious or overwhelmed I’m feeling in my day-to-day life, I know that I can pick up one of these books and feel instantly more grounded and comfortable.
Finally, I really like the allusions that he was able to weave into his narrative. There were the Biblical references with the Word and the Void obviously, but the one that stood out to me the most was the fact that the Knights repeatedly call themselves shepherds; which as an adult that grew up in a Southern Baptist household, these references definitely brought back memories. Another one that I noticed was the relationship between the Lady and the Knights as it really reminded me of that medieval practice of chivalry and the lady making the knight her vassal and sending him on a quest; again, as an adult that was obsessed with knights and castles as a child, these allusions brought back some core memories. Overall, these allusions really added to the comfort level as they are things that I’m used to, and as a very anxious and easily overwhelmed person, that familiarity makes the reading experience so much better.
All in all, if you like more traditional leaning fantasy and somehow haven’t picked up Brooks yet, you should really give him a try. (My recommendation is to read in chronological order starting with Running with the Demon.) He was my first foray into this genre so I believe he is a good starting point before you jump into the series with super long character lists. Brooks’s books tend to focus on “fellowships” of no more than 10-15 characters at a time so it isn’t as overwhelming. He also doesn’t do as deep a dive into themes as some of the others and his world is linked to our own so it’s easier to wrap your head around. So if you are looking for a good series to use to dip your toes into this genre and see if it’s something you might like, Brooks is a perfect stepping stone series in that regard. 5 stars and I can’t wait to see how this arc of the series wraps up!!!
Date: 12/9/23 – 12/16/23
Note: This is the 2nd book in the Genesis of Shannara series and the 19th in the overarching Shannara epic so this will not be an in-depth review.
On my own-going mission to make steady progress through all the series that I am currently reading so they don’t get lost and accidently dropped in amongst all the new things I want to try, I picked up The Elves of Cintra, book 2 of the Genesis of Shannara arc and the 19th book in the overarching Shannara epic. This installment continues the story of Logan Tom and Angel Perez as they struggle to complete their missions for the Word and save some vestige of civilization from the clamoring world-ending forces of the Void.
My favorite part of this installment and every book in this series is the atmosphere that Brooks is able to create with his writing style and word choice. There were multiple times across this book and series in general where he will convey an emotion or build the atmosphere with just a few simple phrases and words. I mean I love flowery, complex writing too, but the fact that Brooks is able to do the same thing with so few words is amazing to me, and where he proves that he is a master of his craft that been writing for 30 years with nearly every book being a best seller.
Another way he shows this is by using a lot of the themes and motifs that we have come to expect from classic fantasy and makes them unique to his narrative- themes of family, the “chosen one”, the juxtaposition between light and dark, and the reoccurring motif of talismans. As everyone knows classic fantasy tends to use the same themes and motifs a lot and I always enjoy seeing how a new author that I decide to pick up will make them work in new and exciting ways for their narrative, especially since most of these reoccurring themes are some of my favorite to explore. There is just something about classic fantasy and science fiction that seems so homey to me, no matter how anxious or overwhelmed I’m feeling in my day-to-day life, I know that I can pick up one of these books and feel instantly more grounded and comfortable.
Finally, I really like the allusions that he was able to weave into his narrative. There were the Biblical references with the Word and the Void obviously, but the one that stood out to me the most was the fact that the Knights repeatedly call themselves shepherds; which as an adult that grew up in a Southern Baptist household, these references definitely brought back memories. Another one that I noticed was the relationship between the Lady and the Knights as it really reminded me of that medieval practice of chivalry and the lady making the knight her vassal and sending him on a quest; again, as an adult that was obsessed with knights and castles as a child, these allusions brought back some core memories. Overall, these allusions really added to the comfort level as they are things that I’m used to, and as a very anxious and easily overwhelmed person, that familiarity makes the reading experience so much better.
All in all, if you like more traditional leaning fantasy and somehow haven’t picked up Brooks yet, you should really give him a try. (My recommendation is to read in chronological order starting with Running with the Demon.) He was my first foray into this genre so I believe he is a good starting point before you jump into the series with super long character lists. Brooks’s books tend to focus on “fellowships” of no more than 10-15 characters at a time so it isn’t as overwhelming. He also doesn’t do as deep a dive into themes as some of the others and his world is linked to our own so it’s easier to wrap your head around. So if you are looking for a good series to use to dip your toes into this genre and see if it’s something you might like, Brooks is a perfect stepping stone series in that regard. 5 stars and I can’t wait to see how this arc of the series wraps up!!!
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
I appreciate that the story is moved along in a meaningful way. 2nd novels in trilogies often have pacing problems, and while this may have had a few, there was enough going on to keep me engaged, and the story is still as interesting as it was in Armageddon's Children.
Normally the second book of a trilogy is used as a bridge to the last book, where everything is supposed to happen. There is an element of that here because the story is not finished, but the author did pack in a lot of action and some important events. Second books can sometimes be slow in a trilogy, but that's not the case with this one.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes