Brooks and the magic of Shannara are great
582325
If you love Terry  Brooks writing you will not be disappointed. Let the search for the elf stones begin. Great fun.
2496740
Fantasy master, Terry Brooks, has officially homed back on his prodigious throne of the ambitious Shannara series. Indisputably the classic that has earned him a highly accomplished status, "The Sword of Shannara" determined the glorious fate of Terry Brooks.  Although, I'm not the biggest fan of his non-Shanarra books (with the only exception of The Phantom Menace) when I heard that his flagship franchise was released, I galvanized to my nearest bookstore and eagerly anticipated the paperback to be yet another luxuriant read.  Looking forward for a mega collection of in depth sceneries, I was utterly blown to despair when Brooks failed to do so.  As if targeted for a younger audience, The Voyage of Jerle Shannara has been written in the less description, more imagination approach.  A bit infuriated, my hands sought to hurl the book across the room, but once the attachment with the characters became evident I finished the book to the very end.
Set during the current period in the Four Lands, Walker Boh has awakened from his life-expanding Druid sleep.  Deciphering a mysterious scroll sent by an emissary of the late Allardon Elessedil, Walker unravels a potent magic that may hopefully stabilize the quarreling Four Lands.  The celestial magic has been sited far in an elusive ocean where a continent known as the Blue Divide awaits.  Lacking the man power and the resources, Walker sways Elf King Allardon to supply him with a small band of Eleven Home Guard and funds.  Soon the Druid recruits the nomadic Rovers as the most excellent crew for an airship.  Quentin Leah and a scrawny yet vital character, Bek Rowe, also join forces.  Together, the crew journeys on airship through three perilous islands for the keys to ultimately unlock the magic found in the Blue Divine.  A mystifying sorceress wielding the magic of the WishSong utilizes a network of spies to trail behind Walker's expedition.  Intent on false vengeance, the Isle Witch realizes the confrontation with the Druid will be grueling, but her bitter resolve overcomes all fear.
Exceptionally executed, the superb characterizations render the book to be more than just another face in the crowd.  The diversity and relationships between the characters, like the Isle Witch and Bek, are beyond comparison with other fantasy books.  Readers who ventured onto prior Shannara books can expect the cushy fantasy, swords and sorcery, and multiple fictitious creatures.  However, gone are the powerfully alluring descriptions of consummate settings Brooks has been recognized for.  In regard to the Shanarra series, expectations for the series and future ones are extraordinarily high and with the lost of great, slow paintings of surroundings, Brooks in my book has faltered.  Hard.
3875220
I've read most of Terry Brooks' books, and have found his shannara books to be very easy reads and captivating.  But they are extremely formulaic  and this novel in particular truly does steal many specific plot points  directly.  As a teenager I made a list of like 50 and quit there.  Nonetheless, this book is an excellent introduction book to fantasy.  It is  by no means a "deep" or "complex character driven"  story.  It is an action story in the vein of "star wars".  Brooks  does an excellent job of bringing the reader into the story, something that  my favorite authors in the genre (Tolkien and Jordan) seem to occasionally  have difficulty with.  I think that brooks is a talented wordsmith that  made the mistake of sticking too close to his outline of the lord of the  rings when he wrote this novel.  (Regarding my rating, I can't possibly  give many books a 5 rating because you have to scale it according to the  best books ever written in any genre.  Whomever gives TSOS a five star  rating is minimizing the works of dickens, hemmingway and the other truly  original and talented masters of their craft)
2036269
Been hooked since Sword of Shanarra. Have tried lots of other authors, but always come back to Terry Brooks. Good reading!
2236624
I first read this book as a middle school student over ten years ago and decided to pick it up once again in an attempt to rediscover the magic in its pages.  After finishing the book as of ten minutes ago I had to get on my computer to type a review.

"The Elfstones of Shannara" is the best work by Brooks and here are the reasons why I, along with many others, say that it is his best work.  Reason #1 The character development that takes place in this book is amazing.  In no other book by Terry Brooks will you find character development that matches the caliber of development obtained in Elfstones.  Reason #2 Whether knowingly or unknowingly Terry Brooks effectively kidnaps your emotions at the same time that he captures your attention.  I have never been so emotionally attached to any of Terry Brooks' characters as I was with Wil and Amberle, not to mention the sympathy that I felt for poor Prince Ander.  Lastly reason #3 The slight twist of originality that Brooks incorporates into "the bad guy."  The book doesn't have just one bad guy, a small group of bad guys, or even a bad guy in control of an army.  It has thousands upon thousands of demons who are all just as nasty as the others.  Of course there are small handful of demons that play important roles in shaping the plot of the book, but they do not fulfill a role of supreme power or ultimate leadership over the other demons.

I recommend this book as a good book for anyone who enjoys fantasy or who is wanting to read fantasy.  One recomendation though, read "The Sword of Shannara" first, because it helps establish a background of information that is critical to the plot of Elfstones.  THen after you have finished reading Elfstones pick up "The Wishsong of Shannara."
4882412
I like the continued connections made between 'our world' and the world of Shannara.  Terry Brooks continues the trend. If you like the series then you will like these.
3366982
Even though I strongly disagreed with several key character decisions in "The Black Elfstone", such as why in the world Drisker would trust the person he did, this book somewhat redeems and explodes the storyline back into typical Shannara action.

Twists and turns, wild magic attacks, major tactical moves by key characters and an absolutely breathtaking confrontation at Drisker's cabin kept me on the edge of my seat, and all of this occurred in the first HALF of the book. It's great and I really enjoyed reading this.

I can only hope the next two books are written with similar roller-coaster inducing emotional highs and lows. Although Clozia is clearly a villain from the start, Tarsha's brother is not. He's a sympathetic creature with a tortured soul and I am very curious as to what happens to him. It is truly not his fault that he is villainous, and yet his terrifying presence and significant magical ability poses problems for everyone involved, including the person trying to manipulate him.
4397820
There are many comments about the debt Terry Brooks, and his debut novel particularly, owes to Tolkien. There is no doubt that he was heavily influenced by the creator of modern fantasy, but it's also worth noting that there wasn't much else out there when The Sword of Shannara was published. The genre has expanded and fluorished in the decades since, and in some ways "Sword" is antiquated and no longer holds as much magic, but it is still a fantastic introduction to the genre for younger readers stepping into the world of elves, magic, and dark lords.

Tolkien's tale is interesting, but it's also very dry, the voice markedly from the past. More contemporary efforts, like George R.R. Martin's "A Song of Ice and Fire" or Joe Abercrombie's "First Law" trilogy, might well be brilliant, but they're also inappropriate for younger readers discovering the genre. Brooks doesn't shy away from violence, but he doesn't embrace the gruesome details of it, either, and there is no offensive language or sexuality to speak of. A middle school reader with an appetite for reading should enjoy the story without stumbling across content they are too young to handle.

With a straightforward fantasy adventure tale that hints at some larger plot elements but is mostly what it seems (a riff on Lord of the Rings), Brooks will never be accused of beginning his career with a burst of creativity. But he does bring a more modern, readable voice to the type of tale Tolkien once told, and as an introduction to epic fantasy, The Sword of Shannara works. I know that once my son shows an interest in reading longer books, The Sword of Shannara will be right next to Lord of the Rings, The Prydain Chronicles, and Harry Potter. Just because I've outgrown the tale doesn't mean it won't have value to the right audience, and just because it's derivative doesn't mean it's worthless.
1057294
I sort of raked the first book over the coals in that the author took many 'easy ways out' using 500 year old tech that should not have been working and ignoring the bigger picture of the novel and focusing on inconsequential details. I am glad to say this book is a major improvement. The author quickly divests characters of old tech, guns, solar powered ATV, and we are squarely in a magic filled, Shanara world. I don't want to spoil but we have a new wielder of the black staff and some exciting changed to characters! Also the introduction of the malevolent "rag picker" is one of Brooks' scariest foes in a long while! My only complaint is I wish this was a 3 part series!!
4509011
I love Terry Brooks & his writing a new installment to the Landoer series urged me to pick up the complete series to be brepared for the new book.
2135125
Best book I've read in a long while. I will certainly get more of Brooks' books! I've ended up in countless discussions with friends over the ideas and some of the quotes presented here.
482236
I've been a huge fan of Terry Brooks, but not due to his most known Shannara novels. My all time favorite books novels are "The Word and The Void". Followed closely by "The Genesis of Shannara". Which just happen to be by Terry Brooks. I've waited for him to continue those story lines. So in the mean time I purchased The Sword of Shannara Trilogy.

I'll be honest, the 1st book The Sword of Shannara reminds me a lot to LOTR. It was a good book...but after reading the 2nd book "The Elfstones of Shannara", I can see how Terry Brooks got everyone to fall in love with all the Shannara books. Now I'll continue to read all his books. Hopefully in the near future he can continue with on going story lines of my all time favorites...The Word and The Void
3418578
I love the shannara series, my mom read them to us as children so we always purchase them for young families. Each book just gets better ;)
936190
Wow. these books get better and better! This book is by far the best yet. The demons are truly evil and you can feel the hatred they have of the elves and the hatred the Elves have for them. .... the story is great. I really suggest this book. A Brooks fan would not be let down.
537773
Too bad Terry Brooks didn't write this trilogy first. From the other Shannara Books we know there were survivors of the bleak dying world that ours could become. Great Reading.
3289189
Another great book from the amazing Shauna Roberts. Ice Magic Fire Magic has a complex plot, likable heroes, and hateable villains. It has interesting worldbuilding, especially the two different kinds of people living semi-symbiotically together, and it has explosive magic! Check it out!
4033834
All Shannara series Terry Brooks books get as many stars as I can give them. They are great books and he is a wonderful author.