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Summary: Brooks is one of the most consistant writers of good fantasy
Review: You can't go wrong really picking up a Brooks book.
Highly recommended.
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Summary: A jump forward and back
Review: As the final book of the last series, "Morgawr," closed, we could see the hint of a new book coming. The Ilse Witch had now renounced her evil ways and was going to fulfill her task of rebuilding the Druid Council. Now, Terry Brooks has brought us the first book of the new series, "Jarka Ruus," which begins the story of the new High Druid (the Ard Rhys), Grianne Ohmsford.If you remember your Shannara history, then you are familiar with the Forbidding. Due to a druid conspiracy, the Ard Rhys is banished to the Forbidding. A dwarf named Tagwen, sworn to protect her, runs to find her brother to use the magic to save her. As Tagwen finds out, her brother is away, and the conspirators are gaining on him. With the help of a young Ohmsford, the Ard Rhys' nephew Pen, they make an escape in search of assistance to help the Ard Rhys. Terry Brooks keeps more than one plotline going at any one time, but the pacing of the book keeps you turning pages, wanting to find out what happens next. I would recommend reading this book and recommend taking a block of time to allow yourself the pleasure of reading it in one sitting.
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Summary: The Worst Shannara Book
Review: This book isn't bad, but Brooks is capable of so much more. While the previos trilogy had a slight dip in quality, this one is a lot worse. This one starts off really well with loads of I Claudius style conspiracies going on, but it falls apart once the focus shifts to the hero Pen. Pen actually succeeds in being more boring than Bek from the previous trilogy, not to mention the 2nd half is a complete copy of Ilse Witch which would be my 2nd least favourite. The supporting characters are so-so and Grianne is interesting enough, but the Prince guy from the previous trilogy has completely changed character. There's also a dull tacked on love story that you really couldn't give a damn about. It gets better at the very end and has a nice climax, but it's still not enough to put this on a par with Brooks' earlier work. Hopefully the second book will be an improvement and this is not the start of a slippery slope for the Shannara series.
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Summary: Let Down
Review: For as long as I have been reading, Terry Brooks has been one of my all time favorite authors. I have never read a Brooks novel that I didn't love. Until now. Though I have no problems with the Story Line or the Character's Personalities; I find it impossable to believe that that characters could possably be as dumb as they are written. How many times was Pen told that they couldn't use magic because they were being chased by people who could detect the magic? And yet when they are forced to use magic to defend themselves, Oh Ya! He SUDDENLY remembers! But he's a kid, so this is forgivable, but Grianne! High Druid of Shannara! Shes a complete dolt. Brooks tells you what she's thinking, the whole time I'm thinking WHAT AN IDIOT! No wonder the other Druids don't thing she cuts it! If Brooks is trying to get more readers between ages 8-12, this is GREAT! But come on guy, give something to the rest of us too.
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Summary: High Druid Extremely Readable
Review: I am a huge Terry Brooks fan -- I've read almost every book he's ever written including Hook and all of the Shannara series. By this you can correctly conclude I will continue reading him and look forward to his work. However, I only give the Jarka Ruus - High Druid of Shannara 4 stars. This isn't because I find the writing any less enjoyable than his other books. I know other reviewers didn't care for Jerle Shannara, but I realy liked it. My issue is that in one sense Terry Brooks recycles a particular plot element -- the coming of age story. His main character is always a young person who hates/misses leaving home but goes on the adventure anyway. I'd have been thrilled if this time around he'd broken that mold. However, let me say I still greatly enjoyed this book. I am a huge fan of the Ilse Witch (I don't care what she calls herself, that is what she is!). I think her character is well thought out. If I can make a comparison between Allanon and more recent druids: I like the way Terry writes about the druids following Allanon because they have weakness and are more human. I wished this book had been more about Grianne. Anyway, I can't wait for the next installment!
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Summary: Simply a much better effort
Review: After reading the last Shannara series I was a little hesitant to begin a new one. The last series (Jerle Shannara) left me slightly disappointed.
After reading a preview chapter from Jarka Ruus I became very interested. I received this book as a gift and immediately sat down to read it over the course of a few hours. I was very impressed. The writing, characters, and plot lines are much more reminiscent of the earlier Shannara novels. Very good pacing and detail made this a much more enjoyable read.
I highly recommend this book to all Brooks fans and to all fans of Fantasy.
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Summary: Up to the challenge
Review: I'm not a huge Terry Brooks fan. When I recieved this book as a present, I wasn't too sure if I would like it. So I set up the challenge: to prove to me that Brooks could write a good book. And I have to say, wow. It's not perfect, but it is really close. It is very good, and I very recommend it. I'm even looking forward to the next one in the set! Have fun reading this!
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Summary: Exciting!
Review: One of the best books of 2003, third in the Annual Poll of the National fantasy & Horror Club of Bulgaria... Exciting, adventurous, magical - that's why we are reading fantasy.
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Summary: Brooks did it again...
Review: The "Shannara" series continue and Terry Brooks is still writing them better and better. This is probably the best one, with it's sudden twists in the plot, with the appearances of well-known characters from the past and a great new generation of heroes...
Brooks is my second favourite author. Only Robert Stanek is better.
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Summary: New World, Old Favorites
Review: This is the first book in the new High Druid of Shannara trilogy that's set within Terry Brooks' ongoing fantasy Shannara series. It's set twenty years after the events that occurred in the previous Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy. Grianne Ohmsford, the former Isle Witch, is now "Ard Rhys" or High Druid of a restored Paranor and Third Druid Council. But personal, political, and magical enemies team up to trap her in the ultimate prison of all and it's up to another Ohmsford lad and his friends to go on a quest to save her. Basically, Terry Brooks returns to his roots. We get another old-fashioned Lord of the Rings-type adventure tale. It may not be very original, but it's still pretty entertaining. Shannara fans will like the fact that we get more background on the new Paranor and on the Northland. We're also introduced to a whole new magical world beyond Shannara that's populated by lots of interesting creatures and characters.
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