Rating: 
Summary: Borderline readable - typical Brooks fantasy schlock
Review: In many respects this is a very stock-standard run-of-the-mill work from Brook's literary cookie-cutter. The story line moves quickly enough to keep the reader mildly interested, but the characters in the novel lack any depth, and the writting style is hopelessly amateurish and difficult to read. Not one of the best fantasy novels I've had the pleasure of reading - certainly no Tolkein anyway. But probably worth a quick flick if you get the book as a birthday present (like I did), and have nothing better to do (hey - I was on holidays !)
Rating: 
Summary: Way to keep the story going!
Review: I liked the way Terry Brooks starts to show how his world is growing up. I mean, no world can stay barbarious forever, and so he does that. A refreshingly new way to look at world he created, and a great new adventure. The characters hold the same vices and attitudes that previous main characters have held, but you don't mind that, the plot thickens and you learn more and more about how closely connected their world could be to ours.
Rating:
Summary: Good for a fantasy book, okay for Terry
Review: What can I say, I'm devoted to Terry Brooks, and so I liked the Ilse Witch. Terry still has his incredible ability to put scenery and sonario into most eloquent descriptions, and takes the time to flesh out quality characters. This book has colorful scenes and an interesting plot, with a couple of good plot twists that I had to give him credit for. Why didn't I give it 5 stars then? Well, first of all, except for a few small changes, Terry isn't being altogether original. A lot of the characters are feeling terribly repetitive from earlier books (will there ever be a different Leah character?), and it's just the same style of story telling over and over. A few of the plot twists were a little predictable. Most of all, I felt like the action went too quickly in this book. The earlier Shannara books were brilliant in that it took a little time for things to happen (it took Par three tries to get that sword), but in Ilse Witch everything seems to happen so quickly (especially people getting killed) that it just doesn't feel right. Maybe Terry's getting tired. Was it as good as the Heritage series? Definitely not. Will I buy the next book? Yes, cause it's still Terry.
Rating: 
Summary: Terry Brooks new book definitly one of best works
Review: When I first read the first book The Sword Of Shannara I wondered about more land across the blue divide. When I read this book my questions were answered when an elf was found in the blue divide by one of the famed wing riders of past books. The elf is carrying a map and has his eyes and tongue removed. He happens to be the current kings older brother who went on a mission some 20 years ago looking for old magic. When the New king found this he agreed to let Walker Boh (now just walker) lead an expedition on airship to get the treasure. He takes a strange boy with unknown powers named Bek Rowe as a cabin boy. When the Ilse witch hears this plan she starts her own expedition and shadows Walkers expedition. And right up to the fall off at the end, and then in typical Brooks style he cuts off to next the next in the series. This book is great and worth every minute of reading.
Rating:
Summary: Terry Brooks Does It Again!
Review: Tolkien may have created the epic fantasy genre but Brooks really popularized it. Reading a Brook's Shannara novel is akin to watching a great movie and this new one's no different. You got memorable yet mysterious characters, who's secrets are revealed at a good pace as the series moves along. The verse is not too wordy or too curt but just enough to visually establish place and move along the plot. I look forward to reading the future books in this series. Perhaps Brooks will finally verify that which many readers have suspected for so long, that Shannara is in fact a future version of Earth.
Rating:
Summary: His most readable Shannara novel yet
Review: I've been a fan of Terry Brooks' Shannara novels since the first one ("The Sword of Shannara"). Unfortunately, the more recent books in the series have basically been clones of each other. After several years, Brooks has come out with a new Shannara novel - and a new generation of Ohmsfords - and his storytelling abilities have demonstrably improved.There are little blurbs of "history" throughout the book - enough so that if this is your first Shannara book, you'll have some idea of what's happened in the books you haven't read. The Ilse Witch is a fully realized, completely evil character, as is the Druid Walker. He was really only a cardboard cutout in Brooks' previous novels, but in this book Brooks has fleshed him out, made him a more complex being with many conflicting feelings and emotions. I do think that Brooks could have made a better choice for the Ilse Witch's spy aboard the Jerle Shannara. Without revealing the identity of said spy, I will say that this is the weakest, most pathetic character in the story - but Brooks may surprise us in the sequel and show us a completely different side of the spy's character. Let's hope the sequel comes out soon. I'd like to know what the treasure everybody's after really is.
Rating:
Summary: I like the book, but. . .
Review: I am a fan of Terry Books, and I like this book, but: 1. The book is titled the "Ilse Witch", but the character is missing from much of the book. The book is very entertaining when she is present, but drags when she is not. 2. It is frustrating to read a book without a strong ending. Of course, this is a novel which introduces a series. Thus, you expect loose ends. Even so, I cannot imagine a new writer ever getting this book published, because it is an incomplete work by itself. It is only because of Terry Brook's reputation and fan base that he can get away with a novel like this. 3. I agree with other reviews that at certain points, plot events and character motivations are not logical. When Terry Brooks gets going, there is no one better. I anxiously await the next book in the series. But please, Terry, give us the real deal!
Rating:
Summary: Could've been better...
Review: This is my first Terry Brooks book. Considering his popularity, I thought it was about time I read one. Unfortunately, I've picked up what might not be Terry at his best. While this was book was okay, it seemed like more of a "teaser" to me. The story started off pretty good with the hint of mystery, danger, and adventure -- which is right up my alley. Unfortunately, the story never really delivered. The characters were interesting, and I found myself liking them and wanting to follow the story to see what would happen. The descriptions of events was good too. It was very easy to visualize the characters in action because of Terry's writing style in this area. The plot on the other hand is what is lacking. The story would be going along pretty good, building up to what I thought would be something "big" happening. But instead, that storyline would just kind of fizzle out -- which is why I call the book a teaser. You're given hints of something greater than what is actually delivered. The plot held a lot of promise, but the author didn't quite deliver in the way I'm assuming he could have. But overall, the book was still decent and I don't regret spending the money on it because even though I think it could have been better, I like Terry's writing style. The book will either leave you wanting more or wondering if the next book in the series will be worth the wait. I'm still undecided.
Rating:
Summary: Return to Shannara, at last...
Review: Many years ago I started reading Fantasy novels and the first one that I picked up was Sword of Shannara and became an instant fan of this genera. Mr. Brooks has given us many enjoyable stories over the years and this one is more of the same. It truely was an enjoyable book to read, however, I would like to have seen more in depth struggle in the search for the keys to the prize at the end of the rainbow. I look forward to the next installment of this promising series.
Rating:
Summary: Isle Witch( Voyage of the Jerle Shannara)
Review: Brooks out does himself again!
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