Rating: 
Summary: 2nd book will tell if I buy the 3rd one new or used
Review: Terry Brooks started my love for reading when I was a young child. I've grown up with his storytelling for almost 20 years now, and have come to love the characters portrayed in the series. However, I expected more from a Terry Brooks book. His storytelling was (again) magnificent, however, it had to be, to cover for his retread of character ideas.The characters in this book seem to be a rebirth of previous characters, down to gender, disposition & such...even the dangers and trails they must overcome are the same. If Mr. Brooks is searching for new material that bad, I would suggest that he should have let the Shannara series lie where it was. However, if the originality that shone through in most of his former works re-appears, I will be the first to stand in line for the 3rd book's release. I do recommend this book for reading... the question is whether one should buy it new or wait until they hit the used book stores. For myself, that question will be answered with the 2nd book in this series... and my hope is that it lives up to my expectations!
Rating: 
Summary: An incomplete, poorly balanced story with no conclusion
Review: As a LONG time Terry Brooks fan and someone who has purchased "The Sword of Shannara" numerous times for friends and family, I picked up this book without reading a review and without hesitation or reservation. And I am sorely disappointed for it. Ilse Witch is a story with incredible potential but after reading it I can only conclude that sales and marketing were the driving forces behind the printing of this book. It is an incomplete story designed to get you to go out and buy the next book in the series and which leaves you looking for the last half of the book. It starts out strong, in classic Brooks style. Almost all of the instruments in Brook's orchestra are brought into play. There are mysterious circumstances afoot which require the knowledge and power of a Druid to unravel, a new dark and sinister evil character, a highlander from Leah along with his smaller, younger sidekick, Rovers, Elven politics, healers, seers, wingriders and more. The plot is enticing and well developed. By the end of the first 200 pages, I am warmed up and ready for the inevitable twists and turns, secret revelations, and the buildup to the final confrontation between Druid and Ilse Witch (hints of which are dropped all throughout the book). Another hundred pages and I am starting to worry. We are only through about 10% of the promised action and journey with only 150 pages to go. As it is, since the first two thirds of the book focused on preparation and character intrigue and development, I've been waiting with baited breath for the meat and potatoes of the book. The final 150 pages rush us through a series of somewhat forgettable encounters with a few moments of deep revelation. One the most intense points, the Jerle Shannara's navigation through the Squirm was done so quickly and piecemeal that I had to read it over three times just to be able to visualize what was going on. The use of the Sword of Shannara was strange and inconsistent with its previous appearences as well. By the end, the title character of the book has STILL failed to make her grand appearence and confrontation with the Druid, the party of adventurers is divided up and in various states of disarray, and the conclusion of the quest is nowhere NEAR finished. It reminds me of Sword of Shannara when all of the heros are locked up or otherwise thwarted and it seems as if there is no hope in sight. I turn the page and here is the redoutable Hendell scaling the walls of the Elven palace getting the action going again. I nearly leaped for joy when that occured halfway through Sword. That was ten years ago that I read Sword. Today, I turn the page and I am treated to the following text as consolence for the missing second half of this book: "What will happen next? Please turn the page for a sneak preview of the next book." I am left high and dry. This is not the writing that has caused me to see Brooks as an eqaul of Tolkien. This is a George Lucas, Star Wars-esque, sellout attempt to sell sequels. (...)
Rating: 
Summary: Another Great Book
Review: I haven't read a poor one by Brooks yet. He is definitely one of my favorite authors, the Ilse Witch is so great. I wish it was about 8 times as long though. The story ended at such a pivotal moment. I LOVED it anyway, as well as Antrax.
Rating: 
Summary: An empire of superb wiriting has fallen!
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Classic Terry Brooks
Review: This book is classic Terry Brooks styling. The story is compelling, the characters are well developed and interesting, and the world in which the story takes place is well described and maintains continuity. My only real complaint about this book is it seems to drag at the beginning and in the middle. That is to say that the adventure takes too long to get started, and once it does get started, only brief flashes of action interrupt the monotony.
For those who have liked other works of Terry Brooks, you will enjoy this one as well. For those who want to get into the world of Shannara for the first time, read Elfstones or Scions of Shannara instead.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome, awesome, awesome - the best yet!
Review: I have read all of the Shannara series books, and this was probably my favorite. My previous favorite was the "Wishsong of Shannara," and I absolutely love the concept the the wishsong magic. I'm so glad Mr. Brooks decided to base an entire series around it. This book is gripping and even though the characters feel familar, the plot line is new and exciting. It will not disappoint old or new Shannara fans! The only downside is waiting for the rest of the series - Book 2 just came out and we'll have to wait for Book 3. I highly recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: Another Brooks Masterpiece
Review: What can I say? Nothing really happens of great importance so far, aside from getting to really know the characters. Yet, I gave it 5 stars. For some it's reason it's still amazing. It really sets things up for the sequel, Antrax. All over an extrememly good book. I SERIOUSLY reccomend Brooks, anyways.
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: I really enjoyed this book. It is very well written, and would have received 5 stars from me, except that I loved "Wishsong of Shannara" more!! It was easy to read, and did not take me very long (I tend to read good books rather quickly). The beginning of the book is quite mysterious, but everything is explained later on.....one of those books you cannot quite put down.
Rating:
Summary: Maybe I'm biased but.......
Review: I've been reading Terry Brooks novelles for a long time and though I've read all of the original Shannara series and Ran with the Demon all the way to Angel Fire East (excuse the puns) I find this book his best. Generally, throughout all of the Sahnnara books the character development was slow and many times I have wanted to leave the books, the same with John Ross and Nest. Where the previous stories held your breathe in the last 3-5 chapters, this books gets going and doesn't stop. It's adventurous, humorous, and the reference to the orginal series is good/helpful but not laborious. Thanks Mr. B for coming back to the girl that brung ya.
Rating:
Summary: Terry Brooks grabs me in again!
Review: My first Shannara book was read in the late 70s when I should have been studing for college finals. Now I'm 40 something with work, home, kids and somehow Brooks reels me into his world again. Like life there's not an ending to this book, but there are lots of questions. How much can you trust others? What do you hide from those you love? How can you reconcile the good and evil that exists in all of us? If someone you loved saved your life, but destroyed others' lives how would you feel about them? I like fantasy but I usually feel like I don't have time for those epic fantasy novels in my life right now. 10 min to read before bed is pretty good for me. But Brooks books are quick reads even though they are hefty in size. I especially like that the names are not unmanagable. Sometimes I might not get to read for fun all week, with those polysyllable names found in some fantasy books I forget who's who. Bek, Quentin, Hunter Predd, Isle Witch - a foreign flavor but names that stick. I'll be reading the next in this series and the next and the next....
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