Rating: 
Summary: The Worst In The Series
Review: This is perhaps the dullest, least believable book Brooks has ever written. The plodding plot unwinds at a mind-alteringly slow pace, with no energy or joy.
Rating: 
Summary: The most memorable Shannara story
Review: The Sword of Shannara was an epic fantasy, but it is the Elfstones of Shannara that is the reason why we love fantasy. The conflict of love and duty transposed against a background of good versus evil is just too good. Wil is probably the most human of all of Brook's characters and to be honest, one of the most believable. The ending tugs at the heartstrings because after reading the whole book, it accomplishes what a good story should do-makes you root for the hero. Sad, but refreshing to have an ending where victory is tainted by the taste of loss. It kind of reminds us that no matter how much we think we're in control, how much power we can obtain-there are just some things that cannot be changed by us no matter what we do.
Rating:
Summary: Simply wonderful
Review: The Elfstones of Shannara is definitely the best book in the Shannara series. I love this book, and have read it over, and over, and over.... For the longest time, I wondered why I liked it so much. Then, I realized that it wasn't like any of the rest of the Shannara series (Sword of Shannara was O.K., but the later books became nothing more than agonizingly slow psychodramas with characters that were constantly struggling to deal with the use of the "magic"- bleh!). This novel, on the other hand, is perfectly balanced, with a somewhat different concept than the standard "Kill the evil wizard/dictator" plot. The Ellcrys, the tree that bars a horde of vengeful demons behind the magic walls of the Forbidding, is dying. Once she is gone, the creatures of darkness will pour in and destroy the world. The only way to stop the terrible events is to sent one of the Chosen to bathe the seed of the Ellcrys in the Bloodfire. This task falls upon Amberle Elessedil, a reluctant former Chosen. Allanon appoints Wil Ohmsford as her protector and sends them off on a mission to save the world. Meanwhile, the forbidding collapses, freeing the demons. It's up to the Elven Army to stop them, aided by the brave men of the Free Corps. Character development is excellent; none of Brooks' other works has any characters that come close to the ones in this book. Stee Jans, Ander, Amberle.... they're all very compelling and all seem very real. The plot is great, too. My personal favorite moment is the battle with the demons at Halys Cut, but the book is chock full of memorable scenes. The first encounter with Cephelo, Allanon's battle with the furies, the witch sisters, and the final agonizing decision itself... All of them will earn a special place in your memory of great fantasy. The only real downside to it all is that this book shows you how creative Brooks can really be. When you see that someone has the ability to write a masterwork like this and then go and read something like "The Wishsong of Shannara," it really disillusions you.
Rating:
Summary: The BEST of the Shannara series!!!
Review: I didn't particularly like "Sword of Shannara" because I thought it was too much of a Tolkien rip-off. And I've never liked the way Terry Brooks spends so much time dealing with the psychology of whether or not to use this weapon or that weapon (e.g. elfstones). So when I read "Elfstones of Shannara" I wasn't overly optimistic I'd like it. But I was never so pleasantly surprised to be wrong! This is a GREAT BOOK! There are so many exciting scenes, from the druid's frightening foray into the long abandoned keep, to the terrifying encounters with the Reaper in the forrest and on the bridge, to the moving ending --- I loved this book! It's one of the few novels I enjoy reading over & over! An excellent story! On the negative side, if you go on to read "Wishsong of Shannara", expecting it to be anywhere near this good, you'll be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!!
Review: I must say, The Elfstones of Shannara is the best book out of all books in the Shannara series. It's better than the first and the third! I haven't read the Heritage series yet, but that is next after I finish Wishsong. Terry Brooks is an excellent writer and his Shannara series (especially Elfstones) is the best!
Rating:
Summary: My favorite fantasy novel
Review: What to say? I have read so many different fantasy novels that it would be difficult to list them. The Elfstones of Shannara takes the cake. I loved it, both the the first time that I read it and every time after. TES is one of only two books to which I have given a five star rating. The other is Assassin's Quest, a newer book by Robin Hobb. The reason for the very high rating has to do with the beauty of the story. I won't go into hyperbole and say that the book was perfect; there are things that it lacks. For example, the world and its history are not nearly as vivid as what Tolkien created for The Lord of the Rings. However, what it lacks does not take away from the vibrant and carefully drawn out plot, the calm sadness of the romance, and the disheartening trials that the characters have to face. Through it all, Terry Brooks keeps the characters alive, realistic, and human; when you finish the book you want to read it again this book is worthy of a five star rating, and whatever you might expect from it, you will get something different and better. END
Rating: 
Summary: Good follow-up to Sword
Review: This is one case where I thought the sequel was better than the original, and this trend continues into Wishsong. "If you liked Sword of Shannara... blahblahblah"
Rating:
Summary: My youth is dead...long live wisdom
Review: Wow...I remember LOVING these books when I was a kid, so I decided to reread them recently. What a bad choice to make! All I managed to do was ask myself "what was I thinking?" and waste precious hours of my life dragging myself through page after page of the same banal, repetetive storys and narration, all set in a world that I could not care less about and that had no depth. Ugh. This is wretch.
Rating:
Summary: Whew! Close call!
Review: It took me awhile to decide which book was better, SOS or EOS(Sword of Shannara or Elfstones of Shannara. SOS won). EOS ends in a BOOM that leaves you hanging. If you read this book, beware. IT WILL NOT END LIKE YOU THINK IT WILL!! Sorry for shouting, but I just wanted to get across to everybody that I love this book.
Rating:
Summary: Great Fantasy, Great Novel
Review: With only the exception of Tolkein's LOR, Elfstones of Shannarra is the best epic fantasy I have ever read (and I have read tons!). It benefits from a very unique story that stands apart from most fantasy novels with its originality. The purpose is not to kill the evil magician, god, dragon, king, etc. It is to restore a magic tree to health that protects the land from an invasion of demons. The well developed characters move the story foreward and kept my interest unlike any other book I've read. The struggles Wil and Amberle have in understanding themselves is thought provoking. The determination of the elves to survive is moving. Allonon's determination to save the world is inspiring, as is Ander Ellessedil's and Ste Jans' leadership. The demons in the novel are simply terrifying. I still remember how difficult it was for me to sleep after I first read the novel (I was 10). I rember feeling terrified as Wil and Amberle were hunted down relentlessly by the Reaper as it killed every person there to protect them. Brook's wrote a masterpiece driven by powerful and well developed characters hunted by nightmare inspiring demons. Every bit of the plot was original (which was nice after the near plagarism Sword of Shannarra had). I was pulled into the novel instantly, and I read the entire book one Sunday after I got home from church. The battle scenes were masterfully done, as was the plot development. I felt like I was a part of the story, wanting the "good guys" to pull off a miracle and save the dying tree. I was completely emotionally involved with the story, and as it reached its heartbreaking, yet powerful conclusion, I simply started crying. I won't give away what happens, but the twist at the end is stunningly tragic but joyful. I recommend Elfstones of Shannarra to anybody. I am an Elglish Major and the University of Utah, a lover of fantasy, science fiction, as well as classic literature. And I must say I have read maybe four or five novels that are better than Elfstones of Shannarra. I don't know any that I felt so personally involved with the story and characters, nor any other that has made me cry. I've probable read Elfstones over twenty times, and every time I do, I love it. Highly, HIGHLY, recommended.
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