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Viridian Deep #3
Sister of Starlit Seas
A rebellious young heroine begins a voyage of self-discovery in the third novel of an epic fantasy series set in the world of Viridian Deep, from the legendary author of the Shannara saga.
Auris’s adoptive sister Char has always been the baby of the family—a position that grates on Char, especially when everyone insists on telling her exactly what to do and how to do it. But Char is certain that her headstrong, impulsive behavior, the quality her family sees as her greatest weakness, is actually her greatest the willingness to instantly brave danger and leap to the rescue when anyone she loves is threatened.
Char knows she will never grow into the woman she was meant to be under her family’s loving but repressive eye, so a month before she turns fifteen, she runs away and joins a Human pirate crew in the warm southerly regions of her world. Then, three years into her pirate career, her captain—the man she is convinced she loves—is captured by the leaders of the slave trade he has been fighting. When Char leaps in to rescue him, she finds herself thrust into an adventure that will uncover secrets she never suspected about herself, one that will maybe, finally, teach her to look before she leaps.
Auris’s adoptive sister Char has always been the baby of the family—a position that grates on Char, especially when everyone insists on telling her exactly what to do and how to do it. But Char is certain that her headstrong, impulsive behavior, the quality her family sees as her greatest weakness, is actually her greatest the willingness to instantly brave danger and leap to the rescue when anyone she loves is threatened.
Char knows she will never grow into the woman she was meant to be under her family’s loving but repressive eye, so a month before she turns fifteen, she runs away and joins a Human pirate crew in the warm southerly regions of her world. Then, three years into her pirate career, her captain—the man she is convinced she loves—is captured by the leaders of the slave trade he has been fighting. When Char leaps in to rescue him, she finds herself thrust into an adventure that will uncover secrets she never suspected about herself, one that will maybe, finally, teach her to look before she leaps.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 14, 2023
128 people are currently reading
1780 people want to read
About the author
Terry Brooks
419 books77.8k followersTerry Brooks was born in Illinois in 1944, where he spent a great deal of his childhood and early adulthood dreaming up stories in and around Sinnissippi Park, the very same park that would eventually become the setting for his bestselling Word & Void trilogy. He went to college and received his undergraduate degree from Hamilton College, where he majored in English Literature, and he received his graduate degree from the School of Law at Washington & Lee University.
A writer since high school, he wrote many stories within the genres of science fiction, western, fiction, and non-fiction, until one semester early in his college years he was given The Lord of the Rings to read. That moment changed Terry's life forever, because in Tolkien's great work he found all the elements needed to fully explore his writing combined in one genre.
He then wrote The Sword of Shannara, the seven year grand result retaining sanity while studying at Washington & Lee University and practicing law. It became the first work of fiction ever to appear on the New York Times trade paperback bestseller list, where it remained for over five months.
A writer since high school, he wrote many stories within the genres of science fiction, western, fiction, and non-fiction, until one semester early in his college years he was given The Lord of the Rings to read. That moment changed Terry's life forever, because in Tolkien's great work he found all the elements needed to fully explore his writing combined in one genre.
He then wrote The Sword of Shannara, the seven year grand result retaining sanity while studying at Washington & Lee University and practicing law. It became the first work of fiction ever to appear on the New York Times trade paperback bestseller list, where it remained for over five months.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
July 8, 2023
Sister of Starlit Seas provides us with a third visit to Viridian Deep. Unlike Child of Light and Daughter of Darkness, this novel focuses on Char, the younger adopted sister of Harrow. While we have met her briefly, we now learn about her past, present, and future.
I have read every novel written by Terry Brooks and Sister of Starlit Seas provides us with another vibrant world with intriguing characters. There is far more exposition in this novel than Brooks usually provides and it took quite a while before there was any true conversation between characters. Once the conversatiton began, I was pulled in and started to care about the many fantastical beings (yes, I am being intentionally vague) we meet.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing in with an advanced copy of this wonderful novel.
I have read every novel written by Terry Brooks and Sister of Starlit Seas provides us with another vibrant world with intriguing characters. There is far more exposition in this novel than Brooks usually provides and it took quite a while before there was any true conversation between characters. Once the conversatiton began, I was pulled in and started to care about the many fantastical beings (yes, I am being intentionally vague) we meet.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing in with an advanced copy of this wonderful novel.
November 13, 2023
This is not going to be one of my more eloquent reviews mostly because I don’t have many positive things to say about this book. In fact, I have no positive things to say about this book.
Sister of Starlit Seas basically recycles absolutely everything from the previous 2 books in the series, except this time it’s from the perspective of a grown Char. By far the most clueless character I’ve read all year. For such a “capable” being she completely lacks any common sense, and just like her sister, is constantly in a state of being captured or planning the rescue of other characters who have been captured. This series makes absolutely no sense to me. Why are the Fae constantly putting themselves in positions of being captured by humans? 3 books and that’s all that ever happens. It’s the only external conflict in all three books.
The only internal conflict for both Auris and now Char, is also the same thing! Learning about a past and family they have no memory of and discovering a new part of themselves that they didn’t know they had. All themes in this book are just recycled from the previous 2.
And the ending, oh my god, the worst ending I’ve read in YEARS!
I could go on about how much I disliked this book, but really whats the point?
Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
Sister of Starlit Seas basically recycles absolutely everything from the previous 2 books in the series, except this time it’s from the perspective of a grown Char. By far the most clueless character I’ve read all year. For such a “capable” being she completely lacks any common sense, and just like her sister, is constantly in a state of being captured or planning the rescue of other characters who have been captured. This series makes absolutely no sense to me. Why are the Fae constantly putting themselves in positions of being captured by humans? 3 books and that’s all that ever happens. It’s the only external conflict in all three books.
The only internal conflict for both Auris and now Char, is also the same thing! Learning about a past and family they have no memory of and discovering a new part of themselves that they didn’t know they had. All themes in this book are just recycled from the previous 2.
And the ending, oh my god, the worst ending I’ve read in YEARS!
I could go on about how much I disliked this book, but really whats the point?
Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
November 13, 2023
Wow! What a thrilling story. Sister of Starlit Seas by Terry Brooks is the Third book in the Viridian Deep Series. Char, Auris’s adoptive sister is one of my all-time favorite characters. The book begins three years after she has left home. Small, relentless, flying by the seat of her pants kind of girl, but extremely loyal this halfling is on a search for self-identity. She has friends, a job, and a mission in the start of the book but doesn’t actually understands or knows herself. It is a coming-of-age book fantasy style by a master storyteller but even more than that.
For a while reading I could not tell where Char or this story was going. Yes, she has revelations so that I did too as reading. Yes, she has help along the way, which reminds us there actually are no self-made men. We all are better because of a little help by others, stranger or friends. Then it all falls together, a circling back, that seemed to ask me, “Had I been paying attention as I read?” In finding herself, Char also finds home, a purpose, and an evil that must be prevented.
The book makes a social statement as important in our world today as Charles Dickens was able to do in his time. I was blown away by where Char ended up going and why. This is a real-world problem too. As Profar stated, “There was never any question as to the rightness of what you wanted done. I doubted that …involvement would be wise, but I was wrong.” Never have I been entertained so well and yet challenged so strongly. Well done, Terry Brooks.
An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For a while reading I could not tell where Char or this story was going. Yes, she has revelations so that I did too as reading. Yes, she has help along the way, which reminds us there actually are no self-made men. We all are better because of a little help by others, stranger or friends. Then it all falls together, a circling back, that seemed to ask me, “Had I been paying attention as I read?” In finding herself, Char also finds home, a purpose, and an evil that must be prevented.
The book makes a social statement as important in our world today as Charles Dickens was able to do in his time. I was blown away by where Char ended up going and why. This is a real-world problem too. As Profar stated, “There was never any question as to the rightness of what you wanted done. I doubted that …involvement would be wise, but I was wrong.” Never have I been entertained so well and yet challenged so strongly. Well done, Terry Brooks.
An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 11, 2024
Great 3rd book in his newest series. Loved all 3 of them.
December 31, 2023
3.5 ⭐ overall
Well this felt a little Shannara. What I mean by that is instead of following Auris, the MC of the last 2 books, we follow her sister, Char. And just like Shannara liked to switch protagonists back in the day, apparently Viridian Deep is going to do that too. Nothing like switching that MC like a pair of dirty underwear to keep things fresh.
While I was missing Auris when I first started this book, I quickly adapted to following Char around. And while I'm a little hesitant to say it for spoiler reasons, I'm gonna say it anyway, because the cover is a give away and it happens fairly early, but we find out that Char is half Merrow, or Mermaid for all you plebs out there. Ok fine, I had no idea what a Merrow was until this book either.
So if you like Ariel or King Trident then there might just be something here for you. It was interesting to watch Char learn more about the underwater world and also worry about whether or not she belongs there or on land.
This book doesn't have a lot of dialogue. Which I am becoming used to in my books nowadays. I love a good banter between characters and feel like it gives good character growth. And while I was a little put off at first, I eventually had to acknowledge that Brooks was just writing the book he wanted to and that it was entertaining even though it wasn't as character heavy as I normally like. But the way this was told also lended itself well to the length of the book. I'm used to my fantasy books being fairly....large. This weighed in at just under 300 pages. If this was a UFC fight it would be in the welterweight of fantasy book bouts. But it felt exactly the right length. Not too drawn out for length's sake, but not so short things felt rushed. Except maybe the ending a little, but, minor complaint.
I can't believe that Brooks is 79 years old and still writing these books I still find myself enjoying. Sure, this might not be his best endeavor, but it certainly has my attention through to the end. I find myself continuing to really enjoy this series and I'll await the next one!
Well this felt a little Shannara. What I mean by that is instead of following Auris, the MC of the last 2 books, we follow her sister, Char. And just like Shannara liked to switch protagonists back in the day, apparently Viridian Deep is going to do that too. Nothing like switching that MC like a pair of dirty underwear to keep things fresh.
While I was missing Auris when I first started this book, I quickly adapted to following Char around. And while I'm a little hesitant to say it for spoiler reasons, I'm gonna say it anyway, because the cover is a give away and it happens fairly early, but we find out that Char is half Merrow, or Mermaid for all you plebs out there. Ok fine, I had no idea what a Merrow was until this book either.
So if you like Ariel or King Trident then there might just be something here for you. It was interesting to watch Char learn more about the underwater world and also worry about whether or not she belongs there or on land.
This book doesn't have a lot of dialogue. Which I am becoming used to in my books nowadays. I love a good banter between characters and feel like it gives good character growth. And while I was a little put off at first, I eventually had to acknowledge that Brooks was just writing the book he wanted to and that it was entertaining even though it wasn't as character heavy as I normally like. But the way this was told also lended itself well to the length of the book. I'm used to my fantasy books being fairly....large. This weighed in at just under 300 pages. If this was a UFC fight it would be in the welterweight of fantasy book bouts. But it felt exactly the right length. Not too drawn out for length's sake, but not so short things felt rushed. Except maybe the ending a little, but, minor complaint.
I can't believe that Brooks is 79 years old and still writing these books I still find myself enjoying. Sure, this might not be his best endeavor, but it certainly has my attention through to the end. I find myself continuing to really enjoy this series and I'll await the next one!
March 18, 2024
Sister of Starlit Seas is the 3rd book in Terry Brooks’ Viridian Deep series.
This story follows Auris’ little sister, Char, and Char’s self-discovery of her nationality and of her past. There are some deep emotions in this story which was the highlight but the action was generally sparse and Char’s YA cringy love story with Tryn I just couldn’t help rolling my eyes while reading. The self-discovery and investigation of one’s past just got old because we’ve already been through it with Auris. This book could have been improved with a different plot line for Char because she was an interesting character or it could have been made into a secondary plot line that moved Auris or the family forward.
2 stars for Sister of Starlit Seas. It had a few decent moments but not one of Terry Brooks’ best. I’m not sure I’d continue this series if he were to write more Viridian Deep books.
This story follows Auris’ little sister, Char, and Char’s self-discovery of her nationality and of her past. There are some deep emotions in this story which was the highlight but the action was generally sparse and Char’s YA cringy love story with Tryn I just couldn’t help rolling my eyes while reading. The self-discovery and investigation of one’s past just got old because we’ve already been through it with Auris. This book could have been improved with a different plot line for Char because she was an interesting character or it could have been made into a secondary plot line that moved Auris or the family forward.
2 stars for Sister of Starlit Seas. It had a few decent moments but not one of Terry Brooks’ best. I’m not sure I’d continue this series if he were to write more Viridian Deep books.
August 4, 2024
I LOVED the first two books in this series and the writing felt completely different in this one. It was choppy and felt immature. I felt like I was being told things and not shown things, which is odd to say about a seasoned writer like Brooks.
The story line also jumped around a lot and nothing felt fully fleshed out. I’m disappointed.
The story line also jumped around a lot and nothing felt fully fleshed out. I’m disappointed.
July 17, 2025
an okay book.
September 9, 2025
I remember why I loved this series
April 10, 2024
I picked this up from the library, not realizing this was the third book in a series. Did this affect my reading of the book? Yes and no. There are characters in this book that are focused on in the previous books, so I think it would have been nice to know their backstories. But, I did not have any trouble following the story line of this book, not having read the other ones.
This book follows Char, who is the youngest in her family. She is a Sylvan Fae and runs away early on in her teenage years, to lead her own life.
I found Char to be a hard character to connect with, because I felt like she was very wishy washy in her decisions. And her adventures were just a continuous line of her and her friends getting into trouble and then out of trouble. Her search for her birth mother turns out to be very lackluster, considering it is one of the main focuses of the book.
I think I would have actually liked this book a lot better if it had followed Char’s time as a pirate. It seemed to be a more interesting concept than just her traveling from one place to the other, trying to find out more about her past.
I thought Char’s background and finding out she isn’t exactly who she thought she was, was a great concept, and was probably my favorite part of the book.
This book follows Char, who is the youngest in her family. She is a Sylvan Fae and runs away early on in her teenage years, to lead her own life.
I found Char to be a hard character to connect with, because I felt like she was very wishy washy in her decisions. And her adventures were just a continuous line of her and her friends getting into trouble and then out of trouble. Her search for her birth mother turns out to be very lackluster, considering it is one of the main focuses of the book.
I think I would have actually liked this book a lot better if it had followed Char’s time as a pirate. It seemed to be a more interesting concept than just her traveling from one place to the other, trying to find out more about her past.
I thought Char’s background and finding out she isn’t exactly who she thought she was, was a great concept, and was probably my favorite part of the book.
November 13, 2023
Sister of Starlit Sea- 2⭐️ 1🌶️
New adult Fantasy
First Person
Coming of age
Self discovery
Adventure
Fae
Mythical Beasts
Pirates
Secrets
Magic
Insta-love
This is my first Terry Brooks series. I found his writing to be formal and stilted, making it feel pretentious while lacking any grit or depth. The writing style really was not for me.
After the slow beginning, the plot picked up, but became predictable. There was so much repetition in the story. I feel like I heard the same thing more than three times. The same descriptions, same musings, same observations. It was repetitive and made things boring.
You could tell that this was an older man, writing a teenager. The FMC was too detached and unemotional to feel authentic.
The world building is fine. There is so much info dumping (sometimes repetitive) that you feel stuck in place… without much making the plot move forward.
The magic system is interesting, but not explained as thoroughly as I think is necessary.
The characters were fairly flat. There were a lot of names and characters introduced then killed off, which made reading frustrating.
I think the thing I disliked the most was the completely unrealistic dialogue. If it had relaxed in the slightest, I think I would have enjoyed the entire series better.
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for an Advanced eReader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
New adult Fantasy
First Person
Coming of age
Self discovery
Adventure
Fae
Mythical Beasts
Pirates
Secrets
Magic
Insta-love
This is my first Terry Brooks series. I found his writing to be formal and stilted, making it feel pretentious while lacking any grit or depth. The writing style really was not for me.
After the slow beginning, the plot picked up, but became predictable. There was so much repetition in the story. I feel like I heard the same thing more than three times. The same descriptions, same musings, same observations. It was repetitive and made things boring.
You could tell that this was an older man, writing a teenager. The FMC was too detached and unemotional to feel authentic.
The world building is fine. There is so much info dumping (sometimes repetitive) that you feel stuck in place… without much making the plot move forward.
The magic system is interesting, but not explained as thoroughly as I think is necessary.
The characters were fairly flat. There were a lot of names and characters introduced then killed off, which made reading frustrating.
I think the thing I disliked the most was the completely unrealistic dialogue. If it had relaxed in the slightest, I think I would have enjoyed the entire series better.
Thank you NetGalley and Del Rey for an Advanced eReader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2023
Char decides to running away a month before she turns fifteen. She doesn't think that her family will see her for who she really is and who she just might be when she becomes a woman. They dote on her adopted younger sister and treat her like gold. She runs off to warmer climates and decides that she wants to be a part of a human pirate crew. It's three years later and her captain has been taken by slave traders. Her young heart says she's in love with the Captain and she must do everything within her to save him from such a dastardly fate. She dives right into an experience that she wasn't quite ready for but learns quite a bit along the way, about herself and just what she is made of. This was a lovely adventure that the author took me on and I couldn't put the book down. You know an author is great when you can't wait for their next read!
January 24, 2024
I really enjoyed the first two books of this trilogy, but I feel like this one was very “forced”. The ending felt very rushed. All in all, it wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t my favorite.
August 11, 2023
📖 Title: Sister of Starlit Seas
✍ Author: Terry Brooks
🌍 Country of origin: USA 🇺🇸
🔖 Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, Self-discovery
👥 Favorite character: Florin
💬 Favorite quote: "Loving someone requires sacrifice, it is true. I am not so young or naive as to be unaware of this. I must never assume that I will not be tempted." - Char
🌟 Rating: ★★★★☆ 4/5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Terry Brooks and Del Rey for providing me an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
Well, I'll start this review by saying that I've always been curious about Terry's books, especially the Shannara series, I even own some of them but knowing the series is too extense I've always felt "intimidated" as to where to start or how to start so I've always put them off.
Oh, what a great mistake...
As I went through the pages of my first Terry Brooks book ever I couldn't help but feel... welcome? Yes, I know it's a weird way to put it, but the world was so familiar, so easy to adapt, so well written that, as a big fantasy reader, I felt like coming back home after reading books outside my usual genre. This is especially hard to achieve considering I have never read one of his books before. It wasn't until later that I discovered that this book isn't even a standalone, (even if it feels like one) this is the third book in the Viridian Deep and it wasn't hard to follow at all.
Sure, the world might seem familiar, but it is far from what I would say generic. Yes, there's goblins, fae, merrows and other creatures (Sorry! I got to try to keep some of the mystery of the book available). This is a quite unique seafaring, (in more than one way) adventure, this is also a book about self-discovery, about the main character finding her place on the world. About finding more about her past, about who she really is and in consequence what she wants to do with her life.
I can say the book starts a bit slow but once it gets to chapter six, at least in my opinion, its where the real good stuff starts. Let's just mention this is where Char discovers something about herself that will forever change her life, her ideas about her past and how she will approach her future.
Ah well, sorry small spoiler for those who don't mind!
Torn between two worlds now with her whole life turned upside down, finding out that she isn't who she thought she was the next thing to do is, obviously find out the truth. This will lead her into finding out an interesting arrange of characters, each with their own past, their own life, their own problems. And while they might not (all) be as special as her, Char can relate to them as to trying to find their place in the world or make their own.
This book has also romance, but I don't want to spoil much, this is the weakest part of the whole book. While every character has at least something you can relate to, while you can clearly see there's backstory on almost everything in this book, romance feels quite wedged in and extremely non-sensical. On one moment they're strangers and by the next they're already kissing. Why? No real reason or at least any I would think is important.
I really enjoyed this book, the characters where quite nice, the worldbuilding was well done, the story was welcoming and a refreshing breath of air in the literary world, a reading that just hits home if you like the fantasy of old and still manages to innovate and show you something new.
Prose was a bit hard to follow at times for me as it is written in first person and, in my opinion, ends up reading more like a journal than a novel, is that necessarily bad? No. Just not my cup of tea, but all the other positive things more than make up for it, even if it's just a light pet peeve of mine.
This book served me as an introduction not only to the Viridian Deep, but to the works of Terry in General, so after this, I'll dust off some of the Shannara books I won sitting on my TBR and do just a Char. Try to find out my spot in the great world the author has offered us.
Because sometimes a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do. With no manual or guides. And that, my friends, is part of the Adventure!
Until the next RydiaReviews!
Toodles~!
Rydia ✨
✍ Author: Terry Brooks
🌍 Country of origin: USA 🇺🇸
🔖 Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Adventure, Self-discovery
👥 Favorite character: Florin
💬 Favorite quote: "Loving someone requires sacrifice, it is true. I am not so young or naive as to be unaware of this. I must never assume that I will not be tempted." - Char
🌟 Rating: ★★★★☆ 4/5 Stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Terry Brooks and Del Rey for providing me an advance reader's copy in exchange for an honest unbiased review.
Well, I'll start this review by saying that I've always been curious about Terry's books, especially the Shannara series, I even own some of them but knowing the series is too extense I've always felt "intimidated" as to where to start or how to start so I've always put them off.
Oh, what a great mistake...
As I went through the pages of my first Terry Brooks book ever I couldn't help but feel... welcome? Yes, I know it's a weird way to put it, but the world was so familiar, so easy to adapt, so well written that, as a big fantasy reader, I felt like coming back home after reading books outside my usual genre. This is especially hard to achieve considering I have never read one of his books before. It wasn't until later that I discovered that this book isn't even a standalone, (even if it feels like one) this is the third book in the Viridian Deep and it wasn't hard to follow at all.
Sure, the world might seem familiar, but it is far from what I would say generic. Yes, there's goblins, fae, merrows and other creatures (Sorry! I got to try to keep some of the mystery of the book available). This is a quite unique seafaring, (in more than one way) adventure, this is also a book about self-discovery, about the main character finding her place on the world. About finding more about her past, about who she really is and in consequence what she wants to do with her life.
I can say the book starts a bit slow but once it gets to chapter six, at least in my opinion, its where the real good stuff starts. Let's just mention this is where Char discovers something about herself that will forever change her life, her ideas about her past and how she will approach her future.
Ah well, sorry small spoiler for those who don't mind!
Torn between two worlds now with her whole life turned upside down, finding out that she isn't who she thought she was the next thing to do is, obviously find out the truth. This will lead her into finding out an interesting arrange of characters, each with their own past, their own life, their own problems. And while they might not (all) be as special as her, Char can relate to them as to trying to find their place in the world or make their own.
This book has also romance, but I don't want to spoil much, this is the weakest part of the whole book. While every character has at least something you can relate to, while you can clearly see there's backstory on almost everything in this book, romance feels quite wedged in and extremely non-sensical. On one moment they're strangers and by the next they're already kissing. Why? No real reason or at least any I would think is important.
I really enjoyed this book, the characters where quite nice, the worldbuilding was well done, the story was welcoming and a refreshing breath of air in the literary world, a reading that just hits home if you like the fantasy of old and still manages to innovate and show you something new.
Prose was a bit hard to follow at times for me as it is written in first person and, in my opinion, ends up reading more like a journal than a novel, is that necessarily bad? No. Just not my cup of tea, but all the other positive things more than make up for it, even if it's just a light pet peeve of mine.
This book served me as an introduction not only to the Viridian Deep, but to the works of Terry in General, so after this, I'll dust off some of the Shannara books I won sitting on my TBR and do just a Char. Try to find out my spot in the great world the author has offered us.
Because sometimes a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do. With no manual or guides. And that, my friends, is part of the Adventure!
Until the next RydiaReviews!
Toodles~!
Rydia ✨
May 20, 2025
...well it's better than Viridian Deep #1 at least.
That, unfortunately, is the best thing I can say about this book. I've never been that much of a fan of Terry Brooks, but Child of Light was, out of all his books I've read, rock bottom. Sister of Starlit Seas is a bit of a step up (swim up?), but by no means is it good.
It didn't take me long to understand what I was in for as I read through the opening chapters. Brooks has long had a bad habit of 'telling' rather than 'showing' in his works - y'know, outright stating that "Bob was a quiet sort, Bill was extroverted," rather than letting the reader come to see that over time through their interactions. This is sent into overdrive here where entire swathes of backstory are summarized from the very start (including Char's relationship with her pirate captain - yes, let's just tell the reader why and how they met rather than showing it, or at least letting it unfold over time), but it goes beyond that as events are outright summarized. I know a book isn't obliged to show every little interaction between characters, but revelations for Char are just skimmed over so often that it gets tiresome.
There's also problems with how revelations are presented. For instance, Char meets a friend from previous books. This friend is down, and we don't know why. We do learn why, however...in the very next chapter. Now repeat this form of 'reveal' over and over, and you can perhaps see how irritating it becomes. Any possible sense of mystery is almost immediately squandered, as if Brooks had a 'to do' list with reveals, but wanted to get them out of the way as fast as possible.
There's other things that irk me, and among them is the worldbuilding. Now, Viridian Deep #1's worldbuilding was nonsensical at best, and giving this book what little credit I can give it, the worldbuilding here is slightly better. Key word being "slightly," because among other things, the map at the start of the book? Near useless, because everything in the book takes place south of said map. I...um...what? Fine, okay, The Fall of Shannara didn't include a map of Skaarsland, but come on!
But even maps aside, nothing here is particularly interesting. Brooks has traded "elves" for "fae" (seriously, "fae" may as well be elves, I've noticed in recent publishing that people think that calling elves "fae" somehow makes them not-elves), and traded in dwarfs, gnoms, and trolls for goblins, mermaids (sorry, merrow) and water sprites, but there's nothing particularly interesting here. There's no real "hook" to this world, no real sense of culture. As someone raised fae, Char will swear by "shades" and "fates" and "saints," but the meaning of these words in the context of her culture is never explored. The merrow here may as well be from Disney's The Little Mermaid. The humans are mostly evil, the goblins are entirely evil, and the book ends with one slave fortress being destroyed with the vague promise of further adventures and zzz...
Look, I'll be frank. The book isn't "bad," but it's bog standard. The back cover promises pirate adventures, but that only provides a tiny sliver of the events that actually occur. And while it's not necessarily fair to compare works, I couldn't help but be reminded of Tress of the Emerald Sea - I'm far from a Sanderson fanboy, but Tress was hilarious, the world was creative, the adventure was adventurous, the plot twists took the entire book to unravel rather than just adjacent chapters, and y'know what? It was fun. So why, dear reader (or author), would I read this instead of that? There's just nothing here. No original concepts, no hooks, it doesn't even deliver what it promises.
And maybe there won't be more? As of Galaphile, Brooks has turned over writing duties to Delilah Dawson, so while we can expect more Shannara books in the future, I haven't heard anything about a fourth Viridian Deep novel (I'm sure there's a Landover fanbase as well, but I haven't read anything in that series). Part of me would be curious to see this world in the hands of another author, but I'll be frank, I won't lament a lack of further books. Compared to Shannara, Viridian Deep is bleh. Shannara, compared to most fantasy, is pretty bleh as well. Brooks seems like a nice guy, but I can't in good conscience recommend his writing - not as a first choice, and certainly not Viridian Deep. If you absolutely have to read this, just skip book 1 - you don't miss much, and maybe you'll find some enjoyment here, but be advised, there's much better options.
That, unfortunately, is the best thing I can say about this book. I've never been that much of a fan of Terry Brooks, but Child of Light was, out of all his books I've read, rock bottom. Sister of Starlit Seas is a bit of a step up (swim up?), but by no means is it good.
It didn't take me long to understand what I was in for as I read through the opening chapters. Brooks has long had a bad habit of 'telling' rather than 'showing' in his works - y'know, outright stating that "Bob was a quiet sort, Bill was extroverted," rather than letting the reader come to see that over time through their interactions. This is sent into overdrive here where entire swathes of backstory are summarized from the very start (including Char's relationship with her pirate captain - yes, let's just tell the reader why and how they met rather than showing it, or at least letting it unfold over time), but it goes beyond that as events are outright summarized. I know a book isn't obliged to show every little interaction between characters, but revelations for Char are just skimmed over so often that it gets tiresome.
There's also problems with how revelations are presented. For instance, Char meets a friend from previous books. This friend is down, and we don't know why. We do learn why, however...in the very next chapter. Now repeat this form of 'reveal' over and over, and you can perhaps see how irritating it becomes. Any possible sense of mystery is almost immediately squandered, as if Brooks had a 'to do' list with reveals, but wanted to get them out of the way as fast as possible.
There's other things that irk me, and among them is the worldbuilding. Now, Viridian Deep #1's worldbuilding was nonsensical at best, and giving this book what little credit I can give it, the worldbuilding here is slightly better. Key word being "slightly," because among other things, the map at the start of the book? Near useless, because everything in the book takes place south of said map. I...um...what? Fine, okay, The Fall of Shannara didn't include a map of Skaarsland, but come on!
But even maps aside, nothing here is particularly interesting. Brooks has traded "elves" for "fae" (seriously, "fae" may as well be elves, I've noticed in recent publishing that people think that calling elves "fae" somehow makes them not-elves), and traded in dwarfs, gnoms, and trolls for goblins, mermaids (sorry, merrow) and water sprites, but there's nothing particularly interesting here. There's no real "hook" to this world, no real sense of culture. As someone raised fae, Char will swear by "shades" and "fates" and "saints," but the meaning of these words in the context of her culture is never explored. The merrow here may as well be from Disney's The Little Mermaid. The humans are mostly evil, the goblins are entirely evil, and the book ends with one slave fortress being destroyed with the vague promise of further adventures and zzz...
Look, I'll be frank. The book isn't "bad," but it's bog standard. The back cover promises pirate adventures, but that only provides a tiny sliver of the events that actually occur. And while it's not necessarily fair to compare works, I couldn't help but be reminded of Tress of the Emerald Sea - I'm far from a Sanderson fanboy, but Tress was hilarious, the world was creative, the adventure was adventurous, the plot twists took the entire book to unravel rather than just adjacent chapters, and y'know what? It was fun. So why, dear reader (or author), would I read this instead of that? There's just nothing here. No original concepts, no hooks, it doesn't even deliver what it promises.
And maybe there won't be more? As of Galaphile, Brooks has turned over writing duties to Delilah Dawson, so while we can expect more Shannara books in the future, I haven't heard anything about a fourth Viridian Deep novel (I'm sure there's a Landover fanbase as well, but I haven't read anything in that series). Part of me would be curious to see this world in the hands of another author, but I'll be frank, I won't lament a lack of further books. Compared to Shannara, Viridian Deep is bleh. Shannara, compared to most fantasy, is pretty bleh as well. Brooks seems like a nice guy, but I can't in good conscience recommend his writing - not as a first choice, and certainly not Viridian Deep. If you absolutely have to read this, just skip book 1 - you don't miss much, and maybe you'll find some enjoyment here, but be advised, there's much better options.
November 3, 2023
I received an ARC of this book but that does not impact the content of my review.
First of all, I'm new to the world of Terry Brooks. So I can't compare it to his other works. I picked up the first in this series when I met the man, and he very nicely signed it for me. I'm not going to say that doesn't impact the way I read the book; let's face it, if you like the person who wrote it, you'll start reading in a positive mood. But I wouldn't have read book 2 and now this book if I hadn't liked it. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and loved the descriptions. I also appreciated that while there were real life and death major plot points, I didn't find it unnecessarily dark the way so many authors are going these days.
If there was one complaint I had with books 1 and 2, it was that Auris was too powerful. She is a little too perfect. So to a degree, were Ronden and Harrow. But that's fixed here. The characters aren't perfect. The main character is a little annoying and stupid reckless sometimes, and it often doesn't work out until other people rescue her. She learns a lot, grows, and gets smarter. Not all the guys are after her, and her best friend is a mess for a lot of very relatable and heart- wrenching reasons. Her mother, the one who raised her, remains one of the most fascinating characters of the series, someone you don't like but understand and then admire a bit. All in all, the characters feel real.
The book was also non-stop action. Despite actually dealing with pneumonia and all that entails, I had a hard time putting it down. The central message of it, about not losing yourself for love, made me end it with a smile on my face despite the sad events that happen. I really enjoyed it, and I hope to see more.
First of all, I'm new to the world of Terry Brooks. So I can't compare it to his other works. I picked up the first in this series when I met the man, and he very nicely signed it for me. I'm not going to say that doesn't impact the way I read the book; let's face it, if you like the person who wrote it, you'll start reading in a positive mood. But I wouldn't have read book 2 and now this book if I hadn't liked it. I enjoyed the worldbuilding and loved the descriptions. I also appreciated that while there were real life and death major plot points, I didn't find it unnecessarily dark the way so many authors are going these days.
If there was one complaint I had with books 1 and 2, it was that Auris was too powerful. She is a little too perfect. So to a degree, were Ronden and Harrow. But that's fixed here. The characters aren't perfect. The main character is a little annoying and stupid reckless sometimes, and it often doesn't work out until other people rescue her. She learns a lot, grows, and gets smarter. Not all the guys are after her, and her best friend is a mess for a lot of very relatable and heart- wrenching reasons. Her mother, the one who raised her, remains one of the most fascinating characters of the series, someone you don't like but understand and then admire a bit. All in all, the characters feel real.
The book was also non-stop action. Despite actually dealing with pneumonia and all that entails, I had a hard time putting it down. The central message of it, about not losing yourself for love, made me end it with a smile on my face despite the sad events that happen. I really enjoyed it, and I hope to see more.
August 7, 2023
In the Viridian Deep world where Fae and humans reside but do not mingle with each other, Charlayne, the rebellious Forst Sylvan Fae, has been trying to find where she belongs since she ran away as a young teen. Char having been a part of a pirate crew for a few years needs to save her one true love, the captain, Becklin that has been kidnapped by The Faraway Trades Company slave traders. In her escape plan she is captured and almost dies but finds out more about herself that she had no idea she was even capable of. Her almost death spurs the need for Char to understand how she survived and to understand how she did not know crucial things and lacks memory of before she was adopted by her mother as a child. She starts an adventure across the seas and land in search of answers about her birth mother, her adopted mother, and her heritage. She navigates the chaos of her life to protect her one true love the captain, a stunning water Fae that tempts her, her friends, and people in need. She is doing all this while finding out where she belongs and balancing what’s most important to her.
Sister of Starlit Seas by Terry Brooks is a roller coaster of action, emotions, and stunning scenery. I was instantly sucked into the world building. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars because I enjoyed every moment of the book. My only dislike is that some cities in the story were not on the map. The thing I liked most was that Char is a good fighter and has detailed well planned attacks, but it usually ends up her having to find plan b’s because things such as her size works against her. It’s a wonderful book about self-discovery, found family, and mending broken homes.
Sister of Starlit Seas by Terry Brooks is a roller coaster of action, emotions, and stunning scenery. I was instantly sucked into the world building. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars because I enjoyed every moment of the book. My only dislike is that some cities in the story were not on the map. The thing I liked most was that Char is a good fighter and has detailed well planned attacks, but it usually ends up her having to find plan b’s because things such as her size works against her. It’s a wonderful book about self-discovery, found family, and mending broken homes.
Read
January 2, 2026This is the conclusion of Terry Brooks's Viridian Deep trilogy, a new series that he did after concluding the storyline of his much more celebrated Shannara series before returning to it to write prequels. In this book, the focus shifts protagonists from Auris (the hero of the first w books) to Char, her younger sister, who is a spirited young girl in the first two, but is now a reckless and directionless young woman. The Book has a charming protagonist that we have watched grow up and are already familiar with, though she was a supporting character previously. in this series, Brooks continued his recurring theme of associating women with trees by having a group of mostly female Forest Sylvans, but in this installment, he branches into associating a young woman with another aspect of nature, the ocean. while it is enjoyable, it did not seem to have nearly the impact or reception of any of Brooks's previous series, which would explain, why he seems to have ended this series and returned to the more familiar territory of Shannara. This seems to be Brooks's attempt to delve into the newer YA fantasy market that is geared toward young women and includes a focus on romance and coming-of-age to appeal to new generation of readers. However, he is much more familiar and adept with darker, older-style "classic" fantasy that is more geared toward a male readership. While Brooks has been accused many times of being too derivative of Tolkein, especially in his earlier works, this series is very fresh and original. It is an interesting departure from his usual style, but his devoted readership may not be fully comfortable with the change into a different kind of fantasy.
December 31, 2023
The book is the third in the Viridian Deep series by Terry Brooks. If you haven't read the other books, you should start with Child of Light. It's a much better book.
Overall, I gave this book 3 stars. It's not good, it's not bad, it's about average. It won't make my recommended reads list. I've been a huge fan of Terry Brooks, so there's no hating on him. This book just fell flat for me. The main character Char wasn't very relatable, the idea of a Merrow (essentially a mermaid) is interesting but not explored enough to hook me, and the key turning point in the plot hindered on a...not so good dialogue sequence.
Char starts off as an interesting lead character, but quickly falls flat, often repeating the same inner dialogue throughout the book. It's difficult to say why I feel so caught up in some characters and not in others. In Char's case, her character wasn't relatable and she essentially went through the same journey as Auris from book one of the series. Although she was in great danger at times, it never felt life threatening. She bounced in and out of trouble, with every escape or capture telegraphed.
The plot hinged on Char discovering who she really was, what happened to her mother, and a balance of connecting with the Merrow and reconnecting with her fae side. Although all of those points are resolved in the end, I didn't feel satisfied with the ending. I won't spoil the ending, but it isn't Brook's finest.
Overall, I gave this book 3 stars. It's not good, it's not bad, it's about average. It won't make my recommended reads list. I've been a huge fan of Terry Brooks, so there's no hating on him. This book just fell flat for me. The main character Char wasn't very relatable, the idea of a Merrow (essentially a mermaid) is interesting but not explored enough to hook me, and the key turning point in the plot hindered on a...not so good dialogue sequence.
Char starts off as an interesting lead character, but quickly falls flat, often repeating the same inner dialogue throughout the book. It's difficult to say why I feel so caught up in some characters and not in others. In Char's case, her character wasn't relatable and she essentially went through the same journey as Auris from book one of the series. Although she was in great danger at times, it never felt life threatening. She bounced in and out of trouble, with every escape or capture telegraphed.
The plot hinged on Char discovering who she really was, what happened to her mother, and a balance of connecting with the Merrow and reconnecting with her fae side. Although all of those points are resolved in the end, I didn't feel satisfied with the ending. I won't spoil the ending, but it isn't Brook's finest.
November 7, 2023
What a wonderful addition to the Viridian Deep Series. I truly think Terry Brooks always finds a magical way of developing his stories to draw in his readers. As we enter Book #3, we encounter Char who is searching for a place to belong. I loved that we took a bit of a step away from Auris in order to work on another character while still remaining true to the world being built in Viridian Deep. I felt as though we were given beautiful scenery and plenty of action and adventure. Even if you haven't picked up the other two, you could easily follow this one as a stand-alone as we follow a different protagonist. It does fill in some gaps to read the others though.
I feel as though the characters within this book are a bit more well rounded and perhaps even more relatable ( or as relatable as Fae can be) than in the previous books. I feel as though Terry Brooks never really lets me down when it comes to the realm of fantasy and magic.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publishing company for offering me the opportunity to review this advanced reader copy. I loved it and look forward to so many more adventures in the Viridian Deep.
I feel as though the characters within this book are a bit more well rounded and perhaps even more relatable ( or as relatable as Fae can be) than in the previous books. I feel as though Terry Brooks never really lets me down when it comes to the realm of fantasy and magic.
I want to thank NetGalley and the publishing company for offering me the opportunity to review this advanced reader copy. I loved it and look forward to so many more adventures in the Viridian Deep.
November 23, 2023
NetGalley Arc review-
Terry Brooks takes us on another enchanting journey with the third installment of the Viridian Deep series, "Sister of Starlit Seas.” I was already a fan of the Shannara chronicles and well versed in the way Brooks develops characters and paces a story.
Char is an imperfect young fey who is impulsive, overconfident and often gets herself in over her head. In the first half of the book, it feels like she's always on the brink of disaster, and just when you think she's done for, a mysterious stranger swoops in to save the day. It's a bit predictable, but leads to a continuation of the light-hearted adventure. Throughout the book, however, her character grows and she learns to seek help from others before plunging head first into dangerous situations alone. This shift in behavior not only makes Char more relatable but also leads to significantly better outcomes. It's a classic coming-of-age arc. The narrative doesn't take itself too seriously, making it a perfect escape for those looking for a magical journey. Sister of Starlit Seas" can be enjoyed as part of the series or as a standalone.
Terry Brooks takes us on another enchanting journey with the third installment of the Viridian Deep series, "Sister of Starlit Seas.” I was already a fan of the Shannara chronicles and well versed in the way Brooks develops characters and paces a story.
Char is an imperfect young fey who is impulsive, overconfident and often gets herself in over her head. In the first half of the book, it feels like she's always on the brink of disaster, and just when you think she's done for, a mysterious stranger swoops in to save the day. It's a bit predictable, but leads to a continuation of the light-hearted adventure. Throughout the book, however, her character grows and she learns to seek help from others before plunging head first into dangerous situations alone. This shift in behavior not only makes Char more relatable but also leads to significantly better outcomes. It's a classic coming-of-age arc. The narrative doesn't take itself too seriously, making it a perfect escape for those looking for a magical journey. Sister of Starlit Seas" can be enjoyed as part of the series or as a standalone.
November 11, 2023
NetGalley ARC Review:
Sister of Starlit Seas by Terry Brooks is the third book in the Viridian Deep series, but it basically exists as a standalone. If readers have not read the other two books in the series, they will not be lost and will easily be able to follow the storyline. They will merely be missing a lot of the backstory that really does not connect much to this book.
Although the story begins at a rapid pace for the first 75ish pages, it quickly slows to a grinding halt in the middle third, and does not pick up again until the final 30 pages. The excitement and intrigue of the beginning is lost in Char's quest for identity that seems to mirror Auris' same quest in the previous books. If the reader is familiar with Terry's other books, they will know his pacing and story-telling ability, and this book, like the other two in the series, will leave them wishing for more depth.
Overall, the book is decent, and it seems to tie off most loose ends with a potential for more to come in the series.
Sister of Starlit Seas by Terry Brooks is the third book in the Viridian Deep series, but it basically exists as a standalone. If readers have not read the other two books in the series, they will not be lost and will easily be able to follow the storyline. They will merely be missing a lot of the backstory that really does not connect much to this book.
Although the story begins at a rapid pace for the first 75ish pages, it quickly slows to a grinding halt in the middle third, and does not pick up again until the final 30 pages. The excitement and intrigue of the beginning is lost in Char's quest for identity that seems to mirror Auris' same quest in the previous books. If the reader is familiar with Terry's other books, they will know his pacing and story-telling ability, and this book, like the other two in the series, will leave them wishing for more depth.
Overall, the book is decent, and it seems to tie off most loose ends with a potential for more to come in the series.
March 28, 2024
Terry Brooks is one of my most favorite authors. There aren't many of his books I don't like. This one, I did not like. It was mostly because none of the characters were any I could care about. The heroine was just a girl who seemed to have no sense at all. The only character that it seemed might really be interesting was the pirate. In the beginning, I expected him to play more of a role and be the action character. He disappeared early and didn't return until the end. Even then, the play-up to his prowess fell flat. One character who seemed to be a character to really connect and serve a big part in the story
(spoiler alert) is killed right when he should have become a major playing character in the series.
Nothing really clicked in this story. Nothing was really settled. My only hope is that the characters develop into stronger players as the series progresses.
As for the story, it was too sketchy, with parts that built up only to suddenly be "several days later". No consistency, which made the story seem jerky.
I'm sorry, Terry.
(spoiler alert) is killed right when he should have become a major playing character in the series.
Nothing really clicked in this story. Nothing was really settled. My only hope is that the characters develop into stronger players as the series progresses.
As for the story, it was too sketchy, with parts that built up only to suddenly be "several days later". No consistency, which made the story seem jerky.
I'm sorry, Terry.
April 2, 2024
Definitely a step up from the other two books, but still not great.
Some good things: Char is less brutally clueless than Auris, and even though the general plot concept/arc is the same as book 1, it makes more sense contextually than Auris’s stubbornness. Quixotic did not make an appearance for the first time in 3 books. Even though some things are explained in painstaking clarity, other things are left vague and open ended for once, which is good.
The bad: repetitive prose - repeating the same few words multiple times in the same page (e.g. “this monstrous place”) makes it awkward to read. Guns don’t exist until it’s convenient, even though bad guys with guns should’ve ended any conflict very early on due to the good guys being swashbuckling pirates with blades. Char can’t see a male individual near her age without falling in love at first sight.
I will say, I don’t understand how other reviews say Child of Light is a “much better” book - honestly one of the worst things I’ve read in many years. This one isn’t as bad.
Some good things: Char is less brutally clueless than Auris, and even though the general plot concept/arc is the same as book 1, it makes more sense contextually than Auris’s stubbornness. Quixotic did not make an appearance for the first time in 3 books. Even though some things are explained in painstaking clarity, other things are left vague and open ended for once, which is good.
The bad: repetitive prose - repeating the same few words multiple times in the same page (e.g. “this monstrous place”) makes it awkward to read. Guns don’t exist until it’s convenient, even though bad guys with guns should’ve ended any conflict very early on due to the good guys being swashbuckling pirates with blades. Char can’t see a male individual near her age without falling in love at first sight.
I will say, I don’t understand how other reviews say Child of Light is a “much better” book - honestly one of the worst things I’ve read in many years. This one isn’t as bad.
June 18, 2025
I never thought I would rate a Terry Brook so low but wow was this book a slog, if it had been anyone else I would have DNF’d but I kept going in the hopes that it would get better. It did but only in places.
If I’m honest it reads like he was contracted to write a trilogy but had told the story after 2 books and so was forced to write a 3rd with no real story to tell.
The viewpoint is of a teenage girl who is obsessed with two different men(boys?) but the men aren’t really fleshed out aside from how attractive they are and some skills they have.
There was a kernel of a good idea in there but it was in many respects just a retelling of the same story from book 1but rehashed with a different protagonist. I didn’t care about any of the characters so none of the perils they were in mattered.
If this book was your first by Terry Brooks please don’t let it put you off. His other work has been a constant on my must buy list so start with those.
If I’m honest it reads like he was contracted to write a trilogy but had told the story after 2 books and so was forced to write a 3rd with no real story to tell.
The viewpoint is of a teenage girl who is obsessed with two different men(boys?) but the men aren’t really fleshed out aside from how attractive they are and some skills they have.
There was a kernel of a good idea in there but it was in many respects just a retelling of the same story from book 1but rehashed with a different protagonist. I didn’t care about any of the characters so none of the perils they were in mattered.
If this book was your first by Terry Brooks please don’t let it put you off. His other work has been a constant on my must buy list so start with those.
July 8, 2023
Sister of Starlit Seas provides us with a third visit to Viridian Deep. Unlike Child of Light and Daughter of Darkness, this novel focuses on Char, the younger adopted sister of Harrow. While we have met her briefly, we now learn about her past, present, and future.
I have read every novel written by Terry Brooks and Sister of Starlit Seas provides us with another vibrant world with intriguing characters. There is far more exposition in this novel than Brooks usually provides and it took quite a while before there was any true conversation between characters. Once the conversatiton began, I was pulled in and started to care about the many fantastical beings (yes, I am being intentionally vague) we meet.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing in with an advanced copy of this wonderful novel.
I have read every novel written by Terry Brooks and Sister of Starlit Seas provides us with another vibrant world with intriguing characters. There is far more exposition in this novel than Brooks usually provides and it took quite a while before there was any true conversation between characters. Once the conversatiton began, I was pulled in and started to care about the many fantastical beings (yes, I am being intentionally vague) we meet.
My thanks to NetGalley for providing in with an advanced copy of this wonderful novel.
June 11, 2024
This was absolute TRASH! I loved Terry Brooks' earlier books. He's always been my favorite author. But it was a struggle to even finish this poorly written piece of crap!
Brooks has never been a master of characterization or emotion. His specialty is in storytelling and world building. So attempting to write a story in first-person is awful. I tried the first book in this series and hated it, but I heard this one would be better.
It wasn't! It was 284 pages of teenage self-aggrandizing monologue that was more repetition and inner thought than actual story. It was telling, not showing. One of the main characters died at the end and I didn't even care! It happened so callously and then everything just moved on.
Everyone take a shot when Char "didn't hesitate" to act, or when she did something reckless and selfless because that's just who she is.
Oh my gosh, I hated this!!
Brooks has never been a master of characterization or emotion. His specialty is in storytelling and world building. So attempting to write a story in first-person is awful. I tried the first book in this series and hated it, but I heard this one would be better.
It wasn't! It was 284 pages of teenage self-aggrandizing monologue that was more repetition and inner thought than actual story. It was telling, not showing. One of the main characters died at the end and I didn't even care! It happened so callously and then everything just moved on.
Everyone take a shot when Char "didn't hesitate" to act, or when she did something reckless and selfless because that's just who she is.
Oh my gosh, I hated this!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2024
2.5 stars. I was hoping this series would get better, but unfortunately it did not. All three had some storytelling potential (particularly Daughter of Darkness), but fell far short in many ways (character development and writing quality in particular). This is not what I had expected from Terry Brooks, who I know is rather prolific. I do think I would have liked these a bit more as a high schooler, but there are so many other fantasies out there that do what this tried to do and did it better. My only other Terry Brooks read was Magic Kingdom for Sale/Sold, and I remember loving it as a teen. I've always wanted to return to it and finish the series. Now I'm just hoping that it's actually as good as I remember and that I won't be in for disappointment if/when I return to Landover.
November 3, 2023
I absolutely love Terry as an author. I feel like he builds his character's with real emotions including heartache, pain, depression, and anxiety. The characters are relatable to everyone because we all feel those same emotions. This particular book took a different points of view then the first two. It is solely based on char. Who has left her family and is trying to make her way in the world. The experiences she has including finding love was done tastefully and the book was quite engaging. I don't give it 5 stars because parts of the books felt forced while the ending left it open for new adventures.
November 22, 2023
While the first two books in this series were about Auris' story, this book branches off to focus on her youngest adopted sister, Char, who kind to find her true origins and the piece of herself she feels is missing. She ran away from Veridian Deep and her suffocating, overly sheltered life three years ago and joined a pirate crew under the famed Silver Blade. The story begins as Char is trying to rescue the captain from capture by the Faraway Trades Company. But it's when she's captured herself and at the point of death that she discovers her true identity and what follows is a path of self discovery she never imagined.
I didn't really like the first person perspective of this book, but I stuck with it because I've loved the rest of the series. Overall I enjoyed the story and the world building of new locations and characters. It's full of action and drama and plenty of room for the story to continue. That ending though.. I'm in tears! Why?!!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I didn't really like the first person perspective of this book, but I stuck with it because I've loved the rest of the series. Overall I enjoyed the story and the world building of new locations and characters. It's full of action and drama and plenty of room for the story to continue. That ending though.. I'm in tears! Why?!!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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