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The Dark Legacy of Shannara #2
Bloodfire Quest
The quest for the long-lost Elfstones has drawn the leader of the Druid order and her followers into the hellish dimension known as the Forbidding, where the most dangerous creatures banished from the Four Lands are imprisoned. Now the hunt for the powerful talismans that can save their world has become a series of great challenges: a desperate search for kidnapped comrades, a relentless battle against unspeakable predators, and a grim race to escape the Forbidding alive. But though freedom is closer than they know, it may come at a terrifying price. As the breach between the Four Lands and the Forbidding grows larger, the threat of the evil eager to spill forth and wreak havoc grows more dire. The only hope lies with a young Druid, faced with a staggering choice: cling to the life she cherishes or combat an army of darkness by making the ultimate sacrifice.
‘Terry Brooks has been my constant companion over a lifetime of exploring my beloved fantasy genre. I say with all honesty I would not be writing epic fantasy today if not for Shannara. If Tolkien is the grandfather of modern fantasy, Terry Brooks is its favorite uncle’ —Peter V. Brett, New York Times bestselling author of The Daylight War
'The Shannara books were among the first to really capture my imagination. My daydreams and therefore my stories will always owe a debt to Terry Brooks.' —Brandon Mull, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Beyonders series and the Fablehaven series
‘Terry Brooks has been my constant companion over a lifetime of exploring my beloved fantasy genre. I say with all honesty I would not be writing epic fantasy today if not for Shannara. If Tolkien is the grandfather of modern fantasy, Terry Brooks is its favorite uncle’ —Peter V. Brett, New York Times bestselling author of The Daylight War
'The Shannara books were among the first to really capture my imagination. My daydreams and therefore my stories will always owe a debt to Terry Brooks.' —Brandon Mull, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Beyonders series and the Fablehaven series
420 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 16, 2012
311 people are currently reading
7427 people want to read
About the author
Terry Brooks
420 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 365 reviews
March 16, 2013
I need to preface my comments by saying that Terry Brooks is one of all-time most favorite authors and that I have a really hard time reading other writers in the fantasy genre because I find that they simply don't compare. He's a master storyteller, his characters are rich and full, they stay with you long after you've put one of his books down. At his worst, a Terry Brooks book is better than most other author's best. And even one of his less-than-stellar books is worth reading.
That said, I'm afraid this is one of those less-than-stellar ones. I found the plot lines to be redundant retreads and I say that as someone who was excited by the prospect of a new twist on those same quests when I found out that's what this book would be about. But frankly, the new twists were lacking. I don't want to go into specifics because this will be a spoiler-free review, but it just seemed to me that there were parts of this book that were almost the exact same as scenes from the previous books where these particular quests happened before.
Even more disappointing for me is that the actual "bloodfire quest" is such an obscure undertaking. In Elfstones of Shannara, where the original bloodfire quest happened, the characters were in the dark about what was happening. Everything was unknown. They had to find their way the best they could. And even though we have strong, competent, intelligent characters who survive that book in positions of power apparently not a single one of them decided to write anything down with even the slightest specificity, essentially guaranteeing that somewhere down the road people would have to go through it all over again, as blindly as they did.
No. Nuh-uh.
I also understand that there have to be obstacles, but I'm tired of incompetent Elven kings and princes. I'm tired of the Federation leader with their assassins. It seems to me it's time for some new obstacles--especially in a book where so many previous plot lines are reused.
I looked down at my Kindle display at the point in which I finally got excited about something and was sad to see I had read 80% of the book. I hope that means that this was mostly just a "middle book" problem more than anything else but frankly, even at 6-month release intervals I'm tired of this format where a story is told over three books from Brooks. I think that's part of the problem. Everything is drawn out. The plot's meander a bit. The pacing is slower. I'm tired of of cliffhangers. I really want some of the old, sharp, amazing, self-contained stories that Brooks writes when he's at his best.
I'll keep reading. There will never be a Terry Brooks book that I fail to buy the day it comes out. And as I began, even at his worst, he's still the best--but when you're the best you are judged to a higher standard and your fans should hold you to that higher standard. This one just didn't meet it.
That said, I'm afraid this is one of those less-than-stellar ones. I found the plot lines to be redundant retreads and I say that as someone who was excited by the prospect of a new twist on those same quests when I found out that's what this book would be about. But frankly, the new twists were lacking. I don't want to go into specifics because this will be a spoiler-free review, but it just seemed to me that there were parts of this book that were almost the exact same as scenes from the previous books where these particular quests happened before.
Even more disappointing for me is that the actual "bloodfire quest" is such an obscure undertaking. In Elfstones of Shannara, where the original bloodfire quest happened, the characters were in the dark about what was happening. Everything was unknown. They had to find their way the best they could. And even though we have strong, competent, intelligent characters who survive that book in positions of power apparently not a single one of them decided to write anything down with even the slightest specificity, essentially guaranteeing that somewhere down the road people would have to go through it all over again, as blindly as they did.
No. Nuh-uh.
I also understand that there have to be obstacles, but I'm tired of incompetent Elven kings and princes. I'm tired of the Federation leader with their assassins. It seems to me it's time for some new obstacles--especially in a book where so many previous plot lines are reused.
I looked down at my Kindle display at the point in which I finally got excited about something and was sad to see I had read 80% of the book. I hope that means that this was mostly just a "middle book" problem more than anything else but frankly, even at 6-month release intervals I'm tired of this format where a story is told over three books from Brooks. I think that's part of the problem. Everything is drawn out. The plot's meander a bit. The pacing is slower. I'm tired of of cliffhangers. I really want some of the old, sharp, amazing, self-contained stories that Brooks writes when he's at his best.
I'll keep reading. There will never be a Terry Brooks book that I fail to buy the day it comes out. And as I began, even at his worst, he's still the best--but when you're the best you are judged to a higher standard and your fans should hold you to that higher standard. This one just didn't meet it.
April 10, 2015
I've been a fan of Mr. Brooks since I was a kid and first read Magic Kingdom for Sale: Sold. I've been keeping up with his work, always reading and enjoying the new books as they come out. So it really pains me to say this, but I can't help but think that he's either getting old or lazy or both.
I was first disappointed with the Legends of Shannara duology and now the Dark Legacy of Shannara continues the trend. I felt like in The Bloodfire Quest Mr. Brooks is just recycling all his old books. I know that there are certain tropes that always happen in the Shannara series. Some Druid goes to the Hadeshorn for guidance. Some Ohmsford kids is visited by the King of the Silver River. Lots of redshirted Elven Hunters and Troll Guards die for no good reason just after being given a name. But those are small, formulaic things. They are Mr. Brooks' signature between the lines. The Bloodfire Quest goes way beyond that. Oh no! The Ellcrys is in danger (The Genesis of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, High Druid of Shannara). Oh no! The forbidding is coming down and we need a Chosen to become the new Ellcrys (The Elfstones of Shannara). Oh no! The Ard Rhys is trapped behind the forbidding and some Ohmsford kid needs to save her (High Druid of Shannara). Oh no! Paranor is under attack (Sword of Shannara, High Druid of Shannara, First King of Shannara). All those were cool ideas the first time they happened, but I don't really want to see them done again. Oh no! Demons are coming to destroy us all (Word and the Void, Landover, The Genesis of Shannara, Legends of Shannara, The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, The Wishsong of Shannara, High Druid of Shannara).
I'm also sick of all the Ohmsford kid clones. Every single one of them is essentially the exact same person. I really have a hard time telling the differences between them. I'll admit, sometimes the Wishsong expresses itself a bit differently, and once one of them was a girl, but after that, they're just the same person over and over again. But here in the Dark Legacy trilogy, it's even worse. Mr. Brooks cloned Ohmsford twins who are indistinguishable besides being in different places.
In the more recent Shannara novels, it seems like characters spend interminable hours searching records and histories, looking for the precious kernels of information vital to their quest. This has happened enough times and there are enough people doing it that you'd think that maybe someone would figure out the need for some good indexes for this information, or maybe they could even compile info on specific topics into some good summaries or treatises. Come on! It get's really boring having pages and pages devoted to this stuff.
I'm also sick of following every viewpoint characters minute thoughts. Mr. Brooks finds it necessary to follow every meandering thought process chronicling the evolution of viewpoints and opinions in excruciatingly exhaustive detail. Not needed.
There is one thing that I think is cool about the Dark Legacy of Shannara trilogy. I'm glad Mr. Brooks finally had the great idea to have one of his characters think of using the blue SEEKING elfstones to find all the lost elfstones. I'm sure I'm not the only fan to have thought of that giant plot hole. I'm just disappointed with how he's going about it.
Mr. Brooks, I want to see more about what's going on outside of the Four Lands. There's an entire world out there! Surely western North America of the post-apocalyptic magical future isn't the only place with some action and cool mutant races. Why haven't airships made it out there? Going to Korea/Parkasia in the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara isn't enough.
I miss some cool stuff from the old books, tropes I wouldn't mind seeing again. The awesome Sword of Leah and the men who wielded it, bad-A Borderlanders, and sweet druids like Allanon and Walker Boh.
I give The Bloodfire Quest three stars rather than two because as a stand-alone novel it's is still good, but in context of the greater work, it's quite repetitive. Really Mr. Brooks, maybe it's time to leave Shannara alone and try out something new and different (not Landover).
I was first disappointed with the Legends of Shannara duology and now the Dark Legacy of Shannara continues the trend. I felt like in The Bloodfire Quest Mr. Brooks is just recycling all his old books. I know that there are certain tropes that always happen in the Shannara series. Some Druid goes to the Hadeshorn for guidance. Some Ohmsford kids is visited by the King of the Silver River. Lots of redshirted Elven Hunters and Troll Guards die for no good reason just after being given a name. But those are small, formulaic things. They are Mr. Brooks' signature between the lines. The Bloodfire Quest goes way beyond that. Oh no! The Ellcrys is in danger (The Genesis of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, High Druid of Shannara). Oh no! The forbidding is coming down and we need a Chosen to become the new Ellcrys (The Elfstones of Shannara). Oh no! The Ard Rhys is trapped behind the forbidding and some Ohmsford kid needs to save her (High Druid of Shannara). Oh no! Paranor is under attack (Sword of Shannara, High Druid of Shannara, First King of Shannara). All those were cool ideas the first time they happened, but I don't really want to see them done again. Oh no! Demons are coming to destroy us all (Word and the Void, Landover, The Genesis of Shannara, Legends of Shannara, The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara, The Wishsong of Shannara, High Druid of Shannara).
I'm also sick of all the Ohmsford kid clones. Every single one of them is essentially the exact same person. I really have a hard time telling the differences between them. I'll admit, sometimes the Wishsong expresses itself a bit differently, and once one of them was a girl, but after that, they're just the same person over and over again. But here in the Dark Legacy trilogy, it's even worse. Mr. Brooks cloned Ohmsford twins who are indistinguishable besides being in different places.
In the more recent Shannara novels, it seems like characters spend interminable hours searching records and histories, looking for the precious kernels of information vital to their quest. This has happened enough times and there are enough people doing it that you'd think that maybe someone would figure out the need for some good indexes for this information, or maybe they could even compile info on specific topics into some good summaries or treatises. Come on! It get's really boring having pages and pages devoted to this stuff.
I'm also sick of following every viewpoint characters minute thoughts. Mr. Brooks finds it necessary to follow every meandering thought process chronicling the evolution of viewpoints and opinions in excruciatingly exhaustive detail. Not needed.
There is one thing that I think is cool about the Dark Legacy of Shannara trilogy. I'm glad Mr. Brooks finally had the great idea to have one of his characters think of using the blue SEEKING elfstones to find all the lost elfstones. I'm sure I'm not the only fan to have thought of that giant plot hole. I'm just disappointed with how he's going about it.
Mr. Brooks, I want to see more about what's going on outside of the Four Lands. There's an entire world out there! Surely western North America of the post-apocalyptic magical future isn't the only place with some action and cool mutant races. Why haven't airships made it out there? Going to Korea/Parkasia in the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara isn't enough.
I miss some cool stuff from the old books, tropes I wouldn't mind seeing again. The awesome Sword of Leah and the men who wielded it, bad-A Borderlanders, and sweet druids like Allanon and Walker Boh.
I give The Bloodfire Quest three stars rather than two because as a stand-alone novel it's is still good, but in context of the greater work, it's quite repetitive. Really Mr. Brooks, maybe it's time to leave Shannara alone and try out something new and different (not Landover).
October 26, 2023
I haven’t been reading like a used to. Life is attacking me on all sides some days but I can appreciate wonderful story telling. I would read about a chapter a day of this book. Then yesterday I opened it and just blew through this story. If you enjoy magic, supernatural, mystery and a world that will consume you. This is the novel for you, I only found Terry Brooks last year and every part of this journey has been extremely epic.
Happy reading everyone 😍🥰
Happy reading everyone 😍🥰
October 7, 2013
This series is much better than the preceding two (High Druid of Shannara and Legends of Shannara). However, there's still too much repetition in the story, characters, situations, settings for me to rate it better than three stars. I'm enjoying it, but feels too familiar. Another complaint I have with this volume in particular is that the story doesn't move along that much. There's a lot of filler here, interesting, but filler none the less. I feel that this volume served the only purpose of creating as much chaos for our heroes. I hope things become clearer in the third volume, things are hectic and jumbled at this point to say the least. Also, the magic use is frustrating at best. There are so many things that can be resolved with correct use of the Wishsong or the Elfstones but there's always a convenient 'something' that prevents its use. Either fear of being discovered, or lack of imagination or experience. That sometimes gets on my nerves, but I guess that it would make things too easy for the protagonists. A logical counterargument would be: Brooks shouldn't have given this round of Ohmsfords/Ellessedils such a powerful gift to begin with. Finally, when I was reading I remembered the red shirts in Star Trek. I imagined Elven Hunters, Rovers and trolls wearing them, it seems that they're less than cannon fodder. It doesn't pay well to be one of these guys. So If you've already invested time reading the first volume, or have been reading about Shannara for a long time like myself, it's not a bad idea to read the latest, just don't expect anything really original.
April 15, 2024
Relatively quick paced, I found this a good middle book in this trilogy. The characters are growing on me and the nod to a few characters from older books is quite fun. The over-the-top boss in the Forbidding is kind of hilarious, while of course he should be menacing and very evil. We get a few new characters while some die, but as most don't really have a personality, I don't feel anything for their deaths. Packed with some nice action, it flowed well. Excited to read the next installment.
December 28, 2012
A great book! The Dark Legacy of Shannara is quickly becoming one of my favorite Terry Brooks stories. I loved the set up in Wards of Faerie but Bloodfire Quest ratchets it all up to a new level. By the time I finished the book, I just couldn't believe what Terry had done!
Nothing is as it seems. For those people who say that Terry has become predictable, they are wrong, wrong, wrong. The last chapters of this book will leave you reading late into the night and the last page will have you fling the book across the room!
I have to say that Aphenglow Elessedil is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. She is amazing in this book and so multi-dimenional it's hard to go into it. Like Redden and Railing, Aphen has a character arc that is unknown -- but fun to read.
Can't wait for Witch Wraith!
Nothing is as it seems. For those people who say that Terry has become predictable, they are wrong, wrong, wrong. The last chapters of this book will leave you reading late into the night and the last page will have you fling the book across the room!
I have to say that Aphenglow Elessedil is quickly becoming one of my favorite characters. She is amazing in this book and so multi-dimenional it's hard to go into it. Like Redden and Railing, Aphen has a character arc that is unknown -- but fun to read.
Can't wait for Witch Wraith!
October 26, 2023
3.25/5
While this was an improvement in nearly every day from the first book in the trilogy, the main characters Aphenglow, Arlingfant, Railing, and Redden remained frustratingly insufferable.
This book like the first doesn't really end as much as it just stops only to be picked up at that exact point in the next book.
While this was an improvement in nearly every day from the first book in the trilogy, the main characters Aphenglow, Arlingfant, Railing, and Redden remained frustratingly insufferable.
This book like the first doesn't really end as much as it just stops only to be picked up at that exact point in the next book.
March 27, 2013
I was hesitant to buy this novel after the first book in the Dark Legacy series, which I didn't enjoy due to poor characterisation, lack of originality and a mind-numbingly slow pace. However, I found 'The Bloodfire Quest' a pleasant surprise. Although the book does have a few too many similarities to the Elfstones of Shannara, I found this book a lot more exciting, darker and faster paced than the last.
The highlights of this book for me (without spoilers) were:
- some exciting, well-written fight scenes
- development of some characters: Mirai, Aphen, Cymrian especially
- the assassin, Stoon, was quite intriguing in this book. I'd found him a bit boring and stereotypical in the first book but Brooks developed him well in this story
- I enjoyed the descriptions of Kraal Reach and the Forbidding, dark and scary
- some interesting romantic interest started to develop throughout the novel...although I sometimes feel Brook's treatment of love and romance is a bit simplistic.
I would have given this novel four stars but there were a few things that let it down:
- the Ohmsford twins are quite simply, boring. Plus, I can't tell them apart. Their personalities seem identical
- there were too many quests in this book - too many discussions about the next journey before packing up to leave. It lessened the impact, and the excitement, after a while.
On the whole, I found this book an enjoyable read. There were some classic moments that lovers of epic fantasy will really enjoy - but, unfortunately, Bloodfire Quest lacks the originality that made Elfstones one of Terry Brook's best books.
The highlights of this book for me (without spoilers) were:
- some exciting, well-written fight scenes
- development of some characters: Mirai, Aphen, Cymrian especially
- the assassin, Stoon, was quite intriguing in this book. I'd found him a bit boring and stereotypical in the first book but Brooks developed him well in this story
- I enjoyed the descriptions of Kraal Reach and the Forbidding, dark and scary
- some interesting romantic interest started to develop throughout the novel...although I sometimes feel Brook's treatment of love and romance is a bit simplistic.
I would have given this novel four stars but there were a few things that let it down:
- the Ohmsford twins are quite simply, boring. Plus, I can't tell them apart. Their personalities seem identical
- there were too many quests in this book - too many discussions about the next journey before packing up to leave. It lessened the impact, and the excitement, after a while.
On the whole, I found this book an enjoyable read. There were some classic moments that lovers of epic fantasy will really enjoy - but, unfortunately, Bloodfire Quest lacks the originality that made Elfstones one of Terry Brook's best books.
October 9, 2013
I am really enjoying this latest installment of the Shannara series - dark being the operative word in "Dark Legacy". This is a soft 5 star; it is not great literature but I would strongly recommend it to anyone who reads fantasy and recommend this series as start point for people who don't.
By linking "The Word and the Void" to Shannara the adult level of this series has stepped up with truly vicious antagonists of such power that not everyone is going to make it out. As much as I enjoyed the fleshing out up of the world of Shannara with "The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara" and "The High Druid" series, they seemed a little formulaic in terms of most characters surviving and the baton is handed on - this is not the case in this series! I was really interested to see the Federation villain in this series creating once-men - could it be we get to see the difference between chaotic badness (Jarka Ruus) and pure evil unseen since the "Genesis of Shannara"?
Another hats off to Terry Brooks for keeping the interest up and being very readable - the book I read prior to this was about 540 pages long, but was so ponderous and dense to read to that I took 10 days to get though it - I knocked off the 340 pages of this book in a bit over a day!
By linking "The Word and the Void" to Shannara the adult level of this series has stepped up with truly vicious antagonists of such power that not everyone is going to make it out. As much as I enjoyed the fleshing out up of the world of Shannara with "The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara" and "The High Druid" series, they seemed a little formulaic in terms of most characters surviving and the baton is handed on - this is not the case in this series! I was really interested to see the Federation villain in this series creating once-men - could it be we get to see the difference between chaotic badness (Jarka Ruus) and pure evil unseen since the "Genesis of Shannara"?
Another hats off to Terry Brooks for keeping the interest up and being very readable - the book I read prior to this was about 540 pages long, but was so ponderous and dense to read to that I took 10 days to get though it - I knocked off the 340 pages of this book in a bit over a day!
September 22, 2015
I enjoyed this one more than the first in this trilogy. Don't get me wrong - it is still fairly redundant - but now some of the characters have grown on me and have had a chance to develop into something more than just another generic fantasy tropes.
I enjoyed the pacing with this story. We follow a few different groups of people in differing plot lines and it breaks everything up nicely. I found all the story lines equally entertaining and was never disappointed when jumping from one to another.
Still, through it all, this is very much a Terry Brooks book. There is a lot of travelings and a fair share of teenage angst. I've come to accept that from a Brooks book, though.
All in all, I enjoyed it. Very typical Terry Brooks fare. And if that's your thing I see no reason why you wouldn't enjoy this one. I have high hopes for, Witch Wraith, the concluding chapter in this trilogy
I enjoyed the pacing with this story. We follow a few different groups of people in differing plot lines and it breaks everything up nicely. I found all the story lines equally entertaining and was never disappointed when jumping from one to another.
Still, through it all, this is very much a Terry Brooks book. There is a lot of travelings and a fair share of teenage angst. I've come to accept that from a Brooks book, though.
All in all, I enjoyed it. Very typical Terry Brooks fare. And if that's your thing I see no reason why you wouldn't enjoy this one. I have high hopes for, Witch Wraith, the concluding chapter in this trilogy
February 11, 2025
Bloodfire Quest is another wonderful dark tale in The Dark Legacy of Shannara books. I have read all the books of Shannara twice now and I still can't get enough.
August 3, 2017
"Forgiven; embraced; remembered."
"It all came down to Aleia Omarosian—the first of the Chosen, the original Ellcrys, but also the one responsible for the theft of the missing Elfstones."
I'm with Arlingfant Elessedil. When Ellcrys really chooses you run from the scene screaming. After all we know what happened last time.
Who wants to turn into a rooted tree even if it does live for age upon age?
Arlingfant and her sister Aphenglow Elessedil are of the Chosen who live at Arborlon and tend to the tree Ellcrys. The tree that maintains the barrier between the Four Lands and the Forbidding. But Ellcrys is dying and needs a successor.
Ellcrys has chosen Arlingfant.
"You will carry my seed to the Bloodfire and immerse it and then return to me, and through you I will be renewed and the Forbidding will hold".
Arlingfant knows what this will mean for her!
Aphenglow knows about the elf stones and knows that these might be all that stand between her sister and her frightening future. The search is on. Aphen also knows that she and her sister are linked by heredity back to Aleia Omarosian and that this is not coincidence.
Once again Brooks had me wading through a sea of unbelievable action, a quest for the magical Elfstone, the terrifying Forbidding and the race to save the Four Lands. The choices to save the four lands and block the creatures from the Forbidding is growing slimmer. A maelstrom of relentless action from the opening pages.
A NetGalley ARC
"It all came down to Aleia Omarosian—the first of the Chosen, the original Ellcrys, but also the one responsible for the theft of the missing Elfstones."
I'm with Arlingfant Elessedil. When Ellcrys really chooses you run from the scene screaming. After all we know what happened last time.
Who wants to turn into a rooted tree even if it does live for age upon age?
Arlingfant and her sister Aphenglow Elessedil are of the Chosen who live at Arborlon and tend to the tree Ellcrys. The tree that maintains the barrier between the Four Lands and the Forbidding. But Ellcrys is dying and needs a successor.
Ellcrys has chosen Arlingfant.
"You will carry my seed to the Bloodfire and immerse it and then return to me, and through you I will be renewed and the Forbidding will hold".
Arlingfant knows what this will mean for her!
Aphenglow knows about the elf stones and knows that these might be all that stand between her sister and her frightening future. The search is on. Aphen also knows that she and her sister are linked by heredity back to Aleia Omarosian and that this is not coincidence.
Once again Brooks had me wading through a sea of unbelievable action, a quest for the magical Elfstone, the terrifying Forbidding and the race to save the Four Lands. The choices to save the four lands and block the creatures from the Forbidding is growing slimmer. A maelstrom of relentless action from the opening pages.
A NetGalley ARC
March 7, 2022
Troppo di tutto e nulla di nuovo.
L’autore ha infarcito questa sua ultima trilogia di tutto quanto ha creato fino a qui, c’è proprio tutto.
Gli eredi Ohmsford col sempiterno retaggio della canzone di Shannara che, a quanto pare, è sempre più facile da usare da chi ne è totalmente inesperto.
I druidi sempre più esigui, in lotta tra di loro e contemporaneamente odiati da tutti gli altri.
Il perno dell’Ade con lo spettro di Allanon sempre più foriero di cattive notizie.
Gli elfi e gli eredi Elessedil in grado di usare le pietre magiche, ma governati da Re sempre più inetti e inutili.
Gli eletti e la loro Ellcrys da dover periodicamente salvare.
Il conflitto politico con la federazione con le navi volanti e le nuove armi laser.
Il divieto popolato dai Jarka Ruus che appena possono non hanno di meglio da fare che minacciare le quattro terre perché governati da un Re sentimentale.
Il fuoco di sangue, il Tanequil, il Re del fiume argento.
Insomma, i numerosi personaggi vengono qui sparpagliati a tutti gli angoli delle quattro terre in svariate quest per poter far comparire tutto l’immaginabile del mondo di Shannara, il tutto senza però mai uscire dagli stereotipi e dagli schemi che Brooks ripropone continuamente nei suoi libri.
E come in tutti i libri di mezzo delle sue trilogie, siccome tutto deve sembrare andare storto ai protagonisti per metterli nella peggiore delle situazioni immaginabili, si scopre che quasi tutti i personaggi sono stati creati e caratterizzati solo per farli morire in massa. Non fai in tempo ad affezionarti a qualcuno che già gli devi dire addio.
E infine una considerazione personale. Ma io dico, dopo 24 libri, com’è possibile che, se lo spettro di Allanon e il Re del fiume argento ti dicono di non fare una cosa, tu, Ohmsford o Elessedil che sia, non hai ancora capito che quella cosa non la devi fare?
L’autore ha infarcito questa sua ultima trilogia di tutto quanto ha creato fino a qui, c’è proprio tutto.
Gli eredi Ohmsford col sempiterno retaggio della canzone di Shannara che, a quanto pare, è sempre più facile da usare da chi ne è totalmente inesperto.
I druidi sempre più esigui, in lotta tra di loro e contemporaneamente odiati da tutti gli altri.
Il perno dell’Ade con lo spettro di Allanon sempre più foriero di cattive notizie.
Gli elfi e gli eredi Elessedil in grado di usare le pietre magiche, ma governati da Re sempre più inetti e inutili.
Gli eletti e la loro Ellcrys da dover periodicamente salvare.
Il conflitto politico con la federazione con le navi volanti e le nuove armi laser.
Il divieto popolato dai Jarka Ruus che appena possono non hanno di meglio da fare che minacciare le quattro terre perché governati da un Re sentimentale.
Il fuoco di sangue, il Tanequil, il Re del fiume argento.
Insomma, i numerosi personaggi vengono qui sparpagliati a tutti gli angoli delle quattro terre in svariate quest per poter far comparire tutto l’immaginabile del mondo di Shannara, il tutto senza però mai uscire dagli stereotipi e dagli schemi che Brooks ripropone continuamente nei suoi libri.
E come in tutti i libri di mezzo delle sue trilogie, siccome tutto deve sembrare andare storto ai protagonisti per metterli nella peggiore delle situazioni immaginabili, si scopre che quasi tutti i personaggi sono stati creati e caratterizzati solo per farli morire in massa. Non fai in tempo ad affezionarti a qualcuno che già gli devi dire addio.
E infine una considerazione personale. Ma io dico, dopo 24 libri, com’è possibile che, se lo spettro di Allanon e il Re del fiume argento ti dicono di non fare una cosa, tu, Ohmsford o Elessedil che sia, non hai ancora capito che quella cosa non la devi fare?
May 3, 2021
Bloodfire Quest is the 26th book in the Shannara series. Four Stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟
This book has one of my favorite scenes near the end when a farming couple named Sora and Aquinel find Arling Elessedil in the woods after the airship wreck. I’ll just say that the path of the Ellcrys seed to the Bloodfire is never linear. 😁 That part brought some humor and lightness at just the right time to a very heavy story.
Witch Wraith
is up next. I have 8 books left to finish my re-read of the entire Shannara series. I’m anxious to see how Terry Brooks wrapped it up in The Last Druid
This book has one of my favorite scenes near the end when a farming couple named Sora and Aquinel find Arling Elessedil in the woods after the airship wreck. I’ll just say that the path of the Ellcrys seed to the Bloodfire is never linear. 😁 That part brought some humor and lightness at just the right time to a very heavy story.
Witch Wraith
is up next. I have 8 books left to finish my re-read of the entire Shannara series. I’m anxious to see how Terry Brooks wrapped it up in The Last Druid
March 27, 2013
Bloodfire Quest picks up where Wards of Faerie left off. The quest to find the missing Elfstones has hit a serious snag — some of quest members are trapped in the desolate Forbidding with a scary assortment of dangerous creatures. The others remain in the Four Lands, besieged by vicious predators and unable to find a way to rescue their friends. Meanwhile, back in Arborlan, the Ellcrys communicates to one of her Chosen that she is dying. Unlike Amberle in The Elfstones of Shannara, this Chosen knows exactly what this means for her and she’s terrified.
I may need to re-read Wards of Faerie — I know the Shannara books are all very similar to each other but I found myself confused — I thought that all of the Chosen had been murdered except for one but I must be remembering the very first Elfstones book. Sigh. Other than my confusion, I mostly enjoyed this return to the world of Shannara. I am still hoping for more of a story within a story — I want to know more about the romance between the Elf girl and the Darkling boy. Is he now the creature known as Tael Riverine and he is focused on Grianne Ohmsford because she resembles his first love? As far as the Ring goes . . . it has a different sort of power than Tolkien’s but I think I would have gone another direction. We’ll see how it plays out when Witch Wraith comes out this summer!
I may need to re-read Wards of Faerie — I know the Shannara books are all very similar to each other but I found myself confused — I thought that all of the Chosen had been murdered except for one but I must be remembering the very first Elfstones book. Sigh. Other than my confusion, I mostly enjoyed this return to the world of Shannara. I am still hoping for more of a story within a story — I want to know more about the romance between the Elf girl and the Darkling boy. Is he now the creature known as Tael Riverine and he is focused on Grianne Ohmsford because she resembles his first love? As far as the Ring goes . . . it has a different sort of power than Tolkien’s but I think I would have gone another direction. We’ll see how it plays out when Witch Wraith comes out this summer!
January 22, 2013
Wow! I just finished this book! My copy of this book was an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher, Del Rey Books. I was first introduced to Terry Brooks and Shannara in the 1990s when I took a young adult literature class as part of my Library Science program, and I was hooked! All the books are well written, the world building is spectacular, the characters well developed. I loved being back in this world and catching up with with these wonderful characters. Bloodfire Quest is the second book in the Dark Legacy of Shannara trilogy. It continues the adventures of the Ard Rhys, Khyber Elessedil, Aphenglow and Arlingphan Elessidil, the Ohmford twins, Railing and Redden, and others as they strive to recover the Elfstones, save the holy tree, the Ellcrys, and restore the evil to the Forbidden. The Federation leaders have their own agenda in all this, too. All in all, there is a lot of captivating action right through the last page. In fact when I read the last page, I tried to turn the electronic page, and there was no more! I literally said, "No!!, I need to know what happens next! You can't leave me hanging like this!" Needless to say, I can hardly wait for Witch Wraith!
March 15, 2013
The Shanara series was my first introduction to fantasy. I read the first one while in high school and loved it. But I am thinking that this series need to come to an end, especially as the author is starting to recycle his own story lines, not once, but twice. We once again need a new Elcrys and are back in the forbidding. I loved the first book with the Elcrys, was shocked to learn just what it to for the tree to be reborn, the second time around, not so much. The same can be said with the action in the forbidding. I will probably keep reading these books because after so many years I want to know how it ends, but I won’t be waiting for them like I used to.
October 29, 2012
This book did not progress much from the first one and felt like ground already covered. I will read the next one because of the characters.
January 5, 2013
Hope this is just an issue of being the middle book of a trilogy but i didn't enjoy this one very much.
July 12, 2018
There is something about Terry Brooks’ writing that I really love. I love his way of telling a story and the way he manages to keep things light even when the tale is dark. When I have been reading other fantasy books, coming back to the Shannara world always feels refreshing somehow. I have been reading about that world since I was a teenager and now, after all these years and those books it feels familiar to me like no other fantasy world does.
There is a lot of death in this book, but in true Brooks style, none of it is too graphic or lingered on. The characters are always moving forward, taking action. Many of the elements of this series are elements that have been told before, ie the dying Elcryss, venturing in to the Forbidding, demons, The Federation, an assassin. It is all classic Terry Brooks fare and nothing new, but man, do I enjoy that stuff! The only thing that bugs me slightly is that I don’t feel as much of a connection to Railing and Redden Ohmsford as I have done to the Ohmsfords that have gone before. I also did not quite love the way the Elcryss was written in this book. However, I loved Alphenglow Elessedil and the overall storylines.
A lot happens in Bloodfire Quest without much getting resolved, but it had a awesome cliffhanger and I cannot wait to continue the series. Witch Wraith is the final book in this trilogy and is already waiting on my shelves.
There is a lot of death in this book, but in true Brooks style, none of it is too graphic or lingered on. The characters are always moving forward, taking action. Many of the elements of this series are elements that have been told before, ie the dying Elcryss, venturing in to the Forbidding, demons, The Federation, an assassin. It is all classic Terry Brooks fare and nothing new, but man, do I enjoy that stuff! The only thing that bugs me slightly is that I don’t feel as much of a connection to Railing and Redden Ohmsford as I have done to the Ohmsfords that have gone before. I also did not quite love the way the Elcryss was written in this book. However, I loved Alphenglow Elessedil and the overall storylines.
A lot happens in Bloodfire Quest without much getting resolved, but it had a awesome cliffhanger and I cannot wait to continue the series. Witch Wraith is the final book in this trilogy and is already waiting on my shelves.
May 18, 2024
It appears that Terry Brooks is getting darker in his old age. The second book in the Dark Legacy of Shannara trilogy is a good bit more grim than most of his writing. I don’t remember him killing off so many of his characters in previous novels and certainly not in such violent ways. This novel has more of an apocalyptic feel to it than his other work. It continues right after the first novel ends with a group of druids and the Ohmsford boys, and a company of others accidentally going into the Forbidding searching for the missing elf stones. They encounter the demonic creatures who live in this land, who had been locked away with Elven magic in the form of the Ellcrys, which is dying, allowing the magic protecting the Four Lands from the Forbidding to weaken.
Although I certainly don’t mind my fantasy being dark, it seems odd coming from Brooks. I have read so many of his novels, and this seems a bit of a departure for him. All the same, the writing is strong, the pacing is good, and the action sequences work. There are almost too many characters to keep track of, but that problem gets solved with the author killing off many of these characters during the course of this book. Perhaps that was the reason he started off with so many characters to begin with. Although I didn’t like this as much as book one, this was a good sequel, and I look forward to reading the final chapter of this trilogy.
Carl Alves - author of The Traveler's Door
Although I certainly don’t mind my fantasy being dark, it seems odd coming from Brooks. I have read so many of his novels, and this seems a bit of a departure for him. All the same, the writing is strong, the pacing is good, and the action sequences work. There are almost too many characters to keep track of, but that problem gets solved with the author killing off many of these characters during the course of this book. Perhaps that was the reason he started off with so many characters to begin with. Although I didn’t like this as much as book one, this was a good sequel, and I look forward to reading the final chapter of this trilogy.
Carl Alves - author of The Traveler's Door
January 23, 2024
It's Brooks-ian fantasy, which is pleasant, comfort food when you need a break from heavy, grimdark stories. Drilling down a bit, this series is a mash up of the Elfstones of Shannara and the High Druid of Shannara series, with a group of do-gooders heading on-a-rail to prevent demons from breaking out of a failing Forbidding to wreak havoc once again on the denizens of a post-apocalyptic earth. There is also a threat, as usual, from the Federation, those n'er-do-wells and Keystone Cops, as they blunder around trying to rid the world of Druids and their pals. Look, if you're reading this series then you already know what you're getting into because it is more of the same easy-going fantasy-lite. Entertaining pablum for the soul.
One last note, this middle book does its intended job, advancing the story in an entertaining, albeit samey way, and getting everything in place for the conclusion-to-come in book 3.
One last note, this middle book does its intended job, advancing the story in an entertaining, albeit samey way, and getting everything in place for the conclusion-to-come in book 3.
January 22, 2013
You can find the full review over at The Founding Fields:
http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/01/...
Shadowhawk reviews two of the latest novels from Random House/Del Rey – the second Coveted novel Kept by Shawntelle Madison and the second Dark Legacy of Shannara novel The Bloodfire Quest by Terry Brooks.
On Kept: “A thoroughly engaging and flawed novel that failed on a very interesting premise.” ~The Founding Fields
On The Bloodfire Quest: “Mostly a rehash of The Elfstones of Shannara, the new novel has occasional flashes of brilliance but little else.” ~The Founding Fields
Second, The Bloodfire Quest by Terry Brooks. I’ve read three novels in the Shannara setting to date, in addition to this one: Sword, Elfstones and another novel I can’t remember the name of, but it is the one with Allanon’s adoptive Druid father and Jerle Shannara and the forging of the fabled sword. Of the three, I consider Elfstones of Shannara to be the best in the entire series, with the “prequel” novel being a decent second, and Sword of Shannara to be the poorer one, given the heavy allusions to Dragonlance Chronicles and Lord of the Rings, plus the rather trope-ridden narrative.
Unfortunately, The Bloodfire Quest is the same. In fact, I saw it as nothing more than a rehash of the events of Elfstones, because, once again the Ellcrys is dying and needs to be reborn, once again nobody knows where Bloodfire Mountain is, once again the Druid has to go to Paranor to learn of its location, and once again the Elf chosen to receive the Ellcrys’ seed and perform the journey of traveling to Bloodfire and returning is a reluctant and often petulant character. There is little originality in the narrative, as far as I can tell.
I know that I’m quite disadvantaged by the fact that I’m entering the series in the middle and therefore lack all of the setup that came in the first book. Therefore, my perceptions of the novel may not be all that accurate. However, that could have been mitigated if the narrative was actually interesting, and if the characters had been far more enjoyable. Neither of those things happened, as it turned out.
The characters often felt like they were just going through the motions. For the lack of a better word, they were all mostly wooden with little in the way of distinctive personalities. This was exacerbated by the fact that the novel has a huge cast of characters and therefore many of them get very little actual page-time. The Ard Rhys of the Druid order, Khyber Elessedil, and Railing Ohmsford were two of the most interesting characters in the novel, and yet we see very little of them. Khyber gets a very brief moment to shine but I would say that it was too little and too late. This highlighted another problem in the novel, that the characters were almost always reactionary, they responded to events around them, rather than being active participants. It is sort of a grey area, I’ll grant, since both things happen in any novel, but I found the balance to be rather skewed. Motivational uncertainties in many of the characters, such as Arlingfant Elessedil (the Chosen character in question), made the novel that much more frustrating.
http://thefoundingfields.com/2013/01/...
Shadowhawk reviews two of the latest novels from Random House/Del Rey – the second Coveted novel Kept by Shawntelle Madison and the second Dark Legacy of Shannara novel The Bloodfire Quest by Terry Brooks.
On Kept: “A thoroughly engaging and flawed novel that failed on a very interesting premise.” ~The Founding Fields
On The Bloodfire Quest: “Mostly a rehash of The Elfstones of Shannara, the new novel has occasional flashes of brilliance but little else.” ~The Founding Fields
Second, The Bloodfire Quest by Terry Brooks. I’ve read three novels in the Shannara setting to date, in addition to this one: Sword, Elfstones and another novel I can’t remember the name of, but it is the one with Allanon’s adoptive Druid father and Jerle Shannara and the forging of the fabled sword. Of the three, I consider Elfstones of Shannara to be the best in the entire series, with the “prequel” novel being a decent second, and Sword of Shannara to be the poorer one, given the heavy allusions to Dragonlance Chronicles and Lord of the Rings, plus the rather trope-ridden narrative.
Unfortunately, The Bloodfire Quest is the same. In fact, I saw it as nothing more than a rehash of the events of Elfstones, because, once again the Ellcrys is dying and needs to be reborn, once again nobody knows where Bloodfire Mountain is, once again the Druid has to go to Paranor to learn of its location, and once again the Elf chosen to receive the Ellcrys’ seed and perform the journey of traveling to Bloodfire and returning is a reluctant and often petulant character. There is little originality in the narrative, as far as I can tell.
I know that I’m quite disadvantaged by the fact that I’m entering the series in the middle and therefore lack all of the setup that came in the first book. Therefore, my perceptions of the novel may not be all that accurate. However, that could have been mitigated if the narrative was actually interesting, and if the characters had been far more enjoyable. Neither of those things happened, as it turned out.
The characters often felt like they were just going through the motions. For the lack of a better word, they were all mostly wooden with little in the way of distinctive personalities. This was exacerbated by the fact that the novel has a huge cast of characters and therefore many of them get very little actual page-time. The Ard Rhys of the Druid order, Khyber Elessedil, and Railing Ohmsford were two of the most interesting characters in the novel, and yet we see very little of them. Khyber gets a very brief moment to shine but I would say that it was too little and too late. This highlighted another problem in the novel, that the characters were almost always reactionary, they responded to events around them, rather than being active participants. It is sort of a grey area, I’ll grant, since both things happen in any novel, but I found the balance to be rather skewed. Motivational uncertainties in many of the characters, such as Arlingfant Elessedil (the Chosen character in question), made the novel that much more frustrating.
March 18, 2013
I read my first book in the Shannara series 19 years ago, when I was 12 years old.
I will read them for as long as they exist. The more fantasy books I read the more I come to realize that while there are more technically sound authors out there and better stories to be found, Terry Brooks delivers a consistent read again and again, once or twice a year for the last 30 years.
This book feels like something of a greatest hits... The Ellcrys failing, characters trapped inside the Forbidding, a hint of Grianne Ohmsford coming back in to play, dragons (rarely seen throughout the 20+ books that comprise the series), and a healthy dose of Federation plotting and potential Elven treachery.
As the middle book in the Trilogy - this book is essentially in 2 sections. The first half cleans up the first book (Wards of Faerie) and resolves the conflicts and cliffhangers that we were left with - with our main characters scattered in 3 main plot lines. Terry isn't really messing around here, as side characters fall by the wayside at a rapid rate. The middle of the book (somewhat abruptly) signals the transition to new quests and puts the wheels in motion towards the events that will signal the end of the trilogy.
This book has some big time highlights - most notably the one on one battle between Khyber Ellessedil and Tael Riverine and the assassin vs. assassin square off between Stoon and Cymrian towards the end of the book.
Fans of Terry Brooks will already know that some efforts are slightly better than others - this is one of the better ones. This trilogy takes the sting off the slightly disappointing Legends of Shannara 2 book set that comprised 2010-2011. Best part - only need to wait a few months for the final novel to be released in June.
For those who haven't read Terry Brooks before - it would take some time but it's worth investing some time in the world of Shannara. It hasn't let me down in 19 years. I liked it when I was 12, I still enjoyed it when I was in college, and now that I'm an adult I always make sure my schedule is clear whenever new books in the series are released.
I will read them for as long as they exist. The more fantasy books I read the more I come to realize that while there are more technically sound authors out there and better stories to be found, Terry Brooks delivers a consistent read again and again, once or twice a year for the last 30 years.
This book feels like something of a greatest hits... The Ellcrys failing, characters trapped inside the Forbidding, a hint of Grianne Ohmsford coming back in to play, dragons (rarely seen throughout the 20+ books that comprise the series), and a healthy dose of Federation plotting and potential Elven treachery.
As the middle book in the Trilogy - this book is essentially in 2 sections. The first half cleans up the first book (Wards of Faerie) and resolves the conflicts and cliffhangers that we were left with - with our main characters scattered in 3 main plot lines. Terry isn't really messing around here, as side characters fall by the wayside at a rapid rate. The middle of the book (somewhat abruptly) signals the transition to new quests and puts the wheels in motion towards the events that will signal the end of the trilogy.
This book has some big time highlights - most notably the one on one battle between Khyber Ellessedil and Tael Riverine and the assassin vs. assassin square off between Stoon and Cymrian towards the end of the book.
Fans of Terry Brooks will already know that some efforts are slightly better than others - this is one of the better ones. This trilogy takes the sting off the slightly disappointing Legends of Shannara 2 book set that comprised 2010-2011. Best part - only need to wait a few months for the final novel to be released in June.
For those who haven't read Terry Brooks before - it would take some time but it's worth investing some time in the world of Shannara. It hasn't let me down in 19 years. I liked it when I was 12, I still enjoyed it when I was in college, and now that I'm an adult I always make sure my schedule is clear whenever new books in the series are released.
August 16, 2013
Bloodfire Quest, number two in Terry Brooks three part "Dark Legacy of Shannara' series.
As my readers know I was not very kind to Mr. Brooks in my review of "Wards of Faerie" and felt like his writing style had/has become rushed and far more commercialized than his previous works. And I still think that's true but...I also said I believed that an author of his caliper would no doubt redeem himself...and he has, in spades.
Even though I miss the days when Terry Brooks spent a lot more time developing his characters, I don't miss the fact that it took forever for them to cross the mountain or whatever else it was they were crossing, wading, hiking or flying over/through or under.
I can also say that even though I felt the first book was rather stingy about giving us more background on the Druids, Elves and impetus for the journey they undertook, particularly the Aryd Rhys, again the author has more than made up for any lack I felt in the first book with the advent of the second.
Another change I have noticed about Mr. Brooks writing is that he never used to include anything more descriptive than 'G' rated scenes. But every since his "Word and Void" series (which I have to confess are some of my favorites reads) I've begun noticed the characters alluding to more than just 'holding hands'.
I know...its the prude in me getting my panties all in a bunch. But all the same...I preferred the innocence of his first books only because I never had to worry about my eight year old picking up one of his books and reading it. Like Tolkien, there were wizards and druids and elves and shades and things that go bump in the night, but they still didn't allude to taking their clothes off. Just sayin...
That doesn't mean this series won't go on my bookshelves. It certainly will, it'll just have to be placed a little higher up, somewhere between Brennan Manning, Brother Andrew, Ann Rice, J. R. R. Tolkien, Rick Riordan and Cassandra Clare and Cinda Williams Chima.
On my readers scale of 1-5 stars, I'm giving Bloodfire Quest 4 for 'story well told' and, 4.5 stars for keeping the faith - Terry Brooks is still one of the best fantasy story tellers around.
As my readers know I was not very kind to Mr. Brooks in my review of "Wards of Faerie" and felt like his writing style had/has become rushed and far more commercialized than his previous works. And I still think that's true but...I also said I believed that an author of his caliper would no doubt redeem himself...and he has, in spades.
Even though I miss the days when Terry Brooks spent a lot more time developing his characters, I don't miss the fact that it took forever for them to cross the mountain or whatever else it was they were crossing, wading, hiking or flying over/through or under.
I can also say that even though I felt the first book was rather stingy about giving us more background on the Druids, Elves and impetus for the journey they undertook, particularly the Aryd Rhys, again the author has more than made up for any lack I felt in the first book with the advent of the second.
Another change I have noticed about Mr. Brooks writing is that he never used to include anything more descriptive than 'G' rated scenes. But every since his "Word and Void" series (which I have to confess are some of my favorites reads) I've begun noticed the characters alluding to more than just 'holding hands'.
I know...its the prude in me getting my panties all in a bunch. But all the same...I preferred the innocence of his first books only because I never had to worry about my eight year old picking up one of his books and reading it. Like Tolkien, there were wizards and druids and elves and shades and things that go bump in the night, but they still didn't allude to taking their clothes off. Just sayin...
That doesn't mean this series won't go on my bookshelves. It certainly will, it'll just have to be placed a little higher up, somewhere between Brennan Manning, Brother Andrew, Ann Rice, J. R. R. Tolkien, Rick Riordan and Cassandra Clare and Cinda Williams Chima.
On my readers scale of 1-5 stars, I'm giving Bloodfire Quest 4 for 'story well told' and, 4.5 stars for keeping the faith - Terry Brooks is still one of the best fantasy story tellers around.
September 11, 2017
Sembra proprio che Terry Brooks abbia smarrito la vena creatrice; o forse è stato un mio errore provare a leggere uno dietro l’altro sei libri della saga di Shannara. Sì, perché ho notato che leggere di seguito libri che sono stati programmati (e scritti) per essere pubblicati dopo lunghi intervalli di tempo, non è consigliabile (almeno per me). Si notano con più chiarezza le incongruenze, le forzature e, soprattutto, le ripetizioni. A volte stilistiche, ma in particolare quelle strutturali. Spesso ci si accorge che si sta leggendo la stessa storia, solo con personaggi diversi. Mi correggo, con personaggi dai NOMI diversi, perché i personaggi rappresentano sempre lo stesso stereotipo.
Purtroppo, in questo caso, è successo proprio questo. Il primo libro si legge bene, ma non mi ha preso più di tanto; il secondo mi è sembrato superfluo, scritto per il solo scopo di pubblicare una trilogia. C’è troppa carne al fuoco, succedono troppe cose (e troppo velocemente);
Inoltre, più andavo nel leggere e più mi sembrava un libro di George R.R. Martin: è un’ecatombe. Non capisco il senso di introdurre così tanti personaggi per poi farli morire così presto (e in poche righe). Tempo fa, in una recensione su “La figlia dello stregone”, ho letto una frase che riassume perfettamente il mio pensiero: “The troll guards were practically furniture and seem to have adopted a Stormtrooper like quality: they always die” (Recensione di Bookdragon Sean). E così si può dire di molti altri personaggi.
I personaggi, veniamo a loro. Qui, come del resto nella penultima trilogia, i personaggi sono piatti, senza nessun segno di crescita personale (tranne forse Redden e Arling). Si comportano sempre allo stesso modo; rappresentano un cliché piuttosto che un personaggio con cui immedesimarsi. Come se non bastasse, sono pure incredibilmente irritanti, sempre convinti di essere nel giusto (per poi essere puntualmente smentiti).
Finirò la trilogia solo perché non mi piace lasciare le cose a metà, ma non mi aspetto niente di buono dall’ultimo libro. Da Il druido supremo di Shannara in poi, i libri conclusivi delle trilogie sono sempre stati un disastro.
Purtroppo, in questo caso, è successo proprio questo. Il primo libro si legge bene, ma non mi ha preso più di tanto; il secondo mi è sembrato superfluo, scritto per il solo scopo di pubblicare una trilogia. C’è troppa carne al fuoco, succedono troppe cose (e troppo velocemente);
Inoltre, più andavo nel leggere e più mi sembrava un libro di George R.R. Martin: è un’ecatombe. Non capisco il senso di introdurre così tanti personaggi per poi farli morire così presto (e in poche righe). Tempo fa, in una recensione su “La figlia dello stregone”, ho letto una frase che riassume perfettamente il mio pensiero: “The troll guards were practically furniture and seem to have adopted a Stormtrooper like quality: they always die” (Recensione di Bookdragon Sean). E così si può dire di molti altri personaggi.
I personaggi, veniamo a loro. Qui, come del resto nella penultima trilogia, i personaggi sono piatti, senza nessun segno di crescita personale (tranne forse Redden e Arling). Si comportano sempre allo stesso modo; rappresentano un cliché piuttosto che un personaggio con cui immedesimarsi. Come se non bastasse, sono pure incredibilmente irritanti, sempre convinti di essere nel giusto (per poi essere puntualmente smentiti).
Finirò la trilogia solo perché non mi piace lasciare le cose a metà, ma non mi aspetto niente di buono dall’ultimo libro. Da Il druido supremo di Shannara in poi, i libri conclusivi delle trilogie sono sempre stati un disastro.
April 4, 2013
The is the second book in " The Dark Legacy of Shannara" series; the Ellcrys tree is dying and has to be renewed to keep the horrors trapped in the Forbidden land from escaping. Arlingfant Elessedil has been chosen and is reluctant to take the seed to the Bloodfire, knowing the ultimate cost of that decision. She fights her inner fears and weaknesses as her sister Aphenglow and the elf hunter Camprian struggle to help the young girl even if it means accompanying her on a search for the Bloodfire. Entwined into this plot Terry Brooks has woven the struggle of the Ard Rys, Kyber Elessedil, and her party as they search for the lost elf stones inside the Forbidden. Because the magical barrier is failing the Ard Rys has found a way into the wasteland but can she and her party find a way out of the chaos and death that lurks inside. Like all of Terry Brooks novels the story is filled with action and suspense, magical creatures, heroism, courage, and self-sacrifice.
Once in the grip of the novel it never lets you go. Even the ending leaves the reader with high expectations for the third book in the series. I have always been an admirer of Terry Brooks writing style, the way he blends triumph and tragedy, human weakness and strength of character, and I highly recommend it to everyone who loves high -fantasy.
Once in the grip of the novel it never lets you go. Even the ending leaves the reader with high expectations for the third book in the series. I have always been an admirer of Terry Brooks writing style, the way he blends triumph and tragedy, human weakness and strength of character, and I highly recommend it to everyone who loves high -fantasy.
April 13, 2013
This book picks up right after the first book "Wards of Faerie" and it just gets worse for the group of heroes. The Ard Rhys and party are still in the Forbidding and that is bad, very bad, and Aphenglow Elessedil has taken her sister to the Bloodfire to renew the Ellcrys, but the idiot humans are pursuing them thinking there is magic to be found. And the elves are starting to get ready for the failing of the Forbidding. And another quest to bring back a former druid is underway (which I won't spoil). There are a lot of storylines going on, and some get skipped for a while, but its all good, because its like chaos is going on in The Four Lands, and that's how the story flows.
Brooks is not being nice here, it's one of his darkest series (and this book specifically) that he has ever written, and I like it. It remind me of his earlier work like The Elfstones of Shannara" which is his best work, in my opinion, and so far these first two books are as good as anything he has written. You know somehow this is going to end up fine in the end, but right now after reading this second book in the series I don't know how, as he's just decimated everyone that was introduced in the first book in this series. It's very exciting, and it's been making me turn the pages as fast as I can read wanting more. Great stuff; the best Brooks in a long while, and highly recommended!
Brooks is not being nice here, it's one of his darkest series (and this book specifically) that he has ever written, and I like it. It remind me of his earlier work like The Elfstones of Shannara" which is his best work, in my opinion, and so far these first two books are as good as anything he has written. You know somehow this is going to end up fine in the end, but right now after reading this second book in the series I don't know how, as he's just decimated everyone that was introduced in the first book in this series. It's very exciting, and it's been making me turn the pages as fast as I can read wanting more. Great stuff; the best Brooks in a long while, and highly recommended!
July 10, 2016
#25/29 in my Epic Shannara Quest.
A weary sense of deja vu hit me as I started reading this book, the titular quest having been the subject of Elfstones; but it never seemed to be the overriding arc of the book, in a part due to the fact that airships are now commonplace in the Four Lands, making a journey by foot nearly obsolete. People can zip to and from distant locales (on various quests) in a matter of days rather than months.
Sometimes it seemed that too much was happening in this book: with quests that fail, quests to go in search of survivors of failed quests, and new quests taking precedence. And a lot of what happens has happened before: the story arc within the Forbidding (the failed quest) seems to repeat the events of The High Druid of Shannara trilogy and of course there is the "Bloodfire Quest" to save another dying Ellcrys.
Still, there were enough new ideas and unexpected fates for some characters who seemed to be driving the action that it held my interest at a near-fever pitch the whole way.
The conclusion of Dark Legacy awaits...
A weary sense of deja vu hit me as I started reading this book, the titular quest having been the subject of Elfstones; but it never seemed to be the overriding arc of the book, in a part due to the fact that airships are now commonplace in the Four Lands, making a journey by foot nearly obsolete. People can zip to and from distant locales (on various quests) in a matter of days rather than months.
Sometimes it seemed that too much was happening in this book: with quests that fail, quests to go in search of survivors of failed quests, and new quests taking precedence. And a lot of what happens has happened before: the story arc within the Forbidding (the failed quest) seems to repeat the events of The High Druid of Shannara trilogy and of course there is the "Bloodfire Quest" to save another dying Ellcrys.
Still, there were enough new ideas and unexpected fates for some characters who seemed to be driving the action that it held my interest at a near-fever pitch the whole way.
The conclusion of Dark Legacy awaits...
May 18, 2013
Brooks has been one of my favorite authors for many years. I regularly go to his website for updates. I don't know if it is just me and my reading tastes have changed or if it is Brooks but the last few series he has written have just been blah to me. It may not be coincidence that this started happening when I discovered Brandon Sanderson, David Farland and Peter Brett. This is book 2 of the trilogy, and after having finished this book I find it it it may be hard to finish the series, mostly because I don't care what happens. It seems like this book has put together all of the ideas that we've already read before. Perhaps if I had never read Brooks before I would've enjoyed this much more. For me the characters were too shallow and a little too many coincidences than I prefer. This book is probably a good read for a YA or someone just beginning to delve into the fantasy genre.
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