What do you think?
Rate this book
The First Druids of Shannara #1
Galaphile
New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks makes his triumphant return to the world of Shannara, delving deep into the origin story of the druid order and its enigmatic creator that will change the face of the Four Lands forever.
One of the most iconic structures in the Four Lands is Paranor, the fortress home of the Druid Order. Legend holds that it was erected by an Elven leader known as Galaphile Joss. But who was this Galaphile, and how and why did he choose to establish this center of magic and learning?
Within these pages we meet the real Galaphile, following him from a friendless teenage orphan stranded in the Human world to a powerful adult and master mage, studying under the infamous recluse, Cogline. We learn of the forces that shaped him—those he loved, and those he lost; those who aided him, and those who stood against him.
Throughout it all, Galaphile’s goal is a noble one: to bring order to a chaotic world, and to make life better for those trying to survive it. To this end, he commences building the citadel which will one day be known as Paranor with the aid of the King of the Silver River. But there is one other who seeks dominion over the Four Lands—and for far less virtuous ends.
For this foe has been corrupted by an ancient evil—one that will not only reach out and touch Galaphile’s nearest and dearest, but also echo down through the centuries, sowing the seeds for some of the darkest times the Four Lands will ever face.
One of the most iconic structures in the Four Lands is Paranor, the fortress home of the Druid Order. Legend holds that it was erected by an Elven leader known as Galaphile Joss. But who was this Galaphile, and how and why did he choose to establish this center of magic and learning?
Within these pages we meet the real Galaphile, following him from a friendless teenage orphan stranded in the Human world to a powerful adult and master mage, studying under the infamous recluse, Cogline. We learn of the forces that shaped him—those he loved, and those he lost; those who aided him, and those who stood against him.
Throughout it all, Galaphile’s goal is a noble one: to bring order to a chaotic world, and to make life better for those trying to survive it. To this end, he commences building the citadel which will one day be known as Paranor with the aid of the King of the Silver River. But there is one other who seeks dominion over the Four Lands—and for far less virtuous ends.
For this foe has been corrupted by an ancient evil—one that will not only reach out and touch Galaphile’s nearest and dearest, but also echo down through the centuries, sowing the seeds for some of the darkest times the Four Lands will ever face.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 11, 2025
258 people are currently reading
12671 people want to read
About the author
Terry Brooks
417 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
March 26, 2025
This is the beginning of a new series that takes place in the realm of Shannara. This realm has many, many novels and has been around for almost fifty years. In this one we learn about how it all started.
Several years ago we were told that Terry Brooks was done with his world of Shannara. I was pleasantly surprised that we would be visiting it again. This is basically your typical origins novel. If I had to use something that this is similar to I would use the movie The Phantom Menace which this author wrote the adaptation of that movie. You get all the check marks while you learn how certain facets of the long running series come into place. In this one we learn about the formation of the dwelling of the Druids that is basically its own character throughout the series. All the check marks were there throughout as it fits in with this universe. I am not sure because this is the opening novel but this sort of felt fast tracked though. Maybe the author just wanted the pieces in place and quickly set them there. I just did not get the sense of development. The main character wakes up one day and decides he is going to save the world. Next thing you know he is deemed the savior and many people fall in line. It seemed a little off.
I liked this book and I am interested where we go with this series. That being said it did have issues. This book is strictly for the fans of this universe which I have been closing in on forty years. Fans will appreciate what the author is trying to do here. I believe readers who have not entered this universe before will sort of feel this feels kind of generic and not really captivating. I am hoping the next book has more of a enthralling story than just checking off the boxes.
Several years ago we were told that Terry Brooks was done with his world of Shannara. I was pleasantly surprised that we would be visiting it again. This is basically your typical origins novel. If I had to use something that this is similar to I would use the movie The Phantom Menace which this author wrote the adaptation of that movie. You get all the check marks while you learn how certain facets of the long running series come into place. In this one we learn about the formation of the dwelling of the Druids that is basically its own character throughout the series. All the check marks were there throughout as it fits in with this universe. I am not sure because this is the opening novel but this sort of felt fast tracked though. Maybe the author just wanted the pieces in place and quickly set them there. I just did not get the sense of development. The main character wakes up one day and decides he is going to save the world. Next thing you know he is deemed the savior and many people fall in line. It seemed a little off.
I liked this book and I am interested where we go with this series. That being said it did have issues. This book is strictly for the fans of this universe which I have been closing in on forty years. Fans will appreciate what the author is trying to do here. I believe readers who have not entered this universe before will sort of feel this feels kind of generic and not really captivating. I am hoping the next book has more of a enthralling story than just checking off the boxes.
March 10, 2025
If you are reasonably familiar with (and like) Brooks’ body of work, specifically his Shannara series, you will enjoy his latest addition. I’ve read a lot of the Shannara books, and as a matter of course, I’ve heard the name “Galaphile” a time or two. It’s super interesting to find out the backstory of one of the most legendary figures of this world.
You do not have to have read any of the Shannara books before this, but it helps quite a bit. The ending, especially, will not deliver the same gut punch to you as it will to big fans of the series. I’m not kidding—my jaw dropped. It’s shocking.
And I can’t wait to read the sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an early copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
You do not have to have read any of the Shannara books before this, but it helps quite a bit. The ending, especially, will not deliver the same gut punch to you as it will to big fans of the series. I’m not kidding—my jaw dropped. It’s shocking.
And I can’t wait to read the sequel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an early copy in exchange for my honest feedback.
May 9, 2025
Audiobook (13 hours) narrated by Will Damron
Publisher: Books on Tape
Will Damron is a well known award winning narrator who does a fantastic job of narrating this epic high fantasy.
The audio is flawless.
Terry Brooks has been writing fantasy in the world of Shannara since 1977. Both those who have read and are familiar with the tales in the world of Shannara, as well as new comers who love and appreciate old school style epic fantasy tales will appreciate the writing style that comes with years of honed writing skills, for both the world and characters.
In old school style we have the druids, obviously, the elves, the gnomes and so on. Not the same writing style of J.R.R. Tolkien, but someone who obviously grew up with Tolkien's heavy influence, in all the best ways.
This is the type of high fantasy trek, that comes with days of character specific building that may seem more slow paced but is filled with details and getting to know the personality and thoughts of the character, how they interact with others, as well as the world around them. We have both those who are very good, the big bad, and those who are a bit more nuanced and could potentially be swayed, making an interesting puzzle of characters to be enjoyed and mulled over from page one to the end.
I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.
More please and thank you!
Publisher: Books on Tape
Will Damron is a well known award winning narrator who does a fantastic job of narrating this epic high fantasy.
The audio is flawless.
Terry Brooks has been writing fantasy in the world of Shannara since 1977. Both those who have read and are familiar with the tales in the world of Shannara, as well as new comers who love and appreciate old school style epic fantasy tales will appreciate the writing style that comes with years of honed writing skills, for both the world and characters.
In old school style we have the druids, obviously, the elves, the gnomes and so on. Not the same writing style of J.R.R. Tolkien, but someone who obviously grew up with Tolkien's heavy influence, in all the best ways.
This is the type of high fantasy trek, that comes with days of character specific building that may seem more slow paced but is filled with details and getting to know the personality and thoughts of the character, how they interact with others, as well as the world around them. We have both those who are very good, the big bad, and those who are a bit more nuanced and could potentially be swayed, making an interesting puzzle of characters to be enjoyed and mulled over from page one to the end.
I very much enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one.
More please and thank you!
February 10, 2025
Note: I recieved a copy of this book through Net Galley from Del Rey in exchange for an honest review.
Well, many fans of Shannara (myself included), have been hoping for a return to this world, particularly in this timeframe after the events of "The Measure of Magic" and before the events of "First King of Shannara". So I was delighted to see that not only did Terry Brooks return to this timeline, he told a terrific story.
Structurally, this book is a bit different than the average Shannara book. It has several time jumps for the characters, so our main character (Galaphile) grows up really fast, and as a resul the story moves a quite a fast pace (which I think really helps it out).
This is also a much smaller book than Brooks has been writing recently. The Dark Legacy of Shannara, the Defenders of Shannara, and The Fall of Shannara all were fairly big stories with multi-povs that felt fairly epic. This story pretty much has 1 POV for the lionshare of the book (Galaphile), and 2 other POVs (the love interest and the villain), whose sections are very few and far between. As such, it really does feel like a character study of Galaphile and we see a significant portion of his early life occcur.
The villain of this book is very good, and felt very much in place with Shannara ala the 80s and 90s, although I would argue he was more fleshed out than Brooks' villains back then.
Despite being so short, the book is packed with story, complete with all of the tropes and themes that Shannara fans will love. There are several scenes that reminded me of A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and The Two Towers (all the best influences). There are also quite a few references and Shannara connections that will have longtime readers squeeing with delight. One particular one near the end made me audibly say out loud "WHAT?!"
The whole love interest in this book was well developed, although I could easily see where it was going. I think this may have been a little too telegraphed early on.
If I do have a criticism, the book does move so fast that it feels less like a traditional book and more like a Cliff notes version. Perhaps if we had spent a little more time in the middle with the building of the citadel or perhaps had a little more time with the villain, it would have fit better.
Overall, I still loved reading this book. It made me feel the way the original Shannara trilogy and evoked early Shannara series emotions, which I consider to be a good thing. Terry's writing style just intrinsically felt like Classic Brooks, and I was delighted throughout. I breezed through this and cannot wait for the sequel. 9 out of 10.
Well, many fans of Shannara (myself included), have been hoping for a return to this world, particularly in this timeframe after the events of "The Measure of Magic" and before the events of "First King of Shannara". So I was delighted to see that not only did Terry Brooks return to this timeline, he told a terrific story.
Structurally, this book is a bit different than the average Shannara book. It has several time jumps for the characters, so our main character (Galaphile) grows up really fast, and as a resul the story moves a quite a fast pace (which I think really helps it out).
This is also a much smaller book than Brooks has been writing recently. The Dark Legacy of Shannara, the Defenders of Shannara, and The Fall of Shannara all were fairly big stories with multi-povs that felt fairly epic. This story pretty much has 1 POV for the lionshare of the book (Galaphile), and 2 other POVs (the love interest and the villain), whose sections are very few and far between. As such, it really does feel like a character study of Galaphile and we see a significant portion of his early life occcur.
The villain of this book is very good, and felt very much in place with Shannara ala the 80s and 90s, although I would argue he was more fleshed out than Brooks' villains back then.
Despite being so short, the book is packed with story, complete with all of the tropes and themes that Shannara fans will love. There are several scenes that reminded me of A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back, and The Two Towers (all the best influences). There are also quite a few references and Shannara connections that will have longtime readers squeeing with delight. One particular one near the end made me audibly say out loud "WHAT?!"
The whole love interest in this book was well developed, although I could easily see where it was going. I think this may have been a little too telegraphed early on.
If I do have a criticism, the book does move so fast that it feels less like a traditional book and more like a Cliff notes version. Perhaps if we had spent a little more time in the middle with the building of the citadel or perhaps had a little more time with the villain, it would have fit better.
Overall, I still loved reading this book. It made me feel the way the original Shannara trilogy and evoked early Shannara series emotions, which I consider to be a good thing. Terry's writing style just intrinsically felt like Classic Brooks, and I was delighted throughout. I breezed through this and cannot wait for the sequel. 9 out of 10.
April 29, 2025
Let’s start off with a disclosure of honesty. I have been reading Terry Brooks for a long time, for probably about 30 years. I am a long-time stalwart fan and not afraid to openly admit it.
Like many other die-hard fantasy fans, I have been reading Terry Brooks “Shannara” and “Landover” series for many enjoyable years. I have been introduced to his world in “The Sword of Shannara”, fell in literature love with “The Elfstones of Shannara”, and journeyed through all of his different 3 and 4-book sets over the many following years.
Then after forty plus years of writing, Brooks brought his beloved Shannara series to a conclusion with his 4-book set “The Fall of Shannara”. Following that, he wrote another fantasy trilogy called the “Veridian Deep” set in a different world before deciding to return to Shannara with books set during the missing time periods not previously covered.
“Galaphile” is the first book in his new “First Druids of Shannara” trilogy set between his “Legends of Shannara” duology and “The First King of Shannara” standalone novel.
Then came the crushing and disheartening news from Terry Brooks announcing his semi-retirement from writing, effective immediately, and passing on of the Shannara books to another fantasy/science fiction writer, Delilah Dawson. The transition would include Dawson finishing the rest of the “First Druids of Shannara” trilogy and any further novels in the world of Shannara.
This now makes “Galaphile” Terry Brooks last book and Shannara adventure. This sad reality hung over me as I read this book this book last weekend, trying to savor every word on every printed page. Let me tell you that if it wasn’t for how good this book was, things would have been really sad.
“Galaphile” begins with a quiet teenage orphan named Galaphile Joss trying to survive in the Four Lands following the Great Wars that destroyed most of the humans and divided the surviving races, including the elves, dwarves, and trolls. Galaphile is driven to do more than survive from day to day. After suffering deep personal loss, he is determined to make a difference and bring peace to the difference races in the Four Lands and unite them in learning and progress.
Galaphile understands that for him to succeed, it will only be through studying and learning magic. To become a master mage. The only way to do that is to find a reclusive hermit named Cogline, who is considered to be the most powerful magician in the region. However, even Galaphile can find him and convince the loner to train him, the boy doesn’t truly understand what the sacrifice of his impossible mission will be on the ones he loves most and those who support him.
In addition, the cost of failure, will be the death of thousands throughout the lands by the hands of an ancient evil that not only seeks to destroy Galaphile and his followers, but to corrupt the Four Lands. This evil has been waiting centuries to sow the seeds of darkness throughout all of the races, subjecting them to his will forever…
I am glad to report that in my opinion Terry Brooks goes out on a pretty high note. Considering that his retirement is being forced to the natural laws of aging, which nobody wants, he’s leaving with a strong outing that reflects the very strengths and qualities that we love in his books. Strong characters, immersive settings, and memorable storytelling that is both epic and imaginative. He puts you right smack in the middle of the adventure providing a surreal experiential reading experience that hearkens back to the classics like Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, and of course, the creator of fantasy himself - J.R.R. Tolkien. Not only was it neat to get the actual story of one of the most famous (but not well known) Shannara characters, it was also cool to see how masterfully Brooks was filling in the historical gaps and connecting the character lines. Very nicely done.
At the same time, “Galaphile” is also a different book for Terry Brooks, at least in structure. It has more of a biography or character study slant, at least for the first two-thirds or more of the book, focusing almost all it on Galaphile’s life from about age 14 to his early 20’s, and the influencing events that led him to become the first druid. Usually, Brooks uses three or so POV’s in his books, but this one was mostly told from Galaphile’s, while just a couple of chapters were told from the POV’s of two other characters, someone close to him, and the villain.
Brooks also moves the plotlines along at a fairly high rate, not slowing things very much, as well as being very compact with his writing. It seems that as he’s gotten older, he uses fewer words and transitions quickly between scenes and events, which works well for this book. Even the battle at the end of the book feels a bit abbreviated in comparison to his earlier books, but it’s not a bad thing and turns out be a good thing this time.
And on a sidenote (careful of spoilers here), Brooks has tended to leave big cliffhangers in the first and/or second books in his book sets, and although there is not one at the end of this book (thank you!) the last few sentences include a major reveal that is so awesome you cannot wait to start the next one that will be authored by Dawson. What a great way to end the book with a massive and powerful kaboom, Mr. Brooks! Just awesome.
For me, this was a solid 4-star reading experience that made me happy to return to Shannara and sad to know that Brooks will be passing the baton. I am sure my being a longtime Brooks reader with a favorable bias influenced my score, but to be honest, I don’t really mind it.
In closing, I must share a big THANK YOU, Terry, for making me a happy, excited, frustrated, angry, and fulfilled reader over the years. Whenever, I have met you at a public signing you have been a gentleman full of patience and kindness, always willing to sign all of the books I bring and never complain. Please know that you have had a lasting influence on this reader that will remain for a lifetime. That is until I get my grandkids hooked on your books.
May Shannara provide many wonderful memories to be cherished over and over again for many readers and may the transition to Delilah Dawson be as smooth as possible...
Like many other die-hard fantasy fans, I have been reading Terry Brooks “Shannara” and “Landover” series for many enjoyable years. I have been introduced to his world in “The Sword of Shannara”, fell in literature love with “The Elfstones of Shannara”, and journeyed through all of his different 3 and 4-book sets over the many following years.
Then after forty plus years of writing, Brooks brought his beloved Shannara series to a conclusion with his 4-book set “The Fall of Shannara”. Following that, he wrote another fantasy trilogy called the “Veridian Deep” set in a different world before deciding to return to Shannara with books set during the missing time periods not previously covered.
“Galaphile” is the first book in his new “First Druids of Shannara” trilogy set between his “Legends of Shannara” duology and “The First King of Shannara” standalone novel.
Then came the crushing and disheartening news from Terry Brooks announcing his semi-retirement from writing, effective immediately, and passing on of the Shannara books to another fantasy/science fiction writer, Delilah Dawson. The transition would include Dawson finishing the rest of the “First Druids of Shannara” trilogy and any further novels in the world of Shannara.
This now makes “Galaphile” Terry Brooks last book and Shannara adventure. This sad reality hung over me as I read this book this book last weekend, trying to savor every word on every printed page. Let me tell you that if it wasn’t for how good this book was, things would have been really sad.
“Galaphile” begins with a quiet teenage orphan named Galaphile Joss trying to survive in the Four Lands following the Great Wars that destroyed most of the humans and divided the surviving races, including the elves, dwarves, and trolls. Galaphile is driven to do more than survive from day to day. After suffering deep personal loss, he is determined to make a difference and bring peace to the difference races in the Four Lands and unite them in learning and progress.
Galaphile understands that for him to succeed, it will only be through studying and learning magic. To become a master mage. The only way to do that is to find a reclusive hermit named Cogline, who is considered to be the most powerful magician in the region. However, even Galaphile can find him and convince the loner to train him, the boy doesn’t truly understand what the sacrifice of his impossible mission will be on the ones he loves most and those who support him.
In addition, the cost of failure, will be the death of thousands throughout the lands by the hands of an ancient evil that not only seeks to destroy Galaphile and his followers, but to corrupt the Four Lands. This evil has been waiting centuries to sow the seeds of darkness throughout all of the races, subjecting them to his will forever…
I am glad to report that in my opinion Terry Brooks goes out on a pretty high note. Considering that his retirement is being forced to the natural laws of aging, which nobody wants, he’s leaving with a strong outing that reflects the very strengths and qualities that we love in his books. Strong characters, immersive settings, and memorable storytelling that is both epic and imaginative. He puts you right smack in the middle of the adventure providing a surreal experiential reading experience that hearkens back to the classics like Mark Twain, Robert Louis Stevenson, and of course, the creator of fantasy himself - J.R.R. Tolkien. Not only was it neat to get the actual story of one of the most famous (but not well known) Shannara characters, it was also cool to see how masterfully Brooks was filling in the historical gaps and connecting the character lines. Very nicely done.
At the same time, “Galaphile” is also a different book for Terry Brooks, at least in structure. It has more of a biography or character study slant, at least for the first two-thirds or more of the book, focusing almost all it on Galaphile’s life from about age 14 to his early 20’s, and the influencing events that led him to become the first druid. Usually, Brooks uses three or so POV’s in his books, but this one was mostly told from Galaphile’s, while just a couple of chapters were told from the POV’s of two other characters, someone close to him, and the villain.
Brooks also moves the plotlines along at a fairly high rate, not slowing things very much, as well as being very compact with his writing. It seems that as he’s gotten older, he uses fewer words and transitions quickly between scenes and events, which works well for this book. Even the battle at the end of the book feels a bit abbreviated in comparison to his earlier books, but it’s not a bad thing and turns out be a good thing this time.
And on a sidenote (careful of spoilers here), Brooks has tended to leave big cliffhangers in the first and/or second books in his book sets, and although there is not one at the end of this book (thank you!) the last few sentences include a major reveal that is so awesome you cannot wait to start the next one that will be authored by Dawson. What a great way to end the book with a massive and powerful kaboom, Mr. Brooks! Just awesome.
For me, this was a solid 4-star reading experience that made me happy to return to Shannara and sad to know that Brooks will be passing the baton. I am sure my being a longtime Brooks reader with a favorable bias influenced my score, but to be honest, I don’t really mind it.
In closing, I must share a big THANK YOU, Terry, for making me a happy, excited, frustrated, angry, and fulfilled reader over the years. Whenever, I have met you at a public signing you have been a gentleman full of patience and kindness, always willing to sign all of the books I bring and never complain. Please know that you have had a lasting influence on this reader that will remain for a lifetime. That is until I get my grandkids hooked on your books.
May Shannara provide many wonderful memories to be cherished over and over again for many readers and may the transition to Delilah Dawson be as smooth as possible...
October 6, 2025
This book once again showed why I enjoy this series so much. A solidly entertaining story that flowed by maybe even a little too quickly.
January 21, 2025
Del Rey provided an early galley for review.
I was a teenager when Brook's The Sword of Shannara was first published, and I picked up the mass market paperback sometime during my late high school or early college years when I started to get into Dungeons and Dragons and various other fantasy books. Since that time, the author has penned around three-dozen novels set in this literary realm. I was very curious to check out the latest which is a prequel to that first book.
The first chapter started things off strongly with the introduction to Galaphile and Starns. But in short order, we move through a half dozen years in just a few short chapters, being told a lot of what happened but not shown how. It happens again with four years of training with Cogline happening in half as many chapters. It felt very rushed to me. I get that Brooks is trying to spare the reader the boring bits as the main character acquires his abilities for the tasks he faces, but not seeing moments of growth make it all seem very hollow.
A little before the halfway mark, the narrative shifts for a couple chapters from Galaphile's viewpoint to that the villain of the piece. Again, Brook's is using this approach to convey important details to the reader, but it comes across as heavy-handed and overly expositional.
I need to check out more of his work at some point to determine if this is his stylistic approach. He's been at this game for a long time and, at age 81, has likely found an approach that works for him. There is definitely a moving, sweeping, epic story here (he's known for these kinds of large arcs in his fantasy work). He has gone on record stating he prefers to have hundreds upon hundreds of pages to play with when writing (as opposed to shorter works that have tighter focuses and are more character-driven than plot-driven). I just think the delivery tends to be very old-school and thus not as impactful as it could be.
I was a teenager when Brook's The Sword of Shannara was first published, and I picked up the mass market paperback sometime during my late high school or early college years when I started to get into Dungeons and Dragons and various other fantasy books. Since that time, the author has penned around three-dozen novels set in this literary realm. I was very curious to check out the latest which is a prequel to that first book.
The first chapter started things off strongly with the introduction to Galaphile and Starns. But in short order, we move through a half dozen years in just a few short chapters, being told a lot of what happened but not shown how. It happens again with four years of training with Cogline happening in half as many chapters. It felt very rushed to me. I get that Brooks is trying to spare the reader the boring bits as the main character acquires his abilities for the tasks he faces, but not seeing moments of growth make it all seem very hollow.
A little before the halfway mark, the narrative shifts for a couple chapters from Galaphile's viewpoint to that the villain of the piece. Again, Brook's is using this approach to convey important details to the reader, but it comes across as heavy-handed and overly expositional.
I need to check out more of his work at some point to determine if this is his stylistic approach. He's been at this game for a long time and, at age 81, has likely found an approach that works for him. There is definitely a moving, sweeping, epic story here (he's known for these kinds of large arcs in his fantasy work). He has gone on record stating he prefers to have hundreds upon hundreds of pages to play with when writing (as opposed to shorter works that have tighter focuses and are more character-driven than plot-driven). I just think the delivery tends to be very old-school and thus not as impactful as it could be.
December 6, 2024
The latest novel from bestselling author Terry Brooks offers an absorbing exploration of the lifelong quest of Galaphile, a figure whose journey begins when he is recruited into an elite camp of magic-wielders and warriors. In a world ravaged by lawlessness and conflict, Galaphile’s mission transcends mere survival, because he seeks to restore peace and order to the Four Lands. His path is fraught with hardship—massacres, lost loves, and the endless clash between races—and the threat of a dark foe looms. Yet, driven by his longing for family and fellowship, his resolve never falters.
Brook’s ability to seamlessly blend an ancient post-apocalyptic landscape with traditional high-fantasy elements is particularly evident in this early tale set in the Four Lands. The druids have always played a pivotal role in the overarching story of this epic world, and Galaphile stands as a complex embodiment of wisdom, mystery, and admirable ambition. His character-driven crusade is accessible and easy to read while still offering depth and sophistication. Longtime fans will enjoy this sweeping chronicle about the origin of Paranor and its founder.
(This review was originally written for Library Journal magazine.)
Brook’s ability to seamlessly blend an ancient post-apocalyptic landscape with traditional high-fantasy elements is particularly evident in this early tale set in the Four Lands. The druids have always played a pivotal role in the overarching story of this epic world, and Galaphile stands as a complex embodiment of wisdom, mystery, and admirable ambition. His character-driven crusade is accessible and easy to read while still offering depth and sophistication. Longtime fans will enjoy this sweeping chronicle about the origin of Paranor and its founder.
(This review was originally written for Library Journal magazine.)
May 18, 2025
Terry Brooks is one of the first fantasy writers I know of. I remember reading almost all the Shannara books. But this was ages ago. So when I saw this book I was interested. This book shows us how Galaphile became a mage to High Lord who built Paranor and attempt to bring peace and order to the Four Lands. It's enjoyable as well as nostalgic for me to read.
April 18, 2025
I was a little disappointed as this felt very factual for a while without drawing you into the characters. I liked it more once Spectre Kell was introduced.
March 24, 2025
Shannara was formative for me. It made me a reader and a lover of fantasy. I grew up knowing Galaphile's name, shrouded in mystery and legend, dark and powerful and larger than life. There was a time when I was younger that I would have been so excited for a Galaphile book, and a part of me was. But the greater part of me was nervous.
I've read almost every book Terry Brooks has written. The last ten or so have been harder and harder for me to read. The last few series of Shannara went downhill rather quickly, the ending of Shannara was rather flat, and his Child of Light didn't work for me.
I wish he had written Galaphile sooner, because this…this ain't it.
I don't know if the problem is me getting older and evolving as a reader, a product of being at this point so familiar with Brooks and his style/formula, or if Brooks himself has taken a step back in his craft because of his age or his success. Or perhaps it is a bit of all of these things.
In any case, this one was a bummer. Galaphile himself was rather boring, his love interest didn't really land for me, in fact all of the plotlines involving her just kept feeling so…contrived. The King of the Silver River felt completely different, and not in a good way. Somehow, even Cogline didn't land the right way. The pacing was all over the place, and the dialogue often felt wooden.
I predicted the ending so it didn't surprise me, but it did bug me a little. I feel that bit of information would have been something that survived and passed on to future generations without ambiguity, which I do not recall, so it's a bit irksome to me and feels like it's a huge retcon, but it's been years now since I've read the older books of the series, so maybe I'm simply misremembering. It's inspired me to pick up some of the older books and check for myself. Maybe I'll do that sometime soon.
At the moment, I doubt I'll bother continuing the series when the next one comes out. But who knows? My nostalgia for Shannara is a powerful thing.
I've read almost every book Terry Brooks has written. The last ten or so have been harder and harder for me to read. The last few series of Shannara went downhill rather quickly, the ending of Shannara was rather flat, and his Child of Light didn't work for me.
I wish he had written Galaphile sooner, because this…this ain't it.
I don't know if the problem is me getting older and evolving as a reader, a product of being at this point so familiar with Brooks and his style/formula, or if Brooks himself has taken a step back in his craft because of his age or his success. Or perhaps it is a bit of all of these things.
In any case, this one was a bummer. Galaphile himself was rather boring, his love interest didn't really land for me, in fact all of the plotlines involving her just kept feeling so…contrived. The King of the Silver River felt completely different, and not in a good way. Somehow, even Cogline didn't land the right way. The pacing was all over the place, and the dialogue often felt wooden.
I predicted the ending so it didn't surprise me, but it did bug me a little. I feel that bit of information would have been something that survived and passed on to future generations without ambiguity, which I do not recall, so it's a bit irksome to me and feels like it's a huge retcon, but it's been years now since I've read the older books of the series, so maybe I'm simply misremembering. It's inspired me to pick up some of the older books and check for myself. Maybe I'll do that sometime soon.
At the moment, I doubt I'll bother continuing the series when the next one comes out. But who knows? My nostalgia for Shannara is a powerful thing.
January 22, 2025
I dearly love the Shannara world, having read most of the books and spin offs since around the mid 90s. I was very excited about Galaphile, believing that there was to be no return to the Shannara universe from Terry Brooks. But here it is - and unfortunately it fell a little flat for me. The trademark adventure and exciting battles are in here, but the writing was a little stiff and the first few chapters seemed almost pointless when consider the subsequent occurrences. Galaphile himself is likeable enough and has just enough depth to hold as the main protagonist, but the prose was so dry I really struggled to properly click and engage with any of the other characters at all. This book read like a checklist of an adventure vs taking me along for the ride. Towards the end the action kicks off and that was much more enjoyable - definitely TB’s strengths as a fantasy writer. And wow the very end. Mouth open. So on balance, a bit staid but redeemed with a couple of old favorites Shannara fans will eat up (including me).
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2025
Well, that was torture disguised as me pursuing my hobby.
How is it possible for an author to get worse as they continue writing?
There was no characterization in this book at all. The 'romance' was laughable. Wren and her cousin had more of a romantic feel to them than Galaphile did with either of his lovers.
The King of the Silver River, even though this is set in the past, has somehow become way more active, way more well-known, and way more of a direct hand in the orchestrating of events than he ever was in the future. Not to mention way more talkative, and commanding. Who knew that he could control whole prides of mountain lions so far afield from his own area and even enter the dreams of others and manipulate them around themselves when he couldn't even manage to communicate with his own daughter once he sent her out just a couple of books in the future.
I suppose it could be argued that his powers diminished, but how could they diminish when he's doing all this amazing stuff and all of these people seem to know about him and hold him in great honor? Shouldn't that belief make him stronger? It's been implied throughout the series that belief is what helps him grow stronger. In this book even the trolls know about him! And the Elves! That's how Galaphile manages to get himself an audience with both groups of people! Spread the name of the King around like seasoning and voila, doors open everywhere.
And speaking of the Trolls. If it were so easy to get them to work with other races at this point, when all is chaos and there is no civilization, not even a Southland or a Highland, how come the trust vanishes and everything between the races manages to get worse a few hundred years later? It's only 3? 4? Druids later.
Oh, and speaking of Druids. I am so dang tired of Cogline being the deus ex machina who comes in and fixes everything, or teaches the people just what they need to know before vanishing into the ether again. Seriously. How many times has he 'died' now? And how many times has his character completely changed? In this one, he's pedantic, talkative, and philosophical. With Kimber he's just plain crazy. With Walker he's like an understanding mentor/therapist. It's annoying.
And then Nirianne! When does she become an expert on workflow, building, designing, fighting, archery, swordsmanship, communicating with lions!?!? The girl goes and fights the undead while pregnant! Because, yeah, they don't have anyone else who could defend the back? Like, I dunno, Ratcher?!
I really do not know why I am continuing at this point.
How is it possible for an author to get worse as they continue writing?
There was no characterization in this book at all. The 'romance' was laughable. Wren and her cousin had more of a romantic feel to them than Galaphile did with either of his lovers.
The King of the Silver River, even though this is set in the past, has somehow become way more active, way more well-known, and way more of a direct hand in the orchestrating of events than he ever was in the future. Not to mention way more talkative, and commanding. Who knew that he could control whole prides of mountain lions so far afield from his own area and even enter the dreams of others and manipulate them around themselves when he couldn't even manage to communicate with his own daughter once he sent her out just a couple of books in the future.
I suppose it could be argued that his powers diminished, but how could they diminish when he's doing all this amazing stuff and all of these people seem to know about him and hold him in great honor? Shouldn't that belief make him stronger? It's been implied throughout the series that belief is what helps him grow stronger. In this book even the trolls know about him! And the Elves! That's how Galaphile manages to get himself an audience with both groups of people! Spread the name of the King around like seasoning and voila, doors open everywhere.
And speaking of the Trolls. If it were so easy to get them to work with other races at this point, when all is chaos and there is no civilization, not even a Southland or a Highland, how come the trust vanishes and everything between the races manages to get worse a few hundred years later? It's only 3? 4? Druids later.
Oh, and speaking of Druids. I am so dang tired of Cogline being the deus ex machina who comes in and fixes everything, or teaches the people just what they need to know before vanishing into the ether again. Seriously. How many times has he 'died' now? And how many times has his character completely changed? In this one, he's pedantic, talkative, and philosophical. With Kimber he's just plain crazy. With Walker he's like an understanding mentor/therapist. It's annoying.
And then Nirianne! When does she become an expert on workflow, building, designing, fighting, archery, swordsmanship, communicating with lions!?!? The girl goes and fights the undead while pregnant! Because, yeah, they don't have anyone else who could defend the back? Like, I dunno, Ratcher?!
I really do not know why I am continuing at this point.
March 27, 2025
Galaphile is an extremely satisfying installment in the Shannara series that I, as a long-time fan, had hoped would come into fruition. I’m thankful Terry had this one more Shannara book left in the tank. He has posted a blog on his website recently that he is slowly fading into retirement from writing full time. He stated that he is handing the reigns of the Shannara series over to Delilah Dawson as a co-author who will do the primary writing in Shannara going forward with some of his advice and consultation. I personally don’t know anything about Dawson but I do wish her well. I plan to check out some of her previous books soon to get a feel for her writing. Terry Brooks is now 81 years old and he deserves to slow down and enjoy his retirement. His writing production and work ethic over the last 25 years has been impressive, to say the least. He has produced a solid body of work over an almost 50 year publishing career. I’ve read all of his published work. Some ups and downs, but he has supplied me as a reader with some of the most compelling and enjoyable reading of my life. Brooks also said he’s not done writing yet so maybe he still has a book or two or three yet to publish. We’ll see - time will tell - I’ll pick it up if he publishes it.
Now, to the book. .
4 stars for Galaphile. Terry Brooks’ Shannara books will always have a special place in my reading heart, and this one is especially appreciated by me because Brooks said it will be his last one in the series published under his name.
Now, to the book. .
4 stars for Galaphile. Terry Brooks’ Shannara books will always have a special place in my reading heart, and this one is especially appreciated by me because Brooks said it will be his last one in the series published under his name.
April 20, 2025
I’ve been a Terry Brooks reader almost from the beginning. I read The Elfstones of Shannara when I was in junior high (I know, I started on the wrong book), so I was probably 13 or 14, and the original trilogy was probably barely finished being written. I’ve gone to readings and signings. All that to say, I am a close follower of Mr. Brooks for about 40 years.
His writing seemed to change around the Defenders of Shannara series. It became more abridged or abbreviated. The flowery descriptions and more fully completed character thoughts gave way to abruptness. To my way of thinking, this has been a detriment. It’s not egregious, but I favor his former style. I also miss the more “traditional” fantasy tropes, as well as the traditional worldview. I liked it when characters were married and not just life partners. I know, this makes me some conservative old man set in my ways, and unwilling to change, and that is fine. I just miss it.
I also thought Shannara was done. And though I wasn’t exactly unhappy to return (I DID read the book after all), I was actually ok with that world being in the past. It was an amazing 40 year run. This one felt a little like “I couldn’t come up with anything else”.
It sounds like I’m trying to tear down Terry Brooks. I’m not. I gave this novel four stars, so I clearly didn’t hate it. I greatly admire his writing, and I’m sure the tone of his novels for the last 15 years or so might be more to the liking of a younger audience.
A review is to give our impressions of a novel. This is just one impression. And perhaps it will give you some insight into whether or not this is for you.
His writing seemed to change around the Defenders of Shannara series. It became more abridged or abbreviated. The flowery descriptions and more fully completed character thoughts gave way to abruptness. To my way of thinking, this has been a detriment. It’s not egregious, but I favor his former style. I also miss the more “traditional” fantasy tropes, as well as the traditional worldview. I liked it when characters were married and not just life partners. I know, this makes me some conservative old man set in my ways, and unwilling to change, and that is fine. I just miss it.
I also thought Shannara was done. And though I wasn’t exactly unhappy to return (I DID read the book after all), I was actually ok with that world being in the past. It was an amazing 40 year run. This one felt a little like “I couldn’t come up with anything else”.
It sounds like I’m trying to tear down Terry Brooks. I’m not. I gave this novel four stars, so I clearly didn’t hate it. I greatly admire his writing, and I’m sure the tone of his novels for the last 15 years or so might be more to the liking of a younger audience.
A review is to give our impressions of a novel. This is just one impression. And perhaps it will give you some insight into whether or not this is for you.
August 18, 2025
Terry Brooks ProvesAgain What A Masterful Storyteller He Is!/Library Loan
So much to absorb, I took forever in reading this. I reread pages and chapters at a time. The characters, the world building, the plot, the storyline, all packed in just slightly over 300+ pages.
To state there’s a lot going on, all at once, is a gross understatement, and cannot convey how much depth, intensity, and complexity happens within these delightfully engaging novel.
This novel shows why Terry Brooks is a master genius of his craft.
I almost wanted to start the original series over, but have decided to forego that idea, and instead will lamentably wait for the next in this one.
This one has plenty to take you back, while entertaining you with what will end up being a top-rate series.
Anyone who is a fan of Terry Brooks, or good old fashion Fantasy novels, will want to pick this one up!
So much to absorb, I took forever in reading this. I reread pages and chapters at a time. The characters, the world building, the plot, the storyline, all packed in just slightly over 300+ pages.
To state there’s a lot going on, all at once, is a gross understatement, and cannot convey how much depth, intensity, and complexity happens within these delightfully engaging novel.
This novel shows why Terry Brooks is a master genius of his craft.
I almost wanted to start the original series over, but have decided to forego that idea, and instead will lamentably wait for the next in this one.
This one has plenty to take you back, while entertaining you with what will end up being a top-rate series.
Anyone who is a fan of Terry Brooks, or good old fashion Fantasy novels, will want to pick this one up!
October 11, 2024
Review: What can be said more about this world that have not already been covered? It was enthralling to read. I really enjoyed the constant movement coupled with the questing nature of the story line. It creates opportunity to develop a myriad of characters and introduce new ones. Brooks is the master at weaving characters while creating instances to push the readers empathy.
This is classic good vs. evil story telling. Ying/Yang, Dark/light, Death/Life etc. is all in evidence while it smacks you in the face. Nothing subtle about the build. At the 80 percent mark, the story slows way down as you trudge your way through Narianne's plight. The inner struggle was belabored and stifling. I mostly scimmed and flipped through this section. It picks up again but the bad taste lingers whenever Narianne opens her yap.
Still, a good read overall.
I received this ARC for an honest review.
3.6/5
This is classic good vs. evil story telling. Ying/Yang, Dark/light, Death/Life etc. is all in evidence while it smacks you in the face. Nothing subtle about the build. At the 80 percent mark, the story slows way down as you trudge your way through Narianne's plight. The inner struggle was belabored and stifling. I mostly scimmed and flipped through this section. It picks up again but the bad taste lingers whenever Narianne opens her yap.
Still, a good read overall.
I received this ARC for an honest review.
3.6/5
February 25, 2025
Terry Brooks brought us back to Shannara and we get to follow Galaphile on his quest!
A quicker, but nonethless nostalgic read. Quick paced and entertaining. Currently a lot of books have multiple POV's which can become somewhat taxing, so this was a refreshing treat. Reading this actually prompted me to start the series over again and immerse myself once more fully.
A definite read for Shannara fans and folks that want to get their proverbial feet wet, but don't really know if this world is for them.
Easy 4 star read that I truly enjoyed!
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
A quicker, but nonethless nostalgic read. Quick paced and entertaining. Currently a lot of books have multiple POV's which can become somewhat taxing, so this was a refreshing treat. Reading this actually prompted me to start the series over again and immerse myself once more fully.
A definite read for Shannara fans and folks that want to get their proverbial feet wet, but don't really know if this world is for them.
Easy 4 star read that I truly enjoyed!
Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 17, 2025
I really enjoyed this story about how the druids of Shannara came to be. Galaphile is an orphaned elf living in human lands. One day a human man comes to the tiny town that he is living in and changes the trajectory of his life. I hope that there will be another book as I could not put this one down.
April 13, 2025
I have the highest respect for Terry Brooks. To me he is one of the all-time greatest fantasy writers ever.
All I can really say about this book is that I wish he would’ve taken more time to tell the story. It felt rushed. And when you rush things, you just don’t do your best work.
But I will always be his fan
All I can really say about this book is that I wish he would’ve taken more time to tell the story. It felt rushed. And when you rush things, you just don’t do your best work.
But I will always be his fan
June 8, 2025
4,5
Allora, vediamo se riesco a mettere a posto un po' le idee, perché di cose da dire ce ne sono parecchie.
Innanzitutto, una considerazione preliminare: questo non è un libro per neofiti di Shannara. Nonostante cronologicamente sia collocato in un arco temporale anteriore ai cicli principali, approcciarsi alla saga per suo tramite non è assolutamente consigliabile. E per un semplicissimo motivo. Da subito, infatti, fin dalle primissime pagine, è evidente che "Galaphile" è stato scritto per chi, in questa saga, c'è dentro dall'inizio - o comunque da moltissimo tempo (per quanto mi riguarda, sono 31 anni). Possiamo intenderlo quasi come una sorta di regalo per noi fan di lunga data? Non ne sono sicura, ma non mi dispiace pensarla così. Quel che è certo è il senso di familiarità che si percepisce immediatamente, nel senso che bastano veramente poche righe per essere immersi nelle atmosfere che Terry ci ha insegnato ad amare e a riconoscere. Personalmente, mi sono sentita a casa, malgrado fosse passato del tempo dall'ultima volta che ho letto qualcosa di legato a Shannara. Non ho avuto nessuna difficoltà a seguire, ad esempio, i vari spostamenti, perché nella mia testa la mappa è stampata talmente chiara che non ho sentito il bisogno di consultarla per capire in che direzione ci si stava muovendo, o dove si trovasse una determinata città o avamposto o accampamento o altro. Del resto, la storia di per sé già la conosciamo: Galaphile è un nome che chiunque abbia letto Shannara considera un vero e proprio mito. Ed è proprio sulla base di questa premessa che la sua storia viene raccontata: quel che ci viene mostrato sono ovviamente particolari in più, ma subito si ha la sensazione che tutto coincida con quel che già sappiamo. Lo stesso protagonista è esattamente quel che ci si aspetta: il pacificatore delle Quattro Terre, colui che ha costruito Paranor e fondato l'ordine dei Druidi, il primo ad aver affrontato il Signore degli Inganni. Un personaggio simile non poteva certo essere diverso da come è stato caratterizzato, fin dalla giovinezza, e lo stesso si può dire di coloro che lo accompagnano e sostengono nella sua missione, l'amatissima Nirianne su tutti (Terry, sei proprio l'ultimo dei romantici). A incrementare ancora di più questo senso di familiarità contribuisce la peculiare scelta narrativa, che ha una struttura e un ritmo fiabeschi più che strettamente romanzati, come se effettivamente davanti ci trovassimo il retelling, passatemi il termine, di una storia fondante e archetipica - all'interno di questo preciso universo, ovviamente. Gli eventi procedono spediti, senza soffermarsi troppo su dettagli che siamo comunque in grado di cogliere e ricostruire da soli, perché alla fine lo sappiamo bene in cosa consiste l'addestramento e la magia dei druidi, sappiamo perché il Re del Fiume Argento agisce e parla in un determinato modo, non c'è la necessità di soffermarcisi sopra a lungo. Ciò che viene messo maggiormente in luce è la parte rimanente, ovvero quei frammenti della vita di Galaphile che le leggende e i miti hanno tralasciato (involontariamente... oppure no). Il senso di sicurezza è così forte che a un certo punto, all'apparire di una certa figura ti ritrovi ad esclamare "ah! Eccoti qui, ti stavo aspettando!". Per tutta la prima parte e una buona fetta della seconda si procede senza intoppi, praticamente certissimi di sapere dove si sta andando a parare.
E come no.
Dai tre quarti della storia in poi le cose cominciano a diventare più oscure, angosciose (io l'ho proprio percepito a fondo il peso soffocante di determinati passaggi), si cominciano a intravedere delle discrepanze tra ciò che credevamo di conoscere e quel che sta di fatto succedendo. Insomma, si comincia a dubitare - ma non abbastanza. E qui ce lo vedo Terry, con quel suo sorriso un po' sornione, che si è divertito a prenderci per il naso e a portarci esattamente dove voleva lui, ovvero all'ultima parola, dell'ultima riga, dell'ultima pagina.
La mia reazione è stata tutto sommato pacata: ho "solo" fatto un salto sulla sedia di mezzo metro, mi sono messa le mani davanti alla bocca per non urlare e ho girato tre volte intorno al tavolo per cercare di calmarmi. E scusate, ma se dopo più di quarant'anni riesci ancora a tirar fuori una reazione così forte, non penso ci sia molto altro da aggiungere - se non che ci sta tutto, a parer mio si stratta di una scelta azzeccatissima. Perché da qui in avanti, tutto cambia (la sofferenza che ci aspetta io sinceramente non riesco nemmeno a concepirla. Questa storia non avrà - non può avere - un lieto fine).
Ok, mi sembra di aver sproloquiato abbastanza, aggiungo soltanto un paio di insight su questa mia prima esperienza di lettura in lingua, che direi è stata al 100% soddisfacente. Non ho avuto problemi, la prosa è limpida e va giù davvero come acqua fresca, e a questo punto penso che recupererò quanto prima i volumi che mi mancano direttamente in inglese.
Intanto però aspetto con impazienza il seguito.
Ah, Terry? Un'ultima cosa.
Tu non lo puoi neanche immaginare il bene che ti voglio.
Allora, vediamo se riesco a mettere a posto un po' le idee, perché di cose da dire ce ne sono parecchie.
Innanzitutto, una considerazione preliminare: questo non è un libro per neofiti di Shannara. Nonostante cronologicamente sia collocato in un arco temporale anteriore ai cicli principali, approcciarsi alla saga per suo tramite non è assolutamente consigliabile. E per un semplicissimo motivo. Da subito, infatti, fin dalle primissime pagine, è evidente che "Galaphile" è stato scritto per chi, in questa saga, c'è dentro dall'inizio - o comunque da moltissimo tempo (per quanto mi riguarda, sono 31 anni). Possiamo intenderlo quasi come una sorta di regalo per noi fan di lunga data? Non ne sono sicura, ma non mi dispiace pensarla così. Quel che è certo è il senso di familiarità che si percepisce immediatamente, nel senso che bastano veramente poche righe per essere immersi nelle atmosfere che Terry ci ha insegnato ad amare e a riconoscere. Personalmente, mi sono sentita a casa, malgrado fosse passato del tempo dall'ultima volta che ho letto qualcosa di legato a Shannara. Non ho avuto nessuna difficoltà a seguire, ad esempio, i vari spostamenti, perché nella mia testa la mappa è stampata talmente chiara che non ho sentito il bisogno di consultarla per capire in che direzione ci si stava muovendo, o dove si trovasse una determinata città o avamposto o accampamento o altro. Del resto, la storia di per sé già la conosciamo: Galaphile è un nome che chiunque abbia letto Shannara considera un vero e proprio mito. Ed è proprio sulla base di questa premessa che la sua storia viene raccontata: quel che ci viene mostrato sono ovviamente particolari in più, ma subito si ha la sensazione che tutto coincida con quel che già sappiamo. Lo stesso protagonista è esattamente quel che ci si aspetta: il pacificatore delle Quattro Terre, colui che ha costruito Paranor e fondato l'ordine dei Druidi, il primo ad aver affrontato il Signore degli Inganni. Un personaggio simile non poteva certo essere diverso da come è stato caratterizzato, fin dalla giovinezza, e lo stesso si può dire di coloro che lo accompagnano e sostengono nella sua missione, l'amatissima Nirianne su tutti (Terry, sei proprio l'ultimo dei romantici). A incrementare ancora di più questo senso di familiarità contribuisce la peculiare scelta narrativa, che ha una struttura e un ritmo fiabeschi più che strettamente romanzati, come se effettivamente davanti ci trovassimo il retelling, passatemi il termine, di una storia fondante e archetipica - all'interno di questo preciso universo, ovviamente. Gli eventi procedono spediti, senza soffermarsi troppo su dettagli che siamo comunque in grado di cogliere e ricostruire da soli, perché alla fine lo sappiamo bene in cosa consiste l'addestramento e la magia dei druidi, sappiamo perché il Re del Fiume Argento agisce e parla in un determinato modo, non c'è la necessità di soffermarcisi sopra a lungo. Ciò che viene messo maggiormente in luce è la parte rimanente, ovvero quei frammenti della vita di Galaphile che le leggende e i miti hanno tralasciato (involontariamente... oppure no). Il senso di sicurezza è così forte che a un certo punto, all'apparire di una certa figura ti ritrovi ad esclamare "ah! Eccoti qui, ti stavo aspettando!". Per tutta la prima parte e una buona fetta della seconda si procede senza intoppi, praticamente certissimi di sapere dove si sta andando a parare.
E come no.
Dai tre quarti della storia in poi le cose cominciano a diventare più oscure, angosciose (io l'ho proprio percepito a fondo il peso soffocante di determinati passaggi), si cominciano a intravedere delle discrepanze tra ciò che credevamo di conoscere e quel che sta di fatto succedendo. Insomma, si comincia a dubitare - ma non abbastanza. E qui ce lo vedo Terry, con quel suo sorriso un po' sornione, che si è divertito a prenderci per il naso e a portarci esattamente dove voleva lui, ovvero all'ultima parola, dell'ultima riga, dell'ultima pagina.
La mia reazione è stata tutto sommato pacata: ho "solo" fatto un salto sulla sedia di mezzo metro, mi sono messa le mani davanti alla bocca per non urlare e ho girato tre volte intorno al tavolo per cercare di calmarmi. E scusate, ma se dopo più di quarant'anni riesci ancora a tirar fuori una reazione così forte, non penso ci sia molto altro da aggiungere - se non che ci sta tutto, a parer mio si stratta di una scelta azzeccatissima. Perché da qui in avanti, tutto cambia (la sofferenza che ci aspetta io sinceramente non riesco nemmeno a concepirla. Questa storia non avrà - non può avere - un lieto fine).
Ok, mi sembra di aver sproloquiato abbastanza, aggiungo soltanto un paio di insight su questa mia prima esperienza di lettura in lingua, che direi è stata al 100% soddisfacente. Non ho avuto problemi, la prosa è limpida e va giù davvero come acqua fresca, e a questo punto penso che recupererò quanto prima i volumi che mi mancano direttamente in inglese.
Intanto però aspetto con impazienza il seguito.
Ah, Terry? Un'ultima cosa.
Tu non lo puoi neanche immaginare il bene che ti voglio.
June 20, 2025
DNF - not great, boring.
September 15, 2025
Could not finish. Got to the love interest and just can’t believe how problematic it was…? All of this felt predictable and just unsatisfying. I reeeeally wanted to like it but just didn’t.
March 13, 2025
Terry Brooks returns to his beloved Shannara series with Galaphile: The First Druids of Shannara, a book that delves into the story of the first Druid, Galaphile, and the origins of the Druid order. This book is a great introduction for new readers and a story that die-hard Shannara fans have long awaited. After the conclusion of the Shannara series in 2020, Brooks made it clear he wouldn’t expand the storyline further but didn’t rule out penning new stories to fill in gaps. To the delight of longtime fans, this book explores the founding of the Druids, the building of the legendary fortress Paranor, and it fills in storyline gaps between the inception of The Four Lands and the era of the Druid Bremen. The novel chronicles the journey of Galaphile Joss, an orphan elf who is recruited into an elite camp of sages and warriors. The Four Lands are ravaged by lawlessness and conflict, yet Galaphile has a visionary mission to bring peace and prosperity to them. His path is guided by a powerful fairy creature known as The King Of The Silver River and is fraught with intense battles, heartbreaking loss, and the threat of a powerful dark enemy.
Just as the fantasy genre has dramatically evolved since the first Shannara novel in 1977, so too has Terry’s writing. This book has a different structure than the average Shannara novel as it’s faster paced and includes several timeline jumps. Brooks’s doesn’t delve into great detail where he may have in the past—for instance Galaphile’s warrior and magic training in this book is neatly written but leaves much to the imagination of the reader, especially Galaphile’s four year extensive mage training with the enigmatic Cogline. Instead, Brooks spends more time moving the story forward, introducing a wide array of key characters and developing foundational relationships that will likely serve readers in the next book. Also different from other Shannara novels is the use of a single POV (Galaphile) for the lion-share of the story, with only small interludes where the POV switches to Narriane and the dark villain. Consequently this book really lives up to its title of “Galaphile” as it documents his life and transformation in his early years.
Galaphile Joss is a remarkable and likable protagonist—he’s highly intelligent, extremely loyal, and stands by his words. Once he decides his path as peacemaker for the Four Lands, he is fully committed, and his warrior and magic skills evolve quickly. His character arc from small-town peasant boy to a formidable warrior/mage is very pronounced and has a cinematic feel to it! Brooks has a way of developing characters whose outcomes readers really care about, and this book is no exception. Readers will be rooting for Galaphile, Narianne, and many of the rich side characters, especially through the epic battle scenes later in the book! The villain in this story, “The Spectral Tell,” is well developed, and his story gives longtime fans insight into how he came into possession of the dark magic book known as the Illdatch. Just like Galaphile, the villain has a difficult youth, but his motivations for dominance and power allow him to be easily subverted by the book’s dark power. Just like Galaphile, he too builds a fortress he calls The Skull Kingdom—another landmark that longtime readers will appreciate the backstory of!
The first part of the story depicts Galaphile as an early teen, but the story soon jumps to his late teens and early twenties, picking up the pace and becoming increasingly compelling. After Galaphile makes contact with The King Of The Silver River, in some very vivid fantasy scenes, the story really takes off and remains fast-paced until the end. Some readers have noted that the story lags briefly when the POV shifts to Narianne, late in the book, when she is dealing with inner turmoil linked to the effects of dark magic. While some of her inner monologues may be repetitive and the pacing slower in this section, there is great character development and more intimate dialogue that earlier chapters lack. The conclusion of this story doesn’t yet see Galaphile reaching his ascension as first Druid or officially setting up a Druid Council, but let’s hope this is explored in the next book in the series!
In summary, Galaphile is a fast-paced epic fantasy novel and a significant addition to the Shannara series. For new Brooks readers, it’s a great entrance into the Shannara-verse and provides longtime valuable backstory and context to the origins of the Druids, further enriching the larger Shannara narrative. If you’re looking for your next epic fantasy adventure with rich characters, magic, and Terry Brooks’ signature world-building, look no further than Galaphile: The First Druids of Shannara! It’s an epic adventure that you won’t soon forget!
Just as the fantasy genre has dramatically evolved since the first Shannara novel in 1977, so too has Terry’s writing. This book has a different structure than the average Shannara novel as it’s faster paced and includes several timeline jumps. Brooks’s doesn’t delve into great detail where he may have in the past—for instance Galaphile’s warrior and magic training in this book is neatly written but leaves much to the imagination of the reader, especially Galaphile’s four year extensive mage training with the enigmatic Cogline. Instead, Brooks spends more time moving the story forward, introducing a wide array of key characters and developing foundational relationships that will likely serve readers in the next book. Also different from other Shannara novels is the use of a single POV (Galaphile) for the lion-share of the story, with only small interludes where the POV switches to Narriane and the dark villain. Consequently this book really lives up to its title of “Galaphile” as it documents his life and transformation in his early years.
Galaphile Joss is a remarkable and likable protagonist—he’s highly intelligent, extremely loyal, and stands by his words. Once he decides his path as peacemaker for the Four Lands, he is fully committed, and his warrior and magic skills evolve quickly. His character arc from small-town peasant boy to a formidable warrior/mage is very pronounced and has a cinematic feel to it! Brooks has a way of developing characters whose outcomes readers really care about, and this book is no exception. Readers will be rooting for Galaphile, Narianne, and many of the rich side characters, especially through the epic battle scenes later in the book! The villain in this story, “The Spectral Tell,” is well developed, and his story gives longtime fans insight into how he came into possession of the dark magic book known as the Illdatch. Just like Galaphile, the villain has a difficult youth, but his motivations for dominance and power allow him to be easily subverted by the book’s dark power. Just like Galaphile, he too builds a fortress he calls The Skull Kingdom—another landmark that longtime readers will appreciate the backstory of!
The first part of the story depicts Galaphile as an early teen, but the story soon jumps to his late teens and early twenties, picking up the pace and becoming increasingly compelling. After Galaphile makes contact with The King Of The Silver River, in some very vivid fantasy scenes, the story really takes off and remains fast-paced until the end. Some readers have noted that the story lags briefly when the POV shifts to Narianne, late in the book, when she is dealing with inner turmoil linked to the effects of dark magic. While some of her inner monologues may be repetitive and the pacing slower in this section, there is great character development and more intimate dialogue that earlier chapters lack. The conclusion of this story doesn’t yet see Galaphile reaching his ascension as first Druid or officially setting up a Druid Council, but let’s hope this is explored in the next book in the series!
In summary, Galaphile is a fast-paced epic fantasy novel and a significant addition to the Shannara series. For new Brooks readers, it’s a great entrance into the Shannara-verse and provides longtime valuable backstory and context to the origins of the Druids, further enriching the larger Shannara narrative. If you’re looking for your next epic fantasy adventure with rich characters, magic, and Terry Brooks’ signature world-building, look no further than Galaphile: The First Druids of Shannara! It’s an epic adventure that you won’t soon forget!
Read
July 15, 2025The latest novel from bestselling author Terry Brooks offers an absorbing exploration of the lifelong quest of Galaphile, a figure whose journey begins when he is recruited into an elite camp of magic-wielders and warriors. In a world ravaged by lawlessness and conflict, Galaphile’s mission transcends mere survival, because he seeks to restore peace and order to the Four Lands. His path is fraught with hardship—massacres, lost loves, and the endless clash between races—and the threat of a dark foe looms. Yet, driven by his longing for family and fellowship, his resolve never falters.
Brook’s ability to seamlessly blend an ancient post-apocalyptic landscape with traditional high-fantasy elements is particularly evident in this early tale set in the Four Lands. The druids have always played a pivotal role in the overarching story of this epic world, and Galaphile stands as a complex embodiment of wisdom, mystery, and admirable ambition. His character-driven crusade is accessible and easy to read while still offering depth and sophistication. Longtime fans will enjoy this sweeping chronicle about the origin of Paranor and its founder.
Click here to place a hold: Galaphile .
For more epic fantasy with magical wars, try Ashes of the Sun by Django Wexler.
Brook’s ability to seamlessly blend an ancient post-apocalyptic landscape with traditional high-fantasy elements is particularly evident in this early tale set in the Four Lands. The druids have always played a pivotal role in the overarching story of this epic world, and Galaphile stands as a complex embodiment of wisdom, mystery, and admirable ambition. His character-driven crusade is accessible and easy to read while still offering depth and sophistication. Longtime fans will enjoy this sweeping chronicle about the origin of Paranor and its founder.
Click here to place a hold: Galaphile .
For more epic fantasy with magical wars, try Ashes of the Sun by Django Wexler.
March 18, 2025
Малко странно ми е да ревюирам последната книга за “Шанара”, написана от Брукс, но в същото време изпитвам огромно облекчение от това, че тя ми хареса толкова. Като че авторът запази най-доброто за накрая. Галафайл е страхотен протагонист, по-уверен от децата на Шанара, но по-топъл от друида Аланон. Пътят му към величието е истински и емоционален, напрегнат и вълнуващ, пълен с препятствия, но и с любов, която веднъж губи и на втори път това едва не се случва отново. Романът ни среща с любими образи като Коглин и Краля на сребърната река, чиято поява се чувства като среща със стари приятели. Брукс отново се отличава и с умението си да измисля ужасяващи злодеи. Новият му антагонист Спектър Тел е наистина отвратителен и чудовищен, на нивото на Финдо Гаск, Ример Дал и Арканен Рай, страховит и отвратителен Черен лорд, въплъщение на абсолютното зло. А финалът, не че не можеше да се предвиди, но уви, последното изречение, последната дума от книгата е разтърсваща.
Цялото ми ревю може да прочетете в Цитаделата:
https://citadelata.com/galaphile-the-...
Цялото ми ревю може да прочетете в Цитаделата:
https://citadelata.com/galaphile-the-...
November 10, 2025
First in "The First Druids of Shannara" series. A book that has more value to fans of Shannara than first-time visitors to the The Four Lands.
It relates the tale that fans know the bare bones, but none of the specifics, of as Galaphile Joss sets out--as the chosen one of The King of the Silver River--to create the Druidic fortress of Paranor. And therein lies the problem (which I have labeled "Prequel Trilogy-itis").
Brooks relates the familiar story without much passion except for the chapters that introduce the reader to The Spectre Telle--a new character to long-time fans that is more than enough to keep those readers happy; but the whole would be inadequate to newbies. Even a pretty good final battle might not be enough for them.
Still, the connective tissue will keep fans, including me, entertained and coming back for more.
It relates the tale that fans know the bare bones, but none of the specifics, of as Galaphile Joss sets out--as the chosen one of The King of the Silver River--to create the Druidic fortress of Paranor. And therein lies the problem (which I have labeled "Prequel Trilogy-itis").
Brooks relates the familiar story without much passion except for the chapters that introduce the reader to The Spectre Telle--a new character to long-time fans that is more than enough to keep those readers happy; but the whole would be inadequate to newbies. Even a pretty good final battle might not be enough for them.
Still, the connective tissue will keep fans, including me, entertained and coming back for more.
April 27, 2025
Galaphile (The First Druids of Shannara, #1)
by Terry Brooks (Goodreads Author)
Although this book shows the nature of Shannara and its history it is comprehensible on its own. I found that the apocalyptic world of Shannara has little difference from the dark ages. The medieval village society of magic, and folklore peoples after the destruction of humanity is not like how society was in those dark times. The conflict of peoples and their struggles for equality are similar to the conflicts of cultural exchange in Europe after the collapse of the Roman empire. Each magical species has conflicts, and negotiation similar to cultural conflicts. The Idea of Galaphile is similar to Robin Hood, and the struggles of political collapse.
Terry Brooks has a great way of describing characters, and events. His book is endearing, and fresh even thought it has a old folklore theme.
April 17, 2025
Another slice of Shannara!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews