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The Fall of Shannara #1
The Black Elfstone
The first book of the triumphant and epic four-part conclusion to the Shannara series, from one of the all-time masters of fantasy.
Through forty years of New York Times bestselling Shannara novels, Terry Brooks always had an ending in mind: a series that would bring it all to a grand conclusion. Now that time is here.
The Four Lands has been at peace for generations, but now a mysterious army of invaders is cutting a bloody swath across a remote region of the land. No one knows who they are, where they come from, or what they are after—and most seem content to ignore these disturbing events. The only people who sense a greater, growing threat and wish to uncover the truth are society’s outcasts: an exiled High Druid, a conflicted warrior, a teenage girl struggling to master a prodigious magic . . . and a scrappy young orphan, improbably named Shea Ohmsford.
Through forty years of New York Times bestselling Shannara novels, Terry Brooks always had an ending in mind: a series that would bring it all to a grand conclusion. Now that time is here.
The Four Lands has been at peace for generations, but now a mysterious army of invaders is cutting a bloody swath across a remote region of the land. No one knows who they are, where they come from, or what they are after—and most seem content to ignore these disturbing events. The only people who sense a greater, growing threat and wish to uncover the truth are society’s outcasts: an exiled High Druid, a conflicted warrior, a teenage girl struggling to master a prodigious magic . . . and a scrappy young orphan, improbably named Shea Ohmsford.
318 pages, Hardcover
First published June 13, 2017
965 people are currently reading
7925 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 503 reviews
May 6, 2020
Over the last three years Brooks has written, well, let’s face it, a very tepid trilogy called The Defenders of Shannara. The tone was largely Y.A and the scope of the story was vastly limited and unimaginative. It felt like he was just trying to squeeze another trilogy out in a fantasy world that was already starting to become a little stale. All in all, it wasn’t Brooks at his best.
But now the real Terry Brooks is back!
This, however, ushers in a return to the old Brooks, a Brooks who wrote vast fantasy novels with complex plots and interesting bad guys. He didn’t force themes into the writing, themes only used to make his writing seem more attractive to viewers of the television adaptation of The Elfstones of Shannara in a failed effort to keep up with modern times. He wrote decent books, entertaining books about magic and warring factions. Some of them may have seemed a little samey (and this book is no exception) but for his fans that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
People like to get lost in a good fantasy novel and they relish taking another journey to another realm, but Brooks has written (perhaps overwritten?) so many books in his world. I, for one, am truly glad to see it come to an end with this final series. I look forward to seeing what kind of ending he provides. Will it be open ended? Will we be left with the impression that this world could go on or will it be a real ending? A final line, a stop, a finish: a strong place to finally finish this story. I don’t think it will be. I think he’ll go with the former, but I’d like to see something dramatic happen.
A new enemy
It could go either way at the moment as The Four Lands face a new threat; it is something they haven’t quite seen before or perhaps something they no longer quite understand. It is a mysterious enemy with the ability to change its location allowing them to slaughter thousands with little resistance. Nobody knows what it is, and the only people that have a chance at stopping them (the Druids) suffer under weak leadership and division. The order has become corrupted, more concerned with acquiring power for personal profit rather than the protection of it.
The former Ard Rhys, a man called Drisker Arc, is being hunted by assassins. The enemy understand his power; he is the only one intelligent enough to fully perceive this threat, and the only one with the foresight to actually consider doing anything productive about it. His character is highly reminiscent of the druid Allanon (almost a regurgitated version of him really) but I am willing to overlook that here because this is coming to an end, an end it so sorely needs to reach before it loses all sense of worth.
So this was a very strong opening book, and if the narrative follows the plot line here rather than jumping around, it could be a very strong series too.
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You can connect with me on social media via My Linktree.
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But now the real Terry Brooks is back!
This, however, ushers in a return to the old Brooks, a Brooks who wrote vast fantasy novels with complex plots and interesting bad guys. He didn’t force themes into the writing, themes only used to make his writing seem more attractive to viewers of the television adaptation of The Elfstones of Shannara in a failed effort to keep up with modern times. He wrote decent books, entertaining books about magic and warring factions. Some of them may have seemed a little samey (and this book is no exception) but for his fans that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
People like to get lost in a good fantasy novel and they relish taking another journey to another realm, but Brooks has written (perhaps overwritten?) so many books in his world. I, for one, am truly glad to see it come to an end with this final series. I look forward to seeing what kind of ending he provides. Will it be open ended? Will we be left with the impression that this world could go on or will it be a real ending? A final line, a stop, a finish: a strong place to finally finish this story. I don’t think it will be. I think he’ll go with the former, but I’d like to see something dramatic happen.
A new enemy
It could go either way at the moment as The Four Lands face a new threat; it is something they haven’t quite seen before or perhaps something they no longer quite understand. It is a mysterious enemy with the ability to change its location allowing them to slaughter thousands with little resistance. Nobody knows what it is, and the only people that have a chance at stopping them (the Druids) suffer under weak leadership and division. The order has become corrupted, more concerned with acquiring power for personal profit rather than the protection of it.
The former Ard Rhys, a man called Drisker Arc, is being hunted by assassins. The enemy understand his power; he is the only one intelligent enough to fully perceive this threat, and the only one with the foresight to actually consider doing anything productive about it. His character is highly reminiscent of the druid Allanon (almost a regurgitated version of him really) but I am willing to overlook that here because this is coming to an end, an end it so sorely needs to reach before it loses all sense of worth.
So this was a very strong opening book, and if the narrative follows the plot line here rather than jumping around, it could be a very strong series too.
_________________________________
You can connect with me on social media via My Linktree.
__________________________________
October 29, 2022
“Always there had been the threat that magic, like science, might be misused.”
It simply has to be said! As the Shannara universe enters its fifth decade and the series novel count approaches 40, it is difficult to believe that Terry Brooks writing remains as compelling, as imaginative, as thrilling, as provocative, as evocative and as exciting as the day I first drooled over The Sword of Shannara. It is no small matter of personal pride for me that I can say I was one of those lucky fantasy lovers who stumbled upon the epic Shannara fantasy when it was actually first published and that I have been an ardent fan ever since I first encountered it in the late 1970s. To say that I was enchanted by Shea Ohmsford and Allanon, not to mention the magnificent illustrations of the Brothers Hildebrandt would be a masterpiece of understatement. As the Ringwraiths did in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Brooks’ imagining of the Skullbearers simply gave me goosebumps. A first edition illustrated trade paperback copy sits with no small pride in a valued place on my bookshelves.
In The Fall of Shannara, recently deposed and exiled High Druid Drisker Arc faces assassins and an unknown enemy force. This new and terrifying foe, already endowed with powerful and hitherto unknown magic, would seek to destroy the entire High Druid Council, to pulverize Paranor, the Druid’s secluded and magically protected fortress, and to add to their own power with the dangerous and almost unlimited power of the Black Elfstone. It rests only with Drisker Arc, Darcon Leah, the Blade and sworn guardian of the Ard Rhys and the Druid Council and young Tarsha Kaynin, an untested enchantress who has inherited the Ohmsford family Wishsong magic, to protect the Four Lands from domination by this evil. Tarsha Kaynin faces the additional problem of rescuing her brother from the madness and self-destruction that seems to be consuming him as a result of the same Wishsong bequest blocking his efforts to control it.
The theme is the time-tested chestnut, “good versus evil”, but in the hands of Terry Brooks, every book seems to be new and thrilling. There’s nothing stale here and every page begs to be turned so a reader can get on with this absorbing new tale of Shannara and the dangers facing the Four Lands. I am looking forward with considerable relish to the sequel, The Skaar Invasion.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
It simply has to be said! As the Shannara universe enters its fifth decade and the series novel count approaches 40, it is difficult to believe that Terry Brooks writing remains as compelling, as imaginative, as thrilling, as provocative, as evocative and as exciting as the day I first drooled over The Sword of Shannara. It is no small matter of personal pride for me that I can say I was one of those lucky fantasy lovers who stumbled upon the epic Shannara fantasy when it was actually first published and that I have been an ardent fan ever since I first encountered it in the late 1970s. To say that I was enchanted by Shea Ohmsford and Allanon, not to mention the magnificent illustrations of the Brothers Hildebrandt would be a masterpiece of understatement. As the Ringwraiths did in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Brooks’ imagining of the Skullbearers simply gave me goosebumps. A first edition illustrated trade paperback copy sits with no small pride in a valued place on my bookshelves.
In The Fall of Shannara, recently deposed and exiled High Druid Drisker Arc faces assassins and an unknown enemy force. This new and terrifying foe, already endowed with powerful and hitherto unknown magic, would seek to destroy the entire High Druid Council, to pulverize Paranor, the Druid’s secluded and magically protected fortress, and to add to their own power with the dangerous and almost unlimited power of the Black Elfstone. It rests only with Drisker Arc, Darcon Leah, the Blade and sworn guardian of the Ard Rhys and the Druid Council and young Tarsha Kaynin, an untested enchantress who has inherited the Ohmsford family Wishsong magic, to protect the Four Lands from domination by this evil. Tarsha Kaynin faces the additional problem of rescuing her brother from the madness and self-destruction that seems to be consuming him as a result of the same Wishsong bequest blocking his efforts to control it.
The theme is the time-tested chestnut, “good versus evil”, but in the hands of Terry Brooks, every book seems to be new and thrilling. There’s nothing stale here and every page begs to be turned so a reader can get on with this absorbing new tale of Shannara and the dangers facing the Four Lands. I am looking forward with considerable relish to the sequel, The Skaar Invasion.
Highly recommended.
Paul Weiss
December 11, 2017
Terry Brooks ' first Shannara was way back over 40ys ago when Tolkien was becoming popular with the teenage population of Queen & Tom Baker era now those teen-agers are my age.
This set in later time frame from Sword but is still Druid magic arrogance with there rudeness & pomp.
A young girl wakes up one day with the fable Wishsong only she doesn't know it. Her older violent brother also has magic but he is crazy & use it to kill animals.He is locked up for been crazy & dangerous.
Meanwhile an army of Trolls are all killed in very odd way.
The local popular Ex Druid Drisker has hit man after him.On top of that he has student to teach magic to & this so she can save her brother but he may be to far gone ?
Plenty of twists,turns,this like his early books lot blood,sweat & guts with magic not like that TV show that no idea were hell got it from.
Complete muddle set on Earth after nuclear war - that's not Shannara of Terry 's books.
An Odd Randy Imp ,big female cat & more people vanishing .
Then there is the brother oh boy oh shit! That's just vol.1 let's hope vol.2 not to long
This set in later time frame from Sword but is still Druid magic arrogance with there rudeness & pomp.
A young girl wakes up one day with the fable Wishsong only she doesn't know it. Her older violent brother also has magic but he is crazy & use it to kill animals.He is locked up for been crazy & dangerous.
Meanwhile an army of Trolls are all killed in very odd way.
The local popular Ex Druid Drisker has hit man after him.On top of that he has student to teach magic to & this so she can save her brother but he may be to far gone ?
Plenty of twists,turns,this like his early books lot blood,sweat & guts with magic not like that TV show that no idea were hell got it from.
Complete muddle set on Earth after nuclear war - that's not Shannara of Terry 's books.
An Odd Randy Imp ,big female cat & more people vanishing .
Then there is the brother oh boy oh shit! That's just vol.1 let's hope vol.2 not to long
January 29, 2018
This is the first book of a new trilogy in a long series which spans centuries. In this one, there is a new threat for the Druids and the Four Lands. This threat seems like nobody can stop them. Meanwhile Tarsha and Tavo have the gift of the wishsong. The problem is that Tavo is an angry person and his possession of the wishsong makes him a very dangerous person. Tarsha seeks out an exiled Druid to help her master her gift and help her brother.
As I said, this is the opening of a trilogy that is suppose to be the final trilogy of this series. There is a lot of setup. I had no problem with that as this felt like the epic nature of this series instead of the minor fallout the last trilogy had. I prefer the epic nature more. I can see why this would be the final series as this book had a sense of doom and finality throughout. The characters in this book might be the best ones that Terry Brooks have written in awhile. I enjoyed them all whether it was the exiled Druid who takes on a student or the brother and sister on opposite sides of dark and light. Sure, they are not groundbreaking as we have all seen versions of them but I liked their nature and personalities.
Several of the last Shannara books seemed like they were going thru the motions. This seemed more like the series that I have read for more than half of my life. It will be sad when this series comes to an end but if this is any indication of how it is going to end, it will be an enjoyable ride.
As I said, this is the opening of a trilogy that is suppose to be the final trilogy of this series. There is a lot of setup. I had no problem with that as this felt like the epic nature of this series instead of the minor fallout the last trilogy had. I prefer the epic nature more. I can see why this would be the final series as this book had a sense of doom and finality throughout. The characters in this book might be the best ones that Terry Brooks have written in awhile. I enjoyed them all whether it was the exiled Druid who takes on a student or the brother and sister on opposite sides of dark and light. Sure, they are not groundbreaking as we have all seen versions of them but I liked their nature and personalities.
Several of the last Shannara books seemed like they were going thru the motions. This seemed more like the series that I have read for more than half of my life. It will be sad when this series comes to an end but if this is any indication of how it is going to end, it will be an enjoyable ride.
June 12, 2017
A return of form of sorts for Brooks, who is back to writing large, sweeping epic fantasy after spending a decade or more focusing on smaller stories. The Black Elfstones is vast in its scope and implications, and brings to mind the best of Brooks' last big epic, The Heritage of Shannara series.
As much as I've enjoyed some of the recent Shannara novels (after not enjoying several in a row over), this one is far and away Brooks' best work in a long time. Brooks is promising an end to the Shannara series with this new four-book set, and things are off to a very promising start with The Black Elfstone.
Full review: http://www.tor.com/2017/06/09/book-re...
As much as I've enjoyed some of the recent Shannara novels (after not enjoying several in a row over), this one is far and away Brooks' best work in a long time. Brooks is promising an end to the Shannara series with this new four-book set, and things are off to a very promising start with The Black Elfstone.
Full review: http://www.tor.com/2017/06/09/book-re...
June 4, 2021
The Black Elfstone is the 31st book chronologically in the Shannara series. 4.5 stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟 rounded down to 4 because it’s not quite a 5.
So much better this time around! I feel that I completely misread it last time and I get it now.
The big takeaway from this re-read is that the Druids at Paranor are simply a bunch of cocky, bullheaded idiots. No wonder they keep getting decimated! They haven’t had a good leader since Aphenglow Elessedil.
Next up is The Skaar Invasion. The Four Lands are being invaded by an army from a foreign land across the Tiderace that is cunning and ruthless and the soldiers can make themselves disappear.
Original Review below:
"Long minutes passed as the silence deepened, and from behind the thick glass of the tower windows, high enough that the walls did not block his view, the dull roil of the greenish mist persisted, spreading from window to window until the entirety of the Keep reflected its sickly hue." p. 312
It pains me to have to give only 2 stars for the Black Elfstone by Terry Brooks, but I must go with my true feeling.
I am a long time fan of Terry Brooks and the Shannara series, having read this series for almost 30 years now. I have to say I was very disappointed in The Black Elfstone. There were way too many petty arguments, too much teenage/young adult angst and love triangle nonsense, and I didn't much care for these new characters at all except for maybe Clizia Porse. I did not like the character Darcon Leah (the new High Druid's "Blade") at all - he was WAY too cocky and argumentative with the new Ard Rhys and the other Druids.
On another note, I've seen some other reviewers compare the new druid character, Drisker Arc, to Allanon. I personally don't think he holds a candle Allanon, although all the Ard Rhys' since Grianne Ohmsford have each attempted to bring back a new druid order to the Four Lands which Allanon and Walker Boh didn't even attempt. Because of that, the politics and a lot of other things have changed in Paranor since Allanon and Walker Boh's time. I just have to trust in Mr. Brooks and where he is going with his wrapping up of the Shannara series because he has never let me down. This book is like potential energy you learn about in physics - in my opinion it is a poor installment standing by itself, but in my opinion, Terry Brooks is the master of the tetralogy (Heritage tetralogy - Scions, Druid, Elf Queen, and Talismans are his best series, in my opinion). I'll plan to just be patient and trust Mr. Brooks in the hope that the remaining three books do this entire series justice.
So much better this time around! I feel that I completely misread it last time and I get it now.
The big takeaway from this re-read is that the Druids at Paranor are simply a bunch of cocky, bullheaded idiots. No wonder they keep getting decimated! They haven’t had a good leader since Aphenglow Elessedil.
Next up is The Skaar Invasion. The Four Lands are being invaded by an army from a foreign land across the Tiderace that is cunning and ruthless and the soldiers can make themselves disappear.
Original Review below:
"Long minutes passed as the silence deepened, and from behind the thick glass of the tower windows, high enough that the walls did not block his view, the dull roil of the greenish mist persisted, spreading from window to window until the entirety of the Keep reflected its sickly hue." p. 312
It pains me to have to give only 2 stars for the Black Elfstone by Terry Brooks, but I must go with my true feeling.
I am a long time fan of Terry Brooks and the Shannara series, having read this series for almost 30 years now. I have to say I was very disappointed in The Black Elfstone. There were way too many petty arguments, too much teenage/young adult angst and love triangle nonsense, and I didn't much care for these new characters at all except for maybe Clizia Porse. I did not like the character Darcon Leah (the new High Druid's "Blade") at all - he was WAY too cocky and argumentative with the new Ard Rhys and the other Druids.
On another note, I've seen some other reviewers compare the new druid character, Drisker Arc, to Allanon. I personally don't think he holds a candle Allanon, although all the Ard Rhys' since Grianne Ohmsford have each attempted to bring back a new druid order to the Four Lands which Allanon and Walker Boh didn't even attempt. Because of that, the politics and a lot of other things have changed in Paranor since Allanon and Walker Boh's time. I just have to trust in Mr. Brooks and where he is going with his wrapping up of the Shannara series because he has never let me down. This book is like potential energy you learn about in physics - in my opinion it is a poor installment standing by itself, but in my opinion, Terry Brooks is the master of the tetralogy (Heritage tetralogy - Scions, Druid, Elf Queen, and Talismans are his best series, in my opinion). I'll plan to just be patient and trust Mr. Brooks in the hope that the remaining three books do this entire series justice.
March 2, 2019
Very good first part of the final Shannara series. I think mr. Brooks went back to his writing roots for this one. Even though I'm sad Shannara's ending - on the other hand, about forty books have been written? That should be enough. I think mr. Brooks will go out with a bang for his last books, with some of the best writing he's done so far.
June 2, 2020
Picked this hardback up in the bargain bin of Books A Million. I am a die hard Kindle fan, but I could not pass up this Shannara HB for only $7.
It brought back great memories from when I read
way back in the late 70's. It was after reading my first Shannara book that I went on to discover Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit.
I have read a few other Shannara books, here and there. But this title grabbed my attention. I will either pick up the 2nd book in the bargain bin OR read it from my digital library. I am glad to be back in the world of Shannara. Loved the characters, the pacing, and the overall plot. I am hooked again.
It brought back great memories from when I read
way back in the late 70's. It was after reading my first Shannara book that I went on to discover Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit.I have read a few other Shannara books, here and there. But this title grabbed my attention. I will either pick up the 2nd book in the bargain bin OR read it from my digital library. I am glad to be back in the world of Shannara. Loved the characters, the pacing, and the overall plot. I am hooked again.
March 26, 2020
This was interesting to revisit. It's amazing to me how easily I fell into this. On the one hand, this is utterly familiar. I've skipped the last few Shannara series, but I don't exactly feel like I need an introduction to Allanon v4.0 or Leah Swordsman #5 (6? 7? Who even knows).
But at the same time, this is so relentlessly readable that I burned right through it, and had to remember to put down book #2 to write this up.
More in depth thoughts coming, after I finish the entire series.
But at the same time, this is so relentlessly readable that I burned right through it, and had to remember to put down book #2 to write this up.
More in depth thoughts coming, after I finish the entire series.
June 16, 2017
A summer candy read. Pure enjoyment.
October 18, 2017
This is actually a 3.5 for me, but silly Goodreads won’t let us give half stars (get on that you guys!).
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Far more than I did The Defenders. I did find some inconsistencies with the characters, like Terry couldn’t decide how he wanted them to act, but all in all I liked it. Below is the review I wrote for it on my blog, which you can find here:
https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/9123...
Rating: 3.5
As much as I would have loved to have given this a higher rating, I couldn't. I enjoyed the book quite a lot, but there were things that bothered me, leaving me to rate it just below a 4-star. (Side Note: I don't tend to give quarter stars, so a half is just below a 4).
I was a little wary at first about reading this one because I simply did not enjoy the previous trilogy at all. However, the title (and the cover) had me inwardly squealing in excitement at a new trilogy so I couldn't not read it, either, lol. I am glad that I did. It redeemed Terry in my eyes simply because it felt closer to something he would have written earlier on in his career. Now, mind you, it wasn't perfect, but it was so much better than what he's written of late that I'm thrilled and excited to read the rest of the series.
I liked a few of the characters, but I found their writing to be inconsistent, which made it hard to love them.
One character I didn't like, at all (then again, not sure you're supposed to) was Tavo. However, his characterization was probably the most spot-on throughout the book. His madness was..it felt like one could spiral down the rabbit hole with him if they read too much from his POV. It was written so well and even though his parts made me cringe a little, he was the best-written character of the book.
When I read a friend's review on Goodreads, he mentioned that some have compared Drisker Arc (the main druid of the book) to Allanon. He also mentioned that he didn't see it, and I agree entirely on that. Allanon had this old feel to him that made one a little afraid to push him because you were fairly certain that the druid would do something to you if you did. Drisker does not have that whatsoever.
From what I could tell, Drisker was fairly young, as far as druids go. He wasn't grumpy at all, he was merely fed up with all the BS in the druid order, and with the world to a certain degree in my opinion. He's a hermit out of choice and that choice isn't because he doesn't like anyone, it's because he's worn down by all the politics and drama. Once Tarsha (Tavo's sister; more will come on her..) comes, Drisker seems to gain some youth to him, making him more of a father figure towards the girl than a grandfather. He eventually becomes to realize that, for all of his reasons for leaving the druid order, he gave up too early, and that some things in life were still worth caring about. He finds that he misses having company, and enjoys having Tarsha with him.
That being said, how quickly this change happens in the book, sent my head spinning and it felt very rushed. I would have been happier had it taken the entire book for Drisker to come to these conclusions.
Tarsha Kaynin is the sister of Tavo who has possession of the wishsong. Whereas the magic is driving her brother to insanity, literally, it takes hold on her differently, reminding me more of Brin from The Wishsong of Shannara than anything. Seeking a way to help her brother, she finds Drisker Arc and convinces him (way too easily, in my opinion) to take her on as a student.
Overall, her story isn't a bad one. However, she bounces between acting like a girl far older than she appears and a insolent child that I had hard time liking her. I get that most teenagers, or women on the brink of becoming adults, are like that, but for me, she would go from someone acting like they're 25-30 to someone who was 12 in a matter of paragraphs and I didn't like it.
Then we have Darcon Leah - the High Druid's Blade. For the most part, I didn't mind him. However, it could have been because when he wasn't droning on about his love for a druid, or his duty as the Blade, he was pretty a nonentity for me. I wish there had been more to him, honestly.
Overall, however, the book was good and I look forward to the next installment which is set to be published in May of 2018.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. Far more than I did The Defenders. I did find some inconsistencies with the characters, like Terry couldn’t decide how he wanted them to act, but all in all I liked it. Below is the review I wrote for it on my blog, which you can find here:
https://wordpress.com/read/blogs/9123...
Rating: 3.5
As much as I would have loved to have given this a higher rating, I couldn't. I enjoyed the book quite a lot, but there were things that bothered me, leaving me to rate it just below a 4-star. (Side Note: I don't tend to give quarter stars, so a half is just below a 4).
I was a little wary at first about reading this one because I simply did not enjoy the previous trilogy at all. However, the title (and the cover) had me inwardly squealing in excitement at a new trilogy so I couldn't not read it, either, lol. I am glad that I did. It redeemed Terry in my eyes simply because it felt closer to something he would have written earlier on in his career. Now, mind you, it wasn't perfect, but it was so much better than what he's written of late that I'm thrilled and excited to read the rest of the series.
I liked a few of the characters, but I found their writing to be inconsistent, which made it hard to love them.
One character I didn't like, at all (then again, not sure you're supposed to) was Tavo. However, his characterization was probably the most spot-on throughout the book. His madness was..it felt like one could spiral down the rabbit hole with him if they read too much from his POV. It was written so well and even though his parts made me cringe a little, he was the best-written character of the book.
When I read a friend's review on Goodreads, he mentioned that some have compared Drisker Arc (the main druid of the book) to Allanon. He also mentioned that he didn't see it, and I agree entirely on that. Allanon had this old feel to him that made one a little afraid to push him because you were fairly certain that the druid would do something to you if you did. Drisker does not have that whatsoever.
From what I could tell, Drisker was fairly young, as far as druids go. He wasn't grumpy at all, he was merely fed up with all the BS in the druid order, and with the world to a certain degree in my opinion. He's a hermit out of choice and that choice isn't because he doesn't like anyone, it's because he's worn down by all the politics and drama. Once Tarsha (Tavo's sister; more will come on her..) comes, Drisker seems to gain some youth to him, making him more of a father figure towards the girl than a grandfather. He eventually becomes to realize that, for all of his reasons for leaving the druid order, he gave up too early, and that some things in life were still worth caring about. He finds that he misses having company, and enjoys having Tarsha with him.
That being said, how quickly this change happens in the book, sent my head spinning and it felt very rushed. I would have been happier had it taken the entire book for Drisker to come to these conclusions.
Tarsha Kaynin is the sister of Tavo who has possession of the wishsong. Whereas the magic is driving her brother to insanity, literally, it takes hold on her differently, reminding me more of Brin from The Wishsong of Shannara than anything. Seeking a way to help her brother, she finds Drisker Arc and convinces him (way too easily, in my opinion) to take her on as a student.
Overall, her story isn't a bad one. However, she bounces between acting like a girl far older than she appears and a insolent child that I had hard time liking her. I get that most teenagers, or women on the brink of becoming adults, are like that, but for me, she would go from someone acting like they're 25-30 to someone who was 12 in a matter of paragraphs and I didn't like it.
Then we have Darcon Leah - the High Druid's Blade. For the most part, I didn't mind him. However, it could have been because when he wasn't droning on about his love for a druid, or his duty as the Blade, he was pretty a nonentity for me. I wish there had been more to him, honestly.
Overall, however, the book was good and I look forward to the next installment which is set to be published in May of 2018.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2017
The Four Lands had been at peace for generations but an unknown enemy has started their invasion. 4 unlikely outcasts must join together in saving the Four Lands or else their world will end. Also a new elfstone had been found one that has not been seen before.
I really like the set up to the first book of the final saga of Shannara Chronicles. This is officially the beginning of the end and it's a little sad for me as a fan. I loved the introduction of the characters and the tie ins with the past books. Looking forward to the second book.
I really like the set up to the first book of the final saga of Shannara Chronicles. This is officially the beginning of the end and it's a little sad for me as a fan. I loved the introduction of the characters and the tie ins with the past books. Looking forward to the second book.
July 2, 2017
I'm terribly sad to hear that the Shannara series is ending. This is one of the best entries in the series in quite awhile. The characters are great and the brother & sister are reminiscent of the Wishsong of Shannara dynamic. Well done Mr. Brooks
January 30, 2019
The Black Elfstone is a classic epic fantasy adventure in what is sure to be the crowning jewel of the Shannara series.
All right, that tagline is a little grandiose of a statement for someone who’s never read the previous books in the series, I know. But from all of the other reviews of The Black Elfstone that I’ve read, from what I can tell this is a return to greatness for Brooks from what had been a rather lackluster past couple of books.
I’m not speaking for myself there, just telling you what I’ve heard from others.
My own impressions of The Black Elfstone were that it started out a bit bland, but then built as the story went along and actually had been intrigued by the end. I won’t say that I was over obsessed with this book or absolutely had to read it, but it was a solid read.
At times, it seemed a bit too much tell and not enough show. There were plenty of times where Brooks told me about a character and what they were like rather than letting me make my own determination from the way they behaved.
And some of the early action in the story was over in a matter of seconds with a simple statement like “He fired off his magic and three died instantly.”
That type of action is not very fun. In fact, the whole book was surprisingly lacking in action, but that’s all right. I don’t absolutely need action, though it really does help.
Where The Black Elfstone shines is with its characters, which I’ll talk about in just a minute.
The story starts off with Drisker Arc, once the High Druid, now an exile living in a cottage in the woods away from prying eyes. We also meet Tarsha Kaynin really quickly who is a young girl with a special magic called wishsong that is activated by singing.
Tarsha leaves home to find Drisker in order to train her. The problem is, someone wants Drisker dead and has hired assassins to kill him. Tarsha will of course get wrapped up in all the excitement.
But that’s not all, there’s a mysterious group of invaders that has appeared and is wiping out Troll clans in the north. They can make themselves go invisible and can also create images of themselves where where they aren’t.
The Druid order learns about this and really doesn’t do anything, so it’s up to Drisker and Tarsha to figure it all out.
On top of all of that, Tarsha’s brother, Tavo, also has the wishsong, but something is mentally wrong with him and Tarsha is desperately looking for a cure.
I would daresay The Black Elfstone primarily follows Tarsha. This really seems to be about her and not Drisker, though Drisker is important.
When we first meet Tarsha she’s only 12 or something like that. We get the first few years of her life given to us in bitesize form and before long, Tarsha’s parents have sent her brother Tavo away for being too unruly.
It doesn’t take Tarsha long to find out that her brother is being abused by their uncle and she fears he’ll do something dangerous if she doesn’t get him help.
Her whole story centers on Tavo and learning to control her magic so she can use it to help her brother. She plainly cares for her brother and she’s willing to defy her parents and chart off all by herself when she’s around 17 years old or so to find Drisker and beg him to help her.
Through the book, Tarsha is consumed with Tavo, even when there are more important things going on. Whether this is unswerving loyalty or plain foolishness is yet to be seen.
Aside from Drisker, we have another character, Darcon Leah, or just Dar. Dar is the most highly decorated protector of the Druids. Though he doesn’t have magic, he seems to have a better head for politics and strategy than even the current High Druid himself.
This will land Dar in some hot water with the order pertaining to the invaders.
The book was so so. There was times where I felt like giving it up, and other times where it was an enjoyable read.
I liked the character development from our three main characters and am eager to see where the story takes them in the next installment.
But I wouldn’t say this book is one that you need to drop everything that you’re doing in order to read it. It’s not that ground breaking or unique.
The ending, while giving us some minor closure on a few things, really left a lot unsaid and unanswered that left me with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.
We don’t even find out why the book is called “The Black Elfstone” until the last like 10% of the book. That’s the first time the term is even used.
Thankfully, if you want the most pressing question answered: “Who are these invaders?” Then go read the sample on Amazon as it’s answered in the first chapter of Book 2, The Skaar Invasion.
Since I have an ARC of Book 3, I’ll continue reading, but honestly, if I didn’t have the ARC, I probably would have just left the series alone. Again, it’s a decent read, but not particularly engaging where I have to know what happens next.
I give The Black Elfstone a 3.5/5
If you enjoy The Shannara series, then of course this book is a must read for you. Even if you haven’t read any of Brooks’ previous books, this is a decent place to jump on board.
All right, that tagline is a little grandiose of a statement for someone who’s never read the previous books in the series, I know. But from all of the other reviews of The Black Elfstone that I’ve read, from what I can tell this is a return to greatness for Brooks from what had been a rather lackluster past couple of books.
I’m not speaking for myself there, just telling you what I’ve heard from others.
My own impressions of The Black Elfstone were that it started out a bit bland, but then built as the story went along and actually had been intrigued by the end. I won’t say that I was over obsessed with this book or absolutely had to read it, but it was a solid read.
At times, it seemed a bit too much tell and not enough show. There were plenty of times where Brooks told me about a character and what they were like rather than letting me make my own determination from the way they behaved.
And some of the early action in the story was over in a matter of seconds with a simple statement like “He fired off his magic and three died instantly.”
That type of action is not very fun. In fact, the whole book was surprisingly lacking in action, but that’s all right. I don’t absolutely need action, though it really does help.
Where The Black Elfstone shines is with its characters, which I’ll talk about in just a minute.
The story starts off with Drisker Arc, once the High Druid, now an exile living in a cottage in the woods away from prying eyes. We also meet Tarsha Kaynin really quickly who is a young girl with a special magic called wishsong that is activated by singing.
Tarsha leaves home to find Drisker in order to train her. The problem is, someone wants Drisker dead and has hired assassins to kill him. Tarsha will of course get wrapped up in all the excitement.
But that’s not all, there’s a mysterious group of invaders that has appeared and is wiping out Troll clans in the north. They can make themselves go invisible and can also create images of themselves where where they aren’t.
The Druid order learns about this and really doesn’t do anything, so it’s up to Drisker and Tarsha to figure it all out.
On top of all of that, Tarsha’s brother, Tavo, also has the wishsong, but something is mentally wrong with him and Tarsha is desperately looking for a cure.
I would daresay The Black Elfstone primarily follows Tarsha. This really seems to be about her and not Drisker, though Drisker is important.
When we first meet Tarsha she’s only 12 or something like that. We get the first few years of her life given to us in bitesize form and before long, Tarsha’s parents have sent her brother Tavo away for being too unruly.
It doesn’t take Tarsha long to find out that her brother is being abused by their uncle and she fears he’ll do something dangerous if she doesn’t get him help.
Her whole story centers on Tavo and learning to control her magic so she can use it to help her brother. She plainly cares for her brother and she’s willing to defy her parents and chart off all by herself when she’s around 17 years old or so to find Drisker and beg him to help her.
Through the book, Tarsha is consumed with Tavo, even when there are more important things going on. Whether this is unswerving loyalty or plain foolishness is yet to be seen.
Aside from Drisker, we have another character, Darcon Leah, or just Dar. Dar is the most highly decorated protector of the Druids. Though he doesn’t have magic, he seems to have a better head for politics and strategy than even the current High Druid himself.
This will land Dar in some hot water with the order pertaining to the invaders.
The book was so so. There was times where I felt like giving it up, and other times where it was an enjoyable read.
I liked the character development from our three main characters and am eager to see where the story takes them in the next installment.
But I wouldn’t say this book is one that you need to drop everything that you’re doing in order to read it. It’s not that ground breaking or unique.
The ending, while giving us some minor closure on a few things, really left a lot unsaid and unanswered that left me with a bit of a sour taste in my mouth.
We don’t even find out why the book is called “The Black Elfstone” until the last like 10% of the book. That’s the first time the term is even used.
Thankfully, if you want the most pressing question answered: “Who are these invaders?” Then go read the sample on Amazon as it’s answered in the first chapter of Book 2, The Skaar Invasion.
Since I have an ARC of Book 3, I’ll continue reading, but honestly, if I didn’t have the ARC, I probably would have just left the series alone. Again, it’s a decent read, but not particularly engaging where I have to know what happens next.
I give The Black Elfstone a 3.5/5
If you enjoy The Shannara series, then of course this book is a must read for you. Even if you haven’t read any of Brooks’ previous books, this is a decent place to jump on board.
November 18, 2023
There are four main POVs in this book.
Tarsha Kaynin, I flip-flopped my feelings for her throughout the book.
Dar Leah, His story started off weak but got better as the book went on.
Drisker Arc is by far my favorite POV of the novel and I wanted more of his story.
Tavo Kaynin, I felt like skipping his sections because I just didn’t like him or care about his story.
This was an uneven story but I still enjoyed it better than anything from the previous trilogy.
4.5/5
Tarsha Kaynin, I flip-flopped my feelings for her throughout the book.
Dar Leah, His story started off weak but got better as the book went on.
Drisker Arc is by far my favorite POV of the novel and I wanted more of his story.
Tavo Kaynin, I felt like skipping his sections because I just didn’t like him or care about his story.
This was an uneven story but I still enjoyed it better than anything from the previous trilogy.
4.5/5
February 2, 2018
Най-добрата "Шанара" от много, много години насам. Тъжна, епична, истинска. Ревюто на линка:
http://citadelata.com/the-black-elfst...
http://citadelata.com/the-black-elfst...
April 25, 2021
I'm honestly really disappointed with this book.
The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy and the High Druid of Shannara trilogy are two of my favorite series, and the majority of the other books in the Shannara series are honestly pretty cool (with the exception of The Sword of Shannara, but oh well) so I was pretty excited to read a conclusion to the series.
As far as this first book goes, the characters are disappointing. Drisker Arc feels like a character written to stand right beside Allanon, Walker Boh, and Grianne... but he really doesn't, he's no match for any of them and doesn't work as well as he should, especially when you compare him to Walker Boh. They're the same kind of character but one of them... works. And the other doesn't.
Tarsha half of the time feels just plain pretentious, and the other times you don't really get to understand what she's feeling because the author just... tells you things. I didn't think I had to say this but I thought the show don't tell thing was common knowledge. I'm not even going to talk about Tavo because everything about how this particular character is handled made me uncomfortable.
The plot isn't that bad, there are a few really cool throwbacks to other books and you definitely want to see more and to see what's going to happen. The threat of an unknown, really powerful enemy works pretty well as the setup for a first book, and this is honestly the only reason why I'm going to keep reading the series.
[trigger warning, mentions of rape and pedophilia]
The other thing I'm really, really mad about is the ongoing lack of queer representation. I was hoping we could see one (1) queer character in this last series, but apparently the author believes in dwarves, elves, trolls, druids but not queer people.
And that's not even the worst part, because a lack of queer people in over thirty books? I could ignore that and focus on the good aspects of the series. But starting this new series with a goddamn pedophile and two rape instances (M/M, one repeated over time and the other "only" attempted)? Oh yeah, that? That’s gonna be a really good look for someone who has never included a single queer character in over 30 books.
And let me assure you, this is not an issue of not having the right space to do it. If you can add countless dumb-ass straight romances (or in this particular case, straight people kissing when they fucking shouldn’t or straight people falling in love in 1.5 seconds), you can add a queer character too.
The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy and the High Druid of Shannara trilogy are two of my favorite series, and the majority of the other books in the Shannara series are honestly pretty cool (with the exception of The Sword of Shannara, but oh well) so I was pretty excited to read a conclusion to the series.
As far as this first book goes, the characters are disappointing. Drisker Arc feels like a character written to stand right beside Allanon, Walker Boh, and Grianne... but he really doesn't, he's no match for any of them and doesn't work as well as he should, especially when you compare him to Walker Boh. They're the same kind of character but one of them... works. And the other doesn't.
Tarsha half of the time feels just plain pretentious, and the other times you don't really get to understand what she's feeling because the author just... tells you things. I didn't think I had to say this but I thought the show don't tell thing was common knowledge. I'm not even going to talk about Tavo because everything about how this particular character is handled made me uncomfortable.
The plot isn't that bad, there are a few really cool throwbacks to other books and you definitely want to see more and to see what's going to happen. The threat of an unknown, really powerful enemy works pretty well as the setup for a first book, and this is honestly the only reason why I'm going to keep reading the series.
[trigger warning, mentions of rape and pedophilia]
The other thing I'm really, really mad about is the ongoing lack of queer representation. I was hoping we could see one (1) queer character in this last series, but apparently the author believes in dwarves, elves, trolls, druids but not queer people.
And that's not even the worst part, because a lack of queer people in over thirty books? I could ignore that and focus on the good aspects of the series. But starting this new series with a goddamn pedophile and two rape instances (M/M, one repeated over time and the other "only" attempted)? Oh yeah, that? That’s gonna be a really good look for someone who has never included a single queer character in over 30 books.
And let me assure you, this is not an issue of not having the right space to do it. If you can add countless dumb-ass straight romances (or in this particular case, straight people kissing when they fucking shouldn’t or straight people falling in love in 1.5 seconds), you can add a queer character too.
October 3, 2020
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 the different 3 and 4-book sets over the years, all the way through the recent less than stellar “Defenders of Shannara” series.
Now, after thirty plus years of writing, Brooks is bringing his beloved Shannara series to an end with his 4-book set “The Fall of Shannara”. I purposely waited until right before the publication of the last book in the series to start my reading because Brooks basically writes them as one big book, leaving cliffhangers at the end of each one until the end. Waiting a year between books brings too much pain and frustration, so I wait until each series is completed so the reading flow will not be
disrupted.
So, let’s return to Shannara…
When the “The Black Elfstone” begins, we find there has been peace across the Four lands for quite some time. The Druids are in their fourth order working to understand and increase their magical powers. However, the book kicks off with an unknown enemy army invading the north, wiping out the Corrax trolls with powers that are a form of magic not seen before.
Multiple storylines emerge. At the Druids Keep at Paranor, High Druid Rhys Balronen gathers a diplomatic party to meet the foreboding invading army in hopes of discovering their true purpose and avoiding outright war. Dar Leah, the High Druid’s Blade, is assigned to protect of the members of the party. Little does Leah know the life-threatening dangers he and his group are walking into…
At the same time, events are happening elsewhere. The former High Druid, Drisker Arc, who stepped down and abdicated his leadership role due to the politics and power struggles at Paranor, has been trying his best to live out his years alone in country village of Emberlen. That is until a stranger pays an unspeakable sum to the leader of the Orsis assassin’s guild to kill Drisker
Then there’s Tavo Kaynin, and his younger sister, Tarsha, who have a strong bond from a young age forged in a mysterious magic called the wishsong that challenges each of them. For Tarsha, it is about controlling it and strengthening her power. However, for Tavo, it is about not being able to control and losing himself to its destructive powers. They are separated when Tavo is sent to live with an Uncle because the use of his uncontrolled powers has become deadly to those around him.
Tarsha decides that she must learn to master her own powers to save her brother from madness and seeks out Drisker Arc to train her. However, she finds herself in the middle of his fighting off deadly assassins and receiving messages of an unknown army invading from the north. And to make things worse, her brother, Tavo, is degenerating into darkness, deciding that hunting down and killing his sister is the vengeance he desires most…
As the fiercest adversaries ever seen in the Four lands begin their conquest, Dar Leah, Drisker Arc, and Tarsha Kaynin find themselves being drawn together in a quest to save Shannara...
“The Black Elfstone” brings us back to when Brooks is at his best. He has several characters and multiple plotlines that run parallel and then come together at key moments, supplying emotional payoffs throughout each book. I am pleased to say that is the case for the most part in the beginning of this final trip through Shannara.
One of the strengths of this novel is how well Brooks uses his artistic canvas to explore new characters and developments like the changes in the Druid Council and the mysterious attacking army. I especially liked the depth and authenticity of characters. Drisker and Tarsha provided depth, personality, and empathy, while Tasha, Kassen Drue, and the Druid, Clizia Porse, served as strong and worthy villains, delivering evil and conflict as needed to challenge our protagonists. However, I must admit to finding Dar Leah a bit stiff at times and in need of more character development.
Brooks is easy to read, follow along with the storylines, and find yourself carried away in escapist fantasy heaven. In my opinion, he has been one of the most consistent writers of any genre, bringing writers lunchbox to work every day and publishing at least one book a year for over thirty years strong. Not many can claim that same level of consistent delivery to his or her fandom.
Now for the elephant in the room that I touched upon in my second paragraph. This will not be a surprise, nor a secret, to many of the Shannara fans. Trust me, I know how much they complain about this and I have been part of the pity party that comes of this. When Terry writes his 3 and 4-book sets, they are not individual books with their own endings that build on each other to the end. He writes one full book that is cut into 3 or 4 parts. There is no separation whatsoever. And to make it worse, he has the painful habit of adding cliffhangers at the end of each part until the big climactic ending. Literally, one book ends and the next book picks up right from the same moment.
Oh, the pain of waiting a year between each of the books in his series are painfully, unbearable. Did I mention painful? And it must be disclosed that “The Black Elfstone” follows that same pattern – ending with two massive cliffhangers… Ugh… Pain… Here we go again… The only answer I can give is what I already described. I wait until all of the books in his sets are published to read them as one complete book. And for me that is the only way to read Terry Brooks. If you can wait then all the power to you. You can have that frustration. But for me, this is a much more enjoyable experience.
Having said that, this is a strong start to the ending of my beloved Shannara and I am happy to be back in Terry’s world.
Now, after thirty plus years of writing, Brooks is bringing his beloved Shannara series to an end with his 4-book set “The Fall of Shannara”. I purposely waited until right before the publication of the last book in the series to start my reading because Brooks basically writes them as one big book, leaving cliffhangers at the end of each one until the end. Waiting a year between books brings too much pain and frustration, so I wait until each series is completed so the reading flow will not be
disrupted.
So, let’s return to Shannara…
When the “The Black Elfstone” begins, we find there has been peace across the Four lands for quite some time. The Druids are in their fourth order working to understand and increase their magical powers. However, the book kicks off with an unknown enemy army invading the north, wiping out the Corrax trolls with powers that are a form of magic not seen before.
Multiple storylines emerge. At the Druids Keep at Paranor, High Druid Rhys Balronen gathers a diplomatic party to meet the foreboding invading army in hopes of discovering their true purpose and avoiding outright war. Dar Leah, the High Druid’s Blade, is assigned to protect of the members of the party. Little does Leah know the life-threatening dangers he and his group are walking into…
At the same time, events are happening elsewhere. The former High Druid, Drisker Arc, who stepped down and abdicated his leadership role due to the politics and power struggles at Paranor, has been trying his best to live out his years alone in country village of Emberlen. That is until a stranger pays an unspeakable sum to the leader of the Orsis assassin’s guild to kill Drisker
Then there’s Tavo Kaynin, and his younger sister, Tarsha, who have a strong bond from a young age forged in a mysterious magic called the wishsong that challenges each of them. For Tarsha, it is about controlling it and strengthening her power. However, for Tavo, it is about not being able to control and losing himself to its destructive powers. They are separated when Tavo is sent to live with an Uncle because the use of his uncontrolled powers has become deadly to those around him.
Tarsha decides that she must learn to master her own powers to save her brother from madness and seeks out Drisker Arc to train her. However, she finds herself in the middle of his fighting off deadly assassins and receiving messages of an unknown army invading from the north. And to make things worse, her brother, Tavo, is degenerating into darkness, deciding that hunting down and killing his sister is the vengeance he desires most…
As the fiercest adversaries ever seen in the Four lands begin their conquest, Dar Leah, Drisker Arc, and Tarsha Kaynin find themselves being drawn together in a quest to save Shannara...
“The Black Elfstone” brings us back to when Brooks is at his best. He has several characters and multiple plotlines that run parallel and then come together at key moments, supplying emotional payoffs throughout each book. I am pleased to say that is the case for the most part in the beginning of this final trip through Shannara.
One of the strengths of this novel is how well Brooks uses his artistic canvas to explore new characters and developments like the changes in the Druid Council and the mysterious attacking army. I especially liked the depth and authenticity of characters. Drisker and Tarsha provided depth, personality, and empathy, while Tasha, Kassen Drue, and the Druid, Clizia Porse, served as strong and worthy villains, delivering evil and conflict as needed to challenge our protagonists. However, I must admit to finding Dar Leah a bit stiff at times and in need of more character development.
Brooks is easy to read, follow along with the storylines, and find yourself carried away in escapist fantasy heaven. In my opinion, he has been one of the most consistent writers of any genre, bringing writers lunchbox to work every day and publishing at least one book a year for over thirty years strong. Not many can claim that same level of consistent delivery to his or her fandom.
Now for the elephant in the room that I touched upon in my second paragraph. This will not be a surprise, nor a secret, to many of the Shannara fans. Trust me, I know how much they complain about this and I have been part of the pity party that comes of this. When Terry writes his 3 and 4-book sets, they are not individual books with their own endings that build on each other to the end. He writes one full book that is cut into 3 or 4 parts. There is no separation whatsoever. And to make it worse, he has the painful habit of adding cliffhangers at the end of each part until the big climactic ending. Literally, one book ends and the next book picks up right from the same moment.
Oh, the pain of waiting a year between each of the books in his series are painfully, unbearable. Did I mention painful? And it must be disclosed that “The Black Elfstone” follows that same pattern – ending with two massive cliffhangers… Ugh… Pain… Here we go again… The only answer I can give is what I already described. I wait until all of the books in his sets are published to read them as one complete book. And for me that is the only way to read Terry Brooks. If you can wait then all the power to you. You can have that frustration. But for me, this is a much more enjoyable experience.
Having said that, this is a strong start to the ending of my beloved Shannara and I am happy to be back in Terry’s world.
June 20, 2025
I have been a big Shannara fan for almost forty years. When I heard that Terry Brooks was retiring, I knew that "THE FALL OF SHANNARA" series would be the last one. I am actually surprised that I feel a little sad by this. I first read "THE SWORD OF SHANNARA" when I was in my teensand now am in my mid fifties so these books have been entertaining me for a big part of my life.
After reading the first book "THE BLACK ELFSTONE", I am confident the rest of the story will be great. Terry Brooks has always been able to amaze me with his description of The Four Lands, which really pulls you into the story. I will have to give a review for the storyline when I've read the whole series, but so far, I'm very impressed.
Next hardcover novel: "The Fall Of Shannara: The Skaar Invasion" by Terry Brooks (2018)
After reading the first book "THE BLACK ELFSTONE", I am confident the rest of the story will be great. Terry Brooks has always been able to amaze me with his description of The Four Lands, which really pulls you into the story. I will have to give a review for the storyline when I've read the whole series, but so far, I'm very impressed.
Next hardcover novel: "The Fall Of Shannara: The Skaar Invasion" by Terry Brooks (2018)
June 23, 2017
Startling, engrossing!
Once more Terry Brooks focuses our eyes towards the Four Lands.
There's a strange new brand of magical warriors stalking the lands. Former High Druid Drisker Arc has been targeted by assassins. A young woman with the magic gift of wishsong, Tarsha Kaynin, seeks out Drisker Arc to learn more about her abilities. At Paranor, the Druids are blithely ignoring threats. Dar Leah is sent to investigate but politics and jealousies get in the way.
We are witnessing the return of past artifacts and magic gifts and the names of people we've long loved, including the appearance of a young rascal Shea Ohmsford! (stay tuned I'm sure).
And yes I was glued to the pages and was left bereft and eagerly awaiting the next instalment!
A NetGalley ARC
Once more Terry Brooks focuses our eyes towards the Four Lands.
There's a strange new brand of magical warriors stalking the lands. Former High Druid Drisker Arc has been targeted by assassins. A young woman with the magic gift of wishsong, Tarsha Kaynin, seeks out Drisker Arc to learn more about her abilities. At Paranor, the Druids are blithely ignoring threats. Dar Leah is sent to investigate but politics and jealousies get in the way.
We are witnessing the return of past artifacts and magic gifts and the names of people we've long loved, including the appearance of a young rascal Shea Ohmsford! (stay tuned I'm sure).
And yes I was glued to the pages and was left bereft and eagerly awaiting the next instalment!
A NetGalley ARC
November 11, 2018
Shannara books are quick, entertaining reads. A few unexpected plot twists but fairly predictable. Just fun, simple fantasy. I still love it.
January 11, 2020
After forty years or so of being published and having over thirty books published about Shannara, The Black Elfstone is the beginning of the end for Terry Brooks' famous series. With Terry in his seventies, he’s decided that he will finish the series properly himself rather than have someone else do it for him.
And whilst the last quartet is set long after the first and most famous book of the lot, The Sword of Shannara, it’s not a bad place to start.
Honesty time – it’s been a little while since I’ve read a Shannara book. To be fair, it doesn’t matter too much – each set of books in the series tells enough to allow new readers to follow without difficulty – but I was wondering how things were going, and perhaps how things would end. The Black Elfstone is the first of a four-volume series to bring things to a close and is widely described as ‘the last’, although Terry may still go back and fill in occasional details afterwards.
My first thought is that how things have changed. Where the initial books were lighter in tone and style and these days would perhaps be regarded as more Young Adult, 400 years on from Shea Ohmsford and the events of The Sword of Shannara we have events happening on a much bigger scale. The Four Lands are in division geographically and politically. At Paranor, the city that is the centre for the magical Druids, their leader Drisker Arc has been replaced in a power struggle by Ober Balronen, an Ard Rhys who, unlike Drisker, seems to have surrounded himself with subservient lackeys and who seems to run the Druid’s Keep with secrets and paranoid subterfuge.
A number of events happen early in the book. The appearance of a new threat, a strange ghostly army on the borders of Paranor leads to Dar Leah, the Blade of the High Druid, being made surplus to requirements after a mission gone wrong against this new adversary.
A secondary plot involves Tarsha Kaynin and her brother Tavo in the village of Backing Fell. Tavo, who is clearly ill, is sent by their parents to live with his uncle. As she grows up, Tarsha, who has magic powers through the Wishsong, realises that to help her brother she must learn to use her magic effectively and so leaves Backing Fell to seek out Drisker, to ask him to be a mentor and so help her brother.
However, having stepped away from the politics and responsibility of the continuously squalling Druids and being content to live a simpler life in Emberen, Drusker is reluctant to do it all again, so to speak. He also has other pressing matters in that after years of living in seclusion, Drisker finds himself attacked not just once but twice by mystery assailants. When he eventually discovers that the attackers are part of an assassin’s guild, he has to travel to Varfleet to find out who they are being paid by and why.
All of these disparate plot threads eventually combine to a purpose, and this has consequences. The focus appears to be on the Black Elfstone, kept in the vaults of the Druid’s Keep in Paranor, which is where our characters end up at the end of the novel.
What impresses me most is how well this all fits together. Terry manages that skill of concentrating on telling a story that can be read by anyone, even someone new to Shannara. It involves all of the usual tropes of friendship, loyalty, responsibility and honour, but the characters are more than simple caricatures. I was surprised at how nuanced some of them were. In particular, Tavo is a complex personality that you feel both sympathy and horror for. There are things here that are quite violent and even nasty. We’ve come a long way since The Sword of Shannara.
To tell a dark tale means that the tone is often quite bleak. The end of the novel has a major event that threatens the entire world and puts our likeable protagonists in serious danger. Things are clearly changed forever through a combination of betrayal, poor decisions, indolent leadership, a lack of guidance and narrow vision, which the mysterious enemies take advantage of. The story ends with the reader not knowing who the antagonists are or why they need the Black Elfstone kept in Paramor. This, of course, means that the reader wants to pick up the next book quickly to read further. It is a tale only partly told, and you may find that you want to read further.
The Black Elfstone is the work of an author who knows what a story has to do and has the ability to tell it. It uses genre tropes to create a story that a reader wants to read, and like all good books, it draws the reader in, keeps their attention and leaves them wanting more. I look forward to reading the next in this series.
And whilst the last quartet is set long after the first and most famous book of the lot, The Sword of Shannara, it’s not a bad place to start.
Honesty time – it’s been a little while since I’ve read a Shannara book. To be fair, it doesn’t matter too much – each set of books in the series tells enough to allow new readers to follow without difficulty – but I was wondering how things were going, and perhaps how things would end. The Black Elfstone is the first of a four-volume series to bring things to a close and is widely described as ‘the last’, although Terry may still go back and fill in occasional details afterwards.
My first thought is that how things have changed. Where the initial books were lighter in tone and style and these days would perhaps be regarded as more Young Adult, 400 years on from Shea Ohmsford and the events of The Sword of Shannara we have events happening on a much bigger scale. The Four Lands are in division geographically and politically. At Paranor, the city that is the centre for the magical Druids, their leader Drisker Arc has been replaced in a power struggle by Ober Balronen, an Ard Rhys who, unlike Drisker, seems to have surrounded himself with subservient lackeys and who seems to run the Druid’s Keep with secrets and paranoid subterfuge.
A number of events happen early in the book. The appearance of a new threat, a strange ghostly army on the borders of Paranor leads to Dar Leah, the Blade of the High Druid, being made surplus to requirements after a mission gone wrong against this new adversary.
A secondary plot involves Tarsha Kaynin and her brother Tavo in the village of Backing Fell. Tavo, who is clearly ill, is sent by their parents to live with his uncle. As she grows up, Tarsha, who has magic powers through the Wishsong, realises that to help her brother she must learn to use her magic effectively and so leaves Backing Fell to seek out Drisker, to ask him to be a mentor and so help her brother.
However, having stepped away from the politics and responsibility of the continuously squalling Druids and being content to live a simpler life in Emberen, Drusker is reluctant to do it all again, so to speak. He also has other pressing matters in that after years of living in seclusion, Drisker finds himself attacked not just once but twice by mystery assailants. When he eventually discovers that the attackers are part of an assassin’s guild, he has to travel to Varfleet to find out who they are being paid by and why.
All of these disparate plot threads eventually combine to a purpose, and this has consequences. The focus appears to be on the Black Elfstone, kept in the vaults of the Druid’s Keep in Paranor, which is where our characters end up at the end of the novel.
What impresses me most is how well this all fits together. Terry manages that skill of concentrating on telling a story that can be read by anyone, even someone new to Shannara. It involves all of the usual tropes of friendship, loyalty, responsibility and honour, but the characters are more than simple caricatures. I was surprised at how nuanced some of them were. In particular, Tavo is a complex personality that you feel both sympathy and horror for. There are things here that are quite violent and even nasty. We’ve come a long way since The Sword of Shannara.
To tell a dark tale means that the tone is often quite bleak. The end of the novel has a major event that threatens the entire world and puts our likeable protagonists in serious danger. Things are clearly changed forever through a combination of betrayal, poor decisions, indolent leadership, a lack of guidance and narrow vision, which the mysterious enemies take advantage of. The story ends with the reader not knowing who the antagonists are or why they need the Black Elfstone kept in Paramor. This, of course, means that the reader wants to pick up the next book quickly to read further. It is a tale only partly told, and you may find that you want to read further.
The Black Elfstone is the work of an author who knows what a story has to do and has the ability to tell it. It uses genre tropes to create a story that a reader wants to read, and like all good books, it draws the reader in, keeps their attention and leaves them wanting more. I look forward to reading the next in this series.
April 9, 2025
This book reads like the original Shannara trilogy. Brooks tells a great story without any unnecessary embellishment. This is like a cold winter morning, crisp, clear and refreshing in every way.
August 28, 2017
There are some things that just don't quite click in this novel.
Among them, that _hundreds_ of years have passed since the last stories were told, yet 'the airships remain a controlling force' and Brooks sets the current level of tech using the airships . . .which appeared hundreds of years ago, and yet remain exactly the same? There's a failure when the 'old' is reinforced as 'new' and the reader is left wondering just how anachronistic this entire world is unto itself.
Another element that doesn't quite click is Darcon Leah. With all the emphasis on the Druid's Blade books, Darcon is tossed in with pretty much ZILCH character backstory or development. He isn't the only character, unfortunately, as the female lead character--whose name I've already forgotten because that's how memorable her character is--provides readers with nothing to relate to. She comes off as the equivalent of a B+ student who is so middle-of-the-road that there's no substance. Thus, out of three characters that we're supposed to be focusing on, we're stuck with two of whom have zilch substance (with the third key character, we're given quite a LOT more to engage with, although nowhere near as much as we got when, say, Will Ohmsford walked on the scene back in Elfstones.)
Maybe Brooks urgency to keep churning out books requires him to ignore particular details and character crafting that keep readers engaged. Similarly so, titling this The Black Elfstone when it plays absolutely NO PART in 99% of the narrative: why name it that if it's not even a critical component of the book itself?
There IS indeed a story here, among the ~200 pages, however it's a pale one (due to lack of substance) and like too many of Brooks' recent works is easy to skim through because there aren't sufficient details to warrant committing more time/energy than necessary to understand what's going on, what's going to happen next, etc. Borrow this from your local library rather than dropping money on something you'll forget you even own after 30 days.
Among them, that _hundreds_ of years have passed since the last stories were told, yet 'the airships remain a controlling force' and Brooks sets the current level of tech using the airships . . .which appeared hundreds of years ago, and yet remain exactly the same? There's a failure when the 'old' is reinforced as 'new' and the reader is left wondering just how anachronistic this entire world is unto itself.
Another element that doesn't quite click is Darcon Leah. With all the emphasis on the Druid's Blade books, Darcon is tossed in with pretty much ZILCH character backstory or development. He isn't the only character, unfortunately, as the female lead character--whose name I've already forgotten because that's how memorable her character is--provides readers with nothing to relate to. She comes off as the equivalent of a B+ student who is so middle-of-the-road that there's no substance. Thus, out of three characters that we're supposed to be focusing on, we're stuck with two of whom have zilch substance (with the third key character, we're given quite a LOT more to engage with, although nowhere near as much as we got when, say, Will Ohmsford walked on the scene back in Elfstones.)
Maybe Brooks urgency to keep churning out books requires him to ignore particular details and character crafting that keep readers engaged. Similarly so, titling this The Black Elfstone when it plays absolutely NO PART in 99% of the narrative: why name it that if it's not even a critical component of the book itself?
There IS indeed a story here, among the ~200 pages, however it's a pale one (due to lack of substance) and like too many of Brooks' recent works is easy to skim through because there aren't sufficient details to warrant committing more time/energy than necessary to understand what's going on, what's going to happen next, etc. Borrow this from your local library rather than dropping money on something you'll forget you even own after 30 days.
August 8, 2017
I think that at the end of the day I would like a complete story. Many writers can write books that feel like a complete story even if there is another book to come. This book felt nothing like that. It felt like an introduction to the main event and I really do not like this style of writing from Brooks. It is SO slow. As a fan, I would rather wait 4 years to read a complete book rather than read an episodic book, which is why I'm giving it a 2 star. I'm SO done with Brooks. I've been a 30 + year fan but this left me underwhelmed. I fell asleep in bed repeatedly with the slow exposition. I think a lot of the good reviews are from readers who are longtime fans like myself who buy his newest book every year, but just want to support him. I can not, for the life of me, understand who would read this book and give a 5 star. The exposition is SO SLOW. The characters are lifeless. I have not emotional connection with the characters. The blade? so boring. his lover dies? Her problem brother? interested but no resolution . Lifeless characters. Random mention of names of the cities... when I read his earlier books, I always went to the map at the beginning of the book. This time? nope... so small and irrelevant. Return to form? Bleh. Publishers, please wait before you publish money making books!
November 9, 2022
Bumping this up to 4 stars after a reread.
After the abysmal Defenders of Shannara tilogy, Brooks bounces back with this first installment of the concluding series in his legendary Shannara series. This book begins a little YA-ish (continuing the tone of Defenders), but soon becomes a dark, rousing adventure in the best Shannara tradition.
The problem is, it's stuff we've encountered before in the Four Lands. This is the fourth time the black elfstone has been used and the second time for the same purpose; there's always a new army on the march to threaten the Lands and the magic of Shannara has not taken a new form since the Wishsong of Shannara. Plus, the action is still removed from the rich histories of Shannara (which was one of the problems with Defenders).
That being said, it is exciting and well-written and being several years removed from my epic Shannara binge read the above issues did not bother me as much. And the prospects for the next book are quite high and I look forward to it.
After the abysmal Defenders of Shannara tilogy, Brooks bounces back with this first installment of the concluding series in his legendary Shannara series. This book begins a little YA-ish (continuing the tone of Defenders), but soon becomes a dark, rousing adventure in the best Shannara tradition.
The problem is, it's stuff we've encountered before in the Four Lands. This is the fourth time the black elfstone has been used and the second time for the same purpose; there's always a new army on the march to threaten the Lands and the magic of Shannara has not taken a new form since the Wishsong of Shannara. Plus, the action is still removed from the rich histories of Shannara (which was one of the problems with Defenders).
That being said, it is exciting and well-written and being several years removed from my epic Shannara binge read the above issues did not bother me as much. And the prospects for the next book are quite high and I look forward to it.
April 19, 2018
Feels like Brooks is finally back. His last few trilogies have been lackluster and felt like he wasn't interested in them. This is different. Reminds me of the older, original Shannara stories. Once again, the Druid Order is faced with extinction. Filled with plots and twists, this is one of his bet books in years.
March 10, 2022
The Black Elfstone sets up the final Shannara series, after 30-ish volumes before. It's set roughly 200 years after the previous Defenders of Shannara trilogy, and things have settled into a status quo, with the Southland Federation expanding the use of technology across the lands, and magic and the druids keeping the peace in lands they don't control, but without advancing much it seems.
The current Druids have devolved into a bickering political group, more concerned with positioning and status than truly protecting the people and the Four Lands, or fostering an alternative path to the Federation's technological advances. Things get shaken up when mysterious invaders appear in the borders of the known lands, and wipe out a powerful tribe of trolls without breaking a sweat.
However, that's more in the background for most of the book, with the story focused mostly on the ex-Ard Rhys leader of the druids, Drisker Arc, now living in self-imposed exile as a hermit, and the girl Tasha Kaynin, who discovered she has a powerful but untaught skill with magic as a child, and is seeking to learn about how to master it to save her brother, who's been unable to control his inherited magic. Additionally, we get to see the state of the Druid Order through the eyes of their current Blade and defender, Dar Leigh, wielding the legendary and magical Sword of Leigh.
The Black Elfstone does a great job setting the scene for what's clearly a much larger story just starting out, and Brooks does his always stellar job writing interesting characters, and making the reader care about them. The fact that the story is much more character driven and largely uses the main plot as a background to drive the characters works just fine when the characters are so engaging. That being said, for the start of the epic conclusion to the Shannara series, the stakes seem a bit low with this book focusing more on just getting all the pieces on the board and setting things in motion. In a way, it feels like a prequel to the trilogy which follows, rather than book 1 of a 4-book series. Knowing the characters at this point, and having things set up so well, I can't wait to dive into the next book soon.
The current Druids have devolved into a bickering political group, more concerned with positioning and status than truly protecting the people and the Four Lands, or fostering an alternative path to the Federation's technological advances. Things get shaken up when mysterious invaders appear in the borders of the known lands, and wipe out a powerful tribe of trolls without breaking a sweat.
However, that's more in the background for most of the book, with the story focused mostly on the ex-Ard Rhys leader of the druids, Drisker Arc, now living in self-imposed exile as a hermit, and the girl Tasha Kaynin, who discovered she has a powerful but untaught skill with magic as a child, and is seeking to learn about how to master it to save her brother, who's been unable to control his inherited magic. Additionally, we get to see the state of the Druid Order through the eyes of their current Blade and defender, Dar Leigh, wielding the legendary and magical Sword of Leigh.
The Black Elfstone does a great job setting the scene for what's clearly a much larger story just starting out, and Brooks does his always stellar job writing interesting characters, and making the reader care about them. The fact that the story is much more character driven and largely uses the main plot as a background to drive the characters works just fine when the characters are so engaging. That being said, for the start of the epic conclusion to the Shannara series, the stakes seem a bit low with this book focusing more on just getting all the pieces on the board and setting things in motion. In a way, it feels like a prequel to the trilogy which follows, rather than book 1 of a 4-book series. Knowing the characters at this point, and having things set up so well, I can't wait to dive into the next book soon.
August 19, 2023
It is the beginning...of the end.
After 40 Years and 23 books (26 if you count Word and Void), Terry Brooks decided it was time to end his epic Shannara series. Terry has inspired readers and authors alike, having a profound impact on the fantasy genre as a whole. This book reflects all of Terry's strengths and weaknesses, and demonstrates why he still has a very dedicated audience.
This book feels like an amalgamof various Shannara stories. I would point to the Heritage Series, First King, and the Wishsong as being highly influential on this particular book, and while they are influential, it does not in any way feel like he's repeating himself.
This book features a few plotlines that all converge together. There is a group of assassins hired to hunt down and kill former Druid Drisker Arc. There is an army of seemingly unbeatable enemies attacking from the north, potentially destroying the Four Lands. There is also a storyline about a teenager Tarsha Kaynin who wants to be reunited with her insane brother, and the brother who doesn't know what he wants. Finally, we have Darcon Leah, who wants to do right as the High Druid's Blade, but can't help feel something is amiss.
After the previous trilogy (Defenders of Shannara) fizzled out and felt really YA, I was nervous that this book would follow suit. Thankfully, Terry seems to have reclaimed his writing style from the 90s and 2000s, which is when I think he really hit his stride. The main plot of the book really mirrors First King and felt delightful.
The ending of the book definitely stirs up a lot of emotions, but as a first book of 4, I know there is a lot left in store, so I don't have many more thoughts yet. A good opening act. 7 out of 10!
After 40 Years and 23 books (26 if you count Word and Void), Terry Brooks decided it was time to end his epic Shannara series. Terry has inspired readers and authors alike, having a profound impact on the fantasy genre as a whole. This book reflects all of Terry's strengths and weaknesses, and demonstrates why he still has a very dedicated audience.
This book feels like an amalgamof various Shannara stories. I would point to the Heritage Series, First King, and the Wishsong as being highly influential on this particular book, and while they are influential, it does not in any way feel like he's repeating himself.
This book features a few plotlines that all converge together. There is a group of assassins hired to hunt down and kill former Druid Drisker Arc. There is an army of seemingly unbeatable enemies attacking from the north, potentially destroying the Four Lands. There is also a storyline about a teenager Tarsha Kaynin who wants to be reunited with her insane brother, and the brother who doesn't know what he wants. Finally, we have Darcon Leah, who wants to do right as the High Druid's Blade, but can't help feel something is amiss.
After the previous trilogy (Defenders of Shannara) fizzled out and felt really YA, I was nervous that this book would follow suit. Thankfully, Terry seems to have reclaimed his writing style from the 90s and 2000s, which is when I think he really hit his stride. The main plot of the book really mirrors First King and felt delightful.
The ending of the book definitely stirs up a lot of emotions, but as a first book of 4, I know there is a lot left in store, so I don't have many more thoughts yet. A good opening act. 7 out of 10!
July 16, 2017
Terry Brooks newest series starts off with the usual formula we come to know from this series. While some say that this well thought out formula has been over played I don't feel that it has. By knowing what the structure will be yes the way the story starts out maybe predictable at times I am always surprised by the twist that show up as we are reading. Since I been reading the series for so long we got a great set up for tying and following the lines of the families and what has happened in the past. I was definitely surprised by the level of death and destruction that the brother wrecked through the story with his power of the wishsong. I was disappointed that we did not get to see the sister go back and see all that her brother had done but their books to go. I am intrigued as well by these new threats to the four lands. An interesting start to this final tale of Shannara.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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