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The Word & The Void #1-3
The Word and the Void Omnibus
RUNNING WITH THE One Fourth of July weekend, two men come to Hopewell, Illinois. One is a demon, a dark servant of the Void, who will feed off the anger and frustration of the community to achieve a terrible goal. Whilst families picnic and fireworks explode only John Ross, a Knight of the Word, can change the fate of humanity and save the soul of fourteen-year-old Nest Freemark. A KNIGHT OF THE The years spent saving mankind from the horrors of the Void have taken their toll on John Ross. He's lost his spirit, his belief, and now, it seems his magic. When Nest is once again drawn into the mythic world of the Word and the Void she must warn John to take up his staff of magic once again, or the battle may be lost forever. ANGEL FIRE For twenty five years, Ross has single-handedly battled against the legion of demons of the Void. But now he learns of a gypsy morph, whose power and wild magics will be an invaluable weapon against the Void - but the Void knows this too and will not rest until the creature has been corrupted - or destroyed.
872 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
30 people are currently reading
1872 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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August 30, 2012
Please note: I originally wrote and posted this review 3/12/2008, so please do not judge it based upon my current format.
When I received this omnibus I thought there had to be a mistake; it was my understanding that it contained three books but it appeared too slender a volume to have that much inside. Then I picked it up - OOF! Through some mysterious method and unusual type of paper or something they packed over 700 pages into a book that isn't much over an inch thick - but you can definitely feel the weight to it! Enough about the technicalities of the book - on to the review!
This volume contains three books - Running with the Demon, A Knight of the Word and Angel Fire East. I had forgotten ... it had been so long, I had forgotten what it is like reading a book by Terry Brooks. I had forgotten that he creates worlds that hold such dark things; that he isn't afraid to kill characters, traumatize characters, forge them into weapons in the hottest fires of testing. I had forgotten what an ... almost tactile experience it could be reading a book by Terry Brooks, who describes things in such detail, in such living color, that it is like you are THERE.
In Running with the Demon when Nest saves Bennett Scott from the Feeders one night in the park, it seems pretty normal - she's been a Caretaker of the park ever since she was old enough to understand that she carried the magic inside her to do so - the 5th of her family's women in a line to do so - and was paired with Pick, a Sylvan, who only those with the magic can see. However, she can't help but notice that the Feeders are becoming more bold, and there are more of them than ever. Pick tells her the balance is off, that something seems to be going on, but he doesn't know what.
Meanwhile, her grandfather meets with former co-employees who are currently on strike from MidCon, the area's largest employer - the strike has gone on for a long time now, and tempers are getting high; especially since scabs are being brought in, and managers are working the lines themselves in order to keep the plant operational. Derry and Junior, two of the men affected by the strike, are becoming especially upset about it, and swear they will "do something about it," leaving the meeting in a huff. A mysterious man, who Old Bob (Nest's grandfather) can't quite place but is quite sure he knows, leaves as well.
Nest's grandmother, shattered by the death of Nest's mother, Caitlin, but nonetheless holding herself responsible for Nest's training in magic, spends her days drinking and smoking. Nest believes that there is something that Gran isn't telling her, but she cannot figure out exactly what it is. It seems to revolve around her mysterious father, of whom no one will speak.
A mysterious Native American named Two Bears (O'olish Amaneh) arrives out of nowhere - Nest befriends him and joins him when he calls up the spirits of his ancestors, the ancient tribe of the Sinnissippi people, of whom he is the last. What she learns further strains her relations with Gran.
The final piece of the puzzle arrives in town when John Ross, a Knight of the Word, shows up. He receives dark dreams of the future, of what it will hold if he fails in his duties to the Word, if he fails to stop the Void from destroying humankind.
In A Knight of the Word fate and destiny intertwine to trap John Ross. Devastated by his failure to completely prevent a tragedy at a grammar school, John decides he is not able to continue as a Knight of the Word and stops. Stops using his magic, stops following his nightmarish dreams of the future ... and eventually - seemingly - the dreams go away, eventually his link to the magic appears to go away. He is still crippled, he still requires his black staff - the token of his Knighthood - in order to walk, but he no longer utilizes it for anything else but a walking staff. He meets the woman of his dreams - a stunningly beautiful woman named Stefanie Winslow - and together they move to Seattle and begin to work for a man called Simon Lawrence - a man of extraordinary vision who works to help homeless women and children - and a man who, according to the only dream John still has, John is fated to kill.
But the Word is not so willing to give John up; despite the fact that he has renounced his place as a Knight, he still holds the magic of the Word and if a demon can twist that magic to the use of the Void, that would be a giant blow struck in the war against the Word. Nest is contacted by O'olish Amaneh - the last of the Sinnissippi - and asked to go and try to get John to take up his part as a Knight of the Word, to try to get him to believe that he is up close and personal with a demon, because one is already close to turning him to the Void's purposes.
Although the identity of the demon didn't come as much of a surprise to me - having figured it out fairly early - it was nonetheless revealed in a rather startling manner. Watching John Ross go through what he did in this book was painful in the extreme, because it is easy to understand the isolation and loneliness that he underwent as a Knight of the Word as compared to the happy life he had built for himself in Seattle, where he had a job he loved, a girlfriend he loved and a thriving social network. To watch all that come apart under the machinations of a demon AND the Word - it was quite painful. And to watch his determination to make things right anyway was somewhat awe-inspiring.
Terry Brooks can break your heart over and over and you still keep coming back because his characters speak to you in so many ways. This story was about growing up, in more ways than one.
In Angel Fire East John Ross dreams of a crucified man telling him the location of a rare gypsy morph, and that the loss of that magic led to the downfall of the human race - then glimpses his own face upon that crucified man. He determines to find the gypsy morph and solve the secrets of its magic no matter what. Finding it will be the first task - although he knows it will be in a cave on the Oregon coast and what town it will be near, that doesn't necessarily narrow it down. Then capturing it will be a problem. Then the hardest part will be maintaining his hold on it without it being captured by demons, who will be attracted to it like bees to honey.
He finds the cave with the help of a resident of the area who knew all the caves around. He captures the morph with a net provided by the Lady. And he keeps one step ahead of the demons by remaining constantly on the run. Discovering what the secret of the gypsy morph is, and what it wants to become, however, seems to be impossible - until it finally assumes the form of a little boy and utters the word "Nest" and nothing more.
Nest is warned of their impending arrival by a demon named Findo Gask, who shows up on her doorstep and warns her to not help John Ross or take in the gypsy morph, or she will have only herself to blame for the results. Nest is unaware of this, but Findo did not come to town alone - he brought along three more demons because he has been thwarted repeatedly in his attempts to capture John Ross and the gypsy morph over the past weeks.
To complicate matters more, Bennett Harper turns up on her doorsteps with her daughter. Bennett is an addict and is looking for help and a place to stay. Of course Nest takes her in - but the demons see Bennett as a way to get to Nest.
By the time John Ross arrives with the gypsy morph in the form of a little boy, Nest has a full house.
What happens over the course of the next few days is alternately terrifying, horrifying, heart-rending and heart-warming. It shows the depths to which people can sink, as well as the heights to which they can ascend, all the while doing their best to pull others up with them. This made a satisfying end-cap to the trilogy, while leaving enough of an open end for additional books set in this world if the mood should strike Mr. Brooks (and we all know how he is!).
I can definitely recommend this trilogy to anyone who enjoys classic themes of good vs. evil, especially those with particularly thought-provoking ideas involved. These were very good books - read them!
When I received this omnibus I thought there had to be a mistake; it was my understanding that it contained three books but it appeared too slender a volume to have that much inside. Then I picked it up - OOF! Through some mysterious method and unusual type of paper or something they packed over 700 pages into a book that isn't much over an inch thick - but you can definitely feel the weight to it! Enough about the technicalities of the book - on to the review!
This volume contains three books - Running with the Demon, A Knight of the Word and Angel Fire East. I had forgotten ... it had been so long, I had forgotten what it is like reading a book by Terry Brooks. I had forgotten that he creates worlds that hold such dark things; that he isn't afraid to kill characters, traumatize characters, forge them into weapons in the hottest fires of testing. I had forgotten what an ... almost tactile experience it could be reading a book by Terry Brooks, who describes things in such detail, in such living color, that it is like you are THERE.
In Running with the Demon when Nest saves Bennett Scott from the Feeders one night in the park, it seems pretty normal - she's been a Caretaker of the park ever since she was old enough to understand that she carried the magic inside her to do so - the 5th of her family's women in a line to do so - and was paired with Pick, a Sylvan, who only those with the magic can see. However, she can't help but notice that the Feeders are becoming more bold, and there are more of them than ever. Pick tells her the balance is off, that something seems to be going on, but he doesn't know what.
Meanwhile, her grandfather meets with former co-employees who are currently on strike from MidCon, the area's largest employer - the strike has gone on for a long time now, and tempers are getting high; especially since scabs are being brought in, and managers are working the lines themselves in order to keep the plant operational. Derry and Junior, two of the men affected by the strike, are becoming especially upset about it, and swear they will "do something about it," leaving the meeting in a huff. A mysterious man, who Old Bob (Nest's grandfather) can't quite place but is quite sure he knows, leaves as well.
Nest's grandmother, shattered by the death of Nest's mother, Caitlin, but nonetheless holding herself responsible for Nest's training in magic, spends her days drinking and smoking. Nest believes that there is something that Gran isn't telling her, but she cannot figure out exactly what it is. It seems to revolve around her mysterious father, of whom no one will speak.
A mysterious Native American named Two Bears (O'olish Amaneh) arrives out of nowhere - Nest befriends him and joins him when he calls up the spirits of his ancestors, the ancient tribe of the Sinnissippi people, of whom he is the last. What she learns further strains her relations with Gran.
The final piece of the puzzle arrives in town when John Ross, a Knight of the Word, shows up. He receives dark dreams of the future, of what it will hold if he fails in his duties to the Word, if he fails to stop the Void from destroying humankind.
In A Knight of the Word fate and destiny intertwine to trap John Ross. Devastated by his failure to completely prevent a tragedy at a grammar school, John decides he is not able to continue as a Knight of the Word and stops. Stops using his magic, stops following his nightmarish dreams of the future ... and eventually - seemingly - the dreams go away, eventually his link to the magic appears to go away. He is still crippled, he still requires his black staff - the token of his Knighthood - in order to walk, but he no longer utilizes it for anything else but a walking staff. He meets the woman of his dreams - a stunningly beautiful woman named Stefanie Winslow - and together they move to Seattle and begin to work for a man called Simon Lawrence - a man of extraordinary vision who works to help homeless women and children - and a man who, according to the only dream John still has, John is fated to kill.
But the Word is not so willing to give John up; despite the fact that he has renounced his place as a Knight, he still holds the magic of the Word and if a demon can twist that magic to the use of the Void, that would be a giant blow struck in the war against the Word. Nest is contacted by O'olish Amaneh - the last of the Sinnissippi - and asked to go and try to get John to take up his part as a Knight of the Word, to try to get him to believe that he is up close and personal with a demon, because one is already close to turning him to the Void's purposes.
Although the identity of the demon didn't come as much of a surprise to me - having figured it out fairly early - it was nonetheless revealed in a rather startling manner. Watching John Ross go through what he did in this book was painful in the extreme, because it is easy to understand the isolation and loneliness that he underwent as a Knight of the Word as compared to the happy life he had built for himself in Seattle, where he had a job he loved, a girlfriend he loved and a thriving social network. To watch all that come apart under the machinations of a demon AND the Word - it was quite painful. And to watch his determination to make things right anyway was somewhat awe-inspiring.
Terry Brooks can break your heart over and over and you still keep coming back because his characters speak to you in so many ways. This story was about growing up, in more ways than one.
In Angel Fire East John Ross dreams of a crucified man telling him the location of a rare gypsy morph, and that the loss of that magic led to the downfall of the human race - then glimpses his own face upon that crucified man. He determines to find the gypsy morph and solve the secrets of its magic no matter what. Finding it will be the first task - although he knows it will be in a cave on the Oregon coast and what town it will be near, that doesn't necessarily narrow it down. Then capturing it will be a problem. Then the hardest part will be maintaining his hold on it without it being captured by demons, who will be attracted to it like bees to honey.
He finds the cave with the help of a resident of the area who knew all the caves around. He captures the morph with a net provided by the Lady. And he keeps one step ahead of the demons by remaining constantly on the run. Discovering what the secret of the gypsy morph is, and what it wants to become, however, seems to be impossible - until it finally assumes the form of a little boy and utters the word "Nest" and nothing more.
Nest is warned of their impending arrival by a demon named Findo Gask, who shows up on her doorstep and warns her to not help John Ross or take in the gypsy morph, or she will have only herself to blame for the results. Nest is unaware of this, but Findo did not come to town alone - he brought along three more demons because he has been thwarted repeatedly in his attempts to capture John Ross and the gypsy morph over the past weeks.
To complicate matters more, Bennett Harper turns up on her doorsteps with her daughter. Bennett is an addict and is looking for help and a place to stay. Of course Nest takes her in - but the demons see Bennett as a way to get to Nest.
By the time John Ross arrives with the gypsy morph in the form of a little boy, Nest has a full house.
What happens over the course of the next few days is alternately terrifying, horrifying, heart-rending and heart-warming. It shows the depths to which people can sink, as well as the heights to which they can ascend, all the while doing their best to pull others up with them. This made a satisfying end-cap to the trilogy, while leaving enough of an open end for additional books set in this world if the mood should strike Mr. Brooks (and we all know how he is!).
I can definitely recommend this trilogy to anyone who enjoys classic themes of good vs. evil, especially those with particularly thought-provoking ideas involved. These were very good books - read them!
September 6, 2010
This is an omnibus worth reading. In my opinion, it is much darker than even the Shannara books, but it also has an appeal. These were the deepest, most real characters that Terry has ever written, which is saying alot. This trilogy deals with the evil behind the human condition and the secret struggle going on behind the scenes of the world in which we live. By far my favorite trilogy aside from the original Shannara Trilogy. If you enjoy excellent fiction, but fantasy is just too far out there for you, then I recommend the Word and Void Trilogy for you. It's an action packed story with a dash of fantasy and a sprinkle of romance.
September 17, 2011
This book has 3 books in it - "Running with the Demon", "A Knight of the Word", and "Angel Fire East". I just finished the first one."
This book was ok, it took me a while to get into it. It was nothing like the Shannara series. This was not an easy read, it wasn't a bad read it was just a real deep book and alot of it reminded me of how things in our own world could turn into.
October 17, 2020
Life and monsters of Nest Freemark
Focusing on the principal character growth and ageing through the three volumes (teenager girl in Running with the Demon, young woman in Knight of the Word and adult mother in Angel Fire East), Terry Brooks narrates the eternal struggle of Good versus Evil in an urban fantasy setting. Sometimes moving, sometimes frightening, the collected saga is always exciting and probably the author’s best and original work!
Focusing on the principal character growth and ageing through the three volumes (teenager girl in Running with the Demon, young woman in Knight of the Word and adult mother in Angel Fire East), Terry Brooks narrates the eternal struggle of Good versus Evil in an urban fantasy setting. Sometimes moving, sometimes frightening, the collected saga is always exciting and probably the author’s best and original work!
April 15, 2013
Took me a bit to adjust to the world of these books even though it is our own, being used to the Terry Brooks books the Sword of Shannara and the Elstones exclusively. The stories are of the battle between good and evil or the Word and the Void as described inside the text. John Ross is a Knight of the Word and has the unenviable task of preventing the collapse of human civilization and seeing the horror in his dreams if he fails. Set against him are Demons - servants of the Void who manipulate mankind towards our own destruction.
The Stories are well written, light on action, but entertaining. My only disappointment with finishing the books is seeing that the next book takes place in the future and I assume I don't get to find out what happened to certain characters in the books!
The Stories are well written, light on action, but entertaining. My only disappointment with finishing the books is seeing that the next book takes place in the future and I assume I don't get to find out what happened to certain characters in the books!
August 6, 2012
I actually, I read the three books separately. Each one, starting from Knight of the Word, had a... special meaning for me.
One of the best works of modern fantasy, in my opinion, especially the second book. It's rare to see how a hero would abandon his mandate and what happens after.
Also, it was years later that I found out this was the "prequel" to the Shannara saga. Ahahaha. Now I want to read all of them.
One of the best works of modern fantasy, in my opinion, especially the second book. It's rare to see how a hero would abandon his mandate and what happens after.
Also, it was years later that I found out this was the "prequel" to the Shannara saga. Ahahaha. Now I want to read all of them.
March 13, 2008
I love this story and wish this was the one they were going to make a movie out of. It is a fantastic way of explaining why things happen in the world that we don't always understand, and although it is a fantasy book it is actually believable enough to be almost scary.
I consider this to be Terry's best work overall, which is saying a lot considering how much I like the Elfstones of Shannara.
I consider this to be Terry's best work overall, which is saying a lot considering how much I like the Elfstones of Shannara.
December 13, 2008
RE-reading all three in a row and realizing how powerful this series of his is. There is an underlying pain in the characters who do good. I read the books as they came out years ago, and must admit that reading them one after the other turned what was just an ordinary fantasy into some soul-searching moments on the price of Good versus evil.
January 14, 2009
I didn't read the omnibus, but I did read all three. I never miss a Terry Brooks novel. The Shannara series is amazing and this is how it all started. Granted there are thousands of years in between the end of the this one until the Firt King of Shannara, but at least we know how the world began and that it really is our world.
June 4, 2024
A trilogy that consists of a prequel to the World of Shannara set in the not-too-distant future. Much darker than the Shannara series, since these are the catastophic events that change our world. Well written and thought provoking.
January 23, 2008
Good series - not quite as good as the Shannara books, but I enjoyed them. Would be nice to have some follow up on Nest and the Gypsy Morph and what happens to them. Of course I usually don't like books to end when I get into the story.
January 11, 2011
Running With The Demon 5/5
A Knight Of The Word 5/5
Angel Fire East 4/5
A Knight Of The Word 5/5
Angel Fire East 4/5
July 27, 2011
These are a great read. I think they are some of the better fantasy out there. Terry Brooks is a great writer and all his work is worth a read.
January 10, 2013
Dark and most excellent. Loved the struggle and the setting.
February 2, 2018
It is hard to rate these stories, especially when considered in the greater context of the Shannara universe. Yet, I was lucky in the fact that I haven’t actually read that far yet into the Shannara series so far, having only read the first book (and been somewhat distracted by the TV series that’s sideswiped me at a similar moment), and with knowing somewhat the background to these stories and what they mean in the greater context of the series as a whole.
For, this is where it all begins.
The apocalypse isn’t here yet, but the forces of evil are at work to speed up civilisation’s downfall. John Ross, as a Knight of the Word, is charged with correcting as many demon-encouraged mistakes as possible in order to slow down or even try to prevent the inevitable. Along his way he meets Nest Freemark, at his first encounter a teenager of fourteen, and through their encounter her life is changed forever and she, too, with her own magic already having been used to assist in protecting the woods as she has been growing up, somehow is enlisted to assist in fighting the Word’s cause. They meet on three major occasions, and each book within this omnibus documents one of their encounters.
The characters are so well rounded and the scenes so well done that I wasn’t only at times emotional, but also had nightmares about the darker side of things in here. It is a long time since a book has affected me so emotionally. It has a quality to it and a pull that I haven’t seen in the few other works I have read from this author. I perhaps haven’t come to this at the best time in the series as a whole (there’s a recommended reading order which can be found online), but it is the beginning, how our world is moving into the world that many well-versed Shannara readers know so well.
I was also quite impressed how the author doesn’t list this as a “magic only happens in America”-type of series. Yes, the primary setting is the US, yet this is the story of but one of many fighters across many lands. And, John Ross is sent to visit Wales, the land of his ancestors, and the Fairy Glen at Betws-y-Coed. It is so amazing how he documents that magical landscape, as well as the area in which he grew up that he knows so well.
You could fault the side series as being out of place and not fitting in with the rest of the Shannara series, but for me, as a new-to-Shannara reader, the beginnings are as important as the endings. And however out of place you may feel it is, on its own it gives you a sense that magic can so easily be just around the corner, just like any good fantasy series does. In fact, having just finished reading, it feels like it could do that better than many. I am already looking harder than I was before, jumping harder at the shadows, just in case there is a demon lurking there waiting for me.
Final rating: ★★★★★ – Loved it/couldn't put it down
For, this is where it all begins.
The apocalypse isn’t here yet, but the forces of evil are at work to speed up civilisation’s downfall. John Ross, as a Knight of the Word, is charged with correcting as many demon-encouraged mistakes as possible in order to slow down or even try to prevent the inevitable. Along his way he meets Nest Freemark, at his first encounter a teenager of fourteen, and through their encounter her life is changed forever and she, too, with her own magic already having been used to assist in protecting the woods as she has been growing up, somehow is enlisted to assist in fighting the Word’s cause. They meet on three major occasions, and each book within this omnibus documents one of their encounters.
The characters are so well rounded and the scenes so well done that I wasn’t only at times emotional, but also had nightmares about the darker side of things in here. It is a long time since a book has affected me so emotionally. It has a quality to it and a pull that I haven’t seen in the few other works I have read from this author. I perhaps haven’t come to this at the best time in the series as a whole (there’s a recommended reading order which can be found online), but it is the beginning, how our world is moving into the world that many well-versed Shannara readers know so well.
I was also quite impressed how the author doesn’t list this as a “magic only happens in America”-type of series. Yes, the primary setting is the US, yet this is the story of but one of many fighters across many lands. And, John Ross is sent to visit Wales, the land of his ancestors, and the Fairy Glen at Betws-y-Coed. It is so amazing how he documents that magical landscape, as well as the area in which he grew up that he knows so well.
You could fault the side series as being out of place and not fitting in with the rest of the Shannara series, but for me, as a new-to-Shannara reader, the beginnings are as important as the endings. And however out of place you may feel it is, on its own it gives you a sense that magic can so easily be just around the corner, just like any good fantasy series does. In fact, having just finished reading, it feels like it could do that better than many. I am already looking harder than I was before, jumping harder at the shadows, just in case there is a demon lurking there waiting for me.
Final rating: ★★★★★ – Loved it/couldn't put it down
November 23, 2008
The Word and the Void is a trilogy consisting of the books Running with the Demon, a Knight of the Word and Angel Fire East.
John Ross has been recruited by the Word to help prevent events that can alter the balance of good and evil. Every night John Ross dreams of the dark place the world will become if he doesn't do something to prevent it. In running with Demons, his mission is to keep Nest Freemark, a young girl with magical abilities, from becoming a agent of the Void. Nest has always known about her magical abilities, but she underestimates the amount of power she has and is totally ignorant of her demon heritage.
In the next book it is actually Nest Freemark that helps John Ross from being deceived into becoming an agent of the Void. A bad experience has caused him to abandon his work for the word, but Nest manages to lead him back to his work as an agent for good.
Finally in the last book Nest and John work together to help a powerful piece of magic to reach it's potential in becoming a powerful force for good.
I enjoyed each of these books individually and as a series. I thought they had an interesting take on magic in our modern world. It also has some insightful ideas on how ignorant people are lead to do such dark things. The series was pretty dark and I don't know that I'd recommend it as a good read if you are feeling down, but when a sunny day comes along it has a great story and take on the battle of good and evil.
I can honestly say that I read these books solely for the purpose of seeing how Terry links this series with the Shannarah series. Look for a review soon on that new series including Armageddon's Children and The Elves of Cintra.
John Ross has been recruited by the Word to help prevent events that can alter the balance of good and evil. Every night John Ross dreams of the dark place the world will become if he doesn't do something to prevent it. In running with Demons, his mission is to keep Nest Freemark, a young girl with magical abilities, from becoming a agent of the Void. Nest has always known about her magical abilities, but she underestimates the amount of power she has and is totally ignorant of her demon heritage.
In the next book it is actually Nest Freemark that helps John Ross from being deceived into becoming an agent of the Void. A bad experience has caused him to abandon his work for the word, but Nest manages to lead him back to his work as an agent for good.
Finally in the last book Nest and John work together to help a powerful piece of magic to reach it's potential in becoming a powerful force for good.
I enjoyed each of these books individually and as a series. I thought they had an interesting take on magic in our modern world. It also has some insightful ideas on how ignorant people are lead to do such dark things. The series was pretty dark and I don't know that I'd recommend it as a good read if you are feeling down, but when a sunny day comes along it has a great story and take on the battle of good and evil.
I can honestly say that I read these books solely for the purpose of seeing how Terry links this series with the Shannarah series. Look for a review soon on that new series including Armageddon's Children and The Elves of Cintra.
March 20, 2017
I liked these books. If I had to say something bad, it would be that they are a bit slow. But the characters and story are unforgettable. I would recommend them.
January 6, 2014
I enjoyed this book, more than I expected, but too little to rate it with more than three stars.
It took me some time to get into the story, since I found it hard to feel myself into a fourteen year old girl, including the setting of the story.
What then got me out of the lethargy of the beginning was the appearance of a demon and that of other magical creatures and fighters.
The second book was more my taste than the first, probably because it was closer to my age group, but what really hit it off with me was the third part.
The characters stayed true to themselves, the stories are, once you get interested in them, nice and (sometimes) surprising, but some small part in me did not enjoy it enough to say it was brilliant and should definitely get five stars.
Maybe it's because I read too much books with twist and turns to always expect the unexpected, but I kept on foreseeing things, especially in the second book.
And the overall ending, well, I don't want to spoiler anything, so I'll just say it was okay, but it left some bitter taste after closing it and I don't know if I would ever want to reread the whole series.
It took me some time to get into the story, since I found it hard to feel myself into a fourteen year old girl, including the setting of the story.
What then got me out of the lethargy of the beginning was the appearance of a demon and that of other magical creatures and fighters.
The second book was more my taste than the first, probably because it was closer to my age group, but what really hit it off with me was the third part.
The characters stayed true to themselves, the stories are, once you get interested in them, nice and (sometimes) surprising, but some small part in me did not enjoy it enough to say it was brilliant and should definitely get five stars.
Maybe it's because I read too much books with twist and turns to always expect the unexpected, but I kept on foreseeing things, especially in the second book.
And the overall ending, well, I don't want to spoiler anything, so I'll just say it was okay, but it left some bitter taste after closing it and I don't know if I would ever want to reread the whole series.
January 24, 2014
Nice writer, very good start on the 1st book, nicely done on the 2nd one, great concept of melding this Reality to the Shannara world... but a foul last book, hurried, and just dumb writing.
superb 1st book, with time-magic and female kid hero. small space for so many characters but that's what made u the reader clinch to the book.
No regrets for reading, but in the end just as a test/exercise, hope the next trilogy is better, event than the sword book(1st of S saga), which is impossible to read :) but i'll keep on trying.
Great volume ,,, thick as a log, and with good smell, and a show-off to your friends cover.... like the latest Ferrari ... :) at least this is what i did, and it felt real and wonderful.
I like the modern look, and the constant lack of info, but the apocalyptic look is too dark for this season :)
see u later, much later, but see, dude!
superb 1st book, with time-magic and female kid hero. small space for so many characters but that's what made u the reader clinch to the book.
No regrets for reading, but in the end just as a test/exercise, hope the next trilogy is better, event than the sword book(1st of S saga), which is impossible to read :) but i'll keep on trying.
Great volume ,,, thick as a log, and with good smell, and a show-off to your friends cover.... like the latest Ferrari ... :) at least this is what i did, and it felt real and wonderful.
I like the modern look, and the constant lack of info, but the apocalyptic look is too dark for this season :)
see u later, much later, but see, dude!
July 19, 2013
What can I say about this? Terry Brooks is a master story teller. I know this because I'm an author myself, and basically, I know what I'm talking about! The story hooked me straight away with a character that is only six inches high and made of twigs! I loved every page.
Book two surprised me! He made you as a reader think one thing, and the characters think another. In the end, we were both wrong. Terry really is a master at what he does.
Book three! Fantastic! I didn't know how it would end right up to the last couple of pages, and I was even wrong then LOL Enough said :)
Thank you for writing this book, Terry Brooks. You continue to inspire me.
Book two surprised me! He made you as a reader think one thing, and the characters think another. In the end, we were both wrong. Terry really is a master at what he does.
Book three! Fantastic! I didn't know how it would end right up to the last couple of pages, and I was even wrong then LOL Enough said :)
Thank you for writing this book, Terry Brooks. You continue to inspire me.
April 9, 2016
I loved this series--at least the first 3 books (there was a 4th book that brought elves into the story that sort of ran off the rails). Brooks' mixture of ancient Celtic, Native American and Christian mythic themes was skillfully done, and the relationship between the knight and the Lady (and the Word) was consistently tantalizing. His portrayal of evil was terrifying and believable, and the alliance of Nature with the Word full of light. The knight himself was an unforgettable tragic hero. Irresistible!
September 24, 2008
I enjoyed this even though I read it after all the other Shannara books and the Genesis of Shannara series. I did think it was a little trite at the end. I kept waiting for something to happen or for Nest to be told some great secret. Still, I love the characters and can't wait for to read the next one.
September 27, 2008
Actually if this was a stand alone set of three books I would have given this a four. Brooks is now deperately trying to tie this series into his existing world through another three books and to my mind is spoiling what is a very fine modern day fantasy. Read these three books and then ignore his new series!!!!
June 2, 2009
These books were generic, with a unpleasant aftertaste.
Like sweaty feet wrapped in leathery burnt bacon.
They were just boring.
Not a lot of action.
Uninspired story.
The characters and magic were done fairly well.
I could barely make it through book three, though.
The Shannara and Magic Kingdom series are much more worth it.
Read those.
Like sweaty feet wrapped in leathery burnt bacon.
They were just boring.
Not a lot of action.
Uninspired story.
The characters and magic were done fairly well.
I could barely make it through book three, though.
The Shannara and Magic Kingdom series are much more worth it.
Read those.
July 7, 2014
Uma decepção principalmente depois de ter lido Shannara. Era o cenário de Shannara que estava à espera e não duma mistura entre Drama da vida real e inclusão de demónios no nosso mundo. Tem algumas personagens interessantes mas dispenso a parte dramática, pois não é aí que eu pretendo escolher as minhas leituras. Concentro-me em Fantasia e FC porque é essa temática que mais me atrai.
July 25, 2010
Definitely darker than his normal style, but a wonderful diversion from his normal, very formulaic style in the all the Shanara books.
These three books progressed wonderfully from one to the next, following a logical story line and managing the long time jumps between each well.
He left the end book wide open for a following book, and if that's correct I can't wait to get my hands on it!
These three books progressed wonderfully from one to the next, following a logical story line and managing the long time jumps between each well.
He left the end book wide open for a following book, and if that's correct I can't wait to get my hands on it!
December 23, 2011
This trilogy is an excellent read for fantasy lovers. Although it's not the high fantasy of Brooks' Shannara series, the urban setting provides a unique backdrop for a dark tale about demons, death, secrets, and more. I enjoyed every page of all 3 books.
February 28, 2012
It was far too dark and depressing for my taste.
April 12, 2012
It's great- but maybe 3.5, I prefer the magical worlds of the other series...
August 17, 2013
I love the world of the knight and void. In Nest Freemark we are shown what true character derives from a true craftsman.
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