by Mark Spriggs

Created on: September 25, 2009   Last Updated: September 26, 2009

This is a good book. There, I've said it. It's good, but its not mind-numbingly, toe-curlingly brilliant. Why, you ask, has a reviewer and - I must confess here - fan, stated that the book is good but not great at this juncture of a review? This is a book at the beginning of not only a trilogy, but the beginning of a new era in the history of the lands of Shannara, therefore it must ensure the link between what has come before and what will be is strong and serve as the future story's foundation. It must also serve as the jumping-off point for all those people who decide to join the growing throng of Brooks' readership and fan base with this noteworthy literary offering.

Terry Brooks doesn't disappoint us with his storytelling and the wealth of new characters is neatly interwoven with the history and cultures of the current world. Reluctant Druids, young inheritors of great magic, a quest for lost things and a secret shrouded by great evil sums up a superbly-worked introduction made weighty by the role of introducing these new personalities and the "what happened to..." elements of a century's worth of history.

What the author has done so skillfully, although not subtly, is intrigue the audience with the role of the titular character, asking the very question of what role will she have, what is disguised by this name and where does it fit within the universe he has described. It is interesting that the idea of witches, wizards, and warlocks have an immediately negative connotation within Shannara, as opposed to the Druids being a positive guiding force. It continues through this book with the everyman character of Bek offering the warning about Druids being too mysterious and not sharing all the information.

Is this a place to enter the Shannara story? In all seriousness, why not? The book offers enough to stand alone, at least in the context of the beginning of a trilogy, while opening up the whole Brooks' universe to the interested reader. Would I offer this up as the best of Brooks' books? No, go and read Sword of Shannara, or Running with the Demon, or even Magic Kingdom for Sale - Sold for a better start with his style and the source of his stories. With more than thirty books to read his is a back catalog worth investigating and this isn't a bad place to start.

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