Rating: 
Summary: renewed my interest in the Shannara series
Review: High Druid of Shannara: Book 1Jarka Ruus is set 20 years after the conclusion of Morgawr (The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy). Grianne Ohmsford, formerly the Ilse Witch is now the High Druid (Ard Rhys) of the Third Druid Council at Paranor. Grianne faces the problem of how to make the Druid Council relevant and effective in the Four Lands. She faces skepticism from the Elves and some men, and worse, she faces schemes from some of the Druids who still do not trust her because of her past. These schemes get the best of Grianne early in the book as she is trapped in some alternate realm similar to her own world (I refuse to name it because it is a massive spoiler and there is some joy in discovering where exactly Grianne ended up). This sets up the main thrust of the novel which is the beginning of the quest to rescue Grianne. We are introduced to the hero of the novel, Pen Ohmsford. Brooks follows the formula of the Shannara series in that a new scion of the Ohmsford clan is tapped to undertake a quest of some sort. While Pen's father, Bek Ohmsford (from the Voyage trilogy) is alive and able, The King of the Silver River maintains that it is young Pen who must venture out to rescue his aunt (Grianne is Bek's sister). While Bek and Grianne have the magic of the Wishsong, Pen is a generation that has been skipped (though he wonders if the magic is just dying out). He does have his own magic, one that he does not think is as important or powerful as the Wishsong. He can empathetically understand animals. Helping Pen out in this quest are Ahren Elessedil (an elf Prince and Druid), his niece and apprentice Khyber Elessedil, and Grianne's dwarf assistant. This first volume in the High Druid trilogy sets up the main thrust of the series and offers an excellent continuation of the Voyage trilogy. This is the best work Brooks has done in years (at least in the Shannara series) and is far better than any of the three books in the Voyage trilogy. The most interesting parts of the book deal with Grianne (which is a little unfortunate since the main focus is on Pen). She is more of an interesting character, more developed, and her circumstances are fascinating for any long time fan of Shannara. This book kept me turning the pages faster and faster because I wanted to know what happened next and I found myself eagerly awaiting Book 2 in the High Druid series. I didn't feel that way about the Voyage trilogy at all. Very good stuff from Terry Brooks.
Rating:
Summary: A Spectacular start to a new series
Review: Twenty years have passed since the climatic ending of Morgawr. Grianne Ohmsford (the Ard Rhys) has become the High Druid and the third order of druids has been established. However, the Ard Rhys has her enemies and they plot to banish her to the forbidding--an ancient prison set up before the time of men. This book has it all. A new generation of Ohmsfords, druid vs. druid, creatures known only in the druid histories from the time of Fairie and something still unseen and sinister plying its magic. I can't wait for the next installment! Don't miss this one. Brooks is at the top of his form.
Rating:
Summary: well written, action-packed and exciting
Review: It's been twenty years since the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara and the Ilse Witch was transformed back into Grianne Ohmsford. Now she is the Ard Rhys of the Third Druid Council, the High Druid of Paranor who seeks peace in the Four Lands. She is not very well liked or trusted in the halls of Paranor because of her past evil deeds and there are those who plot against her, hungry for the power she has. A small but powerful Cabal of Druids are able to take Grianne by surprise and send her into the Forbidding, an alternate universe where all the dark creatures of fairie were banished eons ago. Her nephew Pen is made aware of her predicament and he sets out with a trusted group of allies to rescue her but the new Ard Rhys and her allies are determined to stop them. Fans of the various Shannara series will find this first installment in a new trilogy well written, action-packed and exciting. The scenes of Grianne in the Forbidding are very imaginative and colorful and engage the reader's sympathy for the Ard Rhys's plight. Terry Brooks has created an interesting protagonist in Pen, an untested young man who grows stronger with each attempt made on his life. Harriet Klausner
Rating: 
Summary: fans will like it more
Review: let me start off by saying that i am a huge terry brooks fan. i have thoroughly enjoyed all his work and eagerly await each new
release. that said, i must admit i was ever so slightly disappointed in this latest release. i believe fans of the series
will enjoy this book more than newcomers. i say this due to the feeling that this book varies little from the existing recipe that has made this series so very sucessful. if you're a long time reader you always know what you're going to get with a new shannara novel and this is no exception. the story moves quickly
and you feel yourself turning pages before you're really ready to but i found myself less attached to this particular group of
adventurers than ever before in a terry brooks novel. its a good read, especially if you're a fan of the series, but i can't help feeling that the best in this trilogy is yet to come.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: In the league of his previous books such as the sword of shannara series. I phenomenal read.
Rating:
Summary: Another great story
Review: Terry Brooks is a master story teller and this book once again proves it. His abilty to weave a tale that is very deep but so easy to read is incredible. I would highly recommend this newest book in the series. It may be one of the best in all of the series.
Rating: 
Summary: This series is tired. Truly tired.
Review: Brooks needs to give this series a rest. His concepts (like his prose) are tired now. It's time to move on.
Rating:
Summary: Overall, a great story, and a worther successor...
Review: ...however, it suffers from a small amount of predictability. I'll be sure not to spoil anything for those who haven't read it yet, so don't worry =). I've been reading this writer's works since back in grammar school, and have enjoyed every book thus far, including the other two short series he's written. They've all been filled with fascinating characters, wonderful detail in every environment, and some interesting villians. His writings have been in inspiration to my work as well, however you probably won't be seeing it anytime soon. If you've ever read a Shannara tale, or have read them all, this one will captivate your imagination, and then leave you begging for more.
Oh, yeah...with all the airships lately, doesn't it make you wonder if Terry Brooks is an FF fan? Seems kinda similar, eh?
Rating: 
Summary: Here We Go Again
Review: Terry Brooks once again takes us down the path that started in the first Shannara books, with no druid council worth talking about, except that this one has more back stabbers than usual. He once again puts someone in trouble (Grianne) and has two youngsters out to rescue her.
I am not sure I will pursue the following books of this trilogy since it follows the same formulas of the others. I was hoping that this time there would be a full and functional Druid Council ready to help the four lands and bring the wars to an end. Alas, I am again dissappointed. If you like Brooks, this will set well with you, but expect nothing new except previously unknown areas of the four lands.
Rating:
Summary: A welcome return to the Four Lands
Review: Jarka Ruus, Book One of the High Druid of Shannara Trilogy, is our latest invitation from Terry Brooks to return to the Four Lands.
This time round, we find ourselves rooting for Penderrin Ohmsford who is charged with the mission of finding the missing High Druid, Grianne, the Ilse Witch from the previous trilogy who also happens to be his aunt. Aiding him are the Elven prince Ahren Ellessedil and his niece Khyber and a cantankerous dwarf named Tagwen.
We have the usual group of villains who would stop at nothing to prevent Pen and his friends from accomplishing their goal. But be warned, the lead villain is not who you think it is as Pen discovers that something more sinister than traitorous and power-hungry druids are behind his aunt's disappearance.
Pen does not inherit any of the "usual" magical powers bestowed on the Shannara descendents in the previous books. He does not wield the Sword, have use of the Elfstones, or call on the magic of the Wishsong. Instead, he has the power to communicate with plants and animals, an ability he is quick to dismiss but one which will prove very handy before the book ends.
The uniqueness of Pen's power is the only trait that separates him from the previous Shannara heroes. In all other aspects, he is a carbon copy of Shea (Sword of Shannara), Par (Heritage of Shannara), or Bek (Voyage of the Jerle Shannara). Like his predecessors, Pen is plucked from his quiet life by fate to go on a perilous quest to save the world. He is reluctant, lacks confidence and feels sure that others are more suited to such an important job.
After more than 10 books set in the same fantasy world, be prepared for a sense of déjà vu in several places. However, the familiar characters in familiar situations do not prevent Jarka Ruus from being an enjoyable book as Brooks still manages to astound with fresh wonders, developments, and intrigues. I'll be queuing for the next books in the series.
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