The High Druid of Shannara: Jarka Ruus : Jarka Ruus

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: Keeps You Guessing
Review: A Review by Zach

Several years after the end of the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara ends Grianne, the Isle Witch, has formed the third Druid Council in which she is the Ard Ryhs, or head druid. However her position is not safe and worse she doesn't known it. The druids under her are plotting against her with outside forces. So when she disappears after visiting the Northland, it is up to her few supporters and her nephew Pen to go off and save her.

I liked the pacing of Jarka Ruus because it wasn't to slow or to fast. It has an easy pace that does not rush or leave anything that is needed for you to understand the events in this book or to follow the storyline of the previous books. For example the first two chapters provide you with both new information and it fills you in on the last book. Also the vocabulary in the book is not too hard so readers of most ages could easily understand most of the book. Also the book has much suspense so it keeps you guessing until later on what Grianne is suffering from. It also contains feelings which are real and understood. This I enjoyed because it made me feel as the characters do. I really understood why Grianne was confused when she woke up in a different place then where she started.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy or adventure with a twist. This book also follows the previous story line so you can continue his other books.

Rating:
Summary: Another Awsome Shannara Fantasy
Review: After I read the Voyage of Jerly Shannara Trilogy, I just couldn't wait for the new series to come out. High Druid of Shannara is one of the best Shannara books out there. This book is so attention getter. I started the first page and couldn't put it down. I loved it.

Terry Brooks has brought us a perfect 3rd Druid Council book. With Ilse Witch being the leader, its perfect. After half way through the book, I already knew that this whole trilogy was going to be awsome. When Ilse Witch got put into the Forbidden, at last everyone can finally see the forbidden from the inside. Elfstones of Shannara just brushed up against the coming of the forbidden and the demons inside. Now, Grianna Ohmsford(Ilse Witch) has to finally do what most druids would never would have done, take a trip inside the forbidden and survive, if she does.

This book, i would recomment anyone to read. Even if your a Shannara lover like me or not a lover, then this book is pretty much the best book of 2000 to 2004 so far. Read it, you won't regret it by far

Rating:
Summary: Simply a much better effort
Review: After reading the last Shannara series I was a little hesitant to begin a new one. The last series (Jerle Shannara) left me slightly disappointed.
After reading a preview chapter from Jarka Ruus I became very interested. I received this book as a gift and immediately sat down to read it over the course of a few hours. I was very impressed. The writing, characters, and plot lines are much more reminiscent of the earlier Shannara novels. Very good pacing and detail made this a much more enjoyable read.
I highly recommend this book to all Brooks fans and to all fans of Fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: Mr. Brooks returns to the well
Review: All of his Shannara books are pretty much the same: A quiet youth gets their "life changed forever" when they get wisked away on an inprobable quest to save the world. Some companions are picked up along the way, they get in several close scrapes, and eventually "believe in themselves" and save the day.

If you're looking for something original or revolutionary, I'd avoid Terry Brooks. However, if you're looking for "Lord of the Rings" type adventure fantasy, Brooks is one of the best at it.

If you've read him before, you know exactly what to expect, and if you're considering picking him up for the first time, go back to the Sword of Shannara Trilogy, and the Heritage of Shannara series. They came first, and they're better.

Rating:
Summary: PLEASANT BEGINNING TO A QUEST
Review: Although by no means a great literary work of art this first volume of THE HIGH DRUID OF SHANNARA is far from being the worst put out in the last few years. The plot seems to be a bit formula and the action a bit sparse it actually isn't that bad when it's all said and done.

Characterization is the strength of this piece. Very few characters are held over from the VOYAGE OF THE JERLE SHANNARA series, with the greatest exception of Grianne Ohmsford, ex-Ilse Witch. Not much of a lose as the ending of that series probably left you with the same unfinished feeling as it did countless others, including myself. Instead we have a new cast, derived from the original I will admit, but in the case of Pen Ohmsford (the son of Bek Ohmsford) the derivative is actually better than the original. Born without magic, at least the same type of magic his father has, he is a scared teenager set on a dangerous mission by forces he doesn't understand. A well-done character surrounded by a small (thankfully) cast that really supports and adds to the storyline.

A better start than the JERLE SHANNARA series, and hopefully a much better ending coming up. It rates three stars because it just that, average, but you know average isn't all that bad.

I RECOMMENDED it.

Rating:
Summary: Best Book Since First King
Review: As a fan of the original Shannara trilogy, and its prequel, I was very impressed with this book. The characters, including Pen and Ahren, were enjoyable to read about. I loved the connections with Elfstones, which is the top Shannara book in my mind. I was somewhat saddened by Ahren's death, though. I found it curious that Pen can know what animals are thinking, a trait not too dissimilar from another Scifi/fantasy character I like. I keep picturing Billy Boyd as Pen: both have same eye color, same hair color, and according to the JR cover, both wear kilts. Eagerly anticipating Tanequil.

Rating:
Summary: Jarka who?
Review: As an avid fan of Terry Brooks from the beginning,I find it hard to believe he authored this book. The plot is predictable, dialogue on the sixth grade level, and the vivid descriptive writing of his previous books is missing. I know this is Book 1 of a series, but I expected so much more than what I got.
Get it from the library- I did. Not worth rereading.

Rating:
Summary: Who Kidknapped the Characters??
Review: As much as I think Terry Brooks is one of the better Fantasy writers, I have to agree with one of the other reviewers that character development is lacking in Jarka Ruus. Even though this is the first book of a trilogy, there is still more than enough room in a roughly 400 page book to do more. Other than Grianna and Pen, it is difficult to know which of the other characters are going to be around for very long, but even in a stand alone novel, all characters that are important should be developed. I wish Jarka Ruus had either fewer characters or about 100 pages more to show each character's traits instead of just telling us various chunks of information.
I will read the next book and the one after in the series, but I hope Shannara doesn't get lost to another overly formulaic pattern, like too many other fantasy series.

Rating:
Summary: A jump forward and back
Review: As the final book of the last series, "Morgawr," closed, we could see the hint of a new book coming. The Ilse Witch had now renounced her evil ways and was going to fulfill her task of rebuilding the Druid Council. Now, Terry Brooks has brought us the first book of the new series, "Jarka Ruus," which begins the story of the new High Druid (the Ard Rhys), Grianne Ohmsford.

If you remember your Shannara history, then you are familiar with the Forbidding. Due to a druid conspiracy, the Ard Rhys is banished to the Forbidding. A dwarf named Tagwen, sworn to protect her, runs to find her brother to use the magic to save her. As Tagwen finds out, her brother is away, and the conspirators are gaining on him. With the help of a young Ohmsford, the Ard Rhys' nephew Pen, they make an escape in search of assistance to help the Ard Rhys.

Terry Brooks keeps more than one plotline going at any one time, but the pacing of the book keeps you turning pages, wanting to find out what happens next. I would recommend reading this book and recommend taking a block of time to allow yourself the pleasure of reading it in one sitting.