Rating: 
Summary: Back to Basics
Review: Being a long time reader of the Shannara books I would like to say that this volume was a breath of fresh air. Finally Brooks is getting back to the more fantastic and magical aspects of his work that made him so successful. For while the Jerle Shannara series was entertaining it had too much to do with computers and technology. This book returns to myth and entertaining magic. My only beef with this is the lack of real story advancement and the exclusion of one of the Eah characters. i hate that the Sword of Leah can't help with its own magic. All in all though this is a good read.
Rating:
Summary: finally a worthwhile effort
Review: Brooks has been stumbling around with his past few series, producing masterpieces such as Antrax, counterbalanced by duds like Druid of Shannara. At last he seems to have read and appreciated all the criticism levelled at him and made an honest effort to change his style. The result; a dark, compelling and exciting story.
Plot has never been brooks' strong point and it remains the weakest link in jarka ruus. The storyline is straightforward and similar to the rest of the series, but this is the only kink in the book. Brooks has finally gone out and got himself some actual characters. Grianne Ohmsford is by far the most fascinating, an engaging study of a tortured personality lost as much spiritually as physically. And Tagwen the dwarf is a character mould that I have not seen Brooks use before. He serves as both the Sam to Pen's Frodo and Gimli to Khyber's Legolas. Those two (Pen and Khyber) seem like copies of Bek/Wil/Jair/Par and Wren, but brooks has done a lot more with his leads than he usually does. Instead of long tracts of third-person inquisition-style detailed descriptions of each emotion, brooks actually tries to develop them through dialogue. I kid you not! And thankfully, there is no (not yet, at least) romance forced between them.
The real romance story is actually quite tastefully done. brooks usually tends to take love and hit his characters over the head with it. You can see it coming a mile away, and its not exactly endearing. This time, he actually develops the romance from affection to infatuation to love. A pleasant change.
Though this book is plagued with brooks' old problem of not knowing what more to do with the fantastic but limited world of the Four Lands, the characters all develop backbones, most remarkably the Druidic characters, namely Grianne, Ahren and Shadea. That all makes for an interesting read that leaves me waiting eagerly for Tanequil, the next installation.
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: One of Brooks' best!
Review: Fascinating characters, wonderfulstory line. A must if you're aTerry Brooks fan. If not, read itanyway, especially if you lovefantasy.
Rating: 
Summary: Let Down
Review: For as long as I have been reading, Terry Brooks has been one of my all time favorite authors. I have never read a Brooks novel that I didn't love. Until now. Though I have no problems with the Story Line or the Character's Personalities; I find it impossable to believe that that characters could possably be as dumb as they are written. How many times was Pen told that they couldn't use magic because they were being chased by people who could detect the magic? And yet when they are forced to use magic to defend themselves, Oh Ya! He SUDDENLY remembers! But he's a kid, so this is forgivable, but Grianne! High Druid of Shannara! Shes a complete dolt. Brooks tells you what she's thinking, the whole time I'm thinking WHAT AN IDIOT! No wonder the other Druids don't thing she cuts it!If Brooks is trying to get more readers between ages 8-12, this is GREAT! But come on guy, give something to the rest of us too.
Rating:
Summary: A fine addition to the series
Review: Grianne Ohmsford, the former Isle Witch and now High Druid, has problems. The new druid order she founded is in rebellion and her efforts to secure peace between the Federation and the Free-born have resulted in nothing. Still, when the attack comes, it catches her by surprise. Rather than simply kill her, her enemies banish her to Jarka Ruus, the forbidden land where the evil enemies were banished after the great wars. In a land where the ancient dragons, harpies, and furies hold sway, Grianne will have her hands full merely staying alive. What chance has she to return to her own world when the greatest mages of evil have failed for hundreds of years? With Pen Ohlmsford, the spellsong magic has faded to nothing. What little magic he possesses relates to communications with non-humanoid life forms--plants and animals. His own parents don't trust him to join them in their quests. But when the rebelling druids seize control after banishing Grianne, they decide to be complete and ensure that none of the Ohlmsfords are free to challenge their rule or help Grianne. Their efforts send young Pen on an epic voyage. Guided by the elf-druid Ahren Elessedil, Pen must find a path to his aunt Grianne. First, however, the small band must escape the hunting druids. Pen's growing love for the daughter of the skyship they charter quickly complicates their life. Author Terry Brooks extends his Shannara cycle with a new tale featuring many of the characters from the Jerle Shannara series, but introducing a new generation of explorers. JARKA RUUS will appeal especially to young adult readers with Pen battling self-doubt, limited magical abilities, and first-love in addition to the evil druids. JARKA RUUS is the first in a new series and leaves both Pen and Grianne in worse trouble than when they started, but getting there is definitely half the fun. Brooks's strong writing kept me involved and has me waiting for the next installment in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Brooks Is Back
Review: Having greatly disliked the The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara series, I picked up this book with some trepidation. I ended up being quite pleased. While the book is nothing original -- your usual batch of druids, Ohmsford's, and a daring journey -- it is still a great and fun read. The characters are much better developed than the previous series and the action sustained pretty much from page one. This certainly isn't great fantasy on the level of early Jordan, George R. R. Martin, and certainly not Tolkien, but it's still a fun read. I look forward to the next book.
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Summary: no spoilers please
Review: Hey "reader from florida" thanks for telling everyone what happens in the story!Idiot!
Rating:
Summary: renewed my interest in the Shannara series
Review: High Druid of Shannara: Book 1 Jarka 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: High Druid Extremely Readable
Review: I am a huge Terry Brooks fan -- I've read almost every book he's ever written including Hook and all of the Shannara series. By this you can correctly conclude I will continue reading him and look forward to his work. However, I only give the Jarka Ruus - High Druid of Shannara 4 stars. This isn't because I find the writing any less enjoyable than his other books. I know other reviewers didn't care for Jerle Shannara, but I realy liked it. My issue is that in one sense Terry Brooks recycles a particular plot element -- the coming of age story. His main character is always a young person who hates/misses leaving home but goes on the adventure anyway. I'd have been thrilled if this time around he'd broken that mold. However, let me say I still greatly enjoyed this book. I am a huge fan of the Ilse Witch (I don't care what she calls herself, that is what she is!). I think her character is well thought out. If I can make a comparison between Allanon and more recent druids: I like the way Terry writes about the druids following Allanon because they have weakness and are more human. I wished this book had been more about Grianne. Anyway, I can't wait for the next installment!
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