Rating: 
Summary: Is the Shannara magic is fading? Maybe...
Review: The writing style and readability of this book are not in question--they are both great. What has left me disappointed is that, for the first time in ANY Shannara book, we are left with NO intriguing characters. Each book in this extensive series has been colored with the personality and special abilities of very interesting side characters that accompany the Shannara kin. And it has been a necessary part because the Shannara kin are usually cut out of the same mold, worrying about their ability to perform the task. But having airship captains, weapons masters, good trolls, daughters of the King of the Silver River (haven't we seen this guy in every book so far?), or villains walking along their side has been the best part of the series, in my opinion. Here we are left with nothing. There are simply not enough protagonists to be very exciting because the few we have are really somewhat boring. Grianne is interesting, and her journey is quite gripping. But while the events elsewhere are exciting to read, the characters are not.
Rating: 
Summary: Adventurous Page Turner
Review: This book is a smooth read. The next generation along with some of the previous generation make great traveling companions. Lots of action as well as magical beings. This book is a spectacular start for the new series. It's a more colorful story and even better written than the previous series. After just coming from reading Terry Goodkind's new story (Naked Empire), what a breath of fresh air. It's a fantastic feeling when you can look forward to the next book in a great series!
Rating: 
Summary: Why can't the blight ever be removed?
Review: This book is meant for those who are already familiar with Terry Brooks' Shannara stories. It took place a generation after the events in Voyage of the Jerle Shannara and continued with some of the main characters. Those who had not were only given very brief glimpse of the past, and the little details would not aid their enjoyment.Returning from the previously unknown land of Parkasia, the reformed Ilse Witch inherited the mantle of druidhood, and from the last druid, the charge to reestablish the Order of the Druids in Perennor. The other only other hero to feature here was the elven prince Ahren, half brother to the elven king who had despatched Ahren to get Ahren out of the elven court. The other heroes like Bek Ohmsford were mentioned but did not make an appearance. Creating a new Druid Council composed of representatives from (almost) all peoples of the Four Lands - humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes and even trolls, was not difficult. Making the Druid Council effective in its work to bring peace and a renaissance was. Almost right from the start, leaders of two major states of the Four Lands - the Elven Kingdom to the northwest and the human Federation to the south, were personally opposed to the Druid. The opposition were directed more personally at the Ard Rhys, head of the druid council and former Ilse Witch, rather than the Council itself, because of her past. Because the Druid Order practiced open-door policy, the Order accepted many members who were not committed to peace but their own self-interests. The disagreement among the members meant that little could be achieved even though members learned magical prowess and had the capability for impressive feats. Even the chief of the Order could not make any progress because she wanted consensus rather than rule-by-force. She believed that the new order would only be lasting if it avoided tyrannical methods and members mature on their own pace. The picture is an uneasy reminder of the failures of democracy when each group is more concern about its own immediate short-sighted self-interest. Finally, despite her precautions, her enemies within the Druid Council managed to banish her to another world of existence. Losing no time to seize power and eliminate potential avengers, her enemies despatched forces to seize the Ohmsfords. The plot development were woven along three main threads. The first followed the Ard Rhys as she strove to discover where she was banished to and tried to survive in the hostile world, and if possible, to return. The second thread followed her enemies as they sought to consolidate power, and the successor to the head of the Council discovered some of the things that vexed her predecessor as the Ard Rhys. The third thread introduced the new generation of heroes - Pen Ohmsford and Khyber (nephew to Ahren) as they fled from the force sent to eliminate the Ohmsford and sought for a way to return the Ard Rhys to the Four Lands. What disappointed me about this is that Terry Brooks couldn't seem to change the geopolitical balance of the world which always weighed so heavily against the heroes. The Federation, which was introduced in the Druid of Shannara series, remained in power and hungry for world domination. After all that had taken place, they should have been out of business long ago. As the first book of a new series, Jarka Ruus served as little more than setting the stage and introducing the characters. Though it promises to be an exciting new story, I feel a little cheated that the entire book did not reveal more. However, I am surprised that there is an element similar to Lord of the Ring's first volume - Fellowship of the Ring. A quest is set, and a fellowship of heroes was formed to set on it, but before it could get very far, a major character, and possibly the most powerful member of the fellowship, perished, and the fellowship had to go on, greatly weakened.
Rating:
Summary: The Worst Shannara Book
Review: This book isn't bad, but Brooks is capable of so much more. While the previos trilogy had a slight dip in quality, this one is a lot worse. This one starts off really well with loads of I Claudius style conspiracies going on, but it falls apart once the focus shifts to the hero Pen. Pen actually succeeds in being more boring than Bek from the previous trilogy, not to mention the 2nd half is a complete copy of Ilse Witch which would be my 2nd least favourite. The supporting characters are so-so and Grianne is interesting enough, but the Prince guy from the previous trilogy has completely changed character. There's also a dull tacked on love story that you really couldn't give a damn about. It gets better at the very end and has a nice climax, but it's still not enough to put this on a par with Brooks' earlier work. Hopefully the second book will be an improvement and this is not the start of a slippery slope for the Shannara series.
Rating:
Summary: High Druid - Book 1
Review: This book was a much more darker one than some that Brooks has written, which was quite nice. Chapter two was a great introduction to the dark nature of this series.
Twenty years after the voyage across the Blue Divide to the continent of Parkasia, this is the on-going story of Grianne Ohmsford (formally the villianess The Isle Witch). The story of how a group of power-hungry Druids in her order decide that they should run the Druid Council, considering Grianne's background.
After a mysterious magic is used to sweep away Grianne to another land, the journey to help bring her back begins, involving her nephew Penderrin Ohmsford, a Dwarf named Tagwen, and two Elves: Ahren (who was in the last series of books) and his niece Khyber.
Some things that I liked in this book were some ties to older Shannara books, including Grianne's destination and a certain weapon that was used in one of the books - I don't want to give too much away.
Like many said, including myself, the last series was kind of dry - but this one is much better. Book two came out the beginning of this month - September. Book three won't be out until September 2005.
Rating:
Summary: New World, Old Favorites
Review: This is the first book in the new High Druid of Shannara trilogy that's set within Terry Brooks' ongoing fantasy Shannara series. It's set twenty years after the events that occurred in the previous Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy. Grianne Ohmsford, the former Isle Witch, is now "Ard Rhys" or High Druid of a restored Paranor and Third Druid Council. But personal, political, and magical enemies team up to trap her in the ultimate prison of all and it's up to another Ohmsford lad and his friends to go on a quest to save her. Basically, Terry Brooks returns to his roots. We get another old-fashioned Lord of the Rings-type adventure tale. It may not be very original, but it's still pretty entertaining. Shannara fans will like the fact that we get more background on the new Paranor and on the Northland. We're also introduced to a whole new magical world beyond Shannara that's populated by lots of interesting creatures and characters.
Rating:
Summary: Back to the basics again for Brooks
Review: This latest in a long series of Shannara books uses similar plots and character development as his original book, and the many other Shannara books he has written in the past 25 years. The plot usually goes something like this: A great threat has come to the "four lands", and a random group of unsung and unprepared heroes sets out against all odds to defeat the evil threat. The group is always comprised of "normal" characters who possess unique powers they are reluctant to use. Expect lots of introspection every time the gifts are used to protect the others or further their quest. While this adds a sense of realism from a psychological aspect, it is often frustrating at the same time. So, if this is just another of the same formula, why the four stars? Because quite simply, the formula works. The stories capture your imagination and quickly draw you in. Lot's of exciting action, tense situations, and camaraderie that made the reading an enjoyable escape. Some of the highlights in this latest example include the new dimension introduced. The lead from the previous series, Grianne, is now in a position of power and is challenged from within her ranks by those who oppose her past and her policies. Aided by an unknown and powerful ally, her adversaries literally send her into the Forbidding (see Elfstones of Shannara for reference). This launches several concurrent storylines as we track Grianne, those who are trying to destroy her, and those trying to save her. Another great installment to the Shannara world by Terry Brooks, let's hope the next two books in this series bring more new surprises and continue the fun and exciting action. If you are unfamiliar with the genre, please see his first book "Sword of Shannara" or check out a similar series "Lord of the Rings".
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: Brooks is one of the most consistant writers of good fantasy
Review: You can't go wrong really picking up a Brooks book.
Highly recommended.
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