Terry Brooks is a master that I have been enjoying for over 25 years. Every new book is such a comfort, you know what you are going to get and better yet Mr. Brooks hasn't lost a step. He has actually a more assured storyteller than he was when he was younger. This on is birttersweet with the impending end of Shannara. No spoilers here. If you have never read Brooks, start now! If you can't get into The Sword of Shannara, start at Elfstones.. You will not be sorry and will have months of great reading!

This book reminds me why I read his books in the first place. I can't wait to find out what happens to the characters as the journey continues. I need the next book now!

Startling, engrossing!

Once more Terry Brooks focuses our eyes towards the Four Lands.
There's a strange new brand of magical warriors stalking the lands. Former High Druid Drisker Arc has been targeted by assassins. A young woman with the magic gift of wishsong, Tarsha Kaynin, seeks out Drisker Arc to learn more about her abilities. At Paranor, the Druids are blithely ignoring threats. Dar Leah is sent to investigate but politics and jealousies get in the way.
We are witnessing the return of past artifacts and magic gifts and the names of people we've long loved, including the appearance of a young rascal Shea Ohmsford! (stay tuned I'm sure).
And yes I was glued to the pages and was left bereft and eagerly awaiting the next instalment!

A NetGalley ARC
(June 2017)

In the case of Shannara, “parting is such sweet sorrow.” Brooks has written in the world of Shannara for the past 40 years. As a reader, I have been reading these stories for over 30 years. It is bittersweet knowing this series is the chronological end of the chronicles.

Brooks has been a master-writer of the formulaic quest. With the release of “The Black Elfstone,” he is back on top of his game. Here of late, his stories have been smaller in scale, but “Elfstone” is an epic breath of fresh air. It diverts from the standard quest formula his past several novels followed, and it results in his best book in years. The scope is truly epic, and the cost of failure is high for the denizens of the Four Lands.

Begin this new adventure with a banished former High Druid, the current High Druid’s Blade, and the newest generation of Ohmsfords. “Elfstone” alternates the point-of-view between these differing characters set over 200 years after “The Defenders of Shannara” series. While it includes several mysteries, do not expect most to be answered in the first book. Who hired assassins? What are the origins of the latest generation of Ohmfords? Who are the mysterious invaders? Is a Druid Order in decline capable of handling this new challenge?

The book was fast-paced and hard to put down. It will be a sheer pleasure to read for fans of Brooks.

Note: An ARC was received from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

la lettura è stata una piacevole sorpresa. Parte male e c'è un POV inutile, per di più non manca qualche contraddizione e l'autore si autoplagia senza vergogna. Però io ormai chiedo a Brooks soltanto di farmi sorridere mentre passeggio per le Quattro Terre, e questa volta ci è riuscito. La prevedibilissima conclusione mi ha fatto pensare a Walker Boh e Cogline -- e non posso che essergli grato per questo.