Galaphile is a worthy addition to Terry Brooks' Shannara series, serving as a fascinating prequel that sheds light on the origins of the Druids. As a longtime fan, I found the story both refreshing and nostalgic, bringing me back to the epic, good-versus-evil themes that Brooks has always done well. While it occasionally lags, particularly during the protagonist Narianne's inner turmoil, it’s still a great read for Shannara enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

The book introduces us to Galaphile Joss, an orphan with a sharp mind and an innate drive to uncover the mysteries of the world. Brooks skillfully draws readers into Galaphile's journey from a small-town boy to a figure who will shape the future of the Four Lands. The plot is well-paced for the most part, and the characters are thoughtfully crafted, each adding depth to the story. Brooks has a knack for developing characters in ways that make readers care about their journeys, and Galaphile is no exception.

The story dives deep into the classic fantasy themes of light versus dark, life versus death, and the constant struggle for balance in a world filled with challenges. While these themes can sometimes feel heavy-handed, they still resonate well within the context of the Shannara universe. The world-building is as intricate as ever, making it easy to get lost in the lore and landscapes of the Four Lands.

However, around the 80% mark, the pacing noticeably slows as Narianne's internal struggles come to the forefront. This section felt repetitive and bogged down the flow of the narrative. While Narianne's conflict is essential to the plot, I found myself skimming through parts of this segment, eager to return to the main storyline. Thankfully, the pace picks up again, but this lull did leave a bit of a lingering drag on the overall experience.

Despite these pacing issues, Galaphile is a strong entry in the Shannara series and a great way for new readers to jump into Brooks’ fantasy world. The story’s strengths—engaging characters, an intriguing plot, and Brooks' signature world-building—make it a satisfying read. For longtime fans, it adds valuable backstory and context to the origins of the Druids, enriching the larger Shannara narrative.

Overall, Galaphile is a solid read, blending classic fantasy elements with compelling character development. While it isn’t without its flaws, it’s well worth the journey.

Thanks to Random House Ballantine for the opportunity to review the ARC.

I didn't realize how much I missed the Four Lands. I've been reading the Shannara series since the early 90s and this was like finding an old friend.

This is the first in a new sub-series about the first High Druid, the Elven Galaphile, and the realizing of his purpose to unite the different Races. Starting from his early years gaining fighting skills as well as studying magic, the story follows Galaphile's early adventures, including meeting several companions (and love) along the way. The King of the Silver River makes an appearance and sends Galaphile on a lifetime quest.

Very much enjoyed this new entry in the series and looking forward to the next book!

Terry Brooks still knows how to draw readers into his exciting world of Shannara. Galaphile had the same feeling as the day I first cracked open The Sword of Shannara. Shannara will always be a great starting point for new fantasy readers and this story is another great starting point.

The outstanding story teller, Terry Brooks does it again! Adventure, magic, love, war, personal growth, evil doers, heroes & heroines, elves, dwarves, trolls, and more. "Galaphile" is a fun read for readers who enjoy Middle Earth style tales. I found the good vs evil motif to be reminiscent of another series I enjoyed, E.E. "Doc Smith's Lensman series. (Just to be clear, there are no space ships in "Galaphile"!) As this is the first book in a new series, I look forward to reading more!

I thank Terry Brooks and Del Rey for kindly providing an electronic advanced copy of this work.

Review: What can be said more about this world that have not already been covered? It was enthralling to read. I really enjoyed the constant movement coupled with the questing nature of the story line. It creates opportunity to develop a myriad of characters and introduce new ones. Brooks is the master at weaving characters while creating instances to push the readers empathy.

This is classic good vs. evil story telling. Ying/Yang, Dark/light, Death/Life etc. is all in evidence while it smacks you in the face. Nothing subtle about the build. At the 80 percent mark, the story slows way down as you trudge your way through Narianne's plight. The inner struggle was belabored and stifling. I mostly scimmed and flipped through this section. It picks up again but the bad taste lingers whenever Narianne opens her yap.

Still, a good read overall.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

3.6/5

Terry Brooks is one of the Big Names of Fantasy, in my opinion. I remember spending afternoons as a teenager curled up on the couch, devouring every Shannara book I could check out from the library. Some of the first books I bought with my own money were these, and I still have those worn and much abused paperbacks on my shelf today.

So obviously I was thrilled to hear he was writing a new prequel series based on Galaphile, the first of the Druids, responsible for building Paranor. This is set in a time thousands of years after the fall of our own world, but while life is still chaotic and hard. We meet Galaphile as an orphan, a lone elf child in the Human world, and watch as he grows, finds family, experiences loss. We see the events that lead him to study magic and try to build a force for good in a struggling world, forever driven by his desire to help others.

Now the real question – will you like this book? Brooks’s style here is still very much the same as his earlier books, and very similar to that of the early giants of the genre. Popular writing has changed a lot since the 70s and 80s, and even my own tastes have changed as I’ve grown. I enjoyed this book a lot because it gives me the origin story of a very beloved world, but at the same time I noticed that there was a lot of telling rather than showing. We know characters motivations and personalities not because we see it in action necessarily, but because the author explicitly says “this character wants this, and feels this.” It does make the story move faster, but I don’t feel like I know the character as intimately as I’d usually prefer.

For me it was 4 stars - I still loved it, because I love Shannara and I love early fantasy, but YMMV. If you also remember these fondly or have a preference for this style of writing, it’s a wonderful addition to the Shannara canon. Also, there’s a certain name revealed at the very end that made my eyes pop – if you’re a fan of the originals, it’s a head-exploding-meme moment for sure!

An exciting origin story for one of Brooks' most well-known characters. I hope this is the start of many more books set in the Shannara world.

Terry Brooks delivers a book that seems alot of Shannara fans have been waiting for. I for one, was extremely excited to see this book because it sets the foundation for the world of Shannara with the development of Galaphile & the druid order in the land.

For buffs of the series ,which started so many years ago, this is a slow burn prequel that develops the characters and world with rich detail of vast forest, ruins & magical places.

The book revealed the excitement of Druids magic, but the porltential danger if the power is left unchecked or used by the wrong individuals.

Galaphile himself, Brooks excels in painting as more than just a mythical figure. He is not infallible but deeply human. His insecurities, ambitions, and doubts are explored with nuance, making him relatable even as he stands as a paragon of wisdom and leadership.
Supporting characters, many of whom become pivotal figures in the wider Shannara saga, are equally well fleshed out.

Thanks to both Terry Brooks & Netgalley for their giving me the opportunity to read such a pivotal book in the history of Shannara! Excellent writing & a must read.

The Shannara series was started in 1977 and, thanks to Terry Brooks' perseverance and talent, this epic fantasy world continues to grow to this day.

Galaphile is a prequel to the series and tells us about the origins of the Druids. Galaphile Joss is introduced as an orphan in a small town. He is a clever and motivated boy who catches the attention of a visitor. This novel, one of the best Terry Brooks has written in the past few years, takes us on a fantastic journey with Galaphile and the people he meets as he grows to shape the future of the Four Lands of Shannara.

Galaphile pulled me in from the first chapter and never disappointed. The plot and characters are well presented and reminds me why I have been enjoying this series from the beginning. Being a prequel, it is also a great jumping-on point for those who have never read the series.

My thanks to NetGalley for sharing this ARC with me.