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.