Jarka Ruus: High Druid of Shannara
Terry Brooks
(Reviewer - Colleen Helme)
2003 Del Ray
ISBN: 0345435737

20 years have passed since Grianne Ohmsford denounced her former life as the dreaded Ilse Witch saved by her brother, the magic of the Sword of Shannara, & the destruction of her evil mentor, the Morgawr.

Now, fulfilling the destiny predicted for her, she has established the Third Druid Council, & dedicates herself to its goals of peace, harmony among the races, & defense of the Four Lands. Despite all this, Grianne still has bitter enemies. In the dead of night, she disappears without a trace & only her servant, her nephew & the powerful elf Ahren Elessedil can save her from an unspeakable fate.

Associate Reviewer Colleen Helme writes:

This is the first book in a new trilogy by Terry Brooks, which continues the story of the Isle Witch from The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara series. It begins twenty years later with Grianne Ohmsford as the High Druid of Shannara & her quest to unite the four lands with a Druid Council.

A dark force is determined to see her deposed & she falls into a terrible trap. Thus, the quest begins when her faithful servant, Tagwen, seeks out her nephew Pen Ohmsford, & the Druid Ahren Elessedil to help him find her. The chase begins when those who entrap Grianne realize what Tagwen has done & send an assassin in an airship to destroy them.

This book is a classic tale set in the Four Lands from the Shannara fantasy epic. It is fun to see what happened to some of the characters from the other books, but newcomers as well as long-time readers will enjoy this new series.

There is definitely the same feel to this book that was found in the The Heritage of Shannara series that was different from the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara series. The characters are well developed & there is a never-ending supply of adventure & intrigue as this new epic unfolds. The only problem is waiting for the next book!

More from Terry Brooks:
The Heritage of Shannara
The Sword of Shannara Trilogy
Sometimes the Magic Works : Lessons from a Writing Life, & many more!
(12/28/03)

Colleen
2003©Colleen Helme
A RebeccasReads.Com Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
I have been an avid reader “forever” & live in the Rocky Mountains with my husband & four children. In my spare time (when I'm not reading!) I do watercolor paintings, make music, & WRITE! My first fantasy novel, Child of the Flame, is being published this year by American Book Publishing.