Book 3), Straken (High Druid of Shannara

Straken completes the 3 book series of the High Druid of Shannara. Tanequil (book 2) ends up with Pen Ohmsford's completion of his task to obtain the darkwand to free his aunt, Grianne Ohmsford, Ard Rhys of the Third Druid Council, from the Forbidding. Pen gives himself up to the druids (who swiftly return him to Paranor to let the new Ard Rhys, Shadea A'ru deal with him herself) that have been pursuing him in order to expedite his return to Paranor to attempt a rescue of Grianne Ohmsford. Previously in this series, we learned that when Shadea A'ru sent Grianne Ohmsford into the Forbidding, unbenknownst to Shadea a changeling demon traded places with Grianne in the Four Lands. The demon's goal was to destroy the Ellcrys, an ancient tree with magical powers that protect the Four Lands from the demons trapped in the Forbidding. I thought Jarka Ruus and Tanequil did a wonderful job building up for an an exciting, heart-stopping ending in Straken.

I WAS UTTERLY DISSAPOINTED!!

The main antagonists Shadea A'ru, Pyson Wence, Traunt Rowan, along with the demon showed poor judgment throughout this book, and did not seem tough at all. The main thing I did not like in this book was that it was simply too easy for the Ohmsfords and other protagonists to succeed. I expected much more of a showdown and fight between Grianne Ohmsford and the Druids who plotted against her. In addition, the way that Bek, Rue, Khyber and Pen dispatch the demon is simply ridiculous and much much too easy. The ending of the book with Grianne is interesting, but I felt completely let down by the author when I finished it. I can go on and on about how disappointed I was, but I hope whoever reads this understands my point.

I have been a long time fan of Terry Brooks and have read all of his books. This quite possibly is the worst out of all of them. I didn't give it a 1 star because it still is Terry Brooks and he'll always be my favorite author, but this is one I probably will not waste my time reading again.

High Druid of Shannara: Straken is a great book, and I highly recommend the Shannara series. The series is a sword & sorcery fantasy one with underlying themes of good vs. evil, and world's within worlds. This story begins when Penderrin Ohmsford, only a boy, is told that if he does not bring his aunt Grianne back from her exile in the "forbidding" she will perish. Pen gathers his comrades, Tagwen the dwarf, Khyber Elessedil an elven princess, and Kermidec, leader of the rock trolls, and heads off towards the druid keep, Paranor. Pen and his friends trick Shadea and her followers, and find him a way into the forbidding. However, Pen must hurry because time is running out for his parents, his aunt Grianne and himself.

While bolder throwing Rock Trolls, magic welding Druids, shape changing demons, and battles to the death keep you intrigued. It would be the incredible flying ships, the use of magic powers, and comrades that stay with you to the end, that make you wish it was a time and place you could truly visit. This fast-paced, detail intensive novel will keep you reading long into the night.

First, I'm not the Biggest Fantasy fan, preferring harder sci-fi when it comes to this sort of non-fiction genre. But, I've read and seriously enjoyed, almost all of the Shannara series. The firt was great and Brooks brought new ideas to an old storyline with each mini-series. "High Druid of Shannara" had great potential with Grianne Ohmsford, one the most powerful characters in the Four Lands, entering the Forbidding, an oft mentioned terrible land but never actually challenged directly. The stage was set for the Isle Witch showdown with fabled Fairie creatures and powers, much less her retribution on enemies in her own land. With the first two books I kept waiting for the spectacular, but the struggle between bland, "same old type" characters outside the Forbidding took 90% of the pages. Honestly, in itself that's not bad reading, but it gets to be the same old Ohmsford travel/adventure thing. A year ago, when it was announced that Brooks finished Straken but it wouldn't be out until Sept 2005, or whatever it was..it was so long ago I've forgotten, I wasn't very happy with that marketing manuever. But I waited, thinking the third book would explode with the witch, her nephew Pen and the Forbidding. I've finished Straken and well, it is seriously like...uhmmm... nothing happened. All I've got to say is.."thats it?" Wow, did Terry give up on this series to get it out of the way for something else that was consuming him? If you've read the first two books, and especially if you've read the Isle Witch series previous to this one..well I'm sorry, but you're not going to get what you think you will out of it. After a years wait, this book was one absolute letdown.

I have read and loved all the Shannara books (even the short story in the Legend II collection). Mr. Brooks' latest work is no different. True to the rest of the series and written in the same style Mr. Brooks wraps up and concludes the triligy nicely.

I will say that it seemed to end quickly, but maybe that was because I wanted it to go on more. There were some unexpected twists toward the end, that I must admit I didn't see coming.

A great story. If you liked the previous Shannara books, or a fan of Tolkien you will like Straken (but make sure to read at least the first two books of this triligy first, if not the rest of the Shannara series).

I started reading Shannara books in November (First King), and I vowed not to stop until the library had run out of books. Well with Straken my journey has been completed. And i have to say it was an enjoyable one. Straken was easy to read and fast paced, Brooks' writing had really evolved since the Sword. The book has a great ending, there was nothing I wanted to see more than what happened. If you have followed the whole Shannara epic like I have, you have no reason not to read this book. I was just really sad when it was all over.

Unfortunately Mr. Brooks has caught a bad case of "Asimov-ism" which compels the writer to try to join two separate series together (witness Robots and Foundation). There is too much 'revisionist' history in these books as he lays a groundwork to join with the Word series. As with Asimov, there is nothing to be gained from this joining but the opportunity to produce additional "filler" books desparately trying to match up one series' end with the other's beginning.

Grianne Ohmsford, the Ard Rhys of the Third Druid Order, was never fully trusted because of the harm she did to others as the llse witch. Certain druids led by Shadea with the aid of the Prime Minister of the Federation trapped her in The Forbidden, a dark, dangerous evil place where the dark beings of Faerie were sent eons ago. Shadea is now the new Ard Rhys and rules through fear and terror making the Druid keep of Paranor a very unpleasant place to live and learn the craft

What Shadea doesn't know is that a demon sorcerer, Tael Riverine, in the Forbidding influenced Shadea because when one is sent to that evil place, a being is allowed into the real world. The shapeshifting demon is influencing events in the real world so that the wall of the Forbidding will come down allowing the evil creatures penned up inside to enter the Druid realm and turn it into another Forbidding. Grianne's nephew knows he must bring his beloved aunt home from the Forbidden, but has no idea how to find the demon.

STRAKEN, the last book in the latest Shannara trilogy is a fantastic, compelling and thoroughly enjoyable sword & sorcery book. One of Terry Brooks greatest gifts as an author is to create characters that are realistic and believable in settings that enable the audience to suspend reality. Grianne is his greatest creation, a character who demonstrates that redemption is always possible if one wants it enough.

Harriet Klausner

This book really was quite terrible. Just to let everyone know, I have read and thouroughly enjoyed every single Shannara book out there, up until this one. While there are many things wrong with it, to start off it seemed a little short to be the series ender. Becuase of its shortness, Brooks' usually elaborate and gripping story lines are not there. To have Pen's entrance into the Jarka Ruus last for so little with nothing spectacular happen to him was kind of a let down, it seemed to be an after thought after what he been through to get to that point (sorry if I ruin a bit of story line for some people). I was hoping for a little more action in the Jarka Ruus with both Pen and Grianne. And what did happen with the Ulk Bog? Maybe I skipped some paragraph at the end because it got so boring after the creature was vanquished (also another letdown). Why build up the story about the airships if there is not going to be a riveting battle between the two ships?
Overall the series was decent, but Straken was a total letdown for me.

I kept waiting for the book to become exciting but it remained ho hum. It seems to me that Mr. Brooks may be tired of the Shannarra characters himself because this reads like a story you tell when you're tired of talking. No real struggle happens in or out of the Forbidding. Major characters with large parts in earlier books are eliminated easily. Its almost like a summary where only the most salient points are being made but all the substance has been left out. Call this one Shannarra Cliff Notes.

I remember starting my Shannara journey in sixth grade with Wishsong, it was hard at my young age. But I forged ahead and read the previous two books and never looked back. I've been a loyal Brooks reader but I'm so glad this trilogy is over because quite honestly his writing has steadily declined. One reviewer wrote his recent trilogies could be compacted to one book and I agree with another two books.

I could always count on Brooks books to be EPIC sagas. Superb classics. Writing about the personal introspection and feelings of his characters and then zooming way out to write those glorious battles.

And now with this recent book. Not only short and 2-dimensional but: "They smiled at each other across the table, sharing feelings that couldn't be put into words because words would only get in the way." What the hell was that?...

I recommend to Shanara fans that you wait for the cheaper paperback copy-you already know what is going to happen anyway.

I have been a Shanara fan for years (and years and years...) but the High Druid series has really made my turn away. Brooks has gone Dan Brown on his fans, leaving his books well written, but disparingly predictable. There are no more 4:00am finishings- you can put this down until tomorrow with no problem (or the next day, or next week...). I think Brooks need to take some time and stop writing for the contract, and start writing for the story again.

The problem with trilogies, and this one is no exception, is that the author could wrap the story up in two books and present a very exciting story. However, they have contractual obligations and no other choice but to elongate a tale. Having said that, Straken takes about 2/3 through to really pick up...BUT, pick up it does. Terry Brooks is as good in 2006 as he was in 1977. (I think I have the years right). I would have preferred to see two 400 page books written then three 350 pagers written. Overall, a great read...fast and compelling, with a few slow spots and a great Shannara tale. I don't believe this is the last tale, Magic Kingdom aside, and I certainly don't want the series to go away.

I have read every book by Terry Brooks and have enjoyed everyone of them. Some more than others however "The High Druid of Shannara" trilogy was read and not savored. It was a fun voyage to ride along with Pen, Cinnaminson, Kyber and Grianne, to name a few of the charcters, and I would recomend it to others but the ending was too quick there was no meat no excitement no rise and fall just done. The jaw dropping, heart hammering, can't put it down were not there but as Terry Brooks always does you are left satisfied with the money and time spent. I would go back to the Landover series and start with "Magic Kingdom for Sale - Sold". I would have to say Terry's best work was "Magic Kingdom for Sale - Sold". I called in sick so I could finish this book. I can't wait until the movie comes out in the next few years.

I have loved every Shannara book Terry Brooks has written; except this trilogy. While it had all the necessary components of a good story, I felt it lacked depth. It seemed like it was a story that had been edited severly in order to make it into three books. I think the story could have been expanded into a four-book series in order to tell the story in better detail. Those of you who read the third book will understand what I mean. I do have one question: What happened to Atalan? Was he killed or not? This is just one instance of many that bothered me. Good job, Terry, on your other books. Boo on this one.

I'm beginning to appreciate the multiple years that passed between books in the original Shannara trilogy. Both trilogies, The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara and The High Druid of Shannara, felt really rushed. As for Straken, Brooks introduces a lot of characters and sets the stage for a lot of confrontations that just don't take place. Then the main confrontation, that has been building up for over two years and in three books, just fizzles out. To put it another way, it's like working hard for two weeks and then getting shortchanged on payday.

This book was published in the UK by Simon & Schuster in August. As a longstanding Shannara/Terry Brooks fan I found it enjoyable but in some aspects disappointing. Even in a 'Fantasy' book some of the things that happened were unconvincing. Included in this was the, in my view, unsatisfactory ending. However the main character, Pen, was likeable and believable - and the ending was a happy one for him.

I found myself totally absorbed, cheering, and quite pleased with the climax of this trilogy. Could almost compare as an equal to the first Shannara trilogy - just as captivating, just as adventurous - this is what fantasy readers are looking for. Highly, HIGHLY recommended!

While I enjoyed the series -- and the previous series by Terry Brooks, I finished this last book thinking that there had to be more. It also seemed that the last few chapters were too straight forward and rushed. No real suspense or twists like in previous books.

All in all, it is the weakest of the series but a must read for those who've read the others.

Again a great book from Terry Brooks. This ones is as good as the first book of the Shannara series, which I have read 15 years ago.

A good story, great characters and a lot of action. This one has everything a good fantasy book should have...

If you haven't read something from Brooks so far, go ahead and pick any of his trilogies. Most of the stories are self-contained and have very little references to previous stories. If you like fantasy then you can't go wrong with Shannara.

While this book at times felt like it lacked as much substance as previous books, I feel it was a great ending to the trilogy. I really liked the ending which was unexpected, yet brought a good sense of closure to the trilogy.

This book was a great ending for the High Druid series. This book unlike some of his other books was more unpredictable, especially at the end. It left me wanting more, so when I finished the book I felt it was bittersweet. In some ways I was sad and happy. Overall, the book was an excellent addition to the Shannara series and I'm eager for more.

As a conclusion to the High Druid trilogy, Straken is a satisfying read. It is as enjoyable as the previous, and with an ending that I actually liked. Not as good as classic Brooks at his best, but still good.

Tanequil was one of the best books Terry Brooks has written, and I couldn't wait for Straken. Now that it's here, I devoured it. Straken is a completely satisfying conclusion to one of Terry's best trilogies. There's no way this isn't great because it's better than great.

This book by Terry Brooks is excellant! I have read all of the Shannara books and this is just as good as the first book.

I highly recommend this and all of the Terry Brooks Shannara books to anyone who really enjoy's this subject.

I think that Terry Brooks is a great author with great work. His books are full of interesting ideas, twists, suspense, and magic. He does a very good job in all of his work i recommend his books to anyone.