The Black Elfstone: The Fall of Shannara

I don't get it. Why would an accomplished, independent, wise beyond her years, "experienced", strong, willful, skilled, extremely intelligent and powerful teenage girl need an old tutor? A teenage girl from a village, who does not like to be told what to do, but is more than willing to tell others what to do, as she has the wisdom and experience to do so. A girl who can pick up flying just by watching. Whose knowledge of magic is so in depth that she is already accomplished enough to make her own why in the world in a week with a tutor. She might have just skipped the trouble and taken a month to find things out for herself.
The story also reads at times like a documentary.

I own ALL The Shannara Series and I plan on owning this last one. Terry has been a part of my reading life just like Tolkien. Although I am sorry to see him end the series, it has been going on for decades or 1000's of years in story land. Terry Brook's stories are always entertaining and sometimes hit you in the right spot, whether it is with the courage of the characters, the skill of the Druids, or the evil of the villains/antagonists.
BEST WISHES MR BROOKS in your writing and your retirement.

I owe the author so much for introducing and getting me hooked on the genre in general and the Shannara franchise specifically (Isle Witch). My issue with this effort is that I feel I've paid $15 for a $4 book. It's an ok book, I'll continue to read this author's work. I will rationalize by saying that perhaps we are spoiled and have paid too little for these works in the past.

This is a really goof book. But it has the worst ending of all the Terry Brooks' books I have read. You have no idea what happens to the 4 main characters. Usually when the next book comes out the story will be a few hundred years in the future. In that case you will never know what happened to the 4 main characters in this book.

I love it that Terry Brooks is writing a major series again. I did enjoy this book and was glad that Terry has several plots and subplots going. I did think the exiled Ard Rhys, Drisker Arc, was a little weaker than should be expected of such a character. Also, when Tavo sets out looking for his sister he has absolutely no idea where she might be, yet sets out on a road and doesn't waver. I love the character and plot development. Anxious for more!

A thought provoking beginning to the four part end of the Shannara Legacy. I did question the abrupt ending of Paranor. Where does that leave me? It seems Hopeless and questioning what is the point of reading on.

I miss the Cliff Hanger endings in previous editions.

When I was 8 I hated reading! My grandma took a gamble and bought me one of his books at a used book store. I read the Sword almost 35 years ago. His story ignited a passion in me that has never died. I've anxiously awaited his books at the end of each one I finished. I'm never disappointed and was not disappointed this time. The only sadness I have is the end is near. My dream job... working for and carrying on his work!

As always when I read Terry's books, I am seeped away. They are so wonderful, I feel like I am somewhere else, no sitting in my room reading. I have been reading his books from the beginning. I will be sad to see an end to such great works

Outstanding beginning to the book series. The characters are well developed and intertwined. Some things are left hanging, but that is the best part of Terry Brooks style that keeps you involved until the end. Sorry to see that this will be the end of Shannaara, but he will go out in stylre.

I have read all of the Shannara books and of course I was going to read this final chapter (sad as I am that it is ending). The book is a great start, introducing a whole new slew of characters to love and follow. I love the character relationship between Tarsha Kaynin and onetime High Druid Drisker Arc. I truly can't wait to find out (spoiler here) what happens to him in the depths of locked away Paranor. Terry Brooks is my favorite author and the one who got me reading again way back when The Sword of Shannara first came out.
I can't wait until the next book in the series.

Great beginning to what is to be the end of Shannara. It goes much too fast and leaves so many questions. Wonderful new characters and villains wo are seemingly invincible. Now the wait for the next book starts and it will be a hard one.

I have followed Terry Brooks from the very beginning of his career as an author and will till his last book. They never diappoint me including this one. I always have trouble putting them down as I read. If you love fantasy, you probably will really enjoy Terry Brooks' books

This is one of my favorite writers and again, I was delighted with the book. It has action, storyline, descriptive enough to pull you into the story and make you feel the scenes are all around you. Thank you.

Always love Terry Brooks. The excitement he brings to his stories and the life he gives to his characters is outstanding. The story continues to flow and the adventure will soon take you over. Anything having to do with Elf stones will enthrall you and hold you captive until the very end of the story. Terry Brooks has done it again with an outstanding read and tale of Shannara. You will love this book.

Definitely worth the read! Better than the last book...but still panders to the oversexed MTV genre at times. Leaves you hanging and wanting more. Love all the new characters and am excited to see how it all ends.

The Druid, Drisker, reminds me somewhat of Walker Boh. Storyline is solid. Clizia is a nasty villainess with a wicked agenda -- not quite all revealed in this first volume. Mysterious invaders, other cruel bad guys, and woman? Drisker's apprentice obviously has her own story.
Can't wait for the next one. Wonder when it is planned to come out.

These books are always will find and good yarns. This one doesn't disappoint. I can't believe there are only three more left. The only good thing about that is I can now got back took the beginning and read them all again!

As usual with Brooks' books he leaves you hanging at the end. Don't want to spoil anyone's reading so I won't say more about the plot. It is the start of a new series, which promises to be well worth reading.

The Druid, Drisker, reminds me somewhat of Walker Boh. Storyline is solid. Clizia is a nasty villainess with a wicked agenda -- not quite all revealed in this first volume. Mysterious invaders, other cruel bad guys, and woman? Drisker's apprentice obviously has her own story.
Can't wait for the next one. Wonder when it is planned to come out.

These books are always will find and good yarns. This one doesn't disappoint. I can't believe there are only three more left. The only good thing about that is I can now got back took the beginning and read them all again!

As usual with Brooks' books he leaves you hanging at the end. Don't want to spoil anyone's reading so I won't say more about the plot. It is the start of a new series, which promises to be well worth reading.

I so wanted to like this book. I was so full of anticipation waiting for this book. I was so looking forward to rekindling the magic that is Shannara. But apparently, all that awaited me was bitter disappointment.

The pre-publication edition heralds this book as Book One of "the triumphant and epic four-part conclusion" to the thrilling "Chronicles of Shannara." But even if you haven't read the other Shannara books the announcement states that it makes for a good stand alone. Except where the pre-pub blurbs touts this as the "End of Shannara" I couldn't disagree more on any count.

Unless someone played an April Fools joke on me and sent a gag version of the book there's no better way to describe this "effort" as one where even the author didn't take the time to "mail it in"; his assistant's assistant apparently did.

The plot sees the Druid Council led by a schemer with the better, more ethical former High Druid in exile. The High Druid's protector ("The Blade") - who is not a Druid - is in anguish over a former lover who is also a Druid. Invaders from the north threaten the Four Lands; what's their purpose? A young girl who knows magic has a psycho older brother whom she wants to help but she had better take care as he's not interested in her help, he wants to kill her. Other Druids may have other agendas (or maybe not). Who knows? Ugh. Aaargh. Awful.

The characters are absolute cardboard cut-outs. Gone are the likes of Allanon, the High Druid of "Sword of Shannara" fame. Now we have a former High Druid who often acts as if he were the student rather than the teacher. At times clue-full and at other times utterly clueless he is perfect representation of all the book's characters. Simply silly caricatures.

The dialog is choppy and nonsensical throughout. For example, the conversations between Dar ("The Blade") and Zia (his former lover and Druid) or Drisker (the former High Druid) and Tarsha (the headstrong girl with a heart of gold and a psycho older brother) or Drisker and Clizia toward the end are consistently cringe worthy.

The plot is derivative and numerous scenes are unabashed rip-offs of other books. Right off, if you don't feel the opening scene takes place in The Prancing Pony in Bree then you haven't read or seen "The Lord of the Rings." And when a Troll army is exterminated in one of the book's opening chapters if you don't feel like you're "north of the Wall" or in reading about Varfleet you don't feel like you're in Braavos (or some other Westeros hell hole) then you haven't read or seen "Game of Thrones." And the description of Allis anticipating Kassen's visit to her bedchamber could be straight out of a Harlequin romance....

The author apparently can't decide who the audience is as the tone alternates between dark and adult to junior high and silly. This makes it frustrating for the former and frankly - with its insinuations of sexual abuse and rape, and forthright descriptions of bedding hopping (or anticipations thereof) - inappropriate for the latter. The relationship between Drisker and Tarsha is, frankly, creepy. Drisker's murder of a character three quarters of the way through is disturbing (and as Worf - given that this book has a Federation - would say, "without honor"). It's also a perfect example (and one of many) of either poor character development or character inconsistency (or both).

As a stand-alone book it makes little sense; someone coming to this book with no exposure to Shannara has no context to make any connection to the characters, the plot, or the Four Lands. Flits, airships, credits, flash rips, scrye waters? What? Huh? Who are the Druids? What's going on within the Council of Druids? Where are the Elves? Who are the Elves? What is the Federation? Does the Four Lands have no history? As a reader, why should I care? So as a stand-alone this really fails.

As a new edition to the Shannara series I must say that it's an epic fail as well (unless this is what Shannara has become; if this is the case then this is a bitter disappointment indeed). I read the first seven or eight in the series and really loved them (starting, for the first time, when I purchased a first edition of "Sword of Shannara" way back when). This book pales in comparison; there's simply - how ironic - no magic. Did I miss something in failing to read the entire series? Magic failing (or is it?); the "Federation" (what?) seeks to overpower Magic with technology. Shea Omsford returns (kind of)? Huh?

No clever plot device or rousing conclusion (not that there is either) can make up for a dismally boring, poorly written, poorly conceived effort. Dreadful; simply dreadful. Had it been written for a high school lit assignment I'm not sure it would have gotten a passing grade. Where were the editors? Is every one around T.B. a "yes man"? At best, this is a draft/a concept. And a horrible one at that. I earlier mentioned "The Lord of the Rings" and "Game of Thrones." This Shannara book has none of Tolkien's/LotR's grace and majesty and none of Martin's/GoT's grit and sophistication; "The Black Elfstone" is a pale shadow of both. Honestly, I don't know what anyone associated with this book was thinking..., unless they all drank the MTV Kool-aid that's juicing the also dreadful "Shannara" TV series.

I'm thankful in only one regard in having read this pre-pub edition for the store Vine; it "told" me to cancel the pre-order of the book I had made. I had looked forward quite a bit to this book. Though I haven't yet gotten to read all the Shannara books (as I mentioned, I've read the first seven or so) I have them all. If this is what the final four are going to look like I guess I'm going to have an incomplete set.

1 dismal star. In one of the chapters towards the end ex-Druid Drisker Arc tells new-student Tarsha Kaynin that there's no point in lingering in Varfleet. With this book I don't think there's any point in lingering in Shannara. And as one character tells another that this "is the end of all things for the Druids" this IS the end of Shannara. The magic IS gone.

First off, I didn't buy this book off Kindle store but instead had borrowed it from my local public library.

What can I say about this book? I've read all Terry Brooks books and I especially love the first three trilogy (Sword, Elfstone and Wishsong) and also the books from the Knight of the word series as well as the Magic Kingdom for Sale books.

As for the rest of the Shannara series, some are good, others ok whereas others bad. This book falls into the latter category - bad.

Characters are poorly fleshed out. It lacks depth and honestly, although it was trying to be mysterious and suspenseful, it fell really flat.

The main characters that are supposed to be really experienced and smart are lacking in both of that departments (that's towards the ending of how the story ended in book one). It's downright silly - honest! I mean I understand Mr Brooks need it to be this way so that he can continue his story but that's just plain lazy writing! I'm not going to spoil anyone's reading pleasure but it totally disgusted me.

I could have devised many other ways for book one to end as what Mr Brooks will want it to be but in the way that he devised, it's just horrible.

THE FALL OF SHANNARA takes readers once more to the Four Lands of Shannara with every bit of the action, strong characterization (strong men, old women, a young woman who wants to study under an exiled druid so she can try to help her brother), and good story world that readers expect from Brooks’s work. The style and word choice are what those who know Brooks’s work have come to expect of him. Twists and turns abound; early on in this novel, readers may wonder how this or that fits in or will fit in with what has been revealed so far or what will come, but be patient! It does come!

I understand that Brooks is planning only a few more books in the Shannara series, and I look forward to seeing how he will close the series and perhaps start a new one. Actually, the biggest flaw I saw with this novel is a general feeling that his enthusiasm for this series has dropped. Maybe the time has come for Brooks, known to be an excellent writer, to create a new story world and a new series in that story world. I hope so; I’d love to see him do that.

What an astounding start to the end. “Sometimes the magic works” is a quote from Brooks. He should know, because he performs magic every time he touches his keyboard. I’ve now read all the Shannara novels, the Word novels, and the Landover novels and it is truly hard to find anything negative to say about them.

Wait! Here’s something negative. Brooks is ending Shannara. How dare he!

This will be the last series written on Shannara. It doesn’t mean there won’t be more novels, but Shannara will unfortunately end here.

The first book will introduce you to Drisker Arc the Druid, Dar Leah the Blade, Tarsha Kaynin a wishsong wielder and a host of other characters that are typical of Brooks’ imagination.

Storyline: (Contains spoilers)

Tarsha Kaynin and her brother Tavo learn at an early age that they have possession of the wishsong. Neither can master or control it and as time passes, Tavo continually misuses the magic, while Tarsha shows better constraint. Tavo becomes such a problem that his parents ship him off to an uncle. Tarsha has trouble with this and leaves home to seek out Driskar Arc, the High Druid, that he may help her get control so that she can help her brother. She finds him, but not where she expected.

Meanwhile, a hostile army begins moving through Troll country, leaving none alive in it’s wake. The High Druid sends along two druids and the Blade (Dar Leah) to confront the force and learn it’s intent.

Driskar needs to teach Tarsha the use of the wishsong, find out who’s trying to kill him, and learn what the army seeks to accomplish.

Fascinating read!

Word is, Terry Brooks is resolved to orchestrate the end as well as the creation of the world of Shannara, providing a complete story arc with an absolute finale. This is how the end begins.
The Druids are the guardians of Shannara, and their Keep at Paranor is the seat of their power. Divisiveness amongst the druids can hardly be a sign of anything good, and their inability to perceive the wrongness of their discord may prove their undoing.
Tarsha Kaynin can use the power of the wishsong. Fleeing familial disappointment, she wants to become an apprentice druid but has to prove her potential to Drisker Arc before he’ll undertake training her. Even then, she’ll be forced to choose between obligation and allegiance. And ultimately, her fate may be the strangest of any in the land.
Dar Leah, a highlander, is an exiled blade but a true ally. His journey of discovery, and his ability to not be deluded by deceptions, may be the key to preserving whatever can be salvaged from destruction.
Drisker Arc may be the greatest druid of all times, but that doesn’t mean he is trusted so much as feared, and being feared can have unfortunate consequences. Even he may not be able to withstand the carefully contrived sequence of betrayals, assassination attempts, and forced choices that his nemesis has devised.
Here is high fantasy shading into science fiction. As an End of Days epic, of course there will be tragedy and the death of favorite characters, yet there are moments of keen humor, usually in dialogues concerning the failures of assassins from Orsis Guild. Some of the best depictions are of the magical creatures that befriend Drisker, and by extension Tarsha; some of the losses are excruciatingly poignant. I can hardly wait for the continuation.

The end is nigh.

Over the next four novels comprising the Fall of Shannara quartet, author Terry Brooks will be bringing to a close the story arc of the world of Shannara. Beginning with THE SWORD OF SHANNARA in 1977 and sprawling across 27 other books, Brooks has led readers all through our fallen world, overrun by demons and claimed as a haven by Elves and Druids --- all leading to this end.

THE BLACK ELFSTONE is a three-plot story that works as a starting point for newcomers but satisfies longtime readers who are well versed in the intricate details of the Shannara timeline. The main story vein, the one that carries the heft and heart, is that of Tarsha Kaynin and her older brother, Tavo. Tarsha has a gift for magic, one she has studied and attempted to hone. Her brother asks her to teach him, but he is an impatient and angry student. When he does obtain his power, he is destructive and menacing. Tavo is sent away by their parents, but Tarsha is both drawn to him because of her love for her sibling and horrified by the things he has done.

In the midst of the family tale, there is an army invading the Four Lands and the Druids aim to prevent it. Bumbling leadership stalls any legitimate plan at protection, and the invaders cut the lands, leaving horrific death on the paths behind.

Drisker Arc, a Druid in exile, not only has the weight of the world on his shoulders, but someone has hired the most precise and deadly assassin the world has known to hunt him down. Why is he targeted? The invaders know he is the only one who can legitimately step up and provide the best solution for stamping out the enemy force. With him out of the way, there will be virtually no resistance.

And who are these red-robed savages who destroy any and all in their field of view and hasten their advance through the magical means of invisibility?

Terry Brooks knows the answers but won't give them all away just yet. Suffice it to say, this novel has far more of his classic epic fantasy feel, harkening back to the Heritage of Shannara series. This should please longtime readers, as it brings more complexity than we've seen in the past few adventures. Combined with some very strong characters in Drisker, Tarsha and Dar Leah, THE BLACK ELFSTONE is a promising opening volley in the tale of the fall of the beloved Shannara.

Reviewed by Stephen Hubbard.

It's really pretty shameful to admit, but I went into this book without reading any of the other Shannara books. (In my defense, I do plan to read them as soon as possible now.) I have watched 2 or 3 episodes of the TV series, so that made certain names and places and terms mentioned more understandable. I imagine if I'd read all the books, other things would have made sense, too, but I think it's a pretty safe book to enter with no previous knowledge of the other books.

I was disappointed in how abrupt the ending is. It's truly part one of a story, and there's a huge cliffhanger. It was incredibly annoying to know by the time I get to read the next book, I'll probably have forgotten half of what's in this one.

I've heard people say they grew up reading Terry Brooks, from a young age, and that his books are pretty safe for those that prefer clean reads. Because of that I was a bit surprised at just how violent this book is. (I'm not sure why, based on how gruesome the few episodes of the TV series were that I watched.) It's bloody and gruesome at times. There's a large amount of it, including sexual abuse. (One case is implied, so I could have misunderstood, but it happens repeatedly. It's only referenced in past tense. One scene happens in present tense.) I don't recommend this for highly sensitive readers. (That said, I do consider myself highly sensitive, but I loved the rest of the story well enough that I plan on reading the rest of them.)

Overall, I loved the book, but I could have done without all the violence, and I want the next book in my hands right now.

Content: I don't recall any profanity. Lots of violence. (See above)

It looks like these will be the last four books about the world of Shannara. I can see why. Brooks is getting on in years and has devoted most of his adult life to writing about this (superb) world of fantasy, and I feel that he feels that he needs to write a conclusion to this saga. That's good, because we don't want any loose ends hanging. All together, the saga covers about 3000 years. I remember when the first book (The Sword of Shannara) came out back in 1977 and I've been a fan ever since. Shannara evolved from being an imitation of Tolkien's works to having an independent life of its own. This book will not disappoint.
The story begins where an unnamed character contacts the Orsis Guild, sort of a mafia in Varfleet, to hire professional assassins to kill a druid, Drisker Arc, former head of the Druid order. Meanwhile, a brother and sister find that they are gifted with the Wishsong, but Tarsha, the girl, is able to control it and Tavo, her brother, isn't, and get into trouble because of it, who then sets out to kill his family.
Now the setting is in Paranor, keep of the Druids, where Drisker Arc has been ousted in sort of a coup, and Uber Balronen take over. All is not well, for Paranor itself is in chaos, with spies, infiltrators, and those who want to take Ober's position from him and rule. There are a few who remain loyal to Drisker, including Dar Leah, and he has his own troubles.
The story gets exciting when, from the Northlands, a new type of race, with unimaginable powers, attacking a tribe of trolls, turning invisible, and slaughtering them this way and that. They then head for Paranor, where they conveniently place a spy.
The book get exciting as you read it as you know that these are all the signs of the end times. There are three different situations where each of the characters have to deal in their own unique situtaions which take presidence over all others, but they do not yet meet in this book. This will be for the next and last three books about to come.
I will say that the Black Elfstone show up only at the end of this book, hence the title, and it has the same use as two of the earlier books, "Wishsong" and "Scions." What happens here I leave to the reader, but it will hold you in suspense.
There is a lot here, and it has all the hallmarks of a good ending, where it will hold you till the end, of the fourth book, due in three years (I think).

Terry Brooks does epic fantasy better than just about any other living author I can think of. My primary issue with The Black Elfstone is that as a long time reader of the series, I'm experiencing "Shannara fatigue", and thus have a hard time viewing it objectively. It is good, but I don't find it is as engaging as his original books. I find much of what he's written in the past years as predictable with too few new explorations or revelations. It is a must for hardcore fans, but not a great starting place for newbies. The Sword of Shannara trilogy will always be the first book and series I recommend to anyone entering Brooks' universe.

The Black Elfstone is the first book in the "final" chapter of over 25 books set in this world. Long time readers either are still totally involved or are just hoping for a fulfilling conclusion. Brook's writing continues to be strong, and his characters well developed, so I'm hopeful that Black will turn out to be a good start to a grand finale. He shaped my world of fantasy reading as a teenager, and he has kept me entertained and involved for many of the intervening years. The Black Elfstone piqued my interest yet again, but as more of a completist thing rather than totally engaging my imagination as some of his previous works did. Epic fantasy lovers should find a lot to like, but perhaps not as much to love as with Brook's early works. The magic is still alive, but it isn't the same. But then again, what is?

~ Kort

A character doesn't reach important and high positions by being dumb. They've got to be skillful, cunning if not crafty. And yet, it's hard to watch characters who should know better, and who even know that something is up, go along with some pretty dumb plans.

We want smart characters.

It's okay for a character to fail, but we want to see the show their smarts, and do everything to prevent failing or being caught in a trap, and still be caught. It heightens the character and it also shows how much more crafty the villain(s) are.

And so, it's very hard to see a character who is supposed to be very smart, and very practiced go along with a shifty character and not make a counter plan.

Another thing we want is characters who are awesome.

--- Some Spoilerly ---

In the last few books I've read by Mr. Brooks, the Blade is pretty useless. Pull out that sword and be awesome.

But no, not going to happen. It really makes you question that position within the Druid order when they don't do much. Let the Blade be awesome, and still fail, that's okay, but what's the point in having a very important sword that doesn't get used.

We want the Druids and their use of magic to be awesome.

Instead, the awesome use of magic is pretty relegated to the bad guys. We want the druids to use their magic in creative ways against the bad guys and not just as magic shields. We want to see them being smart in how they fight.

---- Reason for Star Rating -----

Now, why four stars? I think fans of Mr. Brooks' work will like this book, and I think it's a much stronger work than some of his recent books.

The book seems like a good setup for a series, I would have liked to a have seen a little more resolution in of some of the story threads in this book, but overall, the book is a strong showing (even despite, at times, the characters not making use of the smarts that they should have).

I am a big fan of Terry brooks and his work. I have read all his books and have enjoyed them immensely. Each and every year, as soon as the novels are published, I get hold of them to read them from cover to cover. It is a satisfying read but it has progressively lost its "magic" over the years
If you have read all of his books, you won't miss the similarities in each of his books. As the years have gone by, Terry does not stray from the same formulaic approach to his books.
It is the same young character(s) who is/are coming of age and struggling with their magical abilities. There is the same repetitive scheme of some druid or another crafting to dismantle the Druid order or to twist its hierarchy for some personal gain. Elves continue to remain aloof but someone novel and courageous breaks that order to support the protagonists goal to save the world. The southern federation remain antagonistic to magic and play a good role of ignorant but formidable opponents. Trolls are always present as supporting characters .. every journey is arduous and formulaic. I found it interesting when diapson crystals were introduced or flying crafts (flits) were described - it was a break from monotony. However, in this most recent book, it is the same themes/character.
I did enjoy reading the book but I felt that the book lacked the magic of terry brooks that I have seen in his earlier works.

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

Both my 17 year old son and I read this book, and the star rating is an average of our reviews. I loved the Shannara series when I was a teen. Now, as an older mom with a degree in literature, I'm not quite as impressed. I'd call it mind candy, not literature, for sure. I appreciated the female heroine, but generally I felt the characters were a bit flat and not fully fleshed out. But this is the fantasy genre and for this genre, I thought the book was very good. The story moved at a nice pace, but being part of a series, there is no resolution.

My son, however, said the book was "awesome" and he loved it.

After several weak recent showings, in this apparently final Shannara series, Terry Brooks delivers a style more reminiscent of his earlier books. The going is rougher, the action is bloodier, and the outcomes less certain. Maybe as a result of the 4-book series (instead of the usual trilogy), there's a little more time spent on details, more vivid descriptions that read like his earlier books, more than anything in the last decade.

That said, like other Shannara novels, the plot still suffers from overly rapid character development (and excessively competent main characters), some very one-dimensional secondary characters, foolishly naive or simplistic character choices that guide the plot, and the dependence on familiar archetypes. Eg, how are all Leah men almost identical across generations?

I loved Brooks' early works, they were part of my initial love of fantasy/SF. Those first Shannara books were compelling, the Word and Void series were gritty and intriguing. Even many of the subsequent books were good, especially the trilogies "Voyage of the Jerle Shannara" and "High Druid of Shannara". But things started to fade off after that, as if a senior author were riding his old workhorse towards an inglorious conclusion.

But now it seems like Brooks is willing to close off this story-line with some of his old vigor, as he presumably bids farewell to this fantasy world that has accompanied so many of us for decades now. And I, for the first time in several years, find myself actively looking forward to the next Shannara book.

Definitely recommended for fans.

I am not sure what to say.
I have been reading Mr. Brooks since Jr High (mid 80s)
I have always enjoyed his books.
His last few efforts have taken a substantially more darker turn from his previous books. While not necessarily bad, as they are more realistic vs a Hollywood like formula, it is definitely different from what fans may be accustomed too.
In some regards I feel there is a lack of character development in some of the characters, but the pace of the action may make up for it.
In some ways I felt left wanting, in others, I was satisfied.

After reading Terry Brooks and Shannara for more than twenty five years this did not disappoint. To bring together the Leah and Ohmsford descendants with the Druids one last time (if this is truly the end) in what will be an epic story is what it's all about. As usual Terry keeps the story twisting in ways i couldn't anticipate.
I don't want to reveal any spoilers so i will just say that if you have read the other Shannara books then you will appreciate this one. As for me i am eagerly awaiting the next one.

Disappointing. I have read all of the Shannara books. Because of them Terry Brooks had become one of the few authors I automatically grab and read. But this one was a bust for me, on many levels. Character and plot developments, usually strong in a Brooks tale, were flat out bad; disjointed, inconsistent, and often nonsensical. Characters were doing things at odds with who they were (or at least who I understood them to be), and repeatedly so. Not to mention the introduction of graphic and salacious events absent from his previous works. But worst of all, nothing gets resolved. Nothing! This is NOT a stand alone work. It’s not even a complete work; far too short, all we got was a prelude. But even as a prelude it suffers. It has the feel of someone under a time crunch to finish and they had let it get to the point where they almost didn't care how it came out. Hard to see how this can be salvaged in the next book. Very frustrating read. Save your money. I'll wait for the reviews on the next book before I buy. If I see any similar criticisms in it he has lost me for a reader.

The Shannara stories have declined tremendously. Most of the stories contain no plot or story development. Way too much discussion of obvious thoughts and feelings. Dramatic changes ithat are unreasonable. Smart characters easily duped. Don't believe the 5 star ratings.

After a somewhat disappointing previous trilogy, I think Brooks is back with the Fall of Shannara arc. At least, I found this book to be more in line with the old works than the series featuring the seemingly unstoppable Arcannen.

It is interesting to step outside Paranor with an exiled Druid in this installment. The brother and sister of Tavo and Tarsha, both with use of the wishsong sets us onto another path that will inevitably lead to some kind of confrontation. Who knows how that will end, or what else it may start?

While I enjoyed the Defenders of Shannara trilogy, it was more passing time and incrementally advancing the overall story towards an unknown future. I read through this story during a long trip and have been engaged in both the characters and the story like I was with the original Sword of Shannara. I think that is a good thing. The mysterious enemy army that has arrived from the north should prove to be a complex addition to the situation in the Four Lands, assuming anyone can determine their true origin and motives.

There are several loose threads left hanging at the end of this book, so I think we can look forward to more action in the upcoming works.

I wanted to like this book more. I really did. I was a fan of the original Shannara series, and I've been a fan of Terry Brooks in general.

Like other reviewers, I thought the first part of the book was bogged down with far too much discussion of the characters. (And despite the many, many pages dedicated talking about and describing about the characters -- particularly Tarsha -- I felt that many of them were generic and archetypical, or old characters recycled with new names.)

I'm not sure if it's because I'm smarter and more sophisticated now (I'm an adult now, and I first read Sword of Shannara back in high school), or if this book lacks the artistry that I liked about the first books, but I found this one to be sort of bland and predictable. There were moments when it seemed like it was supposed to be tense and exciting, but there were no surprises in this book, and I was left with the impression that the target audience is someone in the 12 - 15-year-old range, rather than an adult reader.

It has been 40 years since the first Shannara book, The Sword of Shannara. The Black Elfstone is the first book in the final 4 book series. Don’t weep yet, the books are being released one per year, so there are still 3 years left. Brooks also says he may add more books to “fill in some gaps” in the future; but this starts the end of the timeline.

That said, one thing I like about the Shannara books is that they are also self-contained. I didn’t start with the first book in the series (though I did pick it up afterward), and you can start with this book, especially since it is the first in its 4 book series.

I enjoyed this very much, as I have nearly all of the Shannara books. Brooks continues in a familiar way, but this isn’t the “same old same.” I won’t spoil it by saying more.

I love the moor cats and they have a presence in this book, including Fade, who I believe is a new character. Oh, to have one as my own companion.

The Black Elfstone: The Fall of Shannara is one of the most dire and powerful stories in the saga. I found myself reading dozens of pages at time and finished the book last weekend.

Many references to other books in the Shannara series help bring the story together for avid fans.

If you like fantasy novels or enjoy a well written story then this is the book for you!

I've been reading Terry Brooks since forever, and the Shannara books inspire me as a fantasy author. I loved reading every moment of this story, and I'm eager to read the next. From page one, it's like I've stepped into the Four Lands, and I'm right there with the characters until the final word. Flawless fantasy! Highly recommend.

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.

Terry Brooks scores again with a compelling and exciting Shannara book. New and interesting characters are introduced, with the usual betrayal of Druid principles by a power seeking Druid. Unfortunately, this will lead to the fall of Shannara over four books. The bad part is that we have to wait a year each for the next three books.

From the beginning to end Terry takes us on a new journey inside Shannara world. New found magic and dark trouble threatening the four lands. Keeps the pages sliding quickly. Definitely a great deal more to come of this tale.

This is the beginning of the end for the Shannara saga and what an amazing journey it's been. Terry Brooks keeps up his high standards. There have been many very popular multi book stories where the quality suffers so that the franchise can continue to be a cash cow for the author. I'm happy to say that is not the case here. The storytelling is crisp and engaging. If you have been reading the books in this series you will of course have to read this. I won't mention the plot or events that take place so as to not spoil the book for you. Just let it suffice to say that if you are a fan you will be pleased. If you are a newcomer it would probably be best for you to start at the beginning and let the series unfold.

There's not much Mr. Brooks has done in the world of Shannara that I haven't enjoyed and this book is no exception. There are some old favorites in this story in that Paranor, the Wishsong, Druids, and the family of Leah all are integral to the story. The pace is given that this book is used to set up the primary and secondary plot lines. The protagonists are appealing and the antagonists are interesting with a degree of complexity. Overall I enjoyed the book and look forward to finishing the series.

It's truly incredible how Terry Brooks has continued for all these years and maintained a high quality of fantasy. The very good thing about the series is that you can come into it at any point and read the book as a stand alone. However, you certainly won't want to stop there. Once you discover Shannara for yourself, you'll want to read more.

This new book really isn't Terry Brooks at his best. It's still pretaty darn good. I will have all the action and fun you could want. If mayhap you're one who has read his earliest books and then dropped out, well, this is a good place to hope back in.

I am new to this series and decided to jump into this book, without reference to the previous series. To me, it seemed like a stand-alone adventure although there is plenty more to explore and I hope the author continues with this additional series.

My wife was a huge fan of the previous books, and she said she thought the writing was better in the previous series. For my tastes, the plot, pacing, and characters worked just fine. I look forward to more. After thumbing through the earlier books, I do wish that an illustrator like Darrel Sweet could have painted the cover. That would have been cool.

as for pace, if you like very drawn out scenes with lots of description of things, this will appeal. I found it a tad on the dragging side personally. Character connection. I am huge fan of the series, so for me I was loving that! great connection. Over all story, cannot wait for the next one so I was very much into this one. I really just devoured this book and wanted more.

We've come down to the final books in the Shannara series, and Brooks is off to an amazing start. I'm conflicted on how I feel about the series ending. Sword of Shannara was one of my first fantasy books, it helped to spawn my love of the genre. There have been books in the series that I love to this day, and others I'd prefer to forget. As much as I wish it could go on, it's time, and The Black Elfstone is the perfect place to begin. I just hope the rest of the Fall of Shannara will do it justice.

Brooks is back and the writing is back to what first drew me into this series! I hate to say this but the last series he wrote was a total snooze and I was afraid the series was going to come to an end on such a boring note. Thankfully this book was a total 180 and a return to his writing similar to that in the beginning; full of adventure, there were twists and a darkness that was fresh to Mr. Brooks' writing -- I just couldn't put this down! For fans of Brooks this will be a welcome addition to any fan's library, for those new to the series and Mr. Brooks' writing I would strongly suggest starting from the beginning as the Shanara books are great reads to lose yourself in!

There's not much Mr. Brooks has done in the world of Shannara that I haven't enjoyed and this book is no exception. There are some old favorites in this story in that Paranor, the Wishsong, Druids, and the family of Leah all are integral to the story. The pace is given that this book is used to set up the primary and secondary plot lines. The protagonists are appealing and the antagonists are interesting with a degree of complexity. Overall I enjoyed the book and look forward to finishing the series.

It's truly incredible how Terry Brooks has continued for all these years and maintained a high quality of fantasy. The very good thing about the series is that you can come into it at any point and read the book as a stand alone. However, you certainly won't want to stop there. Once you discover Shannara for yourself, you'll want to read more.

This new book really isn't Terry Brooks at his best. It's still pretaty darn good. I will have all the action and fun you could want. If mayhap you're one who has read his earliest books and then dropped out, well, this is a good place to hope back in.

I am new to this series and decided to jump into this book, without reference to the previous series. To me, it seemed like a stand-alone adventure although there is plenty more to explore and I hope the author continues with this additional series.

My wife was a huge fan of the previous books, and she said she thought the writing was better in the previous series. For my tastes, the plot, pacing, and characters worked just fine. I look forward to more. After thumbing through the earlier books, I do wish that an illustrator like Darrel Sweet could have painted the cover. That would have been cool.

as for pace, if you like very drawn out scenes with lots of description of things, this will appeal. I found it a tad on the dragging side personally. Character connection. I am huge fan of the series, so for me I was loving that! great connection. Over all story, cannot wait for the next one so I was very much into this one. I really just devoured this book and wanted more.

We've come down to the final books in the Shannara series, and Brooks is off to an amazing start. I'm conflicted on how I feel about the series ending. Sword of Shannara was one of my first fantasy books, it helped to spawn my love of the genre. There have been books in the series that I love to this day, and others I'd prefer to forget. As much as I wish it could go on, it's time, and The Black Elfstone is the perfect place to begin. I just hope the rest of the Fall of Shannara will do it justice.

Brooks is back and the writing is back to what first drew me into this series! I hate to say this but the last series he wrote was a total snooze and I was afraid the series was going to come to an end on such a boring note. Thankfully this book was a total 180 and a return to his writing similar to that in the beginning; full of adventure, there were twists and a darkness that was fresh to Mr. Brooks' writing -- I just couldn't put this down! For fans of Brooks this will be a welcome addition to any fan's library, for those new to the series and Mr. Brooks' writing I would strongly suggest starting from the beginning as the Shanara books are great reads to lose yourself in!

Shannara fan weighing in... please bear this in mind with this critique ;)

The pace --- it was very slow and felt like the whole book was character development, but they were characters that we already know (so there was no need to do all of that character development.) There were some new characters, but I really felt like I hardly got to know them at all.

The cliffhanger - I saw coming from half way through the book. Through most of the book, there wasn't much surprise. The ending was telegraphed long before I got there.

This book felt like half a book in reality. Perhaps the four book series could be more of a trilogy. I found myself skimming to get to the meat, which is a sign that the book is too predictable and going far too slow a pace.

Recycled - This used a lot of magic that has been used before... please come up with something new! It even referenced characters from long ago to too much of an extent. So it made this book feel like it was the same basic story being told again because of the similarities.

For a Shannara fan, it will be an OK book and I recommend reading it. If you're not already a Shannara fan, go back and start with the first series.

My son, husband, and I are huge Shannara fans. Although we loved this book because its part of the series, it fell short compared to the other books. If you are a fan, it is a must have and it has been long anticipated... After a fluid intro, the book drags with too much character description... If you are new to the series, DO NOT start with this book please- you will be epicly disappointed- it does not compare to the other books. This is the first book of a four-part conclusion to the Shannara series... we hope that the following 3 books improve.