When a half-drowned elf is found floating in the seas of the Blue Divide, an old mystery resurfaces. Thirty years ago, an elven prince led an expedition in search of a legendary magic said to be more powerful than any in the world. Of all those who set out on that ill-fated voyage, not one has ever returned. Until now. The rescued elf carries a map covered with mysterious symbols–and Walker Boh, the last of the Druids, has the skill to decipher them. But someone else understands the map’s significance: the Ilse Witch, a ruthless young woman who wields a magic as potent as his own. She will stop at nothing to possess the map–and the magic it leads to.
Thus begins the first volume of a dazzling new adventure in one of the most popular fantasy series of our time
From the Publisher
IF HARRY [POTTER] HAS GIVEN YOU A THIRST FOR FANTASY AND YOU HAVE NOT DISCOVERED THE MAGIC OF TERRY BROOKS, YOU ARE IN FOR A TREAT.”
–Rocky Mountain News
“THIS LATEST VOLUME FINDS MR. BROOKS’ POWER ASCENDING . . . THE ACTION AND CREATURES COME FAST AND FURIOUS.”
–The Dallas Morning News
bn.com
The Barnes & Noble Review
Having explored the arena of dark fantasy with the Demon trilogy (Running with the Demon, A Knight of the Word, etc.), bestselling author Terry Brooks returns to his phenomenally popular Shannara series. Brooks remains in excellent form, bringing all of his master storytelling abilities to the fore as he links this new trilogy to a saga started over two decades ago.
The Voyage of Jerle Shannara: Ilse Witch begins a generation after the events of the previous novel in the series, Talisman of Shannara. Walker Boh, the last of the Druids, is now an embittered outcast of the elven lands. The elf king, Allardon Elessedil, who has shunned Walker for years, now needs the Druid's aid. Walker may be the only one who can make sense of a map brought back by a dying member of lost expedition. This castaway is found floating on a piece of wreckage in the seas of the Blue Divide, and he might in fact be Allardon's brother, missing for 30 years. Assassins and thieves are also interested in the map, and after the king's murder, Walker takes it upon himself to follow the route toward a vast and ancient magical power. His mysterious enemy, the Ilse witch, is also in search of the three mystical keys for reasons of her own. Along with Walker on an airship are Quentin Leah, possessor of the magic sword of Leah, and Quentin's adopted brother, Bek Rowe, a young man whose own past may somehow be connected to that of the witch. This fellowship must first journey to the last remaining vestige of the Old World magic in Castledown in an attempt to ward off their enemies in an effort to save the world.
Here are the earmarks of all that made the Shannara series one of the most popular sagas of high fantasy ever: it is steeped in a well-detailed magical world, rich in mysterious atmosphere, and filled with engaging characters. Brooks does well in keeping many of the most important events and cast members shrouded in mystery. The Ilse witch, for all her power, is so enigmatic that she is a flawless foil to Walker Boh. The new cast is filled of intriguing and bizarre characters, while other well-known personalities occasionally crop up enough to appeal to all the fans of this 20-year-old old series. For those readers just beginning the journey, The Voyage of Jerle Shannara is the perfect starting point to draw them into the the earlier books.
--Tom Piccirilli
bn.com review
The Barnes & Noble Review
Terry Brooks -- whose first novel, The Sword of Shannara, became an
instant bestseller upon its release in the late 1970s -- is the author of
scads of popular fantasy novels. While the author's ongoing appeal is due to his
quick-flowing prose, action-packed sequences, and colorful characters, he
owes much of his success to his strict concordance with the "epic quest"
model established by J.R.R. Tolkien 40 years earlier.
But give the man some credit -- Brooks writes a killer yarn. (He has millions
of diehard fans to prove it.) And while his stories rely heavily on
Tolkien-esque elements (such as arduous journeys, magic-wielding wizards,
young protagonists who are always more than they appear, and, of course, the
obligatory dark evil force), Brooks has a charm all his own, and he
consistently keeps his readers guessing and wildly flipping the pages.
Brooks fans are certainly in for a treat with The Voyage of the Jerle
Shannara: Antrax, the follow-up to the series kickoff, Voyage of Jerle Shannara: Ilse Witch. If you're unfamiliar with this particular
story line, stop reading now and pick up Ilse Witch first -- it's a great deal
of fun, even for those unfamiliar with Brooks's previous works. Antrax
begins exactly where Ilse Witch lets off.
Some background: Ilse Witch tells of a potentially devastating magic
that the forces of good and evil both desperately want to control. The good
guys set off on an airship in an effort to find this magic; the bad guys are
hot on their trail. At the conclusion of Ilse Witch, the young Bek
Rowe learns that he is really Bek Ohmsford, a direct descendant to the
fabled Elf King, Jerle Shannara. Because of his lineage, Bek possesses the
powerful gift of the Wishsong and the sole ability to use the
mythical Sword of Shannara. As if this weren't enough for the lad to digest,
he also discovers that his team's deadly adversary, the Ilse Witch, is his
sister.
In Antrax, the race continues as Bek, the Druid Walker Boh, Bek's
cousin Quentin, a few talented Rover flyers, the seer Ryd Ord Star, a score
of Elf hunters, and the thoroughly intriguing shape-shifter Truls Rohk
battle not only the Ilse Witch but also a relentless army of technological
monsters. Brooks devotees will be happy (although not surprised) to hear
that Antrax provides a punch of pure adrenaline. It's high-quality,
rapid-paced entertainment. (Andrew LeCount)
Dallas Morning News
Even readers who haven't read a Terry Brooks title since his classic Sword of Shannara will welcome The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara: Ilse Witch . . . The action and creatures come fast and furious. . . . This latest volume finds Mr. Brooks' power ascending.
Rocky Mountain News
"If Harry Potter has given you a thirst for fantasy and you have not discovered the magic of Terry Brooks, you are in for a treat.
Santa Cruz Sentinel
If you were delighted and entranced by Michael Ende's The Never Ending Story, you will definitely want to sample one of more of Terry Brooks's books.
Publishers Weekly
Continuing the saga begun in The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara: Ilse Witch (2000), bestseller Brooks opens this slick, lightweight fantasy with our band of heroes (Druids, elves, shape-shifters, Rovers, etc.) trapped on an island ruled by the evil artificial intelligence Antrax. Antrax has lured this disparate crew to its underground lair in order to use their assorted magics to expand its influence across the world of Shannara. The expedition's leader, the Druid Walker, wants to steal Antrax's ancient technology, but to gain it, he must engage in deadly combat with the machine. The treacherous seer, Ryer Ord Star, and the young, frightened elven prince, Ahren Elessedil, join the fight. Meanwhile, Bek Ohmsford, a prot?g? of Walker's who's been left mostly in the dark about his own magical potential, must try to convince his sister, the dangerous Ilse Witch, that his version of their shared past is true, as he struggles to keep her from killing him or his friends. Also complicating the plot are the battles of the Rovers to reclaim the group's airship the only means for the adventurers to return home. Some emotionally painful encounters occur with former friends who have been enslaved by Antrax, turned into cyborgs and forced to do the nasty AI's bidding. Brooks's fans are sure to be pleased with this action-packed yarn, which neatly weaves the many plots and characters into a coherent whole. Those readers looking for more depth or less predictability are unlikely to have started on this series in the first place. 12-city author tour. (Sept. 21) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Echoing with the themes, traditions and enchantments of Brooks's earlier Shannara novels, this lively new adventure, set a generation later, combines the familiar quest format used in The Sword of Shannara with an array of well-defined characters and malevolent beings. Rather than searching for a powerful sword, however, the Druid Walker and the Elven King Allardon Elessedil unite forces to retrieve an ambiguous prize, "a magic of spells invoked by words," that may fortify the Elven government and its people or destroy those who seek it. Guided by the knowledge of the dangers he will face beyond the Blue Divide, Walker spends a lengthy amount of time recruiting his crew members. For heroics, Walker enlists the aid of two Highland boys: Quentin, who has the power of the Leah family sword at his behest, and his foster brother Bek, an orphan of mysterious origins and unknown talents. Providing magical mobility are the Wing Riders, who fly the frequently unfriendly skies on giant Rocs. A female seer and empath, a shapeshifter with a dubious past, a dwarf, a number of Elven soldiers and several colorful, Gypsy-like Rovers who captain, navigate and repair the airship Jerle Shannara round out Walker's questing crew. Throughout, the inimical Ilse Witch, a powerful young sorceress and Walker's bitter rival, shadows the expedition as it overcomes several near fatal encounters. Although this first volume in Brooks's proposed trilogy sputters to a slow start, bogged down by necessary background information and character development, Brooks nevertheless manages to intensify and tighten the story's momentum as the Jerle Shannara reaches its final destination. Fans familiar with the Shannara series, and new readers as well, will enjoy this first Shannara tale in four years. Major ad/promo; 12-city author tour; simultaneous Random House Audio. (Sept.) Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.|
Library Journal
When evidence of an ancient magic surfaces in the Elven lands, a race begins between Walker Boh, the last Druid, and his implacable enemy, the young woman known as the Ilse Witch. Brooks sets his newest installment in the best-selling Shannara series a generation after the events of Talisman of Shannara (1993) and introduces a new and intriguing cast of characters along with a few familiar faces. The Shannara mythology gains a new level of history and depth in a tale that should appeal to the series' legions of fans. Libraries may consider purchasing multiple copies to meet demand. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/00.] Copyright 2000 Cahners Business Information.\
Internet Book Watch
Hunter Predd, on his Roc Obsidian, was patrolling near Wing House when he notices a man clinging to a piece of wood in the raging waters. He rescues the man who barely survives. He takes the man to a healer, but hides the map and bracelet the victim carried. He takes them to the Elf King Allordon Elessedil who recognizes the bracelet as that worn by his brother when last seen thirty years ago. Allordon's sibling searched for valuable treasure using the now missing Elfstones of Shannara. Allordon summons Walker, the last Druid, to visit him though they have not talked to one another in years. Upon learning what Allordon knows, Walker realizes the importance of the treasure as a powerful magical tool that could change the world order. They agree to form a team to find the treasure even as though Walker knows that his greatest enemy, the Witch Isle, watches them to gain possession for herself. Twenty-three years have passed since the release of the exciting The Sword Of Shannara. That world and the environs of The Voyage Of Jerle Shannara: Ilse Witch are quite different. However, both books and the many in between share in common the writer's ability to make that imaginary world seem real. This epic fantasy is filled with brilliant characters, an enthralling story line, and an urge that leaves the audience obsessing for the next two novels in the latest trilogy. Terry Brooks remains a master storyteller who makes the unbelieveable seem genuine.
Internet Book Watch
Kirkus Reviews
After a time out to write about demons and knights (Angel Fire East, 1999, etc.), Brooks returns to his bestselling Shannara universe (First King of Shannara, 1996, etc.). A sort of "next generation," this one takes place a generation after the last of the previous series. Walker Boh, the last of the Druids, and the beautiful magician of the title team up to investigate a mysterious death. And no, of course Brooks hasn't forgotten about the sword. Author tour
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