I had been aware of the Shannara books for several years, having seen them on the shelves of numerous bookstores. However, I had never been drawn to them enough to pick them up and read the synopsis on the back, I also had no idea where to start reading as I didn’t know how many books were in the series, though I imagined it was quite a few. This changed when I saw the book with the complete trilogy of the Sword of Shannara, I assumed it must be a complete story and as such, it was as good a place to start as any. I was fortunate that this is the place to start.
The novels are interesting and enjoyable to read, though I did not find them as engaging as other series of novels I have read, I am not sure quite why this is as Shannara contains most of the same fantasy elements other similar series have and the writing style makes them pleasant enough to read.
I was also quite lucky when I picked up my next Shannara book which was a compendium edition that turned out to be comprised of the next four books.
In 2016 I was delighted to find that there was a new Shannara series going to be shown on TV. This turned out to be disappointing, though I did manage to watch the whole of the first season, the second season, however, I barely managed to get through the first episode and had no enthusiasm to watch any more.
The Sword of Shannara
The Elfstones of Shannara
The Wishsong of Shannara
THE SWORD OF SHANNARA
Long ago, the world of Shea Ohmsford was torn apart by war. But the half-human, half-elfin, Shea now lives in peace - until the forbidding figure of Allanon appears, to reveal that the long dead Warlock Lord lives again
THE ELFSTONES OF SHANNARA
Ancient evil threatens the Elves and the Races of Man. For the Ellcrys, the tree of long-lost Elven magic, is dying - loosing the spell of Forbidding that locks the hordes of Demons away from Earth. Only one source has the power to stop it: the Elfstones of Shannara.
THE WISHSONG OF SHANNARA
Evil stalks the Four Lands as the Ildatch, immemorial book of evil spells, has stirred to eldritch life. Once again Allanon, ancient Druid Protector of the Races, must seek the help of a descendant of Jerle Shannara.
Format
PaperbackDate Acquired
25th December 2005Retail Cost
£15.99Number of Pages
1191Year Read
2010The Scions Of Shannara
The Druid Of Shannara
The Elf Queen Of Shannara
The Talismans Of Shannara
THE SCIONS OF SHANNARA
A dire message from the Druid Allanon sends Par and his brother on an impossible task: to recover the long-lost Sword of Shannara - or the Four Lands will be destroyed.
THE DRUID OF SHANNARA
Evil forces remain in control of the Four Lands. To restore Druid Allanon's keep, Walker Boh journeys to find the black Elfstone. He must venture into perilous lands with a strange band of fellow travellers - one of whom is hatching his own sinister plot.
THE ELF QUEEN OF SHANNARA
Ordered by the Druid Allanon to find the Elves and return them to the world of Men, Wren is taken to an island where they might still exist. Even if by some miracle she locates the Elves, will they follow her?
THE TALISMANS OF SHANNARA
The Shadowen still swarm over the Four Lands, poisoning everything with their dark magic. Their leader is determined to destroy all the Scions of Shannara. The charges are doomed to failure - unless Par can unlock the Sword of Shannara's power.
Format
PaperbackDate Acquired
25th December 2009Retail Cost
£15.99Number of Pages
1238Year Read
2014When 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.
Format
HardbackDate Acquired
12th March 2011Retail Cost
£16.99Number of Pages
454Year Read
UnreadWhen 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.
Return to the world of beloved novelist Terry Brooks, where creatures drift up from the earth like mist, a hypnotic song can kill, a sword can cut through a veil of lies–and one man, the true heir of an ancient magic, must choose between betrayal and redemption.
Format
MobiDate Acquired
14th May 2021Retail Cost
£6.49Number of Pages
481Year Read
2022