The High Druid's Blade
(Defenders of Shannara # 1)
by Terry Brooks
fantasy
copyright 2012
read in December 2014
rated 6/10: read to pass the time
I love the way that Terry Brooks builds on his world. The Shannara books are a continuing saga. Two dozen books, so far. Linked by characters from two families. Separated by generations.
Each group of stories involved a new group of characters, though the main characters will be from within the well known families. Some long-lived characters provide continuity. Yet even the longest-lived eventually become history.
Characters arrive, develop, die, often of old age. Shannara -- the land -- has time to develop a rich and detailed history. Each novel continues the Shannara story, with a new phase of Shannara history.
I have the feeling that each of these different stories... is the same story...
A member of the Leah family lives an ordinary life. He is forced to pick up the magic sword. He finds the the magic sword leads him into magical action and adventure.
Meanwhile, a member of the Ohmsford family is living an ordinary life. That person discovers the ability to use the magical wish song. The wish song leads to a life of magical action and adventure.
It all seems to be fantasy-by-the-numbers. A return to a familiar story set in a familiar land.
Nothing wrong with that.
It's simple adventure. Magical wish fulfillment. Nice characters. Satisfactory ending. All fun. Nothing startling. Except, perhaps, the book's title...
I think that the hero has been trained to become "The High Druid's Blade". You know, the fighter who will be the sharp edge to the druid's magic. Except that the author seems to have forgotten to mention this... Or perhaps it's just so obvious that it doesn't need to be mentioned...
Not to worry. This is an enjoyable book. A light read for a few hours light entertainment. Perhaps a good introduction to the world of Shannara. Certainly an enjoyable continuation for readers who are already Shannara fans.
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