Avery Leisle

Set again in the Four Lands but several decades later after the plot of Brook’s The Sword of Shannara, The Elfstones of Shannara follows two key protagonists: partly human, partly elf (and grandson of the first book’s Shea Ohmsford) Wil Ohmsford, along with the young elf Amberle (granddaughter of the royal elf Eventine Elessedil, another character from the first book). While Wil is a trained healer, he struggles to inherit the Elfstones his grandfather Shea used to defeat the Dark Lord from book one because of his hesitancy to harm others. Amberle is often timid and scared of her destiny, which unravels before her and she seems unable to do anything; however, she makes several tough, courageous decisions, especially at the end of the book. The main conflict revolves around the ancient dying Ellcrys, a tree that had protected the Elven kingdom from demons for centuries by sealing the creatures in a prison called the Forbidding. However, when the tree shows signs of dying, Amberle (a protector of the tree) and her protector Wil are forced to travel to a dangerous land called the Wilderun where the Bloodfire resides deep underground, a vital fuel to rebirth the dying tree. There is added urgency to their journey, as the Elven army fights tooth and nail against demons that escape the Forbidding in thousands; it is a futile attempt, as though attempting to stop a tsunami. Three strong demons orchestrate the rush, and a powerful creature called the Reaper chases after Wil and Amberle, hounding them and killing all in its way. The main conflict is fully resolved in the end, and while some approve of the ending as more unique, others view it as not satisfying. The ending was succinct and spoke to difficult sacrifice and the sometimes unpleasant parts of life, which I actually liked a lot. A lot of fantasies are very cliché, and while this book was often predictable, it had enough emotional depth and meaning that I read it quite easily. Brook’s writing style is one I personally like—it is detailed and rich, something others may not feel so strongly about. I would rate this book an 8 out of 10, or 4 stars out of 5. I recommend it to all fantasy lovers.