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A review by davehershey
The Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks
3.0
Is it possible this is the trilogy where each book improves upon the previous? Most times it’s the other way - a fantastic book followed by disappointing ones.
At the very least,both Wishsong and Elfstones improved upon the first. I think I liked Wishsong a hair better than Elfstones. One reason is because it doesn’t include a long battle with huge armies at the end (though it does have one in the middle). It changes things up a bit. Not too much though - all three books are essentially travel stories in search of defeating some evil. What makes this book best for me is Slanter. He’s a gnome, basically an orc. The bad guys. But he’s helping the good guys. He’s conflicted and reluctant. If anything, I wish Brooks had given us more about Gnome culture. Are they bad because they’re deceived, and thus redeemable? Or are they unredeemable, created to be mere evil? Slanter points to the former, and a bit more complexity in the world.
Overall, I planned to just read this trilogy. After the first book, I was sure I’d stop at this one. Now I kind of want to read the rest...but there are so many! We’ll see.
At the very least,both Wishsong and Elfstones improved upon the first. I think I liked Wishsong a hair better than Elfstones. One reason is because it doesn’t include a long battle with huge armies at the end (though it does have one in the middle). It changes things up a bit. Not too much though - all three books are essentially travel stories in search of defeating some evil. What makes this book best for me is Slanter. He’s a gnome, basically an orc. The bad guys. But he’s helping the good guys. He’s conflicted and reluctant. If anything, I wish Brooks had given us more about Gnome culture. Are they bad because they’re deceived, and thus redeemable? Or are they unredeemable, created to be mere evil? Slanter points to the former, and a bit more complexity in the world.
Overall, I planned to just read this trilogy. After the first book, I was sure I’d stop at this one. Now I kind of want to read the rest...but there are so many! We’ll see.