The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara 3. Morgawr. - Softcover

Brooks, Terry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0345459385 ISBN 13: 9780345459381

Publisher: Earthlight, 2003

Synopsis

Fantasy - This last installment of the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy, which chronicles the exploits of the remaining adventurers who set out in Ilse Witch (2000) and staggered through the tribulations of Antrax (2001), may not be up to the standard of bestseller Brooks's early work (Sword of Shannara, etc.), but it proves once again that he puts out books that sell because of their quality, not just because of his name on the cover. As newfound mage Bek Ohmsford and his cousin Quentin Leah rejoin the Free Rover crew of the Jerle Shannara after destroying Antrax, tensions mount, for the Ilse Witch the Rovers' mortal enemy has been revealed to be Bek's sister, Grianne, and is now under his protection as she struggles to break out of the catatonic state induced by her encounter with the Sword of Shannara. Worse, the Druid Walker Boh has died, leaving behind only cryptic instructions to those who followed him into Parkasia, and the Morgawr, who trained the Ilse Witch and now seeks her destruction, has captured elven prince Ahren Elessedil and Ryer Ord Star and is using Ryer's talents as a seer to track the Jerle Shannara and those who ride it. As usual, Brooks leaves at least as many loose ends as he ties up and drops in several surprises. Some references won't mean much to someone unfamiliar with this trilogy or the larger Shannara time line, but otherwise the book's neat and subtle exposition makes it quite accessible to new readers without alienating current fans. Neither groundbreaking nor recycled, this book is simply a good read.

About this title

Review:

Morgawr, the third volume of Terry Brooks’ "The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara" trilogy, continues his productive exploration of guilt, moral ambiguity and adventures in huge airships.

The Ilse Witch, Grianne, has found out that everything she has ever believed, all the reasons for revenge which have led her into evil magic, are a lie--that her mentor the reptilian Morgawr is her enemy--and for much of the book she is in such a state of moral and mental collapse that she has to rely on the mercy of her former enemies and her brother, the young Highlander Bek. As he and the other separated members of his party trek through cold forests and dragon-haunted jungles, they find themselves pursued by the Morgawr’s demonic allies--by misguided troops from home and finally by the Morgawr himself with a fleet full of zombie aeronauts.

This trilogy is about the best thing Brooks has done because it is, much of the time, far less reliant than he has been on the stock materials of fantasy; the mixture of magic and technology here has sparked in him a real inventiveness that can excite even the jaded reader. --Roz Kaveney

Review:

Praise for "The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara: Ilse Witch
"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
"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."
"--The Dallas Morning News
"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."
"--Santa Cruz Sentinel
"The myriad Shannara fans will relish the adventure, the mystery, the magic, and the well-developed characters . . . The ending is a gripping cliff-hanger."
"--Booklist
"The Shannara mythology gains a new level of history and depth in a tale that should appeal to the series' legions of fans."
"--Library Journal

"From the Hardcover edition.

About this edition

• Publisher: Earthlight
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0345459385
• ISBN 13: 9780345459381
• Binding: Paperback