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It keeps you turning pages, while introducing thought provoking parallels to Christian faith. There are tales of intrigue and mystery and the demonic subversion found in "The Elfstones of Shannara." There is fast and intense actions including a fight between true Knight Logan Tom and rogue Knight Krillka Koos. While Gypsy Morph, Hawk, learns his true identity, and begins his mission reminiscent of Exodus the War between the Word and the Void is far from over. Knight Angel Perez makes contact with the elves, and 4 of the 5 Elfstones of earlier novels have their transportation to the Four Lands.
The introduction of the King of the Silver River, in my own opinion, was predictable, but it definitely helps bridge these pre-Shannara books with the originals. Picking up right where Brooks left off, the literal cliffhanger as it has become to be known, EoC continues the suspenseful and dramatic scene where the children are being thrown from the walls and the army is marching toward the compound while Logan is desperately trying to reach them. Had I not been stoked from the first bits of the book, maybe it would have seemed less boring.Nonetheless, it is still a good piece of writing. It's not often I rate Brooks below 5 stars, but this one just didn't keep the pages turning like the Word/Void series, Armageddon's Children, and the first two Shannara series.
The street kids' individuality comes in handy with Fixit driving, Panther's aggression, and Sparrow's inner warrior; this really adds quality to the story.The demons were not as well tracked by Brooks as the were in AC either. It's good to build the bad guys just as much as the good guys. It really shows the post-civilization world as it could be, everyone fighting to stay alive and keep what they have. So many hold-ups and obstacles that really don't seem to have a point other than to wear down the Knight of the Word and his charges.
The demon's identity is somewhat predictable, but more so if you are familiar with Brooks' writing. Not in the sense that it's frustrating to read, but you truly feel the frustration that he feels, along with the street kids. It's really hard to follow such a series of events by trying to build on Angel and the Elves' storyline. Logan Tom's story is FRUSTRATING.
I think Brooks should have given him just a little bit more attention to build our expectations for book three. Angel's character really builds, as I had hoped at the end of AC, and the storyline of her and the Elves is believable (well, as believable as a fantasy book can get). I realize the point of the book was focused on Angel and the Elves, but Hawk's two brief appearances disappointed me.
The only negative thing I have is that he takes way to much time telling us what a character is thinking, which is boring. Terry Brooks is an excelant story teller with a great imagination. You can hardly put the book down and then you must get the next book to see what happens to the chacaters.
It seems the fate of both the humans and elves lie in the hands of two Knights of the Word and the children they protect. The Genesis of Shannara series is dark and depressing. Doubts creep in for many and the way is nearly lost yet somehow most keep going.Anyone who has read the Shannara books already knows where the Genesis of Shannara story must end but Brooks has captured my attention in taking us there. One magical creature, disguised as a human teenager, must gather the survivors and lead them into their next world.Although the action slowed a bit in The Elves of Cintra, Brooks keeps the stakes high as each group must fight for their own survival and to accomplish the task they have been sent to do. Humans continue to fight each other as well as the demons and once men and the humans are clearly losing the battle. The elves have internal political workings that could cost them their chance at survival as well.
The elves of Cintra was good and I liked it, but I grew tired of characters remembering how it felt when in the chapter just before bla bla bla happened and it made them feel bla bla bla. A lot of descriptions left me rolling my eyes due to the purple prose that weighs them down.
where Terry Brooks goes through unnecessary paragraph after repetitive paragraph of descriptions, dialog, or exposition (mostly that he has already covered in the previous chapters.). Compare how Neil Gaimen can create a whole mood and setting with one simple sentence (he is a master at it).
I like Terry Brooks, really I do, but more often than not I find myself getting irritated with his repetitive plot exposition and descriptions. Lots of "instantly" happening things going on here.
I love the involved complex story and characters, but he really needs a better editor. A character will go through an action, decision, or discovery then in the rest of the story he will revisit this, describing it again and again as if we missed it the first time.
Also it's strange how many times a character knew "instantly" what they should do or how the elf stones reacted "instantly" or the demon was "instantly" on it's feet.
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