I LOVE the Science of Discworld books! They can be a bit slow, especially the science parts (ha!) but you always get a great Discworld part to look foI LOVE the Science of Discworld books! They can be a bit slow, especially the science parts (ha!) but you always get a great Discworld part to look forward to. I have learned quite some things from this book. If you want to educate yourself but also love fantasy, please read this. But read it when you're wide awake, I loved it a lot but snoozed often when I read this before bedtime.. zzZzz.. Can't really say why, not that it's boring, but it used quite a lot of my brain power! XD...more
This is a great little book - a bit depressing and macabre, but what would you expect? A co-worker gave this to me, he found it somewhere randomly, anThis is a great little book - a bit depressing and macabre, but what would you expect? A co-worker gave this to me, he found it somewhere randomly, and when I asked him where he found it, he couldn't remember. That was a bit spooky! Great drawings and poems to get you in the spooky mood....more
A fun and quick read. Really enjoyed the characters and I'd love to learn more of them, especially the outlaws. The to-the-point writing style of the A fun and quick read. Really enjoyed the characters and I'd love to learn more of them, especially the outlaws. The to-the-point writing style of the author appeals to me, for I am not one who enjoys long descriptions of things. And I always love a good heroine!...more
Really loved this one, can be read as a stand-alone. So much negative reviews, but I don't find it very different from Brook's other books. Anyway, I Really loved this one, can be read as a stand-alone. So much negative reviews, but I don't find it very different from Brook's other books. Anyway, I enjoyed it....more
Great installment in the Shannara series, as always: the stories aren't the most original anymore, but what do you want after almost 30 books? I stillGreat installment in the Shannara series, as always: the stories aren't the most original anymore, but what do you want after almost 30 books? I still enjoy them and this one was not different....more
Garet Jax is one of my favourite characters in the Shannara world (I also loved the character in the TV series, seen years after reading the books, thGaret Jax is one of my favourite characters in the Shannara world (I also loved the character in the TV series, seen years after reading the books, the actor did well). So, this was an enjoyable read for me. Nothing new, nothing groundbreaking, very Terry Brooks. I wish it was longer, or it needs a follow-up! :-)...more
A slight anticlimactic end to a decent trilogy. The pacing between the three different storylines is different from each other, which is quite confusiA slight anticlimactic end to a decent trilogy. The pacing between the three different storylines is different from each other, which is quite confusing and a little annoying. The battle scenes drag on, while the magic showdown goes by way too quickly. The resolve also wasn't satisfying, without spoiling: too many open ends. A little is fine, but this is too much. I enjoyed Terry Brooks' writing as usual, but this trilogy was enough for the next few months. ...more
Relatively quick paced, I found this a good middle book in this trilogy. The characters are growing on me and the nod to a few characters from older bRelatively quick paced, I found this a good middle book in this trilogy. The characters are growing on me and the nod to a few characters from older books is quite fun. The over-the-top boss in the Forbidding is kind of hilarious, while of course he should be menacing and very evil. We get a few new characters while some die, but as most don't really have a personality, I don't feel anything for their deaths. Packed with some nice action, it flowed well. Excited to read the next installment....more
Ah yes, the Mortal Instruments series. I really want to like this, I used to devour young adult fantasy. It's still fun and nice, but I have clearly oAh yes, the Mortal Instruments series. I really want to like this, I used to devour young adult fantasy. It's still fun and nice, but I have clearly outgrown Cassandra Clare books. I will not be reading any more, I think. There's better, more original books to read....more
2024 reread: So, this year I promised myself some fantasy reading time. I decided to go for some of the trilogies that belong to Terry Brooks' long Sh2024 reread: So, this year I promised myself some fantasy reading time. I decided to go for some of the trilogies that belong to Terry Brooks' long Shannara series, because I enjoyed them immensely first time around but had never really expressed my thoughts on these books individually. The stories all have a somewhat similar storyline, so by not reading all 36 books in one go again, it will be less of a "bother" to me, and I will be able to appreciate the separate stories more.
One of the Elven princesses, Aphenglow, decided to join the Druid Order to study magic, and because of it, she is shunned by her family and the other Elves. The Elves are distrusting of the Druids because of issues in the past. During her year of studying old Elven literature with her Druid knowledge, she might have found a clue on where the elfstones are, magical artifacts that have been missing for generations.. Aphenglow returns to the Druids to wake their leader, who is in a deep slumber. A group of druids, elves and other characters set out to find the lost elfstones. Meanwhile, the Federation, a group of people who loathe magic and rather trust on science, realise what the druids are up to and try to interfere.. hoping to rid the world of magic.
The thing in these stories that slightly bother me are that most characters have no personality. It's also because there are so many of them in this series! A few characters are really well done and believable, so Terry Brooks really knows how to write them. It's just that some are so generic but play a big role in the stories that you can't really forget about them. Most of them are too strong, too epic and too smart.
But this aside, these are really enjoyable stories for fantasy lovers. I find all the Shannara stories very entertaining, especially once in a while. This book features a quest in a beautiful described world, featuring cool air ships and weird creatures, which ticks all my fantasy boxes. ✅
2017: I liked this one a lot. You could say all Terry Brooks books are kind of the same with similar characters and similar story lines, but that doesn't bother me as much. I think he does keep adding new twists and I really like his way of writing. I loved Aphenglow and her story....more
I can't really give an objective review for a Terry Brooks book. Since I have read all the books, enjoyed almost all of them, I am obviously a fan. I I can't really give an objective review for a Terry Brooks book. Since I have read all the books, enjoyed almost all of them, I am obviously a fan. I love to submerge myself in mr. Brooks's world so this did not disappoint. This is a little more Young Adult than some of the books in the series though, so if you're not into that you could skip the Legends of Shannara. But since you're here, reading my review, you've probably already read quite a few by Terry Brooks and know by now that you will not skip this one....more
Very good first part of the final Shannara series. I think mr. Brooks went back to his writing roots for this one. Even though I'm sad Shannara's endiVery good first part of the final Shannara series. I think mr. Brooks went back to his writing roots for this one. Even though I'm sad Shannara's ending - on the other hand, about forty books have been written? That should be enough. I think mr. Brooks will go out with a bang for his last books, with some of the best writing he's done so far....more
Interesting collection of stories and essays. I read these on my e-reader, as opposed to the other books that I own in print. These are more complete Interesting collection of stories and essays. I read these on my e-reader, as opposed to the other books that I own in print. These are more complete than the stories you find in the History of Middle-earth series. On Fairy Stories is a wonderful little essay and Leaf by Niggle was also a pleasant surprise. Recommended for Tolkien fans! I will need to find myself a hardcopy for my collection....more
Enjoyed this one, loved the last Knight of the Word, Sider. Great story as always! The stories do not get more original over time, but that kind of maEnjoyed this one, loved the last Knight of the Word, Sider. Great story as always! The stories do not get more original over time, but that kind of makes sense when there are so many books in the Shannara series!...more
A nice conclusion to the Genesis of Shannara trilogy. Losses are suffered (more than I hoped for - maybe a little too much) but in the end, the world A nice conclusion to the Genesis of Shannara trilogy. Losses are suffered (more than I hoped for - maybe a little too much) but in the end, the world is saved again. :-) Terry Brooks' stories can be a little repetitive, and this one is not very original. If you're a fan, you'll enjoy it none the less. I really love this world and these series so I'm not really bothered and if I take a break between the trilogies it's not even that troublesome. The only thing that annoyed me in this book was the sudden one-look love relationship between Logan and Simralin. It was very cheesy and not very believable. Also, it wasn't needed. I loved the Panther-Catalya relationship way more, it made more sense....more