SFF

The High Druid's Blade

by Terry Brooks
Del Rey: Ballantine. (Defenders of Shannara, Bk. 1). Mar. 2014. 336p. ISBN 9780345540706. $28. FANTASY
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Paxon Leah comes from a long line of kings and warriors, but his family now lives quietly, the only relic of their past a black sword that hangs above the fire. When an evil sorcerer named Arcannen kidnaps Paxon's headstrong young sister, Chrys, Paxon runs to the rescue, taking only the family sword. To his surprise, the sword is enchanted, which allows Paxon to hold off Arcannen's forces long enough for the two to escape. Thinking his sister now safe, Paxon seeks help from the Druids to learn how to use his magic blade, but Arcannen is not done with the Leah siblings.
VERDICT High adventure, lots of action, and appealing (if stock) characters make this a comfortable traditional fantasy that will appeal to the many fans of Brooks's Shannara books. The added bonus is that this is a good place for new readers to jump into the author's world, as it includes plenty of nods to earlier books while remaining a stand-alone story.
Reviewed by Megan McArdle , Jan 01, 2014
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