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IceHippo73

Staggering to the end

Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2020

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This is like watching a great athlete still trying to play years after his prime. Just plain painful.
A plot that seems completely recycled from past books, cobbled clumsily together, and staggering to a close. Characters that are painfully one-dimensional and predictable, completely interchangeable from characters in past books.
Sad to see what was once a great series reduced to this. 2nd star only for nostalgia's sake.

EJ

Terry and his publishers mislead fans of the series

Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2020

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I've been reading the Shannara books since the 70's. Now in my 50's and I have read them all, most within days of release. Sadly, finishing this series is literally a life-long disappointment. Stop reading here to avoid spoilers for the series and the book.

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Terry wrote Shannara starting with the Sword of Shannara in 1977 with amazing action, massive world-building, page-whipping suspense and riveting detail. After a few series, and over the course of several years, he very subtly integrated the world of Shannara into our world. It was genius the way he dropped hints of the 'Old World's' existence, hinting at a massive backstory which indicated the genesis of the Shannara universe. He then embarked on a parallel series (Word and Void) taking place in our modern day, seemingly a completely separate literary endeavor. Imagine our surprise when we learned that the Word and Void series was the pre-cursor to the Shannara world. Incredible! And once that cat was out of the bag, another phase in the series which seamlessly wove them together. In all, there were many, many books to follow this journey over the course of years of our lives.

Imagine our excitement when we learn that Terry is getting ready to wrap up the Shannara saga. Who can blame him? After all this work world-building, it was time to perhaps slow down, wrap it up, move onto something else.

We were all expecting a 2-3 book massive conflict, a re-visiting of the themes and characters of the past clashing with a new world-threatening event which would usher us to the final apocalypse, from which we knew the world of Shannara was finally at an end, and the world is brought into a completely new age. Terry let us know he needed FOUR books to write this massive world-changing story. How Exciting!!

This is what we got:

- 4 books jam packed of meaningless side-plots having nothing to do with the theme of the series. This should have been a 2-book side quest story in the vast Shanarra universe.
- Deux-ex-Machina plot resolutions galore. The one wrapping up the literal cliff-hanger had me cringing in embarrassment for Terry and his editors.
- Formulaic reading and repetitive exposition.
- The "Fall of Shannara" -- no, Shannara is just fine, never better. Another happy ending to another adventure.
- "The Last Druid" -- no, we close out the book with TWO druids! And a vague ending which practically guarantees Brooks another Shannara paycheck should he ever want to squeeze one out.

Make no mistake, this was a decent, if rinse-and-repeat Shanarra story. A fitting end to a 40-year saga? No way.

Maybe I'm just old and jaded. Or maybe, I'm 40 years older now and my expectations are too high and I've outgrown Terry Brooks. Either way, he could have done much better, and instead took the lazy way out.

Anthony

An enjoyable conclusion to The Fall of Shannara but not to the entire series

Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2020

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The Last Druid was very similar to all of the previous Shannara novels, and I enjoyed it, but I was expecting a far more dramatic end to the entire Shannara saga that spans thousands of years, rather than just an end to this particular story of Tarsha Kaynin. The way it ended, another set of Shannara novels could easily follow - it does not really seem like an end story.

I imagined for example that perhaps Drisker Arc would have recovered all the lost elfstones that disappeared back into the Forbidding earlier in the series and that were the reason for the creation of the Forbidding in the first place. Then the elves would once again have the means to keep the demons at bay without needing any more sacrifices to maintain the Elcrys and the Forbidding. That would have made for a far more dramatic conclusion.

SC

Very nice book. NOT an end to series.

Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2020

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I enjoyed the book very much. I always like his books. However, this was billed as the END, it was not. It finished out the four book series nicely, but it ended like all the others. Another book can be written very easily. I don't want to say too much and spoil it for everyone. I would not have paid extra for the hardbound and waited for paperback, like the rest of my books, if I had known. I was expecting a LOT more changes in everything. The Forbidding, the Four Lands, and the entire world. I thought everything would be tied into one storyline. It was not. It is still the same. Buy the book, it is good, but you might want to wait for paperback.

Benny

Disappointingly mediocre

Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2020

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I honestly don't know how anyone who was a longtime fan of this series could say this final series was overall anything but mediocre. The ending did nothing for me. Other parts of the series were truly epic and used evocative descriptions to paint wondrous movies in the mind. This final book, honestly seemed like something a decent first time author might do. I can't say I really enjoyed all that much of the final book. I'm a bit numb from the experience of reading these final books, which I think started off fairly well in book 1--then got progressively worse overtime. I was truly hoping for an uptick this time, but found this one to maybe be the worst out of the four.

A quick wrap up, to stories lasting for decades, or thousands of years. I will always have fond memories of the amazing stories, but this final series was my least favorite by far. It didn't make me feel like I would miss further books, but be glad that I won't waste time reading further. Maybe at some point I'll go back and re-read some of my favorite books like the Knight of the word prequels, but my journey is done here. I guess I expected alot more and feel let down. I think Mr. Brooks would have been better off writing more prequels, or just letting the series end as it was. This book wasn't much better than Shannara Chronicles Season2--which was close to horrible and basically threw out the Wishsong book completely and just made up a bunch of cheesy simplistic garbage.

For anyone that's a longterm fan of the series, I assume they will read these regardless. If you are new to this genre--avoid this final series, and go back and read some of the older works--which many were fantasy gems.
Its definitely far past time for me to pursue adventures elsewhere--the ride is over, take care all.

Top reviews from other countries

jess

not the end

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2020

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Have read Terry Brooks Shannara series for years and have loved them so was disappointed that the series was coming to a close but keen to read the finale. Pretty sure this was originally advertised as a trilogy which has turned into four books but no matter, it was , as always an enjoyable read. However , I can't see how this is a final book; the ending has clearly been left open for a follow on if Terry decides to continue it. Whilst this isn't a problem, I feel the author should have more respect for his readers than to dupe them like this.

Greg

Not bad

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 30, 2020

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Pretty predictable, kept me reading though. The series peaked with Scions, There wasnt really anywhere to go after that, Voyage was enjoyable and Genesis was a welcome change, but you know what youre going to be reading about before you start with a lot of them, just the names change. Still, any fantasy lover will be reading them all, we all come back for the ‘lore’. Its not middle earth, but its not far off. Im betting on another one yet though...dont think he can help himself, hes made a career out of Shannara

John D. A. Holmes

Disappointing end to what was a great saga.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 9, 2020

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I have read all the Shannara and Black Staff books and find this the weakest of them all. This four book series should have been a two book series, the final two books contained a lot of padding. The story it’s self did not gave same seat of the pants don’t want to put down impact of the other Shannara books. The steam has gone out of the saga and perhaps Terry Brooks should stop milking the series and start something new like Raymond Fiest has done.

gemmell

its alright-nowhere near his best

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 11, 2020

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Like most on here I am a fan of the Author-I have read every book he has written-Like a lot of other reviewers I found this book to be readable and in parts enjoyable-but as to being the Fall of Shannara -really ? abs no chance- he will be back to these the minute the $$$ start to run out. In truth this could of been a maximum 3 decent books but of course having a 4th means more $$-sorry Terry you should of stopped a long time ago.

L. P. Roach

Not up to usual standard

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 13, 2020

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In the past the author would recap for new readers.
This time it looks like a team of ghost writers selected their favorite stories from the first three books.
Then made out they were new at the start of the book. Very strange and not very interesting.
The ending has been handled by a marketeer - to set you up for book five -THE REALLY LAST DRUID!!!!!!!!!!!!

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