The Elf Queen of Shannara

by Terry Brooks

Book Overview

"Find the Elves and return them to the world of Men!" the shade of the Druid Allanon had ordered Wren. It was clearly an impossible task. The Elves had been gone from the Westland for more than a hundred years. There was not even a trace of their former city of Arborlon left to mark their passing. No one in the Esterland knew of them -- except, finally, the Addershag. The blind old woman had given instructions to find a place on the coast of the Blue...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345362993
• ISBN13: 9780345362995
• Release Date: March 1992
• Publisher: Del Rey Books
• Length: 403 Pages
• Weight: 1.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.7" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

A classic

The story in elf queen moves along quickly and with almost non-stop action. The author also shows alot of creative with his monsterous creations that dwells on the dangerous island which this story takes place upon. Wren begins in search of the lost elves, a task given by the druid shade Allanon's request. She soon finds them on a cursed monster filled island. I'm really impressed with Terry's imagination and ability to keep coming up with new areas and characters in his Shannara world. There are many memorable scenes through out and some emotional events that will leave you near tears. The perail and dangers Wren and Garth face will have you reading on the edge of your seat and unable to stop. I higly recomnd this book.

The Adventure Continues and the Mystery of Elves Is Revealed

The Elf Queen of Shannara continues the story started in The Scions of Shannara and continuing in The Druid of Shannara. Even though the book tells the stories of all the scions, the main story is about Wren Ohmsford and her search for the missing Elves. Though, there is an underlining story of Coll and the Sword of Shannara, which is very interesting. But the main story begins with Wren getting a clue to make a fire on the western shores of the Four Lands. She is answered by a member of the flying elves and he takes her to Morrowindl, where it is rumored that the Elves have taken up refuge. After a perilous journey through forests crawling with demons, Wren finally makes it to Arborlon. There it is revealed that she is not an Ohmsford but an Elessedil, a member of the royal family. She also finds out the "painted" rocks she has are none other than the famed Elfstones. After the truth about the demons comes to light, Wren must carry the city and its people back to the Four Lands in an ancient staff, that can only be used once. Also in this book, Walker reanimates Paranor and also comes face-to-face with the Four Horsemen. This is by far the best in this sequence even though it is all one big story.

My Second Favorite Shannara

This is one of my favorite Shannara novels. Anyone who complains about LOTR-esque fantasy not giving women major roles and/or good characterizations should read this. The major character is Wren Ohmsford (although that is not her real name) and it is her charge to bring the Elves back to the Four Lands. Terry spends a great deal of time developing her and her past. We are also introduced to Stresa, the splinterscat (a cross between a cat and a porcupine), one of the most creative creatures to appear in Shannara. Although his hisses and growls are vaguely Gollum-like, he proves to be a reliable guide for Wren as she seeks the other elves and as she leads them back to the shoreline. Another interesting note concerns Garth, Wren's friend/teacher/bodyguard. He is both deaf and mute, a first for LOTR-style fantasy, and shows little if any arrogance that one might expect from one of his strength and stature.All in all, an excellent masterpiece by Terry Brooks.

* * FANTASTIC * *

I honestly don't know how Terry Brooks manages to keep capturing the reader's attention with his novels. Besides Tolkien, Brooks has become my second favorite author."THE ELF QUEEN OF SHANNARA" is the 3rd book in his Shannara heritage series. First of all, if you haven't read the other two ("SCIONS OF SHANNARA" AND "DRUID OF SHANNARA"), you definitely need to read them first to fully appreciate Terry's unraveling of the mysterious Shadowen creatures. That being said, this books is probably my favorite of the four. Reason: Wren Ohmsford. Wren is a very strong heroine who suffers through all kinds of nightmares and still manages to get through the deeds that Allanon assigns her. Basically, Allanon is a "dead" druid who fears the worst might come to the Four Lands if his requests are not carried out. The Four Lands are already being plagued with the Shadowen (horrific creatures that haunt the living - btw - in this book, the origins of the Shadowen are revealed - I was shocked when I found out - I'm not gonna say a word more about them!) and the crushing policies of the Federation; the two combined have taken the life out of the land. Wren is given the task of finding the "Land Elves" and returning them to the Four Lands. It seems so impossible because they have disappeared for almost 100 years. She finally discovers that they are entrenched behind the walls of Arborlon on the demon-infected island of Morrowindl. And her journey into hell begins. Besides the actions, Brooks does an excellent job of drawing out the characters. At first, Wren truly is an innocent but courageous girl. But Brooks uses the plot and other characters to bring out her innate qualities of strength and determination to paint her as a woman worthy of the title of Elf Queen. The secondary characters are incredibly depicted and you come to feel for them. (I cried buckets at the end when I first read this book! - they do die though - but it would be too mean for me to reveal who dies!).I totally recommend this book for fantasy lovers or even for those who are just testing the waters. You won't be able to put it down! And don't forget to read the other novels in the series!!!

The Best of All

I first read this book about three years ago only because I had to read a book for my class or get a failing grade. I hated to read, mainly because I never really had. When I was in the school library I wasn't even sure how the place worked. I just walked in and picked a wall of books not knowing it was the fiction part of the place. I can still see it sitting there, it was a hardcover copy and the only reason I got it was because I loved the picture on the cover. It was amazing...it was like being transported into a whole new world. I laughed, and cried throughout the whole thing. When a character died, I felt like a part of myself died as well. After reading it I begged my mother to buy me all of the Shannara books and I read them all in a few weeks. Terry Brooks is the reason I now love to read and I will never forget the first book I ever read...The Elf Queen of Shannara.