Terry Brooks writes classic high fantasy, and he's one of the best at it that you'll come across. And part of the reason for this is that he develops his worlds. If you have been reading Shannara since the first book, all the way back when, then you will be aware of the passage of time within this world. When time passes here it has an effect, there is noticeable progress. Events have shaped the course of this world, and have a noticeable result, rather than just being the related fables told around camp fires, monumental events in history that changed nothing.

That's the major plus to reading his books, because it means that when you read the latest Shannara book, you will not be re-reading the first one all over again.

And so this latest trilogy is reaching its climax, the third novel ? the volume where everything is resolved traditionally and the tension mounts as all bets are off, there being no need for any of the characters to survive beyond the final page.

But then again in this particular set, tensions were already quite high, with major players having been sacrificed in both earlier books.

The Ard Rhys (and former evil Ilse Witch) Grianne Ohmsford is trapped in the Forbidding and doing all she can to survive whilst she awaits a possible rescuer. Grianne's place as leader of the Druids has been usurped by Shadea a'Ru (the woman who caused Grianne's banishment) who is intent on changing the course of the world, and to his end has forged an alliance with Send Dunsidan, the Prime Minister of the Federation against the Elves and the Free-Born men. And with the new all-powerful airship that Dunsidan commands they might just win.

And who is the only hope for the world ? Grianne's nephew Pen, a teenager with very limited magic, but who is in possession of the Dark Wand, the object that will allow him to cross the barrier between dimensions and enter the Forbidding to rescue his aunt.

Okay, in some ways that sounds like a ho-hum fantasy plot, simple an unimaginative. It isn't though by a long shot. Brooks's skill is keeping a plot simple then adding a great deal of texture to the plot, and reaching out to involve the reader with his characters.

I think fans of Terry Brooks will find this very satisfying. Brooks has a way of tying up enough of the strands of the story to make the story feel concluded but leave the world functional, you feel there is going to be a tomorrow in his worlds. There is always work to be done by the characters, once the final word has passed, they still have jobs to do, and goals to be achieved.

This is part of what I meant by the feeling of progress, Brooks's world doesn't simply stay as it is until the next evil threat appears. When we return to this world it would not surprise me to find the technology has moved on, and the wars are being fought in biplanes and tanks.

That is this world's future. And it's a future I would like to read about. But in Brooks's world's current present a most enjoyable tale has been told, and the author has maintained his reputation well with this latest set.

Synopsis
Imprisoned in the Druid's Keep, young Pen Ohmsford is separated from all who care for him, and at the mercy of the usurper Shadea a'Ru, who will do anything to destroy the rightful High Druid. Although Pen was successful in his mission to obtain the magical staff called the Tanequil, Shadea has taken it from him. Without the Tanequil, Pen cannot open the gateway to the Forbidden and rescue his aunt, the rightful High Druid. Pen has allies, but they are under siege as well - his parents fleeing from the Druids, the Rock Troll Kermadec and the dwarf Tagwen far away, and the young elf Khyber Elessedil in deadly danger within the Druid's stronghold. Can the scattered band of friends join forces in time to defeat Shadea's evil plot?