Terry Brooks pretty much has this sorted by now. He has truly refined his craft and knows exactly what to do to please his fans. His world of Shannara has a wonderfully rich back history these days, and he interweaves elements from this history with new characters and evolves his world, creating a totally absorbing story.

In the first book in this series, the Ard Rhys, Grianne Ohmsford was banished to the Jarka Ruus (a dark parallel plane of existance where all the dark creatures of myth were banished long before) by one of her fellow Druids, Shadea a'Ru, who has taken her place at the head of the Druid order.

Shadea now tries to further cement her position as Ard Rhys. She forms an alliance with a powerful Druid to secure support of his followers, and tricks Grianne's brother into coming to Paranor (the home of the Druids) where she can imprison him, and has her forces pursuing Penderrin, Grianne's nephew.

Penderrin, in the company of Khyber, a young female elf and holder of the Elfstones, Tagwen (the Dwarf former advisor to Grianne Ohmsford when she was Ard Rhys, Cinnaminson (the daughter of the airship captain killed by the creatures pursuing Pen), and several Rock Trolls lead by Kermadec (who headed Grianne's guard at Paranor prior to her disappearance).

Pen and party head to Inkrim, to seek out the Tanequil – the legendary sentient tree. Pen knows that he needs a limb from this tree from which he must form the Dark Wand and return Grianne to this world. But he goes into his encounter with the tree knowing that a sacrifice must be made to gain the limb of the tree.

Whilst this is going on, Sen Dunsidan (the Prime Minister of the Federation) is planning a surprise offensive in the war against the Elves. He plans to use a new weapon to destroy the Elven airship fleet.

This is archetypal high fantasy from a master of the form. Terry Brooks proves himself worthy of his reputation with this book. He also manages to instil real tension in a mid-book in a trilogy. This is a rare achievement, as normally the form of the trilogy means book one sets everything up, book three ends the story and all that book two can do is tread water until the conclusion.

Brooks has also evolved his fantasy world in a completely believable manner, bringing in technology alongside the magic, something I am not aware of in many other fantasy series. In doing this he has managed to maintain the fresheness and appeal of these books. We are not getting a rehash of earlier stories, in a slightly redressed form. This is a continuance in every sense, and a series going from strenght to strength.

Now bring on the final volume – I want to know what happens.

Synopsis
The danger is increasing for Grianne Ohmsford, rightful High Druid of Shannara, who has been banished to the harsh world called the Forbidding by a treasonous fellow druid. Her only hope for rescue is her nephew Pen - but Pen is under seige as well. Both he and his parents are sought by the Druids, who want to make sure that their magic will never help Grianne to return. Yet no one but Grianne is aware that her banishment into the Forbidding - accomplished with the use of dark magic - allowed the simultaneous transference of a fearsome denizen of the Forbidding back into Grianne's world. No one but Grianne is aware of its existence in the Four Lands - a creature that can take on any shape, can kill at will, and is only the harbinger of a much greater, devastating invasion.