This is the 2nd of the High Druid of Shannara trilogy, and the 13th Shannara book overall. It picks up where Jarka Ruus left off, with the young duo of Pen, who can communicate with plants and animals, and Khyber, who wields the Elfstones, set to rescue Cinnaminson, the blind Rover girl, then find the Tanequil and get a branch from it, which in turn is supposed to help Pen rescue his aunt, the Ard Rhys, who's been imprisoned in The Forbidding.

Again, it's pretty standard fantasy fare. I preferred the scenes with the Ard Rhys in the Forbidding, as she tries to understand why she's there and figure out how to save herself, and is tested by the demon lord. I also enjoyed the scenes with the conspirators, as things go awry with them, and those who thought they were in control find that maybe they're not.

The main storyline, though, fell kind of flat, as it did with Jarka Ruus, though I didn't realize what was bothering me until I read this one. It was the character of Cinnaminson. I kept expecting, then wanting, then hoping that she would end up betraying them. Otherwise, she was like the princess in The Neverending Story--weak and pitiful, but hey, at least she's pretty. Betraying them, even accidentally, would have given her some depth, but she's just bland and boring, and Pen is "in love" with her in the way only young boys are with pretty girls they think they can save. She's pretty much the sacrificial lamb of the story, and just about as interesting.

I'm hoping the third book will liven things up a bit, but it's still solid, entertaining fantasy.

The modern world is one that is full of prejudiced expectations. We EXPECT the second book of a trilogy to fill in the gap between the exciting start and the big finale, therefore, the book itself is almost a lame duck. Not so in this case. If you expect the second book to be "typical" of sophmore offerings (usually worse than the first), how can you truly appreciate it for what it is? There are SOME things that must be true of EVERY second book of a trilogy, but if you can get past that part, then you can truly appreciate this book, which is better than its predecessor in many ways.

Tanequil starts off much the same way Jarka Ruus starts off, at a frenetic pace. This style has certainly established the series as a "plot-driven" series, which has tendency to ruin my enjoyment of a series unless it is well written. This series is well written, for the most part, and it is a very enjoyable read. The pages fly by your fingers as you get into this book, as the pacing and minimalist level of detail leaves you hungering for more.

There are two major reasons why this book is better than Jarka Ruus. Firstly, characterization is much better. There are better opportunities to develop characters in the second book of a series, so this is to be expected. The interactions between the primary characters is much more intense, personal, and well developed. Not only this, but more characters are introduced (as is typical in the second book) and each one is done quite well. These new characters greatly broaden the scope of the novel, in terms of character depth, which leaves the reader feeling more satisfied.

Secondly, the plot is much better. The Tanequil itself is much more interesting than I personally expected, as well as the other creatures they face. The plot twists are much more sinister, and have more of a "human" face on them, since the characters are developed much better. The plot itself is less straight forward, and more unpredictable than before (although the rough outline was given in the first book). Even the cliffhanger at the end feels right in pace with the rest of the book, and it is not as disconcerting as it feels in other series.

Things always get worse for the protagonists in the second book, but hopefully things don't get worse for the reader. Tanequil tells the tale of how things get worse for our heroes, just like countless sophmore books before it. This book just does it with a style that I find more compelling than most, and that is why I highly recommend this book.

Tanequil. Sounds like a prescription sleep aid. Reads like a prescription sleep aid.

Side effects may include dry mouth, loss of appetite, primary systemic ennui, and rickets. In clinical trials these effects were mild to moderate and comparable to placebo. If you experience blurred vision, sexual side effects, or thoughts of suicide, discontinue using Tanequil and consult a decent fantasy author immediately.

Ok, to others, it may be known as the "Trade Paperback."

To me, it's the paperback book that would look out of place with my regularly-sized paperback books on the shelf.

Del Rey, listen up!!! I REFUSE to buy this until it comes out in a regular paperback edition! End of story! I will not settle for this monstrous volume that might feel small in some NBA player's hands.

Does that mean I won't get to see how the story progresses?? OH WELL!!! I'm NOT going to compromise just so you can pocket another $5-$6 on material that cost you far less.

I bought this for my grandson. He has read all of the series, and really enjoyed them. He is 21 yrs old. He also has dyslexia, and has never liked to read. So this was special to both of us that, He said he got so into the book that he forgot where he was.