This is another classic that rivals his original Shannara series. I blew through all three books in rapid succession. If you liked Shannara you are going to enjoy the ride of High Druid. My one word review is "excellent".

This is the 12th Shannara book, and the first in the High Druid of Shannara trilogy. I've been reading them since The Sword of Shannara came out in paperback, so about 30 years. Unbelievable.

It starts 20 years after the end of the last trilogy--the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara. Grianne Ohmsford is now the Ard Rhys (head druid) of the newly restored Druid Council, but she's encountering resistance, as there are those who don't trust her based on her history as the Ilse Witch, and those who want power for themselves. And there are those who would use that dissatisfaction for their own ends.

When Grianne Ohmsford is abducted, it falls to her young kinsman, Penderrin, whose only magic is the ability to communicate with animals, and Khyber, the niece of the Elven Prince, to rescue her.

There's the mystery of who abducted her and who's behind it, and the coming-of-age adventure of the two young heroes, complete with magic, spirits, creatures, and treachery. And the flying ships, which my 12-year-old is quite excited about.

Jarka Ruus is pretty much standard fantasy--or maybe it just seems that way, because this world has been part of my fantasy reading for so long. It was a fun, interesting story, with likeable characters, and if it didn't have anything I didn't expect, it also didn't lack anything I did expect.

I just got the book a couple of days ago and it is in excellent condition.

If you've liked any of the other Shannara books by Terry Brooks, you will probably like this one. To get the full appreciation of the book, you should probably have read most of the other Shannara books that come before this one, but most important would be the "Voyage of the Jerle Shannara" trilogy.

Terry Brooks has done it again with this three book series! Fantastic descriptive writing. I can see everything unfolding in my mind while reading it. Thanks for the temporary escape from reality!