Book Review: Morgawr

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

Morgawr     Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Terry Brooks
Class/Genre:   Fantasy
Series: Voyage of the Jerle Shannara # 3
Del Rey, Sept 2002, $27.95, 416 pp.

Walker, the last druid in the world, organizes an expedition on the airship Jerle Shannara to cross the sea to Castledown to find the magic book of the ancients. Along the way they find the lost gemstones of Shannara that once belonged to the elves, but they also realize that Walker’s greatest enemy, the Isle Witch along with her minions, is following them. They meet in a final confrontation in the ruins of Castledown. Although Walker is mortally wounded, he and the Sword of Shannara force his deadly foe to realize who she is and what she has done.

The truth sends the Isle Witch into a catatonic state. With his dying breath Walker changes her brother Bek back to watch over her. Later a spirit walker tells Bek that his sister must be kept safe for she has a destiny that must be fulfilled. this no easy task for the demon Morgawr, the Isle Witch’s mentor, has come to find his traitorous protégée and kill her.

Sometimes Terry Brooks’ works matches the best of J.R. Tolkien and THE VOYAGE OF THE JERLE SHANNARA MORGAWR is one of those great instances in which the author succeeds. Elves, gnomes, dwarves, elves and druids are so vividly portrayed that readers come to believe they are real. There are many heroes and heroines in this tale, some of who give their lives so that others may escape the dangers they find themselves in. The author cleverly sets up the reader for the next Shannara trilogy where the Isle Witch plays a prominent and surprising role. Fans of epic fantasy will definitely want to read this exciting work.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner