Galaphile is the newest Shannara novel by esteemed fantasy author Terry Brooks. It is the first book of the First Druids of Shannara series, and delves into the creation of Paranor, the mysterious home of the Druid Order. Anyone who has read any of the Shannarra books will appreciate this new series. Brooks brings readers back to his familiar world, and it is like coming home after a long trip. Characters filled with determination and curiosity. Unexpected detours and plot twists. A shimmer of magic touching everything. Anyone who has read any of Brooks' books will recognise his writing style.

The book starts as a slow unveiling, with rich backstories and differing motivations. Galaphile is an orphan living far from his childhood home amongst the elves. A simple task begins an adventure that, with tragedy and moral dilemmas, molds him into a magician. “Galaphile's goal is a noble one: to bring order to a chaotic world, and to make life better for those trying to survive it.” We meet so many people along the way, and while Galaphile often seems to be following an obvious string of goals, his motivations are clear, his choices all seem reasonable, and readers follow along, always excited to learn what comes next.

Whether readers are returning to the Four Lands now, or beginning the odyssey with this book, Brooks is a masterful storyteller that draws readers in. There's no need to reread any of the previously published Shannara books, though if you haven't delved into them yet, I highly recommend them. Every reader I know has enjoyed at least one Shannara series. I look forward to reading future books.

Terry Brooks’s return to Shannara with Galaphile is a brisk origin story that delves into the legendary beginnings of the Druid Order. The novel follows Galaphile Joss, an orphaned teenager struggling to survive in a world still scarred by the Great Wars. The book’s pacing is noticeably quicker than Brooks’s earlier works, and while some details, like Galaphile’s training under the mysterious Cogline, are left to the reader’s imagination, this approach keeps the story moving and engaging.

Galaphile is intelligent, loyal, and deeply committed to bringing order to a chaotic world. His journey from a vulnerable peasant boy to a formidable mage and leader is both cinematic and satisfying. The supporting characters, especially Narriane, add emotional depth,The villain,the Spectre Telle, has a compelling backstory that hints at the darker turns the Shannara saga will take.

The world-building is classic Brooks, but here it feels more streamlined. The Four Lands are harsh and unforgiving, and Galaphile’s determination to build Paranor as a beacon of hope is inspiring. The ending introduces an intriguing twist involving Narriane’s unborn child, setting up future conflicts in a way that longtime fans will appreciate.

If you love origin stories and want to see how the Druid Order and its most famous stronghold came to be, Galaphile is a worthy read. I gave it 4 out of 5 stars because, while it’s a bit leaner on detail than some earlier Shannara books, it’s packed with heart, adventure, and the promise of more to come.

Thanks, #NetGalley

Terry Brooks always brings the story to life and Galaphile is no different. I loved the going back to the origins of the druids. Watching Galaphile grow from an orphaned boy to a leader in the druid order, is a wonderful journey that adds to the whole Shannara tale. It is a must read for fans of the Shannara series,
Thank to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, and Del Rey for the advanced copy.

I loved being taken back to the origins of the druids through Galaphile’s journey, and the worldbuilding felt immersive and alive. Galaphile’s growth from orphaned teen to visionary leader kept me invested, even if some chapters dragged at times. The balance between magic and political intrigue gave the story depth, though a few plot points felt hurried. Terry Brooks’s vivid descriptions and imaginative creatures reminded me why I enjoy his writing.

Terry Brooks continues to find new and interesting stories to tell in his fantastic and long running Shannara fantasy series which is approaching 50 years! This latest story takes us back to learn the journey of Galaphile and how he became the very first Druid and his dream to untite the four lands and establish what would become Paranor, the Druid center of learning. The story was a bit slow in parts as Galaphile must learn how to master the magic he will need to aid him in his quest. My only nitpick is the rise of the inevitable dark counterpart to Galaphile. While I understand the need for a light/dark balance and what it adds to the overall story, it would have been nice to simply enjoy the beginning. I don't know for sure, but I imagine this new series will tell the story of one of the original druids in each volume and I look forward to the next book.

Galaphile (The First Druids of Shannara, #1)
by Terry Brooks (Goodreads Author)
Although this book shows the nature of Shannara and its history it is comprehensible on its own. I found that the apocalyptic world of Shannara has little difference from the dark ages. The medieval village society of magic, and folklore peoples after the destruction of humanity is not like how society was in those dark times. The conflict of peoples and their struggles for equality are similar to the conflicts of cultural exchange in Europe after the collapse of the Roman empire. Each magical species has conflicts, and negotiation similar to cultural conflicts. The Idea of Galaphile is similar to Robin Hood, and the struggles of political collapse.
Terry Brooks has a great way of describing characters, and events. His book is endearing, and fresh even thought it has a old folklore theme.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine/Del Rey , and Terry Brooks for an advanced copy of Galaphile in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This did not work for me, unfortunately. I felt like everything happened too fast in this book. We were just told everything that happened. I would have loved to have seen more of the plot as it played out, instead of just being told what felt like a brief overview of everything that happened. I remember reading the original Shannara books and them being so full of detail. This was missing all of that.

I don’t know if I will be picking up any future books in the Shannara world.

Terry Brooks again created a masterpiece. I love the Shannara Chronicles and this did not disappoint!

In this new read from Terry Brooks we meet Galaphile an orphaned teenager who has no friends and who seems to be stuck in the Human world. He is studying under a master mage named Cogline. With each new chapter we learn about his life and who and what shaped it. All he has ever wanted is to help bring a semblance of order to a never ending chaotic world. His first step is to build a citadel which is aided by the King of the Silver River. Along the way he soon learns that there is an evil out there that would love to rule the Four Lands. Follow along to see how this evil touches Galaphile and if he is able to accomplish the good deeds he has set out to do.

Ever since I was a kid and first started reading fantasy and science fiction, Terry Brooks has been one of my favorite authors. I haven't read his books for several years, but reading Galaphile reminded me why I always loved reading anything and everything Terry Brooks' writes.

Brooks grabs the reader's attention from page one. He introduces us to a mysterious stranger. The man asks Galaphile, an orphan boy, for his help finding a man named Ratcher. Galaphile bristles at the name, warning the stranger that Ratcher is a dangerous man.

But the stranger seems undeterred. He fights as though by magic and invites Ratcher and Galaphile to his camp.

In his latest piece, Terry Brooks pens an epic tale, weaving magic and justice and beautifully drawn characters, finally revealing the incredible origin story of the druid world he's built over decades.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC. Opinions my own.

Fans of The Sword of Shannara world, here is your origin story. Terry Brooks finally fleshes out the pivotal character of Galaphile, creator of Paranor and the Druid order. Galaphile's history, motivations, emotional journey are set out in a fast moving, well written tale. This is a good addition/introduction to readers of Shannara.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I also just realized that there are a lot of other books I should have probably read before this one. Either way, I had a good time and have a lot of others to add to my tbr

Another great tale of Shannara! I loved this prequel to the beloved series. Epic high fantasy, closed door love interest.

I really enjoyed this story about how the druids of Shannara came to be. Galaphile is an orphaned elf living in human lands. One day a human man comes to the tiny town that he is living in and changes the trajectory of his life. I hope that there will be another book as I could not put this one down.

Several years ago I read and enjoyed the story of the last druid of Shannara. It ended what I believed to be the last book in a series that I have love since I got hooked by reading THE SWORD OF SHANNARA. That was the book where I first hear the name of the old druid who began the company of druids that Allanon, the hero of the first novel represented. That was 1977.

Now nearly a half century later we read of the beginnings and the role a young elf named Galaphile played in the saga. It was a surprise that after the conclusion of THE FALL OF SHANNARA series a new series, THE FIRST DRUIDS OF SHANNARA begins. And what a wonderful story it is! Terry Brooks has lost none of his tale spinning genius!

I was captured by this story from the moment that the young lad Galaphile Joss met up with an older adventurer named Starns. I enjoyed watching Galaphile learn, grow, and fall in love. Then when everyone he had held dear was taken away and slaughtered, Galaphile moved on to learn more from Cogline. When he had soaked up everything Cogline had to offer, the real story began. Galaphile went off toward his ultimate goal: bring peace to all people of The Four Lands.

This was a wonderful addition to the Shannara series and the books that follow will reward all of us who have enjoyed our journey through The Four Lands over the decades. I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book with the promise of a free and unbiased review.

Galaphile: The First Druids of Shannara by Terry Brooks

I was very excited to read this Prequel for the Shannara Series. Gallophile: The First Druids of Shannara by Terry Brooks, we get to learn about the early life of Gallophile and those who influenced his development.

The world building is amazing and character development is top notch, proving once again that Brooks is one of the masters in the realm of Epic High Fantasy, along the vein of Tolkien. I cannot wait for the next installment of this series.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All opinions are my own.

Rating: 4 Stars
Print Pub Date: Mar 11 2025

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⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 3 stars
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Galaphile is the next book released in the world of Shannara. It follows the story of Galaphile from a young boy trying to achieve his goal of bringing order to the chaotic world.

I used to love the books written by Terry Brooks when I was younger and read most of his early works. I was excited to see where Galaphile would go.

I believe the sort of books I love right now have shifted from when I was younger, and it made the book fall a bit flat for me in the end. The journey and adventure were definitely there, but I just missed that something to get me fully hooked and emerged into this story.

The plot is very straightforward as we follow Galaphile’s journey. The beginning few chapters go through all his younger years and it did feel like most of what I read in those chapters didn’t really matter. This was a feeling I kept having throughout, feeling as if a lot that I read wasn’t necessarily important to the plot progression and made it feel like filler.

Galaphile was a likable enough character, and I did enjoy seeing his growth, but all other characters came and went quickly enough for me to forget most and not really make any connections.

The ending was well done with the action hitting and the writing not feelings as disjointed anymore! Still, it wasn’t enough for me to truly love this book. I would’ve liked the entire book to have felt as those last few chapters did.

Overall, Galaphile is an ok read, but not really standing out in any regard for me.

I read the first Shannara series when I was in middle school. It’s now more than 40 years later (not to mention more than 30 books) and Terry Brooks delivers yet another entry into this legendary series: Galaphile, the first book in a new cycle, book 1 of The First Druids of Shannara. This can definitely be read without knowledge of there previous books, but of course as a lifelong fan I can’t help but recommend them all. Galaphile takes us back to the start of the druid order. Despite covering quite a bit of time, the story is fast paced. Fascinating characters, great world building, and an engaging story make this a worthy addition. There is a reason the Shannara books are so beloved and enduring. Wether you start here or with the original, The Sword of Shannara, you’ll likely fall in love this series the way I did so many years ago. It’s impossible for my not to be a bit bias, and perhaps it’s a little bit due to nostalgia here but I’m giving this one 5 stars. And I’ll be eagerly awaiting the next book. I’d like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Del Rey, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Galaphile.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R20N60LUBSN958/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Galaphile, The First Druids of Shannara by Terry Brooks goes back to the beginning of the Four Lands druids. The reader meets Galaphile as a youth, taking him into adulthood. This character is noble and his plans unselfish. As usual Brooks transports us to the world he has created. The story focuses less on a group of characters and more on one, Galaphile. Other supporting come and go in this origins story.

Like the first book I read by this author many years ago, I found it unpredictable, original and compelling. Reminding us that living in a flawed world means that others can affect our lives in both positive and negative ways. Still, it is our actions and decisions that decide our character and life. How wonderful it is to return to Shannara. Hardcore fans like me will want to grab this captivating story but new fans of high fantasy will want to do the same too.

If you are reasonably familiar with (and like) Brooks’ body of work, specifically his Shannara series, you will enjoy his latest addition. I’ve read a lot of the Shannara books, and as a matter of course, I’ve heard the name “Galaphile” a time or two. It’s super interesting to find out the backstory of one of the most legendary figures of this world.

You do not have to have read any of the Shannara books before this, but it helps quite a bit. The ending, especially, will not deliver the same gut punch to you as it will to big fans of the series. I’m not kidding—my jaw dropped. It’s shocking.

And I can’t wait to read the sequel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey for an early copy in exchange for my honest feedback.