I know there's a big fan following for this author & series, but I couldn't get into this author's writing style, despite how much I've heard of it. I tried both the book & the audiobook at different times, and neither worked for me. Maybe someday in the future, I'll try it again, but it's a DNF for me so far.

This has been on my TBR for years - since 2016 - and I finally picked it up and swore it was going to get read. I read it in 3 days so it's a pretty quick read. In the end, it didn't really do a whole lot for me except make me root for Leofur and Imric.

We've seen the last of Arcannen Rai and a Murk Witch. The Federation with their science and the druids with their magic are at loggerheads and everywhere in Shannara is a sense of decay of the old ways. It feeds well into the final trilogy with it's sense of doom and sadness.

I don't see much room for growth and I'm pretty sure that's intentional. Magic is on its way out, soon to be hidden, I suspect. The druids are old and dying and there is no real way to stop it from happening.

I did enjoy Imric and Leofur and their slow falling into love during their journey and I loved those characters and how they handled what got thrown at them.

I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to read this book. I have read every single book in the Shannara series, and adore the Shannara world. This book doesn't disappoint and, in my opinion, is just as amazing as every other book that this man has ever written. I loved it, I loved it, I loved it.