- Hardcover: 454 pages
- Publisher: Ballantine; First Edition First Printing edition (Sep 2000)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0345396545
- ISBN-13: 978-0345396549
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16 x 4.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,113,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Terry Brooks' new Shannara epic The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara kicks off its first volume Ilse Witch with the discovery of a mad Elf drifting on wreckage miles out at sea with his tongue and eyes removed, and a map secreted among his possessions. It rapidly emerges that he is a lost prince who set out decades earlier to find old magic on another continent. Walker the Druid persuades the Elf King that both vengeance and prudence dictate a second expedition and assembles the usual crew of talented misfits to travel by airship into unknown territory. The forces of evil are on their way as well--the shadowy figure known as the Ilse Witch and the lizard-like mercenaries forced on her by her untrustworthy ally the Morgawr are closing in too, with acquisition and murder in their hearts.
Fans of Terry Brooks will know precisely what to expect from him: undemanding sword--and--sorcery adventure with touches of the gloomily mysterious and of the more complex emotions. This is Brooks at his best and this novel is the least dependent on earlier models as it becomes clear that in this sequence the relationship between good and evil is more complicated than usual. --Roz Kaveney --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Product Description
New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks returns to the fantasy that launched his career--the fantasy that remains closest to his heart, and to the hearts of millions of fans around the world. More than twenty years have passed since Brooks set the new standard for the genre with his astonishing first novel, The Sword of Shannara, the now-classic commencement of a centuries-spanning epic of good and evil. Now Brooks embarks on what promises to be his masterpiece--Ilse Witch: Book One of The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara.
When the mutilated body of a half-drowned elf is found floating in the seas of the Blue Divide, an old mystery resurfaces. Thirty years ago, the elven prince Kael Elessedil--brother to the current king--led an expedition in search of a legendary magic said to be more ancient, more powerful, than any in the world. Of all those who set out on that ill-fated voyage, not one has ever returned . . .
Until now. For the rescued elf carries a map covered with mysterious symbols only one man has the skill to decipher. That man is Walker Boh, the last of the Druids. But someone else understands the map's significance, someone dark and ruthless: the Ilse Witch, a beautiful but twisted young woman who wields a magic as potent as his own. She will stop at nothing to possess the map--and the magic it leads to. To stop her, Walker must find the magic first.
So begins the voyage of the Jerle Shannara. Aboard the sleek, swift airship are an elven prince; a Rover girl; a monstrous creature part man, part enigma; and a young man named Bek Rowe, who may unknowingly hold the key to the success of the mission--or to its cataclysmic failure. Now, as old secrets come to light, sowing seeds of mistrust and suspicion among the crew, the Jerle Shannara flies into the face of unknown terrors, while the Ilse Witch and her dark allies follow, waiting to strike . . .
When the mutilated body of a half-drowned elf is found floating in the seas of the Blue Divide, an old mystery resurfaces. Thirty years ago, the elven prince Kael Elessedil--brother to the current king--led an expedition in search of a legendary magic said to be more ancient, more powerful, than any in the world. Of all those who set out on that ill-fated voyage, not one has ever returned . . .
Until now. For the rescued elf carries a map covered with mysterious symbols only one man has the skill to decipher. That man is Walker Boh, the last of the Druids. But someone else understands the map's significance, someone dark and ruthless: the Ilse Witch, a beautiful but twisted young woman who wields a magic as potent as his own. She will stop at nothing to possess the map--and the magic it leads to. To stop her, Walker must find the magic first.
So begins the voyage of the Jerle Shannara. Aboard the sleek, swift airship are an elven prince; a Rover girl; a monstrous creature part man, part enigma; and a young man named Bek Rowe, who may unknowingly hold the key to the success of the mission--or to its cataclysmic failure. Now, as old secrets come to light, sowing seeds of mistrust and suspicion among the crew, the Jerle Shannara flies into the face of unknown terrors, while the Ilse Witch and her dark allies follow, waiting to strike . . .
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It's been a long time since I have read anything by Terry Brooks. I am a firm believer in authors knowing when to stop, when it comes to series'. Too many authors start a good series and spoil it by bringing out too many books. I thought, after First King of Shannara, that Terry Brooks had come to a suitable conclusion, and he had found a good place to stop. The Shannara books were all good, they stayed true to each other while adding something new, and he didn't drag it out until we were fed up of hearing about Druids, Ohmsfords, Elessedils, demons, magic, Tolkien-esque races and the Four Lands.
I have always been a believer that Terry Brooks was a far superior author to Tolkien but I was extremely wary when I saw the Ilse Witch for sale. I didn't want to read it, because after so many years, I did not want to see a good series spoiled by an author who did not know when to stop - as indeed, I felt had happened to the Landover series.
I am delighted to say that, once more, Terry Brooks seems to know exactly what he is doing. For those that loved the old books, the Four Lands, the families and the feuds are all familiar. The characters come alive and manage to have their own personalities to avoid making them copies of characters that had similar roles in previous books. In past books, my favourite character had always been Allanon, more because of what Terry Brooks did NOT say about him, that what was revealed about him. Now, for the first time, we are allowed into the mind and heart of a druid as he works, in a way we have not seen before, and Terry Brooks manages to make Walker completely human without destroying any of the danger, mystery, mistrust and power that makes druids so feared and ostracised by other characters. As one reviewer pointed out, encounters can be a bit weird to keep track of, but as it is the first book of a new series, I am willing to put my thoughts on that on hold until I have read the rest.
All in all, Terry Brooks has done himself proud with this book. Not only does it compliment the previous Shannara books, I actually think it improves upon them. Something I don't think many authors can claim success at when revamping old series into new ones.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but in this case you most certainly could, as it was the cover art that made me pick this book out.
I have always been a big Tolkien fan, but haven't risked many other fantasy "epics" as to me they will never come close. It didn't take me long though before I was well into this book, and the world of Shannara that Terry Brooks brings to life so well.
The book continually keeps you guessing about what is going on. Bek's character in particular was of interest as gradually he comes to realise who he really is. The action sequences were also gripping, making it difficult to put the book down.
While this certainly isn't the most challenging book I have ever read, it is one of the most enjoyable. This being the first Terry Brooks book that I have read, I went back to the earlier books in the series and have read the entire back catalogue over the last couple of months which must say something in itself!
Can't wait for Antrax..........
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Terry Brooks has ventured once more into his world of Shannara taking to the air in the first of his series of the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara. His last attempt at writing a series, The Heritage of Shannara, was not up to his usual standard of excellance. But the depth of characters and never ending action leaves you thirsty for more when you finish the last page of this one. Familiar names and places have turned up with refreshing twists to the tale, bundle this together with a new area and a new transport method, Brooks has ventured into the unknown with resounding success. If you are a Shannara fan you won't be dissappointed. I have been involved with fantasy for nearly 20 years and Terry Brooks has been inspiring new and different twists to the now popular genre. This one is no different and science and magic are combined to make this book a compelling read taking fantasy into a new era of unexplored territory.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Start of the best seris.
After the Talisman of Shannara I couldnt wait to see what would come next.
150 years have past in the 4 lands and an elf is found in the blue divide with a mysterious... Read more
150 years have past in the 4 lands and an elf is found in the blue divide with a mysterious... Read more
Published on 17 Mar 2007 by C. Parrott
Not quite up to par
I was disappointed in this book. Once again the druids take part in the lives of the Leah and Ohmsford families. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2006 by bookaholic
The FSFH Book Review says:
The first book of the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy.
Brooks manages to revitalise the Shannara series here, avoiding most of the tired cliches and overly-familiar battle... Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2005 by Ian Tapley
very good but well wait a sec......
quite a small book compared to brooks' usuals. very slow to unfold like all his books but gets better as you go along. Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2004 by "idontfrikkinknow"
Shannara revisited - again!
In the voyage of Jerle Shannara we once again revisit the mysterious lands of Terry Brooks famous Shannara books. Read more
Published on 17 May 2004 by Henry Heiberg Andersen
Entertaining, but too straightforward.
This is the first book in The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy (before Antrax and Morgawr), set one hundred and thirty years after the events of The Heritage of Shannara... Read more
Published on 25 Aug 2003 by Stephanie Noverraz
Great book
When a blinded and muted elf washes up on the coast, carrying a mysterious map, the Druid Walker is summoned. Read more
Published on 27 Jun 2003 by Kurt A. Johnson
A very interesting new era for The Four Lands
Terry must be planning this plot all along as the mystical world of shannara still remains the same with all new characters and story, this story overwhelms the same way old ones... Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2003
Bellissimo
Brooks re-visits the Shannara series with another sure fire winner. Excellant how he answers all the questions poping into my head on what happened to the characters from the... Read more
Published on 14 Nov 2002 by Pig Daddy
Ilse Witch - Terry Brooks
At first i was skeptical whether this book would be worth it, I'd read all the Shanarra books so far and they were beginning to become repetitive. Read more
Published on 31 Oct 2002 by Mr. C. Cruickshanks
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