Reyn is a wanted man. He is the possessor of some very deadly magic that many wish to wield. The Druids wish to help him understand his power, and to protect those around him form it, whereas the silver tongued wizard Arcannen wishes to exploit it for his own machinations. Both are looking for Reyn, but another group is also out for his blood. He accidently killed a young son of a mobster- family who were hounding him; thus, in this Arcannen finds his means for manipulation.

Contrasting characters

This is set five years after The High Druid's Blade, consequently, Paxon Leah has had lots of off page character development. He is now a trusted member of the Druid order, rather than a raw recruit, and he has become their leader’s right hand man. He is the orders respected protector: he is their blade. He is now the confident wielder of the sword of Leah. He and the rest of the Druid order simply wish to help Reyn understand his magic.

On the other side of the fight is Arcannen and whereas Paxon has grown he has diminished. He is no longer the respected and feared wizard he once was. He still retains his arcane prowess, but his influence and reputation are all but spent; he has lost his far reaching connections. However, he still isn’t a man to be underestimated. There is no way to outmanoeuvre him as he is incredibly manipulative and adaptive to most situations. If that wasn’t bad enough his motives are never really clear. He tries to unleash Reyn on his enemies, but there is a hidden motif to his intentions that I can’t put my finger on. I don’t think it’s just revenge.

Brilliant Rivalry

The result is a tense battle between the two men, which is quite surprising considering they only encountered each other for about one to two pages in this. Indeed, Paxon and Arcannen harbour a rivalry that spans the series. In the first book Arcannen tried to control Paxon in the same way he is trying to use Reyn. The two never have a direct confrontation in this novel; thus, the rivalry will receive its anticipated conclusion in the next novel. Furthermore, there was quit an interesting love triangle that I’m not entirely sure is resolved. Having reached the end of the novel it is still unclear as to the sincerity of its result. It may be an extension of Arcannen’s plan or it may be genuine. I hope it’s the latter, but I do think the former would make for a much more interesting conclusion.

Overall, this is a fantasy series that I’ve really enjoyed. Having not ready much of Terry Brooks’ previous novels, this trilogy feels original to me. My opinion of this may change once I’ve read some of his previous novels, but at the moment I feel that this is an interesting series. I look forward to reading its conclusion next year.

The Defenders of Shannara
1. The High Druid's Blade- A sharp three stars
2. The Darkling Child- A solid 3.5 starsfantasy45 s Bookwraiths698 1,095

Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews

The Darkling Child is another solid installment in Terry Brooks long-running Shannara series. No, it doesn’t vary far from its predecessors in scope or tone, but if you enjoy classic fantasy with a young adult feel, then this novel will definitely satisfy you.

Set five years after events in The High Druid's Blade, Paxon Leah is now a well-respected paladin of the Druid Order; his role that of a trusted protector to the druids; and his weapon to ward off evil the Sword of Leah passed down to him from his forefathers. Standing opposite this bulwark of goodness is the dark wizard Arcannen, who might not be as powerful as he once was, but who is still an evil force to be reckoned with due to his cunning and powerful sorcery. And caught directly in between them is a young man named Reyn, who possesses a powerful magic that he does not understand and which Arcannen desperately wishes to obtain control over!

Sounds fairly simple, I know, but despite its basic, triangle dynamic, there is a degree of suspense throughout the narrative due to the unclear nature of Reyn’s power, the unexplained use Arcannen intends for him, and the machinations of a young woman, who might or might not be manipulating both Reyn and Arcannen. Added to this, Mr. Brooks transforms both Arcannen and Paxon, changing them from clear representatives of good and evil into more three dimensional characters; their individual personalities clearly having evolved during the intervening five years and their motives making each easy to empathize with. All of which means The Darkling Child is an entertaining read, but it still has flaws, though in the scope of things, they might be more correctly labeled personal preferences on my part than missteps by Terry Brooks.

First, this story is, at its core, still a standard quest fantasy. Here each of the main characters is on his own quest. Paxon Leah is on a quest to find and persuade Reyn to join the druids. Arcannen is on a quest for revenge that leads him to find and persuade Reyn to join his cause. And Reyn himself is on a quest to evade capture and learn how to use his powers. Quest, quest, and quest.

Second, many Shannara tales, this is a coming-of-age story. Where book one of the series was about a young, naive Paxon Leah who had a magic sword thrust upon him and had to overcome obstacles in his path to control it (Arcannen was the obstacle there as well.), here Terry Brooks has merely inserted young Reyn into that same role. Obviously, there are distinct differences in Paxon and Reyn’s journey, but they are both coming-of-age tales.

Lastly, the main characters are really striking in their naivete. Reyn’s missteps can be overlooked to a certain extent (though his instant infatuation and sudden love for a young woman is a bit difficult to swallow), but the older, more experienced Paxon’s head scratching choices are really mystifying. Even Arcannen, who acts much more adult- than his co-stars, does some bizarre things that brand this tale as clearly a young adult story.

Even having struck a cord with several of my personal pet peeves, I still found The Darkling Child to be a superior book to The High Druid’s Blade in almost every way. The ongoing personal conflict between Paxon and Arcannen was more well-developed; their individual personalities were more complex; Reyn was a nice addition to the cast; and a final confrontation between all the parties has been neatly foreshadowed for the next book. So, if you enjoy Terry Brooks or classic fantasy, I’d encourage you to give this one a try, because it will not disappoint but entertain.

I received this book from Del Rey and Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d to inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.

buyhc4me e-books fantasy ...more26 s Lloyd Mackenzie184 61

Jumping back into these books after reading so many various authors over the years has made me realise just how basic these books are. The plot line, the relationships and characterisations, the world building… it’s all weak.

Character progression is wholly irrelevant, interpersonal relationships are hollow and are simply there for the story development, and the way everything is glossed over.

Side note: I purchased these books years ago and I’m only reading them now as I’m moving to South Africa and am wanting to clear out my TBR pile. New Year’s Resolutions and all that. I kept these behind with the intention of donating them before I board my flight.6 s Shelleyrae at Book'd Out2,526 535


High Fantasy is not a genre I read often but I have fond memories of Terry Brooks' original Shannara trilogy, read when I was a teen, and I'm looking forward to the upcoming television series adaption.

Though it can be read as a standalone, The Darkling Child is the second novel in The Defenders of Shannara trilogy that takes place several years after the previous book, The High Druid's Blade. It is also the 29th book in the Shannara saga, which Brooks intends to wrap up in just four more books.

The Defenders of Shannara features Paxon Leah, the Druid's Blade, and his nemesis, the Sorcerer Arcannen. In the Darkling Child, Arcannen who has been in hiding since Paxon foiled his grand plans for dominion over the Four Lands, is seeking revenge after his refuge is razed to the ground by an elite command of Federation soldiers. Fortuitously Arcannen stumbles across Reyn, a young man with the rare power of the Wishsong. Reyn neither understands nor can control his ability, and when Arcannen offers to mentor him, he accepts.
Meanwhile the Druid Council is alerted to the use of Wishsong and Paxon along with Druid Avelina are dispatched to find the magic user. Unfortunately they are too late to prevent Reyn from falling under Arcannen's influence but they are determined to thwart whatever nefarious plan Arcannen is using Reyn for.

Even with only vague memories of the Original Shannara series, The Darkling Child feels familiar. Brooks's world is easy to understand, the magic system makes sense, and there is enough backstory provided to create context where needed.

The plot involves fantasy's most enduring trope, a quest to prevent evil triumphing over good. Arcannen is a suitably ruthless, if uncomplicated villain and Paxon a valiant, if flawed, hero. There is plenty of action in the confrontations between the sorcerer and his enemies, a small measure of intrigue stemming from the question of Lariana's true motives, and a dose of emotion with death, guilt and romance.

I found The Darkling Child to be a quick and entertaining read but I'm not struck with the urge to continue with the trilogy. Fans may be more appreciative.arc-are netgalley-5 s Squire382 1 follower

#28/29 in my Epic Shannara Quest.

Better written and plotted than the previous novel with more intense action sequences (which earns it that 3rd star), it still feels lightweight for Brooks.

Taking place five years after the events of The High Druid's Blade, this book can be read as a stand alone novel. It continues the YA feel Brooks has adopted with his Defenders of Shannara series, but it screams to be so much more.

One of the cornerstones of the series is that the backstory Brooks has spent nearly 40 years developing is not particularly important to the events related; but without that history, the reader is left with a story ranging from bland to cool for Shannara newbies and just plain throwaway for long-time readers (or binge readers myself) of the Shannara saga.2016-epic-shannara-quest5 s Jonathan Koan648 435

While Terry does have some great ideas and some great sequences here, I was unimpressed with the book as a whole. It felt too boring, too disconnected with the first book, and too slow. This would have been a better novella I believe...or should have been significantly reworked.

Rather than follow Paxon Leah, the main protagonist of book one, we mainly follow "Reyn Frosch", who is another Ohmsford connected character who has use of the Wishsong. He becomes tempted by Arcannen to use his magic for less than legitimate purposes, and Paxon Leah is on a quest to separate Reyn from Arcannen and have Reyn learn with the Druids.

What this book does that I was most fascinated by is make Arcannen basically an Evil Allanon. In the early Shannara books, Allanon goes on a quest to recruit an Ohmsford for a quest of his choosing, and he often doesn't reveal all of the information until absolutely necessary. Arcannen does all of those things in this book with Reyn, except he is evil and obviously bad where Allanon was purely good.

This book also had a romance that was a little interesting, but overall doesn't stick out in the pantheon of Fantasy Romances (let alone Terry Brooks romances).

Overall, this was a bland addition to the Shannara series with some sequences that worked, and some that really did not. I will eventually read book 3 to finish out the trilogy and also so I can move to the final Shannara books, but I'm not really feeling this series. 6 out of 10. reading-challenge-20234 s Anne Monteith555 22

This is not to the authors usual standard, I found it bland and unsatisfying. While there is some action and surprises the storyline lack the details that have made his previous books so good and I thought the character were undeveloped. The last two books I’ve read in the series make me wonder if they are just being put out because of contractual obligation. Earlier books in this series were satisfying and long, this book was neither it is kissing everything that made the earlier books great.

2.5/5 STARS: **I want to thank the author and/or the publisher for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are mine.**read-ebook-review4 s Nidofito696 37

Rating:2.5/5

EDIT: Not as compelling or entertaining as its predecessor though the ending was unexpected and provided a reprieve from the very methodical and overall, slow story. Maybe someone can explain who the Darkling child is being referenced to? And why?

That book title is such a tease for those who have read the Grisha Trilogy sigh2015-reads fantasy-ya-mg romance-historical3 s Timothy Boyd6,862 46

With the Shannara series ending with the next trilogy I treasure each new book I can read from this amazing fantasy set. 2nd book of this trilogy and it continues a nice story line. Good writing as always from Mr Brooks makes this a above average read. Very recommended3 s hotsake (André Troesch)878 15

This was a little disappointing. The returning characters didn't do anything interesting and the new characters just weren't interesting.
3/53 s Matt470

The Darkling Child is the 29th book chronologically in the Shannara series. 4 stars.
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