Children's Books: The Elves of Cintra (Genesis of Shannara) Review
  Home >> Book Reviews >> The Elves of Cintra (Genesis of Shannara)

The Elves of Cintra (Genesis of Shannara) Review


The Elves of Cintra (Genesis of Shannara)  Manufacturer: Del Rey
Author(s): Terry Brooks

ISBN: 0345484134    EAN: 9780345484130
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 464

Average Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Retail Price: $7.99
Online Sale Price: $7.99
This item qualifies for
Free Super Saver Shipping!
With his groundbreaking New York Times bestseller The Sword of Shannara and its acclaimed sequels, Terry Brooks brought a new audience to epic fantasy. Then he gave the genre a darkly compelling contemporary twist in his trilogy of the Word and the Void. Last year, in Armageddon’s Children, Brooks undertook the stunning chronicle that united two unique worlds. Now that story of clashing forces of darkness and light, of Shannara’s beginnings and the human race’s possible end, marches forward into an unforgettable second volume full of mystery, magic, and momentous events.

Across the ruined landscape that is America–hopelessly poisoned, plague-ridden, burned, and besieged by demon armies bent on exterminating all mortal life–two pilgrims have been summoned to serve the embattled cause of good. Logan Tom has journeyed to desolate Seattle to protect a ragged band of street urchins and the being known as “the gypsy morph,” who is both mortal and magical, and destined to save mankind unless he is destroyed. Likewise, Angel Perez has her own quest, one that will take her from the wreckage of Los Angeles to a distant, secret place untouched by the horrors of the nationwide blight–a place where the race of Elves has dwelled since before man existed. But close behind these lone Knights of the Word swarm the ravening forces of the Void.

As the menacing thunder of war drums heralds the arrival of the demons and their brutal minions in Seattle, the young survivors who call themselves the Ghosts are forced to brave the dangerous world of gangs, mutants, and worse to escape the invasion. And Logan Tom must infiltrate a refugee compound to rescue Hawk, the leader of the street urchins, who has yet to learn the truth about who and what he is. Meanwhile, Angel Perez has joined an equally urgent mission: to find the Ellcrys, a fabled talisman crucial to protecting the Elven realm against an influx of unspeakable evil from the dread dimension known as the Forbidding. But Angel and her Elf allies must beware–for a demon spy, with a monstrous creature at its command, walks among them.

As the legions of darkness draw the noose tighter, and the time of confrontation draws near, those chosen to defend the soul of the world must draw their battle lines and prepare to fight with, and for, their lives. If they fail, humanity falls.


From the Hardcover edition.


User Submitted The Elves of Cintra (Genesis of Shannara) Reviews


November 18, 2008
The Elves of Cintra

Great follow up book. Now eagerly anticipating book no:3.

I only discovered Terry Brooks as an author this year, but feel a little like when I first read The Lord of The Rings way back in the late 60's. Fortunately he seems to have written a great many more books so lot's of treats in store.

I had to spend the whole day reading it!



November 11, 2008
Captivating! An Elven Jewel!
From start to finish, "The Elves of Cintra" will captivate you, take you on a whirlwind literary ride of immense proportions, and leave you hungry for the final instalment! I couldn't put this book down and had to restrain myself from devouring it in one sitting. I purposefully took my time to read it in order to extend the pleasure I was gaining from it. Mr. Terry Brooks is a true Master Storyteller!

Although Hawk features very little in the novel, as the last one will be focused mostly on him , the revelations regarding him are surprising, to say the least. In fact, they are downright stupendous!

The gripping storyline though is that of Angel's journey to and experience with the Elves. I like Logan Tom's storyline, too, but I couldn't wait to get back to what was happening with Angel, Kirisin, Eirisha and the Ellcrys. Be warned though: the surprises and unexpected twists, once they start coming, will pummel you with relentless force!

I suggest you buy "The Gypsy Morph" long before you come to the end of "The Elves of Cintra", for the minute you have finished the book, you will want to read the next one. Guaranteed!

October 16, 2008
Great entertaining read
Armageddeon's Children was my first Terry Brooks novel and I was hooked on this trilogy once it was finished. This book, the 2nd in the trilogy, did not fail to earn my love. It picks up exactly where the 1st book left off. As the title suggests, most of this book is about the elves. Hawk isn't left out but there isn't a lot of his story in here. Angel is much more likable than the first book and Logan Tom is, in my opinion, the best Knight of the Word. It does have alot to say about the Ghosts and their losses were heartfelt. Panather and Sparrow are clearly the warriors of the group. The mystery of the demon in hiding (don't want to say too much) was not openly obovious to me until he was revealed who he's been masqarding as. This is a page turner and I can't wait to read the final book in this trilogy. I enjoyed it and Armageddon's Children so much I need to read the 1st trilogy as well (Running with the Demon, etc.) If you are looking for a great book for all ages, this is it.

August 29, 2008
great read
This is an excellent book. I can't wait to receive the third book in series.

August 8, 2008
Entertaining reading despite predictable plot, messy writing
The Elves of Cintra makes for good, light, quick entertainment. The plot arcs of the previous installment (Armageddon's Children) are steadily advanced towards what seems like a mostly-predictable conclusion (that is, beyond whatever can be predicted from the existence of the rest of the Shannara series). This book focuses mostly on the Elven fetch quest, though the stories of the other characters outside of Elfland are tended to as well. Complaints of middle-book-syndrome are, I feel, inappropriate, as the book is just as self-contained and story-advancing as the first one (which is to say, "not very" and "fairly so," respectively).

The book's primary flaw, to my eyes, is the consistently uninteresting and often (for me) off-putting writing style. Brooks writes to keep you engaged, but it is simply the fact that you just want to know what happens -- rather than how he tells the story -- that gives any incentive to continue. I will also admit that I am a fan of consistent POV throughout a section, and the fact that Brooks shifts POV within sections (i.e., within a span of text that is not blocked off by a few line breaks or three asterisks) is distracting. It (1) prevents getting emotionally involved with the focal character, and (2) sometimes results in very unnatural language (like people referring to "the Elves" rather than "you" or "you Elves" when addressing Elven folk). I'm not even sure if he knows he's doing it, but whoever edits him should tell him to get a clue (either that, or I'm just too picky).

July 18, 2008
Good novel. But far from great.
It's been 20 years since I last visited the world of Terry Brooks. As with almost all other Brooks readers, I was introduced to his writing in junior high school when I discovered the Sword of Shannara. That story enraptured me, and filled my 13 year old head with dreams of high adventure, swords and sorcery, and **you get the picture**. I read the Elfstones at age 15, and enjoyed it thoroughly. I read the Wishsong at 17 ... good but didn't quite meet my expectations. Magic Kingdom For Sale - Sold was a stake through my heart. Total garbage from someone I worshipped.

I didn't get back to Brooks' writing until I was 20 and in college ... I read the first two novels of the Heritage series, and was absolutely disappointed. Those were the last Terry Brooks novels I had read since then. A multitude of other Brooks novels came and went, and I ignored every one of them ... not wanting to feel that sense of disappointment again.

I came across Armegeddon's Children at the public library last week. It looked interesting ... a story set in a post apocalyptic society. I figured I'd give Brooks another chance. Unfortunately, I didn't realize it was a trilogy ... and the hardcover library cover made no mention of Shannara. I finished the first book rather quickly. It was a light read ... almost like a children's book.

I figured I'd read book 2 since I started. The Elves of Cintra isn't a bad book, but it doesn't do anything to recapture that Sword of Shannara magic. Maybe elves, demons, magic stones, powerful staffs, solar powered vehicles with rockets and laser guns, good and evil (and nothing in between) are better suited for the 13 year old junior high school kid.

I think too much time has passed by since I was that young boy engulfed in the pages of the Sword of Shannara. Supposedly, Terry Brooks' writing has improved since then. But to me, the magic is gone. Age, life, and time have whittled away my imagination.

July 5, 2008
Brooks always delivers!
I have been a Brooks fan since the age of 11. I have just went back through the entire series including all shannara books and the Night of the Word series. I love how he has tied the Shannara and Word&Void together. I have about eighty pages left in Elves of Cintra...then I am going to be craving for his upcoming Gypsy Morph. If you are a Shannara fan and haven't read the Word & Void series yet, I SERIOUSLY suggest that you do, then move on to the Genesis of Shannara series. It is brilliant how he has tied the two worlds together. This book delivers and leaves you hanging. I love it!

June 19, 2008
Wonderful as always
I have always loved Terry Brooks. The Shannara series is one of my all-time favorites. I really enjoyed the Word and the Void series and to see how he has masterfully spun that series into a prequel to Shannara is fantastic. This book is up there with everything else he has done.

May 31, 2008
Enjoyable for All Ages.
First the positives:
1)It's definitely a worthy follow up to Armageddon's Children, and frankly it moved even faster.
2)The story was never boring, and was actually incredibly engaging.
3) Upon finishing, I have to say I'm looking forward to the last installment this August.
Downside:
1) Overall this feels like a book that adults enjoy but is really intended for young people. Some might say that's a plus, and I wouldn't argue that. I guess what I'm saying is the story and characters are very simplistic, some feeling like devices to propel the plot, with two pages of back story to explain who they are.None of this makes for a bad book by any means, and again I really enjoyed it. Having never read terry Brooks before these novels, it just comes across slightly sophomoric.

May 3, 2008
Stupid plot, annoying characters, and a pathetic writer
First of all I need to say that I was once a huge fan of Terry Brooks in fact I have read every book he has every published beginning with the Sword of Shannara( a blatant plagerism of Lord of the Rings) And I really loved his books. But that was back in seventh grade now I realize they are complete crap.
His novels have stupid simplistic plots and this one is no exception. But I think the main thing is Terry's complete lack of skill as a writer. His characters are boring and there really is no character development also this story is only a few hundred pages long and lacks any depth whatsoever. This is the last Terry Brooks book I will ever read I really dont care what happens with the rest of the story. The whole idea to tie the Word and Void to the Shannara books was an idiotic idea only terry brooks could have thought of.


For more The Elves of Cintra (Genesis of Shannara) reviews click here.

 


 
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Advertising | Contact Us