By Terry Brooks
Del Rey/ Ballantine Books 2000

Reviewed By Robert Thompson 10/12/2000

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I really was happy to see Terry Brooks return to his world of Shanarra with this book.

ILSE WITCH Begins about 130 years after The Talismans of Shannara ends. Things are a little different in the "Four Lands" than faithful readers are used to. Airships are in fairly common use. The wars are not so much between good and evil, but just about border lines. The Elven King has become little more than a politician rather than a statesman and a true leader of his people.

The story opens with an Elf found floating comatose in the "Blue Divide" (Ocean) by a Wing Rider on coast Patrol. As it turns out, he is Kael Elessedil, the older brother of the current Elven King Allardon. Kael disappeared 30 years earlier, searching for a legendary magickal treasure.

Kael never recovers consciousness, but he bears a map with symbols and words in a language that no one can translate. King Allardon Elessedil sends to Paranor for Walker Boh, the last (and reluctant) Druid that we met in the "talismans" book. After some research Walker is able to translate the map, and decides that the "treasure" is indeed too important to ignore. With Elven financing & support, Walker builds a team to make an attempt to recover the treasure which is secreted in the far north across the Blue Divide.

As preparations for the voyage begin, Allardon is assassinated, and his eldest son Kylen becomes the Elven King. Not particularly supportive of the expedition, he nonetheless honors his fathers dying wish and finances the expedition, sending a troop of Elven guards along. He also sends his younger brother Ahren along.

The Jerle Shannara (named for the first King of the Elves) is the most advanced airship available is purchased by Walker who hires a mercenary crew of Rovers as the flying crew. Also along for the trip is Quentin Leah and his "cousin" Bek. Of course no Shannara story would be complete without a Leah in attendance, but Bek is at a loss to understand why he has been invited along. Also included on the expedition are a few Wing Riders, Dwarves and other interesting characters.

But everything is not as simple as Walker & crew would hope. The powerful "Ilse Witch" is also on the hunt for the treasure. She has managed to pull the secrets from Kael's mind before she takes his barely remaining life.

A good story, but it moves a little slower than the usual Shannara tale. Good character development, but not as much action as fans will expect. But I guess that is ok, because there is at least one more book coming Anthrax will be the second book in the "Voyage of the Jerle Shannara" series.

Unfortunately Terry Brooks has learned a lesson from Robert Jordan, George R.R. Martin et al. The Ilse Witch leaves us with a cliffhanger. All of Terry Brooks previous books are complete in themselves. This one isn't.