Dark Wraith of Shannara

July 1, 2008
Gr 10 Up-At the end of the Shannara trilogy (Random, 1987), Brin and Jair Ohmsford used their wishsong power to destroy the Ildatch, the ultimate in dark magic books, and save the world from evil. It was a battle in which they lost many friends, including Jairs most trusted companion, Weapons Master Garet Jax, who had appeared invincible. It seemed as though the siblings had fulfilled their Ohmsford heritage and vanquished the foethe operative word being seemed. Now the story continues in graphic-novel form. The characters and action are true to the Shannara legacy. Here Jair is called to destroy the last fragment of the Ildatch. Using magic, he is able to call forth and become Weapons Master Garet Jax, although this power puts his own soul in jeopardy. This exciting story sets the stage for a sequel. The black-and-white art is expressive and uses creepy shadow to convey the black arts at work. Although the art is classic comic book style and it is printed in standard left-to-right form, the novel should have great appeal to those who like fantasy-adventure manga because of its tone and subject matter. This quick, exciting adventure wont disappoint Brookss fans, and it is a terrific way to hook reluctant readers, who will want to pick up one of the many Shannara novels to find out more about these characters."Dana Cobern-Kullman, Luther Burbank Middle School, Burbank, CA"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 15, 2008
The first graphic novel based on Brooks popular, long-running Shannara series features an original story plotted by Brooks himself, detailing adventures that take place within his established mythology. The Elven Jair embarks on a journey to keep the location of a powerful magical castle secret from a murderous cult, the Mwellrets. In a classic fantasy quest, he picks up companions along the way, including a crusty old Gnome and a fierce wolflike creature. Jair also possess the illusion-creating power of the Wishsong, which, like a dangerous drug, can consume the person who uses it. A less-sophisticated Lord of the Rings tailored to the Dungeons and Dragons generation, the Shannara tales are derivative of many classics of the genre, and this version is no exception. It is, however, a solid, straightforward, highly accessible, action-heavy adventure with black-and-white art that hovers between classic comic and manga style. A prologue recaps the pertinent history, and there are dozens of appended pages with sketches and information on the creation of a Shannara graphic novel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)