The Darkling Child

May 4, 2015
The second book in the Defenders of Shannara segment of Brooks’s legendary Shannara series (following The High Druid’s Blade) continues telling a story in which failure could cascade into catastrophe, though the main arc is far less grandiose than Brooks’s previous works. For five years, Paxon Leah has wielded his legendary ancestral blade, the Sword of Leah, as the defender of the Druids of Paranor—defending their leader, Aphenglow Elessedil, in particular. But now Aphenglow is dying. The sorcerer Arcannen Rai, who once kidnapped and traumatized Paxon’s sister to exploit her Wishsong magic, has survived an atrocity and vowed to take revenge by using the young singer Reyn Frosch’s Wishsong. Paxon and a Druid, Avelene, investigate Reyn and confront Arcannen, knowing that the two together would be all but unstoppable. Brooks’s fans and those who prefer their fantasy on a smaller scale will appreciate the more personal but still high-stakes turn in this famous world. Agent: Anne Sibald, Janklow & Nesbit.

In the second in the Defenders of Shannara series, main character Arcanan, a sorcerer and a villain to be reckoned with, has focused his attention on a young minstrel whose "wish song" is undeveloped and its power uncontrolled. Returning to the series, narrator Simon Vance is comfortable with the Druids and their protectors, who set out to help the boy. Vance maintains listener interest through the expansive range of voices he provides for the new characters and the many recurring ones. He also uses pace to good effect in the dialogue and in the magical battles. Listeners will hear him as a storyteller who has many secrets to tell. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2015, Portland, Maine