Customer Reviews

High Druid of Shannara: Jarka Ruus

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jarka Ruus was at times a cinematic experience. In one part, an assassin who for pages and pages has been vaunted as the most deadly of all, who never misses, from whom targets never escape suddenly becomes inept when the time comes to kill a main character. Not only that, he hits an extra(anonymous burly dockworker) instead, just like in the movies. It reminds me of how the superhumanly adept agents in the Matrix Reloaded can't so much as blow the tires out on the good guys' car, or shoot the driver when they have a shot a normal person could make with relative ease. Books don't have to make excuses because there is all the space the author could want in which to explain and justify events properly.

In this book Paranor though revived, is as usual about to succumb to the subtle poison of the forces of darkness. I'm not sure I buy into Shadea, the villainess. When I try to envision her, maybe I see a tall, bulky(stronger than most men), stern woman in loose black druid robes. She's also supposed to be good looking. I just have trouble putting this all together. If she wasn't a super model on the side it would all be fine. Just think! Her arms would be bigger Venus Williams' and her shoulders too!

Perhaps the most rewarding parts of this book involve the continuation of the story of Ahren Elessidil and the revelation to the reader of what lies within Ellcrys tree. I had always wondered a bit what it was actually like in there after a few vague descriptions in Elfstones. To most diehard fans this will come as a treat and keep them engrossed.

Otherwise, some of the happenings in this novel simply have that Hollywood quality to them, such as the supposedly competent evil dwarf Druid who the callow good guys defeat every time through sheer guts and resourcefulness. Not to mention that their pursuer is himself terrifyingly dimwitted for a practitioner of the magical and scholarly arts. Ahren keeps waving his hands and exclaiming "Waaah! I could never beat him. My powers are wimpy and he's a battle druid." I bet that dwarf excelled at everything he ever did until it came time to hunt down an Ohmsford and his companions.

I've been a fan of Terry Brook's Shannara books since they first came out in the late 70's. The most common criticism that Terry has stayed "complacently" in the old groove is perhaps true on one level, BUT what they don't always mention is that Terry's writing has moved forward in subtle ways with each new trilogy. His story telling is masterful and always enjoyable.

This book is meant for those who are already familiar with Terry Brooks' Shannara stories. It took place a generation after the events in Voyage of the Jerle Shannara and continued with some of the main characters. Those who had not were only given very brief glimpse of the past, and the little details would not aid their enjoyment.

Returning from the previously unknown land of Parkasia, the reformed Ilse Witch inherited the mantle of druidhood, and from the last druid, the charge to reestablish the Order of the Druids in Perennor. The other only other hero to feature here was the elven prince Ahren, half brother to the elven king who had despatched Ahren to get Ahren out of the elven court. The other heroes like Bek Ohmsford were mentioned but did not make an appearance.

Creating a new Druid Council composed of representatives from (almost) all peoples of the Four Lands - humans, elves, dwarves, gnomes and even trolls, was not difficult. Making the Druid Council effective in its work to bring peace and a renaissance was.

Almost right from the start, leaders of two major states of the Four Lands - the Elven Kingdom to the northwest and the human Federation to the south, were personally opposed to the Druid. The opposition were directed more personally at the Ard Rhys, head of the druid council and former Ilse Witch, rather than the Council itself, because of her past. Because the Druid Order practiced open-door policy, the Order accepted many members who were not committed to peace but their own self-interests. The disagreement among the members meant that little could be achieved even though members learned magical prowess and had the capability for impressive feats. Even the chief of the Order could not make any progress because she wanted consensus rather than rule-by-force. She believed that the new order would only be lasting if it avoided tyrannical methods and members mature on their own pace. The picture is an uneasy reminder of the failures of democracy when each group is more concern about its own immediate short-sighted self-interest.

Finally, despite her precautions, her enemies within the Druid Council managed to banish her to another world of existence. Losing no time to seize power and eliminate potential avengers, her enemies despatched forces to seize the Ohmsfords.

The plot development were woven along three main threads. The first followed the Ard Rhys as she strove to discover where she was banished to and tried to survive in the hostile world, and if possible, to return.

The second thread followed her enemies as they sought to consolidate power, and the successor to the head of the Council discovered some of the things that vexed her predecessor as the Ard Rhys.

The third thread introduced the new generation of heroes - Pen Ohmsford and Khyber (nephew to Ahren) as they fled from the force sent to eliminate the Ohmsford and sought for a way to return the Ard Rhys to the Four Lands.

What disappointed me about this is that Terry Brooks couldn't seem to change the geopolitical balance of the world which always weighed so heavily against the heroes. The Federation, which was introduced in the Druid of Shannara series, remained in power and hungry for world domination. After all that had taken place, they should have been out of business long ago.

As the first book of a new series, Jarka Ruus served as little more than setting the stage and introducing the characters. Though it promises to be an exciting new story, I feel a little cheated that the entire book did not reveal more.

However, I am surprised that there is an element similar to Lord of the Ring's first volume - Fellowship of the Ring. A quest is set, and a fellowship of heroes was formed to set on it, but before it could get very far, a major character, and possibly the most powerful member of the fellowship, perished, and the fellowship had to go on, greatly weakened.

Hey "reader from florida" thanks for telling everyone what happens in the story!Idiot!

jarka ruus was very good but it was not excellent like brooks other books. I was slightly dissapointed

Jarka Ruus is the first novel in the High Druid of Shannara series. A decade after the events of The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Grianne Ohmsford has fulfilled the wishes of Walker Boh and the other Druid shades by founding the Third Druid Council with herself as Ard Rhys. Ignoring some heated objections, she has welcomed people of all races into the Council. Many persons with magical talents have come to learn and to disseminate such learning among the Four Lands.

In this novel, despite these accomplishments, the High Druid has some heavy problems. Many on the council and elsewhere cannot forget that she was once the Ilse Witch. Conspiracies are forming within the Council itself. Moreover, the leader of the Federation fears her and plans her downfall and the Elf King blames her for the deaths of his grandfather and father.

Grianne refuses to listen to advice from her closest associates regarding the conspirators, for she is afraid that she will revert to the persona of the Ilse Witch. She has turned her back on her previous behavior to the extent of denial of even reasonable suspicions and precautions. As a result, she is caught in a magical trap that transfers her to Jarka Ruus.

When she disappears, the conspirators move to take over the Council. Tagwen, the High Druid's administrative associate, leaves to find her brother, Bek Ohmsford, but instead gains the help of Pen Ohmsford, the teenage son of Bek and Rue Meridian. As Tagwen and Pen flee the conspirators, their airboat is blown into the land of the King of the Silver River, who saves them from their pursuers and sets them on a quest to rescue Grianne from her exile. Pen worries about his role in this quest, for he has only a minor magical talent, but apparently his abilities are the key to the release of his aunt.

The cast in this story includes Ahren Elessedil, now a fully trained druid, and his niece Khyber, who is learning druid lore from Ahren. During their journey, they also meet Cinnaminson Hatch, a blind Rover girl with mysterious powers; Pen first becomes infatuated with Cinnaminson and then falls in love. However, her father is not about to let an outsider take his girl away from him.

Pen provides a degree of humor in this story as he goes through the typical stages of teenage love. He has trouble concentrating on anything else for very long. One moment he feels that he can do anything and the next he feels ineffectual. He makes excuses to himself in order to be near her. However, he also begins to feel that he is part of a duality with Cinnaminson.

This story contains many of the familiar trappings of the Shannara series, including the wishsong and the Elfstones. There is even a cameo appearance by the shade of the Warlock Lord. However, the realm of Jarka Ruus is new scenery to the reader, with dangers only mentioned in old legends. With the High Druid stranded amidst these dangers, many of us will be anxiously awaiting Tanequil, the next installment in this saga.

Highly recommended for Brooks fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of high adventure and magic, with a touch of romance.

-Arthur W. Jordin

As a fan of the original Shannara trilogy, and its prequel, I was very impressed with this book. The characters, including Pen and Ahren, were enjoyable to read about. I loved the connections with Elfstones, which is the top Shannara book in my mind. I was somewhat saddened by Ahren's death, though. I found it curious that Pen can know what animals are thinking, a trait not too dissimilar from another Scifi/fantasy character I like. I keep picturing Billy Boyd as Pen: both have same eye color, same hair color, and according to the JR cover, both wear kilts. Eagerly anticipating Tanequil.

You can't go wrong really picking up a Brooks book.
Highly recommended.

As the final book of the last series, "Morgawr," closed, we could see the hint of a new book coming. The Ilse Witch had now renounced her evil ways and was going to fulfill her task of rebuilding the Druid Council. Now, Terry Brooks has brought us the first book of the new series, "Jarka Ruus," which begins the story of the new High Druid (the Ard Rhys), Grianne Ohmsford.

If you remember your Shannara history, then you are familiar with the Forbidding. Due to a druid conspiracy, the Ard Rhys is banished to the Forbidding. A dwarf named Tagwen, sworn to protect her, runs to find her brother to use the magic to save her. As Tagwen finds out, her brother is away, and the conspirators are gaining on him. With the help of a young Ohmsford, the Ard Rhys' nephew Pen, they make an escape in search of assistance to help the Ard Rhys.

Terry Brooks keeps more than one plotline going at any one time, but the pacing of the book keeps you turning pages, wanting to find out what happens next. I would recommend reading this book and recommend taking a block of time to allow yourself the pleasure of reading it in one sitting.

This book isn't bad, but Brooks is capable of so much more. While the previos trilogy had a slight dip in quality, this one is a lot worse. This one starts off really well with loads of I Claudius style conspiracies going on, but it falls apart once the focus shifts to the hero Pen. Pen actually succeeds in being more boring than Bek from the previous trilogy, not to mention the 2nd half is a complete copy of Ilse Witch which would be my 2nd least favourite. The supporting characters are so-so and Grianne is interesting enough, but the Prince guy from the previous trilogy has completely changed character. There's also a dull tacked on love story that you really couldn't give a damn about. It gets better at the very end and has a nice climax, but it's still not enough to put this on a par with Brooks' earlier work. Hopefully the second book will be an improvement and this is not the start of a slippery slope for the Shannara series.