Risingshadow
Speculative Fiction Books
  • About
    • Home
    • Articles
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Service
    • Staff Members
    • Newsletter
    • Finnish (FI)
  • Books
    • New Releases
    • Coming Soon
    • Books of the Year
    • Bookshelves Activity
    • Recently Added
    • Advanced Search
    • Reviews / Comments
    • Genres and Tags
    • * Submit Book
  • Community
    • Discussions
    • - Recent Messages
    • - Recent Topics
    • - Hot Topics
    • - Popular Topics
    • - Search
    • CHALLENGES
    • - Reading Challenge
    • - Book Trivia Quiz
  • Home
  • Books
  • Terry Brooks
  • High Druid of Shannara
  • Straken

Straken

High Druid of Shannara #3 / 3
by Terry Brooks
Straken (High Druid of Shannara #3) by Terry Brooks
★ 7.22 / 9
123455617189210

The High Druid of Shannara trilogy draws to a thrilling close as a young hero nears completion of his trial by fire, a banished ruler fights for her life in a wilderness of dread, and forces of darkness and light square off in a battle until death for the right to absolute rule. Prepare to be spellbound by the masterly hand of bestselling legend weaver Terry Brooks, conjuring at the peak of his skills.

For reasons known only to himself, the King of the Silver River has charged young Penderrin Ohmsford, barely more than a boy, with the daunting task of rescuing his aunt, Grianne, Ard Rhys of the Druid order, from her forced exile in the terrifying dimension of all things damned: the Forbidding. With the noble dwarf Tagwen and the prodigal elven princess Khyber Elessedil by his side - and with the outcome of the bloody war between the Federation and the Free-born at stake - Pen has accepted his mission without question. But not without risk... or sacrifice.

Because Shadea a'Ru, the ruthless Druid responsible for imprisoning the true Ard Rhys and usurping leadership at Paranor, has sent her agents and assassins in relentless pursuit of Pen and his comrades. And in securing the talisman he needs to breach the Forbidding, Pen has paid a devastating price. Now if the Free-born forces - already decimated by the Federation's death-dealing new weapon - should fall, Shadea's domination of the Four Lands will be assured. Nothing short of Pen's success can turn the tide.

But Pen's challenge grows greater when he learns that his parents, Bek Ohmsford and Rue Meridian, have fallen into Shadea's hands. He must try to help them - but once within the walls of Druid's Keep, where Shadea's minions and dark magic lurk at every turn, Pen's survival is far from assured. Yet it will all pale in comparison to the horrors that wait inside the Forbidding - horrors poised to break free upon the Four Lands when the time is right...

Amazon: Check Best Offer

FantasyEpic FantasyHigh Fantasy
Release date: September 2005

Book Order
Amazon
Kindle
Audible
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Amazon Europe

Your Rating
☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆
Standard Shelves

Readers also enjoyed

Free the Darkness (King's Dark Tidings #1)
★ 9.38 / 16
The Name of the Wind (The Kingkiller Chronicle #1)
★ 9.18 / 182
The Lord of the Rings (The Lord of the Rings)
★ 9.12 / 168
Malice (The Faithful and the Fallen #1)
★ 9.08 / 12
The Way of Kings (The Stormlight Archive #1)
★ 8.98 / 71
The Heroes (World of the First Law)
★ 8.94 / 30
The Will of the Many (The Hierarchy #1)
★ 8.90 / 11

Join the Discussion
You can post as a guest or sign in for more features.
Have questions about this book or want to share your thoughts? Join the conversation!
Terry Brooks

Terry Brooks

Terry Brooks didn’t set out to write stories—he set out to create worlds. In the same way that ancient myths were woven together from the fabric of dreams and the fabric of history, Brooks has crafted a narrative universe where epic journeys are born out of simple, quiet moments. His words have given readers across the globe a chance to step into landscapes that are as vivid as they are dangerous, where the lines between good and evil blur and the stakes are nothing less than the survival of entire realms.

Read more ...

Born in 1944 in the small town of Sterling, Illinois, Terry Brooks’ journey as a writer began, not in the grand halls of literary academia, but in the very heart of the American Midwest. He was a fan of adventure long before he put pen to paper, and his love for fantasy emerged alongside his early discovery of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. But it wasn’t until the late 1970s, after an early career in law, that Brooks dared to merge his fascination with fantasy with his storytelling ambitions.

His debut novel, The Sword of Shannara, released in 1977, was more than just a book—it was a gateway into a new age of fantasy. Brooks' Shannara series would go on to span over 30 years, blending magic, myth, and the perennial fight between light and dark. Through his meticulous world-building, he created not just a series, but an entire mythology, one that would influence generations of fantasy writers who followed. His ability to breathe life into the ancient yet timeless tales of elves, druids, and quests for power set him apart from his contemporaries and earned him a devoted fanbase.

What’s perhaps most striking about Brooks’ work is his commitment to not just telling a story, but to forging a philosophy through his characters. His books are populated by unlikely heroes—people, often young and uncertain, who step into roles they never anticipated. The Shannara books, for instance, explore themes of destiny, personal sacrifice, and the struggle between past mistakes and future redemption. The impact is clear: readers find themselves not only lost in the worlds Brooks creates but grappling with the same universal questions about the world they live in.

His writing style, rich with detail yet always moving forward, has drawn comparisons to other greats of the fantasy genre. However, it’s his voice that remains uniquely his own: part philosopher, part storyteller, and always with a deep respect for the traditions of fantasy while forging his path forward. Brooks’ prose is often described as fluid, his plots intricate yet accessible, and his characters, though caught in the sweep of grand events, are always defined by personal growth.

Over the years, Brooks has become an undeniable pillar in the genre of epic fantasy. His Shannara series continues to captivate readers, now bolstered by the success of adaptations into television and graphic novels, reaching even more fans beyond the pages of his books. But beyond the accolades, it’s his steadfast dedication to his craft and the unwavering passion he brings to his characters that has cemented his place in literary history.

If you ask Terry Brooks about his greatest achievement, he might tell you that it’s not the millions of copies sold or the awards earned, but the simple fact that his stories continue to inspire readers to imagine worlds of their own. "The best part of writing," he once said, "is creating something that others can lose themselves in."

And indeed, through his stories, Terry Brooks has gifted us a world where imagination reigns, where magic is never too far away, and where, even in the darkest of times, hope persists.

High Druid of Shannara

High Druid of Shannara consists of three books. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.

Main series Shannara

Jarka Ruus (High Druid of Shannara #1)
★ 7.44 / 9
Tanequil (High Druid of Shannara #2)
★ 7.44 / 9
Straken (High Druid of Shannara #3)
★ 7.22 / 9


^ Top
Follow Us: Newsletter | Facebook | X | Mastodon | RSS
Hosted by Planeetta Internet Oy
© 1996 - 2026 Risingshadow. All rights reserved.
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
Privacy Policy