Ilse Witch (The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Book 1) - Terry Brooks

Fans of Terry Brooks will know precisely what to expect from him: undemanding sword-and-sorcery adventure with touches of the gloomily mysterious and of more complex emotions. This is Brooks at his best and this novel is the least dependent on earlier models as it becomes clear that in this sequence the relationship between good and evil is more complicated than usual. --Roz Kaveney, Amazon.co.uk

Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks returns to the fantasy that launched his career--the fantasy that remains closest to his heart, and to the hearts of millions of fans around the world. More than twenty years have passed since Brooks set the new standard for the genre with his astonishing first novel, The Sword of Shannara, the now-classic commencement of a centuries-spanning epic of good and evil. Now Brooks embarks on what promises to be his masterpiece--Ilse Witch: Book One of The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara.

When the mutilated body of a half-drowned elf is found floating in the seas of the Blue Divide, an old mystery resurfaces. Thirty years ago, the elven prince Kael Elessedil--brother to the current king--led an expedition in search of a legendary magic said to be more ancient, more powerful, than any in the world. Of all those who set out on that ill-fated voyage, not one has ever returned . . .

Until now. For the rescued elf carries a map covered with mysterious symbols only one man has the skill to decipher. That man is Walker Boh, the last of the Druids. But someone else understands the map's significance, someone dark and ruthless: the Ilse Witch, a beautiful but twisted young woman who wields a magic as potent as his own. She will stop at nothing to possess the map--and the magic it leads to. To stop her, Walker must find the magic first.

So begins the voyage of the Jerle Shannara. Aboard the sleek, swift airship are an elven prince; a Rover girl; a monstrous creature part man, part enigma; and a young man named Bek Rowe, who may unknowingly hold the key to the success of the mission--or to its cataclysmic failure. Now, as old secrets come to light, sowing seeds of mistrust and suspicion among the crew, the Jerle Shannara flies into the face of unknown terrors, while the Ilse Witch and her dark allies follow, waiting to strike . . .

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New York Times bestselling author and the master of epic fantasyTerry Brooks returns to the fantasy that launched his career -- thefantasy that remains closest to his heart, and to the hearts ofmillions of fans around the world. More than twenty years have passed sinceBrooks set the new standard for the genre with his astonishing firstnovel, The Sword of Shannara, the now-classic commencement of acenturies-spanning epic of good and evil. Now Brooks embarks on whatpromises to be his masterpiece -- Ilse Witch: Book One of TheVoyage of the Jerle Shannara.

When the mutilated body of a half-drowned elf is found floating in theseas of the Blue Divide, an old mystery resurfaces. Thirty years ago,the elven prince Kael Elessedil -- brother to the current king -- ledan expedition in search of a legendary magic said to be more ancient, morepowerful, than any in the world. Of all those who set out on thatill-fated voyage, not one ever returned....

Until now. For the rescued elf carries a map covered with mysterioussymbols only one man has the skill to decipher. That man is Walker Boh,the last of the Druids. But someone else understands the map'ssignificance, someone dark and ruthless: the Ilse Witch, a beautifulbut twisted young woman who wields a magic as potent as his own. She willstop at nothing to possess the map -- and the magic it leads to. Tostop her, Walker must find the magic first.

So begins the voyage of the Jerle Shannara. Aboard the sleek,swift airship are an elven prince; a Rover girl; a monstrous creaturepart man, part enigma; and a young man named Bek Rowe, who mayunknowingly hold the key to the success of the mission -- or to itscataclysmic failure. Now, as old secrets come to light, sowing seeds ofmistrust and suspicion among the crew, the Jerle Shannara fliesinto the face of unknown terrors while the Ilse Witch and her darkallies follow, waiting to strike....