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Armageddon's Children By Terry Brooks - A Book Review
Armageddon's Children is the newest novel from one of today's most successful fantasy writers
Terry Brooks. Mr. Brooks is best known for his widely popular Shannara series which have helped
put the fantasy genre on the literary map. He has also authored the lighter yet equally entertaining
Landover series and along the way created what some believe to be his best work the Word and Void
trilogy; the last being a much darker style of fantasy with a definite edge. With his new novel,
Armageddon's Children the first in a new trilogy, Terry Brooks delves back into this dark world
albeit several hundred years into the future.
The premise of the Word and Void books is basically the forces of good or the Word and the forces of evil,
the Void, have been waging a constant struggle to tip the balance of power to their own respective sides.
In Armageddon's Children the forces of evil have all but won leaving civilization in shambles. Mankind
is left decimated with the few survivors trying to eke out an existence by living in compounds in a
post apocalyptic world and facing a constant struggle with the more powerful forces of evil.
With the threat of an even larger holocaust brewing, the Word sends forth Logan Tom, a Knight of the Word,
on a mission to locate a hidden magical creature in an effort to save the human race. The Word also charges
Angel Perez, another Knight, in finding and helping the long lost Elves as they search for a magic to save
their own people. These two story arcs work independently of each other throughout the book with equal time
given to each.
The story also follows Hawk a leader of the Ghosts, a group of basically children that have refused
to live sheltered lives within a compound. Hawk serves as leader, father figure, and protector of
the group. He shares a Romeo and Juliet type romance with Tessa who lives within a compound in what
is left of Seattle. This relationship causes many twists and turns in Hawk's life and eventually
leads to a desperate conflict. There are several hints along the way that Hawk is set to be a key
figure throughout this trilogy.
Armageddon's Children is perhaps the darkest book Mr. Brooks has written. It is filled with images
of a destroyed society and a desperate people. Death and atrocities are a part of the everyday life
for the characters in the book, and Mr. Brooks does a masterful job at showing the utter devastation
and desperation the world has devolved into. It would have been easy for him to go over the top with
horrific images and gory details, but instead he uses a more subtle approach which forces the reader
to use their imagination. It is expertly done, and adds a sense of grit to the overall story.
This is easily the best novel Terry Brooks has written in years. He has always been considered a master
of plot and he definitely shows off that talent with this book. Dialogue has never been one of Mr. Brooks
strong points and it is somewhat lacking in the book as well though it is never a distraction. He walks
a fine line between being graphically accurate and staying true to his more family orientated style
of writing. This is evident when one of the characters uses the term "frickin" instead of the actual
less acceptable term. Little items such as this never detract from the story however as the overall
writing is superb throughout.
Terry Brooks has been a master of the fantasy genre for going on thirty years. With his new novel,
Armageddon's Children, the first of a new trilogy in the Word and Void saga, he continues to
solidify his spot as one of the greatest genre authors of his time. With his knack for intricate
plotlines and well developed characters he delivers perhaps his greatest novel. He does a grand
job of setting the table and wetting his fans' appetites for what promises to be a special series.
This book is a must read not just fans of Mr. Brooks but for any fan of the genre.
Shawn Oetzel has had short stories appear in The Writer's Post
Journal, Universe Pathways, and Opinions Magazine. He
currently writes DVD reviews for the online media source
Static Multimedia and has also had reviews published with
Fractal Matter and Associated Content.
Email: Shawn Oetzel
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