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  • The Darkling Child

  • The Defenders of Shannara
  • Written by: Terry Brooks
  • Narrated by: Simon Vance
  • Length: 10 hrs and 3 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (21 ratings)

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The Darkling Child

Written by: Terry Brooks
Narrated by: Simon Vance
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Publisher's Summary

From New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks comes a thrilling stand-alone novel in his legendary Shannara series—the perfect place for new listeners to begin.

After taking up his enchanted sword against the dark sorcerer Arcannen, Paxon Leah has become the sworn protector of the Druid order. Now a critical hour is at hand, as a beloved High Druid nears the end of her reign and prepares to pass from the mortal world to the one beyond. There is little time for Paxon to mourn his friend and benefactor before duty summons him. For in a distant corner of the Four Lands, the magic of the wishsong has been detected. Paxon must accompany a Druid emissary to find its source—and ensure the formidable power is not wielded by the wrong hands.

But danger is already afoot in the village of Portlow. Gentle traveling minstrel Reyn Frosch possesses the uncanny gift, and curse, of the wishsong. And now his coveted abilities have captured the malevolent interest of none other than Arcannen—whose quest for power is exceeded only by his thirst for vengeance. The lone survivor of a brutal assault on a notorious pirate city, the sorcerer is determined to retaliate against the Federation’s elite military guard—and use the devastating power of the wishsong as his ultimate weapon.

©2015 Terry Brooks (P)2015 Random House Audio

What the critics say

“Brimming with magic . . . a bubbling cauldron of fantasy and intrigue. This novel shines best through a full-bodied embrace of its most wildly imaginative magic and artifice, which is careful not to overshadow the story’s greater half, fueled by a complex but well-constructed manifold of motives. The intrigue, grounded in a world that strays just enough from a traditional fantasy universe to elicit delighted curiosity, guarantees a solid fantasy read, especially for those already drawn into [Terry] Brooks’s vast world of Shannara.”—Booklist

“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.”—Publishers Weekly

What listeners say about The Darkling Child

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    3 out of 5 stars
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A bit disappointing

I do enjoy the fact that Terry told the story far closer to the villain, which keeps the reader guessing whether or not they may end up cheering his motives, in the end. However, that potential gets lost pretty quickly, and this villain is as transparent as all the others in Shannara. The story is still enjoyable, despite its lost potential.

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