The Wishsong of Shannara

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The Wishsong of Shannara
Cover art of The Wishsong of Shannara
Author Terry Brooks
Cover Artist Darrell K. Sweet
Country USA
Language English
Series The Original Shannara Trilogy
Genre(s) Fantasy
Publisher Del Rey Books
Released 12 April 1985
Media Type Print (Hardcover, Paperback, Mass market paperback)
Pages 499 (hardcover)
512 (Mass market paperback)
ISBN ISBN 0345318234 (hardcover)
ISBN 0345356365 (Mass market paperback)
Preceded by The Elfstones of Shannara
Followed by The Scions of Shannara

The Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks is the third novel in The Original Shannara Trilogy. The story features Jair and Brin Ohmsford, the children of Wil Ohmsford and Eretria from The Elfstones of Shannara. The siblings, each possessing an inherited magic, must save the Four Lands from the evil magic within a tome called the Ildatch.

[edit] Plot

In the backstory to the novel, before the dawn of mankind, Demons created a book of dark magic. This book was so full of their essence that it became a living thing, with a will of its own. When the Druids gathered all knowledge and lore to themselves in the aftermath of the Great Wars, the book of Ildatch was uncovered after countless millennia. It remained harmless until the Druid Brona found it in the halls of Paranor and began to read its secrets. Brona was subverted by the very power he sought to control; thus, the Warlock Lord was born. Allanon thought the dark book was buried in the destruction of the Skull Kingdom after Shea triumphed over the Warlock Lord, but several of Brona's human servants recovered the book, and began to read.

As the novel begins, Allanon has returned, requiring the aid of yet another generation of Ohmsfords. It is revealed that the Ildatch has possessed a new generation of mortals, the Mord Wraiths, to pick up where the Warlock Lord left off. From their stronghold in the Eastland, the Mord Wraiths have enslaved a Gnome army, sending them against the Dwarves. Allanon needs Brin's magic to enter the Maelmord and destroy the Ildatch. Helping her is Rone, great-grandson of Menion Leah, wielding a sword strengthened by the waters of the Hadeshorn. Jair is left at home, despite his pleas to go with his older sister. However, when Gnomes begin searching Shady Vale itself, Jair flees north, where he meets the King of the Silver River. The ancient spirit informs him that unless he goes to the Eastland, Brin will die. He offers Jair his help, but Jair must first purify the Silver River at its source, having been poisoned by the Mord Wraiths. Jair goes on his quest, joined by the Gnome Slanter and a group from Culhaven, including the assassin Garet Jax. Meanwhile, Brin and Rone watch helplessly as Allanon is struck down by an ancient Demon, a Jachyra. The creature is destroyed, but the last of the Druids is mortally wounded. Before he dies, Allanon marks Brin's line to succeed him. Rone and Brin press on, hopeless. They meet Cogline, a crazy old man who has tamed a Moor Cat named Whisper, and his granddaughter, Kimber Boh, who help them on their journey. Finally reaching the Ildatch, Brin finds herself unable to destroy it; she becomes possessed by it. The book covets her power, desires her body as a tool to wield its destruction. At the last moment, having purified the River, Jair appears, and the love of her brother snaps Brin out of her trance. She destroys the book. The siblings return home, but at a price: Allanon is dead, along with nearly all of Jair's companions. The shade of Allanon reminds Brin of her trust, and informs her that magic will soon fade from the world again.

[edit] Characters


Novels of Terry Brooks’ Shannara universe
Book I Book II Book III Book IV
Word/Void: Running with the Demon A Knight of the Word Angel Fire East
The Genesis of Shannara: Armageddon's Children The Elves of Cintra Untitled
Prequel to Shannara: First King of Shannara
The Original Shannara Trilogy: The Sword of Shannara The Elfstones of Shannara The Wishsong of Shannara
The Heritage of Shannara: The Scions of Shannara The Druid of Shannara The Elf Queen of Shannara The Talismans of Shannara
The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara: Ilse Witch Antrax Morgawr
High Druid of Shannara: Jarka Ruus Tanequil Straken
Other Shannara products
The World of Shannara Shannara PC Game
Shannara on Wikipedia
WikiProject — Characters — Creatures — Places — Objects — Related articles
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