As a Knight of the Word, John Ross has struggled against the dark forces of the Void and his minions for twenty-five years. The grim future he dre...
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reviews
Feb 09, 2010
Chip
rated it: 
This review is for the trilogy.
The integration of the "real" world and fantasy elements is always difficult to work, and while Brooks gets it done alright, I'm just not convinced it was all that interesting.
The premise of these books is that demons from the "Void" are battling against agents or knights of the "Word." (You can think of a Christian Devil and God, if you want, and I can't say you'd really be far off the mark, though there are More...
The integration of the "real" world and fantasy elements is always difficult to work, and while Brooks gets it done alright, I'm just not convinced it was all that interesting.
The premise of these books is that demons from the "Void" are battling against agents or knights of the "Word." (You can think of a Christian Devil and God, if you want, and I can't say you'd really be far off the mark, though there are More...
May 11, 2011
Holly
rated it: 
Hmmmmm.
Overall, I'm going to give this trilogy 4 stars.
This book will get 3.
I found the concept and the world created in Word & Void to be fantastic and imaginative. What a fantastic bridge between our world and the world of Shannara.
That said, I didn't really feel that book 3 added a lot to the trilogy. With the exception of the creative introduction of the gypsy morph, I felt that it fell back into the "big bad" chase pattern of the previous More...
Overall, I'm going to give this trilogy 4 stars.
This book will get 3.
I found the concept and the world created in Word & Void to be fantastic and imaginative. What a fantastic bridge between our world and the world of Shannara.
That said, I didn't really feel that book 3 added a lot to the trilogy. With the exception of the creative introduction of the gypsy morph, I felt that it fell back into the "big bad" chase pattern of the previous More...
Nov 23, 2010
Tara Lindsay
rated it: 
Originally reviewed on My Bloody Words.
This review applies to all three books in "The Word & The Void" trilogy.
Brooks has what I would call a "formulaic" method of constructing his stories. I'll try to explain what I mean.
They are nearly as suspenseful as the best chase novels, with intense fight scenes and magical imagery. All three books are written in third person limited, but not always from the two main characters. In the second and third b More...
This review applies to all three books in "The Word & The Void" trilogy.
Brooks has what I would call a "formulaic" method of constructing his stories. I'll try to explain what I mean.
They are nearly as suspenseful as the best chase novels, with intense fight scenes and magical imagery. All three books are written in third person limited, but not always from the two main characters. In the second and third b More...
Dec 02, 2011
Barbara
rated it: 
A week before Christmas, Nest Freemark is just doing her own thing until a friend from the past Bennett Scott arrives with her daughter Harper. She is a drug addict with no other place to go so Nest invites her to stay for the holidays. (Bennett is one of the kids she saved from the feeders in the first book.) Next up is John Ross who appears without warning after 10 years of silence and he is not alone. He brings a 4 year old boy of mysterious origins with him. So now Nest has a full house
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Nov 19, 2011
Shannon
rated it: 
So I found myself disappointed with the last two books
of this series. What began as a book that easily made my
top 20 fantasy novels, RUNNING WITH THE DEMON, took a slide
down to the mediocre mud pits of fantasy.
The main problem I had was that this book returned to
the hometown and created a watered down version of the first book. Whereas the first book had heart and emotional resonance, this had neither. Whereas the first book had secrets and laid them out beautifully More...
of this series. What began as a book that easily made my
top 20 fantasy novels, RUNNING WITH THE DEMON, took a slide
down to the mediocre mud pits of fantasy.
The main problem I had was that this book returned to
the hometown and created a watered down version of the first book. Whereas the first book had heart and emotional resonance, this had neither. Whereas the first book had secrets and laid them out beautifully More...
Mar 08, 2011
Dave
rated it:
An interesting end to the trilogy. Quite a few threads were left hanging, though, and the relentless demons-commanding-weak-people theme felt really overdone by this point. You can only take so much of the "and demon X turns person Y into an unwitting drone who realizes what's happening just too late".
The battle between good and evil wasn't nearly as well drawn out as it is in the Shannara books. There isn't really much insight into anything on the side of the Void, just a More...
The battle between good and evil wasn't nearly as well drawn out as it is in the Shannara books. There isn't really much insight into anything on the side of the Void, just a More...
Apr 30, 2011
Eko
rated it:
Terry Brooks brought an end to John Ross saga with this heartwarming book about Word vs Void, about mothers and children, and about how can you destroy yourself with minimal help from demons.
John Ross returned to Hopewell for one final service for the Word, bringing along with him a child of magical origin, of magics sought after by one of the most powerful demons ever there. In the end, he finished his duty with the help of a magical woman called Nest Freemark, whom he had saved, ha More...
John Ross returned to Hopewell for one final service for the Word, bringing along with him a child of magical origin, of magics sought after by one of the most powerful demons ever there. In the end, he finished his duty with the help of a magical woman called Nest Freemark, whom he had saved, ha More...
Sep 26, 2011
Lori
rated it:
This is the final book of the Word and Void Trilogy. This book returns to the story of John Ross and Nest Freemark. John has been tasked with finding and protecting a gypsy morph. This is John’s greatest task and could mean the end or survival of humanity. After finding the gypsy morph, he goes to Nest for her help in determining how to get the morph to make it’s final transition. Findo Gask, a demon of unusual power and goals is after the gypsy morph and is trying to determine where John a
More...
Aug 25, 2010
Asia
rated it:
I honestly wish this series ended with book two - there would have been about the same amount of closure and less of teeth gnashing for me.
After three books, what type of relationship did Nest and John have? They weren't friends, he was not her father-figure, and there was no teacher/student interaction either. Character development was non-existent, much of the story was 'tell, don't show,' and the big twist/reveal at the end? I guessed it just by reading the book description. More...
After three books, what type of relationship did Nest and John have? They weren't friends, he was not her father-figure, and there was no teacher/student interaction either. Character development was non-existent, much of the story was 'tell, don't show,' and the big twist/reveal at the end? I guessed it just by reading the book description. More...
Jun 16, 2011
Robin
rated it:
I found John Ross's lack of action whilst visiting Nest disturbing. The demons came across as schoolyard bullies without enough gumption to take control of the situation in spite of having an 'elite' leader and outnumbering the good guys. Sending nightmares via telephone..? Really? And Nest basically runs around like a chicken with its head cut off - lots of impulsive action with no real consequence. Baking cookies, caroling and sledding are probably not ideal activities for people in (allegedly
More...
Jul 24, 2008
Jenn
rated it:
In Angel Fire East, you find that Nest Freemark has developed into a beautiful woman. She went on to pursue a career as a runner and ends up graduating from college. Now at 29, Nest decides to go back home to Hopewell and spend the rest of her days in her motherâ?Ts old house visiting and spending time with old friends. Undecided as to what her future holds, Nest stays in Hopewell content to relax and take her time to make important decisions in her life.
When she opens her front do More...
When she opens her front do More...
Aug 05, 2011
Craig
rated it:
A nice conclusion to the trilogy. The ending satisfied, and was not predictable. Good characters, good storyline. I would call it the best of the trilogy, though that's usually the case with book 3. I want to mention the ending some, but don't want to put out spoilers. I will just say it fits nicely.
Jun 29, 2009
Greg
rated it:
Didn't have the same pull for me as the first two, but I could still get myself to finish it (which means I liked it). There is a character with drug addiction who gets alot of attention in this book. I really didn't care for the chapters in her viewpoint because they were so depressing.
Mar 18, 2008
Andy
rated it:
A group of demons stake out Nest's hometown waiting for John Ross to seek her out. The conclusion of 'The Word and the Void' series.
I have to admit, while I enjoyed the first book in this series "Running with the Demon" the most, this third installment brings the series to a satisfactory close. The second book, "A Knight of the Word", seemed more of an interlude, but "Angel Fire East" brings the story back to its origins: the small town of Sinsinnippi. S More...
I have to admit, while I enjoyed the first book in this series "Running with the Demon" the most, this third installment brings the series to a satisfactory close. The second book, "A Knight of the Word", seemed more of an interlude, but "Angel Fire East" brings the story back to its origins: the small town of Sinsinnippi. S More...
Aug 01, 2011
Admittedly this novel hooked me into reading more about the 'Word' series . . .although mostly to see how it would ultimately relate & integrate into the 'Shannara' series. Yes, from as far back as this work, one could readily tell the ultimate direction. Else, a simple read.
Dec 28, 2007
Tyler
rated it:
Brooks work on this book is definitely an improvement over the previous two in the trilogy. The mystery of the gypsy morph completely eluded me until the very end which didn't happen in either of the other books. And there is more of a horror twist to the writing which was not evidenced in the earlier books. This new element makes the book much more readable. Indeed, everything seems to be more amped up, the villains are more dedicated and play a larger part and the heroes put up a good fight. T
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Jul 08, 2011
Arianna
rated it:
Probably the best of the books of the trilogy, it keeps the tension on all the time and sadly, makes not everyone surviving the story.
A really nice conclusion (or partial conclusion), after all the misery!
A really nice conclusion (or partial conclusion), after all the misery!
Aug 16, 2009
Kate
rated it:
Last book in the trilogy/prequel to The Genesis of Shannara. Sad the series is over. I want to know how our society comes to an end.
Don't think he gets into that. Enjoyed immensely. Pure escapism.
Don't think he gets into that. Enjoyed immensely. Pure escapism.
Jan 27, 2012
Dan
rated it:
John Ross finally has his act together in this thrilling climax to the Word and the Void. Mr. Brooks writes in a wonderful cinematic style and finally shows the light and hope of the good in human hearts.
Aug 24, 2011
Fredrick
rated it:
Joh Ross is a Knight of the Word battling evil in the Pacific Northwest. After he captures a morph he tries to tame it while trying to learn its powers. Nest Freemark uses her magic to assist Ross battle demons.
Jan 21, 2010
Stefan
rated it:
Terry Brooks' best book. Deeply moving epic tragedy. It's been a while since I read it (a few years), maybe I wouldn't enjoy it as much now. But I remember it very fondly.
Nov 20, 2008
Andrew
rated it:
A WOnderful conclusion. It was a cliffhanger that isn't fulfilled in the next book, but the ending was still great. This one was much better then the last.
Oct 05, 2010
Mom
rated it:
not quite what i expected but the characters are good---the author is a little too wordy for me and i skipped the descriptions in all three books but enjoyable
Aug 09, 2011
Charlotte
rated it:
im afriad i guessed the two big 'mysteries' of the book. but still enjoyable, and nice to have some closure for nest freemark and john ross.
Aug 07, 2011
Tera
rated it:
Oops, accidentally read the last book in the trilogy first. Never mind eh? Pretty fun fantasy gumph, nothing outstanding but not rubbish either.
Aug 02, 2011
Tracy
rated it:
This was another great series by Terry Brooks. I was expecting a bit more of a dramatic ending to finish it all off. It was still a great read.
Jan 11, 2011
ChristinaJL
rated it:
I do like Terry Brooks, quick to read and well written. Think I need to buy the Genesis of Shannara trilogy now!! Love John Ross as a character and Nest is pretty cool too.
Sep 19, 2011
Bud
rated it:
Final conclusion to Word/Void trilogy. Think the last time I read this was 2002 - excellent overall
Aug 01, 2011
Not bad, necessary for the continuing story line but still not up to his caliber
Sep 01, 2010
Tom
rated it:
How I love me some Terry Brooks. Another well crafted story, the last, perhaps, dealing with the "Knight of the Word" concept.
