The Gypsy Morph (Genesis of Shannara, #3)

by Terry Brooks

book data

601 ratings, 4.06 average rating, 104 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		36%
4		39%
3		20%
2		3%
1		1%

edit

published

August 26th 2008 by Del Rey

binding

Hardcover, 402 pages

isbn

0345484142 (isbn13: 9780345484147)

description

Terry Brooks won instant acclaim with his phenomenal New York Times bestseller The Sword of Shannara. Its sequels earned Brooks legendary status. Then...more

[close] Terry Brooks won instant acclaim with his phenomenal New York Times bestseller The Sword of Shannara. Its sequels earned Brooks legendary status. Then his darkly enthralling The Word and the Void trilogy revealed new depths and vistas to his mastery of epic fantasy. Armageddon's Children and The Elves of Cintra took Brooks's remarkable mythos to a breathtaking new level by delving deep into the history of Shannara. And now, The Gypsy Morph rounds out–with an adventure of unforgettably imaginative scope–the first phase of a new chapter in this classic series.

Eighty years into the future, the United States is a no-man's-land: its landscape blighted by chemical warfare, pollution, and plague; its government collapsed; its citizens adrift, desperate, fighting to stay alive. In fortified compounds, survivors hold the line against wandering predators, rogue militias, and hideous mutations spawned from the toxic environment, while against them all stands an enemy neither mortal nor merciful: demons and their minions bent on slaughtering and subjugating the last of humankind.

But from around the country, allies of good unite to challenge the rampaging evil. Logan Tom, wielding the magic staff of a Knight of the Word, has a promise to keep-protecting the world's only hope of salvation–and a score to settle with the demon that massacred his family. Angel Perez, Logan's fellow Knight, has risked her life to aid the elvish race, whose peaceful, hidden realm is marked for extermination by the forces of the Void. Kirisin Belloruus, a young elf entrusted with an ancient magic, must deliver his entire civilization from a monstrous army. And Hawk, the rootless boy who is nothing less than destiny's instrument, must lead the last of humanity to a latter-day promised land before the final darkness falls.

The Gypsy Morph is an epic saga of a world in flux as the mortal realm yields to a magical one; as the champions of the Word and the Void clash for the last time to decide what will be and what must cease; and as, from the remnants of a doomed age, something altogether extraordinary rises. [close]

find at: Amazon | Half.com | Barnes & Noble | compare prices ($13.94)…

new topic
discuss this book

topics	posts	views	last activity
SciFi and Fantasy...: Best Apocalypse Novels	76	523	1 day ago, 03:26AM
Glens Falls (NY) ...: Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009 - VALENTINE'S DAY - What are U doing today?	24	10	02/21/2009 02:11PM
Fantasy Book Club: What are you reading in January?	112	282	02/04/2009 03:52AM
SciFi and Fantasy...: What I'm Also Reading in January 2009	58	317	01/31/2009 12:54PM
Glens Falls (NY) ...: What are U reading these days? (Part Three) (begun 1/3/09)	88	75	01/28/2009 10:08AM

friend reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

lists with this book

Favorite Chick-Lit

243 books | 487 voters

More lists...

other reviews (showing 1-20 of 949)

sort: default (?) | date
filters: all | text-only

08/08/08

Chris rated it:

Read in September, 2008

I was looking forward to this book, and it began as these things typically do for Terry Brooks.

It is a nice finishing for the series, and there is enough left open for possible follow-ons. But I felt that there were a lot of plot elements that seemed to happen for no reason.

(spoilers alert)

The romance between Logan Tom and Simralin just happened, with little "onscreen" happenings to explain it. (As if Mr. Brooks wanted it to be so, so it happened.)
...more

Like this review? yes

2 comments

09/12/08

Jenn rated it:

bookshelves: sci-fi-fantasy

Read in September, 2008

recommended to Jenn by: I've been reading the entire series.
recommends it for: Anyone who likes fantasty novels.

I did a marathon one day read on this puppy! It's hard for me to give it less than 5 stars because I have loved just about everything Terry has written.

It is the third in a trilogy and you definitely need to read the others to really enjoy it. That said, if you like the others, this will make you happy. =)

Terry pulls all the threads together nice and neat and even threw in a couple of surprises that I really enjoyed.

I tend to be a little vague in my reviews...more

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

2 comments

12/25/08

Jenny rated it:

bookshelves: 2008-books-read, controlled-release, reviewed-for-front-street-reviews

Read in November, 2008

The Gypsy Morph is the third book in the Genesis of Shannara trilogy.

With the United States fallen into ruin, the Knights of the Word, Logan Tom and Angel Perez face a challenge in facing the evil that is rampaging towards them.

Logan Tom has to keep the promise that he made to the boy Hawk and his band of survivors called the Ghosts. Hawk, a magical being called the Gypsy Morph, is leading the ghosts to meet with other survivors in the wilds of Oregon. He is charged wi...more The Gypsy Morph is the third book in the Genesis of Shannara trilogy.

With the United States fallen into ruin, the Knights of the Word, Logan Tom and Angel Perez face a challenge in facing the evil that is rampaging towards them.

Logan Tom has to keep the promise that he made to the boy Hawk and his band of survivors called the Ghosts. Hawk, a magical being called the Gypsy Morph, is leading the ghosts to meet with other survivors in the wilds of Oregon. He is charged with leading them to a place of eventual safety.

Angel Perez has risked her life to help the elves in their fight against the demons of the void. She has helped the young elf Kirisin Belloruus and his sister find the legendary Lodestone. Kirisin has been entrusted with the knowledge of an ancient magic. This magic will put his people and their home of Arborlon inside of the Lodestone. Kirisin is charged with taking the magical gem to safety with the help of a small band of elves. They must get past the demon army waiting to crush the elven city and find someplace safe.

Will the Knights of the Word guide their charges and keep them safe long enough to reach the gypsy morph, Hawk’s, safe haven? Or, will the demon army from the void sweep away the survivors, be they elven, human, or mutant, and bring about the destruction of the world?

I have been a fan of the Terry Brooks writing for a very long time. The first time I read my father’s copy of The Sword of Shannara I was transported to a world of magic and conflict that I fell in love with. Sadly though I’ve not kept up with reading the Shannara books over the years. The Genesis of Shannara trilogy gave me a chance to revisit the writing of a favorite author. In this trilogy, I found a story that shows us the readers the actual happenings of the apocalyptic past that was hinted at during various points in the original Shannara books that I read so many years ago.

I really enjoyed this final installment to the trilogy. I enjoyed seeing the emergence of the elves into our world, and the destruction that caused life as we know it to fall apart and evolve into the less technically inclined world that the Shannara stories are set in. I loved seeing how author Terry Brooks brought two of his series that I enjoyed together with the Knights of the Word being involved in this part of the history of Shannara (The series being The Knight of the Word books and the Shannara books). Reading The Gypsy Morph made me realize how much I’ve missed reading this author’s writing, and I look forward to catching up with the books that I’ve missed over the years.
(less)

Like this review? yes

add a comment

08/29/08

Teri rated it:

Read in September, 2008

i was disappointed with how this ended.. I kept waiting for soome big connection to the shannara books, but there is still a big leap there. Some stories still let untold. I found the end to be a little abrubt as well. This was also the first book, where he referenced things in previous books where I couldn't remember who or which event he was referring back to.

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

add a comment

07/23/08

Emily rated it:

Read in September, 2008

I did like this book, but I think it was a bit anti-climactic for the ending of this trilogy. And of course the door is left wide open for another story . . . I love fantasy as a genre, I really do, but I get so tired of how these authors can get away with never really finishing their stories . . . !

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

add a comment

01/06/09

Ben Babcock rated it:

bookshelves: 2009-read, fantasy, from-library

Read in January, 2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

The Gypsy Morph is the dynamic, action-packed adventure that concludes the Genesis of Shannara trilogy. All the same protagonists return to finish the journey they began in Armageddon's Children and The Elves of Cintra, led by the eponymous gypsy morph, Hawk. The fate of the the races of both men and Elves rests upon his shoulders, for he is a creature of magic who can lead the survivors of a broken world to the promised land.

Overall I enjoyed this book for what it was. I haven't ...more The Gypsy Morph is the dynamic, action-packed adventure that concludes the Genesis of Shannara trilogy. All the same protagonists return to finish the journey they began in Armageddon's Children and The Elves of Cintra, led by the eponymous gypsy morph, Hawk. The fate of the the races of both men and Elves rests upon his shoulders, for he is a creature of magic who can lead the survivors of a broken world to the promised land.

Overall I enjoyed this book for what it was. I haven't been a huge fan of The Genesis of Shannara series in general. Terry Brooks is one of my favourite authors; I love the Shannara series, although I didn't read his books about the Word and the Void. Many of the characters in this series were interesting and likable; I didn't care too much for the story or the plot, which I found predictable and tiresome at times.

I'm glad that, in the end, Luke and Simralin get together. They deserve each other after having to go through so much. I'm also glad that Hawk and Tess are having a child, that Panther found a companion in Catalya, and that uncertain characters like Angela and Kirisin have matured so dramatically over the course of the trilogy. Brooks made me care for these characters.

In many ways, this book was rushed. Luke's battle with Findo Gask is not-so-epic, which is a shame, because there was so much lead-in to it and emotional resonance on the line. Likewise, I'm not sure about the very ending--I understand what Brooks was trying to do, but I feel like he glossed over the transformation of the Earth we know into Shannara. I wish he had presented it differently.

A must-read if you are a Terry Brooks fan. Even though this isn't the best Shannara trilogy, this is how Brooks intended for the world of Shannara to come about, apparently, whether I like it or not. The themes present in his other series are still strong here. Demons continue to represent humanity's sinful side, our greed, lust, and hatred. The world, which has become corrupt and nearly unlivable, will gradually be reborn, and we have to adapt to it, not the other way around. And science, once our salvation, now takes a back seat to the old ways of magic, which promise renewal and the hope for a world without demons.

Well, we know how well that turns out....(less)

Like this review? yes

add a comment

12/17/08

Winchee added it

Read in December, 2008

So it was nice to finish up the genesis of shannara series. I thought this last book was what it ought to be...the wrap up of several different story lines. There was one fight scene that I wish had been better. The final confrontation between Michael and Findo Gask was a total DUD. I thought it should have been more like the fight scene between Angel and Delloreen - which was way cool. You could totally picture this young, latino woman fighting off the monster with just her grit, determina...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

09/06/08

Lisa rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy

Always with the trilogies. I hated that this one didn't end. Still loved the characters and monsters. Great intro on the elves. Really liked the back stories on everybody.

Like this review? yes (1 person liked it)

add a comment

10/12/08

Matthew rated it:

bookshelves: read-for-pleasure

Read in November, 2008

recommends it for: people who are already invested in series and serious Brooks fans. No one else should care.

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

03/16/09

Paul Morris rated it:

(review of isbn 1841495778)

bookshelves: fantasy

Read in March, 2009

This is the third book in the Genesis of Shannara trilogy. It completes the story of how the end our world came about and the new world of Shanarra came into being.

For non-Terry Brooks fans, the book will make little sense and if you want to get into his world he has a very good article on his web site which details the best order to read the books.

It follows the usual formula of travelling on a quest to get somwhere and isn't one of his best books overall. However, it do...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

10/27/08

Jackie rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy, post-apocalyptic

Read in February, 2009

A good part of it deals with children who were born into this really messed up world. It reminds me of what someone posted about The Road in another thread in Scifi/Fanstasy Book club: how she couldn't believe the level of fear the boy was experiencing because he was born into it. Children are highly adaptable, even to the worst of situations and they have nothing to compare it with, screwed up world is normal to them if they were born when everything was already messed up.
The children in...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

10/09/08

Tami rated it:

I will try not to sound too much like an enamored fan but I have to admit that Terry Brooks is one of my all time favorite authors. When I think of well written epic fantasy, Terry Brooks immediately comes to mind. I have good reason. I continue to pick up and read his books because I know that the story will be memorable, that the characters will be well developed and within a few chapters I will care what happens to them, that the action scenes are going to be spectacular, and that no characte...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

09/18/08

Chris rated it:

Read in September, 2008

recommends it for: Teenagers

Not my favorite book. Hearing what is going on in every characters head was too much. I think the story would have been stronger had he concentrated on developing just a couple characters. The characters were very much the same, all of them behaved the same when confronted with a challenge. Nearly all of them had the same doubts same fears. I think Terry Brooks has one model of "woman" in his mind and all women are that one character. Only Logan Tom was different. The fact that ...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

08/04/08

Tranylle rated it:

Read in September, 2008

I think I got myself so excited for this to come out, that now I'm disappointed. Maybe it's because I'm listening to it on an audiobook and I can't stand the guys voice who is reading. Maybe it is because I read the first two so long ago I can't remember a lot of what happened. I liked the first chapter a lot, and now I've gotten into the chapters about Hawk and the rest of the Ghosts, which I think I like better than the chapters on the Elves for some reason. I'm sure I'll get more into it a...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

07/17/08

LeiAnn rated it:

Read in September, 2008

Terry Brooks and his world of Shannara, after 15 years of reading his books, is still one of my absolute favorite ways to escape into fantasy. He is still creating memorable characters and interesting situations for them to prove themselves. He has this great vision for epic fantasy and somehow weaves his characters together for the desired outcome.

This trilogy takes place immediately following the "Great Wars" that destroyed the world as we know it. It follows the chi...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

06/03/08

Kyle Johnson rated it:

Terry Brooks' Shannara series has always been very pulp. While that was pretty common-place when he first wrote Sword of Shannara, nowadays that lack of originality usually leads to a drop in readership, and ultimately a loss of publishing deal. Yet somehow, Brooks continues to take a very basic Lord of the Rings-esque plot, and make it his own.

This, the final "Genesis of Shannara" book, came in about where I expected it to be. It was nothing special, it offered no huge rev...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment

12/10/08

Deb rated it:

Read in December, 2008

recommends it for: fans of Terry Brooks

I really enjoyed how Brooks, 30 years (?) after his first book, wrote this prequel to The Sword of the Shannara -- and all the other sequels that followed! It made sense, brought the world to light that he created later, etc. and was hopeful. I agree with my brother that the Gypsy Morph was hurried and another criticism I had was that "everyone" fell in love -- he's not done this before and i didn't really feel it added a lot. I enjoyed it.

Like this review? yes

add a comment

12/28/08

John rated it:

bookshelves: fantasy

Read in December, 2008

I like Terry Brooks' novels ... so sue me! This is the final book in the Genesis of Shannara triology. Its simply another immensely enjoyable book with Brooks' trademark characters: even the less than sterling ones are so interesting you can't wait to learn more about them. One of the best of all time is still one of the best. What can I say?

Like this review? yes

add a comment

12/13/08

James Stout rated it:

I thought this series one of the best Brooks has ever written. I've been a lifelong fan of his work and was not terribly impressed with his Jerle Shannara series, but he's back! I thought the final book (the Gypsy Morph) was a little hurried, though; the climax came all of a sudden and then the trilogy ended. I'd like to see it continue...

Like this review? yes

1 comment

11/14/08

Mel rated it:

Terry Brooks is very hit or miss as an author. I think he is an excellent story teller, but he not a very good writer. This book was no exception.
This was supposed to be the culminating book of the trilogy but it fell a little flat. Brooks is very good at buidling expectations, bringing the reader into the story by giving tantalizing hints and partial bits of information about the characters. However, once it's time to actually deliver, his climax is decidedly anti-climactic. ...more

Like this review? yes

add a comment