Galaphile: The First Druids of Shannara

The First Druids of Shannara , #1

Hardcover, 336 pages

English language

Published March 11, 2025

ISBN:
978-0-593-12980-7
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ASIN:
0593129806
4 stars (1 review)

New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks makes his triumphant return to the world of Shannara, delving deep into the origin story of the druid order and its enigmatic creator that will change the face of the Four Lands forever.

One of the most iconic structures in the Four Lands is Paranor, the fortress home of the Druid Order. Legend holds that it was erected by an Elven leader known as Galaphile Joss. But who was this Galaphile, and how and why did he choose to establish this center of magic and learning?

Within these pages we meet the real Galaphile, following him from a friendless teenage orphan stranded in the Human world to a powerful adult and master mage, studying under the infamous recluse, Cogline. We learn of the forces that shaped him—those he loved, and those he lost; those who aided him, and those who stood against him. …

2 editions

reviewed Galaphile: The First Druids of Shannara by Terry Brooks (The First Druids of Shannara, #1)

A Strong Beginning and Perhaps An Ending

4 stars

Just before I started reading Galaphile, Terry Brooks announced he would be passing on writing the remaining books in the trilogy to another writer. If this will end up being his last Shannara novel, he ended on a strong note. This has all the hallmarks of his best work, with gripping adventure and well-realized characters. It definitely carried an Arthurian flavour, and I could see the ending twist coming from early on, but that heightened a feeling of being overwhelmed that mirrored Galaphile's circumstances.