It’s finally here! Today is the day that the Shannara Chronicles debuts on MTV, and I can hardly wait to see it tonight. So, in celebration, I have read and reviewed the book it is based on, The Elfstones of Shannara (book 2 in the Shannara Chronicles).

FIrst, yes you can start with the second book and be fine. I’m planning on going back to read the first, but the second book stands on its own very well. If you’re a fan of Tolkien or CS Lewis, or any kind of fantasy that involves questing and heroes and monsters, this is for you.

The Ellcrys tree is dying. The magnificent tree isn’t just sacred to the elves, though. It protects the entire world from the demons who rage and fight just on the other side of the dimension for freedom. If the tree dies, the seal between the two worlds will be broken, and they will destroy the Earth. So when all of the guardians of the Ellcrys are killed by a few rebel escaped demons, all hope for the world seems lost.

That is, until it is realized on of the Chosen still lives. Amberle lives in shame far away from the tree and her life as a Chosen. When Wil comes to take her back so that she can help save the dying tree, she denies him. She left the tree, and her duties as a Chosen, for a reason. But the salvation of Earth and all of its races is too much to ignore, and she sets off on a dangerous quest to revive the tree.

Filled with daring escapes, lots of battles and more than a few pretty heroes and heroines, Shannara is a classic example of the fantasy genre. I highly recommend it! Thanks, Dad, for getting me started on it! It’s like a clean version of Game of Thrones, which means you can share it with most ages and most of your friends.

So go out and get a copy today. And tune in tonight! I will be 🙂