Very dark and terrible cliff hanger opening but great opener for a three book series.

3.5 stars.

4/32 in my epic Shannara re-read. This series is still urban-ish fantasy, which I don't like, but it is slightly better because it is now post-apocalyptic. This is Brooks at his most formulaic. There is nothing particularly new or fresh in his books by this stage of his career but he has always written compelling characters. There are also some borderline creepy scenes involving demons and monsters (for lack of a better word.) We also see the first appearance of elves in the Shannara world, chronologically at least. Looking forward to getting into the books that are firmly within the fantasy genre.

Entertaining. I loved to see the Shannara universe in a time closer to modern day. Relieved when I got to the chapter about the Ellcrys - put me back in the original books!

Still gets me turning the pages even now, and fourteen years hasn't tarnished the readability of Armageddon's Children. Brooks twists what you imagine the two part storyline is going to be and throws you into a third completely different world. The characters are as relatable as ever and the story line still the classic good versus evil. There is a rhythm to this series and the preceding trilogy that I really enjoy.
A great read.

I have long been told that Terry Brooks was a writer i would enjoy, but i really had no strong desire to start reading his mammoth Shannara series. 19 books is quite a commitment to a single author, as such, i just never got around to reading any of them.

About six months ago, i ran across a copy of Armageddon's Children on the cheap. I read the inside cover and it was pretty clear that this was a standalone book, and a nice introduction into Brooks, with out having to commit myself to a mass reading project. i picked up the book and read it, enjoying the whole plot. Unfortunately, the book ended up not being a standalone. Instead, it was the first book in a standalone TRILOGY. the prequels to the Shannara series... damn you publishing house.. damn you. The other two books are "The Elves of Cintra" and "They Gypsy Morph"

I searched out and found matching hardback copies of the rest of the trilogy and got sucked into the story with absolutely no effort.

The series is pretty solid. it details the journey of a band of children living in the pac nw after the world has essentially ended. radiation has created waves of mutation in humans. healthy people are holing up in fortresses for safety, often times made out of the largest populace centers available, stadiums.

One band of children, led by a boy named Hawk, live in the pioneer square area of seattle. they are fending for themselves and eking out a moderate existence as a surrogate family.

Hawk has a dream that he will lead the children to a safe world where they can thrive in safety. the children follow him almost like a father figure.

From an alternate location, Logan Tom, is a Knight of the Word. he hunts demons that roam the planet, seeking to destroy all that exists, seeking dominance over the world. Logan Tom is sent by the essence of existence, the "Word" to find Hawk and help him achieve his goals. He must do this before the world in engulfed in a flaming apocalypse which will destroy everything.

There are a lot of sub plots and a large number of characters i do not make mention of. I would highly suggest this series. even if you have no desire to read the whole Shannara series, this prequel set is a solid read and is written in a way that you are never forced to moe on. Shannara is not even mentioned by name.

funny, i finally get why people spout off at the mouth about Terry Brooks. Perhaps i will pick up his novelizations of Hook and The Phantom Menace and read those soon.

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xpost RawBlurb.com

RATING: 3 stars.

A bit meh and the cliffhanger is annoying but I guess I do want to know what happens next.

Bad, bad writing. Didn't care about the story. Couldn't finish it.

This book is billed as Terry Brooks' best book yet, however the writing is often awkward and the post-apocalyptic world is full of a strange conglomeration of familiar fantasy world characters. Overall it feels disjointed and fails in its attempt to create myth. However, the characters are interesting and the action fast-paced, which still makes the book an enjoyable read.