The Darkling Child

The Darkling Child by Terry Brooks
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second installment of author Terry Brooks’ Defenders of Shannara trilogy opens with Paxon Leah perusing centuries-old documents, with the current Ard Rhys Aphenglow designating Isaturin as her successor, and the ritual where Aphenglow steps down transpiring. In the meantime, Dallen Usurient, Federation Commander of the Red Slash, leads an invasion of the town of Arbrox, where the main antagonist, Arcannen Rai, vows vengeance. Six weeks later, on a rainy night, Reyn Frosch walks into the Boar’s Head Tavern in the village of Portlow to give a performance, with Arcannen noting his talents and saving him from danger.

Paxon continues to practice with the Gnome Oost Mondara, while Arcannen visits what seems to be a brothel, the House of Rare Flowers, where the dark sorcerer finds Lariana, who yearns to study sorcery. Reyn and Lariana ultimately cross paths with one another, with Arcannen continuing to plot against the Red Slash for want of vengeance for the destruction of Arbrox. Paxon Leah and his Druid companion Avelene pursue Arcannen and his charges, with a celebration on a plateau that sports a memorial known as the Horn of Honor providing the black magician to get his vengeance.

The final chapter settles the fates of the various characters, and overall, this particular installment of Brooks’ Defenders of Shannara series is definitely a satisfying read, given its character development coupled with plentiful fantastical action, a smidgeon of politics occasionally weaving its way into the story. Granted, there were often times where I found it very difficult to imagine the appearances of the diverse luminaries playing part, with the reference to Paxon as a “Highlander” not helping, and thus, some reminders on how they look would have been welcome, but otherwise, I’m definitely not hesitant to recommend this story.

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