Armageddon's Children

Starred review from August 7, 2006
In this exciting first of a new fantasy trilogy, bestseller Brooks effortlessly connects the Tolkien-infused magic of his Shannara books (First King of Shannara
, etc.) with the urban, postapocalyptic world of his Word and the Void series (Running with the Demon
, etc.). The author envisions a chilling near-future U.S., where civilization has collapsed from environmental degradation, plagues, global warfare and supernatural threats. The last surviving members of the Knights of the Word, Logan Tom and Angel Perez, seek to keep the "balance of the world's magic in check" as they battle the Void—embodied by demons, their leader Findo Cask and their vicious human mutant counterparts known as "once-men." The Ghosts, an endearing tribe of street teens led by the resourceful Hawk, also scrabble for survival. Meanwhile, the human-demon war threatens the coexisting Elven nation. Longtime Brooks fans and newcomers will be riveted as the fate of the human and Elven worlds hangs in the balance.

June 15, 2006
In the latter part of the 21st century, the world collapses from environmental neglect and the manipulations of greedy men. Of the few survivors of the Great War, some maintain their humanity and will to save the world, while others devolve into ferals or become -once-men, - selling their souls to demons who prove real after all. When a young man named Logan, one of the elite Knights of the Word dedicated to preserving good and destroying evil, receives the mission to find a very special child, he knows that the timetable is set. Brooks, author of the enormously popular Shannara novels, captures the frantic atmosphere of a world on the edge of damnation. Recommended for every library.

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2006
Adult/High School -Fans of Brooks, best known for his -Shannara - series (Del Rey), will be delighted by this novel. Set on Earth some 80 years from now, it is the first volume in an untitled pre-Shannara series that continues the story of the author -s -Word/Void - trilogy (Del Rey). The Earth has been ravished by ecological disasters and demons, and once-men and horrible mutated monsters roam the planet. Any remaining humans are holed up in fortresses, except for the outcasts and the unwanted street children, including a group called the Ghosts, who have formed tribes to survive. Logan Tom and Angel Peres, who are Knights of the Word, have been recruited by The Lady to save and protect the gypsy morph, the offspring of Nest Freegard, previously featured in the trilogy. Brooks has an easy and fluid style; he makes a complicated plot less difficult to understand. Teens new to his work will love this introduction to his best-selling fantasies. And there are enough characters (and some surprises) from the other books to make any fan happy. Be warned, however, that the ending is literally a cliff-hanger, and readers may find it difficult to wait patiently for the next volume of this sure-to-be popular series." -Jane Halsall, McHenry Public Library District, IL "

Copyright 2006 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from May 15, 2006
Extrapolating from current world events, Brooks projects a worst-case scenario in which the steady destruction of all humankind is a reality. Plagues have killed half a billion, weapons of mass destruction have decimated entire populations, and the few survivors have retreated into a siege mentality, turning city stadiums into walled compounds and shutting out the "freaks"--those who have mutated from breathing the polluted air and drinking the badly fouled water. A variety of principals propel the transfixing yarn Brooks spins in this setting: Logan Tom and Angel Perez, both Knights of the Word committed to keeping the magic that binds all things together in balance; Hawk, a street kid who leads a group of other young people in Seattle; Kirisin, a young elf who is one of the Chosen safeguarding the Ellcrys, a magnificent tree upon whose existence the lives of the elves depend and whose safety is now threatened; and the demons and their minions, the once-men, who have been subverted by false promises and lies. Everything and everyone moves inexorably toward a deadly confrontation in the Northwest. Characterizations are dynamic and multidimensional, the descriptions of the land as well as the ruined cities and small towns are compelling, the action and battles are mesmerizing, and, as is Brooks' wont, the ending is a cliff-hanger that leaves readers salivating for the sequel.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)

October 2, 2006
In a postapocalyptic America, legions of demons and mutants known as "once-men" roam the landscape. Two teens, Logan Tom and Angel Perez, are the last surviving Knights of the Word, and may be humanity's last hope against the forces of darkness. Although the characters here are sketchily drawn, and many of the postapocalyptic tropes Brooks employs are either overly familiar or not fully developed, Hill does an admirable job of breathing life into the story and characters. He skillfully gives voice to a panoply of child characters, and alters his voice just enough to indicate their youth without becoming overly cutesy. Hill's overall tone is dark and somber, giving an appropriate ambiance to the narrative. As good as Hill is, though, this audio might have benefited from a second narrator; since the narrative unfolds in two primary threads (Logan's and Angel's), it would have been easier for the listener to keep track had there been a different narrator for each. Which is not to say that Hill's performance is in any way lacking; quite the contrary: it is exemplary. Simultaneous release with the Ballantine hardcover (Reviews, Aug. 7).