Customer Reviews

Witches' Brew (The Magic Kingdom of Landover)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This one is almost as good as "The Tangle Box," if you can believe it. Nightshade's hatred seems a bit over the top, but I guess that is her character. Again, Ben is confounded by things he can't understand and he doesn't really know what to do, even though it is clear to the reader what is going on, down to Nightshade's sidekick. But the plot is well developed and the mud puppy bit is a great addition! Poor Abernathy. Enough said. Read this one. You really must.

The best book of the series, I loved every word of it. This book has everything. I loved how old enemies became friends, old friends became new enemies, and how everything wound itself together so much that there was nothing else for the end but one climatic explosion throwing you for loops you never expected. Half the time I spent reading this book I was in total shock from the surprise of not knowing what was going to happen next. You could not end any series of novels better than Terry Brooks did with this one. This was as great book and a must read, you will really enjoy it if you like the magical and suspenceful elements of fantasy novels as much as I do.

In this sequel to The Tangle Box, two strangers appear at the gate of Sterling Silver Castle - the leader identifies himself as Rydall, King of the Marnhull, and challenging Ben Holiday to a contest over the throne of Landover. And when Ben and Willow's daughter, Mistaya, is abducted and Questor Thews and Abernathy disappear, it leaves Ben in the fight of his life. It's Ben's worse nightmare come to life, and he fears that even if he wins he will lose.

But, there is more going on than meets the eye. Rydall is merely a tool of the witch Nightshade, who wants to kill Ben Holiday in a particularly nasty way, and wants to use Mistaya to do it. Questor Thews and Abernathy have been sent to Earth, and are looking for a key that will allow them to return to Landover, but the cost may be more than they could have feared.

Overall, I found this to be another very good book in the series. There's a lot of great action, some really interesting monsters, and a lot of really interesting character development - we learn a lot especially about Nightshade. My one complaint against the story is that while some characters are likable (Questor Thews and Abernathy), and some interesting (Nightshade and Strabo), and some both (Ben Holiday and Willow), Mistaya is not actually either. Too formal and distant to be likable (though she is never unlikable), she is never developed enough to become interesting. I found that disappointing.

But, that said, my problems with Mistaya were not large enough to at all spoil the book for me. I still found it exciting and suspenseful, and I really enjoyed it. This is a great book in a great series, and I do not hesitate to recommend it to everyone!

Ben Holiday continues to struggle with the Kingdom of Landover, always seems something's going on which requires his attention. Very well done and may be the best of the series to date. Good fantasy and a an easy, enjoyable read.

If you like books like this one, might I suggest another I've recently come across. The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. It's another fantasy adventure sure to please. I highly recommend it.

I really enjoyed this book but I would REALLY like to know what happened to the witch and if she got out of the zoo. I hope that if Mr. Brooks reads this that he'll decide to write at least one more book and add it to the series.

This book gave me chills the second time I read it, let alone the first! I liked it because it reads smoothly, has suspence, and over all just a good story. It normally takes me two to three weeks to read a book of this size, but i finished this one in 2 days. I couldn't put the book down. I hope that Terry Brooks comes out with some more books in this series. (I might even have to spend the money to get a hardcover)

This book is one of the best of Brooks' Landover series. It has the same mystical, adventurous feeling as the first four books and also adds a wide variety of creatures and things set against lawyer Ben Holiday. This is a must read for those enjoy Brooks' other hits. This book is a milestone in the advancement of fantasy writing. Terry Brooks knows how to write, I can tell you that!

This is a good book, however it's not the best of the Landover series. The tangle box is a finer book but this one is still worth reading if you are a fantasy fan. The novel centers on the Witch nightshade's plan to destroy The High Lord and the instrument of the witch'es choosing is Mistaya, the High Lord's daughter. Usually the landover books are longer than this and perhaps if it was longer I would have enjoyed it more. There was somthing missing. Yet there are some truly scary scenes involving an ardsheal and other monsters so if you like monsters and lots of fighting this book is for you.

Book Five of the Landover series by Terry Brooks. Plays off the ending of Brooks' last landover book -The Tangle Box-. The story line: A King from another land outside of landover challenges Holiday for the crown and medallion of Landover. Holiday refuses and his daughter Mystaya is kidnapped. Holiday must accept the chasllenge if he is to get his daughter back. The challenge is he must defeat 7 creatures sent to kill him. What he doesn't know is that his daughter is unaware she has been kidnapped and is helping create the monsters sent to kill her father. In the end Holiday and her daughter both figure out what is secretely happening and expose the truth. To give more detail would ruin the book. Read it if you liked the Tangle Box!

Witches' Brew (1995) is the fifth fantasy novel in the Magic Kingdom of Landover series, following The Tangle Box. In the previous volume, Horris foiled the Gorse's plans. Ben was finally reunited with Willow and his newborn child. Later, Horris was sent back to Earth and became a bestselling fantasy author.

In this novel, Ben Holiday is a former trial lawyer. He has been King of Landover for about five years. He is married to Willow and has a two year old daughter.

Willow is a sylph, the daughter of the River Master and a wood nymph. She is also Ben's wife.

Mistaya is the daughter of Ben and Willow. Misty was gestated by soil from Landover, Earth and the fairy mists. She grew into a human looking infant, but developed more quickly. She has the body of a ten year old and the mind of someone in the mid twenties.

Questor Thews is the court wizard of Landover. He was the half-brother of the former court wizard. His wizardry has improved and he has gained more wisdom.

Abernathy is the court scribe. He is also a talking dog. He had once been a human, but had been transformed by Questor. The wizard has not yet been able to restore his human form.

Bunion is a kobold. He is the court runner, strong, fierce and able to move faster and further than almost any other creature. He has been with Ben since the beginning of these adventures.

Haltwhistle is a mud puppy. He serves the Earth Mother and has his own form of magic.

Nightshade is the Witch of Deep Fell. She came from the fairy mists long ago. She hates Ben, especially since the tangle box affair.

In this story, Nightshade has been observing Misty for the past two years. One day, she lets Misty find her hiding in a tree as a white crow with red eyes. After Ben calls Misty back to the picnic, the witch flies away to the Deep Fell to initiate her plans.

The next morning, Willow awakens with a premonition of great harm. Then Abernathy tells them that someone is outside the gates of Sterling Silver. Ben finds a black knight and a hunched companion on the other side of the moat and a black gauntlet thrown down on the causeway as a challenge.

Naming himself Rydell, the knight claims to be the King of Marnhull, an empire on the other side of the fairy mists. He threatens Landover with a huge army of conquest. He asks Ben to relinquish the throne of Landover to save countless deaths from the invasion.

When Ben refuses, Rydell offers an alternative to invasion. He will send seven creatures to fight with Ben or his champion. If Ben wins all seven conflicts, Rydell will leave Landover. Otherwise, Rydell will take the throne from Ben.

Ben finally accepts the challenge. He and Willow send Mistaya to her grandfather, the River Master. But Nightshade attacks the escort and tries to kill Questor and Abernathy. Yet her deadly magic is nullified by Haltwhistle and the court wizard and scribe are translated to Earth instead.

Rydell announces the abduction of Misty and produces her pony as evidence. Willow recognizes the pony and scarves as belonging to her daughter. Ben sends Bunion to check whether Misty had arrived in the Elderew. When Bunion confirms that Mistaya had never reached the Lake Country, Ben starts searching for his daughter elsewhere in Landover.

Meanwhile, Nightshade convinces Misty that she has been rescued from an abduction attempt by Rydell and that her parents know where she is. Then Nightshade offers to teach her magic and Mistaya accepts the offer. Nightshade soon begins her first lesson.

This tale has Misty learning magic in the Deep Fell, Questor and Abernathy stranded on Earth, and the King and Queen of Landover frantic over their missing daughter. Powerful creatures appear to challenge Ben. Nightshade is gleefully anticipating the final step in her evil plot.

This is the last novel in the original series. But another volume has recently appeared: A Princess of Landover. Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Brooks fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of magic kingdoms, perilous adventures, and a very young and magical princess.

-Arthur W. Jordin