"From New York Times bestselling author Terry Brooks comes a thrilling stand-alone novel in his legendary Shannara series--the perfect place for new readers to begin"-- Provided by publisher. "Paxon Leah has joined the Druid Order as a paladin, tasked with protecting the Druids with the aid of his magical sword. But Paxon's toughest assignment will come when he must track down a young musician with newly-manifested magic before a rival sorcerer can...

"Paxon Leah never thought of the old family sword hanging above his living room hearth as anything other than an intriguing ornament...until his sister is kidnapped by a sorcerer. Following the dark mage with nothing but this piece of steel to protect him, Paxon stumbles into a plot to over throw the Druids and remake the world...and accidentally unlocks the powers of the ancient blade. Now, he must learn to master the sword's power in order to protect...

"The inspiration for the epic MTV series, the world of Shannara is brimming with untold stories and unexplored territory. Now bestselling author Terry Brooks breaks new ground with a standalone adventure that's sure to thrill veteran readers and recent converts alike"-- "In this, the third stand-alone Shannara novel in the Defenders of Shannara series (following The High Druid's Blade and The Darkling Child), the daughter of a reviled sorcerer, Leofur...