Customer Reviews
Appalling - books like this give fantasy a bad name. - By: D. Lockwood, 04 Dec 2007 
I am stunned that anyone would publish this. I'll admit i'm not a great fan of Terry Brooks' other books, but I last read one years ago & as the blurb of this caught my interest I thought I'd give it a try. After the first book i was slightly disappointed, but enjoyed it enough to carry on reading. The characters were ok, the plot wasn't great but it kept me interested enough to carry & even though you could see exactly where it was going I quite enjoyed it. That said I did find the whole pixies guarding parks, native american shamans the the 'feeders' pretty embaressing to read, because they're such painfully simplistic & childish ideas, but the whole thing didn't hang together THAT badly. I did enjoy the dream sequences of the future & quite liked the characters, but found myself skipping increasingly large sections of useless filler.
Then I started on the second book. I don't think i'll bother with the third. The plot & the story telling was one of the clumsiest, most ill-written things I have EVER read - & believe me when I say I've read a LOT of bad fantasy - but this was so dreadful I actuallly felt the need to proclaim it to the rest of the world. Please avoid this & please find something that doesn't turn your brain to mush. The 'twist', if it can so be callled, at the end about who the demon was.....i'm just stunned that anyone who has written as much as Terry Brooks has could possibly do this.
When I first started to read fantasy at about 12 I doubt I would have enjoyed it & even more shocking than the book itself, are the other reviews on this site. I can only assume there has been some confusion over what is being reviewed.
Compendium Magic - By: Gareth Wilson, 27 Nov 2007 
Gathered for the first time in one superb volume, Terry Brooks trilogy of the Word & the Void. Highly creative, set in a modern world where magic & demons are fought against by Knights of the Word such as the novels principle protagonist John Ross. Completely different to Brooks Shanarra series if you've become disillusioned by the sheer volume, read this novel, it will remind you that the writing talent is not only strong & so enjoyable but is difficult to put down with this series sure to become a firm favourite. How do I know? Well my Dad's a big Brooks fan however he's never read this series & this is going to be his Christmas Treat with I suspect the consequence of not seeing him without his nose in the book. At least I know one guy that won't be bored over the Christmas period.
Fantastic! - By: DWFan, 19 Aug 2007 
Word & the Void series sets itself apart from other fantasy series & is incredible. I very much like Brooks (apart from the Magic Kingdom series) & this trilogy is gritty & fast paced. Managed to get the original hardback editions & have read & reread them, this series is superb & if I had to pick a favourite trilogy this would be it. Set in modern day Illinois it portrays its story of Nest Freemark (in particular life stages) & her battle with the void with the help of John Ross a Knight of the word - it is totallly different & refreshing from the normal fantasy gene. What is also good is that this series has not been extended beyond the trilogy (due to poor sales in the 90s)That also keeps it fresh without becoming tired
Amazing, a must read for fantasy fiction addicts. - By: C. Burgwin, 23 May 2006 It is usual to find my head immersed in a David Eddings or Terry Goodkind novel, not emerging until the very last word has been fully digested. However, the seemingly never ending well of novels had finallly been exhausted & I was reluctantly forced to explore other authors. I happened upon this book by accident & I can truely say I am extremely grateful for that.
This is one of the most outstanding writers I have had the pleasure of reading, the way in which each character is bought to life is amazing & the curious mix of modern day life & a sprinkling of magic is genius. If you are anything like me & have difficulty in been unfaithful to your favourite authors, take a deep breath, reach into your purse & take the plunge. I guarantee you won't regret it. This book has everything, well thought out intertwining plots, imagination grabbing characters & at no time do you feel that words have been used to 'fill the gaps'. Fast paced & incredibly entertaining.
Probably Brooks' best - By: L. L. M. Almenningen, 01 Feb 2006 I like most of the writing of Terry Brooks. This book is along the lines of the other - good fighting evil with some magic thrown in. Yet it manages to avoid becoming more of the same old, same old. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
The main character in this omnibus is the Knight of the Word, John Ross. His duty in life is to fight the demons of the Void, while at the same time protecting regular humans as much as possible. Both Knights & demons are humans who have been changed by magic.
In the first book he meets up with Nest Freemark, the last of a long line of female park protectors. Through their magic they have tried to keep magic in balance. This has assisted the sylvan Pick, who is the caretaker of the Sinnissippi park in Hopewell. John Ross is on the tail of a demon who seems more than a little interested in Nest & he has to figure out how to deal with this demon before July 4th.
In book two we once again meet up with Nest & John. Nest is now five years older & at college. John has lost his faith in the Word & his abilities as a knight, so Nest is sent to rescue him before the Lady has to deal with his failure. Along the way more demons arrive & John has to face some unpleasant truths about himself.
In the third book John has found the Gypsy Moth & is heading for Nest to get help. But the demons want the Gypsy Moth as well, & they have discovered his destination. The Void has sent its best demon. Not only does Nest have to help John, but ghosts from the past turn up again. Bennet from book one turns up, this time with a child. The ending of the book was surprising & interesting.
