100,000+ Books, Games & Puzzles in-stock 🇳🇿

Fast overnight NZ delivery 🚀 Don't forget Father's Day is this Sunday 📅

The Darkling Child

The Defenders of Shannara
By Terry Brooks
Series: The Defenders of Shannara
0.0 (0 reviews)
3.95 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 4,655 ratings, 301 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
The Darkling Child by Terry Brooks is set in the richly imagined Four Lands. It follows the journey of a young man named Paxon Leah, who is thrust into a world of magic and danger after discovering his family's ancient sword. As he grapples with newfound powers, he becomes entangled with powerful forces seeking to use or destroy him, all amidst a battle between good and evil.
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
TEMPORARILY OUT OF STOCK Please add to wishlist to be notified when back in stock

Sorry, we're currently out of stock of The Darkling Child. Please add to your Wishlist and we'll send you an email as soon as it's back in stock.

Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you love epic fantasy tales filled with magical adventures and powerful sorcery. It's perfect for fans of intricate world-building and tales of quests that feature complex characters navigating destiny and danger. If you're drawn to the struggle between good and evil and revel in richly imagined universes, this will be a captivating read for you.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

From New York Times bestselling fantasy author Terry Brooks comes the second stand-alone novel in his legendary Shannara series - a perfect place for new readers to begin

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

New powers are awakening. A legend is born...

In a distant corner of the Four Lands, the mysterious magic of the wishsong has been detected. Paxon Leah, sworn protector of the Druid order and heir of the enchanted Sword of Leah, must travel to uncover its source—and ensure that this formidable power is not wielded by the wrong hands.

But danger lies in wait, and in a fearsome clash between mortal might and dark magic, it is up to Paxon, as the High Druid's Blade, to defend the people of the Four Lands against a terrifying evil.

From the international bestselling Terry Brooks comes a thrilling new adventure—and an unforgettable new hero in The Darkling Child.

Praise for Terry Brooks:

'If you haven't read Terry Brooks, you haven't read fantasy.' —Christopher Paolini, bestselling author of Eragon and Brisingr

'I can't even begin to count how many of Terry Brooks's books I've read (and re-read) over the years.' —Patrick Rothfuss

'I would not be writing epic fantasy today if not for Shannara.' —Peter V. Brett

'A master of the craft... required reading.' —Brent Weeks

Series: The Defenders of Shannara

View all
  • The High Druid's Blade
    Secrets revealed. Powers unleashed. Discover a Shannara you've never seen before. Legend has it that Paxon Leah is descended from the royals and warriors who once waged war with magical weapons. But those heroes are long gone now, and there is nothing enchanted about the antique sword that hangs above Paxon's fireplace. Paxon leads a quiet life - until extraordinary...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Darkling Child
    New powers are awakening. A legend is born... In a distant corner of the Four Lands, the mysterious magic of the wishsong has been detected. Paxon Leah, sworn protector of the Druid order and heir of the enchanted Sword of Leah, must travel to uncover its source—and ensure that this formidable power is not wielded by the wrong hands. But...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Sorcerer's Daughter
    50 MILLION TERRY BROOKS COPIES SOLD AROUND THE WORLD THE SHANNARA CHRONICLES IS NOW A MAJOR TV SERIES 'Terry's place is at the head of the fantasy world' Philip Pullman BLOOD AND MAGIC WILL COLLIDE . . . Leofur is the daughter of Arcannen, a power-hungry sorcerer prepared to use the blackest of magic to get what he wants. But...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    Sold Out

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

The Darkling Child by Terry Brooks is highly regarded, with reviews noting Brooks as a masterful storyteller with a long-standing influence in the fantasy genre. His Shannara series, of which this book is a part, is praised for its epic scope and accessibility for new readers. Brooks' writing is lauded for its depth and insight, underscoring his status as a leading figure in fantasy literature.

Book Hero reading reviews

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780356502212

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 26 April 2016

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Orbit

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 130.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 353g

Pages: 448

Collections

Fantasy Fiction General Fiction Sci-Fi & Fantasy Series: The Defenders of Shannara Terry Brooks

About the Author

Terry Brooks is the New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty books, including the Dark Legacy of Shannara adventures Wards of Faerie and Bloodfire Quest; the Legends of Shannara novels Bearers of the Black Staff and The Measure of the Magic; the Genesis of Shannara trilogy: Armageddon's Children, The Elves of Cintra and The Gypsy Morph; and The Sword of Shannara. The author was a practising attorney for many years but now writes full-time. He lives with his wife, Judine, in the Pacific Northwest.

Also by Terry Brooks

View all
  • The Elfstones Of Shannara
    An ancient evil threatens the Elves and the Races of Man. The Ellcrys, the tree of long-lost Elven magic, is dying, unravelling the spell of Forbidding that locks the hordes of Demons away from the world. Already the fearsome Reaper is free. Only by quickening a new seed in the mysterious Bloodfire can the Ellcrys be reborn and the Forbidding...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Sword Of Shannara
    Now in B format. The Sword of Shannara is the first volume of the classic series that has become one of the most popular epic fantasy tales of all time. Long ago, the world of the Four Lands was torn apart by the wars of ancient Evil. But in the Vale, the half-human, half-elfin Shea Ohmsford now lives in peace—until...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    $2499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Prequel Trilogy: Star Wars
    The Prequel Trilogy: Star Wars
    For the first time in one stunning volume, here is the complete, epic story arc: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. Experience the sweeping tale of good and evil, of myth and magic, of innocence and power—and witness the tragic transformation of Anakin Skywalker from mere slave to one of the greatest, most powerful,...
    By Terry Brooks and Matthew Stover and R.A. Salvatore
    Paperback
    $5900
    Available
    Ships in 2-3 weeks
  • Bearers Of The Black Staff
    Five hundred years have passed since the devastating demon-led war that almost exterminated humankind. Those who escaped the carnage were led to sanctuary by the boy saviour known as Hawk: the gypsy morph. But now, the unimaginable has come to pass: the cocoon of protective magic surrounding the valley has vanished. When Sider Ament, last surviving Knight of the Word,...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Bloodfire Quest
    The quest for the long-lost Elfstones has drawn the leader of the Druid order and her followers into the hellish dimension known as the Forbidding, where the most dangerous creatures banished from the Four Lands are imprisoned. Now the hunt for the powerful talismans that can save their world has become a series of great challenges: a desperate search for...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Gypsy Morph
    The last cities have fallen. Demons and once-men swarm the ravaged landscape of the former United States. A small band of survivors - the elves of Cintra and a ragtag group of human children and their protectors - flees northward toward a safe haven promised by the mystical King of the Silver River. To reach it, they must follow the...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Elves Of Cintra
    Fifty years from now, our world looks very different. Governments have fallen. Thousands live in fortified strongholds; others roam the landscape as either predator or prey. Standing against the forces that have tipped the balance from good to evil are a very few heroes, men and women imbued with powerful magic and sworn to a high destiny. Logan Tom is...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Stiehl Assassin: Book Three of the Fall of Shannara
    'TERRY'S PLACE IS AT THE HEAD OF THE FANTASY WORLD' Philip Pullman Following The Black Elfstone and The Skaar Invasion, comes the third book in the triumphant four-part conclusion to the SHANNARA series, from one of the all-time masters of fantasy. The Skaar have arrived in the Four Lands, determined to stop at nothing less than all-out conquest. They badly...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • Wards of Faerie
    There was an age when the world was young. It was a time before the coming of humans, a time when magic was the dominant power - and it was named the age of Faerie. Ever since this time, a bitter war has been raging between the forces of good and evil. And it was during this age that the...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Measure Of The Magic
    The Army of Darkness Draws Near Five centuries ago, a catastrophic demon war left the world in ruins. Since then, the survivors—humans, elves, and other mutants—have found sanctuary in a mountain valley protected by magic. But now these protective wards have failed, and a ruthless troll army is on the brink of invasion. In an attempt to stave off annihilation,...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Skaar Invasion: Book Two of the Fall of Shannara
    TERRY'S PLACE IS AT THE HEAD OF THE FANTASY WORLD Philip Pullman Following The Black Elfstone comes the second book in The Fall of Shannara - the epic four-part conclusion to the Shannara series from one of the all-time masters of the fantasy genre. Tensions in the Four Lands are high. The mysterious force that laid waste to Paranor has...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    Sold Out
  • The Elf Queen Of Shannara
    Now in B format Volume Three of the bestselling Heritage of Shannara series, a classic of epic fantasy. Wren Ohmsford, Scion of Shannara, comes from the Westlands, where she lives the life of a Rover. Now she, like her kinsmen, Par and Walker Boh, has been called upon to help the shade of Allanon fight the totalitarian power of the...
    By Terry Brooks
    Paperback
    Sold Out

More from Sci-Fi & Fantasy

View all
  • New Release
    Scion
    ‘Scion’ is an electrifying sci-fi thriller that follows a contract killer tasked with protecting a scientist from assassination, only to find himself in the crosshairs. My name’s Azure. I kill rich idiots for a living. All completely legal, of course, even if it does still make the old-fashioned crowd a bit uncomfortable. Once the ultra-wealthy realised they had a way...
    By James Islington
    Paperback
    $3199
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Buy to Win
    On Sale
    17% off
    Project Hail Mary
    Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, the SUNDAY TIMES and NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of The Martian, offers a gripping new adventure in hard science fiction. With endorsement from notable figures such as Barack Obama and a slew of five-star reviews, this novel promises a thrilling and intellectually stimulating journey. Ryland Grace, a lone astronaut, finds himself on a...
    By Andy Weir
    Paperback
    $2000
    Elsewhere:
    $2400
    (5)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Buy to Win
    The Strength of the Few
    The highly anticipated follow-up to The Will of the Many—one of 2023's most lauded and bestselling fantasy novels. The Hierarchy still call me Vis Telimus. They still, as one, believe they know who I am. But with all that has happened—with what I fear is coming—I am not sure it matters anymore. I am no longer one. I won the...
    By James Islington
    Paperback
    $2899
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    14% off
    Red Rising
    The first book in the incredible New York Times bestselling series Darrow is a Helldiver, toiling beneath the surface of Mars. As a member of the Red caste, he performs grueling labor in the belief that his sacrifice will enable future generations to one day inhabit the surface of the Red Planet. The Reds are humankind's lowest caste, living in...
    By Pierce Brown
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Crossroads of Ravens
    THE GLOBAL PHENOMENON RETURNS... Every legend has an origin - and Geralt of Rivia's begins here. In this brand-new chapter of Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher series, follow Geralt in his earliest days as a Witcher, as he faces monsters and humans alike. Discover the untold stories and encounters that shaped the iconic character known today. Crossroads of Ravens brings readers into...
    By Andrzej Sapkowski
    Paperback
    $2899
    Elsewhere:
    $3799
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Wind and Truth
    The long-awaited explosive climax to the first arc of the Number One New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive. Wind and Truth by Brandon Sanderson sees Dalinar Kholin challenge the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future of Roshar on the line. The Knights Radiant have only ten days to prepare, and the sudden ascension of the...
    By Brandon Sanderson
    Paperback
    $3100
    Elsewhere:
    $3999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Ministry of Time
    One of the 18 best novels of the year for the Sunday Times A book of the year for the New York Times, Guardian, Independent, Evening Standard, Spectator, Red, NPR, Vanity Fair, People, Slate, Advocate, Sydney Morning Herald, Globe and Mail, Den of Geek, Good Housekeeping, Goodreads, NetGalley and Smithsonian Magazine 'A sparkling delight' Observer 'Make room on your bookshelves...
    By Kaliane Bradley
    Paperback
    $2399
    Elsewhere:
    $2799
    (2)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Assassin’s Apprentice
    Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb marks the beginning of an extraordinary adventure in the rich and immersive world of the Six Duchies. Set against the backdrop of a kingdom teetering on the brink of civil war, this gripping tale introduces readers to FitzChivalry Farseer, a royal bastard whose existence threatens the stability of the crown. When the crown prince's secret...
    By Robin Hobb
    Paperback
    $1900
    Elsewhere:
    $2299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • I Who Have Never Known Men
    A haunting, heartbreaking tale of female friendship and intimacy that evokes the chilling atmospheres of The Handmaid's Tale and the desolate landscapes of The Road, I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman is a story that lingers long after the last page is turned. This gripping narrative takes us deep underground, where thirty-nine women are held in isolation...
    By Jacqueline Harpman
    Paperback
    $2800
    Elsewhere:
    $3299
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • The Colour Illustrated Hobbit
    The Colour Illustrated Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien is a timeless classic that has enchanted readers for generations. This beloved tale follows Bilbo Baggins, a peace-loving hobbit from the quaint and picturesque Shire, who finds himself thrust into an epic journey far from the comforts of his cosy home. Charming and lively illustrations by Jemima Catlin breathe new life...
    By J. R. R. Tolkien
    Paperback
    $2700
    Elsewhere:
    $2999
    (1)
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • Blood Over Bright Haven
    A riveting dark academia fantasy about the limits of truth and power, from the author of The Sword of Kaigen. The first woman ever admitted to a prestigious order of mages unravels a secret conspiracy that could change the practice of magic forever, in this standalone dark fantasy from the author of The Sword of Kaigen. For twenty years, Sciona...
    By M. L. Wang
    Paperback
    $3400
    Elsewhere:
    $3800
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow
  • On Sale
    15% off
    The Great Dune Trilogy
    Frank Herbert's The Great Dune Trilogy plunges readers into an evocative and grandiose saga set on the desert planet of Arrakis. This richly detailed landscape becomes the focal point for a complex tapestry of political intrigue, military conflict, and galaxy-wide repercussions. Arrakis, also known as Dune, is the sole source of the spice melange, a valuable and highly sought-after substance...
    By Frank Herbert
    Paperback
    $3300
    Elsewhere:
    $4499
    In Stock
    Ships tomorrow

Why buy from us?

Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!

Service & Delivery

Service & Delivery

Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 100,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.

Auckland Bookstore

Auckland Bookstore

We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.

Our Gifting Service

Our Gifting Service

Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.

Sci-Fi & Fantasy lists from the team

Explore our curated lists from our heroes to find your next read!

The Latest at Book Hero

View all