The Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks (1999, Abridged, Audio Cassette)

I don't go in much for fantasy but there is nothing like a good story and Terry Brooks the Author of The Shannara Series is a great story teller. In the Elfstones of Shannara we are spirited away to the world of Elves and other creatures in a battle to save The Ellcrys, a tree planted in a garden in the Elven city of Arborlon, which imprisons ancient demons that once roamed the earth. Unfortunately, the Ellcrys is dieing and with her death the ancient demons are set free. Their sole motivation - to destroy the Elves and perhaps, the other races that inhabit the land. Every year the Ellcrys chooses those who will tend her during the year. Most choosen are males. This time she chooses Amberle, the grandaughter of the Elven King Evantine and the first female to be choosen in 500 years. To save her people she must make a dangerous journey to place the seed of the dying Ellcrys into the "Bloodfire" hidden within a place called Safehold.

In comparison to other fantasy stories that I have recently read I find the Shannara stories to be the best so far. The others were too intense for me - too much blood and guts and not enough "Fairy Tale". Terry Brooks manages to find that unique balance in his stories, between romance and war and adventure and myth, that keeps me coming back for more.