It's sad when you see the quality of one of your favourite writers starts to dwindle with each of his subsequent efforts. I fell in love with Terry Brooks and his world of Shannara when I first read his First King of Shannara at thirteen years old. Engaging swashbuckling story, memorable characters and original ideas (such as the magic of the wishsong and the Ellcrys) kept me following the series.
Ever since the Voyage of Shannara I could see Terry Brooks losing some of his magic. However still that series gave me some suprises (the introduction of Tamis only in the second book was excellent.) But after reading finish Straken, the final book of the High Druid of Shannara trilogy, I was really disappointed. Unmemorable characters that were left half-developed, a poor plot that was too splited up, and a very poor climax.
I wished Mr. Brooks had stopped at the Heritage of Shannara. It was a hard act to follow after that four-book epic. I feel the series had gone too long (Straken being the fourteenth book in the series) - truth is that it is getting kinda stale. I seriously feel Mr. Brooks should really retire the Shannara series before it loses me as a fan.