Angel Fire East marks the close of Terry Brooks's Nest Freemark-John Ross saga, which began with 1997's Running with the Demon. After a long layover in Seattle for the middle book, Knight of the Word, the fantasy-meets-modernity action returns to Nest's native Hopewell, where once again Nest and John must face off against the Void, this time in the form of ancient demon Findo Gask, who favors a black-clad evil preacher getup for his menacing needs.

Brooks's well-realized and likable cast from the previous books is back, from Nest (now 29) to Ross (haggard as ever) to Pick (still just a few inches tall) and even grown-up versions of Nest's childhood friends from Running, including Bennett, now a junkie with child. Of course, Findo Gask has assembled a creepy little Legion of Doom to harry these nice folks: a giant albino demon; a formless, flesh-eating ur'droch; and a knife-wielding Orphan-Annie-gone-bad named Penny Dreadful. And Angel Fire's main plot thread is even compelling: John Ross has caught a shape-changing, wild-magic creature of enormous power, a gypsy morph, that he and Nest must discover how to turn to the Word before Gask and his crew can capture it for the Void.

But as with Knight of the Word, wooden pacing and unconvincing transitions keep this tale from rising to the level of Brooks's previous masterworks, such as the excellent Shannara and Landover series. If you've read the first two books, it's certainly worth seeing off your old friends in Angel Fire East. But if you're--heaven forbid--new to Terry Brooks, check out his earlier work, or even his very capable novelization of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. --Paul Hughes


From Publishers Weekly
Fighting supernatural evil is taxing work, and Brooks's third novel of humanity's stand against the demons of the Void shows hints of battle fatigue. Fifteen years have passed since the events chronicled in Running with the Demon (1997), but neither Knight of the Word John Ross nor former Olympic runner Nest Freemark seem much changed by their encounters with predatory devils who incarnate modern social ills: he is still the reluctant hero tasked with preventing the Void's incursion into human affairs, and she remains the righteous heroine suppressing her demon-tainted powers. The plot follows a pattern similar to A Knight of the Word (1998), beginning with Ross's tormenting vision of the future that will occur if he fails to keep a gypsy morphAa shapeshifting bundle of "wild magics" with potential to become a weapon for good or evilAfrom falling into demon hands. Ross seeks Nest's help in Hopewell, Ill., a hometown of Norman Rockwell blissfulness primed for demonic devastation. There the morph changes into a young boy, which makes him vulnerable to the schemes of avuncular fiend Findo Gask and provides Brooks with a focus for exploring the importance of parental responsibility and mother love. This predictable dark fantasy springs a few surprises at its end, but the long parade of characters from the earlier installments gives it the feel of a family reunion one endures out of obligation rather than enthusiasm. Like Nest, this novel keeps pace, but a change of direction is in order for the series. (Oct.) Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
The birth of a gypsy morph, a creature of magic belonging to neither the Word nor the Void, signals the onset of the final battle between John Ross, Knight of the Word, and the demons who serve the evil force represented by the Void. Once again, Nest Freemark joins forces with Ross as they strive to unlock the secret of the gypsy morph before their arch enemy can claim the creature for its own. The conclusion to the story begun in Running with the Demon and Knight of the Word leaves room for new developments while wrapping up the tale of a courageous man's dedication to a demanding cause. For libraries that own the previous series titles and where the author has a following. Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
Surprisingly, since this abridgment is the third book of a trilogy, it stands on its own as a riveting story of good versus evil, demons versus "angel fire." Kate Burton brings the characters to life with a compelling reading that conveys with equal clarity the chilling hate of the demon Findo Gask and the heroic courage of Knight of the Word John Ross. An adventure full of wood spirits and magic, ANGEL FIRE EAST has the no-guts-no-glory verve of an old-fashioned Western dressed in the wide-eyed wonder of a fantasy. M.C. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


From Kirkus Reviews
Final installment in Brooks's Word vs. Void clash (Running with the Demon, 1997; A Knight of the Word, 1998). Ten years have elapsed, and now a ``gypsy morph''or organized aggregation of random magicshas formed: usually they spontaneously disintegrate but, rarely, transform into powerful forces for good or evil. Weary Knight of the Word John Ross rushes to protect the gypsy morph; similarly, the Void dispatches the ancient demon Findo Gask. To his disadvantage, Gask can detect the morph only when it changes form, and since Ross's guardianship, its locked itself into the form of a four-year-old boy. Gask knows, however, that Ross and ``Little John'' will eventually show up at the Hopewell, Illinois, house of Olympic champion runner and demon-buster Nest Freemark. Nest's life is already complicated by the arrival of Bennett Scott, an old friend battling drug addiction, and her daughter Harper. The demon schemes to corrupt Bennett and so strike at Nest. Finally, Ross and Little John appear, though Gask still has no inkling that Little John is the morph he seeks. He kills Bennett, then kidnaps Little John and Harper, expecting Nest to trade the children for the whereabouts of the morph. But Nest knows Gask has no intention of tradinghe'll simply kill the childrenand so the stage is set for a showdown on Christmas Eve. Once again, a carefully crafted scenario and believable characters undermined by uncompelling and unsurprising developments; still, series fans should be pleased. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Review
"That is Brooks' way of casting spells--transporting his readers into plausible realms where sorcery is alive, whether those places are in other ages or right in the middle of our own.  As a result, he's reaped more than a few magical moments . . ."
--Seattle Times

"Superior to most of the fantasy fiction being published today."
--Rocky Mountain News


From the Paperback edition.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Closing Down the Demon

After garnering so much success with his recent novelization of Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace, the bestselling Terry Brooks returns with the third novel in his Word vs. the Void trilogy, the enticing Angel Fire East. In this series, Brooks has turned his skills toward a much more horrific kind of work than he's written previously. With two of the most critically acclaimed and impressive novels in his own long and enduring career, Running with the Demon and its sequel, A Knight of the Word, the author proved that he is as comfortable working in dark fantasy as he in the high fantasy genre. For those fans of the Shannara series who are uncertain if they'll enjoy the Word vs. the Void novels, rest assured the author continues to charm and captivate.

Twenty-five years after John Ross became a Knight of the Word, a position of great magical power entrusted to him by the Lady, he continues to have nightmares of a future world that will be created by the Void, an earth full of demons and un-men, unless he prevents certain events from occurring in the present. In his most recent nightmare, John has faced a poisoned, crucified version of himself who cautions John in dealing with a "gypsy morph," a being created by random magical forces that might either dissipate or be used by the powers of good or evil. Though John is a tired and reluctant hero, he embarks on a quest to find, aid, and protect the "birth" of the gypsy morph.

Nest Freemark, an Olympic gold-medal winner and another enforcer of the Word, also returns to face the powerful, ancient demon Findo Gask, who urges her to betray John Ross and keep out of the upcoming battle. Nest must not only contend with these supernatural forces but also with the arrival of her drug-addicted friend, Bennett Scott, whom Gask would corrupt and use against Nest. Soon, the morph is born, and Ross guards it in the form of a four-year-old boy called "Little John." Though the demon Gask cannot detect the gypsy morph unless it changes form, he stakes out Nest Freemark's home and awaits the arrival of John Ross even while all plan for the final showdown destined to take place on Christmas Eve.

In Angel Fire East, Brooks has focused all his high-powered attention on the characterization of the minimal cast. Personalities, fears, and weaknesses play important roles in the development of the story line. The horrific elements are used to their best advantage in creating an unsettling milieu of a hideous future on the verge of occurring if only one character takes a spiritual misstep. The novel effectively captures the difficulties one must deal with when warring with evil from the Void and from within one's own heart.

John and Nest are not omnipotent heroes who easily swat aside all evil; instead their anxieties and temptations are the factors that move the book along. The atmospheric narrative builds quickly with a greater richness of courage and dread, showing all the characters struggling with their own various turmoils and desires. Angel Fire East, like the previous novels in this series, is as much a meditation on responsibilities and consequence as it is a wonderfully crafted, compelling dark fantasy page-turner.

—Tom Piccirilli

ANNOTATION

A boy is kidnaped by a demon in Hopewell, Illinois. It happens after he is invaded by magic which the demon covets. Demon hunters John Ross and Nest Freemark go to the boy's rescue.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

As a Knight of the Word, John Ross has struggled against the dark forces of the Void and his minions for twenty-five years. The grim future he dreams each night— a world reduced to blood and ashes—will come true, unless he can stop them now, in the present.

The birth of a gypsy morph, a rare and dangerous creature that could be an invaluable weapon in his fight against the Void, brings John Ross and Nest Freemark together again. Twice before, with the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the lives of Ross and Nest have intersected. Together, they have prevailed. But now they will face an ancient evil beyond anything they have ever encountered, a demon of ruthless intelligence and feral cunning. As a firestorm of evil erupts, threatening to consume lives and shatter dreams, they have but a single chance to solve the mystery of the Gypsy morph—and their own profound connection.

SYNOPSIS

As a knight of the Word, John Rose has struggled against the tireless dark forces of the Void for twenty-five years with the magic he wields. Now Ross has learned of the girth of a gypsy morph, a rare and dangerous creature formed of wild magics spontaneously knit together. If he can discover its secret, the morph could be an invaluable weapon against the Void. But the Void, too, knows the value of the morph, and will not rest until the creature has been corrupted--or destroyed.

Desperate, Ross returns to Hopewell, Illinois, home of the Nest Freemark, a young woman with magical abilities of her own. Twice before they have prevailed against the Void. Now they face an ancient evil beyond anything they have ever encountered, for a demon of ruthless intelligence and feral cunning awaits them in Hopewell...

FROM THE CRITICS

Rocky Mountain News

Superior to most of the fantasy fiction being published today. The ending is both surprising and satisfying.

Publishers Weekly

Fighting supernatural evil is taxing work, and Brooks's third novel of humanity's stand against the demons of the Void shows hints of battle fatigue. Fifteen years have passed since the events chronicled in Running with the Demon (1997), but neither Knight of the Word John Ross nor former Olympic runner Nest Freemark seem much changed by their encounters with predatory devils who incarnate modern social ills: he is still the reluctant hero tasked with preventing the Void's incursion into human affairs, and she remains the righteous heroine suppressing her demon-tainted powers. The plot follows a pattern similar to A Knight of the Word (1998), beginning with Ross's tormenting vision of the future that will occur if he fails to keep a gypsy morph--a shapeshifting bundle of "wild magics" with potential to become a weapon for good or evil--from falling into demon hands. Ross seeks Nest's help in Hopewell, Ill., a hometown of Norman Rockwell blissfulness primed for demonic devastation. There the morph changes into a young boy, which makes him vulnerable to the schemes of avuncular fiend Findo Gask and provides Brooks with a focus for exploring the importance of parental responsibility and mother love. This predictable dark fantasy springs a few surprises at its end, but the long parade of characters from the earlier installments gives it the feel of a family reunion one endures out of obligation rather than enthusiasm. Like Nest, this novel keeps pace, but a change of direction is in order for the series. (Oct.) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

The birth of a gypsy morph, a creature of magic belonging to neither the Word nor the Void, signals the onset of the final battle between John Ross, Knight of the Word, and the demons who serve the evil force represented by the Void. Once again, Nest Freemark joins forces with Ross as they strive to unlock the secret of the gypsy morph before their arch enemy can claim the creature for its own. The conclusion to the story begun in Running with the Demon and Knight of the Word leaves room for new developments while wrapping up the tale of a courageous man's dedication to a demanding cause. For libraries that own the previous series titles and where the author has a following. Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

AudioFile

Surprisingly, since this abridgment is the third book of a trilogy, it stands on its own as a riveting story of good versus evil, demons versus "angel fire." Kate Burton brings the characters to life with a compelling reading that conveys with equal clarity the chilling hate of the demon Findo Gask and the heroic courage of Knight of the Word John Ross. An adventure full of wood spirits and magic, ANGEL FIRE EAST has the no-guts-no-glory verve of an old-fashioned Western dressed in the wide-eyed wonder of a fantasy. M.C. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

Final installment in Brooks's Word vs. Void clash (Running with the Demon, 1997; A Knight of the Word, 1998). Ten years have elapsed, and now a "gypsy morph"—or organized aggregation of random magics—has formed: usually they spontaneously disintegrate but, rarely, transform into powerful forces for good or evil. Weary Knight of the Word John Ross rushes to protect the gypsy morph; similarly, the Void dispatches the ancient demon Findo Gask. To his disadvantage, Gask can detect the morph only when it changes form, and since Ross's guardianship, it's locked itself into the form of a four-year-old boy. Gask knows, however, that Ross and "Little John" will eventually show up at the Hopewell, Illinois, house of Olympic champion runner and demon-buster Nest Freemark. Nest's life is already complicated by the arrival of Bennett Scott, an old friend battling drug addiction, and her daughter Harper. The demon schemes to corrupt Bennett and so strike at Nest. Finally, Ross and Little John appear, though Gask still has no inkling that Little John is the morph he seeks. He kills Bennett, then kidnaps Little John and Harper, expecting Nest to trade the children for the whereabouts of the morph. But Nest knows Gask has no intention of trading—he'll simply kill the children—and so the stage is set for a showdown on Christmas Eve. Once again, a carefully crafted scenario and believable characters undermined by uncompelling and unsurprising developments; still, series fans should be pleased.