Hard to press pause

Not a particularly exciting story but well written. Terry Brooks excellently draws you in with suspense. At the end you are dissapointed it's over and eagerly anticipating the next story. The narration is performed well, also drawing you into the story.

10 people found this helpful

mature, engaging fantasy

I'm not a seasoned reviewer, but I really enjoyed this book (and went on to enjoy the rest of the Word And Void trilogy even more). The main characters are Nest Freemark and John Ross, both of whom are either blessed or cursed to be aware of a world of magic continually intermingling with our own. Nest, a young girl in a small town, has this gift by birth; John Ross, by the grim reality of his calling.

The descriptions (of place, character) are sometimes sparse but poignant. The story is engaging without falling into conventional resolutions. For example, when their paths cross, Ross is a natural father figure to Nest, being more wize ans wizenned to a world she is innately connected to yet must still struggle to understand. Yet while over the series they develop a special bond, that bond both celebrates the surrogate parents/children that enter our lives, but also sometimes fail them, and I feel the book is equally good at sparsely evoking their growing affection and their lonely but admirable struggle to learn to stand on their own feet as well.

5 people found this helpful

This is the best series Terry Brooks has written

Would you listen to Running with the Demon again? Why?

Yes, I love the story, it has exciting parts. I wish audible could come out with the rest of the series though. I think it will take a few times to really hear it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Running with the Demon?

When John Ross has to decide to fight the demon or the monster. We all make decisions that affect the rest of our lives. Sometimes we have to choose between what is good for us and what is good for all.

Have you listened to any of George Wilson’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, He does pretty good, I have heard better but I know he is better then some.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It was hard to stop. You need to take advantage of the slow times to stop the book.

Any additional comments?

I love this series and also the one that follows it (The Genesis of Shannara. The books make me think of what might happen and sound like it is possible if we don't think about the future.

6 people found this helpful

I gave up.

It just took too long to get going for me. Someone less impatient than I may be okay with the very slow start.

2 people found this helpful

Great story!

I decided to listen to this series from the start after watching The Shannara Chronicles recently. I'm really pleased with this book. Terry does a wonderful job building up the story and keeping things interesting. Gingerly seems to be one of Terry's favorite words though. Not a complaint, but it is used often.

2 people found this helpful

Another great series by Terry Brooks!

What made the experience of listening to Running with the Demon the most enjoyable?

I loved the small town description and the description of the unending summer days of youth. I also loved the fairy tale feel of the story and the very scary NOT fairy tale plot!

What other book might you compare Running with the Demon to and why?

It reminded me of Boy's Life by Robert McCammon; that story also had the small town backdrop and a fairy tale feel to it, but very scary plot!

Which character – as performed by George Wilson – was your favorite?

I loved the sylph Pick. His character was humorous and at the same time believable. I also loved the strength and bravery of Old Bob.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Old Bob saved Nest from the cave. Also, John Ross' dreams of the future were very intense. The sad story of O'olish Amanah and his dance was amazing.

Any additional comments?

It starts off slow, but once the story starts moving, you can't stop listening! I'm going to get the rest of the series.

2 people found this helpful

Still undecided

Believe it or not I’m still undecided! To be honest the only reason I finished was to see how it ended and also because I know there is many more books left in the series. Well, I mean “The Shannara” series... This being a prequel series I decided to read them first. Kinda disappointed but interested enough maybe to keep going just to get to “The Sword Of Shannara” just to see if it will all tie together well and maybe I’ll get attached to the overall storyline.
This specific book was not really what I thought it was gonna be. Read like a YA at best. I thought it would have been better being that there are several “Shannara” books that came before it but it was really rather shallow and uneventful in my opinion for most of the book.
I’m now debating moving on to the next in the prequel and hope it either gets better or I can just get through them in order to get to the Shannara chronicles but my fear is that those will be disappointing also, resulting in a lot of wasted time put into this series. Don’t know if any of that makes sense... Overall this book is about a girl who is stalked by a demon, has some characters that help her, eventually finds out some important info about her life all culminating in a final showdown and then it moves to the next book... There you go, you can take that info and move on and not even have to read this one... well, kinda but not really... At this point I realise this review is not helpful at all so I’ll just end it n...

3 people found this helpful

I wish I had not waited so long to hear this story

Excellent story all the way through. the demon is such a brilliant character who acts in a way like Lewis' Screwtape.
Brooks is awesome!

1 person found this helpful

Awsome as only Terry Brooks can do!

Would you listen to Running with the Demon again? Why?

I have read this book and listened to it several times.

Any additional comments?

These books shows how the world dies before the shanarra series begins. It demons are well written and evil! Narration is very good.

1 person found this helpful

its finally here

What made the experience of listening to Running with the Demon the most enjoyable?

I love Terry Brooks n this was a nice step away from the Shanara series. Its a good story that draws u in.

What did you like best about this story?

The battle between good and evil.

Which character – as performed by George Wilson – was your favorite?

John Ross

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I have to work but it was listened to everyday.

Any additional comments?

Waiting on installments 2 n 3. A Knight of the Word n Angel Fire East. I hope I don't have to wait long.

4 people found this helpful