The fellowship of elves, dwarves and men led by Walker Boh has reached Castledown on their search for the ancient magic whose existence Walker has deciphered from the map held in the hand of a dead Elf Prince. Now they face magical terrors and Walker's nemesis, the Ilse Witch. Can they survive?

The prequel to the classic Shannara series, the tale that redrew the boundaries of modern fantasy

Walker Boh, the last of the Druids, must decipher an ancient map and get to the magic before the Ilse Witch, a beautiful but twisted young woman who wields a magic as potent as that of Walker Boh. Set a generation after The Talismans of Shannara , Ilse Witch begins a five-book Shannara series.

Grianne Ohmsford, rescued from oblivion by her brother Bek, has renounced her former life as the evil Ilse Witch, and now serves as the head of a new Druid Council. Her purpose is to defend the Four Lands from anarchy and warfare. But there are those who cannot easily forgive her past actions.

In Morgawr, Walker Boh is seemingly dead and the Ilse Witch is now finally aware of how her life has been twisted out of shape by her mentor Morgawr. Her hope is that she and her brother will defeat Morgawr or their race will be enslaved forever.

Imprisoned in the Druid's Keep, young Pen Ohmsford is separated from all who care for him, and at the mercy of the usurper Shadea a'Ru, who will do anything to destroy the rightful High Druid. Can the scattered band of friends join forces in time to defeat Shadea's evil plot?