Twenty years have passed since the events in The Voyage Of The Jerle Shannara trilogy. 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. Such was the destiny foretold for her by the Druid, Walker Boh.
But there are those who cannot easily forgive her past actions, and are loathe to follow her leadership. When Grianne's enemies cause her to disappear, only a few loyal friends can help her. The dwarf Tagwen; Grianne's nephew, Pen Ohmsford; and the Elf Prince, Ahren Elessedil, begin a desperate journey to find Grianne and return her to the Druids' keep at Paranor. Their quest is urgent, their way uncertain and perilous, for the darkest of magics have been used to spirit Grianne away.
Pen Ohmsford is descended from the line of Jerle Shannara, the first of the Elven Kings, but his own magic seems small and inadequate when measured against that of his aunt's enemies, who will stop at nothing to thwart Pen's efforts to rescue his aunt and restore the nascent Druid Council. And there is another danger. An ancient and deadly power has found its way out into the world. If things are not put to rights, the danger to the Four Kingdoms will be immeasurable...