Epic fantasy
The Sword of Shannara
A half-elf youth living a quiet life in a peaceful valley learns that he alone can wield a magic sword against a dark lord. A druid sends him on a long, dangerous journey with a small band of companions.
Facts last checked 2026-10-16
- First published
- 1977
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Long
- Pages
- 736
- Format
- Book 10 of 34 in Shannara (Chronological Order)
Read this if you like old-school quest fantasy with a farm-boy hero, a wizard guide and a monster-filled road.
Skip this if you want fresh ideas; it closely follows the pattern of The Lord of the Rings.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about The Sword of Shannara
- What is The Sword of Shannara about?
- A half-elf youth living a quiet life in a peaceful valley learns that he alone can wield a magic sword against a dark lord. A druid sends him on a long, dangerous journey with a small band of companions.
- Who should read The Sword of Shannara?
- Read it if you like old-school quest fantasy with a farm-boy hero, a wizard guide and a monster-filled road. Skip it if you want fresh ideas; it closely follows the pattern of The Lord of the Rings.
- How long and how fast is The Sword of Shannara?
- It is a medium-paced, long read of about 736 pages, first published in 1977.
- Does The Sword of Shannara have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Death, War.
- Can I borrow The Sword of Shannara for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends The Sword of Shannara; the borrow button above searches it for you.
- What should I read after The Sword of Shannara?
- Readers who liked it often move on to The Lord of the Rings, The Eye of the World, Pawn of Prophecy.
Your shelf
Saved in this browser only. Open my shelf
Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
Prices appear here as retailer feeds are connected. Where none is shown, check the store. Links open the store in a new tab.
Some store links, including Kobo, are affiliate links: we may earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Library links are never affiliate links. How this works
Share this pick
Because you might love it
If you loved The Sword of Shannara
-
The Lord of the Rings
The book that Shannara is closely modelled on, with a deeper sense of history and language.
-
The Eye of the World
Another farm-boy-to-hero epic with a long road, though it grows into a far larger series.
-
Pawn of Prophecy
A lighter and chattier quest with a similar young hero and found companions.
Epic fantasy
