The Measure of Magic by Terry Brooks

The Measure of Magic is the second book in Brooks' new Shannara series about events unfolding after the protective magic around the valley fails.  This book and series in general is grittier than the earlier Shannara books and I think it's a welcome change.  Fantasy writing in general is moving away from the elves-and-dwarves epics of Tolkien towards themes that wouldn't be out of place in historical fiction about WWI or WWII.

I didn't enjoy this book as much as I did the first one, but it was still a good read.  Sometimes sequels exist solely to continue the series rather than to offer any new insight.

I recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of the Shannara books and to those who like gritty fantasy in general.