Magic Kingdom for Sale--Sold!

📘 About This Book

Here in his first non-Shannara novel, Terry Brooks has written a gripping story of mystery, magic, and adventure—sure to delight fantasy readers everywhere. Landover was a genuine magic kingdom, with fairy folk and wizardry, just as the advertisement has promised. But after he purchased it, Ben Holiday learned that there were a few details the ad had failed to mention. The kingdom was in ruin. The Barons refused to recognize a king, and the peasants were without hope. A dragon was laying waste the countryside, while an evil witch plotted to destroy everything. Ben's only followers were the incompetent Court Magician; Abernathy, the talking dog who served as Court Scribe; and the lovely Willow—but she had a habit of putting down roots in the moonlight and turning into a tree. The Paladin, legendary champion of the Kings of Landover, seemed to be only a myth and an empty suit of armor. To put the final touch on the whole affair, Ben soon learned that the Iron Mark, terrible lord of the demons, had challenged all prospective Kings of Landover to duel to the death—a duel which no human could hope to win. The task of proving his right to be King seemed hopeless. But Ben Holiday was stubborn. . . .

📖 Summary

Magic Kingdom for Sale--Sold! by Terry Brooks marks the acclaimed author's very first foray outside of his famous Shannara universe, delivering a gripping and imaginative story filled with mystery, magic, and adventure designed to delight fantasy readers everywhere. The narrative centers on Ben Holiday, a man who finds himself captivated by an intriguing and seemingly impossible advertisement offering a genuine magic kingdom complete with fairy folk and wizardry. Driven by a desire for a profound change in his life, Ben decides to take the plunge and purchase Landover, stepping away from the mundane world into a realm where the impossible is supposedly everyday reality. However, once the transaction is complete and Ben actually arrives to claim his throne, he quickly learns that there are a few rather significant details that the advertisement had conveniently failed to mention. Rather than stepping into a thriving, peaceful realm of enchantment, Ben discovers that Landover is in absolute ruin. The political structure is fractured, as the proud Barons of the land stubbornly refuse to recognize a newcomer as their rightful king, leaving the territory dangerously unstable. Meanwhile, the local peasants are entirely without hope, ground down by unending hardship and the absence of a strong, protective ruler. To make matters worse, the kingdom is actively under siege by external and internal threats: a ferocious dragon is laying waste to the picturesque countryside, while a sinister and evil witch plots to systematically destroy everything and everyone left in the realm. Left to face these overwhelming perils, Ben realizes his only followers consist of a remarkably ragtag and unorthodox group of companions. His sole support system includes an incompetent Court Magician whose spells rarely go as planned, a talking dog named Abernathy who gamely serves as the Court Scribe, and the lovely Willow. While Willow is a valuable ally, she comes with a rather complicated condition, possessing an inconvenient habit of putting down roots in the moonlight and temporarily turning into a tree. Alongside these quirky allies, hints of legendary figures like the Paladin linger in the background, though stepping into a royal role requires far more than wishful thinking. Throughout the 386 pages of this 2008 publication, Brooks crafts a richly entertaining tale of corporate-style fantasy bureaucracy colliding with classic high-fantasy tropes. Ben Holiday must navigate impossible odds, learn the true mechanics of ruling a magical realm, and find the inner strength required to transform himself from an ordinary buyer into a true king. It is a story about stepping into the unknown, confronting harsh realities hidden behind glossy promises, and discovering that true magic often requires courage, loyalty, and a great deal of patience.

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