Wizard’s First Rule is an epic fantasy about Richard and Kahlan and I first discovered
them on abridged audio cassette. The story was on two, not very long, tapes and I
listened to them in one setting. Before this time I had not read any true fantasy that I liked
very much, but these tapes, I absolutely loved them!
Now the tapes make me ill. I’ll explain. The tapes cut the story down to less then 150
pages, hardback, while the book is over 570 pages, hardback. Let’s just say you miss alot
on the cassette. (No Gares. Almost no mud people. Violet who?) Those pages were there for a reason,
and with his book moving at such a fast pace, the book is so much better then with out them.
So when I started to read the book I was blown away.
I picked up on almost all the foreshadowing, because I knew a
rough sketch of the plot line, and the added details and descriptions were breath taking.
Plus the best parts where not on the tape. Huge sections in the plot appeared and
all the more were surprising because I had no idea they existed before.
And the plot is amazing. Mr. G is a master story teller from the first page,
with extensive foreshadowing and character growth and even some plot twists. His prose my not be as
elegant as some, but they get their point across, and with more voice then most authors dream of.
Mr. G uses few big words (especially when it’s from the point of view of
a little girl) which creates a realistic tone that helps you get inside the characters head.
Almost like first person, but without the restrictions and as an added bonus its fun, easy reading.
This book isn’t for the pleasure of hearing the English language, but to hear a fantastic and emotionaly moving
epic tale. He’s not a scholar like Tolken, but he dose extremely well for a fist novel which
WFR happens to be.
Some of the book was so intense that I had to stop reading it so I could calm down. (My
aunt had to skip a part because she got to claustrophobic.) I’m a slow reader and often I
would read for 6+ hours strait, stop awhile and then read some more. It’s addicting. Skip
a meal here, forget about my homework there, miss a new episode of my favorite show so
I can cram in a few more chapters. My librarian said this and I agree, “The book makes
you hate people, you just want them to leave you alone so you can read more!”
The emotions run high and by halfway I loved the characters so much that at times the
turmoil was heartbreaking. One part moving me to tears. Terry Goodkind, unlike most
fantasy authors, writes focusing on the characters stand point and not on the physical.
Sure there’s plenty of action, it’s just not the focus, making it’s action all the more
powerful.
Of course it’s not all perfect. The good guys my be to flawless for there own good, and
the bad guys my be a little to evil. Not to the extreme, but just enough so some people my
think it to be a little unrealistic. In my opinion though, I think It's fine. Plus many
things may not be that original, most of them
are done better here, but some have been used before some where or another. But most
of it is “endlessly inventive” (Piers Anthony) and unless you have read tons of fantasy, it
won’t bother you in the slightest.
I truly love this book. It is one of the best fantasy books ever writen.
And in the words of Terry Goodkind “I would like to thank... two
very special people, Richard and Kahlan... Their tears and triumphs have touched my
heart. I will never be the same again.”
Note: I left out any plot line reference so as not to ruin any of the book.
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