| Wizard's First Rule | Stone of Tears | Blood of the Fold | Temple of the Winds |
Wizard's First Rule
This was one of the best books I've ever read. The story of how Richard Cypher, a simple woods guide, is given the role of The Seeker and must destry an evil wizard by the name of Darken Rahl before he engages the Magic of Orden (magic that will empower him to forever rule the living world). He is aided by his friends: Zedd, Kahlan, and Chase. Zedd, an elderly man, has been like a second father to Richard. Kahlan, a mysterious woman from another land, grabs Richard's heart from the moment he sees her. Chase is probably the only person in all of Richard's native Westland to know the land better than him.
This book is masterfully written. Jumping from place to place so that the stories come out in a chronological order, subplots are constantly adding into the main story-line. The further you read into it, the more things twist together, turning a minute detail from early in the book into a major event later. Also, some of the major events of the plot are completely unpredicted and hit you like a freight train when you get to them . . . yet I always wanted to come back for more.
This book is not without it's criticisms, though. I really thought the ending was too story-book like. For something so evil to occur and to have so little in the way of casulty, it's just unrealistic (even for a fantasy novel). Some of the major secrets to the plot are simply given away early in the book. Who the wizard is, who the betrayer is, who the murderer of Richard's father was . . . these things should simply stick out at you like sore thumbs from page one. While Goodkind did not just jump right out and tell the secrets, he should give the readers more credit than he has. I understand his want to show of Richard's ignorance, but as the Seeker, he should have known better.
This is not to say that you can guess at everything this book has to hold, though. While the "love is the only thing that matters" theme holds true through most of the story, there is a seductive scene which I wasn't guessing at, and then that's followed up with the most bizarre sexual subplot that I could ever imagine. With the latter, I was pleasantly surprised to read an author break that taboo of Fantasy writing (although I was sick to my stomach as well). And, the twist at the end of the book perfectly paves the way into the rest of the series.
Grade: A-, an excellent book that was just a hair shy of true greatness.
Stone of Tears
While I enjoyed the first book of this series better, this was definately a great book that was well worth the time to read. As with the first book, Wizard's First Rule, the length (nearly 1000 pages) was intimidating, but the time and effort put into reading was well worth the story.
In this story, you learn that Richard Cypher (Richard Rahl) made a horrible mistake when he killed his father, Darken Rahl, using the magic of Orden. He partially tore in the veil between the living world and the underworld. If the veil could be torn the rest of the way, the Keeper (or Nameless One, leader of the Underworld) would enter the world of the living, and everything would be brought into a world of darkness. Now it is up to Richard to repair what he has done (as the proficies tell that he is the only person who could possibly do this), only this time he won't have the aid of his friends: Kahlan, Zedd, and Chase.
I was pleased to see some characters from the last story that I thought I wouldn't see again: Shota (the witchwoman who has the wildest moodswings that one could ever fathom) and Mistress Denna (if you don't remember who she is from the first book, then you need to polish up on your reading skills). The new characters brought into play: Sister Verna, Chandelen, Nathan, Warren, and Gratch, are expertly derived. It's obvious that some of them are to play key roles in the stories to come, and I hope that Gratch (Grrratch) stays with the story until it's ending.
As with Wizard's First Rule, I was displeased with the ending, even moreso with this one. As you read the book, and get lost in the story, you can't help but notice that there are key elements in the story that still have yet to unfold and the pages are running out. While the length might have been intimidating, the difference between a thousand and twelve hundred pages would have been well worth it to further explain the ending. It just seemed too quick, and like the last book, too happy. Don't worry, though, evil is still amuck, and the team of Richard and Kahlan will find their hands full again in the next book of this series.
Goodkind is not afraid of testing the lengths of human perversion in his stories. Last time is was S & M leading to an interesting topic and subplot, but now onto bestiality . . . hmmm. What bothers me most about it was that he describes the scene involving a seemingly beautiful woman and beast from the underworld much more than he describes any purely human sex act. But, different strokes for different folks, I guess. If you're easily offended, do not read this book, as the previous act was nothing compared to some of the descriptions of Ebinissa. They were necessary, and in now way did they detract from the story, but I felt like puking at times.
Grade: B+. A really great story, holding the potential for a true masterpiece that was held back by a haphazard ending.
Blood of the Fold
The third installment of The Sword of Truth series proved to be a very enjoyable read, although it wasn't as satasfying as the previous two stories (Wizard's First Rule and Stone of Tears), Goodkind still leaves you unable to put down the book until you're finished.
In this story, Richard and his beloved Kahlan find themselves apart, trying to each save the world from the Imperial Order. Richard finds that he has no choice but to accept his post as Lord Rahl, ruler of D'Hara. After he proves to be the magic against magic, to help the D'Haran steel against steel (and in doing so, showing that he also known a little about steel against steel), he disolves the Midlands alliance, creating the D'Haran empire, to help combat the ever-growing Imperial Order.
Emporer Jagaang, a dream walker, gains the aid of the fanatical Blood of the Fold, who oppose all magic. Actually, Jagaang's mission is revealed; he wishes to destroy all magic. The hipocracy of this is revealed over and over, though, as Jagaang uses magic to accomplish his mission.
Grade: B-. For Goodkind, it was a weak story . . . even if you couldn't find yourself able to put it down. It definately leaves you with enough interest to finish up the series, though.
Temple of the Winds
Another well told tale of the Sword of Truth saga, Richard finds himself in a world filled with a magically started plague. In order to stop this plague, Richard must learn the magic of the Temple of the Winds . . . but in doing so, he must be betrayed by his beloved Kahlan. If he chooses to let the plague run its course, he, all of his friends, and the vast majority of the living world (including Emporer Jagaang, who initiated it) will fall victim of it.
As this goes on, the D'Haran army clashes with the Imperial Order, Nathan (by far my favorite character) finds himself in more trouble than he can really handle, and Zedd and Ann find themselves in slavery.
Grade: A-. The best story since the original, this one really leaves you longing for more.
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