Wizards First Rule by Terry Goodkind

I'm really unhappy about how bad this book is. Yes I did read some bad reviews but most were not and there is a whole series - so I thought it must have some merit.

If it wasn't for the graphic horror, I would say it must have been written for the young adolescent crowd. There is no depth to these characters - in particular Richard - who isn't even likable. The bad guys are soooo bad and all the author's prejudices are thrown into their characters: vegaterian pedophile communists - a pathetic attempt to sell his "philosophy".

Don't waste your time, for really good writing, character development, and just new and interesting story lines, get George Martin, Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time, David Durham's Acacia, David Weber's Safehold, and my personal favorate character writer Lois Bujold - Chalion Trilogy.

The fact that this book (and its sequels) are best-sellers baffles me. My best guess is that the chapter-long descriptions of sexual torture have something to do with it. The characters are inconsistent, the plot is lifted almost intact from Star Wars, and the prose is simple and awkward. I read the entire book because I'd paid for it already, and I hoped that it might redeem itself somehow. It didn't; the ending was as horribly trite as the rest of the book.
Red patent leather clad Sex Ninjas? Really?

Okay, so, here's how it went. One day in the library I was looking for a good book, and I wanted a book that was kinda large so I wouldn't finish it in one day. Then I seen The Sword of Truth series! I tried to read Tolkien, I really did, but I couldn't do it! I know this is going to get a lot of hate sprung on me, but it's true. I love the movies, which always screws up the book. (I'm a harry potter fan, go figure.) And, I started reading Wizards first rule. I'll agree with those that said that the wording isn't THE HARDEST thing to read, but why would you want to read something that you need to have a dictionary next to you to refer to anyway? I don't know about any of you people, but I don't have the time to look up words everywhere I turn, like I did some of the time while reading The Scarlet Letter, which is a fabulous book by the way. However, The Scarlet Letter is hardly more than 2oo pages long? Taking the custom house out that is, while Wizards first rule is nearing 600-800?! (in paperback, and I can't remember exactly tbh.) Those of you who insult the book, I abhor you and all that you say. I'm sorry to say.

As a harry potter fan, I grew up on HP, and LIVE FOR HP! However, Wizards first rule rivals hp for me! I'll also agree that some of the events in the story ARE predictable, but TBH you can almost always predict what is going to happen in several novels, but yet you still read them nevertheless right?! More to confirm your guess than anything, I'd guess at. I found Wizards First Rule to be very engrossing, and something that I could get lost into. I could vividly imagine the scenes, which make it wonderful, and then I love the story itself. Then hours later, I look up, and see how late it is and how much I've actually read! And I'm like WHOAAAAA. I also abhor anyone who go I READ 20 PAGES AND THREW IT AWAY/GAVE IT BACK. You'll find that if you commit to something, it's not always as bad as it seems at first. And like any story, wizards first rule takes a while for the story to develop, but then goes much faster. I'm now on Soul of the Fire, and I'm enjoying the series very much; so much so, that I'm even trying to read this book while reading a book for my english class, one for my book club, and this series, while working 3-5 days a week, AND taking all honors classes. If that's not commitment then I guess I have some more learning and growing up to do.

Those of you who enjoy the series, I love you all! To those who disliked the story, that's okay, you're entitled to your opinion too! And not everyone likes the same thing, and that's what makes the world go round! I highly recommend this book though. Cheers!