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Submitted by Tom Lewis 
(Jun 20, 2004)

Terry Goodkind seems to think that he is somehow gifted enough to not follow ANY conventional writing techniques or rules and still come out with a brilliant book. Well Terry - the result is a messy mix of borrowed ideas, lack of plot and characters who you couldn't give a damn about if you tried. ANYBODY who even compares this to the literary masterpiece that is The Lord of the Rings can join Mr. Goodkind in writing school.

The author has invented an extreme world and very deep characters with a lot of life experience and values. Richard Cypher(Raul) is stunning, the total chaos of what he feels inside is amazing.I can relate to him trying to keep his anger and his hate within, while all he sees is hatred and evil.It's the ultimate battle within his mind of good and evil. Don't get me started on any of the other characters, they are the best I've read about. Keep up the great work Terry ,I will keep reading it .

I was strangely disappointed by the previous "Sword of Truth" story - "Soul of the Fire" - with all its Machiavellian political machinations by the leaders of Anderith. "The Faith of the Fallen" has thankfully returned me to the legions of fans that so adore his cleverly crafted tales.

The story told in this chapter of the saga returns to the rawboned good versus evil nature of all of Goodkind's pervious "Sword of Truth" novels. As in many of these tales, important lessons can easily be learnt from reading them. This one is no exception. "Life seeks balance"; "Don't look beyond yourself for your happiness, it lies within"; "Life is what you make it"; "It does not just happen to you, unless you allow it"... there are many lessons to be had if you care to see them.

The fact that the reign of the Imperial Order so closely resembles Communism's failings is most gratifying to me. Communism has failed miserably everywhere it has been tried because it flies in the face of human nature by having to be imposed upon the people and therefore robs them of their freedom to choose their own destiny. The characters yearn to be free of the yoke of oppression to simply live their lives and improving their lot in life. The order in their never to be achieved doctrine of "fairness at all costs" stifles the will to achieve for most citizens, thereby condemning them to a life of misery. There can be no good without some evil (balance). Feelings are important but no more so than reason (balance).

Personally I found it frightening that after reading this novel that some readers were upset that the Imperial Order represented modern communism and where willing still to defend it. Conversely, I also derived some humor that these same people were able to immediately recognize what Goodkind chose the Order to represent, communism as it has always been in applied in our own world, (balance?)

Richard in doing nothing more magical than leading by example and treating his fellow man with the same respect, honesty, and dignity that he would show anyone from those he most loves to his most reviled enemy, Leads the citizens of the order to freedom without ever taking command. It is freedom of their own volition, the only way it can be truly achieved.

Richards greatest gift has always been that he allows everybody he encounters to make their choice Good or Evil, each carries with it potential benefits and/or consequences in the end always seeking balance.

That these richly embroidered chronicles of the lives of the Richard and Kahlan offer a real opportunity for readers to learn about themselves is Terry Goodkind's own special magic, at it's very best.

I can hardly wait to pick up the next installment of this wonderful saga.

I recently read this book and personally found it very good. I'm not one for much romance in the books I read, but in this case, I made an exception. It really didn't get way too romantic to the point were it clouds the adventure, but truly, adds to it.
I believed there was a good sense of character development and storyline, like with the Mord Sith, you hate her at first but then, you learn to like her and hope that nothing bad will happen to her; like in Silence of the Lambs, you somewhat hope that Hannibal gets away.
This is the only book in the series I've read and I believe it was worth the time. There was an interesting plot build up, and right when you believe all is lost, Goodkind brings you back out into the sunshiney day. So I recommend you read this book if you haven't already.

Well, for starters, I love all of Terry Goodkind's books. Each and every one of them. In Pillars of Creation he has hardly mentioned Richard and Kahlan, but by writing about Jennsen, Richard's sister, I was looking forward to reading about Richard meeting his sister! It was not boring at all, nor anything the rest of the people have said about it. My theory is, if you love the plot, no matter where the story goes, you just have to read it and love it in return. All books can't have Gar's and Sisters of the Dark in it. And how many times will you bring Darken Rahl back from the underworld? Once or twice is enough, but the readers can't expect that all the books have the same thrills and spooks in them.
Although I must say that the map should be updated. It's so interesting reading about such places on the map. I wish I were there somewhere in the story, in that world of fantasy and magic. Of all the characters till now, Cara's is the funniest. She is funny in a sarcastic way and it's great reading ! Nathan Rahl and Zedd are also interesting characters, though you should expand more on Nathan, he's too deep, you can write so much on him. There is nothing wrong with the books, nor the characters. The Sword of the Truth series is great! And although I have not read Naked Empire as yet, going to buy it soon though, I know I can say that it will be great like the rest. And please let this not be the last book in this series Mr. Goodkind. Since I had started reading these books, my brother, whose books these are, looked at me and said : "What!!! You finished that already? You have no life!!!! Buy the last book yourself, I'm not buying it." So you see Mr. Goodkind, don't end the series unless you have to. And I'm waiting for the day when a movie or a series might be made on these books. But they better not change anything from the book. Keep it up!!!!