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Submitted by Aiden 
(Oct 19, 2003)

Usually I'm not into fantasy, I like to read science fiction. But these books amazed me. I planned to check them out of the library but since I had to put them on hold, I went out and bought several of them. WFR was a great start for Terry Goodkind, and then followed up by the excellent Stone of Tears. Blood of the Fold was a little bit of a let down, as I enjoy reading parts where Richard and Kahlan were fighting, not Zedd or Verna. But Temple of the Winds really got me back up quickly. I have yet to read the last two, but these were superb books. The hero and heroine, Richard and Kahlan, really add to the story after the continual separation and reuniting.

The Wizard's Rules are what I remember best though. They are true in many ways.

These books seem to be winding down to some unforseen and yet unmanifested conclusion. I loved the first two books, but have noted that there are some issues that bear a striking resemblance to issues in other books. After the first two books though, the quality of the story began to degrade until Pillars of Creation, at which point it almost hit bottom. I was absolutely disgusted. I have just purchased and began reading his latest book, Naked Empire, I'm about 200 pages into it, but as of yet there is very little that has actually happened. Terry Goodkind has a talent at filling the first 2/3 of his books with hints and intimations while only the last 1/3 has much that really happens; There are, of course, some exceptions, but that seems to be the general trend. The quality of his books varies greatly, as does his style and organization, while this provides for an interesting guessing game, I sometimes find it less-than-amusing to guess whether each successive book will be a complete waste of time or not. For example, Temple of the Winds had some elements in it that I really liked, But I can also appreciate much of the criticism it has recieved, and yet, his latest book, while nothing really major has happened yet, seems to promise much more than Pillars of Creation at least. It's a guessing game, where we try to guess if Goodkind has some real inspiration for his latest book, or if he's just treatise on social organization like Faith of the Fallen, or perhaps an interminable, unrelated rant like Pillars of Creation. I am not saying that Goodkind has no talent, only that it's manifestation is sporadic and I think he should start a new series before he completely offends all of his astute readers.

I've just recently started reading this series, and I just had to commment on the excellent writing portrayed (surprisingly) throughout every one of the books thus far. As an avid fantasy reader, I sympathise with the agony of looking for the perfect book, but I can say with certainty that this series rates as high as any so far. Terry Goodkind not only captured my attention through his first novel in the Sword of Truth series, but the writing is strong and talented through every one of his books. It's quite a feat to have written so many seven-to-nine-hundred page books and not fail to deliver on a single one. Richard and Kahlan's romance is one of those timeless love stories you hear so much about (but never encounter) and I look forward to more books from this superb author.

You know, perhaps I'm spoiled by the brilliance of Jordan, or caught in nostalgia by the resurgence of Tolkien, but these books lack any sense of maturity. The whole feel of the writing is that of a 12 year old boy playing at sword and daggers in front of a mirror. These characters are two dimensional replicas with no sense of realism, and the world is a flimsy backdrop of stereotype. You can't help but see the author's struggle to pour his half-thought out philosophy in every unrealistic monologue uttered by his "characters."

Goodkind's heart is in the right place, but his sense of character, story, background, and originality are sadly lost in his undisguised rhetoric.

Of course, I've only read the first two. Maybe they get better.

Terry Goodkind has provided the masses with the gift of enlightenment. Through his stories, he has shown us to be citizens of a decaying society, where lies and deceit rule over morality and truth. The character development Goodkind provides is unmatched in other novels of this genre. At the end of each novel, the reader feels as if they were at the side of the main characters. You understand why each character reacts to situations the way they do. Don't make the mistake of reading these books to find out what happens next, but rather to grasp a better understanding of the characters. To reference these books as "Wheel of Time clones" is irresponsible and ignorant. Those critics need to delve a little deeper into the series.