I have to admit, after the last bomb, Soul Of The Fire, I wasn't sure if I wanted to buy another Terry Goodkind novel in harcover, but finding myself unable to wait until the softback came out, I went and bought it anyway. I'll first state that the entire work isn't a masterpiece, there were passages where I was a bit bored and read quickly to get through them, but there were also very good parts where I would slow down and read them slow to savor them.One of the things I enjoyed least about the book was the fighting aspect of it, mainly the battles, and the constant reference to how huge the enemy was. I'm not a huge fan of war, though some reference to it isn't bad, but it seems as if that's the only aspect Kahlan is allowed to participate in anymore. The main blocks of the story that she has appeared in in several of the novels were in battles, leading the people against the enemy, again and again. I sympathize with and like her character, but wish there was more for her to do, but constantly have to keep coming up with another last ditch effort to turn a major disaster into a temporary victory for the army.On the other hand, I deeply enjoyed Richard's journey into the heart of the enemy territory, as he is led to Jagang's home city by the Sister of the Dark, Nicci. Having arrived at his own revelation of prophecy, that the war was hopeless, and that he couldn't lead until the people were able to prove themselves to him, it was interesting to see how this was developed, without him even realizing that Nicci was unintentionally leading to the proof of his prophecy. Instead, we are given more of an insight into the character of Richard as he views the horrors of the Old World, from the hideous stone carvings to the despair and hopelessness of the people. Into this despair Nicci takes him, wanting to show him that the Order is the only hope for the common people, not knowing how Richard will change the people. With the pride that he takes in doing the most common things, Richard gives the people an ideal to live up to, and sets an example for others to follow without ever pandering to them or lecturing them. To discover with Nicci the special quality that Richard possesses, we are led with her to find that Life truly is worth living and that we all have to stand up for our own basic right to live as free people.I wish I hadn't discovered this series when I did, there were already four books out by the time I started the series. I wish I hadn't found it until it was done, whenever that will be, because now I have to wait impatiently for another year or more until the next book. And during that time I have to wonder what is next to happen, and what the book will contain, with questions buzzing through my head. Have all the dragons died during the time magic was gone? What has happened to the Gars and will they come back into the series? Will Richard ever come across the night wisps, not mentioned since the first book, and get any aid from them? I sit and ponder and now eagerly anticipate the next book. I hope time really does fly. Faith of the Fallen (Sword of Truth, Book 6)
My husband and I have been reading Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series for some time now, and have enjoyed them a great deal. In my opinion, however, "Faith of the Fallen," Book 6 in the "Sword of Truth" series, is by far the best book to date.Each book expounds upon one of several rules of magic -- beginning with the "Wizard's First Rule," that people are stupid -- and we have had fun trying to figure out what each rule was before one of the characters, usually Zed, got around to announcing it."Faith of the Fallen" is, like its flap copy states, a novel of ideas. In it, Richard Rahl is captured by a sorceress, Nicci, and taken to the heart of the Imperial Order, its crown city in the Old World. There, he sees and confronts the Order's effect on the lives of its citizens firsthand.The Old World in sway of the Imperial Order bears more than a superficial resemblance to the failed regime of Communism in the former USSR, although its lessons can also be applied when contemplating our own society's ongoing efforts towards greater equality and the continuing welfare debate. Goodkind is not the first writer to tackle the issue of socially engineered "equality" -- Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron" is another fine example of this genre -- but he does so in a way that is compelling and thought-provoking.It goes without saying that Richard will save the day, but this time we see a new side to the War Wizard, that of creator. Put simply, the Sword of Truth is not the only blade that Richard can wield with almost supernatural skill.Goodkind is very adept at description, and his passages about carving seem very realistic and vivid. He is also very good at characterization, and his most vividly drawn creations include several women -- Kahlan, Cara and Verna among them.The number of women in Goodkind's volumes is a refreshing change from what seems their mere token appearance in the work of some other male fantasy authors. For some reason, though, several of these women want to go to bed with, or marry, Richard, and Nicci is no exception. A fully realized character, full of conflict, who Nicci is and what she does in "Faith of the Fallen" are a direct result of her past experiences.Altogether, "Faith of the Fallen" is an excellent novel, enjoyable on many levels as rousing fantasy adventure and as the "novel of ideas" it is purported to be. I highly recommend "Faith of the Fallen" and the other volumes in the "Sword of Truth" series.
This book took quite a while to get going, but when it did I was hooked. The first several pages are filled with lengthy discussions, point-and-counterpoint. Goodkind has a fixation with talking any subject to death, and he does this again and again in this volume. You think a topic has been beaten to death by Richard, then the "Mother Confessor" has to bring up one (or ten) more points which must be debated ad nauseum.I can tell you that I found the character of Nicci fascinating, particularly in her relationships with her parents. While somewhat contrived, I really felt for this girl with the pinched and pious mother and the great-souled and generous father. I found myself caring much more about what happened to her than what happened to the "Mother Confessor" and the "Seeker of Truth." She was the hook that kept me reading page after page. Not all of the characters were as interesting.All of the books in this series are a strange amalgam of juvenile righteousness and disturbing ultraviolence, but I was able to get past that. Why we must be subjected to graphic depictions of people being slow-cooked on a spit and screaming in agony under torture in books that otherwise read at the level of Harry Potter is beyond me. I suppose it at least serves to capture your attention.The plot actually moved along fairly well in my opinion. Characters don't always behave as real people would--being either much more stupid or much more divinely wise than any people you or I know--because the plot contrivances call for an extension or truncation of their lives or fortunes.The ending was fairly satisfying, even though you could see it coming a hundred pages off. But the good get theirs and the bad get theirs in true juvenile fiction fashion. There is much preaching of Ayn Randian Objectivism. I agree with others here. It seems that Mr. Goodkind got hold of a copy of Atlas Shrugged or The Fountainhead and thought he had come into some sort of Dispensation of Holy Wisdom, because he spouts it all again and again.Despite its faults, I believe most people will enjoy this book. It is classic hero fantasy with Nicci being a strong and charismatic character.'
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