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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is the first Sword of Truth book that I've had trouble finishing. I've always been well aware that the books are never going to win awards based on their plots, characters or writing, but they have been remarkably easy to read. But in this book, it feels as though it just stalled midway, as Goodkind introduced a place and a cast of characters out of the blue, that – for at least one hundred pages - didn't appear to have anything to do with the main plot.
It's not the first time that Goodkind cuts away from the heroes in his series, but it's always been done with more care than this. Take, for example, [b:Wizard's First Rule], where there are chapters dedicated to the point of view of Darken Rahl, but this was after he was established as the major villain – and in the cases where new characters are introduced were able to be quickly connected to the main plot.
Thankfully, it pulled together at the end for a climax that was satisfying, but far from brilliant.
It's not the first time that Goodkind cuts away from the heroes in his series, but it's always been done with more care than this. Take, for example, [b:Wizard's First Rule], where there are chapters dedicated to the point of view of Darken Rahl, but this was after he was established as the major villain – and in the cases where new characters are introduced were able to be quickly connected to the main plot.
Thankfully, it pulled together at the end for a climax that was satisfying, but far from brilliant.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This whole book is a circus of people not listening to eachother
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
75% of this book was totally pointless. I know he could have set up new characters and given them a settling in less time because he did this in the other books. This book really flew off the mark; the author had a good idea to challenge the main characters…and then trails off for about 400 pages, then hastily resolves in the last few pages. I briefly remember not finishing this series 20 years ago after this book , and now I remember why. That being said, I do hope this time I’ll finish the series and this was just the trade mark awful one of the series.
Probably the best thing about this book is that I have never seen anyone call out the fact that it is just Goodkind's Bill and Hillary Clinton hatefic.
As to what I think about the book itself--lmao. It is hands down the best of the first six SoT books. Getting away from our perfect protagonists Richard and Kahlan is so so so very refreshing. Instead most of the action is focused on a new cast of characters: loser Fitch, who I find strangely endearing in spite of his various annoying teenage boy character traits; Beata, whose character arc is handled with surprising tact given this is a Goodkind novel; and Dalton Campbell, the scheming right-hand man of totally-not-Bill-Clinton, and one of Goodkind's most nuanced villains.
There are perfectly okay things about this book (to the point where some parts are kinda good) but they are mingled with Goodkind's infamous over the top, unsubtle plotting and narration. The way he wrote women here is terrible, as usual, although ya girl Du Chaillu is back (love her) and Beata's whole arc is surprisingly heartwarming in spite of the way the book ends. The rest of the book was this bizarre mishmash of good-and-bad as well. Like on the one hand there is all the weird political crap going on in Anderith, and the Chimes subplot, you know, the kinda good things. On the other hand there is The Chicken, so like every other book in this series up until Chainfire, it is definitely a mixed bag.
I don't know. On the one hand it is in many ways as bad as the first four, on the other I genuinely like a lot of what goes on in Soul of the Fire. Wouldn't necessarily recommend but I think it's entertaining.
As to what I think about the book itself--lmao. It is hands down the best of the first six SoT books. Getting away from our perfect protagonists Richard and Kahlan is so so so very refreshing. Instead most of the action is focused on a new cast of characters: loser Fitch, who I find strangely endearing in spite of his various annoying teenage boy character traits; Beata, whose character arc is handled with surprising tact given this is a Goodkind novel; and Dalton Campbell, the scheming right-hand man of totally-not-Bill-Clinton, and one of Goodkind's most nuanced villains.
There are perfectly okay things about this book (to the point where some parts are kinda good) but they are mingled with Goodkind's infamous over the top, unsubtle plotting and narration. The way he wrote women here is terrible, as usual, although ya girl Du Chaillu is back (love her) and Beata's whole arc is surprisingly heartwarming in spite of the way the book ends. The rest of the book was this bizarre mishmash of good-and-bad as well. Like on the one hand there is all the weird political crap going on in Anderith, and the Chimes subplot, you know, the kinda good things. On the other hand there is The Chicken
Spoiler
and the way Kahlan's pregnancy drama gets resolved, thanks, Terry :^)I don't know. On the one hand it is in many ways as bad as the first four, on the other I genuinely like a lot of what goes on in Soul of the Fire. Wouldn't necessarily recommend but I think it's entertaining.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The worst in the series I have read so far...
Predictable? Check.
Repetitive? Check.
The ending of the book felt like Mr. Goodkind (who, as we all know, does not write fantasy) had written the meager plot into a corner and was without ideas on how to write himself out of it again.
Predictable? Check.
Repetitive? Check.
The ending of the book felt like Mr. Goodkind (who, as we all know, does not write fantasy) had written the meager plot into a corner and was without ideas on how to write himself out of it again.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated