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3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
Kahlan und Richard ist ihr Glück als frisch verheiratetes Liebespaar natürlich nicht vergönnt und schon am Morgen nach der Hochzeit treten die ersten Probleme auf. Dabei wird schnell klar, dass Kahlan versehentlich die Chimären aus der Unterwelt gerufen hat, um ihren Geliebten vor dem Tode zu bewahren und diese Kreaturen nun den gesamten Midlands und ihren Bewohnern die Magie entziehen. Gleichzeitig rückt Kaiser Jagangs gewaltige Armee der Imperialen Ordnung unaufhörlich weiter und sitzt Richard Rahl gehörig im Nacken.
Während sich Zedd sofort auf den Weg nach Anderith macht, um sich der Chimärenproblematik zu stellen und es auch Lord Rahl und die Mutter Konfessor zufällig dorthin verschlägt, versucht Prälatin Ann die übrigen Schwestern des Lichts aus Kaiser Jagangs Klauen zu befreien.
Genau in diesem kleinen Königreich, das sich Anderith nennt, spielt die hauptsächliche Handlung. Dort unterteilt sich die Gesellschaft in zwei Volksgruppen: Den größten Teil der Bevölkerung nehmen die Hakenier ein und diese werden von einer kleineren Gruppe 'Anderier genannt- unterdrückt. Dies äußert sich zum Beispiel dadurch, dass die wichtigen Machtpositionen von Anderiern besetzt werden, wogegen es nur wenige Hakenier gibt, die gesellschaftlich angesehen sind. Grund dafür ist die damalige Eroberung des Landes durch die Hakenier und die anschließende Rückeroberung durch die Anderier, was dem Volk gebetsartig immer wieder vorgepredigt wird: Hakenier böse, Anderier gut.
Doch nicht nur der Schauplatz ist neu, denn Goodkind lässt endlich neue Charaktere ins Spiel und die sorgen erst einmal dafür, dass das Interesse des Lesers geweckt wird. Hier möchte ich anmerken, dass das auch der einzige Grund war, weshalb ich das Buch nicht nach hundert Seiten zur weggelegt habe, denn noch einmal über 1000 Seiten nerviges Richard-Kahlan-Geschmachte wäre mir wirklich zu viel gewesen. Wer aber genau das möchte, sollte diesen Band vielleicht überspringen, denn die beiden treten kaum in Aktion und das Buch konzentriert sich wirklich hauptsächlich auf die Geschehnisse in Anderith.
Meine anfängliche Freude legte sich aber ganz schnell wieder, denn auch hier tritt das altbekannte Goddkind-Phänomen auf: Der Mann schafft es 200 Buchseiten zu füllen, auf denen kaum etwas passiert! Endlose Dialoge über Politik, die keine Spannung aufkommen lassen, sondern ziemlich anstrengend und teilweise auch furchtbar einschläfernd sind, füllen hier ganze Kapitel.
Durch die ersten beiden Drittel des Buches habe ich mich gequält, denn das politische Gefasel war teilweise nicht zum aushalten, die ständigen Wiederholungen trugen auch nicht gerade dazu bei, dass das Lesen leicht von der Hand ging. Die Handlung schleppte sich von Kapitel zu Kapitel, ohne jemals an Fahrt aufzunehmen. Erst das letzte Drittel verspricht ein spannenderes Ende, auf das der Leser sich die ersten 600 - 700 Seiten hingearbeitet hat, aber genau darauf wartet man vergeblich. Das scheinbar unlösbare Chimärenproblem lässt sich in weniger als fünf Seiten aus der Welt schaffen, Goodkind lässt die interessantesten Charaktere nebenher auf unspektakuläre Weise sterben und nachdem man die letzten Sätze gelesen hat, fragt man sich, ob man denn überhaupt zum nächsten Band greifen möchte, denn das Ende ist ziemlich lahm, furchtbar kitschig und lässt absolut keine Vorfreude auf den nächsten Teil aufkommen.
Das Buch fing interessant an, floss spannungslos dahin, bäumte sich kurz zu einem lächerlichen Höhepunkt auf und endete im unausweichlichen Happy End, das eigentlich niemand bräuchte.
Während sich Zedd sofort auf den Weg nach Anderith macht, um sich der Chimärenproblematik zu stellen und es auch Lord Rahl und die Mutter Konfessor zufällig dorthin verschlägt, versucht Prälatin Ann die übrigen Schwestern des Lichts aus Kaiser Jagangs Klauen zu befreien.
Genau in diesem kleinen Königreich, das sich Anderith nennt, spielt die hauptsächliche Handlung. Dort unterteilt sich die Gesellschaft in zwei Volksgruppen: Den größten Teil der Bevölkerung nehmen die Hakenier ein und diese werden von einer kleineren Gruppe 'Anderier genannt- unterdrückt. Dies äußert sich zum Beispiel dadurch, dass die wichtigen Machtpositionen von Anderiern besetzt werden, wogegen es nur wenige Hakenier gibt, die gesellschaftlich angesehen sind. Grund dafür ist die damalige Eroberung des Landes durch die Hakenier und die anschließende Rückeroberung durch die Anderier, was dem Volk gebetsartig immer wieder vorgepredigt wird: Hakenier böse, Anderier gut.
Doch nicht nur der Schauplatz ist neu, denn Goodkind lässt endlich neue Charaktere ins Spiel und die sorgen erst einmal dafür, dass das Interesse des Lesers geweckt wird. Hier möchte ich anmerken, dass das auch der einzige Grund war, weshalb ich das Buch nicht nach hundert Seiten zur weggelegt habe, denn noch einmal über 1000 Seiten nerviges Richard-Kahlan-Geschmachte wäre mir wirklich zu viel gewesen. Wer aber genau das möchte, sollte diesen Band vielleicht überspringen, denn die beiden treten kaum in Aktion und das Buch konzentriert sich wirklich hauptsächlich auf die Geschehnisse in Anderith.
Meine anfängliche Freude legte sich aber ganz schnell wieder, denn auch hier tritt das altbekannte Goddkind-Phänomen auf: Der Mann schafft es 200 Buchseiten zu füllen, auf denen kaum etwas passiert! Endlose Dialoge über Politik, die keine Spannung aufkommen lassen, sondern ziemlich anstrengend und teilweise auch furchtbar einschläfernd sind, füllen hier ganze Kapitel.
Durch die ersten beiden Drittel des Buches habe ich mich gequält, denn das politische Gefasel war teilweise nicht zum aushalten, die ständigen Wiederholungen trugen auch nicht gerade dazu bei, dass das Lesen leicht von der Hand ging. Die Handlung schleppte sich von Kapitel zu Kapitel, ohne jemals an Fahrt aufzunehmen. Erst das letzte Drittel verspricht ein spannenderes Ende, auf das der Leser sich die ersten 600 - 700 Seiten hingearbeitet hat, aber genau darauf wartet man vergeblich. Das scheinbar unlösbare Chimärenproblem lässt sich in weniger als fünf Seiten aus der Welt schaffen, Goodkind lässt die interessantesten Charaktere nebenher auf unspektakuläre Weise sterben und nachdem man die letzten Sätze gelesen hat, fragt man sich, ob man denn überhaupt zum nächsten Band greifen möchte, denn das Ende ist ziemlich lahm, furchtbar kitschig und lässt absolut keine Vorfreude auf den nächsten Teil aufkommen.
Das Buch fing interessant an, floss spannungslos dahin, bäumte sich kurz zu einem lächerlichen Höhepunkt auf und endete im unausweichlichen Happy End, das eigentlich niemand bräuchte.
Date Started: 1/4/21
Date Finished: 1/25/21
Rating: 5 out of 5
Book Title: Soul of the Fire
Author: Terry Goodkind
Page Count: 788
Notes: This book is the fifth book in the series. I strongly suggest you read the first four before you read this book. Also, the audio narration is great, but being as there are different narrators it’s not always consistent. Still enjoyable to listen to.
My mom has been hounding me to read this series for about a decade now. She finally persuaded me into reading it by suggesting we buddy read it. So here we are months later. In the middle of the series. I’m glad I finally listened.
The author did a fantastic job with this book. Everything was written with remarkable detail. I was in awe at how beautiful it was. He took his time laying everything out. The intrigue. The build-up. It was inspiring. I even loved the characters in the book. Also, any book I get to read about my Kara is a good book to me.
There are several main characters in this series. All of them have been through so much on their journey for justice. We have Richard who went from being a normal woodsman to being one of the most powerful wizards of all time. Then we have Kahlan. She’s the only confessor left in the entire world. She is also adjusting to being able to find true happiness because her touch doesn’t work on Richard. Kara went from being a Mord Sith who was evil and tortured people for the sport of it until being thankful for her freedom because of Richard and protecting him with her life.
From what I understand, this series was turned into a television series. I never really got to watch it. By the time I found out it was a thing, it was no longer airing. My mother has seen a few episodes. She wasn’t really impressed with the cast or the adaptation. She’s generally not too picky when it comes to that kind of thing, so I’m kind of scared to watch them.
All in all, this series has kept me on my feet the entire time. Just when I think everything is going right, everything ends in disaster in the most dramatic way. The bad guys always seem to get the upper hand in the most intense and gruesome way. Everybody thinks that a certain author is evil with the way he kills everybody off, but that author has nothing on Goodkind.
Date Finished: 1/25/21
Rating: 5 out of 5
Book Title: Soul of the Fire
Author: Terry Goodkind
Page Count: 788
Notes: This book is the fifth book in the series. I strongly suggest you read the first four before you read this book. Also, the audio narration is great, but being as there are different narrators it’s not always consistent. Still enjoyable to listen to.
My mom has been hounding me to read this series for about a decade now. She finally persuaded me into reading it by suggesting we buddy read it. So here we are months later. In the middle of the series. I’m glad I finally listened.
The author did a fantastic job with this book. Everything was written with remarkable detail. I was in awe at how beautiful it was. He took his time laying everything out. The intrigue. The build-up. It was inspiring. I even loved the characters in the book. Also, any book I get to read about my Kara is a good book to me.
There are several main characters in this series. All of them have been through so much on their journey for justice. We have Richard who went from being a normal woodsman to being one of the most powerful wizards of all time. Then we have Kahlan. She’s the only confessor left in the entire world. She is also adjusting to being able to find true happiness because her touch doesn’t work on Richard. Kara went from being a Mord Sith who was evil and tortured people for the sport of it until being thankful for her freedom because of Richard and protecting him with her life.
From what I understand, this series was turned into a television series. I never really got to watch it. By the time I found out it was a thing, it was no longer airing. My mother has seen a few episodes. She wasn’t really impressed with the cast or the adaptation. She’s generally not too picky when it comes to that kind of thing, so I’m kind of scared to watch them.
All in all, this series has kept me on my feet the entire time. Just when I think everything is going right, everything ends in disaster in the most dramatic way. The bad guys always seem to get the upper hand in the most intense and gruesome way. Everybody thinks that a certain author is evil with the way he kills everybody off, but that author has nothing on Goodkind.
Another Rand-ian light moral lesson, with plenty of fixation on sex and sin and opulence.
This time, the story seems to trudge on aimlessly, with Kahlan taking the blame for the problems unleashed on the world, until Richard haphazardly saves the day in the last twelve pages.
Once again, we have the delightful surprise of intense violence against women, with graphic descriptions of them being beaten to death.
Oh! Oh! I almost forgot!
EVIL CHICKEN! Read this book for the evil chicken.
This time, the story seems to trudge on aimlessly, with Kahlan taking the blame for the problems unleashed on the world, until Richard haphazardly saves the day in the last twelve pages.
Once again, we have the delightful surprise of intense violence against women, with graphic descriptions of them being beaten to death.
Oh! Oh! I almost forgot!
EVIL CHICKEN! Read this book for the evil chicken.
adventurous
dark
tense
slow-paced
A chicken that's not a chicken, a raven that's not raven, and a plot that's not a plot. Oh how this series has fallen in just 4 books from the first [b:Wizard's First Rule|43889|Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth, #1)|Terry Goodkind|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1316131846s/43889.jpg|1323305]? I keep hearing revs of newer books in the series, that's all that keeps me reading on in this series that is becoming known for huge brainless fodder for the masses.
So I've been re-reading this series as I realised that I can't actually remember the later half of the series. There's possibly a reason for that as, other than Faith of the Fallen which I really enjoyed, I vaguely recall that these books get progressively worse from this point in. This book is perhaps the beginning of the end. It's the point where Goodkind decides to switch over to characters who the reader has never seen before and will never see again for huge swathes of the novel, completely disregarding the fact that the reader is only really interested in the main action.
In this case, you get the populace of Anderith; a country you haven't heard of before, but oh boy will you hear a lot about here. All of their historical background, their culture and the inequality inherent within it, their politics, the thought processes of the guys leading the show and the actions of the underclass Hakens are here in pomp and over-stated glory. This is a book that would have been far better at a fraction of the size. There is a lot of pontificating and not a lot of substance. And to make matters worse, the bits that you're actually interested in are often side-lined in favour of explaining all about these people you are never going to see again. It's pointless and a good demonstration of why verbal diarrhoea does not make for a good novel.
The really interesting bits about magic are skimmed over and it all leads to a completely unfulfilling conclusion that makes absolutely no sense and is not explained at all as to why it might actually make sense. Richard decides to do something unheard of and then does it without there being any exposition as to why this might be a good idea or why it might work. Perhaps if the entire book hadn't been full of useless exposition about things that really didn't matter at all, this would have been less frustrating. But as it stands, it's like Goodkind had all the ideas for this new world and threw them at the reader in all their naked and unedited splendour, but then couldn't be bothered to unpack the really important conclusion to the narrative. Not only that, but he never bothered to explain what the Chimes were at all, other than some brief mumbo-jumbo about them being the end of all magic. Are they a weapon? An entity? An entity attached to a weapon? Then why can they possess a chicken of all things?!
I powered through this one because I remembered loving the next book. How far I make it after that may be a test of my constitution and willpower.
In this case, you get the populace of Anderith; a country you haven't heard of before, but oh boy will you hear a lot about here. All of their historical background, their culture and the inequality inherent within it, their politics, the thought processes of the guys leading the show and the actions of the underclass Hakens are here in pomp and over-stated glory. This is a book that would have been far better at a fraction of the size. There is a lot of pontificating and not a lot of substance. And to make matters worse, the bits that you're actually interested in are often side-lined in favour of explaining all about these people you are never going to see again. It's pointless and a good demonstration of why verbal diarrhoea does not make for a good novel.
The really interesting bits about magic are skimmed over and it all leads to a completely unfulfilling conclusion that makes absolutely no sense and is not explained at all as to why it might actually make sense. Richard decides to do something unheard of and then does it without there being any exposition as to why this might be a good idea or why it might work. Perhaps if the entire book hadn't been full of useless exposition about things that really didn't matter at all, this would have been less frustrating. But as it stands, it's like Goodkind had all the ideas for this new world and threw them at the reader in all their naked and unedited splendour, but then couldn't be bothered to unpack the really important conclusion to the narrative. Not only that, but he never bothered to explain what the Chimes were at all, other than some brief mumbo-jumbo about them being the end of all magic. Are they a weapon? An entity? An entity attached to a weapon? Then why can they possess a chicken of all things?!
I powered through this one because I remembered loving the next book. How far I make it after that may be a test of my constitution and willpower.
I really liked this one, certainly towards the end. It was nice that we got to know so much about the Hakens and Anders in this book and that it wasn't fully centered around Kahlan and Richard. It gave the book more depth when all these characters finally came together at the end of the book.
At least we got away from most of the sexual sadism and torture.
In many ways, this was one of my favorite books in the Sword of Truth series so far. We still have somewhat contrived situations simply because characters who are allies refuse to be honest with each other. But Richard and Kahlan, overall, are behaving a bit more like adults. I was glad to see Du Chaillu and the Baka Tau Mana return to the story. The story is more cohesive, with only a few side episodes away from the main action and characters. The finale is a bit of a fizzle militarily but satisfying from a magic point of view. And I had guessed the truth about the raven...
In many ways, this was one of my favorite books in the Sword of Truth series so far. We still have somewhat contrived situations simply because characters who are allies refuse to be honest with each other. But Richard and Kahlan, overall, are behaving a bit more like adults. I was glad to see Du Chaillu and the Baka Tau Mana return to the story. The story is more cohesive, with only a few side episodes away from the main action and characters. The finale is a bit of a fizzle militarily but satisfying from a magic point of view. And I had guessed the truth about the raven...