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trangmar's review against another edition
adventurous
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? No
3.5
zaphod46's review against another edition
2.0
Moving rapidly towards the conclusion of the series (one more book, I
think). This installment is not fantastic, but it isn’t horrible, either. It
focuses on Richard getting his head out of the sand and refocusing his
efforts towards the final battle. Then, of course, he gets screwed and the
end of the book is reminiscent of the Gladiator movie.
think). This installment is not fantastic, but it isn’t horrible, either. It
focuses on Richard getting his head out of the sand and refocusing his
efforts towards the final battle. Then, of course, he gets screwed and the
end of the book is reminiscent of the Gladiator movie.
esthergreenwoodx's review against another edition
2.0
I will finish this series because I'm invested in the characters, but this installment was so disappointing. There are plenty of other reviews on Goodreads that describe exactly how Goodkind got off track with the series, but there were two major things that really got to me throughout reading the book.
There are a few very exciting and interesting plot developments (Richard sending troops to the Old World, for example) that were certainly worth slogging my way through the unnecessary repetition that comprises most of the book's pages. This was sometimes LITERALLY verbatim from previous parts of the book. Upon beginning Confessor, I realized this was not over, and it makes me sad that this is about as inventive as the series gets now.
However, I can deal with that. It was the gratuitous, heavy-handed, poorly-written rape and near-rape scenes made this book nearly unreadable. Not only was it the principle of the thing (men using rape as a plot device is one of my least favorite things in the world) but also in terms of the way Goodkind wrote and handled the scenes. During Kahlan's time as a captive, Goodkind eliminates the gravity of the situation leading up to her near-rape by removing Kahlan's memories and essentially her personality; her voice is much less mature and intelligent throughout the book. I was willing to ignore this at first, but ultimately I found it repugnant during the amateur hour of suspense leading up to the almost-rape scene. Rather than choosing to portray Kahlan as she might have been in the past books, he portrays her as scared, almost ambivalent, and completely lacking in any control, strategy, power, or autonomy. It was an incredibly nauseating chunk of pages that stripped some fairly well-written characters (Kahlan especially, but also Jagang) of anything that once made them interesting or complex.
There are a few very exciting and interesting plot developments (Richard sending troops to the Old World, for example) that were certainly worth slogging my way through the unnecessary repetition that comprises most of the book's pages. This was sometimes LITERALLY verbatim from previous parts of the book. Upon beginning Confessor, I realized this was not over, and it makes me sad that this is about as inventive as the series gets now.
However, I can deal with that. It was the gratuitous, heavy-handed, poorly-written rape and near-rape scenes made this book nearly unreadable. Not only was it the principle of the thing (men using rape as a plot device is one of my least favorite things in the world) but also in terms of the way Goodkind wrote and handled the scenes. During Kahlan's time as a captive, Goodkind eliminates the gravity of the situation leading up to her near-rape by removing Kahlan's memories and essentially her personality; her voice is much less mature and intelligent throughout the book. I was willing to ignore this at first, but ultimately I found it repugnant during the amateur hour of suspense leading up to the almost-rape scene. Rather than choosing to portray Kahlan as she might have been in the past books, he portrays her as scared, almost ambivalent, and completely lacking in any control, strategy, power, or autonomy. It was an incredibly nauseating chunk of pages that stripped some fairly well-written characters (Kahlan especially, but also Jagang) of anything that once made them interesting or complex.
mxsallybend's review against another edition
3.0
What is there left to say about Terry Goodkind and The Sword of Truth saga that hasn't been said before? At times, he has been nothing less than brilliant. Wizard's First Rule and Stone of Tears are classics of epic fantasy. They were fresh, they were original, and they were challenging. The 'Seeker of Truth' . . . the 'Mother Confessor . . . the 'Mord-Sith' . . . daring, creative, fascinating concepts, with believable characters behind them. The philosophical moralizing was heavy-handed at times, yes, but still a welcome change from the typically 'spiritual' distinction between good and evil.
After that, the series began slipping downhill. Goodkind admitted that he was more interested in exploring his philosophies than in following the plotting of an epic fantasy - and boy did it show. Action gave way to talk, and talk gave way to . . . well, more talk. What was once original became boringly repetitive.
Ironically, it was a book that hardly featured Richard or Kahlan at all that recaptured my interest. Pillars of Creation was not what I expected after 6 volumes, and I couldn't have been more pleased. There was still more talk than action, but Lauren breathed new life into a stale series. Too bad Naked Empire couldn't sustain it.
That brings us to Chainfire. I generally loathe it when characters are stripped of their powers/identities, just to create tension and restart a sagging plot. It rarely works for me, and this was no different. Richard and Kahlan are great people, but it's hard to get excited when there's no seeking of truth and no explosive confessions. Not only that, but the plot felt . . . recycled. After all, we'd already dealt with the Boxes of Orden in the first 2 books of the series.
The only reason I picked up Phantom is because I'm curious to see how Goodkind plans to wrap everything up in this, the 2nd volume of the 'final' trilogy. Things don't start out well. Over 200 pages of talking, of saying the same thing over and over again, of bashing us upside the head with the obvious. I was about ready to give up when, suddenly, we rediscover the lost art of the plot.
Not to spoil anything for those who haven't read it, but there are some really interesting developments in this book. After building up the armies of the Order to the point where they truly are unstoppable, Goodkind deftly sidesteps the issue of confronting them with Richard's shocking advice to the D'Haran troops - and it absolutely works for the reader. We get a confrontation between Jagang and the Sisters of the Dark that beautifully resolves so many nagging questions, and sets the stage for a new conflict. Richard learns a lot more about himself and his role in the grand scheme of things, and all the myriad plot pieces finally begin coming together.
The ending is a shocker, and something I never expected to see. For the first time in a long time I am looking forward to the next book of the series. If Goodkind delivers on even half of what he seems to be promising, it will be well worth the wait.
After that, the series began slipping downhill. Goodkind admitted that he was more interested in exploring his philosophies than in following the plotting of an epic fantasy - and boy did it show. Action gave way to talk, and talk gave way to . . . well, more talk. What was once original became boringly repetitive.
Ironically, it was a book that hardly featured Richard or Kahlan at all that recaptured my interest. Pillars of Creation was not what I expected after 6 volumes, and I couldn't have been more pleased. There was still more talk than action, but Lauren breathed new life into a stale series. Too bad Naked Empire couldn't sustain it.
That brings us to Chainfire. I generally loathe it when characters are stripped of their powers/identities, just to create tension and restart a sagging plot. It rarely works for me, and this was no different. Richard and Kahlan are great people, but it's hard to get excited when there's no seeking of truth and no explosive confessions. Not only that, but the plot felt . . . recycled. After all, we'd already dealt with the Boxes of Orden in the first 2 books of the series.
The only reason I picked up Phantom is because I'm curious to see how Goodkind plans to wrap everything up in this, the 2nd volume of the 'final' trilogy. Things don't start out well. Over 200 pages of talking, of saying the same thing over and over again, of bashing us upside the head with the obvious. I was about ready to give up when, suddenly, we rediscover the lost art of the plot.
Not to spoil anything for those who haven't read it, but there are some really interesting developments in this book. After building up the armies of the Order to the point where they truly are unstoppable, Goodkind deftly sidesteps the issue of confronting them with Richard's shocking advice to the D'Haran troops - and it absolutely works for the reader. We get a confrontation between Jagang and the Sisters of the Dark that beautifully resolves so many nagging questions, and sets the stage for a new conflict. Richard learns a lot more about himself and his role in the grand scheme of things, and all the myriad plot pieces finally begin coming together.
The ending is a shocker, and something I never expected to see. For the first time in a long time I am looking forward to the next book of the series. If Goodkind delivers on even half of what he seems to be promising, it will be well worth the wait.
edgyirishcupcake's review against another edition
1.0
I've never skimmed a book so much in my life. I think Goodkind just likes to hear himself type. Beyond book 4, he has proven himself to be a pompous author who has mediocre writing abilities at best.
ltlmz's review against another edition
3.0
it feels as though Chainfire and Phantom were submitted as one book, and instead of giving it the edit it so desperately needed, they divided the story into two books. Phantom was a better read than Chainfire.
bigbookgeek's review against another edition
4.0
These books keep getting better! Phantom was a great continuation of the Richard & Kahlan saga that picks up right where the previous tome left off! Richard is still frantically searching for Kahlan, and now that he has convinced others that she does exist and that a chainfire spell was used to wipe her from memory, things are all the more urgent. Then Richard is attacked by the witch woman Six and has his powers stripped. To make matters worse, Kahlan still does not know who she is but is now in the hands of Emperor Jagang, who is starting to feel the intended pressure Richard's army is applying by gutting resources and support out of the Old World. So much to take in, it is almost overwhelming. But Goodkind spins a great tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat and begging for more at the end!
raptorimperator's review against another edition
5.0
I liked how things are becoming full circle with Wizard's First Rule, and how Goodkind is revisiting past moments.
gassyhaggis's review against another edition
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0