Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
I love this world. I think of I had read the book before seeing the TV show as a kid. I would like the book better but since I was OBSESSED with the show. I still like the show better. My favorite thing about this story both in book form and the tv show is the world and magic. I find Confessors and Mord-Sith's very interesting and I love learning about them.
(2006 me read it and thought the magic system was decent and it worked as a stand-alone, but the sequels were unappealing; modern me, far more aware of gender politics, would no doubt hate it but has no desire to reread.)
Again, I just don't see what the fuss is about. I really had to push myself through this one so that I could get to more enjoyable reading.
This writing isn't good. The language detracts from the story and leaves me rolling my eyes with the blatant repetition, syrupy descriptions, and predictable... everything. The characters leave me with no desire to see where they are going to end up. Additionally, the characters also struck me as robotic while STILL having unrealistic emotional responses to the situations thrust on them for the sake of plot movement. Don't ask me how that's possible.
Goodkind is clearly pushing a particular moral agenda, which is all well and good, but when the story and characters suffer for the sake of a moral agenda? Not good.
I really need to find some fantasy I like again soon, otherwise I'm going to lose my faith in the whole genre after being a fantasy-lover my whole life.
This writing isn't good. The language detracts from the story and leaves me rolling my eyes with the blatant repetition, syrupy descriptions, and predictable... everything. The characters leave me with no desire to see where they are going to end up. Additionally, the characters also struck me as robotic while STILL having unrealistic emotional responses to the situations thrust on them for the sake of plot movement. Don't ask me how that's possible.
Goodkind is clearly pushing a particular moral agenda, which is all well and good, but when the story and characters suffer for the sake of a moral agenda? Not good.
I really need to find some fantasy I like again soon, otherwise I'm going to lose my faith in the whole genre after being a fantasy-lover my whole life.
If you watched the tv series, be prepared for a different (better) story. They were both totally separate except for a few key elements.
After trying to read this book about 4 or 5 different times, this time I fell into the world and am having trouble getting out. I wish I had realized there were so many in the series and that it is not finished yet but all and all I would recommend it.
Rating: R
For: violence, sexual fantasies, and intense torture scenes.
Even though I would not recommend this to younger readers I enjoyed this book. It was definitely action-packed. It also held surprises even though I had seen the TV series Legend of the Seeker. I had read some rather negative reviews, but I actually found it rather refreshing. Terry Goodkind is not afraid to put his characters through hell, both physical and psychological, in order to prepare those characters for their defining moment.
For: violence, sexual fantasies, and intense torture scenes.
Even though I would not recommend this to younger readers I enjoyed this book. It was definitely action-packed. It also held surprises even though I had seen the TV series Legend of the Seeker. I had read some rather negative reviews, but I actually found it rather refreshing. Terry Goodkind is not afraid to put his characters through hell, both physical and psychological, in order to prepare those characters for their defining moment.
I'm the kind of person to finish what I start, and so, I was highly disappointed in myself when I couldn't even make through the first 100 pages of this book. A friend recommended it to me and he said he loved the series (He doesn't even like Charlaine Harris though, so I probably should have been skeptical in the first place.) When he gave me the book, I was surprised to see that the first book in a series would be over 800 pages. I made it through about 80 pages (over the course of several weeks) and just had to give up. The characters are not compelling, the plot is not exciting. There is no way in heck that I'd make it through 11 more books like that. Maybe someday, but not anytime soon.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love the characters and the world building but not the pace of the story. The book was so slow for the first 3/4; I almost DNF. Also, I wasn’t prepared for the very graphic torture scenes toward the end. With that said, a solid fantasy blueprint.
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
This book baffled me. At times the writing style, especially the dialogue, seemed artless and naive. If you had told me this book was written in English, translated to another language, then translated back to English, I would have thought that plausible. At the same time, its simplicity was kind of refreshing. I found myself enjoying the unadorned descriptions of their travels and even the mundane tasks they performed.
Other times, especially near the end, there were gleeful depictions of horrific torture and suffering. While I enjoyed that the least, and started skimming a rather lengthy torture porn section, I ironically found this to be some of Goodkind's most compelling writing.
There were some big ideas in this book: love vs hate, difficult choices, everything having a price, and so forth. These themes were delivered with such a heavy hand that even though I got through to the end, I can't tell if this novel was successful with me.
Other times, especially near the end, there were gleeful depictions of horrific torture and suffering. While I enjoyed that the least, and started skimming a rather lengthy torture porn section, I ironically found this to be some of Goodkind's most compelling writing.
There were some big ideas in this book: love vs hate, difficult choices, everything having a price, and so forth. These themes were delivered with such a heavy hand that even though I got through to the end, I can't tell if this novel was successful with me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence
Moderate: Gore, Sexual violence
Minor: Suicide