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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
The first time I read this book was in 2011 after I had plowed through the first three books in the series and I LOVED IT. The plot was so riveting, and obviously I adore the characters, I just could not get over how amazing it was.
This time, I reread it after having stopped reading the next book because of reasons. I wanted to reread this so I could just jump into book 5 with the love I remembered from book 4. Naturally I was nervous that I wouldn't enjoy it as much or I wouldn't devour it like the first time...THANK GOD FOR SLAYTHATSERIES YALL. Sara and Chami asked me to be a Twitter host and I reluctantly said yes because I'm AWFUL at readathons. They're so annoying to me because I never make any progress on anything and I usually feel like a failure. This time I gave myself a hefty TBR (books 4 and 5 of SOT) hoping that I would make some kind of progress in this reread and maybe rekindle my love for Richard and Kahlan. PRAISE BLESS IT HAPPENED AND I READ THE LAST 520 PAGES THIS WEEK. I haven't read this much in this short of a time in I don't know how long and it just BLEW MY MIND.
THIS BOOK WAS JUST AS AWESOME THE SECOND TIME AS IT WAS THE FIRST TIME. I don't think I've ever reread a truly adult fantasy book (mainly mass market paperbacks because gross) and for some reason this was just a breeze. I will admit that coming at it again five years later was a bit different than the first time because I was anticipating a lot, but by midway through I was still going "HOW THE HELL DOES THIS RESOLVE" so my memory must not be improving at all. I will admit that by the end of this I was reading a few SOT comments about sexual violence and rape (which are hella prevalent in the books), but I think we all know that that's awful and stupid and unacceptable...although I will admit, Terry Goodkind has a way with torture. (I would not want him to become a serial killer because yikes)
I'm not going to say this book is unproblematic because it isn't, but I am choosing to look past those major flaws because of my own personal entertainment and because of the unbelievably rich characters. Even though George R R Martin does have some kick ass ladies in his books, I have always appreciated Goodkind's characters more because they feel...I guess nicer, but I think they have much better values than Martin's. Kahlan and Richard are so...pure? I mean not innocent, but they seem so inherently GOOD that it gives me hope. And then there's all the amazing women from Kahlan to Shota to Ann to Verna to CARA to Raina and Berdine to Denna and Clarissa...they're all so strong and amazing in their own ways and I love them all so much.
This series started out as the TV show for me when I was a sophomore in high school, and to this day I cannot get these characters out of my head. I know this isn't the best series ever, and it isn't necessarily my favorite fantasy world ever, but the story is so rich and the characters are so meaningful (not to mention the joy ride that is a Terry Goodkind book) that I can't get over it. And I love ASOIAF, don't get me wrong, but personally I think Goodkind's writing is not only easier to read, but also more enjoyable and more fun. Whenever I read a SOT book I know there's hope. Even when things are most dire (THE CLIMAX OF THIS BOOK OH MY FREAKING GOODNESS), I know good things will come. Whereas ASOIAF could literally end in the entire cast dying and I would not be surprised.
I don't think this series is for everyone (STILL VERY MATURE), but I'm amazed that I came out of this reread still enthralled with this book, this series, and these characters. Even though the series now extends to fifteen gloriously long books, I'm going to spend the rest of my life working towards reading everything I can about Richard and Kahlan. OTP FOR LIFE MAN.
This time, I reread it after having stopped reading the next book because of reasons. I wanted to reread this so I could just jump into book 5 with the love I remembered from book 4. Naturally I was nervous that I wouldn't enjoy it as much or I wouldn't devour it like the first time...THANK GOD FOR SLAYTHATSERIES YALL. Sara and Chami asked me to be a Twitter host and I reluctantly said yes because I'm AWFUL at readathons. They're so annoying to me because I never make any progress on anything and I usually feel like a failure. This time I gave myself a hefty TBR (books 4 and 5 of SOT) hoping that I would make some kind of progress in this reread and maybe rekindle my love for Richard and Kahlan. PRAISE BLESS IT HAPPENED AND I READ THE LAST 520 PAGES THIS WEEK. I haven't read this much in this short of a time in I don't know how long and it just BLEW MY MIND.
THIS BOOK WAS JUST AS AWESOME THE SECOND TIME AS IT WAS THE FIRST TIME. I don't think I've ever reread a truly adult fantasy book (mainly mass market paperbacks because gross) and for some reason this was just a breeze. I will admit that coming at it again five years later was a bit different than the first time because I was anticipating a lot, but by midway through I was still going "HOW THE HELL DOES THIS RESOLVE" so my memory must not be improving at all. I will admit that by the end of this I was reading a few SOT comments about sexual violence and rape (which are hella prevalent in the books), but I think we all know that that's awful and stupid and unacceptable...although I will admit, Terry Goodkind has a way with torture. (I would not want him to become a serial killer because yikes)
I'm not going to say this book is unproblematic because it isn't, but I am choosing to look past those major flaws because of my own personal entertainment and because of the unbelievably rich characters. Even though George R R Martin does have some kick ass ladies in his books, I have always appreciated Goodkind's characters more because they feel...I guess nicer, but I think they have much better values than Martin's. Kahlan and Richard are so...pure? I mean not innocent, but they seem so inherently GOOD that it gives me hope. And then there's all the amazing women from Kahlan to Shota to Ann to Verna to CARA to Raina and Berdine to Denna and Clarissa...they're all so strong and amazing in their own ways and I love them all so much.
This series started out as the TV show for me when I was a sophomore in high school, and to this day I cannot get these characters out of my head. I know this isn't the best series ever, and it isn't necessarily my favorite fantasy world ever, but the story is so rich and the characters are so meaningful (not to mention the joy ride that is a Terry Goodkind book) that I can't get over it. And I love ASOIAF, don't get me wrong, but personally I think Goodkind's writing is not only easier to read, but also more enjoyable and more fun. Whenever I read a SOT book I know there's hope. Even when things are most dire (THE CLIMAX OF THIS BOOK OH MY FREAKING GOODNESS), I know good things will come. Whereas ASOIAF could literally end in the entire cast dying and I would not be surprised.
I don't think this series is for everyone (STILL VERY MATURE), but I'm amazed that I came out of this reread still enthralled with this book, this series, and these characters. Even though the series now extends to fifteen gloriously long books, I'm going to spend the rest of my life working towards reading everything I can about Richard and Kahlan. OTP FOR LIFE MAN.
Definitely not his best work. Unlike the first 3 books, it is SO repetitive. The storyline is lackluster and it seems as though the repetition was a way to just keep writing and just produce a book. The only good parts were with Zedd and Ann, and that was only amusing.
WOW okay rape fantasies and incongruous plot lines galore. I was so offended by the misogyny and general arrogance of the author by this book that I had to quit the series. To say I hated it is an understatement.
Book 4 in the Sword of Truth series, and the best so far. This is a big/long book but my interest never sagged at any point. The same characters from the first three books, but a complex and involved story line that just keeps getting better and better. The audiobook goes for almost 29 hours. The narrator does a better job than the guy who narrated book 2, but unfortunately he mispronounces Kahlan's name throughout the book. According to all the previous books and the TV series based on the books, it should be pronounced 'Kay-Lin' but this narrator consistently pronounces it like it was 'Collin'. It takes some getting used to. The world is being over run by a plague and the only solution involves Kahlan and Richard each marrying someone they do not love instead of each other. LOTS of twists and turns in this book and you won't be able to put it down.
5/5. Listened on Audible (read previously). The narrator is good when he’s just narrating. The character voice work was not great; he really sounded like he tried too hard. And the mispronunciation of Kahlan and inconsistent accents on characters (Raina) were also just not good. That aside, the story remains one of my favorites in the series. Dark and sad but also good laughs and tender moments.
This was a good one and I enjoyed it more than Book Three. Once again, Goodkind does a whirlwind ending in the last 100 pages or so. Richard and Kahlan’s conditions for discovering the Temple also seemed a little too far fetched for me. I enjoyed Nathan’s role in this story and how we see his goodly side. Can’t wait for the next one.
Richard et Kahlan, enfin réunis, ont un nouvel ennemi : celui qui marche dans les rêves, l'empereur Jagang, encore plus méchant que les précédents méchants de la saga...
On retrouve avec plaisir les différents personnages, chacun menant sa quête de son côté, mais tout est finement imbriqué, et les chemins se croisent volontiers...
Spoiler
Il a répandu la peste sur tous les peuples aimés par nos deux amoureux. Et coup de théâtre, ils ne peuvent pas se marier ! Pour contrer cette peste, ils doivent obéir au Temple des Vents, siège des âmes des défunts, et chacun doit épouser un autre pour enrayer l'épidémie ! Après de nombreuses péripéties, les deux "autres" meurent, et le livre se termine par l'heureux mariage de Richard et Kahlan, en terre d'Adobe, en compagnie de Zedd et Anna.On retrouve avec plaisir les différents personnages, chacun menant sa quête de son côté, mais tout est finement imbriqué, et les chemins se croisent volontiers...
This is where I stopped reading the Sword of Truth series -- in the middle of this book. Don't misunderstand, this one wasn't any worse than the others. It was just too repetitive and too long, with too little pay off.
I am low-key addicted to Sword of Truth...also very fascinated with the way female voice is expressed by the author. Listening to Mother Confessor ruminate over Shota's prophecy about Nadine marrying Richard, expressions of sexual desire, and how prostitutes are viewed by themselves vs others was interesting.
I have no idea how to rate this book because it’s so incredibly bad that it’s wonderfully hilarious and I loved reading it.
There is a constant refrain of complete jealousy from every woman in this book over Richard at all times and women are constantly bewitched to be in love with him and it was funny for a while (I guess) but now it’s just like a sad author fantasy.
So much of the dialogue in this book is just summarizing the series so far. I appreciate the refresher a little bit but it’s a pretty transparent plot device and it’s used repeatedly and I would’ve preferred just a straightforward rundown before the book started. Show, don’t tell, Terry!!!
This continues throughout the whole book. At least Jajang admits he learned all their flaws and weaknesses from their own mouths. Then this rando healer shows up and she just gives him all the info! She’s supposed to be a queen! You don’t have to share anything with these people! Also lol at Kahlan talking about having cold toes after Nadine falls completely underwater TWICE. And Cara has convulsions for an incredibly long time, she would be beyond brain dead. I might just die. Was the writing always this bad? The random healer just fingers a convulsing girl?
The girl dying while they literally stand outside the building. I can’t deal with this book. Is it supposed to be funny? It never seemed like this in the other books of the series.
I keep trying to figure out if I should know who the killer is from the description, but then I remembered that this book is so laughably forward that if I was supposed to know, he would’ve shouted his own name during climax or something.
There are twists and turns but by the time they’re revealed, the reader already knows who it is almost without a doubt. I do love how there’s so much going on and how they all come together to fulfill or break prophecies.
Richard is a big fat baby and everyone is so fucking dramatic. OBVIOUSLY it was Richard in the room why else would it be pitch black and you not be allowed to talk? Not recognizing Richard the moment he walks in a room is reasonable. Not knowing it’s him when your naked bodies are all over each other???? Nah.
This book is a wild ride. Plenty of the usual sexual death scenes and rape as the ultimate weapon against any strong woman. This man has a really weird relationship with sex and I would never want to meet him in real life. I really don’t remember the other books being so terrible. You know I’m still hooked though.
There is a constant refrain of complete jealousy from every woman in this book over Richard at all times and women are constantly bewitched to be in love with him and it was funny for a while (I guess) but now it’s just like a sad author fantasy.
So much of the dialogue in this book is just summarizing the series so far. I appreciate the refresher a little bit but it’s a pretty transparent plot device and it’s used repeatedly and I would’ve preferred just a straightforward rundown before the book started. Show, don’t tell, Terry!!!
This continues throughout the whole book. At least Jajang admits he learned all their flaws and weaknesses from their own mouths. Then this rando healer shows up and she just gives him all the info! She’s supposed to be a queen! You don’t have to share anything with these people! Also lol at Kahlan talking about having cold toes after Nadine falls completely underwater TWICE. And Cara has convulsions for an incredibly long time, she would be beyond brain dead. I might just die. Was the writing always this bad? The random healer just fingers a convulsing girl?
The girl dying while they literally stand outside the building. I can’t deal with this book. Is it supposed to be funny? It never seemed like this in the other books of the series.
I keep trying to figure out if I should know who the killer is from the description, but then I remembered that this book is so laughably forward that if I was supposed to know, he would’ve shouted his own name during climax or something.
There are twists and turns but by the time they’re revealed, the reader already knows who it is almost without a doubt. I do love how there’s so much going on and how they all come together to fulfill or break prophecies.
Richard is a big fat baby and everyone is so fucking dramatic. OBVIOUSLY it was Richard in the room why else would it be pitch black and you not be allowed to talk? Not recognizing Richard the moment he walks in a room is reasonable. Not knowing it’s him when your naked bodies are all over each other???? Nah.
This book is a wild ride. Plenty of the usual sexual death scenes and rape as the ultimate weapon against any strong woman. This man has a really weird relationship with sex and I would never want to meet him in real life. I really don’t remember the other books being so terrible. You know I’m still hooked though.