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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
This was terrible imho. I mean it would have been alright as a kids story if you just removed some of the unnecessary violence and sexual assault. They didn't feel necessary or like they added anything unlike in some other books and seemed mainly shock-factor value.
Now for the amazing repetition of every single thought ever. Ever. Ever. Eveeeer. It felt like he was making super extra sure that we really got what he thought was important. So much so that I thought maybe he was trying to distract from more subtle things with the obviousness. But no, he is just that obvious. Show don't tell is clearly not a concept for this author.
Now for the fantastic characters. In another review I read that Zedd was the only interesting character and I have to say I have to agree. and he's not even that special. If you read Malazan book of the fallen you've got more or less the same character just less boring and non-believable. The main character -- Richard - was obnoxious. Having be the sword of truth seems like a very convenient device to ensure he knows everything and doesn't need to find anything out the hard way. He just magically surmises. literally. Magically. The character development goes from Richard in the beginning to Richard stays the same just with a sword and a girlfriend.
Philosophy. Ok look, you want to be philosophical or make points about capitalism and wrong and right and moral subjectivity, try some subtlety. It goes a long way to not making a reader snort in disgust. The discourse was not just painful but painfully one-sided. Once again Show-don't tell was not a thing.
The premise could have been interesting of the stories but after the writing style f the first book which made me feel like i was being hit over the head repeatedly with a mallet I have decided not to delve deeper into this world. Having read 1st books of epic fantasy before and knowing they can sometimes be difficult to get through *cough*malazan*cough*, I decided to check whether fellow readers say they get better. Astonishingly according to reviewers they get a lot worse.
But like I said, edit the entire thing, take out about half the repetition and the unnecessary violence/rape and you have a pretty decent book for any starters into the fantasy genre.
Now for the amazing repetition of every single thought ever. Ever. Ever. Eveeeer. It felt like he was making super extra sure that we really got what he thought was important. So much so that I thought maybe he was trying to distract from more subtle things with the obviousness. But no, he is just that obvious. Show don't tell is clearly not a concept for this author.
Now for the fantastic characters. In another review I read that Zedd was the only interesting character and I have to say I have to agree. and he's not even that special. If you read Malazan book of the fallen you've got more or less the same character just less boring and non-believable. The main character -- Richard - was obnoxious. Having be the sword of truth seems like a very convenient device to ensure he knows everything and doesn't need to find anything out the hard way. He just magically surmises. literally. Magically. The character development goes from Richard in the beginning to Richard stays the same just with a sword and a girlfriend.
Philosophy. Ok look, you want to be philosophical or make points about capitalism and wrong and right and moral subjectivity, try some subtlety. It goes a long way to not making a reader snort in disgust. The discourse was not just painful but painfully one-sided. Once again Show-don't tell was not a thing.
The premise could have been interesting of the stories but after the writing style f the first book which made me feel like i was being hit over the head repeatedly with a mallet I have decided not to delve deeper into this world. Having read 1st books of epic fantasy before and knowing they can sometimes be difficult to get through *cough*malazan*cough*, I decided to check whether fellow readers say they get better. Astonishingly according to reviewers they get a lot worse.
But like I said, edit the entire thing, take out about half the repetition and the unnecessary violence/rape and you have a pretty decent book for any starters into the fantasy genre.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-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:
Yes
I would give this book 4 or even 5 stars but I was quite frankly repulsed by the long drawn out CHAPTERS about the torture Richard received.
I'm in no hurry to get to it, but I'll probably read the next in the series eventually
I'm in no hurry to get to it, but I'll probably read the next in the series eventually
Just read like a fanfiction this go around. The all knowing older man and wise woman who know better than the hero… who of COURSE is forever understanding why they keep treating him like a child.
An ok book that ramped up to pretty good towards the end with one fatal flaw. You just can't have your characters in a book having "fantasy" names like Zedd, Kahlan etc and then have the main hero of the story called Richard! When a bad guy is yelling Richard's name towards the end of the book it felt more funny to me than dramatic.
I'm torn between two and three stars; consider the final choice between those two ratings somewhat arbitrary.
Aspects of this story are interesting, sometimes even compelling, but the writing is so ham-handed that one almost has to look past the writing to see the story. Surprisingly so, for a book that generated multiple, well-liked sequels. I see the potential promise in this book, and I don't feel as if my time reading it was wasted. I don't feel any strong desire to read the next one, however. One hpes that the writing matured.
Aspects of this story are interesting, sometimes even compelling, but the writing is so ham-handed that one almost has to look past the writing to see the story. Surprisingly so, for a book that generated multiple, well-liked sequels. I see the potential promise in this book, and I don't feel as if my time reading it was wasted. I don't feel any strong desire to read the next one, however. One hpes that the writing matured.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
When I first read this when I was quite a bit younger, I loved it. It’s your ‘standard’ older, epic fantasy novel with common tropes and problematic elements.
The tropes were what made me love the story the first time around. I love chosen one stories with the old wizard, magic, swords, and dragons.
Now older, I agree with the critiques. The writing, especially in the beginning, is bad. Kahlan is a weaker character than I remember, and the way ending her life was her first choice for challenging situations with Richard bothers me a lot. . The amount of sexual violence is uncomfortable and not handled well. He uses it casually in most parts of the book, and the trauma isn’t explored or touched on when it happens to the main characters. There were other choices the author could’ve made.
Fantasy has thankfully come a long way since this book was first published.
The tropes were what made me love the story the first time around. I love chosen one stories with the old wizard, magic, swords, and dragons.
Now older, I agree with the critiques. The writing, especially in the beginning, is bad. Kahlan is a weaker character than I remember, and
Fantasy has thankfully come a long way since this book was first published.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Sexual violence, Torture, Murder
Minor: Pedophilia, Suicidal thoughts
Shmeh. It was okay. Another reviewer called Goodkind a "grossly inept writer," and I think that's probably on target, but you know what? For a fun, fantastical read, it was worth the time it took to read the 600 pages. If you're looking for hard-hitting literature, look elsewhere; if you're looking to read something absorbing and fun, half-tongue-in-cheek and half actual interest, go for it.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Honestly, one of the best books I’ve ever read.
I bought this for my partner after learning it was very similar to the Wheel Of Time series (by Robert Jordan) and he flew through the first 2 books and said I’d love them, turns out I do.
Very, very similar to Wheel Of Time, you can see where he’s taken inspiration in parts but I don’t mind it as it’s my guilty pleasure. Very fast paced where as Wheel of time had more “filler” parts, this book is action, action, action.
I’ve connected with ALL the characters, I literally either love or hate them, the world is amazing, not as detailed as WOT but it’s enough (if you get sick of WOT refrences, oops).
Denna is one of the most powerful, badass females I’ve ever came across. She is my favourite character by miles, the idea to add her in was genius, I rarely cry at books, her story and her love had me bawling.
Other random tidbits; Why name a hero/main character Richard? Any name he could have chosen and he chooses Richard? Ends up even worse later on but I won’t spoiler. I kinda had a crush on Darken Rahl 🙈. Demmin Nass, makes me think of denim and I can’t pronounce it any other way, drove me insane the WHOLE book. Brophy 🖤. Dragons +++.
There’s a few twists in the book, most left me gasping, some were very obvious, I guessed quite bit of the book before it even happened which I didn’t enjoy, but the bits that shocked me? Wow, I was on the edge of my seat.
Needless to say there’s been many discussions in our house the past few days as I’ve caught up to my fiancé as we debating the book. I can’t wait to get stuck into the next one.
There’s also a tv series related to the books but we won’t be watching till we’ve read them all.
Onto book two 😍.
I bought this for my partner after learning it was very similar to the Wheel Of Time series (by Robert Jordan) and he flew through the first 2 books and said I’d love them, turns out I do.
Very, very similar to Wheel Of Time, you can see where he’s taken inspiration in parts but I don’t mind it as it’s my guilty pleasure. Very fast paced where as Wheel of time had more “filler” parts, this book is action, action, action.
I’ve connected with ALL the characters, I literally either love or hate them, the world is amazing, not as detailed as WOT but it’s enough (if you get sick of WOT refrences, oops).
Denna is one of the most powerful, badass females I’ve ever came across. She is my favourite character by miles, the idea to add her in was genius, I rarely cry at books, her story and her love had me bawling.
Other random tidbits; Why name a hero/main character Richard? Any name he could have chosen and he chooses Richard? Ends up even worse later on but I won’t spoiler. I kinda had a crush on Darken Rahl 🙈. Demmin Nass, makes me think of denim and I can’t pronounce it any other way, drove me insane the WHOLE book. Brophy 🖤. Dragons +++.
There’s a few twists in the book, most left me gasping, some were very obvious, I guessed quite bit of the book before it even happened which I didn’t enjoy, but the bits that shocked me? Wow, I was on the edge of my seat.
Needless to say there’s been many discussions in our house the past few days as I’ve caught up to my fiancé as we debating the book. I can’t wait to get stuck into the next one.
There’s also a tv series related to the books but we won’t be watching till we’ve read them all.
Onto book two 😍.