Stone of Tears (Sword of Truth, Book 2)

Rating:
Summary: A nice fantasy novel, but a few hundred pages too long
Review: If you like part one, you'll like this book too. I think it's about 300 pages too long, it seems Terry doesn't really know how to make things a bit more short. Some of the happy coincidences in the book are a bit hard to believe, which degrades the story. Richard is a cool guy, a bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger at times (excluding the accent), Kahlan does her usual thing (i.e. being a brave woman who uses magic when things get tough). Terry G. himself says he wanted this book to be better than the first part. I do not think he has succeeded in that, but it is a satisfying story with some terrifying scenes (some of which are indeed unnecessary as one reviewer suggests), and which still appears to be an introduction to the real story (that of course never gets told in part three). I'm off to read Tolkien first, then I'll proceed to the Blood of the Fold...

Rating:
Summary: Birds of a Feather...
Review: The only thing more saddening than Goodkind's abysmal writing style, unrealistic and childish world and stereotypical characters seems to be the apparent legions of fans who proclaim him as the best thing since sliced bread (which, I suppose, would be correct if that is your perspective. Sigh. I just hope no other publishers will put forth similar drivel to cash in on the indiscriminate market of escapist pulp fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I have ever read!!!
Review: This book is a must read for any fantasy lover. I have a hard time finding books I really enjoy, and can't put down, and I was so thankful to the friend that recomended me this title.

Rating:
Summary: Doesn't do justice to the series
Review: I love this series. I simply couldn't get into the portions of the book involving Kahlan or the Sisters. I found the story much more appealing when Richard showed up. This simply was not a book in the series I can read over and over. It did not live up to Wizard's First Rule.

Rating:
Summary: Ok, book worth the buy
Review: A good book with well developed charactors, and impressive magic, and with good fights that you could follow along with. Bad things... The book builds to a grand ending and ends within a chapter or less.

Rating:
Summary: what a sequel!!!!!
Review: Well i finished the wizards first rule and i didnt think the series could get any better. I soon found out i was wrong. This book is loaded with creative imagining. I was really impressed by this beautiful story. It caught me with the first page and wouldnt let go. This book deserves six stars. Absolutly wonderful.

Rating:
Summary: This is one of the best books that I have ever read.
Review: Stone of Tears is a great book. It tells the story of Richard and Kahlan, and how they must be separated so that Richard does not die. Read it.

Rating:
Summary: Earth Shattering with a twist of Volcano!!
Review: I love how the book starts out right where it begins unlike other series. Terry gives excellent personal background where it is soo good you almost despise the Sisters! There is nothing like this book and all the others by Terry it seems that no matter what Kahlan and Richard just can't be at peace. It seems that excellent wording is the key and terry is in another plane of exsitance

Rating:
Summary: A great sequel from Terry
Review: After reading Wizard's first rule, the expectations were very high. Stone of tears, almost stood up to those expectations, by creating a stronger bond between the reader and the characters. I felt as beeing in the story when I read it, and felt what the characters felt . Terry Goodkind manages to do the whole text into exciting reading, you fly through the text and the pages faster than you want to, not wanting the novel to end, you take your time at the end, and read the end ten times before you take another breath. Conclusion is that this was a sequel beyond my expectations.

Rating:
Summary: Just Not Good Enough
Review: I enjoyed "Wizard's First Rule" enough that I pretty much went straight into this sequel. And it was grand. For a while. The problem I felt with it was it breathed nothing new into the fantasy genre. I won't bother with the Jordan comparisons - they're there but then you can always compare the Aes Sedai to Dune's Bene Gesserit, etc. Originality is rare in fantasy. What really really really irritated me about this book was the ending. It drove me insane almost. The whole tone of the book is fairly bleak and dark and yet the ending...resolved in a few mere pages it is totally disjointed next to the rest of the book. In addition I can't feel anything for Richard or Kahlan. In fact they can be both more irritating than likable. Unlike Janny Wurts "Wars of Light and Shadow" characters, which have great depth to them, Goodkind's characters come across riddled with cliches too often...Yes the same can be said of many fantasy authors but the style of Goodkind's writing suggests he's trying to be deeper and more meaningful. That's why I can enjoy Feist - it's not deep but it's not *trying* to be.

The style of writing by itself is grand and there are good moments in it. It gets 2 stars because of the none-involving characters, a plot which seems to jerk from point to point on ocassion and largely due to the terrible awful ending...

I WOULD give Goodkind another go but not before I'm uptodate with better authors first.