Rating: 
Summary: One of the Best
Review: This book "Wizard First Rule" by Terry Goodkind is an incredibly well written novel where it combines romanticism and a variety of characterizations in an era of mythical dragons and rulers. If I were to rate this book, I would say it surpasses the level where readers just think it is an exceptional great book to read. Readers, who are enthralled by love novels, will worship this book ultimately. This book is breathlessly exciting and will captivate reader as no other fantasies have done before. "Michael, I forgive everything you have done against me" Michale sagged in relief. " But I cannot forgive what you have done against others. Others have forfeited their lives because of the things you have done. It is for those crimes that you are executed, not the one against me" If you like Dragons Dawn, or any novel that embraces romance, actions, and adventure, you will adore this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Run out of Wheel of Time or Tolkien books?
Review: Perhaps you just finished the last book (so far) from the Wheel of Time or Lord of the Rings...And now you're thinking about trying out a new series.
Give it a try. It's definately worth it. It takes awhile to adjust to a new series and author, so give the book a chance. Goodkind takes his own unique approach to developing the atory and characters. I did too much comparing against other series when I started the Wizard's First Rule, but now after the first two books, I am very glad I did. Looking back, the first book in the series is quite good, and the second gets better.
Rating:
Summary: One of the BEST
Review: I fell in love with this book (and, subsequently, the series) the moment I began to read it. It contains some of the most real, wonderful, and heart-breaking characters I have read so far (and I think I have read the best in fantasy and sci-fi, including Piers Anthony, J.R.R. Tolkien, Anne McCaffrey, Issac Asimov, and Terry Brooks). I highly recommend this book to all who love the genre, and even to those who are new to it. It's easy to follow and so addictive that I spent several years abroad reading and re-reading this first book without being aware of the rest of the installments. I believe you'll enjoy it as much as I have, and I've since gone on to read up to "Soul of the Fire". I've enjoyed all the books, though I feel this first book as well as "Temple of the Winds", are the best so far.
Rating:
Summary: Wizard's First Rule - A Student's Critique (DMO)
Review: Wizard's First Rule is a book that you definitely shouldn't miss out on. Richard Cypher, a simple woods guide, attempts to help a young woman who is being chased by a bandits to safety. The young woman turns out to be Kahlan Amnell, Mother Confessor to the midlands. Queens, Kings, and Emperor's alike all bow to her. The bandits turn out to be powerful warriors working for Darken Rahl, The D'Haran Emperor. This exciting book turns into a romance and drama series about the love between Ricahrd and Kahlan, and how they connect to one-another. He was a noble hero in times of trouble. The tension between him and his closest friends kept me reading the book and not wanting to but it down. This is truly one of the few books that I can actually say I enjoyed reading for my own pleasure and a novel that I would consider reading again. I found myself actually feeling sad for the strength Richard had to show when he found out that his brother had betrayed him and Richard had to come to terms and have his brother beheaded.
Richard who starting out being just a simple guide, who got stuck by a thorn has transformed into a hero by saving Khalan, destroying his bastard father and saving the middle lands from the Keeper. This is the start to a great journey that starts of the Sword of Truth series, a very good fantasy adventure. I read this book a few months ago, and now I'm going to get back into the Sword of Truth group of novels.
Rating:
Summary: Engaging, with brilliant insight. Yes, people are stupid.
Review: Well, for someone who hasn't read much fantasy, except for Stephen Donaldson's 'Thomas Covenant' books, which are nearly unparralleled in their brilliance, I now recommend Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series.
Book one,'Wizard's First Rule' is set in a fantasy realm, but mirrors our world in many ways. Darken Rahl represents the idiocy, and harm, of religion. Richard Cypher represents 'reason', (albeit poorly) something we sorely lack in this bankrupt, politically correct culture of ours. Speaking for myself, I'm wrapped up in this series because of this corollary, not because of the "magical realms." Many reviewers criticize these works because they claim the writer has copied other fantasy writers. They've missed entirely the point, I believe, of this series, which is to warn of the advancing mindless/selfless hordes, who now live among us. Remember, here I speak only for myself and not the author. This is my interpretation of 'First Rule.'
Now, it's off to 'Stone of Tears.' I can't wait to get started.
Rating: 
Summary: Wizards First Rule = Fantasy flop!!!
Review: Wizards First Rule (Book 1 of Terry Goodkinds 'Sword of Truth' series) is a classic example of yet another redundant fantasy "epic". One-dimensional and uninspired characters populate an unimaginative and cliched fantasy setting, and on top of it all Goodkind writes with the stylistic flair of a 3rd grader. Seriously, the writing is ridiciously poor. I am a HUGE fantasy and sci-fi fan, and after hearing rave reviews I picked this novel up. Somehow I managed to slog my way through the entire book, which incidentally is about 500 pages too long, and as far as I can tell it has very little positive elements at all. Prepubescent teens looking for gratuitous violence, and cliched characters will be extremely pleased with this book. Other readers looking for something more imaginative, entertaining, and intellectual than this piece of literary [junk], would do well to check out George R.R Martin's "A Game of Thrones", or anything by Guy Gavriel Kay.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time or money
Review: I believe that not4prophet got the review right. This book is really really bad. I can barely imagine what the rest of the series is like. It's like a nightmare of one my high school role playing sessions! Save yourself before its too late!
Rating:
Summary: The ultimate boredom
Review: The only reason why I have read up to 180 pages of this book is because it was a recommendation. I haven't read any fantasy before unless you count Harry Potter and Neverending Story. I don't think that it is the fantasy gendre that has the problem, but after reading this book I'm not the keenest to read more of the gendre. I'll mention the main thing that bothered me about this story: The dialogues are [simplistic]to say the least. Characters get obvious conclusions and are promptly praised by all comrades present. We can actually listen to the protagonist say something like this to himself several times: "If I'm the only one who can kill the Bad Guy, and I can't use my neat sword, then how am I supposed to do it! It makes no sense! No, no...I have to stop looking at the problem and find a solution. I AM The Seeker" Come on! Every chain of thoughts is presented in this [backward]manner throughout the 180 pages I read. I got so bored to be pointed out the obvious that I had to stop. I just couldn't bear it any longer. There's other things that I detested but I think they are portraided better in other reviews. Read it? Gosh no!
Rating: 
Summary: 1st Book Starts As Number One
Review: This slow paced book with classic storytelling of fantasy literature kept me reading, despite the book's size. Wizard's First Rule I would have to say by far was/so far the best book of the Sword of Truth series. The others after words tend to become monotonous. The largest downside I would have to say of this book is the over one hundred pages Goodkind described of Richard's (leading character) gruesome torture. I found myself skimming that area much faster than the rest of the book. Okay, Goodkind, we got it, Richard is being tortured! Other than that, the rest of the book I thought was awesome! Any loyal fantasy reader must check this book out! There's always something new awaiting and information about the characters that make this large book seem like an easy read.
Rating: 
Summary: Sword of Truth
Review: I read this book on recommendation. I forgot that often in fantasy, personal likes are very subjective. Fantasy readers sometimes read the most aweful trash I've ever seen but like it anyway if it has the label 'fantasy'. I only got half way through this book and skimmed the rest which I feel guilty about. I like to at least finish a book before consigning it to the used book store heap. However I found myself forcing to read a book I really didn't like and decided that there were a lot better fantasy novels that should occupy my valuable reading time. Life is short and I don't want to waste valuable reading time on a overlong bad novel. So I picked up the latest George R. R. Martin and quite soon signed with relief as I realized that I found a well-written fantasy book.
Whenever I find myself becoming bored with a book early I always ask myself why. The language of 'Wizard's First Rule' is simple and easy to read but curiously empty. The characters, setting and the world of Sword of Truth is also curiously empty. I felt no real empathy for the characters nor the world the book was set in. No world building here, no sense of wonder. No understanding of the rules of magic or what makes this world special. It is almost as if significant parts of this story were never written down and exist only in the author's mind. Perhaps if you are a long time fantasy reader you can fill in the blanks but this is an 800 page novel with plenty of room for world building and character development. It should be in the book. It simply isn't there.
There are some moments of good story telling but there even more moments of awkward plotting and poor writing. This book needed to be leaner. Not recommended.
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