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Summary: I think Goodkind is the fantasy master of this century
Review: Terry Goodkind is the greatest fantasy author i've read since Tolkien. He is taking the usual characters of magic(wizard,dragons,etc.) and making it original. He introduces a whole new system of magic that I find incredible. People who say that he isn't original probrably haven't read the book, people who have read the book, think about the new revolutionary way of view magic that Goodkind introduces.
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated
Review: I can't believe the praises other reviewers have posted here. The book is way too long, underedited, in fact. The author wasted a good number of pages explaining things that are obvious to readers. This style may be beneficial to young fans but with themes like pedophilia and sado-masochism, it is clearly a mature book without the mature writing style. Yes, Mr. Goodkind is inventive in his plot twists and characterizations, the overall plot is a cliche. He also crammed the interesting parts near the end. As a result, the ending was rushed since too many important events are happening without much explanation. Probably because he devoted too much time on the little things (a crime the Wheel of Time series is also guilty of). I'd rather read Feist's books. Even if the plots are cliche, they are still good reading...
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Summary: Not just about Swords & Magic
Review: This book is what got me to get into reading fantasy novels, and is still definitely one of the better books that I've read since then. It has it all, suspense, mystery, action, gore, love, comedy, etc, etc. You couldn't ask for more in a book. It doesn't take long for the action to start. After reading the first chapter I was completely hooked and it just kept getting better. I think anyone could fall in love with this book as I have. The characters are so real, I especially think that the boundary warden is awesome, too bad he isn't talked about more in the books following. You don't have to be a fantasy nut to enjoy this book
Rating: 
Summary: Iffy Beginning
Review: The book has a so-so plot, and didn't really draw me into it. Its a bit hard to follow, and can be a bit boring. However, it did have a nice smooth movement from area to area in the book. Only if you like fantasy books should you read this
Rating: 
Summary: slow start.... better ending
Review: I have been reading the Robert Jordan books lately and happen to pick this book up in the down time. Compared to the wheel of time series I found this to be rather elementary. It was a good read I enjoyed it, but it didn't have the complexities that the wheel of time does. I found the begining of this book to be ho hum... but as I got about halfway throught the book it started to liven up. I thought it was a good read and I will probably read the books that follow. I guess I am just used to the complexness of the wheel. Had I read this book before the wheel of time series... I might have thought differently.
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Summary: An extraordinarily powerful book...
Review: As if anyone will read this review out of, like, 600, I would like to say that "Wizard's First Rule" affected me in a profound way. Although the book deals with mature themes, it is written in a sort of childish way. This, however, adds to the power found in the pages of the novel. The whole book was excellent, and it managed to make me both laugh uproariously and bite my nails in fear. You really care about the characters, especially the main character, Richard. (In many books the main character is hardly ever the most liked character.) I haven't read any of the other books in the series yet, but the first one itself was enough, and I'm almost scared to read more, fearing that the others may ruin the drama of the first. The plotline that was thrown into the middle of the book, when Richard is captured and tortured by Mistress Denna (if you haven't read it I can't explain), had little to do with the beginning or end of the book, but I felt the same turmoil of emotions Richard felt during his enslavement, hating and loving and pitying Denna whenever Richard did. This one part of the book is the part I'll never forget. It left me seeing life through different eyes for several weeks, at least, and it was an incredible plot twist.
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Summary: I love this series
Review: A friend bought Wizard's First Rule for me at a garage sale because she knew I like fantasy novels. I had never heard of Terry Goodkind and I was skeptical. Not many fantasy novels live up to my hopes, even when they come highly recommended. Furthermore, I was distinctly unimpressed with the cover art. One day, starved for an engrossing novel and with nothing better on the shelf, I picked it up and started in. I hoped at least that it would keep me occupied until something better came along. My first impression wasn't great, (corny is a description that comes to mind), but I kept reading and now I'm glad I did. I'm not going to critique the book, other than to say I can certainly understand why some might be offended, but I think those people are missing the point. There is real goodness portrayed in Wizard's First Rule that is beautiful and exciting. Desite my initial reaction I am now a huge fan of the Sword of Truth series and can't wait to read Soul of the Fire. I have seen comparisons to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, but for me there is no comparison. I keep reading The Wheel of Time; I'm not sure why, unless maybe it's that I have just enough interest in the characters to hope to see them grow up some day and exhibit a little maturity. I'm losing patience though, and half way through book 8 I'm thinking the trend seems to be TOWARD the petty and mundane rather than away from it. I'm inclined to stop wasting any more time on that particular series.
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Summary: Only the introduction to the series...
Review: The book is a decent read, if sometimes the "inner conflict" of the characters goes overboard. The remainder of the series is better than this book, IMO. But be warned. This isn't for your classic faery-tale loving reader. Goodkind adds a very powerful dimension to the concept of fantasy...a kind of exaggerated realism. And so I offer this warning: If you're turned off by rape, do not even bother with this series. The purity of the fantasy genre is very much violated by Goodkind. By close to the end of this first book, you can't go 50 pages in the rest of the series without another rape reference or detailed near-rape scene. Otherwise, a decent series. Even if the characters seem to change on whims.
Rating:
Summary: A great fantasy novel.
Review: Wizard's First Rule is an excellent fantasy novel. I read it in two weeks, its extremely hard to put down. The author's descrpition of everything(especially torture), is amazing. It has an excellent plot. I would recomend it to anyone. I'm currently reading book 2, the Stone of Tears.
Rating: 
Summary: Wizards First Rule
Review: I usually adhere to the old saying, "if you don't have something good to say . . ." Especially when giving reviews, and especially-especially when it is an author's first book, but I REALLY suffered through this one. For years I've heard how great this book was, I only put off reading it for so long because I wanted to wait for more books to come out in the series before I started reading it. The characters are so dense, and their dialogue so blundering and pointless that Ihad lost all concern for their fates by about page 120. I could spend hours here telling you about the dragged out tests of friendship and how villiage idiots are prtrayed as geniuses one day(though there is little substance behind such depictions)and idiots again the next. I could spend more hours detailing the incosistancies in plot and story. There are a few glimmerings in the way of discriptions and intent, and despite my dislike for the book I think that I would like the writer personally, but there is no redeeming this nightmare of a book. Part of me wants to continue on with the series in the hopes that Goodkind developes into a better writer, but I'm just far too afraid to relive the three-hundred-thousand-word bloodletting that was Wizards First Rule. Sorry Terry.
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