Rating: 
Summary: A worthy heir that never reaches it's potential
Review: Terry Goodkind wrote an absolute classic when he wrote The Wizard's First Rule. The characters were deep, ever-changing, and likable; at the same time, the intricate plot Goodkind weaved pulled you in like no other story could. His latest installment to the series, though not quite as good as the first, is an excellent addition to the series.
The book captures much of the magic and epic granduer of the earlier novels. And for those things it did right before, I give it great praise. However...there are some misgivings that did detract, and kept this book from being the classic novel of the series originater. Some characters were still brought to life magnificantly. Kahlan, is still the awesome and wonderful Kahlan she has always been. Whereas, some character, mainly Richard, have seemd to made changes that just don't seem to come from who they used to be. As of late, it seems Ricahrd Rahl has become too preachy...he no longer seems to hold the same charm he had in the days of Richard Cypher and his transgression into his current title.
The only other thing that has somehow gone wrong or lost it's touch....is the solution to the conflict in the novel. In Wizard's First Rule, the presentaion of the build to the climax, and how it resolves is well balanced and turned out spectacular....in Goodkind's latest releases, it seems to boil down to spells or solutions that are impossible for the reader to guess, because it's knowledge only the author could know that solves the story....and the reader isn't clued in till the very end. So overall the book is really great. But never quite reaches the grand sweep of the original.
Rating: 
Summary: author's hubris makes this book D.O.A.
Review: The first page I flipped to in Naked Empire had Richard Cypher preaching to a group of pacifists/socialists on the faults of their belief system. The whole page was nothing but Richard giving a speech, divided by nice little paragraphs. I didn't know they had teleprompters in fantasy novels now...Seriously, this book suffers from some major problems, the biggest of which is Mr.Goodkind's departure from storytelling into the arena of pseudo-intellectualism. I don't care what brand of philosophy or politics a writer is affiliated with as long as I'm entertained by their story. Naked Empire is too preachy to be entertaining, and lacks any discernable story to compensate for it's heavy-handed libertarian message. There's nothing new in Naked Empire that SoT readers haven't seen in the seven previous volumes, and it's almost an insult to have a writer of derivative fantasy get on a soapbox and tell people what they should believe. Show us you're not just a one-trick pony with your tired SoT series Mr.Goodkind, then you might be more credible as a philosophical pitchman. One last thought: If Gandhi or Martin Luther King existed in the Sword of Truth series, they would get a two page lecture from Richard Cypher on why their belief system was wrong, then they'd be decapitated. Nice.
Rating: 
Summary: Message Received
Review: Naked Empire follows up Pillars of Creation with the story of Richard, his new found sister Jennesen, Kahlan and a goat, and their journey into a place previously sealed off behind yet another Boundry. Meanwhile back in the Midlands, Zedd, Adie, and Verna are holding Jagang's forces at bay as the Imperial Order threatens to reduce people to nothing more than slaves. Having been a little confused by Pillars of Creation, it was good to see that Goodkind once has decided to start this story with Richard and then keep the main plot on him. Searching for a cure as well as a reason to explain the headaches that have plagued him throughout the SoT series, this story is more about Richard and his ideals than anything else. Some have called this book preachy, and I will agree that at times it does get a little annoying to hear Richard repeat the same thing over and over again the to the Bandakar. But, reason it out. The Bandakar are a different trial than the people of the midlands, and it is neccesary for Richard to be as "preachy" as he is. This does not detract from the novel.If anything, it enhances the ideas as well as shows that Richard can take up politics when he needs to...and win. Similarly, this is contrasted by Jagang and his continued use of Magic (despite wanting it destroyed) in a wonderful clash of contrasts in ideas. It also ties Jagang to Richard and foreshadows things to come. Goodkind continues his tradition of world building as he delves into what else the ancient wizards created (having already met Mirswith, Gars, and Conffessors among others)in the invention of Nicholas the Slide. Quite frankly, Nicholas is the most delightfully evil villain I have seen in quite awhile. Compared to him Jagang is almost human. Goodkind also delves more into how Richards mind, and thus the Sword of Truth, works. The worlds detail is fleshed out in the exploration of Richards sister Jennesen as a Pillar of Creation as well as the items of the famed Wizards keep.
Rating: 
Summary: sad. very sad.
Review: Let me preface this review by first stating that I was a huge fan of the first three Terry Goodkind books. Heck, I still am-- I just recommended "Wizard's First Rule" to a friend the other day. I remember reading the first book and feeling absolutely transported-- the feeling I got when I was a kid and had just discovered the joy of a good fantasy novel. Good times. You can imagine, then, my horror upon finishing this horrendous "masterpiece" of sanctimonious drivel. Due to my previous admiration for Mr. Goodkind, I resisted giving only one star and gave two, in the hope that perhaps he will redeem himself at some future point. However, I doubt that. The last couple of books in the Sword of Truth saga were definitely slipping, and sometimes boring, but I was willing to give "Naked Empire" a shot, out of customer loyalty if nothing else. I was not expecting to be offended. It is clear from the preaching in this particular book-- the preaching that goes on for dozens of pages in one speech-- that Goodkind has some very definite views on today's politics. Whether or not one agrees with those views (which might politely be considered "intolerant" or even "warmongering") should not matter in a fantasy novel. I felt like I was being bashed in the head with Mr. Goodkind's "kill 'em all" attitude. Overt political lectures have no place in the world which Goodkind created with his previous books in this series-- character development does. Guess which is absent? This, to me, is the most upsetting thing about "Naked Empire." Mr. Goodkind has taken the beloved characters from the first book and stripped away their souls. One reviewer mentioned that Richard and Kahlan aren't the same characters as before. This is a kind way of putting it. These characters have become less than two-dimensional. I can't properly express how sad I am that this has happened. I am profoundly disappointed. Please think twice before buying this book. If you do end up buying it, because you loved the first few books and still hold on stubbornly to the belief that Mr. Goodkind might have found the talent he apparently lost two books ago, well then-- I sympathize with you. -b
Rating:
Summary: oh my.
Review: My complaints about the earlier books in this series were mainly that I was sick and tired of hearing Richard and Kahlan (main characters) going on and on, over and over, about how much they love each other and/or miss each other. In this book you don't get hit over the head with the lovey-dovey stick....And that's the best thing about this book. The preachiness has risen to new levels...I didn't think it could, but it did. And while I realize this book is in the fantasy genre, I dislike it becoming most apparent when a character conveniently figures something out just exactly when it's most needed...with no real work up. It's akin to Agatha Christie novels that can only be solved by the writer because she holds back critical info until the solution is needed to end the book. Nicholas the Slide was a good idea that was wasted, in the most obvious way. Gee, he was crazy because he was hideously tortured. Nathan, the prophet, was wasted in this book too...Not fleshed out, merely tossed in because it was convenient. I'll read the next one in the series, but like an earlier reviewer basically said: where is this going and when it is going to get there?
Rating:
Summary: Sword of Rust
Review: First let me say I am a Goodkind fan from his very first book. Any true fan anywhere hangs on through thick and thin to support the team or in this case, the author. These, I am afraid, are thin times indeed. More soup in this newest story than meat or even vegetables. I got the audio book this time around so I could fast forward through all the philosophies expounded on to the inth degree. In the future Goodkind must decide to tell me a story, as only he can, or teach a class on philosophy. Goodkind, please do not try to do both again in the next book. Have mercy on your true fans who walk the worlds of your vision cheering and booing the population you have unleashed there.
Rating:
Summary: Leveling Out!!
Review: Alright, I was hooked on this series when i first read Wizard's First Rule. That book was by far one of the best books i have ever read in my life! I read about a new fantasy book every week so I can tell you that after Wizard's First rule the plot goes down a bit and starts turning into an average fantasy series, which is good because the next books are still fantastic to read. Then we get to The Pillars of Creation though and that really was when the series drops to a low. The book barely mentions the main characters that he had developed through every single previous book in the series. Then this book at least gets back to the main characters which already makes it better than the pillars of creation, but it seems that Goodkind is trying to search for new problems just to keep the series going but is having trouble coming up with exceptional ones. Don't get me wrong, because he still writes well and keeps you interested, but there is a lot less of the action and a lot more of the scientifical fact stuff, and you get quite a bit of morality speeches and lectures, which can sometimes lose the readers interest. But i do think that at least with this book he has somewhat leveled back out in the series and gotten away from that rock bottom stuff. It's not Goodkind's best work but it's not bad and if you don't get lost in the morality of this stretchy plot you'll still enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: This Book Stinks !
Review: The most engaging thing about this book is trying to comprehend how anyone could give it 4 or 5 stars (I am being generous to those who gave it 3 or 2 stars). What system are we using here. There are only five choices 1 star, 2 star, 3 star, 4 star and 5 star. 1 star should represent the most horrible piece of crud you have ever read. A book so painful that you would not give it to your worst enemy to read. 5 stars should be the best of the best. Under no circumstances could anyone who actually read this latest tripe from Terry Goodkind give this more than 3 stars. In fact, I honestly believe that the reviewers who gave this book 4 or five stars are either in grade school or are brain dead. Even if we compared Naked Empire with the other books in this series it is asinine to give this five or four stars compared to Wizard's First Rule which actually does deserve a five star rating. At most I would accept someone giving this book three stars. Any other basis for critiquing this book would not even allow for 3 stars. Grammatically this book is either a rough draft in need of editing or it was written by a moron. Structurally the plot is incredibly thin and Terry has gotten into the bad habit of now resolving all problems (no matter how insurmountable) within the last 30-60 pages of the book. For example, how do you solve the problem of having your heroes completly surrounded by thousands of enemy troops. Answer: have two of the series most powerful magic users show up out of the blue and destroy everyone in the blink of an eye. Ridiculous. There is so much wrong with this book, in fact, that I do not have the time nor the energy to list all the problems. For any of you who are fortunate enough not to have bought this book yet I will spare you the pain. The Wizard's Keep is lost, the Wizard's Keep is regained, Richard's sister Jansen (Terry's version of Jar Jar Binks) is even more annoying then the last book (hard to believe) and Richard himself saves the day by applying some obtuse magical principals conveniently provided by the author in the last 20 pages. PLEASE, I beg you, save yourselves, before it is too late and you are suckered into buying this swill !!!
Rating:
Summary: The Last Straw
Review: Good Gracious. What a mess that was: six hundred odd pages of "Don't compromise with evil, it makes you evil" repeated over and over and over again. At least the "moral" was learned by all (Gee whiz, thanks for the lesson, mister), and the bad guys got it in the end (evil soul snatchers and silly hippies alike). Sheesh. I echo the question of where did the plot go? It doesn't matter the politics Goodkind pushes, without plot who really cares? While I'm complaining, he pulled the "war wizards' magic responds to need" trick one two many times too. At least Goodkind did me the favor of saving me [from] each subsequent book in this series: I am officially done.
Rating:
Summary: Where exactly is all this going...
Review: Sadly I have to agree with what most of the others have posted about Naked Empire. I was totally captivated by Terry Goodkind in Wizard's First Rule. I can truly say that it is one of the BEST fantasy stories I have ever read, far surpassing most of what passes for "good" fantasy writing out there. And I also loved the next three installments of the Sword of Truth series. Behind Wizard's First Rule, Temple of the Winds has to be my second most favorite. I literally couldn't put the books down, devoured them one by one, and when I finished one I would honestly go right out to the bookstore and buy the next one in the series or wait impatiently for the next in the series to be released and then be first in line on the release date. But then...as I read the Soul of the Fire, something seemed to change in the story. I couldn't put my finger on it, liked the book well enough, and waited eagerly for Faith of the Fallen, which was really good (I say "really good" and not "excellent") and I even thought Pillars of Creation was okay, but then...I get to Naked Empire...on the release day I was there at my local bookstore when the place opened, and was the first one to buy a copy. I think maybe I was hoping to have my...unrest...at what was happening in the series to be totally forgotten. It didn't happen. Richard's character seems totally different, and Kahlan is getting TOO bitter. Obviously these two have a lot to be emotional over, but there's no adventure, no intrigue, just this...preaching that drives me absolutely insane. That's Naked Empire's main flaw, as others have already said: It is WAY too preachy. Putting a little morality, subtle messages, all that stuff, into a story, is really cool if you can pull it off, as Terry Goodkind did wonderfully in the first half of the series. But this isn't that. I grew tired of the incessant harping--is this a fantasy story or is it a doctrine about what is right, what is wrong, what's justified and what isn't?--I mean, if you want to read a book like that, that's great, but personally I had no idea it would ever come to this after Mr. Goodkind's wonderful work on his earlier books. Sometimes it really does feel as if I'm reading a book by someone else who is "pretending" to pick up the Sword of Truth series where Terry Goodkind left off. For those of you familar with the series, think about how the characters (both on Richard's side AND the Imperial Order) acted and felt earlier on in the series, and compare it to how things are at "present time" in the series, at the time of Naked Empire. Even the Emperor Jagang of Temple of the Winds is totally DIFFERENT from the "Jagang the Just" that has arisen. It seems to me almost as if Terry Goodkind inserted this stuff about the quasi-Communism and egalitarianism of the Imperial Order as an afterthought around the 5th book in the series, because there is no hint of it in the 4th--just that Jagang is ruthless and without compunction and that he rids the world of magic. Why couldn't it just have been left at that? The series would have been just as engaging without all this preaching. I love the Sword of Truth series and I love Terry Goodkind's work, but this one is barely worth the three stars I give it. I heard a rumor that Mr. Goodkind signed a contract to do at least 2 more books in this series...so I am fervently hoping that the following two (or more) will be more true to his earlier work, which was nothing short of excellent.
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