Rating: 
Summary: Seriously Disappointing
Review: First of all, I'd like to say that I really enjoy The Sword of Truth Series. It gives me everything in a fantasy novel that I could ask for. At times, Goodkind makes me drop Jordan to number 2 on my fav list.This book, however, puts Jordan back to number 1. The only reason I got any joy out of it was when I made the ultimate reader crime and started skipping ahead. I'd read a page here, a page there, and then, suddenly - thankfully! - I reached the story where Richard and Kahlan come into play. After that I read it straight through and really enjoyed it. That's the only reason. It seems to me that Goodkind is stretching his story out a little too thin. He needs to focus on the parts of the story that made it so successful in the past - Richard, Kahlan, and Zedd. When he does that, I might be able to keep him from falling further on the list. As it is, he's already crawling behind Jordan, George R.R. Martin, and Tad Williams.
Rating: 
Summary: A complete reversal.
Review: Terry Goodkind takes a chance with this one. He introduces two new pivotal characters, Jennsen and Oba, and then writes the book from their perspectives. As blasphemous as other reviewers have made this sound, you don't see Richard until the last 50 pages, and even then, he isn't treated like a main character until the last 15. Don't take that the wrong way, though: the book is extremely well-written and seeing the world through Jennsen and Oba's eyes paints D'Hara and the Old World in very new colors. Seeing the Imperial Order through Jennsen's eyes is probably the most effective way of making the reader experience Richard's frustration. Goodkind makes excellent use of suspense: while there's very little direct action, I never felt bored with the storyline. The only reason I didn't give this book a perfect score was because of the ending: I did not feel like enough had been explained or resolved in regards to the struggle at hand. (Although virtually all conflicts presented in the book are resolved.) The next book will have to be very plot-intensive. (Not something I mind at all.) All in all, it's certainly worth a read. Goodkind never fails to deliver.
Rating:
Summary: Even if you start in the middle.
Review: What I thought was interesting about this novel is that even though I was unfamiliar with the series and this is my first time reading this author, I was able to pick it up cold and enjoy it cover to cover.
Rating:
Summary: A word of advice
Review: When you begin reading this book, go into it without any expectations based the previous books... you're sure to find it much more enjoyable. Long before I got my hands on PoC, I'd already known about the absence of the primary characters, so I was prepared to enjoy it for what it is... which is a entertaining little story about one of Richard's relatives. With this mindset, I was able to relax and enjoy the story as it centers on Jennsen without constantly thinking to myself, "When is Richard going to show up?". And it is an entertaining story. It's not nearly as serious in tone as the other SoT novels. I was somewhat perplexed to see some of the other reviewers commenting on the graphic violence in PoC; apparently they haven't read any of the other books. Both the language and the violence have been toned down considerably in this book. This is easily the tamest in the series terms of graphic content. My biggest problem with the book is the extremely uneven pacing. For instance, Goodkind wasted several pages detailing Jennsen's trek through a swamp (in which nothing really exciting happens... aside from a rather odd encounter with a snake that left me scratching my head) while the climax of the book is rushed in a few pages. Again, if you approach PoC as more of a stand alone book as opposed to an actual SoT book, you'll be able to appreciate it much more. Think of it more as a companion novel to the series; we learn a bit more about the world, meet some interesting new characters, enjoy an exciting little story (with quite a bit of intrigue... which is somewhat of a new concept in the series) and we even learn the Wizard's Seventh Rule. :)
Rating:
Summary: Where did everyone go?
Review: The book it's self was decent enough. As a part of the series it was not only disappointing, it was treason to the original storyline. There were more than enough problems in the world that needed answers but instead he completely drops all the main characters for a new set and only at the VERY end do you get to see the original cast, and only briefly. SO, if you have not read the other books in the series, this is a good book, full of adventure. If you are a fan of the series, you may as well pour salt in your eyes instead of wasting the time to read this. This is a sad day, the seeker is dead!
Rating:
Summary: Highlights and Umbrage
Review: The book is written with a new frame of mind certainly. Just as Debt of the Bones was written from a perspective not of Zedds, so is mostly Pillars of Creation also written mostly from the perspective of Jennsen. It is a story about Jennsen, the Lord Rahl's half sister. It's about a victim of Darken Rahl's reign that didn't quite get the news that Darken Rahl died. The story chronicles how they ran from death and torture or how they went on a misguided journey for the enemy, depending on your perspective. If you've read books 1-6, this book will be seen differently than if you are new to the series. The plot is ambiguous. You shall see Jagang brought to his knees and a brief view of a magic so potent, that armies are devoured by it. The question is now, will Jennsen be the bane of the new Lord Rahl, or will she be his most potent asset and friend against the Old World? Read the book if you want to find out. But do not read the book if you have preconcieved notions of what a "Sword of Truth" book should be so as to be enjoyable. You'll just be frustrated if you don't.
Rating:
Summary: Break from Richard
Review: This was such a good book. 7th book, 7th heaven. The only problem was, I had no idea what they were talking about in the end! Oh, and also, there was almost no Richard, Cara, or Kahlan. However, there was more Nathan, which is cool.
Rating: 
Summary: A frustrating read
Review: I've enjoyed reading the Sword of Truth series until now. The sixth book, Faith of the Fallen, was a good read, even though I found the communism / capitalism reflexion extremely lame and unidirectional. When I read a fantasy book, I want to evade in a different world, not get moralized on the vertues of neo-liberalism. To get back to this current review, the graphic violence it contains is totally unecessary. I personnaly do not see the need to have the details about a matricide, for example. The focus on two or three unpalatable new characters misses the target. I stopped reading at about 200 pages, this book is a total waste of time. I believe the Sword of Truth series should have ended one or two books ago. I call it quits for this author.
Rating: 
Summary: can't get past the ending
Review: Have you ever been enjoying a good movie and then something really unbelieveable and stupid happens and you just can't let it go? At the end of this book, when that stupid goat comes running out of the wagon I started laughing so hard that tears were rolling down my face. The last line of that chapter is "Jennsen thought that, surely, the world must have gone mad." I thought, "no, Terry Goodkind has." The whole focus on the goat was so stupid and then to have the ending ruined by this ridiculous goat thing was too much for me. Maybe these books are written for kids and I need to move on. (sigh).
Rating:
Summary: Great ending but needs editing
Review: The ending of this book was not only its saving grace but the crowning gem of its creation. It isn't often that you read a book and get that solid 'YES!' feeling like you've just witnessed someone driving a 16-penny nail through solid oak with a single massive blow. Even though I've been reading SF and Fantasy for more than 30 years as an adult, I had not read anything previously by this author. My conclusions-- based only on 'The Pillars Of Creation'-- would be that, while he shines with endings, he seems to have a bit more of a problem with beginnings and middles. He almost lost me in the beginning of the book with endless repetitions of the importance of a note that turned out to be a definite anticlimax. Visions of whopping the doggy with a rolled up newspaper for making messes definitely came to mind at that point. During the middle of the book I continually vacillated between enjoyment and wishing he would get on with it. Traveling from place to place can easily become a substitute for story and I think that is very much the case in this novel. Trimming a couple of hundred pages of 'fat' from the middle of this book probably wouldn't hurt it a bit. Goodkind seems to have no problem making his characters believable, real, and people you can care about... but I did have some issues with a couple of characters in this book including the main character Jennson. Is it just me or does she seem a bit... well... wimpy? Seems to me that people who decide the fate of a world should have a bit more going for them than just good intentions. And her male companion (and love interest) for most of the book seems to wake up one morning and become a different person. One wonders if the author found a change in plot necessary and didn't iron some wrinkles. 'The Pillars Of Creation' won't hold a candle to fantasies like David Eddings' Belgariad books or Katherine Kurtz's Deryni series, but it is a pretty good read considering the excellent ending.
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