Rating: Summary: Jordan and Goodkind Together Again Review: After waiting months for the next installment in the Sword of Truth saga. I was deftly dissipointed in what I read. While the story line was excellent, I began to wonder "What happened". It seems Terry Goodkind is starting to follow in the footsteps Of Robert Jordan. We're getting off the track of the story here. Where I was expecting the continuing story of Richard and Kaylan I got Oba and Jennsen? Richard wasn't even brought into the story (other than mentioning his exploits)until the very last chapter. A great series has turned away from what's important to it's loyal fans. To, as we see it, a way of dragging out the story to sell more books. But in my opinion, it's a good way of losing your audience
Rating: Summary: Very Disappointing Review: I just finished reading this book. I was so excited about getting it, especially after reading Faith of the Fallen. In fact, I re-read Faith of the Fallen the weekend before Pillars came out, just so the storyline would be fresh in my mind.Wow, what a disappointment this was. In a 559 page book, Richard didn't show up until page 500. Even then, you have no idea what happened from the end of Faith of the Fallen until he shows up in this one. The cover of Pillars lets you believe that Richard and Kalhan are main characters again. In truth, they are in only a handful of pages. This book is a filler book. Nothing more. (...) It is so disorganized and off of the original story-line that anybody who is a fan of the Sword of Truth series will be ashamed to have purchased this book. I know I am. (...)
Rating: Summary: Do not buy this book in hardcover! Review: It had to happen sooner or later. Goodkind finally followed Rober Jordan's example and started writing books that serve only to lengthen his series. Faith of the Fallen was immensely entertaining, but didn't accomplish much in the way of plot development. This book is absolutely stagnant. The series' two main characters only appear in the last seventy pages. In a 500+ page book, only one chapter met the standard for action and entertainment Goodind's previous works have set. Next time, I'll save my (money) and wait for the paperback. Maybe if all of his fans do the same, Goodkind's friends at Tor will make him trim the pointless filler.
Rating: Summary: Disappointed Review: Like Craig I loved the first 6 books in the SOT series. I have anxiously awaited Pillars of Creation. I went straight to the bookstore, grabbed it off the shelf, and was reading it as I walked out the door of the bookstore. Five chapters later there was still nothing on Kahlan, Richard, Cara, and Zedd. So I furiously scanned the book for their names and was disappointed to find them darn near the end of the book. I love the guys work, I just wish he could have woven what they were up to throughout the story of the offspring he was weaving. He had done that well in the past.
Rating: Summary: A Parallel Novel? Review: I've been an avid reader of Goodkind ever since Stone of Tears came out. A friend let me borrow Wizard's First Rule, and I fell in love immediately with the series. I spent about 20 straight hours and read the book twice in a row. The next day, I went to the store, and picked up the new Stone of Tears, and did the same. Years of waiting and four mostly-magnificent books later, I was waiting in the attached Starbucks to the closest Barnes and Noble at 9AM on Tuesday morning of the 20th of November, ran in when it opened, picked up 3 copies of from the stand (one I read, one I keep perfect, one for my fiancee as a gift), and buy them. I head home, crack the book, and read the first 50 pages or so. I put the book down, and don't touch it again for 24 hours. Why? After the magnificent creation that was book 6 (Faith of the Fallen), and the major cliffhanger it left you on, nothing about events after that is even mentioned in the early goings. I picked it up yesterday, the 21st, and read another 50 pages or so, with the same qualms. I couldn't relate to the characters, not a single character from any of the other books had shown up, and only one or two were even mentioned. The story was good, and interesting, but it wasn't what I wanted. This morning, turkey day, I picked it up again, and read it to the end. About 150 or so pages in, I could understand the characters and enjoy the plot thread. However, before the last 50 pages of the book, only four characters from any of the other books make appearances. One character has a lot of scenes, but the other three make only one appearance each, with not more than 5-10 lines to them. In the last 50 pages, the story does overlap, which is always good. Now, to the review. The characters are extremely detailed, likeable or hateable, depending on which character you're talking about. The plot is interesting, if not anywhere near as epic as the last few books. It all builds to an enjoyable climax in which the plot *does* overlap with the main characters, and in typical Goodkind fashion, making you want to email websites and distributors trying to get speculation dates for the next book's release. The plot, while enjoyable, resembles the 3rd Book, Blood of the Fold, in this respect: From the beginning to end of the book, not much really happens in the grand scope of things, and all of the major characters are still there, and in similar states as they started. We are added with a new protagonist to join the party, but not much else really happened. From the setup in book 6, we do have the Trap At Andyndril, and we see the results of that, but it doesn't gave any sort of lasting impression. The whole book is told through the eyes of the four new characters, with not a single chapter devoted to any of the major characters from the other books. It's interesting to add new characters to the mix, but it really felt more like a parallel novel than the next in the series. Final summary: A good book, enjoyable, solid, and not at all what I wanted.
Rating: Summary: goodkind= clown of the year Review: Goodkind really should of stayed with ripping off ideas from Jordan, but i guess sense jordan is on the decline he had to actuelly do some work. well Faith of the fallen had me convinced goodkind was going to make a series out of this soarly lacking Plot progression, However this new instalment is not even worth the read. Goodkind talks about his books being about these "charecters" but yet prolly the main reason anyone reads this series is to see richard and kahlan, well this isnt a spoiler, its a warning not to buy the hard cover because None of the main charecters are in the majority of the book. I am hoping my last regrett of 2001 is buying the hard cover version of this book, I hope you dont make a simliliar regrett in buying even the paper back come next year. I for one wont pick up the next books by him...
Rating: Summary: Unexpected but not Unwanted Review: I do agree with many people, that this is not what we expected. That does not take away from the amazingly immersive and wonderful world Terry Goodkind continues to create. The new characters are interesting and fun, and I'm sure since he was contracted for at least a 10 book series that it will get better. The story ran amazingly smooth, with very few dull points. I do agree that I missed Richard, Cara, Kahlan, and the rest, but hopefully in the next books that will change. I would not say this is the best book he's written but it definately deserves a spot on the shelves with the others. Terry Goodkind is amazingly grand at writing books with a similar consistency, and I promise you, this one will not let you down
Rating: Summary: A Different Viewpoint Review: I have followed this series religiously since Robert Jordan's went downhill. I have every hardcover copy of the series. Terry Goodkind weaves a world that is so real you can hear the clash of armor and weaponry, the heat of Wizard's Fire, and go on a rollercoaster ride of passionate emotions felt by his characters. Emotions so real you find yourself sharing tears of joy, rage, or sorrow as his characters love, wage war, and suffer losses. I was unable to put this book--the 7th in the series--down and was once again transported to this world for about 12 hours, coming out only to eat. My wife understands that she won't see me until it's finished...when I get a Terry Goodkind book. I started out looking for my favorite characters, but quickly realized that I was following a new set of characters and this was their story. After a few hours, I didn't care because these characters were just as engaging, and I knew that they would eventually meet up with Richard and Kahlan. I wouldn't say it's disappointing, because it's just too good. I do miss a Richard and Kahlan adventure and the little glimpse we see of them is enough to have us craving for more. I hope Terry Goodkind keeps it up and we get another installment soon! I can't wait!
Rating: Summary: Ech! Review: Terry Goodkind is fantastic author, I've loved ALL of his books. But Pillars of Creation was HIGHLY disappointing, I've grown accustomed or spoiled from all his previous books and this time he just let me down. The publisher printed out their "synopsis" of the book, saying how he returns us to all the characters we know and love...he does?!?!?! Maybe I should read the book again, but i felt like I was reading entirely different story, almost like we started a new series somewhere...I like Goodkind's characters he's created, if Goodkind wanted to go with another "point of view", he should have gone with someone that we've already been introduced too and grown to love, instead we're left WANTING for him to talk about the characters we know, but stuck with these new (but very intriguing) characters...albeit I liked the whole idea and Goodkind displays some cleverness and ingenuity in how he's tied alot of stories together, I just wish he could have alternated chapters with more characters, like he's done in the past...read it, but you'll be disappointed
Rating: Summary: Is this what I have been waiting for? Review: After creating such a masterpiece of epic fantasy in his first 7 novels; a world that is unparralled in its depth and width; to suddenly abandon it and choose another character is a mistake - in my view. This book is difficult to accept in that it does not flow with the first seven. I felt betrayed. Not only is it much shorter than the previous (the print is huge - not at all the closely set type from the previous) but it spins a tale independant of the main characters and then - right at the end - has those main characters show up, put all to rights, and save the world. Are Richard and Kahlan now nothing more than a technique to end one of these novels? I bought this book to read more about them - these characters I have so come to understand and love - and am left feeling betrayed.
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