Rating: 
Summary: A refreshing change for the series.
Review: Terry Goodkind, The Pillars of Creation (Tor, 2001)Terry Goodkind checks in with the seventh volume in the Sword of Truth series, and I am very happy to be in the minority in my viewpoint on this one. In my opinion, the series had been on a long, albeit gradual, downhill slope before this, and The Pillars of Creation gave it some much-needed revitalization, not to mention a different viewpoint that will no doubt be critical in the upcoming climax to the series. Gone, for the most part, are Richard, Kahlan, and the rest of the bunch you're familiar with if you've been following along for the past nine years. Gone are the armies of the Midlands, Aydindril, the Wizard's Keep, the Mud People, all the things with which we've become familiar. Instead, we are in the heart of southern D'Hara with a young woman named Jennsen and a mysterious traveller who finds her and helps her out of an unexpected jam named Sebastian. (That plot line should sound very familiar, if Wizard's First Rule is still fresh in your mind.) Now, here's the twist; in the backwoods of D'Hara, most of the populace of your average small town isn't even aware Darken Rahl is dead yet, much less that the guy who's taken his place is one of the good guys. Thus, it becomes an understandable leap in logic for Jennsen-who was hunted unsuccessfully from the time of her birth until Darken Rahl's death-to assume that Richard Rahl is going to carry on his father's tradition and keep hunting her. In the opening scene, a D'Haran soldier is dead at the foot of a cliff, having slipped and fallen, and Jennsen realizes the D'Harans have found her again, and it's time to move on... Giving the book a whole new set of characters and a new setting avoids the trap that every book since Blood of the Fold has fallen into of having to use the first hundred pages to rehash old stuff, one of the series' greatest weaknesses. So we get into the action much faster here than in earlier novels. Also, having protagonists who are decidedly anti-Richard not only gives the book a fresh perspective on the events going on in the world but, when Jennsen meets Emperor Jagang, gives us a new perspective on the Emperor's character as well. Instead of the merciless monster he's been portrayed as in the last few books, he becomes almost sympathetic here, and far more human than he has been. This is a great boon to the story, as Jagang has been pretty two-dimensional throughout the series, and cannot help but lend strength to the series' remaining title(s?). A refreshing change from what we'd been used to. Here's to hoping book eight continues back up the hill. *** ½
Rating: 
Summary: Struggling to read this junk
Review: I've greatly enjoyed reading the Sword of Truth series. I thought Faith of the Fallen was one of the best of them with an amazing amount of character development. Afterwards I was struck with a mighty blow to the head with this book. I'm only 360 pages into it and have to battle to read it after starting MANY months ago. I just don't care at all about any of the the dull characters. So far the one I care about the most is Tom! Maybe I will eventually finish it so I can move on to a good book. Wish me luck. END THE SERIES!
Rating: 
Summary: Well written but where are the main characters!?!?
Review: Having burned through the first books in the series in as little as 3 days each, and enjoying them thoroughly.. I was a bit let down by the changes in the series with book 5 and this, book 7. In book 5 Terry started working with several new characters for a part of the book, blending in the main characters half way through, and finishing the story nicely. In book 6 he alternated between Richard and Kahlan's viewpoints, and kept us involved. In this book, we dont see the entire reason we are wrapped up in the books till the last 50 or so pages.
The main reason I have read the majority of the series I have is because of the main characters that you become soo familiar with, as if they were closer than family. Terry is a very good writer, and has spent thousands of pages pulling us into the hearts and minds of Richard, Kahlan, Zedd, and the rest. I found it disheartening to see the series just idle along, getting no closer to any sort of conclusion to the story line. Granted, I do not want it to end, yet I dont want to see it end up like the Wheel of Time, and be on book 13, and have poured through several books that add more plot rather than tie off loose ends along the way.
In all, I am sure I will re-read the entire series when the next addition is released. I cant say I liked this one very much, but will still read through it again, just to have the story fresh for the next addition. There are some rewards to the readers in regards to Richard, Kahlan, Cara, Zedd, and Adie.. But it took 700+ pages to get them.
Rating:
Summary: Pillars of Creation
Review: good read, refreshing perspective--although by the end you are just dying to hear *something* about good old Richard and co.
Rating: 
Summary: The Series That Never Ends
Review: I'm not going to jump on either bandwagon here -- I'm not a diehard fan (though I've read them all), and I'm not a huge fan of the digression, either. I borrowed this book, and read it, and was glad I hadn't paid for it. Goodkind seems to suffer from the same disease Robert Jordan does. It's the "I'm going to write the series that never ends" disease. I don't blame him for wanting to write about someone else -- but Terry just couldn't leave his series alone (probably because of the extra several tens of thousands of copies he'll sell by putting it in the series proper). This story would have been a much better, more interesting book if he had written it "next to" the storyline, but not interacting in a meaningful way. It was written because he needed to add another major twist to his series to lengthen it another few books. That's just plain annoying. Finish this series, Terry, and let's move on to another incredible world (or storyline) ... Please ...
Rating: 
Summary: Caught Off Guard
Review: I bought this book because it was the newest in the Sword of Truth Series. I was surprised to find new characters playing major roles... and I was a bit miffed in the beginning. My faith that Goodkind would deliver, however, and his ability to create characters that absolutely draw me in, kept me reading - avidly. At first to hurry to get to Kahlan and Richard, but soon because the new heros/villans captured me. And the way Goodkind ties it all together in the end... masterful. But of course! How else would he be but masterful!
Rating:
Summary: Terry, I love you, but...
Review: I am an avid fan of this series, and have read all of these books as they have come out. My enthusiasm is waning with the successive books. The impact of this book on the story line will not be known for a while, however this was a lot of time and effort devoted to only moderately interesting side characters. With a whopping pattern of two, Terry seems to be taking a side trip every other book, and it's somewhat frustrating. I loved book six, and I will continue to look into the series, but I am not inclined to spend my money on 400+ pages of moderately irrelevant side characters. To Terry: I'm sure you have publishers on you for quantity, but don't feel like you have to copy or compete with R. Jordan's endless repetitive detail. Write your own story, keep it tight and moving then finish it. Move on to other characters in other stories. 600 pages is too much for a side trip. Another book like this, and I may move to newer pastures.
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Summary: Change doens't come easy.
Review: Okay so what happened here. This is my 3rd real sci-fi/fantasy series I've read(the other two were the LOR saga and the DUNE saga(stillcomingout)(I was a fan of both before the movies were even in creating))and I really enjoy Goodkind's writing. But what happened here? Some like the change in style and the idea of holes in the world was intriguing(spelling?) and all but what did it have to do with the story? I wanted to hear more about Richard and Kahlans adventures instead of a bunch of strage offspring. I hope the next novels doesn't venture off to left field just to come up empty handed. I suppose it's a good idea to read this one but it leaves the ready with little energy and a sense of boredom.
Rating:
Summary: Not One of His Best, But Still Underated
Review: When I discovered who the book was going to be revolved around, I nearly had a fit! "Why does Goodkind think I'd want to read about anyone other than Richard and Kahlan???" But, I gave in and read it. And, to my suprise, it was good. Not his best, though. If you're looking for finer examples of Goodkind's writings, read earlier books in the Sword Of Truth series, they are much better. However, this book is a must if you're a Sword Of Truth fan. Somehow Goodkind continues to combine unlikely coincidences with a frighteningly realistic plot and characters to match. As with all the rest of Goodkind's characters, you grow to love some new ones. Jennsen, Sebastion, Tom and - yes, even the goat, Betty all touch your heart. So, my recomendation? Do NOT read this book if you have not read the rest of the series. It will ruin the book and the series for you. If you have read the rest of the series, and plan to continue reading, read this book. It's worth it.
Rating:
Summary: Blech!
Review: I've read a lot of fantasy/sci-fi, and I know that it's asking a lot to expect everyone to be an Asimov or Le Guin or Gaiman; but this was a waste of time and money. Goodkind's droning prose takes what could have been an interesting and even exiting plot in a 350-400 page book and turns it into a 700+ page ordeal. I frequently skipped 4-5 pages at a time and NEVER MISSED A BEAT IN THE PLOT. Disregarding the fact that, without having read any of the previous books, I immediately figured out that Sebastian was a villian; the characters constantly re-hash the same saccharin moral dilemnas page after page after page after.... you get the point. If you really want to read this book, get it from the library: you don't need to own it. And don't even start me on the goat. Geez!
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