Rating: 
Summary: good at first
Review: I remember being absolutely obsessed with this series...even missed a couple nights sleep because they were so hard to put down. The first book (Wizard's First Rule) especially was mindblowing - fast paced, action filled and (seemingly) original.Soon afterwards, I went through a new phase...I hated the books with a passion. The plagiarism was terrible, the porno extremely uncalled for, and the plot was overly exaggerated. However, I have now reached a middle ground. There really are some amazing sections in the books - completely original and heartrending. As for the rest, if you haven't read the Wheel of Time series, you'll be fine - if you have, then try to be a little open-minded...I guess in these times, it's difficult to come up with a complete fantasy world without recycling other's works (although Robin Hobb managed it with ease). I rounded up my 3.5 to 4 stars give it a go!
Rating: 
Summary: Lack of realims and plagiarizing...
Review: This is the book where the Sword of Truth begins its downfall. Wizard's First Rule had its faults, but it was still an enjoyable read. In Stone of Tears, however, Goodkind appears to have (already) run out of ideas, so he takes them from another author, Robert Jordan. Anyone who's read the Wheel of Time will notice the similarities. Sisters of the Light = Aes Sedai, Sisters of the Dark = black ajah, Palace of the Prophets = White Tower, rada'han = a'dam. In one case, blademaster, Goodkind doesn't even bother coming up with a new name. Even the book's name, Stone of Tears, most likely comes from Jordan's universe. With so many similarites, Goodkind's explanation that he doesn't read other fantasy and his reference to "common themes" ring hollow. And then there's the lack of realism, most notably in 5,000 naked boys attacking an army of 50,000 in winter - and winning. Someone should tell Goodkind about hypothermia. Also, why didn't the army of 50,000 bother posting sentries? Oh, right, they were all busy getting drunk. In the middle of a hostile land. Oh, do you remember Wizard's First Rule's bad guy, Darken Rahl? It turns out he wasn't the ultimate bad guy, but a minion of an even stronger bad guy named the Keeper. This is mentioned nowhere in book 1, further proof that Goodkind hadn't intended Wizard's First Rule to be the first of a series. Still, there are a few good points. Unlike so many other fantasy authors, Goodkind doesn't hesitate to show us blood, gore, rape and similar themes.
Rating: 
Summary: An absolutely FANTASTIC sequel to Wizard's First Rule
Review: I was wondering if Goodkind could pull off in a 2nd novel what he had started with his terrific 1st effort in 'Wizard's First Rule' but I must admit, he did a mighty fine job with 'Stone of Tears'. Personally, I felt it was about 95% as good as book #1, but that is still high praise indeed since WFR is easily one of my all-time favorite Fantasy novels. 'Stone' picks up immediately where WFR left off...Richard has defeated the horrific Darken Rahl -- who turns out to be none other than Richard's own Father -- and has found a way around
the magic of the Mother Confessor, Kahlan...all is well in the Land...right? Not for a second. Within moments of the opening page something has escaped from the Underworld, which is supposedly impossible -- but nevertheless, it happens, almost killing Zedd. Uh oh. Meanwhile Richard & Kahlan are reunited with the Mud People preparing for their wedding when three unwelcome women show up and spoil the party. They claim to be Sisters of the Light, come to save Richard from himself and to teach him how to govern his Gift. At first I thought this seemed rather hokey, but Goodkind manages to make it absolutely riviting. Without spoiling the plot too much, Richard reluctantly agrees to travel to the Old World in order to learn more of this Gift he was born with, all the while acting as if he is a prisoner. It is a long trek to the Palace of the Prophets in the Old World, and we get to know a lot more about Richard and Verna, the last of the three Sisters of the Light that came to find Richard. Goodkind gives us the impression that this is indeed a very long journey, but he also fills the quest with adventure and danger every step of the way. After arriving at the Palace of the Prophets, Richard is stunned to realize that it is expected to take many YEARS in order to learn all that the Sisters of the Light expect to teach him, maybe even HUNDREDS of years. A spell has been cast over the Palace which slows time for those within, allowing them the time to study and learn all that it will take in order to become a Wizard. This of course is unacceptable to Richard, who views life without Kahlan to be no life at all. In addition to all this Kahlan is experiencing an adventure of her own. In the Palace is also the place where we first learn of Emperor Jagang and his ability to invade the dreams of his servants turning even a few of the Sisters of the Light into Sisters of the Dark (not unlike the Dark Side of the Force). There are those within the palace who desperately wish for Richard to fail, at the same time there are a few who are slowly discovering that Richard just might be someone of incredible importance to the history of the world. Goodkind has crafted what I consider one of the best
Fantasy tales ever told with his first two books, and although
book #3 is slightly less entertaining, the series overall is MUCH stronger than most available today, and better than most available at ANY time. In short, 'Stone of Tears' is a tremendous addition to an already Fantastic Fantasy series. Buy it. Read it. Enjoy it. Repeat.
Rating: 
Summary: It's unfortunate that this series went past the first book.
Review: This series is one of the worst that I have ever read.
This is mainly because of the repetition and out right stealing of the books. What do i mean by stealing? Just that, this book has taken plot elements and other things from Jordan's tepid Wheel of Time series. Take the main character is a man with a "gift" of magic that will drive him insane, unless he trains it, the group that trains him put a collar that controls his "gift" (the seanchen from WOT) and besides that, that group is a group of women who study and such and tend to act like the Aeis Sedai.
On top of all this, the disturbing quality and violence of this series starts to get so insane as to make it sickening.
In the end there's nothing for me to suggest this book for one to read, while the first book was okay, and had some great scenes in it (but still was stealing from Tolkien and Jordan amoung many others), this book is just plain horrible, go read something good instead of wasting your time with this horrid book.
Rating:
Summary: Even better than Wizard's Frist Rule!
Review: Terry Goodkind, Stone of Tears (Tor, 1995) Terry Goodkind continues his Sword of Truth series for another thousand pages, writing a book as good, if not better, than Wizard's First Rule. The adventures of Richard, Kahlan, and co. continue. The events that concluded the first book (not recounted here because they're plot spoilers) were supposed to bring peace to the world, right? Right--but peace is the last thing on anyone's mind as book two opens, a few minutes after the close of book one. (Nice touch, that.) Richard may have figured out how to use the Wizard's First Rule to his own advantage, but in doing so he violated the Wizard's Second Rule, about which there is much talk without anyone really saying what it is. (By the time anyone gets around to teaching it to Richard, you'll probably have figured it out on your own from the varying contexts; it's a reworded cliché.) By now, everyone but Richard is well aware that Richard has the gift. He is a wizard, albeit an untrained one. Richard's refusal to believe that he has the gift gets him into enough troubles, but now he's confronted with others who know he has the gift. Some of them are less than happy about it. And so a whole new set of problems opens up. Despite some of the more soap operalike aspects that are unavoidable in any multi-thousand-page fantasy epic, Goodkind keeps the string-the-reader-along stuff to a minimum, uses more subtle cliffhangers than he did in the last book, and once again keeps the reader's attention well in hand. The last three hundred pages of this book, for me, demanded to be read in one sitting. (As to a previous reviewer complaining about all the sex in this book, I wonder if s/he and I were reading the same novel. Perhaps we have different definitions of "sex.") The last few pages of this one have one truly contrived moment, but somehow Goodkind pulls it off without too much cheesiness. The best thing I can say about the book is that I was planning on leaving the series for a few days while I finished some other books. And yet, after I closed the back cover on this one, I was reading Blood of the Fold within ten minutes. Goodkind has created a worthy successor to book one here. ****½
Rating:
Summary: Bravo!! :-)
Review: I loved the first book, and I loved this 2nd book -- Terry has a great imagination -- totally amazing the things he can think of, the pictures he can paint -- how you are there just as if you were watching a movie and you know, see, feel what's going on. Like the first book, I couldn't put it down - I simply devoured this book and happily went on to the next one! I bet you do too. Happy reading! :-) -- Nancy
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful!
Review: I first read Wizard's First Rule in '96. I read the whole book in one sitting & immediately read The Stone of Tears. I'm an avid reader & sci-fi fantasy are my favorites. These two books have taken first place ever since & I've bought full size hardcovers of the entire series. Terry Goodkind has a wonderful way with the characters (Richard & Khalan) I can actually visualize each one & there entire journey. This is the battle of total good against total evil. Some parts even gave me chills. The love of each of there lives that nothing can destroy, but yet action adventure & tactics better than any movie. Oh yeah, I just fell in love with Gratch!
Rating:
Summary: Better in some ways, worse in others
Review: In some ways I found this book to be an improvement over the first in the series. More time is devoted to character and emotional developement, and while much of it is heavy handed, at least there's an effort. The plot flows better, and is slightly less predictible. There are actually a couple subplots. Unfortunately, Goodkind slipped up here too. The root of the books problems is Richard. Before I found him dull. Now I find him far too perfect. It's not just physical prowess, though he has that in spades (defeating thirty blademasters without a scratch, yeah right), but his "wisdom". When did Richard become Zedd? And if he knows so much, how can he be so blind to what's happening with Kalahn? It should have been painfully obvious to anyone, especially when Verna explicitly told him what had happened. The plot also drags at times, and the second wizzard's rule is worse than the first. He might as well have said "The road to the underworld is paved with good intentions." The ending is rushed, and wrapped up way too neatly and predictably. Oh yeah, and Gratch really got on my nerves.
Rating:
Summary: Wicked!
Review: Second book even better! Talk about juicy! And fun! As for the "beginner" writing Terry does, that is an actual style that works with the story, ya bunch of yahoos! <chuckle> (as opposed to Robt. Jordon's chapter lists and lists of incomprehensible names.) Awesome, man.
Rating:
Summary: I expected better.
Review: This book was boring. The first few chapters kept my attention but soon I was getting tired of reading Richard and Khalan cry again and again. in fact it was rather annoying. All they seemed to do was whine which made me wonder what they were. Powerful heroes of this story plot or helpless children who feel the need to moan about everything from spilled water to death. I expected MUCH more from this book but it just turned out to be a very big dissappointment. I don't even bother to read any of Goodkind's novels anymore.
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