Rating: 
Summary: A great story
Review: First of all, I don't understand all the harsh reviews of Terry Goodkind's SoT series. Perhaps the themes in his books have appeared in other stories, but that's true of every author. Any fantasy author who has written about magic, wizards, beautiful women, elves, dwarves, dragons, swords, quests, traveling, a great evil foe, etc. has copied that theme from someone else. Many reviewers compare these stories to Robert Jordan's. They may have similarities, but the biggest difference is that Goodkind's books are INTERESTING. If Robert Jordan came up with these themes first (which he didn't), he sure didn't know what to do with them. I'm glad that Goodkind did. It takes Jordan a whole book just to get his characters to finish breakfast.Others have recommended Terry Brooks over Terry Goodkind while in the same breath complaining that Goodkind copied the themes in his books. Did any of you ever read the Sword of Shannara? The first 100+ pages were a rip-off of The Fellowship of the Ring. One reviewer, who ranked this book with ONE STAR wrote, "The evil emperor simply wants to control the world, wow...that's so amazing. We have no idea why he wants to control the world or how he got in a position to do that". If this reader had actually bothered to read the words INSIDE the book, he/she would know that why Jagang wanted to rule and also why he has the power he does. If you're going to rank a book as ONE at least read it. If you can't understand it, that's your problem, not the book's. My last tirade is concerning the repetition others have complained about. He does fill you in on things you might have forgotten from previous books, but it is not overdone in the least. I think it is very helpful, especially if you read the books as they were published and had to wait a long time between each one. My comments on this whole series can be summed up in the phrase, "it's great"! I read the books; I enjoyed them thoroughly and would recommend others read them.
Rating: 
Summary: another book in a wonderful series
Review: Just finished reading this last night, and I can't wait to read the next one. I felt though that this book was more of an introduction to the fourth book, but still good enough. I am also glad to see that the improved writing style. You won't see the lead characters, Richard and Kahlan, crying and whining every 20 pages. The stress on the Wizard's rules and Richard's "think of the solution and not the problem" motto were less over-drawn, which can be a bit annoying in the previous books. The story was good, but I was acutally more drawn into the story of the Sisters of Light than that of Richard. I found myself hoping that nest chapter would focus on the Sister Verna or the Prelate. Maybe because Richard did so many things that went wrong or stupid that turned out to be right, just because he is the hero. 4 stars because despite the flaws, its still a good fantasy and a worthy addition to the Sword of Truth series.
Rating: 
Summary: My first Goodkind read
Review: This was my first Terry Goodkind book . . . and will be my last. I bought it at a booksale at work, always looking for something new to read- this looked interesting. I've read the Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series, and realized about 10 pages in that this storyline was similar. I enjoyed the Jordan series, so i thought, okay, this will be good. Wrong. Shallow characters, transparent plot lines . . . I'm ashamed to say that I actually finished this book. It gets 2 stars because I did finish it, but that goes more to my tenacity than to the quality of the writing or the story. Don't waste your time.
Rating:
Summary: I love Terry Goodkind
Review: Many of these reviews have really bashed Goodkind's book, so I would like to say my piece. I have not read Robert Jordan, but I have read David Eddings and many other such fantasy quest writers. I have enjoyed them all. I would like to point out that "there is nothing new under the sun." So everyone complaining about how Goodkind borrows such and such needs to shut-up. Most of the fantasies I've read have been very similar in plot and character, but each is very good according to how the author goes about it. I must say that I find Goodkind unique. I do feel that the story could use less violence because some of it is gratuitous. But I find his characters very real and touching. They are very easy to empathize with. I found myself actually crying with the characters. Many fantasy authors I have read are fun to read but I have no trouble putting down most of their books (with the exception of Tolkien and Brooks) when I have to. Goodkind, on the other hand, keeps enough mystery in his series to keep you hooked. It's got lots of action and even romance, albeit a troubled one. I see many of you complaining because the characters are flawed--some of them are really flawed.I really like this because if we're honest with ourselves, we don't always go around pure as the driven snow. Everyone has a really bad side to them even if they do have to dig deep to find it. Goodkind has presented characters who are struggling to do what's right against powerful odds. Yes the Confessors are a strange group to belong with the good guys. But I don't think Goodkind is trying to present the 'good guys' as being perfect. He's saying, 'OK, here's somebody willing to compromise. Let's get a wedge in there and maybe we can change the whole system.' Kahlan is that wedge. Yes she is the Mother Confessor but she is very burdened by this and would like to change the way a lot of things are done. If some of you would read a litte more carefully you would realize that she doesn't like the way the Confessors have ! been operating. Another example of change is the way Richard is trying to influence those chicks with the torturing rods. He has also made quite an impact on the Sisters of Light. They are the scariest 'good guys' I've ever seen! Goodkind's world is not always pretty. In fact, it's often downright ugly and scary. This makes it seem all the more real and fascinating. Perfection is boring. Goodkind has created an entertaining series that is sure to win more and more fans. His characters are real and most are dynamic not static. He keeps the revelations coming on top of more mysteries. He presents a world, though superficially different than ours, that is actually quite close to home. But his protagonists are characters who can and do rise above adversity. They are not perfect and make their share of mistakes, but you love them for it. Why, because Goodkind has created characters we would like to be. Thank you, Mr. Goodkind, for your series.
Rating:
Summary: Sword of Truth
Review: This is the best series I have ever read! I love the way the Terry Goodkind has you caught up in the story. I was once reading The Stone of Tears is class and cried out when Kahlan was forced to betray Richard to save his life. Now most of my classmates think I'm crazy, but some of them have come and asked me to let them borrow the books. I pass them on with relish. I am so glad to lead others into this wonderful world that is The Sword of Truth!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: The whole of Terry Goodkind's work is just awesome!! His books are genius. Ever fantasy lover should read the Sword of Truth series, as well as authors Terry Brooks and Robert Jordan. Wonderful fantasy writers with Goodkind way way at the top!
Rating:
Summary: painfull
Review: I loved the first two books in the series, could not put them down, even though they were far longer than the Blood of the Fold, I finished them in less than three days. But while reading this book, I find myself reading one or two pages at a sitting, and even then I am skipping over whole paragraphs to get through them (it is allmost painfull to read them). I have no idea what happend Terry Goodkind while writing this, but it is no where near the quality of Wizzards first rule, and Stone of tears. I am still going to get the next books in the series and read them, as I have faith that they will prove to be as good as the first two were (God I hope I am right).
Rating: 
Summary: A disappointing addition to the Sword of Truth series
Review: This book was a certain waste of over 500 pages and hours of reading time. The second book didn't leave me wanting to read this book, and I wish I had taken the hint. The only advantage to reading this was knowing every last detail that occurs in the life of Richard Rahl. The plot was week and the subplots were uninteresting, and Goodkind really showed his weaknesses in his skill, such as superfluous description of setting, weak conversations, and bad cliches such as "The Dance with Death". Really not satisfactory. Skip right to Temple of the Winds, which is MUCH better.
Rating:
Summary: better than the first 2 but still marginal
Review: Eh. That about somes it up. There are better books out there; there are better authors author. By the same token there are worse books and worse authors. Plotting by the numbers here folks.
Rating: 
Summary: OK
Review: My least favorite of the series, its still a good book but I feel it jumps around too much and it doesn't hold my attention as well as the first two.
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