Rating: 
Summary: I really enjoyed it
Review: I'm sorry but I just dont agree with the last few reviews and I'm not quite sure what those folks are looking for.I had struggled through all nine of Jordan's WOT series and I found WFR to be more of the Terry Brooks - JRR Tolkien type of fantasy. It is Heroic fantasy to be sure, but at the same time the ride is wonderful. Sure there are little things here and there that you might criticize but overall I think this is a wonderful start for this new author (not new anymore). As far as being pornographic this is about as far from pornographic as I can think (the person that wrote that better stay away from George R.R. Martin). I cant even think of a part of this text where there was anything even remotely offensive. I could hardly wait to move along to Stone of Tears. The character development is wonderful and the plot is full of turns and has been well thought out by the author. This should be a part of your Masterpieces of Fantasy Collection.
Rating: 
Summary: Now this is great stuff. . . .
Review: I really enjoyed this fresh, although somewhat unimaginative fantasy book. Furthermore... This is the only Goodkind book I have read (have no fear, I will buy more)... Here are my words on it: It tries to be unique like Robert Jordan by excluding all the normal fantasy elements like goblins, trolls, elves, dwarves, etc. So obviously, you shouldn't be expecting a Forgotten Realms or Raymond E. Feist style book here. Nonetheless, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I thought it was great, although somewhat predictable regarding many character-related elements. Indeed, the characters are less than entertaining. I personally hate the way Kahlan and Richard moon over each other, but I was truly awed by the torture part with Richard and Rachel. BRILLIANCE! I can't get over that! How unique, how original! There is nothing else like that in all the fantasy literature I have read. Also, I quite enjoyed the somewhat mature 'sexual' aspect, regarding Richard, and Rachel and Kahlan. Light eroticy in this form is somewhat intoxicating, at least how Terry wrote it. I am, though, quite curious to know how the other books in the series continue. AFTERALL, every plot twist and strand and prophecy is pretty much wrapped up by the end of this book. Despite the failed ambitious 'epic scope' and 'uniqueness' I found in this book, I still liked it alot. Hell, I love it! It's a great book. Go buy it. From Amazon.com
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible writing and poor taste
Review: This book has sections that are downright pornographic, and in the worst way. (Kids -- no excitement, just trash). I've thrown away only a handful of books in my lifetime, but this was one of them.
Rating: 
Summary: Eh?
Review: First off, I have just started to become a "reader". I have read 4 books in the last 2 months after reading only one in the first 25 years of my life. "The Wizard's First Rule" was the most recent book I finished reading. I thought it was OK, but not great. Here is my biggest gripe about the book. Why does it take Richard 30 pages to build build a roof for those damn mud people and why does he get tortured by an evil dominatrix for 80 pages and then the final conflict with the big bad guy lasts for only 12 pages? And why the hell did it take him so long to die after he knew he was done for? But the story did keep me interested enough to finish it, though I did almost put it down a couple of times.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful story, but... originality?
Review: In Wizard's First rule, a Seeker (explained in book) named Richard tackles adventure with a Confessor (also explained in book) named Kahlan to recover a box before an evil ruler can find it first. If they are unsuccesful, the fate of the world is in dire consequence. As my first fantasy novel, I was immediately captured by the detailed characters and wonderful storyline. An occasional shift in the setting of the story (along with all new characters) kept my constant attention. Terry Goodkind then beautifully brings all the elements of the story together into one great adventure. This was one book that I sincerely had trouble giving up. It did not, however, entice me to continue reading the Sword of Truth novels (at least not yet...) for I believed it to be slightly long-winded. It did, however, open up fantasy literature to me, as soon after I read The Hobit and The Lord of the Rings, the grandfathers of the Fantasy and Adventure realm. In reading The Lord of the Rings, I then noticed striking similarity in the two stories. Perhaps Goodkind cannot be criticized for this action of imitation (because nearly all adventure novels follow the same path), but it does somewhat null my enthusiasm for the creation of this novel. Nevertheless, it is a very good read.
Rating:
Summary: A thick juicy and lucious fantasy read
Review: The evil Darken Rahl is succeeding in making a grab to possess the three boxes of Orden in order to control the magic that is contained within them. Darken Rahl's strategic goal is conquering the three kingdoms (Westland, The Midlands, and D'Hara) currently separated by a seemingly impenetrable mystic boundary. To stop Darken Rahl, the wizards send Kahlan Amnell across the barrier to find the "Seeker of Truth" somewhere in Westland where magic is outlawed. She meets Richard Cypher who immediately takes her to his teacher Zedd, who he believes is the great wizard who can identify the Seeker. The last things Richard expected were to fall in love and learn he is the Seeker. With the aid of a wizard and his beloved, Richard must fight Darken. Richard realizes he must use the very weapons that make his foe powerful and malevolent for without them he cannot win, but using them can easily turn him into a darker Darken. WIZARD'S FIRST RULE is a reprint of the fabulous first tale in Terry Goodkind's "Sword of Truth" saga. The story line remains a powerful epic fantasy that never slows down though like most opening genre books, it leaves threads for the next novel. The characters, especially the "good guys", are engaging as they struggle to contain the evil within themselves from turning them into Darken clones. The WIZARD'S FIRST RULE does not apply to anyone who reads this book because this mesmerizing novel is worth the time and money. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Philosophy Rules
Review: Terry Goodkind (from what I can tell from the way he writes) is a very philosophical man. The way he describes everything seems so real and you can actually relate to them in real life. In this book Richard Cypher, a wood's guide from the magic-less land of Westland, finds himself in a heck of a load of trouble with the sadistic ruler Darken Rahl at its head. I really like the way things are explained in this book; the bok Richard memorises is called the Book of Counted Shadows and I personaly thought it was because of the Wiccan Book of Shadows at the beginning. But after I'd finished the book (in one day) I realised it was because the opening of the Boxes of Orden (the boxes which can enable the opener to rule the world destroy the worldetc.) I realised it was because of the way you open the boxes. I loved the characters such as teh Mord-Sith and the confessors. I've read all six books in the series and I think that this one is the best of them all. The characters are well developed, there is suspense and the way the Wixard's Rules are explained really make you think. If you think that the rules don't explain anything you don't understand them. I've tried them out on people and they actually work, and it feels good to think that you know a little bit more philosophy than someone else! If Terry Goodkind ever reads this (I doubt that because he doesn't have a computer) I'm begging you to write Kolo's Journal sometime. I really want to know more about the history of wizards and confessors and Alric Rahl!
Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Fantasy
Review: I am not usually read fantasy books. But somehow I picked up this one. The first chapter was difficult going but after that I was enthralled in the world that Goodkind created. The wizards, the confessors, the sword of truth...I read the whole book in one night. Though the major theme, good vs. evil, is not original or complex, it is the characters and the magnificent creatures and settings that makes this book so spellbinding.
Rating:
Summary: Equally Great
Review: Lovers of Jordan will throughly enjoy this novel. The similarities are sometimes obvious, but are hardly dissappointing. The characters are enchanting and the detail throughout the entire novel will keep you begging for more as you rush to buy Stone of Tears (next in the series)!
Rating:
Summary: Good, but not excellent.
Review: I liked this book a lot. It takes the reader through a rollercoaster of emotions, from hopelessness, to extreme excitement. It also developed the characters very well, but my only complaint would be both the amount of characters, and the predictability. Robert Jordan certainly introduced many more characters that played pivitol roles in his following books, but I don't see that as much here. It also got a bit predictable, especially towards the end. It was a good book however, the first in an apparently promising series. The creatures Goodkind creates are absolutely some of the best I have seen in a fantasy novel. It has many great elements of fantasy that are done to perfection, so I would certainly recommend this book to a maniacal fantasy reader like myself, because you will certainly enjoy it.
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