Rating: 
Summary: There's far better stuff out there
Review: Mildly engrossing at times, but the plot is pure soap opera. Not an uncommon problem in the fantsay genre, but each plot "twist" is apparent about 150 pages before hand. I struggled to reach the end and will not be finishing the series.
Rating: 
Summary: Truly awful
Review: This may be the worst fantasy novel I've ever read, although I have to say that I haven't read that much fantasy recently. On the other hand, there's no way I could rate this less than 4 stars LESS THAN Tolkien or even George R.R. Martin's Fire and Ice series.Where to begin? The characters are stereotypes. The plot is poorly realized. The wizard's first rule that the book is named after is trite, less than clever, and poorly executed. The ending is unrealistic in that the villain could not possibly be that dumb. What else? Oh yes, the S&M. There's the immensely disturbing scene where the villain turns the child into a demon. Then there's the scene where the hero is endlessly tortured by the woman who somehow ends up falling in love with him. Then there's the scene when the bad guy rapes (or tries to rape) the priestess. The loving detail in which these things are described seems out of place in a fantasy novel. What else? Well, there is the name of the single most annoying villain's name I've ever heard, although that's pretty minor. Well, I guess I don't have anything more to add. This will be my last trip into the work of Terry Goodkind. Do yourself a favor and avoid the heck out of this novel. Certainly don't buy it for your kid.
Rating: 
Summary: A well developed and fully enriched novel.
Review: Having read this book 5 times now I have to say that it is by far my favorite book. The savory development of character interaction allowed for me as the reader to loose myself in the depth of the novel and the story line. A most original plot and point of views from several different angles allows for much thought and a good time. A grade A+ book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I DO!
Rating:
Summary: terrific story told in classic sci-fi style
Review: Wizard's First Rule is a classsic good versus evil morality story. In true sci-fi form, a "good" person is enlisted in the service of overthrowing an evil emperor. In this case, Richard (the good guy) does not have any clue about things magical (or even the existence of magic). Nonetheless, he is forced to face his destiny with the help of colorful people who are so well developed you cannot help but feel that they are your friends too. Likewise, the evil forces are well drawn out, and make you detest them and fear for our hero. You will enjoy this book, as well as the sequels.
Rating:
Summary: I miss the characters when I'm not reading it.
Review: I've read the whole series now and absolutely loved it. There were wonderful characters that are so real. It's definately fantasy, it's probably not going to happen to any of us. But oh I wish it would. I can't wait until Terry Goodkind writes another one. The endings of every book are wonderful and make you want to know what happens in the next one. You'll fall in love with Zedd. Happy Readings!
Rating:
Summary: A Novel of Epic proportions
Review: The Sword of Truth novels are by far the best books I have had the pleasure of reading. I have read all but Faith of the Fallen and would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys an engrossing fantasy epic. Seven of my friends and several others have borrowed this book from me at my urging and everyone of them, yes EVERYONE of them has come to look upon sword of truth novels as their favorite books. Just a few days ago I had a kid come up to me (who I didn't even know, but who seemed to know me) and tell me that they read the book I had given to my friend and had then went out and bought the entire series. I love these books and having read other novels from Terry Brooks, Robert Jordan, Micheal Criton, Robert Feist, I emplore you to read these books, you'll love them.
Rating:
Summary: Review of Wizard's First Rule
Review: In Wizard's First Rule, Terry Goodkind wraps all kinds of feelings and emotions into the story he tells. He'll leave you hanging at the end of every word and chapter,as if the next word could be the untimely death of your favorite character. You will feel all the anger and sadness these characters go through as they face their countless adventures. He will take you to magical lands, and meet creatures and people who can posses the gift of magic. When it seems as if a situation couldn't get any worse, or happiness any brighter, Goodkind folds words and sentences like mud, so that he can go that one step farther. In every chapter Goodkind never once loses you within the events that occur. Even with the story switching from one character to another, you still know what's going on, and where people are. He leaves out the flashbacks that drag on and on, which can make you forget what's happening in the real story. Whenever there is a tense moment, Goodkind doesn't drag on forever, he tells you exactly what you want to know, yet leaving you thirsting for more. Every chapter and every sentence cautiously leads into the next. Goodkind Doesn't tell you something all at once. The story he sets for you to read runs as smoothly as a babbling brook. Goodkind never fails to amaze at the seeming complexity of things, yet you are able to grasp and understand the situation as if you had read it a million times before. In my opinion, nobody can come close to the way Goodkind sets up his characters. He will hide minute traits within the characters, seeing if you can determine what they are before these traits are figured out by the characters. For instance, take Richard Cypher, a woods guide who only has an egotistical brother, and a wise grandfather. He builds an image of Richard up in your , then shatters it into a million pieces when you find out that he isn't just a woods guide, he's much much more. There is only one author that comes close to matching Goodkind's story. Her name is Melanie Rawn. She tells her story like that of Goodkind's, yet not as much anticipation involved.If you like any Science-Fiction Fantasy books, you will surely go head over heels for Terry Goodkind's work Wizard's First Rule.
Rating: 
Summary: An okay fantasy story, but not great.
Review: This is a good fantasy story that mostly held my interest throughout. Unfortunately, the quality of the writing just wasn't very consistent throughout the book. The parts that were good were very good, and I was easily absorbed into the world created by Goodkind. But too often, the quality would nosedive for several pages and I would find myself not very interested in the story and just picking out the problems with either the characters, the setting, or the plot. But overall, the good outweighed the bad. The ending cleaned up things nicely for the subsequent novels to avoid some of the problems. I'll see if Goodkind's writing improves in them. One other reviewer has said it does, so I am hopeful. This is only the second fantasy series that I have read, the first being Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. That has spoiled me some. Jordan is a much better writer than Goodkind. If you are new to fantasy, I suggest Jordan's novels more than Goodkind's.
Rating:
Summary: If you go beyond page 645, you've gone too far.
Review: When I first started this book, I thought it was wonderful. I didn't think I the second in the series could get here fast enough. It had a lot of good elements. The hero was good, the heroine was good, the wizard was humorous. As it turned out though, I think there were more downs than ups. I can say this much... Goodkind certainly DID NOT save the best for last. He was good enough that I managed to ignore the predicable plot twists (80% of them you could see a mile away and were practically spelled out for you earlier one... you felt like you wanted to slap the heroes upside the head for not noticing) and the HORRIBLY over-detailed story. This book does *NOT* need to be as long as it is. I'm fairly certain there was one time when Goodkind spent an entire page... or near it... to describe a single sword swing. There's detail, and then there's overkill. Anyway, towards the end (page 645 on the paperback version) the story... well... I don't want to mention spoilers, but let's just say I wish I had just put down the book right then and there. There wasn't a single good thing past there. But personally, I think I'm gonna hold off on ordering book #2.
Rating:
Summary: Mind Blowing
Review: A great story with interweaving charactures that are a revolutionary to any fantasy-fiction book. Main characture Richard "Cypher" though though usual action surround person makes the style seem new. Fairly adult at times, though not as much as later on. This book is a must for anyone who likes magic, or a lot of fighting.
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