Rating: 
Summary: Nothing That Has Not Been Seen Before
Review: 6 Years ago I bought this book,I read 20/30 pages and thought "potboiler".In year 2000 that word still applies.If you have read any classic/cult fantasy in the last 20 years,then this book should be avoided.Why you ask?,well it is for those of you who read,David Eddings,Terry Brookes,Raymond Feist,Robert Jordan and that never ending stream of sausage factory Tolkein clones.Of course this may just be your bag,but if you want thought provoking fantasy,try the works of Robert Holdstock,Jan Seigel(Prosperos Daughters),Terry Windling,Charles de Lint,Edward John Moreton Drax Plunkett(aka Lord Dunsany) And of course you could always read LOTR again for the 20th time.The worst thing about this type of series is that once you have bought the first you feel bound to buy the rest,in the vain hope things will get better.Just like Robert Jordans door stoppers,which by all accounts do not.Therefore, in summary we have a book which fulfils all the needs of the mainstream fantasy market,without really pushing back the boundaries(no pun intended)of fantasy writing.The style of writing maybe grittier and more involved,but it does not matter how many times you repaint and touch up an automobile,it's still the same beaten up piece of junk you bought 20 years ago.
Rating: 
Summary: Best book I ever read
Review: This book is so good, I bought it for a couple of my friends who have never read a fantasy novel, and they loved it! Goodkind writes believable characters set in a complex and detailed world.The book contains unique concepts as well as ideas that relate to the real world. If you read between the lines, there is even a political commentary going on. I respected every character's personality and motivations. Many fantasy novels, especially the "Wheel of Time" series, are full of stupid childish characters that I just want to die. Goodkind's characters are much more based in reality. Everyone should read Goodkind.
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Summary: Tolkien has Competition
Review: "Wizard's First Rule" shows the brilliant and creative imagination of Mr. Goodkind. I found myself unable to place the book down. His intriguing and descriptive usage of words, pull you in from the first to the last page. This book displays a mixture of fantasy, mystery, and suspense. Towards the end of this book, you think you have finally solved the puzzle, when out of no where, Goodkind adds another detail and the puzzle--you realize--is now missing pieces. Once again, you must put your mind to the test and rearrange the characters, conditions, and settings. At times, it is very contradicting! Throughout the story, Kahlan Amnell, Richard Cypher(Rahl)--a once quiet and modest woodsman, and Zedd--the last of great wizards--stand together to battle evil and protect the innocent throughout the lands of Westland, the Midlands, and D'Hara. During their journey's, Richard discovers many dark secrets about his past and is named the Seeker. The Seeker carries the Sword of Truth--now you understand where the series' title comes from--and searches in the name of truth. Richard travels to D'Hara and the People's Palace primarily to stop Darken Rahl and to destroy the boxes of Orden. During the course of the tale, things turn out as hoped, but other things fail. At the end of the book, you want to run to the library and pick up the sequel in order to find out what happens. I recommend all of the books in the Sword of Truth Series! Amazingly, the sequels are always getting better and better! Though some argue that Mr. Goodkind's books tend to be on the graphic side, I tend to think that because they are graphic, it means Mr. Goodkind has been able to place words in such a way, we are able to picture what he is writing. Only talented writers such J.R.R. Tolkien and Terry Goodkind are able to make the words flow with such intensity.
Rating: 
Summary: Wizard's First Rule - First Rate
Review: I happened across this book in a bookstore, looking for a sci-fi/fantasy book. Seeing it under employee favorites, next to Foundation, the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and Ender's game (three books I would recommend) I decided to give it a try. The book, though long, was one I could not put down. For the most part it stayed suspenseful throughout, with enough mysteries to keep you interested and to make it worth staying up till 2am to finish. Although there were certain points in the story which i felt were weak, forced, and/or predictable, on the whole it is an excellent novel. I plan to pick up the sequel as soon as I can get to a bookstore.
Rating:
Summary: EXCEPTIONAL NOVEL
Review: Prior to reading Goodkind's Wizard's First Rule, I had never read a novel of Fantasy. My interests were firmly planted in Sci-Fi, Horror, and mainstream Thrillers, but Goodkind changed all that. I bought the book on a lark, and almost put it down after 50 pages, but there was "something" about the book, so I kept reading...and, boy, am I glad I did! This book was incredible. Incredible characters, storyline, and writing. While the story isn't all that fresh (it's like a sword and sorcery version of Star Wars), but what Goodkind does with the material and the characters is exceptional. This book had such an impact on my reading that I immediately bought and read the next two in the series, and then bought books 4 and 5 in hardback. I already have volume six pre-ordered. From Goodkind, I went on to discover Feist, J.V. Jones, and Jordan. Since reading WFR, I have recommended it to many friends and co-workers, and have converted many non-Fantasy fans via Mr. Goodkind. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book. Period.
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: This book is amazing, the characters are well written and thought out and put against an epic landscape of wizards, dragons and a range of other unique creatures. I could not put this book down when I started it and read it in a day, the next day I rushed out to buy all of the others I could get my hands on and was not dissapointed. Far superior to other books of the same genre that I have read, The Belgariad etc, and is well worth a read. I hope the next book, Faith of the fallen, is just as spell binding as this one.
Rating: 
Summary: It didn't move me as much as it did for others
Review: I enjoy reading massive multi-volume fantasy fiction, and when I noticed that Terry Goodkind has his own cycle of high-fantasy novels- and amazingly is in the six book in the series now- I picked up the first book, Wizard's First Rule, without even the slightest hesitation. Surely, the glowing reviews on the first pages of this novel must mean this is top class work. But having read it over the last four days though, I'm left somewhat deflated. It's not exactly easy to put my finger on why I felt so as it seemed many things. The author has obviously put in a lot of thought in fleshing out the world, but I did not feel a sense of involvement in the proceedings. There isn't a large cast of characters either, with substantial attention being placed on just two main characters, Richard and Kahlan, and a great amount of writing being placed on the very rocky relationship between the two. Although characterisation in the cast is reasonably distinct, and there is a level of sophistication in how the evil foozle is attempting to attain ultimate power- the workings of the three boxes, devices to help achieve his aim, were quite interesting particularly- without giving anything away, the ending I felt was simply anti-climatic, and not quite demonstrating the "epic" feel that this novel had been made out to be. The story telling though detailed, is also very long winded, and I could not help but feel that scenes that occupied entire chapters could had been summarised into half its length without losing very much. Distractingly as well, the entire cast of characters seem not to speak like normal human beings- long paragraphs of speeches are uttered as opposed to sentences. It may not bother some people at all, but it did for me- I felt as though I was reading sermon-styled conversations for most of the book. Ultimately, this doesn't mean that there wasn't anything for me to like in the book. The novel weights in at past 800 pages, which means there is enough material here still to last even the most avid reader several evenings at least. But it was simply not a page-turner for me- it felt a chore to have to complete reading this book, and I do not think I will be buying the other books in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Recommend this book!
Review: I literally just finished WIZARD'S FIRST RULE five minutes ago and here I am, about to order the second one. That's how good it is. It's really worth the read. If you are the type that gets scared easily, be warned: it does get a little bloody, but not too much. That's why I give WIZARD'S FIRST RULE four stars instead of five. Be careful of the gars and of when the Seeker, Rahl, or a Mord-Sith kills - it made me uncomfortable, but no story would be good if it didn't have the "bad guy" and all of his demons. And believe me - this book is GOOD!!
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant and Captivating Beyond Belief
Review: I confess, it is extremely hard for books to interest me right away. Most I find boring in the beginning, often unbearably so, but Terry Goodkind hooked me right in the first chapter. I soon found myself stuck to the bed reading and, something that hardly ever happens, anxious and restless to pick up the book and continue whenever I was doing something else. Goodkind doesn't get hung up on trivial description or pompous ranting. He gives you what you need, then pulls you right in to the hearts of his characters so vividly that you find yourself swearing you know them. He leaves you desperate for more, dazed and enchanted by afterthoughts and reflections. His moral lessons are cleverly worked into the story without being hammered or preached too often, and the final "mind game" style battle between two uses of the Wizard's First Rule was utterly brilliant. There's no other way of putting it. I eagerly await his sixth book, and hope he will someday gain all the recognition he deserves.
Rating:
Summary: A bit long, but a good read
Review: I picked this book up on a whim while browsing through the local bookstore and quickly became engrossed in the story. Richard, a simple wood's guide is drawn into events that ultimately have a large impact on future happenings when all he would rather do is stay at home in his familiar woods. The descriptions and scenes DO drag on a bit which is what kept me from giving the book 5 stars, but it was still a fairly quick read for me. I have since read the rest of the books in the series and look forward to reading the next.
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