Rating: 
Summary: A standard fantasy with simplistic, heavyhanded writing
Review: While readable, "The Sword of Truth" was plagued by overly simplistic dialogue, and a writer who apparently feels the need to spell out each moral dilemna, conflict, and solution/resolution in the same simplistic manner, as if his readers were children of not great intelligence. The premise is fairly standard - unremarkable young man discovers that the fate of his world depends on his actions,etc. etc., with the also-standard wizard, dragon, evil magician, etc. secondary characters. I did like the fact that Goodkind does not end his books with a cliffhanger, and he does have some interesting plot twists/developments. Overall, I find Goodkind's writing to be mediocre, but his story development is slightly above average in imaginativeness. I will probably end up finishing off the series, but not enthusiastically.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast paced and graphic!!
Review: If you like action then this is a book you should read. The realm that Terry Goodkind has created is fascinating and the story line does not bore you to death. The only fault that I found is that the ending fell to much into a perfect fit. Having read all four books of the Sword of Truth series I recommend this book and that should make you want to read the others! :-)
Rating: 
Summary: This book was the start of a wonderful series
Review: Personally I enjoyed this book as well as the rest in this series. once I started it I did not want to stop reading until I had read the whole series. I would suggest that any one with an open mind and a large imagination will truly love this book as much as I did!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Terry Goodkind is almost there...
Review: This review is designed for someone who hasn't yet read Wizard's First Rule. The book is well written as far as dialogue and grammar. The imagery is a little too graphic, as far as torture and sexual misconduct. The world is too small: The main characters do not spend any amount of time in any one place, nor do they ever accomplish anything significant until the end, which I thought was baloney. However, the basic elements of fantasy are indeed present, with magic, a powerful sword, sexual tension between main characters, wizards, good vs. evil, etc. The book did not leave me feeling better for having read it, however. At least not like Hickman/Weis, Jordan, Brooks, Tolkien, Salvatore, and others did. These are my favorite authors.
Rating:
Summary: A very good story if you just give it a chance
Review: I had just finished reading all seven books of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series, so when I read the first 30 pages of Wizard's First Rule the mediocre prose and the only mildly-inventive world made me feel like I was reading a Piers Anthony novel, or something else very juvenile. Because, however, the book had a very interesting "feel", or "tone" to it, I continued reading and began getting interested Richard's struggle against his enemies and started growing to like the fascinating and intelligent characters, and the odd cultures that they meet, such as the Mud People, and how they have to gain their favor. Most of all, though, Terry Goodkind provides very powerful emotional struggle for the protagonist, so that you identify with him and understand why he simply wants to get out and move back home to wander the woods. If you can look past the somewhat flawed writing style, after all, this is Goodkind's first book, and stop drawing parallels b! etween this book and other SF/F, you might find that this book is an entertaining adventure as well as a surprisingly powerful tale. I'm not much of a fantasy reader(only this and WOT), but I recommend this to anyone with an open mind and I definitely agree that if you really despise this writer, it might be a waste of time to read 4 nearly 1000-page books. Other than that, I congratulate Terry Goodkind on a gripping and fast-paced first novel, and hope that the following books in the series match the first, if not improve on the small flaws.
Rating:
Summary: very moving, powerful, doesn't pull any punches
Review: This book does a wonderful job of mixing love and hate, good and evil, truth and lies, in such a way that you do not feel as if you are being preached to. I adore books that get caught up in moral ambiguity instead of "this is right and that is wrong and that's all there is to it."
Rating:
Summary: Not "Perfect" but close as toasted toads!
Review: Well, I've noticed one thing about the reviews for this series. Either you hated it or you loved it. (Ok, there are a few on the fence as it were... but let's ignore them for now!) I do agree that there were some parts of the book that could have used some more development... but over all I must say it's a page-turner. The characters are quite interesting and the world is fairly developed... enough so that I am thinkin of developin a AD&D Module for it. It would be interesting to play an Additive Wizard or Confessor! (Hmm, of course now ppl will think I'm really strange or something... ah well. see if I care!) Anyways, I'd reccomend this book (and the rest in the series, simply for the story and characters. Very predictable, but totally enjoyable all the same!
Rating:
Summary: A nice read if u don't know what to get
Review: This book, while entertaining, is not a great fantasy epic that will be talked about for years. The plot moves, and there is plenty of action, but the tale is a collage of works by other authors. (Terry Brooks kept popping into my mind-e.g. Wizard fire-druid fire, Sword of Truth, ect.) This is a good beginner fantasy for adults, and avid readers in a lighthearted mood will enjoy, but if you are looking to jump into a serious series, don't bother.
Rating: 
Summary: I liked this book...
Review: ...at first. It is one of the better fantasy stories of the decade, but nowhere near Robert Jordon. That started me thinking about Jordon. About how much thiss book was like Jordon's. About how he copied characters whole from several WoT books. About how mad I was And then I saw Star Wars for the first time. I was probably one of three people in America who hadn't seen all three Star Wars movies, just numbers 2 and 3. It was amazing. He copied everything!!! Old grandfather/wizard? Evil wizard/father? Beautiful princess in trouble? Sword that glows and cuts through anything? It's all there!!! Personnally I think Robert Jordan, George Lucas, and just for good measure Terry Pratchett, should all go to his house and beat him to death with sacks of doorknobs, but maybe that's just me.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent reading!
Review: After finishing Robert Jordan's "Wheel Of Time" series, I picked up this book. All I can say is: Wow. Great story, plot, and characters; plus the elements of magic, deceit, trickery, and of course romance. A definite read for those who are into the fantasy genre!
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