Rating: 
Summary: One of the best I've ever read!!!!
Review: I have read many of the revues on this book, and it truly makes me wonder what some of these people are looking for in Fantasy Fiction. Terry Goodkind is right up there with authors such as Andre Norton, Robert Jordan, and Terry Brooks. As for spelling well that could be the printers fault (Geez, and who cares anyway), as for grammar again who cares. As long as the story is good, the plot is excellent, and the characters come to life in your mind, that is all that matters. I have read all four of his books now, and give them all a 10. I have read more Fantasy Fiction than anything else, and Terry Goodkind is like a breathe of fresh air, with a touch of what has passed before. To address the issue of violence, well everywhere I have seen this book listed it has been listed with a warning about this, that it may offend some readers. So if you didn't notice that then next time you buy a book PAY MORE ATTENTION!!!! If you did notice this warning, well then you got just what you deserved so stop whining......The only other thing I have to say is BRAVO Mr. Goodkind keep up the excellent work, and thank you for many hours of breath taking reading.
Rating: 
Summary: An Easy Read
Review: First I would like to say that I just started reading Fantasy novels, a friend introduced me, so I don't have the background that some of you have. I thought that the book was good overall. I enjoy books with lots of characters, and many settings. It did, however, remind me constantly of Robert Jordan. I think that if the two collaborated, they could write a good book. I say this for a couple of reasons: Jordan has more writing skill, lets face it Terry Goodkind can't write past about a sixth grade level. On the other hand, Jordan could learn a few things from Goodkind, the first thing that comes to mind is LESS DETAIL, when you drag details out for pages it gets boring fast. Some of you may wonder why I am writing so much about Jordan. I feel that you couldn't review Goodkind without mentioning Jordan. If you want to read an excellent book read Stephen King's Talisman.
Rating:
Summary: DON'T DO IT.
Review: The first book in the series was good, I'll grant you. The second was passable. The third was far worse. The last I only read because after books one and two I felt obligated to continue. PLEASE don't do this to yourself. Any enjoyment you get from books one and two cannot possibly make up for the agony you'll suffer as you work your way through the series. If you want books that start out at a high level of quality and stay there, try Robert Jordan.
Rating:
Summary: Best first novel I've ever read
Review: As is, Wizard's First Rule is a great book. Considered that it is Terry Goodkind's first novel makes it all the more remarkable. The way he makes us, the readers wonder what's gonna happen next to Richard and where the Confessors have gone is a real breathtaker. Comparable to, to mention someone off the top of my head, Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman in the Deathgate Cycle. If you liked that series, you're definitely gonna like this book (and it's sequals). Warning! Try it and you're hooked!
Rating: 
Summary: Simply Awful
Review: This book was just awful. It reads like a bad video game: first you get the whistle, then WHOA, two chapters later you need the whistle ... Then you get the dragon eggs, then two scenes later you need the dragon eggs! Simply pathetic. It's too bad that drivel like this gets published. Not only are the characters uninteresting and one-dimensional, the plot is predictable and the prose is SIMPLY AWFUL. Which, I think, is a fairly good two-word description of this terrible novel.
Rating:
Summary: Well Done
Review: I have been reading reviews sent in by others. It suprised me to see such bad reviews. I found myself hard pressed to put it down. I enjoyed it so much, as did my son and daughter. If a new reader to fantacy were to pick this book out to read, I believe fantacy books would have a new fan. As I purchase each new book in the series, we can't wait for each other to finish the book so we can read it!
Rating:
Summary: An admirable first accomplishment.
Review: Terry Goodkind writes in the tradition of the authors that have come before him. Like nearly all since Tolkien, he incorporates standards and details of plot and character into his work, crossing platforms and author lines and enriching the fantasy world of everyone's imagination. At times, his philosophies and influences can take the wind out of the plot, as can a lack of restraint and some gender-based assumptions, but the story and conclusion are both thought-provoking and satisfying.
The plot begins simply and recognizably enough: young, untraveled man rescues beautiful, mysterious woman from mortal danger; man and woman seek help from elderly scholar and must embark on a quest. As with so many stories, there is magic every step of the way. There is a villain bent on ruling the world...Goodkind's plot is damaged by its conventionality, it is saved by its attention to a basic rule of writing: everything must have a purpose. Nearly everything in this book, from Zedd's cat to Brophy, the Fire Spring to Richard's enemy web, comes back to be important. Richard's torture by the Mord-Sith is, admittedly, over the top, but Denna's description of her training is harrowing to both him and the reader. Without knowing Denna, Richard could never know the extent of the power of forgiveness.
Goodkind's main stumbling blocks are foreshadowing and philosophizing, both of which are overdone. The scenes of discussion about good and evil, while good and necessary the first time to know how the Sword of Truth works, become tiresome farther on. So does the excess of clues about what will happen in the future. Michael, a flat character, is, because of his flatness, predictable in his involvement with the plot. Kahlan's exact use of her power in the very end of the book was visible quite a ways away. And although only one was seen, Richard and Kahlan have, or are certain to have in days to come, at least two ways to get around the "forbidden" caveat of their love for each other.
Another problem with the story is its insistence on the "Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus" worldview. Women are repeatedly and almost exceptionlessly characterized as nurturers, with "a unique compassion" that alone can temper powers enabling them to dominate others. While it is true that a mother's love for her children is among the strongest bonds known to the human race, the powers given only to women are illuminated only by characters without children. Goodkind would seem to assign a free-floating maternal instinct to all women, an assumption that damages his credibility.
In spite of its faults, I found the book thoroughly engaging and plan to read the rest of the series. I have faith that Goodkind, like all writers, will improve with practice.
Rating:
Summary: Find out for yourself what the book is like!
Review: This is truly a great book to read. i finished it in a weekend. The plot is really compelling, and I really felt an empathy for the characters. A note to the complainers, however. Their main complaint is that Goodkind justs hacks other authors works. I have read the works in question (Jordan, Tolkien, Eddings, Lucas,et. al) and I believe that some plot elements correlate, but overall Goodkinds well-rounded characters and engaging prose overcome the similarities. Even Star Wars has been criticised as being nothing but Wagner's Ring Cycle dumbed down for mystical teenagers. What's wrong with taking a great idea and making it a little more digestible? Nothing, I say. But don't take my word for it, do the reading yourself. Rather than just use someone else's opinion as your own, read Tolkien, Jordan, Eddings, and find out on your own. Who knows, you might just learn something about yourself!
Rating:
Summary: A good jump on for those who have never read fantasy lit.
Review: I remeber being in the bookstore trying to find something different to read. I have never been a big fan of fantasy literature...until now. Terry Goodkind's Wizards First Rule is an excellent introduction to this genre. Because of the influence of this book, I am now interested in looking into reading more fantasy fiction. This book has gotten me out of the book rut I had been in for years.
Rating:
Summary: The greatest fantasy book I have ever read
Review: This books contains all the key elements for a great fantasy. Furthermore, the novel is well-written and could stand in a non-fantasy world as well. The character are (with few exceptions) real life ones, with feelings and emotions, with doubts and fears and drawbacks, which you can easily attach to and care about. The plot twists and surprises as at every turn (with a big one at the end), and tragic events befall the heros, and makes you care even more for them. Even the evil characters are real, and have drawbacks and human feelings and characteristics. Goodkind is definitely a symbolistic, and he uses the evil characters to portrait the negative aspects of our real life world. Read this one, and you'll never want to read another one again. Superb!
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