Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth, Book 1)

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Summary: A detailed fantasy.
Review: This was the first fantasy book I've ever read. However, I have read a variety of other books and can tell you that WFR is not as good or as bad as some of the other reviews make it out to be. The book was very gripping (although at times to detailed i.e. Khalan in the Con Dar, Darken Rahl underworld ritual, and the Mord-Sith). I did, however, like the simple prose form of writting Tery Goodkind used writting this book and I am going to buy any future installments of the Sword of Truth Series.

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Summary: Started slow, got better
Review: Sort of well-written - I found the characters quite flat and the story pretty lame in the beginning - by the end, I was hooked to figure out how everything got pulled together. Formula fantasy, but put together OK. I'll read the others, but like I read a Tom Clancy novel. It's entertainment.

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Summary: A good example of the problems with the genre
Review: I love the notion of fantasy literature, but have been consistently disappointed by the lack of skillful writing. So I asked a few friends who read a lot of SF/fantasy to suggest a few titles. This was one of the names that popped up a lot. I agree with the other redear/reviewer who said that the Mord-Sith episodes were truly over the top (to put it in perspective, I appreciated Anne Rice's _Beauty_ books, and I -still- thought that WFR's scenes employed irrelevant, illogical sadomasochism for the sake of titillation and then backpedaled by introducing a "problem" that was "solved" by their presence... <sigh>). At any rate, the book's predictibilty and heavy-handed foreshadowing were only slightly less egrigious than others of its ilk. I enjoyed it, but guiltily so, like a trash romance or chocolate-covered coffee beans. I despair that I'll never find a well-written fantasy novel, or that I'll waste so much time slogging through crap that I'll eventually give up... I only rate it as highly as I do because it's so much better than other fantasy books I've read. Compared to books in other genres, it's a 3 or a 4 at best.

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Summary: Reader's First Rule: Don't Pass Up This Book!
Review: Terry Goodkind's world of fantasy is so infused with instances of normalcy that it is difficult not to become drawn deeply and immediately into the story. His characters are developed richly and satisfyingly, as are the settings into which they are continually thrust. I cannot remember the last time I enjoyed any book, let alone one of fantasy, as much as Wizard's First Rule. Do not pass this one up!

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Summary: MIND BLOWING!!
Review: I picked 'Wizards first rule' up from the local library, and I was hooked. Start to finish(4 or 5 in the morning!!) I had not put the book down once. Next bay I went out and bought the next two in the series and recently I bought 'Temple of the winds'. I must know face the agony of waiting for his new book.

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Summary: It is the best....
Review: After reading this long list of reviews, I begin to wonder if some of these people read the same book(s) that I read. I love the whole series so far! I can't wait until the next one, and since I've already read Temple of the Winds, that will be a while. But, I found that although he did make a few things similar to the Wheel of Time series, I haven't had the least bit of interest in reading book 7 of Jordan's since I started reading Goodkind. It doesn't even compare! Who cares about Rand and the Aes Sedai, when you have Kahlan, Richard, Zedd and the rest????? NOT ME! Meredith

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Summary: Imagination brought to life
Review: Richard, Zedd, Kahlan and Darken Rahl.. let these four figures expose your mind to the terror, horror, compassion and love of the story. Read how a plain woods guide becomes the Seeker, the quest to find the Wizard, the battle with evil beyond your imagination, the cruelty of the rulers and not forgetting the passion that rage between Richard and Kahlan. I love this book... it is as if I could see it happening in my head and that I could feel their pain and struggle. I was totally captivated with the twisted ending at the end.

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Summary: Could not put it down
Review: Wizards first rule was the first fantasy book I've ever read. When I finished this book I was glad that part 2 was already out. I wouldnt have to wait for it. The book was detailed enough so not to kill the point of the story.

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Summary: It's still the best after reading it 8 times
Review: This is like the third review I've done of the book but I've read it 8 times. I'm glad to see more reviews like mine. Those people who rated it below a 8 must have had something else on their mind so they should read it again and again until they get to an 8. This book was a wonderful story. I was suprised to see that everybody else couldn't put it down. I couldn't either, it only took me two days. I don't know about any of you but thats the best I've ever done for a book that size. If you haven't read it, do so. And please don't listen to me or anybody else, just read the book and make your own opinion. :O) And I'd just like to say to beekman(the artist who did the cover) I think it came out great, it is a little darker than the original but it still has the desired effect.

Rating:
Summary: Good fantasy - definately worth a read.
Review: It's not a 10, but it's not horrible either. I read this one during my free time on vacation (you have to go back to the hotel ever now and then&lt;G&gt;) and I found it very enjoyable and interesting. As others have pointed out, no fantasy is truly original, and I thought some of his twists were fairly original, when looked at in the grand scheme of things. His prose never bothered me. Yeah, maybe he could have used more compound sentences, but so what? This isn't Clive Barker... I thought the Mord-Sith went a little overboard, but oh well, it was certainly gripping. (Great, name incidentally. Pays tribute to two of his spiritual influences, Tolkien and Star Wars. =&gt; ) Overall, I don't regret reading it, and I plan on reading the sequel soon enough. Not on the same level as Tolkien, by far, and he's not in danger of displacing Ray Feist as my 2nd-fave fantasy author, but I can certainly see myself reading these now that I've (way too late) given up on Jordan. (Gee, mister editor, how much you bet I can write 1200 words for next book!) &lt;G&gt; Anyways, check it out...