Rating: 
Summary: Soul of the Fire a bit lacking
Review: I have enjoyed the Sword of Truth series emmensely. Despite the fact that it takes Richard and Kahlan intirely too long to get together, the first four books were non-stop reads. Soul of the Fire, while still good, has some serious short comings. 1) Way too much of this book is wasted in endless re-cap. At least 100-150 pages is spent re-telling the reader the most basic concepts from the previous books. If you have not been reading the series from the beginning, you have no business picking it up in book 5! I mean come on! It upsets me that Goodkind feels he must cater to the non-fan in this fashion. All it does is retract from the story when I have to slog through pages of descriptions of what a Confessor is. 2) I understand the necessity for the description of the polical and societal setup of Anderith (where much of the book takes place), but I think 1/2 the book is a little much. The thinly veiled allusions to Bill & Hillary Clinton are a bit over the top and the polical commentary is a bit heavy handed. I felt that this book could have been much better had 300 pages been omitted. Once the book actually gets moving (the last 150 pages or so) it is a good read but you really have to have strength of will to plow through the middle of the book to get to the good stuff. 3) I would really like to see what is happening with major characters from the previous books. There is absolutely no mention of Verna and her fellow Sisters of the Light. What's going on with Chase? Adie? A few characters who are introduced in this book (Beata for one) are built up and then they vanish. There are a few too many loose ends in this series that should be fixed before tackling the wrongs of our society through long-winded commentary. As for the new book that has just come out (Faith of the Fallen), I think I will wait until it is out in paperback.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good but nothing is still as good as Wizards First Rule
Review: I think that this is a great book.. like always with his other writings it still has that bit of humor in it and makes you fall more in love with both his writings and his characters. The chimes were very good villans and I think they way he left it open for Emporer Jagang and the Imperial Order was very good. I await to buy the next book.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the best
Review: I have read all the series and I can just say it's one of the best ever written, or of the ones I've read anyway. I don't get why didn't people like the fifth book. I liked it as much as the others. I'm reading all the series over again now, and it's as exciting as it was the first time I read it, and I even get some ideas from the books that I didn't get last time. It's the greatest and I can't wait for the paperback edition of Faith of the Fallen to be out already, because I can't afford the Hardcover :-).
Rating:
Summary: Once more undo the breach dear friends!
Review: Soul of the Fire by Terry Goodkind continues the saga of the most unfortunate couple since Orpheus and Urydice. Yet again Richard and Kahlen are thrown into adventure, albeit together this time, to save the world from magic, or rather the lack of it. The Chimes are lose and threaten to eliminate magic from the world. Not such a big problem until Goodkind explains that a knock-on effect would destroy the world. A little contrived at times and somewhat similar to the earlier books Soul of the Fire is none the less an enjoyable read. Very well written characters draw sympathy from the reader and invoke a feeling of familiarity that is lacking in many fantasy books. The book is certainly less intense than the previous four but Goodkinds style impresses and begs not to be put down.
Rating:
Summary: Lack of Courage!
Review: As someone who is a great fan of Terry Goodkind and Robert Jordan, this book I must say falls short of my expectations. After reading Temple of the Winds I had high expectations for Goodkinds next book. Goodkind starts off weaving an excellent tale, but seems to lose sight of creating an exciting and thrilling ending! So, if you love hearing about a great thunder storm that is supposed to be headed in your direction and being dispointed by light rain then read this book! If you would like to get lost in a story, read "Wizards First Rule" or "Temple of the Winds" two books deserving of Goodkinds fine name!
Rating:
Summary: A return to form for Goodkind
Review: This book is a vast improvement over the last two books of the series. Blood of the Fold was too superfluous; Temple of the Winds was lacking in suspense and pace. Soul of the Fire is far more engaging, and has a plot of complexity not seen since Stone of Tears. The book is slow going at first, with the threat appearing rather lacking initially. The events of Chapter 11 were not convincing, but thankfully Goodkind does not drag it out for long. However, everything involving Anderith, from the calculating Minister and his aide, to the Dominie Dirtch, to the Haken characters, was a refreshing change of pace from Goodkind. The feast was well done, as was the Dominie Dirtch. Goodkind keeps the pulse going right up to the end. He seems to have hurried his climax, and pulled his punch again, but unlike TOTW, it manages to work this time. I still am not sure I understand how the Dominie Dirtch worked. I did actually cheer what happened at the end of Chapter 69. [I don't wish to reveal spoilers] Yes, it is true Goodkind's command of language is not on Proust's level. Nitpicking him on that is unpleasant, given his dyslexia problem [which some exaggerate]. I doubt Mr. Goodkind wants any special treatment, however. To be fair, the writing has improved. Nonetheless, there were at least a dozen sentences that made me cringe. Overuse of similes and things "seeming" to be something are an odious abuse. [For what it's worth, I think Goodkind is a better writer than that puffed-up Jordan]. The typographical errors are not his fault, however. Whoever is proofreading at Tor ought to be fired. This is *not* an irrelevant issue. Poor writing can distract from what should be a great story; there is absolutely no excuse for typos. Hopefully, Goodkind has a limit to these volumes. If this turns into another Wheel of Time, I will be greatly saddened. Goodkind seems to be getting back on his rhythm. It would be a loss if he spoiled it on quantity, and not quality. His own advice is pertinent: don't write to publish. However, the story makes this volume worth your while.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible!
Review: I seem to be going against the flow here, but I thought that this was Goodkind's absolute BEST! I could not put the thing down, and read it in four days! The ending was amazing. And it is really rather uplifting to read about a hero who is ill-at-ease with his unique talent, yet seems to find the creative strength to do what needs to be done. And, while the story might divert from Richard and Kahlan, at least they are finally TOGETHER! I also feel that every little piece of information included concerning Anderith, from Dalton's devotion to wife and career, to the Minister's insatiable appetite for members of the opposite sex, and the political undercurrents between the Midlands and the Empire, are all vital to explain the conclusion.
Rating: 
Summary: What happened?
Review: The sword of truth started out great (book 1 was awesome). But unfortunately it has all been downhill from here... I couldn't even froce myself to finish this book. Martin has become too obsessed with pointless sexual violence and has strayed too far away from the plot. Read Wizard's 1st Rule. Stop there.
Rating:
Summary: Another great story in the Sword of Truth series
Review: Let me start off by saying that this was a great book. There were many interesting aspects which made this a difficult book to put down, especially in the second half. I believe that Terry Goodkind is one of the best fantasy authors of our age. That having been said, there were some things I found less than perfect with this book. First, this book seemed to focus a bit too much on politics. Granted, politics is and important part of any fantasy story, but it should not be the *focus* of a fantasy story. Second, Richard and Kahlan are our heroes. We need to keep the focus on them. Of course, side stories give us insight into other characters like the Prelate, but this whole Dalton Campbell thing got way out of control. Nearly half the book was told from his perspective! By the way, whatever happened to Sister Verna? She was a main character since Book Two, and in this book she was barely mentioned! Mr. Goodkind mentioned something about fans getting tired of reading just about Richard and Kahlan, and that's why this book was different. I'd love to know who these "fans" are, and why they would get tired of these characters. Third, not enough magic. I understand that the whole book was about the death of magic that the chimes were bringing about, but it might have been more interesting if we touched on some other ways magic was failing rather than just the main characters losing their power. Richard's casting at the end wasn't enough to make up for an entire book devoid of magic. Fourth, Du Chaillu's appearance was just a bit too convenient. She shows up just in time to make Richard remember that he had two wives before Kahlan. And any reader worth his salt would have remembered that she was, indeed his first wife. Are we expected to believe that he forgot about that? It didn't happen all that long ago for him... Plus, has anyone noticed a pattern with the endings of these books? Apparently, everything is against our heroes up until the last hundred pages or so, when they discover something remarkable just in the nick of time to save themselves (and sometimes the world) from complete oblivion. It might work out a little better if it weren't *always* in the nick of time. But we'll see. I can't wait for the big match up with Shota and/or Jagang! Many kudos to Terry Goodkind. Long live the Sword of Truth series!
Rating:
Summary: Soul Of Fire
Review: This book was great. Alot of the book took a direction away from the main characters, Richard and Kahlan... but only to help the story in the end. This book was full of Terry Goodkinds writting ways, as he has shown in the other books of this series. At frist it was hard to follow the new characters, and I found myself asking what the point to them were, but as the story unfolded I fully understood that without the new character set, the story would have been plain. There were times I wanted to cry, laugh and I even caught myself yelling at the characters. This series, I must say has been my farovite and I hope Mr. Goodkind keeps them coming! I can hardly wait to get his new book "Faith of the fallen", at the end of August. Well, Kahlan & Richard are finally married! But because of there marriage, not realizing it, the two put evil magic to work once again. Most of this book took place in Anderith, a city with odd beliefs of religion and slavery, but also with a great deal of magic unknown to the citizens. Corupt rulers are bent on gaining top rule of Andreth, which leads into the whole plot of "Soul Of the Fire". To tell any more would give to much of the story away. If you have read and enjoyed the other four books of this series, this one only adds more to the series. This book is a must read.
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