Rating: 
Summary: Not as good as the others, but still great!
Review: I'm surprised that The Sword of Truth books have not yet lost my interest. The first two books (Wizard's First Rule and Stone of Tears) are the best bye far, the third...well, not so good, the fourth was great, and Soul of the Fire is wonderful! Terry Goodkind has created a wonderfully compelling and intruiging story for each book! The character development is perfect, and the stories, for the most part, have a great pace. Maybe that's why these books are so wonderful! Now, to this novel. Soul of the Fire is wonderful! The story is complex and intruiging. To those that have read the fourth book, Temple of the Winds, Soul of the Fire is about the chimes, which were brought into their world when Kahlan had spoken the names of the chimes when she was saving Richard from the plague. Along the way are the usual unsuspected surprises that Goodkind provides us with. The only thing that personally bothered me was the new characters from Anderith. They're fine, I was just bored with their entrance into the story. But once you get past the first couple chapters with them in it, they are fine. Great book! I hope Goodkind makes more....either he finishes up the Sword of Truth books, or he start a new series! Whatever he does, I can't wait! Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Should have been shorter
Review: This book was not up to the very high standard of the first 4. The setting of Anderith (spelling? ) and the characters was very drawn out. I am starting to get a bit frustrated with the inability of the key players to communicate, and there are days to travel across the countryside, but none to talk. The basic plot is good, but I would like to see Richard growing into his role more. After all the padding in the middle, the climax was very swift. I hope Volume 6 come back up to his previous very high standard.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Story
Review: After reading a few reviews a few months ago I wasnt quite sure I wanted to get the book when it did come out in paperback. But, I did and despite what some of the more shall we say pessimistic reviews said, I enjoyed the story immensely. Fitch's story was a good little side story but Im not quite sure why it was there. And Dalton Campbell's situation at the end was put together quite nicely and I probably would have done the same for the most part if I were in the same situation, with the exception of the Mother Confessor. That would have been different. Anyway I cant wait until Faith of the Fallen comes out.
Rating: 
Summary: Ending was weak
Review: The book as a whole was excellent. I really loved the new characters. Although Cara was not prominent, I really enjoy watching her grow as a character. The ending was typically fast, but I think it was a little weak, and anti-climactic. I think I would have prefered more action. I also did not like the sick resemblance of Bertrand and Hildamara to Bill and Hillary Clinton. Goodking went overboard on that one.
Rating:
Summary: Two books too far
Review: If people purchased this book thinking it would be about Richard and Kahlan I'm sure they were as disappointed as I was. The preceeding book was just poorly written but this one is almost a deception. I think the motive here was to see how far they could stretch the series. I'm very disappointed in Mr. Goodkind. The first three books in this series were among the best I have ever read.
Rating:
Summary: Could have been better.
Review: If not for the last 200 pages of this book, I would have given it only 3 stars. Goodkind took the first 500 pages of the book to set up the last 200, which I couldn't put down. This seems a little excessive. It probably could have been done in half of that and still been as effective. As usual, however, Mr. Goodkind's writing is very compelling. Even though most of the book was spent on introducing new characters and a new country in the Midlands, it was still a book that was difficult to put down. I just wish more time had been spent with Richard and Kahlan. One other letdown was that the resolution was pretty quick and not explained very well. I just finished it last night...I may have to go back and re-read that part, just so I can understand it better. Goodkind usually does a better job than that. I am just hoping that the next book is back up to his usual level of excellence.
Rating:
Summary: Adds much to the story as well as the genre.
Review: I have been an avid fantasy reader for many years. I started with J. R. R. Tolkein, progressed to Terry Brooks, Madeline L'Engle, Stephen Donaldson, David Eddings, and Robert Jordan. I voraciously read Terry Goodkind's Soul of the Fire, and was thouroughly pleased with the outcome. The book enhances what we have learned in the rest of the series as well as increasing the play of other characters in the story. This series has many facets in the fight of good versus evil, and shows us that just because you have cleaned house, doesn't mean you have taken out the garbage. In this book Richard is learning more of how to use his powers, and we are learning more about the Dreamwalker. Mr. Goodkind's plot, storyline and readabilty are incredible. I read one customer review that said that this series was a takeoff of Tolkein and many other fantasy stories. In my opinion, if you look back at all of them, they all have the same basic plot. Good vs. Evil. It is how the writer brings this battle to light that captures our attention and keeps us reading. I await Mr. Goodkind's next book with bated breath. Please write faster.
Rating:
Summary: TERRY IS THE BEST
Review: Terry Goodkind is the best writer I have ever read. I have enjoyed every book I have read by him. It is my opinion that people who give his books a bad review, either haven't read his books all the way through, or can't grasp the concept of an on-going saga. I haven't read the latest book but, I have read the others over again while I wait. I could only dream of writing a book that was half as good as Terry's books. All I have to say is hats off to Terry and keep up the GREAT work, I enjoy it. Just watch how many times titles are used. Other than that I can't get enough!
Rating:
Summary: Story within a story
Review: I disagree with other reviewers who had negative comments. I would have liked to have seen more of the main characters from the first books, however, the new characters were interesting and kept me turning the pages. The story picked up right where the last left off, and there was NOT alot of boring rehashing. I hope to see more of the original characters in the next book, but I am anxious also to see Richard go "home", per the preview of the next book. I can wait as long as the story stays as imaginative, cohesive, and exciting as this one was. I loved it!
Rating: 
Summary: The fire lost its spark
Review: TG's first WFR was great and he had a strong sequal with Stone of Tears as well. Blood of the fold was kind of iffy. TotW was a good read because of high tention and betrayal. Unfortunately where all his previous books actually drove the plot forward Soul of the Fire merely succeded in holding the plot together. The tention that would have been caused by Richard's loss of his sword was squelched by the fact that he never came it to any situations where he REALLY needed it. Also, the book tended to linger on Fitch, who was strong in character but tended to not really make much of a difference in the greater scheme of things. The book wasnt a total loss Terry did a great job writing and the chimes were as bad a foe as Richard has faced. All in all with a little more of the main plot woven into the story it could have been prefect... maybe next time.
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