Rating: 
Summary: The Dark Before the LIGHT
Review: The character of Richard, bought to life in the first four books of the SoT series, began a downward turn into depression in Temple of the Winds. In the sixth book, Soul of the Fire, the spirit of Richard and those he holds dear reach an absolute low at the end of this book. YES, the book is a slow read. YES, to much time is spent on character creation on people who die during the book. However. Richard is indeed the "Bringer of Death" in this book. Early on in the story Zedd gives an example of what would happen if all magic failed, guess what, READ THE ENDING AGAIN. My only hope is that the results of Richards actions receive due commentary in the next installment. For those people who want social commentary, action , adventure, political corruption and humorous interaction between characters, including Gods, look no further than the Sword Oath series by David M. Weber. The stories are shorter, pacier, have action all throughout and actually finish the tale started in the book with an inkling of where the saga will go in the next book. Mr Webers Honor Harrington series is up to "EIGHT BOOKS" and people are clammering to buy the HARDBACKS because the paperbacks tend to begin falling apart after the twentieth reading. Mr Weber is a much better 'storyteller', but then, Mr Goodkind is telling his story his way. All in all, while I didn't enjoy the book as much as earlier installments, after writing my thoughts down I realise the true worth of Soul of the Fire. Can't wait for the next.
Rating: 
Summary: Goodkind hits the mark
Review: I have to agree with all of the defenders of Goodkind's writing ability. The social commentary is often the reason I read Fantasy. You have to admit that fantasy without the depth and moral lessons would be pretty cheesey. I was impressed with how Goodkind's writing had "grown up" so to speak. To all of the critics who gave this bad reviews because they didn't agree with the political and ethical standpoint, I have one thing to say. If you didn't like it, go write your own book! Personally, I find the connections between Jordan, Pratchett, Goodkind and even Feist to be minimal, or at least very broad. If you truly sat down to enjoy them, you'd find each author has their own feel for pacing and their own angle on the old cliched Fantasy hooks which make things interesting. Goodkind's "dark" atmosphere is refreshing. It teaches us that not all stories have "happy endings," and for every "up" in life, you're guaranteed to have a "down."
Rating:
Summary: Pretty good, but he has been better
Review: I started reading Goodkind a year ago. They were my introduction into the world that is fantacy. I enjoyed what I read, up on till last night.... I was really happy to see that Goodkind was coming out with another book. I went back to re-read the series before I bought Souls of the Fire. I was at a loss when I started reading SotF. The other four, I had to go back and re-read chapters before I could catch on, the the new one, I read it in a day, with out reading anything over. I miss the people that he took time introdusing me to. Where are they? I feel that the threat of Jagang needs to be resolved, and Goodkind does not to string me along to buy another book in two years. I could not really handle reading this one again. Maybe if I do, I would get it. But util then, I was glad that he came of with another, but I wish that it was more complete with the people that I had already met.
Rating:
Summary: Terry Goodkind has never disapointed me.
Review: In the previous four books, Terry Goodkind has ranked among my top favourite book authors. I expect that this book will be the same.
Rating: 
Summary: This book must have been written by someone else.
Review: I'd been putting off reading the Sword of Truth series for years, planning on reading the whole set, when it was finished (I've never actually accomplished this with any series). I broke down during a vacation last Christmas and picked up the first four books. You can imagine what a treat this was. Thousands of pages about a whole new world and system of magic! A lot of cool characters, especially Richard and Zedd! (I never did like/believe in Kahlan's power and I still wonder why some Quad didn't just stand back and fill her full of arrows if her touch was so devastating. I know, they were into torture, but....)Terry Goodkind is a great writer. His character development is masterful. Are his "bad guys" really nasty, or what? Isn't Nathan the Prophet cool? And the places Goodkind describes; couldn't you just feel what it was like to be in the Palace of the Prophets? As much as I admire and enjoy Goodkind's works, I started feeling, especially in the _Temple of the Winds_, that my credulity was being tested. The whole thing with Nadine and Drefan, the marriages and the "Betray him in her blood" made me feel that the whole story was becoming more chaotic and forced. Richard seemed to become somewhat shallow and at times, ugly. That may reflect the "reality" of the horrible things he was going through, but it takes away from my enjoyment and my perception of the whole story. (I still think there were a lot of really cool things in that book.) I'm not a writer, so I don't know how good authors like Goodkind produce their wonderful stories, which are the real magic in all of this. I get the feeling, though, that Goodkind has lost his drive/vision for the Sword of Truth books, that he's really angry about it and is forcing himself (or being forced by the publisher?) to produce more, regardless of how he feels. I'm not sure what to say about _Soul of the Fire_. I felt sad and disappointed as I FORCED myself to keep reading. I kept waiting to get to the "good part," but I never found it. It's a story of some people who live in the same world as Richard and Kahlan. Period! The actual writing and characterization was good, but it was definitely not a Sword of Truth book. Richard just sort of spaced out. I lost any respect I had for Kahlan, who turned into the ultimate, semi-brainless brat - not that she or any of the others we've come to know were involved very much with the plot. The whole story seemed like it was forced into some artificially constructed outline and then Goodkind forced himself to fill in the words. I really enjoy reading a book and going back right away and rereading it, or at least going through my favorite parts again. The day after I had finished _Soul of the Fire_, I grabbed the book and realized that I had no desire to reread any part of it. As much as I admire Terry Goodkind's obvious writing ability, I think he needs to set aside the Sword of Truth books for a time, for his own sake. In fairness to Goodkind, I don't think he's the only talented author in this boat. I've been more than disappointed in the latest works of David Eddings and Raymond Feist. I haven't read the latest Wheel of Time book or the most recent Tiger and Del book by Jennifer Roberson because others have told me that they are mainly "filler." Finally, hoping that I am not violating Amazon's rules, I'd like to express my deepest disdain for the people who rate books on this web site without having read them, especially when they don't agree with my opinion. ;)
Rating:
Summary: Goodkind a genius....A Fantasy Worldbuilding Epic.
Review: I have followed the Sword of Truth Series since its first book and after reading each I am always begging for more. I have read the reviews and many compare him to Jordan. I do see some comparisons, however I find Jordan's works to be wordy and bloated. Goodkind give just enough detail and emotion to his characters and world without boring you in the process. I have also read in reviews that some readers were unhappy with the introduction of new characters without a conclusion to the old. This is Goodkind's genius. He is securing his story as a lengthy series by creating and developing the world around his main characters. Goodkind knows his fans want to see how the lives of Richard and Kahlan culminate but also knows the only way to keep fans interested for a long period of time is to expand his world. In my opinion it makes the world around Richard and Kahlan more appealing. 'Soul of the Fire' opens up a lot of doors for future storylines and conflicts that don't have to be focused around Richard. Since the beginning of the story I have been interested in the peoples and world around 'The Seeker'. Finally with the latest book Goodkind develops the world around him making it more believable. Overall if you are new to the series I would suggest going back to the beginning because Soul of Fire is definitly not the book you should introduce yourself to the series with. As for us long time fans of Goodkind we are glad to see your world come alive and look forward to seeing plenty of more stories in the future
Rating:
Summary: I love these books, but the social paranoia is getting to me
Review: This is in response to another reviewer--if I am looking for a fantasy that does social commentary as well, I look to the other Terry--Terry Pratchett. Pratchett's books do the social commentary thing right and left--but it's with a light touch, and very funny, even when it's making tough comments (I have a favorite ironic moment in Small Gods where the small god's only believer is a young boy--not, as one might expect, the woman who beats him into believing that the god exists and must be rigorously worshipped). So fantasy and social commentary can definitely work. Terry *Goodkind's* writing--his storytelling--is great. But I feel in this book that he's losing sight of the light, and part of this is his very negative view of the way things are going in this world. Hey, we're a world that rewards and loves you and your message, Terry. How can things be so dark?
Rating:
Summary: An exciting collection to own.
Review: Terry Goodkind captured me in the very first book I read. They are so exciting and adveturious that you have a hard time to put them down. I have all four of the books in the set and have now orderd the fifth in the series and can't wait to recieve it and get started reading.If you want a real adventure, purchase this set,for it is a great collection.
Rating:
Summary: Jordan is bad
Review: Hei... I am not beiung prejudice or bias toward Robert Jordan. I used to like him alot but his recent books are just too... long winded and has no solid story anymore. Each book he wrote for the last 3 books were just to kill one of the bad guys. Unlike jordan, terry goodkind really gives you solid thrilling stories about the main character and very very good at making surprise endings... I haven't read his latest book but i hope he doesn't follow the foot step of jordan. Imagine jordan writing 2 pages just to describe a room or a person and 4 pages to describe a stone or something.... ridiculous.
Rating:
Summary: Not Terry Goodkind's best.
Review: Not the best of the series, but the series is still the best. There was one I didn't like about it. One, when Richard finds Kahlan and the mob, he backs away from the mob. He is the Bringer of Death, right? He killed that quad on blunt cliff, ordered the death of the 3rd quad member of the second quad. He kills the last quad member. He kills that bear thing in Agaden reach. He kills the artist in the cave. He kills Denna and Constance. He killed the shadrin. He killed all those gars, and all those birds when he called them to eat the blood flies. He kills Two of Darken's bodygaurds. He kills Darken. He executes his brother. He kills that screeling. He killed the spirt guide's son. He kills two Sisters. He kills illusion Verna. He kills thirty blade masters. He kills Lilania, several mriswith, That sister of the dark, the spirit of Darken Rahl, all of those soldiers, he kills the High council, he kills Meriissa, several thousand mriswith, Drefan, that concilar, and he exiles Darken Rahl and Joseph Ander. Richard does all this, yet he runs away from a mob? Other than that, a very good book, but only a reasonable Terry Goodkind book.
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