A Review of the Sword of Truth Series by Terry Goodkind

I don't like to read a series that an author hasn't finished because: a) you have to wait for the author to get around to writing the rest of the series. b) if you want to read the latest and greatest, you have to pay top dollar, as opposed to a cheaper used paperback version. c) well, aren't A and B enough?

I'm a slow reader, and though I was well aware that Terry Goodkind hadn't finished his Sword of Truth series, against my own better judgment, I went ahead and started reading. My hope was that by the time I got to the last book, it would just be coming out. Well it didn't work and now I'm stuck waiting for the last book of the Sword of Truth to be printed.

To be perfectly honest, I haven't enjoyed these books that have come later in the series as much as the ones in the beginning. I think around book four, I started to say to myself, I don't really love these books anymore; I should pick up something else to read. But I didn't. I kept right on going.

The series follows Richard, a woods guide turned wizard, and his lady love Kahlan, a woman with magical abilities and the last of her kind. Together they work to save a world of magic from various benevolent forces and sinister characters. Sounds like every other fantasy novel you've read? Well, they say every story has been told since Shakespeare. If you're going to get into this series, don't do it to discover some new plot twists or brilliant new ideas being introduced into the fantasy genre. Read it for entertainment.

There are too many flaws for me to recommend this series outright. The writing is at times awkward. There's dialogue that doesn't always flow naturally. Some of the overly moral characters come across a little corny at times. Sometimes the pace slows and gets bogged down with long preachy speeches. But there are also some great things in this series that have kept me reading. I love some of the characters. Zedd, the old persistently hungry wizard is my favorite and initially I thought the author must have been much older to write that character so well. The little girl, Rachel is well crafted, she's at first meek and timid, but comes out quite strong in the end. I like the way we get a glimpse at the antagonist's thoughts and get to see their warped logic. There's loads of action and some very graphic torture. It makes me think of Mel Gibson; if you suffer well, suffer a lot and people will love it.

So I can't fully recommend this series. However, I haven't been able to stop reading it, which may inadvertently be a recommendation after all. And when the last installment (Confessor) comes out in November, will I put down whatever I'm reading and pay the high price of a newly released hard back? Of course I will. On a side note, Sam Raimi has optioned the film rights to the Sword of Truth series. The plan is to make a mini-series. And hey, if anyone can make a good guilty pleasure fantasy series, it's the creator of Xena Warrior Princess.