Terry Goodkind - Wizard's First Rule

Pros: Gritty, raw, and unflinching in its treatment of evil. Some likeable characters.
Cons: Inelegant writing, some barely believable character actions. Reads to a degree like Fantasy 101.

The TOR Fantasy paperback of Terry Goodkind's sports a quote on the rear cover by Marion Zimmer Bradley: "I really think it's going to sweep the country as Tolkien's work did in the sixties." I must apologize to Ms. Bradley, as I could not disagree more ...

Pros: Great characters, plot & lots of originality
Cons: Violent, series goes downhill

It smells like a medieval Star Wars cast list:

Young boy living as humble forest guide with all the odds against him. Then he discovers he has hitherto untapped powers. Yup, he’s the hero who is going to save the world. Probably more...

Pros: Gripping, fast paced, VERY realistic
Cons: Disturbing imagry, seems to be directionless at times

When I found that my new job had me stuck out with two split shifts a week, I suddenly had 6 hours a week of reading time on my hands. Having been without the time to invest in my reading for almost two years, it didn't take long at all to run out of the ...

Pros: Great character development, surprising plot twists, superb conflict
Cons: I don't have the next one at hand to keep going with the series

I was not aware of this series until a lady at work recommended it to me. Since she doesn't normally read Fantasy, just Mysteries or Romance, I had to check out her recommendation. It turned out to be a good read.

Terry Goodkind has written a...

Pros: Difficult to get characters out of head
Cons: Dialogue is sometimes repetitive

Some fantasy writers seek originality by overstretching the imagination into bizarre territories. Others, perhaps seeking the high fantasy of the saintly days of yore, use the opposite technique and use tried and true material (read cliché) in a new way. ...

Pros: The best series out there right now!
Cons: A lot happens in little time at the end

Never before have I come across a first novel of a series that impressed me more than Wizard's First Rule by Terry Goodkind, the beginning of his Sword of Truth series. Something about the book attracted me but I didn't start reading it until well after...

Pros: Excellent writing. Superior character development.
Cons: Much of the plot is obvious. Turns into a nightmare.

Before I start this review, I should say a couple things. Mainly, I think I should say these things because I don't want it to sound like I hate this book. I don't. Trying to be objective as possible, I would have to say that it is easily above...

Pros: everything you can think of!
Cons: none at all

Wizard’s First Rule is by far one of the best books I have ever read. Terry Goodkind describes everything so vividly it's almost as if you're in the story yourself. Every character, animal, mystical or magical creature, and every place or setting is...

Pros: Great characters, philosophical, exciting, well-written
Cons: Can't put it down, graphic violence may offend some readers

"Wizard's First Rule" was loaned to me by a friend a few days after he got it, with a message that I would like it so much that I would have it returned to him within a few days. So I started on the 573 page hardcover book that day, and it...

Pros: Interesting ideas, stands as a book alone
Cons: Cliches, contradictions, out-of-the-hat solutions, characters have two distinct psyches

Wizard's First Rule is all the rage right now, so it's time for someone to analyze it as it is. And it is not an incredible book by any measure.

But let's start with what it does right. First of all it tells a whole story in a book, even being...

Pros: Beautifully written, fluid
Cons: Have to read the next series to find out...

To tell you the truth, this was the first Terry Goodkind's book that I have ever read. The book is very descriptive and it will take you on the journey, the life of Richard and the people that he encounters as soon as you start reading. This fast pace...

Pros: Different kind of fantasy, solid writing, imaginative
Cons: Some graphic violence that adds nothing to the story, some lame interaction between characters

Wizard's First Rule is the first of so far 5 books in the series for Goodkind. The book is actually quite huge, but don't get intimidated by the size, for the most part this is a solid fantasy read. The book displays some very creative writing. From the...

Pros: great story telling, great writing, great plot
Cons: it's a long one...

Finally, another epic series of novels along the same lines as Robert Jordan's previous works. "Wizards First Rule" by Terry Goodkind was his first true novel, and he did a superb job. Unlike many mainstream writers on the market today, this...

Pros: new, realistic turn on fantasy writing
Cons: a little graphic, the other books in the series are terrible

Wizard's First Rule is one of the first books I've read that portrays a fantasy world realistically. Even in a fantasy world, not everyone can be heroes, and not everyone can come to the rescue and save their friends. I admire Goodkind for a more...

Pros: Great writing, great characters, involving and epic story
Cons: It eventually ends....

I have no problem telling you that Terry Goodkind's sword of truth series is probably the best series I have ever read. Wizard's First Rule is an incredible read. It is very well thought-out and put together from start to finish.

Before I...