mpaulwhite's review against another edition
2.0
Some spoilers below.
This is the best of the first three books of the series, in my opinion. The plotline remains hopelessly derivative, Richard has no flaws with an internal locus, and the author still has a disturbing tendency to raise the stakes or demonstrate the perfidy of his snarling, mustachioed villains mainly by depicting the sexual assault of women, often on a genocidal scale. We get it - they're bad. Do we have to cut off nipples or force sorceresses to serve as comfort women to an entire ship of sailors?
Don't even get me started on the author's apparent deep distrust of any collective or institutional endeavor. The reviewers who've said that Mr. Goodkind writes Ayn Rand books with magic may actually be doing a disservice to Ayn Rand, odious as she is.
By the third (long!) book of a fantasy series, we should have a much better explanation of how magic works in world - Richard's "war wizard" magic is controlled by instinct, so the viewpoint character has no idea what he can do with magic or how he does it, aside from knowing that he has to act on instinct. This is deeply unsatisfying to a reader of more recent fantasy, as every time Richard manages to use his magic it feels like a deus ex machina - he can do what he needs to do to solve the problem, and there's no reason why he would be able to do the same things again later because he doesn't know how he did it the first time.
For all that, the pacing is actually pretty good in this book, and all of the sins recounted above are less pronounced than they were in the first two books of the series.
This is the best of the first three books of the series, in my opinion. The plotline remains hopelessly derivative, Richard has no flaws with an internal locus, and the author still has a disturbing tendency to raise the stakes or demonstrate the perfidy of his snarling, mustachioed villains mainly by depicting the sexual assault of women, often on a genocidal scale. We get it - they're bad. Do we have to cut off nipples or force sorceresses to serve as comfort women to an entire ship of sailors?
Don't even get me started on the author's apparent deep distrust of any collective or institutional endeavor. The reviewers who've said that Mr. Goodkind writes Ayn Rand books with magic may actually be doing a disservice to Ayn Rand, odious as she is.
By the third (long!) book of a fantasy series, we should have a much better explanation of how magic works in world - Richard's "war wizard" magic is controlled by instinct, so the viewpoint character has no idea what he can do with magic or how he does it, aside from knowing that he has to act on instinct. This is deeply unsatisfying to a reader of more recent fantasy, as every time Richard manages to use his magic it feels like a deus ex machina - he can do what he needs to do to solve the problem, and there's no reason why he would be able to do the same things again later because he doesn't know how he did it the first time.
For all that, the pacing is actually pretty good in this book, and all of the sins recounted above are less pronounced than they were in the first two books of the series.
zaratato's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
5.0
gassyhaggis's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
jadeymac90's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
proudlocks's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed it. One of the best series I’ve came across.
It’s not as engaging as the other books and seems somewhat slower but the book introduced some new characters and interesting revelations.
Can’t wait to start the next one.
I kinda like the sisters of the dark, pretty badass, as is Jagang.
Having a love/hate relationship with Richard still, his mord sith however are awesome.
It’s not as engaging as the other books and seems somewhat slower but the book introduced some new characters and interesting revelations.
Can’t wait to start the next one.
I kinda like the sisters of the dark, pretty badass, as is Jagang.
Having a love/hate relationship with Richard still, his mord sith however are awesome.
wayfaring_witch's review against another edition
3.0
This series is becoming more of a guilty pleasure read. The events of the universe have gotten blown out of proportion, and tired of Richard and Kahlan not being together and that causing so much drama.
rowdya22's review against another edition
4.0
With the great war locked in a stale mate for thousands of years finally the leader of truth, and a War Wizard has been recognized. Richard continues to learn more about his gift and we learn more about his counter part....the Dream Walker.
laurenstrock's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75