Goodkind hits his stride

books:


	• Temple of the Winds (Sword of Truth, Book 4) Terry Goodkind Tor Fantasy, 1998 - 992 pages average customer review:based on 441 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Goodkind hits his stride

This is the installment of the Sword of Truth series in which Terry Goodkind really comes into his own as a mature stylist and plotter. It is noticeably the best-written of the series up to this point, and the plot leads to a climax so brimming with conflict that it is physically uncomfortable to read. I found myself in the position of hardly being able to bear going on, but at the same time not being able to put the book down. In fact, I was quite angry at Mr. Goodkind the first time I finished the book, but a book that can have such a powerful impact and give you so much to think about is a rare thing.

The plot involves a Jack-the-Ripper-like serial killer, and a Black-Death-like plague set loose in the capital city of Aydindril. The latter storyline is more effectively written, but through Goodkind's brilliant contrivance both are combined to force Richard and Kahlan to face their most terrible situation yet.

Some people complain about some of the more gruesome aspects, and perhaps there is more realism here than in the typical fantasy novel (including one particularly horrific scene of torture based an a real method of the Inquisition), but it is hardly gratuitous. Rather, it is done to heighten conflict and thus drama, and ultimately adds to the Romantic elements typical of fantasy, particularly heroism.

There is some very good characterization (and even psychological insight) here, too, particularly of Richard's newly discovered half-brother Drefan, and Mord-Sith Cara. I found Nadine extremely obnoxious the first time through, but on my more recent second reading she struck me as only slightly annoying, and in places even sympathetic. But if you really hate her, don't worry, you will probably derive some satisfaction from her fate.

Thematically, this is a book about love and sex, betrayal and forgiveness. Goodkind examines both romantic love and familial, fraternal love, using one case to explore when forgiveness is possible and appropriate, and the other to show when the requirements of justice preclude the extension of mercy.

In short, if you're looking for a good page-turner that can also make you think, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better book than this.

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Emotion-Rending!

Many people say that the first part of the book is slow. They are right that there is not much action in the beginning of the book, but there is still a great deal of conflict and drama.
About halfway through the book, when the plague picks up steam and the prophecy is revealed, I had a hard time putting the book down. Terry Goodkind did a horrific but wonder job at revealing how the plague damages the world. When I got the last 200 pages I couldn't have put the book down if I had wanted it. They were incredibly intense. I found my eyes were constantly watering, just ready to stream tears down my face, which they did quite a lot in the last 200 pages.
The book is very unpredictable, and when they catch you by surprise, your breath will catch in your throat. The ending though recompense for the horror of the book.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

On the red moon will come the firestorm...

Wielding the Sword of Truth, Richard Rahl has battled death itself and come to the defense of the D'Haran people. But now the power-mad Emperor Jagang confronts Richard with a swift and inexorable foe: a mystical plague cutting a deadly swath across the land and slaying thousands of innocent victims.

To quench the inferno, he must seek remedy in the wind...

To fight it Richard and his beloved Kahlan Amnell will risk everything to uncover the source of the terrible plague-the magic sealed away for three millennia in the Temple of the Winds.

Lightning will find him on that path...

But when prophecy throws the shadow of betrayal across their mission and threatens to destroy them, Richard must accept the Truth and find a way to pay the price the winds demand...or he and his world will perish.

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