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veraann's review
2.0
Sword of Truth #9
Fantasy series.
I don't know if I can keep picking up the books in this series. I keep being torn from thinking great concepts and great story overall and ugh so repetitive and every time someone speaks it has to be this long-winded speech.
Fantasy series.
I don't know if I can keep picking up the books in this series. I keep being torn from thinking great concepts and great story overall and ugh so repetitive and every time someone speaks it has to be this long-winded speech.
anaffpereira's review
2.0
It is truly remarkable how unremarkable this book is.
I can sum up the plot without providing any spoilers: Richard wakes up one day to find Khalan missing; what’s worse, nobody besides Richard remembers her existence at all! Richard suspects that some sort of spell is at play here, so he sets off to investigate, even though everyone thinks he’s losing his mind. Yep, that’s it… the whole book! Plus, some recap, and characters having detailed dialogues about their dialogues with other characters some chapters prior… Why?!
Towards the end we have the reappearance of some early plot devise, which I didn’t like… but hopefully everything will make more sense in the next book, so that this doesn’t look like lazy writing.
Unfortunately, I can already guess that the next instalment will be slow-going and won’t contribute to the overall plot. I can just tell that Chainfire and Phantom should be a single book.
I can sum up the plot without providing any spoilers: Richard wakes up one day to find Khalan missing; what’s worse, nobody besides Richard remembers her existence at all! Richard suspects that some sort of spell is at play here, so he sets off to investigate, even though everyone thinks he’s losing his mind. Yep, that’s it… the whole book! Plus, some recap, and characters having detailed dialogues about their dialogues with other characters some chapters prior… Why?!
Towards the end we have the reappearance of some early plot devise, which I didn’t like… but hopefully everything will make more sense in the next book, so that this doesn’t look like lazy writing.
Unfortunately, I can already guess that the next instalment will be slow-going and won’t contribute to the overall plot. I can just tell that Chainfire and Phantom should be a single book.
trangmar's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
migimon2002's review
4.0
It has been awhile since I last read from The Sword of Truth series. I had forgotten how much I loved these fantasy novels - the adventure, mystery, action, and magic. Overall, this book in the series did not disappoint, and clearly set the stage for what's to come. It introduced some new characters and locations and, as propelled throughout as a major plot element, even "erased" some. On occasion I did find certain parts repetitive (as in Richard's belief in Kahlan's existence while others perceived him delusional), but I still found myself wrapped up in the story. And, I most definitely want to keep reading the next instalment to find out what happens!
edgyirishcupcake's review
1.0
My God, how many times are we going to experience the same story?! I am so tired of Richard, who everyone knows is the seeker, being discounted and told he is wrong in every freaking book!! There is always a threat to either Kahlan or Richard or both of them. Nothing matters but lives of everyone and protecting all the people, until either Richard or Kahlan are in danger... at that point, forget everyone and the goal of saving humanity so that we can all save this one person. Forget that in the first book it was repeated that no one life, not even Richard's, was more important and that it is worth it to give up one of their lives to protect the world... that only applies hypothetically, not when faced with that potential situation. Then go figure, as with all the other books, forsaking the "cause" to save the one is the right thing to do and all is well. ::rolling my eyes:: a child can write a better story that allows the same characters to do something different.
I am so tired of this series, but at this point I feel like I have invested so much time I am going to muscle through it and then go comfort myself with the Wheel of Time. So glad I get these books super cheap from a used book store and garage sales rather than pay anywhere near full price. They are not worth it, but they do help put me to sleep, which is the only other reason I don't mind continuing the series.
To sum it up, this is the same story with a different catalyst, title, and cover.
Ingredients for a Sword of Truth book:
*Threat to Kahlan/Richard (often resulting in them being separated.)
* all thoughts regarding the cause are cast aside to chase/find/cure said character.
* everyone will actively disagree with, work against, or pronounce Richard as crazy for knowing or thinking something, regardless of him having been right numerous times before or them acknowledging him as the seeker.
* key issue is magically identified and figured out by an "ah ha!" Moment when Richard thinks about it.
* used heavy dose of backstory and/or reminiscing to fill about half the page count requirements.
* said character and coincidentally, humanity/the cause is saved.
Lather, rinse, repeat for at least 9 books (although I'm sure it will apply to all of them at this rate.)
I am so tired of this series, but at this point I feel like I have invested so much time I am going to muscle through it and then go comfort myself with the Wheel of Time. So glad I get these books super cheap from a used book store and garage sales rather than pay anywhere near full price. They are not worth it, but they do help put me to sleep, which is the only other reason I don't mind continuing the series.
To sum it up, this is the same story with a different catalyst, title, and cover.
Ingredients for a Sword of Truth book:
*Threat to Kahlan/Richard (often resulting in them being separated.)
* all thoughts regarding the cause are cast aside to chase/find/cure said character.
* everyone will actively disagree with, work against, or pronounce Richard as crazy for knowing or thinking something, regardless of him having been right numerous times before or them acknowledging him as the seeker.
* key issue is magically identified and figured out by an "ah ha!" Moment when Richard thinks about it.
* used heavy dose of backstory and/or reminiscing to fill about half the page count requirements.
* said character and coincidentally, humanity/the cause is saved.
Lather, rinse, repeat for at least 9 books (although I'm sure it will apply to all of them at this rate.)
izzbie's review
5.0
amazing! I was really frustrated during most of it, but the ending was so good! I can't wait to read Phantom :)
melodieturori's review
4.0
The Chainfire plot is a significantly more interesting than the plots in the last couple of books in the Sword of Truth series. The back third of the book is full of action (and answers to the nagging issues the first half of the book sets up). The stellar second half upped my 3-star rating to 4. It's nice to have recaptured the "MUST HAVE THE NEXT BOOK NOW!" feeling that the early SOT books inspired.
willwork4airfare's review
1.0
What a god awful terrible book. I cannot believe I ended up finishing it. I’ve had my library copy for almost 3 months and almost gave up so many times. In the end I only pushed through because I want to complete the series. This whole mess of a book is just another one full of no one believing Richard, but he was right the whole time, and after 750 pages of nonsense they don’t even solve the problem!!
My biggest issue with Goodkind is how each and every chapter he describes things as if we are new readers to the series and completely incapable of connecting any dots. He does not leave a single thing to the imagination when it comes to reasoning or logic. He even has to explain every option the characters choose *not* to do and beats every concept to death until there are simply no more words to say about it. And then, when another character stumbles across a similar place or concept, they will explain it all over again from beginning to end. Does anyone edit these books? Are they just not intended to be read from beginning to end, or does Goodkind really have no faith that his readers can remember a core precept of the novel for longer than a chapter? Jesus Christ, this one was awful. Also, I think it was the first one in the series that didn’t really have any sex scenes (except for the blow by blow recaps of scenes from other books) although it’s possible that I just forgot some of what happened in the beginning since it was months ago by this point.
My biggest issue with Goodkind is how each and every chapter he describes things as if we are new readers to the series and completely incapable of connecting any dots. He does not leave a single thing to the imagination when it comes to reasoning or logic. He even has to explain every option the characters choose *not* to do and beats every concept to death until there are simply no more words to say about it. And then, when another character stumbles across a similar place or concept, they will explain it all over again from beginning to end. Does anyone edit these books? Are they just not intended to be read from beginning to end, or does Goodkind really have no faith that his readers can remember a core precept of the novel for longer than a chapter? Jesus Christ, this one was awful. Also, I think it was the first one in the series that didn’t really have any sex scenes (except for the blow by blow recaps of scenes from other books) although it’s possible that I just forgot some of what happened in the beginning since it was months ago by this point.
bigbookgeek's review
4.0
I have started to struggle with this series. Mostly with Goodkind's heavy handed Tea Party like rhetoric. It has been getting increasingly heavier throughout the series, to the point that I have wondered if I can continue. So I was pleasantly surprised with Chainfire in that there was a lot more storytelling than rhetoric. My hope is that we get back to the storytelling as the series goes on. This was a great story, and of course, gave us one hell of a cliffhanger!
raptorimperator's review
5.0
I don't know what so many people complain about? I was riveted, and had to force myself to put the book down so I could eat, sleep, and do other important thing pertaining to life. I was completely wrapped up in the story and wanted to scream, along with Richard, and all the other characters who refused to believe Kahlan is real. For the first in the final three books, I thought it was a great set-up book. I'm looking forward to continuing and dive into Phantom.