Product Description

In the previous volume of this bestselling series of fantasy novels, our hero Richard Rahl, wielder of the Sword of Truth, and his lover Kahlan unwittingly released upon the New World a terror from the malign and wild magic of the Old World. The Chimes now run free in the Midlands and Richard and Kahlan, powerful in their own right, begin to see their own magic undermined, leaving the people of the New World vulnerable to the encroaching evil that Darken Rahl first unleashed in WIZARDS FIRST RULE.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #23286 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-10
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 736 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Each time Goodkind's hero and heroine save the world from supernatural menaces, there turns out to be a catch involved; what we learn, interestingly, from his particular take on fantasy is to be suspicious and cynical. Last time, in Temple of the Winds, the problem was a plague of supernatural origins; this time, it is beings of water, fire and air, who cause sudden and inexplicable death and are gradually eroding the very magic on which the structure of Richard's world depends. And there is still a crusading emperor, a variety of witch-hunters and the complex uncertainties of Richard's emotional life to deal with. It is typical of Goodkind's bleak take on the stock material of fantasy that when, after four previous volumes, Richard finally marries his beloved Kahlan, there should be terrible consequences. We get to see more of this ingeniously thought-out fantasyland--a doomsday weapon in the hands of dim young conscripts and a society whose corruption enables Goodkind to lecture us on the evils of democracy. Most heroic fantasy has an attachment to autocracy as one of its unspoken values--Goodkind is not least interesting because he tends to follow those values through to their limit. --Roz Kaveney

About the Author
Terry Goodkinds first novel, Wizards First Rule immediately established him as one of the worlds bestselling authors. Each subsequent book in the Sword of Truth series sold better than the one before and some twenty million copies of books in the series have now been sold. He lives in the USA.

Customer Reviews

Disappointing......for Terry Goodkind
After the brilliance of the first four volumes of this amazing fantasy series, I started Soul of the Fire with very high expectations.

The story starts well. The introduction of the Chimes is refreshing, after the previous three volumes all had the same 'bad guy'.

However, when the plot starts concentrating on new characters the book becomes all too entangled in political mystery and espionage.

After the first 10 chapters or so the plot really slows down and doesn't start becoming interesting for at least 400 pages. The main reason I think is the detachment of the story from the characters that we have grown to know and love in the previous four novels. The story could quite happily have focused on them and it would be infinitely better.

I, however am not a multi-million selling book writer and I hope Faith of the Fallen restores MY faith in this series.

Unusually subtle fantasy
In this, the fifth of the series, Goodkind has created a story that remains engaging as he explores the subtleties of human emotions, loyalty, and trust and relationships both personal and political. Granted it is a much slower paced book than the others in the series, it is however intriguingly subtle with numerous subplots. All our favourite characters remain in the action and the stage is set for another book.

Goodkind has succeeded in creating a book that is both intellectually and philosophically challenging while keeping the epic fantasy plot engaging. You will find less of the hackneyed magic and battle senario here (although they are, of course, still there) and more of a journey into the self. Fantastic. I can't recommend it enough!

drawn out fantasy soap cashing in on a promising start
when i read the wizards first rule i was amazingly impressed, good plot interesting amusing characters, a fantasy world fully fleshed out with lots of detail and idiosyncrasies, by book five we once again encounter the robert jordan syndrome of dragging out the plotlines for cash. This book (and the previous two) could have been great, but with just over six hundred pages and little action in until the last 100, this book is a rip off. Watch eastenders instead at least it's free.