Temple of the Winds: Book Four of The Sword of Truth

Y'all, I don't think a book has stressed me out this bad in all my years of reading. This is one of the only series that has ever caught me by surprise. I am absolutely, full heartedly, in love with this series. Terry Goodkind is an amazing author & you will not regret reading this series. The writing style, pace, character development and the intensity of every chapter will keep you reading every chance you get

This series is captivating. Once you start, you don't want it to end. The way the author continues into the next book so smoothly. It has some very nasty villains. And plenty of Lord Rahl. (spoiler) You must pay close attention to all the characters. The narrator is excellent. He or she brings the characters to life. You miss out on this series. It's your loss. Awesome!!!!

http://readfantasybooks.wordpress.com Even though the reviews are not positive about Temple of the Winds I had to read it for myself because I enjoyed the other three books in this series. I didn’t have any problems reading the book. There were parts that were very well done and entertaining, but it also had some major issues (mostly with the series as a whole) In this novel Richard and Kahlan spend the entire book trying to save Aydindril from a magical plague, and Ann, with the help of Zedd, continue their search for Nathan. We also get to meet Nadine and Drefan. Nadine is annoying and Drefan is a dark and nasty character. Goodkind did a fantastic job writing them the way he did. He really made me hate them. The story is slow going at first, but as usual it does pick up eventually. This book goes away from the main plot (destroy Jagang) by creating a sub plot (Jagang unleashes an epidemic) that is solved by the ending of the book. I didn’t find this sub plot to be necessary to the overall story even though it was still entertaining. There was tons of excitement and action, and I was always interested in reading the few chapters with Zedd and Ann because they were so funny. Really kept me going. The scenes involving the sick children and other people that die around Richard will bring tears to your eyes! I also liked reading about the history of the Confessors and why there are so few wizards. Although I liked the book there are some things that are just getting old. Everything that is keeping Richard and Kahlan apart has been going on for too long. When will they ever get to be together again like they were in the first book? I also don’t like that Richard is so lucky when it comes to avoiding the consequences of his actions. Everything ends up being happily ever after for him no matter what he does! Additionally, Goodkind’s fixation on sex and violence is starting to become distracting. There is just no end to it. Even with all the negatives of the book, I still enjoyed reading it and I read the next one in the series. At least the ending of the book (and the beginning of the next) involves the one thing I have been waiting to read about for a long time!

I don't understand some of the negative reviews. I absolutely LOVED this book. I felt this one was an absolute page turner and I actually finished the thing much faster than I expected. Book 3, the Blood of the Fold was IMO very, very slow, at some moments even dull and long winded. But Temple of the Winds was absolutely fantastic. Yes I was pretty sure who the sicko was going to be, however about half way through I was second guessing it . . . then it turned out I was right. I thought it was done well. Maybe a little cliched but come on, these books are a lot of fun! If you liked Wizards First Rule and Stone of Tears I think you'll really like this one. I thought the book was pretty fast paced and I LOVED the ending. Yeah, I guess I'm a bit of a sap however these books are filled with so much ugliness at times it was great to finally get some pays offs. I was first brought to Terry Goodkind's books through the Legend of the Seeker TV series and this book felt most like what drew to the series, albeit different enough that I felt everything was fresh. So far I think this was the best book in the series and I can't wait to read book 5, though I'm trying to hold off for awhile since I just devoured this one. It was a fun adventure, a page turner and I enjoy the philosophy mixed in. I didn't completely buy into a couple of the plot points (the scene in the Temple of the Winds in the dark, once you read it you'll know which one) but I so enjoyed this book that it's easy to overlook. If you like the first 3 Sword of Truth books, and enjoyed the TV show as well, you'll LOVE this book. It ain't Tolkien but Sword of Truth is different enough that I actually don't compare the two. There aren't many books that I read which cause me to have verbal reactions at surprises, shocks, or laugh out loud moments. I was really drawn into the world and the characters; I felt sorry, happy, joy, pity and sadness for all of them at different times. It was a rip roaring good read I say go for it.

I have read this series multiple times. It never disappoints! I highly recommend these books! They are very well written!

My love for the TV show, Legend of the Seeker, brought me to the book series. When I started reading them I could not stop. I purchased every book in hardcover! As much as I love the first three books, Temple of the Winds is, by far, my favorite. It made me laugh and cry and think and feel from beginning to end. I am NOT a fantasy book reader. I have never read Tolkien or Jordan or Martin or any of those other authors that I have heard about from other reviewers on this site and many other sites. I am, actually, a Jane Austen, Anne Rice and Shakespeare fan. I love stories with wonderfully crafted characters and relationships. Terry Goodkind achieved this type of storytelling in this series, and, especially, in Temple of the Winds. These books are not for the young because they are filled with graphic violence. The editing of these books are some of the worst I have ever seen. However, if you love a good romance, with adventure and magic thrown in the mix, then I recommend this series and this book.

Many of the reviewers who have said the book starts slow are right - however these pages go by quickly. There is little "action" in this book, but there is still a great deal of conflict, and a few new characters are introduced that greatly challenge the status quo for Richard and Kahlan (to say the least). As the plague picks up steam and the prophecy is revealed, the book really takes off (about halfway through) and it becomes very hard to put it down. Mr. Goodkind has done an excellent job revealing how bad the plague is and how damaging it could be to the world. Especially because the first victims are children. There is also an element of intrigue here that is lacking in previous books, when Drefan and Nadine arrive at the Palace. They add a mysterious element to this book that really adds some spice to the plot. The last 200 or so pages are incredible. The plot has several surprises. Highly recommended.

Once again I read the reviews first and expected to be disappointed. I wasn't. While I will admit that the plot is becoming more involved and complicated I can see why it would. Here is Richard, a man of moral conscience thrust into a position of power that he doesn't want but has tried to accept for the 'greater good' of the people. He strains against the restraints that all leaders have as far as privacy and need for protection. Then there is Nadine, this person you just want to strangle. And then there is Drefan. Richard so wanted to believe that he had found 'family' that could be trusted. I actually struggled with this on because the suspense of what was going to happen nearly killed me and since I am reading on my kindle...it isn't that easy to flip ahead and know that things will somehow right themselves. Even though you know that there are more books in the series, Terry Goodkind pulls you into the story so deeply that at times you forget that somehow Richard must prevail. I will admit that there was a lot more expounding on Richard's (or Terry's if you prefer) value system and Moral convictions, but that doesn't bother me as long as it doesn't swamp the story and in reality, Richard's belief system is what makes this story what it is. It has been an integral part of the story line since the beginning, but now that Richard is developing into the War-Wizard and Master of D'Hara, his struggles are more important to the story line than ever before.

This is the fourth book in the "Sword of Truth" series and is yet again an incredible read. I got interested in the "Sword of Truth" books after watching "Legend of the Seeker" on tv. Being a Tolkien fan and, realising that this was a fantasy in a similar vane, I bought the first book "Wizards First Rule" Since then I've been well and truly hooked. Whilst I think nothing can top "Lord of the Rings" this comes a very close second. Richard (the seeker and now Lord Rahl) and his beloved Mother Confessor Kahlan are again fighting the evils that threatens the Midlands. Now a new threat arises in the form of Jagang, a tyrant who wants to kill Richard and take over the D'haran empire which Richard now leads. Using his cohorts, the sisters of the dark and his ability to enter peoples minds whilst they are asleep, Jagang, known as the Dream Walker, releases the plague into the Midlands. Richard and Kahlan struggle to stop this disease but it costs them dearly and their faith and love in each other is pushed to the limits. Richard is only just begining to understand his powers as a War Wizard and without his grandfather Zed, a Wizard of the first order, to help him he learns that he must find and enter The Temple of the Winds to put back "that which has been taken" if he wants to stop the plague from destroying his empire. To enter the Temple he and Kahlan have to make the ultimate sacrifice. I wont spoil the story by revealing what they must do and the outcome of their devotion to each other and to their duty. Suffice to say that yet again I could not put this book down and am now on the fifth book with numbers 6,7 and 8 waiting in the wings. Whilst this series of books, at 11 volumes in total, seems incredibly long, believe me it is worth every minute that you spend reading it. I lent the first book to a friend who in turn lent it to her sister. Now they are both badgering me to read quicker so that they can borrow the follow-on books. Loose yourselves in the Midlands and D'hara, cheer on Richard and Kahlan, I assure you that you will not be disappointed.

Great author!

Le livre, même s'il répète légèrement les livres précédent s'intègre parfaitement dans la saga. Je le recommande à ceux qui apprécient la saga.

Love this series.

これは今までで最も読み応えがありました。Richard Rahl が Kahlan と結婚するための最後の障壁として立ちはだかったのが、この Tmeple of the Winds でした。Richard が Old World と New World の間にあった Dark Tower を破壊した事により、Aydindril にある Wizard の magic の知識のライブラリである Keep の地下にあるシールも破れたため、Richard は数千年前の Wizard の知識への足がかりを得ることになります。特に、特定地点間を高速移動させてくれる Sliph なる生物?が登場したり、黒死病のようなとんでもない Plague が発生したりと、この The Sword of Truth シリーズの世界がどんどん拡大していきます。この#4では、Temple of the Winds という、underworld に存在していて、そこに行くには死ぬしかないという場所に乗り込まないと、Plague を contain できないという状況に追い込まれます。そして、その Temple of the Winds に Richard が乗り込むための条件というのが、今までで最も過酷な条件となります。すなわち、Richard は Kahlan ではなく、幼なじみの Nadine と結婚せねばならず、Kahlan もまた、Richard のいとこにあたる人が良さそうだが実は邪悪な人間と結婚しなければならないからです。この難問をいかに解決するか？という辺りがこの物語のクライマックスです。