Temple of the Winds; Soul of the Fire; Fa - The Sword of Truth Box Set

Terry Goodkind’s nonsensical preaching is nauseating. To quote... the most ridiculous thing I have yet to hear Goodkind write...'Appearance, was a reflection of what a person thought of themselves...and therefore by extension, of others. A person crippled by self loathing or self doubt reflected those feelings in their appearance'
What nonsense! I so regret buying this idiot's books. What a waste of time. I certainly worry about what I am wearing because I want other to understand, BY EXTENSION, what my choice of attire means I think of them.... With each book Terry Goodkind writes, his belief in his own knowledge and Godlike understanding, grows beyond even the limits of fiction...

This series has kept me well entertained through all six books! I began the fifth book at the same time as taking philosophy and sociology college courses. I think, without the knowledge that these classes provided, I would not appreciate the books as much as I have! The depth of the main characters is astounding, and each new character gets at least a chapter of backstory. The fifth book is extremely political and intricate. Personally, book five was my favorite, but book four was a very close second!

If you've already completed the first three books, or are planning on reading the series, I highly recommend this box set. It's inexpensive and there are three of them. Mine came in great condition!

After reading the first boxed set, I eagerly read through the second boxed set. Each novel follows the same structure as the first 3 books, introducing new realms and new characters. The only problem I have with these books is that a good 1/4 of each novel is spent delving into the new realm or environment in which Richard and Kahlan are thrown into. It's a great backstory, but it is too much backstory. It's a little frustrating because I want to read more of the main characters, and it seems like some of the original minor characters like Verna and Ann get set aside in this set.

This is one of the first fantasy series that I've read that is really gritty, so there are lots of bad things happening throughout the novels (just like in the first boxed set).

Overall, I'm very eager to continue with the 3rd boxed set!

I loved the first 4 books, but starting with Soul of the Fire, my interest seriously started to wane. Richard and Kahlan, supposedly the main characters, are shucked to half or less of the book's pages, while we are thrust headlong into the lives of a few Anderith characters. Um, excuse me, but why should I care about them? Unfortunately this question was never answered sufficiently. I certainly didn't expect the two main Ander characters to disappear (one) or get brutally killed (the other).

I found Faith of the Fallen somewhat better, and doubtless just as wonderful an insight into the human heart and value of life as other reviewers have said, but throughout it all I simply got more and more depressed that Richard, Kahlan, and the New World allies will ever triumph and beat out the Order. Because of this, I am seriously considering not reading the rest of the series. I can't take anymore disappointment and despair for the characters. I almost didn't even read SotF or FotF, but I plodded on. Would someone just tell me, please, do they win in the end?

I really enjoyed this book and cried, laughed, and felt so many of Richard and Kaylan emotions through out this book. It was heart breaking to see Richard taken as a prisoner and away from Kaylan for a lifetime from what it seemed... but amazing how he prevailed in the end just being the simple loving kind man that he is. He showed the Truth right in the center of the enemys territory and an entire city supported him and took his side, including Nicci. I do wish that Warren didnt have to die as he and Verna were so happy after their special day in the midst of all the war. I do hope that Richard someday rebuilds the marble man and woman statue but I understand why the author chose to have it destroyed and the important Life meaning it represented to so many.

I believe that judging this series as a whole will favorably argue that Goodkind is every bit the equal to Tolkien -- even though Terry Goodkind himself would probably balk at such a comparison. I have it on good authority a very large chunk of Sword of Truth fans are not even typical Fantasy readers in general (or at all). The social & political upheaval that is covered within the entire storyline is truly epic in scope. The first three books (Wizards First Rule, Stone of Tears & Blood of the Fold) are easily my all-time favorite Fantasy novels. Not an easy place to be in my opinion writing in the shadows of Terry Brooks, J.K. Rowling, George R.R. Martin and the mighty Tolkien (to name a few). While I believe books 1 & 2 are STILL the best, in this boxed set, two remarkable stories stand out.

First...Temple of the Winds is simply AWESOME. While after initially finishing Blood of the Fold I was slightly disappointed, after re-reading it several years later, I decided that it was actually very good...but Temple of the Winds surpasses it in every way (IMHO). The struggles against Emperor Jagang and his evil plots to conquer the world as he sees it is amazing. Just the very idea of the Temple I found to be incredibly original all the way around. The eventual outcome and how Richard had to lower himself in order to save his people -- and his beloved Kahlan -- was nothing short of compelling.

Second...Soul of the Fire was my first (and only) serious disappointment in this entire series to date. While I wasn't very pleased with 'Pillars of Creation' and how Goodkind totally changed gears on his faithful readers by shuffling his main characters into microscopic roles (they only appeared in the final 40 pages or so), in SotF he did a very similar act. He created the brand new city of Anderith and immersed us head-first into this entirely new plot-line and kept Richard & Kahlan to nearly secondary characters altogether. Even though Pillars almost eliminated Richard & Kahlan, I STILL found the overall storyline to be quite entertaining...but with SotF it just fell flat for me. At least half of the novel kept me interested, but every time we went back to the problems in Anderith, MY interest virtually died.

Third...Faith of the Fallen really IS long on commentary by Richard, almost as though he were running for office. What I found to be utterly compelling however is that to the people Richard is virtually preaching to, what he is saying actually FITS 100%. The worth of souls ARE great, and Richard sees this, and has this monumental struggle to prove it to those in bondage to the Order. The pacifists of this world will never really fully understand what this means, because they are so busy trying to iron over any so-called problems and shelter their families from the real-world consequences that almost ALWAYS happen when you take a back seat to the oppression that threatens to consume the world as we know it. In short, I loved this book. If you put aside your political beliefs, and the outright incorrect way in which many attempt to connect FotF to Atlas Shrugged, LOOK at the situation that Richard finds himself forcibly immersed into...how ELSE can he express himself and talk sense into those who passively sit by while the evil-doers of the Order slaughter innocent lives all in the name of the Maker? Goodkind got it totally right here and I wouldn't change a word.

All in all I would rate the series 5-stars.

Wizards First Rule 5 Stars

Stone of Tears 5 Stars

Blood of the Fold 5 Stars

Temple of the Wind 5 Stars

Soul of the Fire 3 Stars

Faith of the Fallen 5 Stars

Pillars of Creation 4 Stars

Naked Empire 5 Stars

Chainfire 5 Stars

Phantom 5 Stars

I just wish that Terry could write faster...but if it in any way compromised the quality of the stories, I am perfectly happy waiting however long it takes to read whatever he writes.

When I started reading the first book, it took some time to get started. At first I thought it was a boring book, but I promiss a friend to give it a try. I enjoy reading books, and at times I learn, that sometimes books get boring but if you stick with it you be surprise. I ate the bait hook line and sinker! After reading the first book and learn that there others be hind it. I read them all. Just couldn't stop. Read them in order even though I bought them out of order lol!

After reading the first set of the Sword of Truth series and getting completely hooked I continued with the 2nd set Temple of the Winds, Soul of the Fire and Faith of the Fallen...and I have to say that this set was just as good as the first 3 and maybe even a little better....Faith of the Fallen has to be my favorite though...it was truly a life changing experience. Terry is an amazing writer and I am so immersed in these books the uplifting story of love, life and the human spirit. Truly truly wonderful! I hope that he never stops writing about Richard and Kahlan!

Terry Goodkind is the new Tolken. This is hands down the most outstanding fantasy series ever written. The world, the characters, the story, all of it. The story of Richard and Kalan is a love story for the ages, and an epic adventure the likes of which fantasy readers dream of.

The characters are diverse and entertaining. There's good humour, love, hate, passion and plenty of intrigue. The plots have many twists and unexpected turns. I read the full set back to back over just three months and couldn't get enough of it!
The story sets off at a good pace and I found the books to be an easy read with action intrigue or entertainment on almost every page.

I could not put this book down, worth reading.

The paperback is so big you will bend the binding, it is just inevitable, but the story is so good. So many twists and turns in the story.

I am honestly a huge fan of the female heroes.

But I love the male hero in this book and there is also female hero.
And a quarky wizard too.

I nearly quit the first book over the graphic violence. But stuck in there because it was necessary. I got hooked. Goodkind is able to write such varied characters with incredible different "voices" that he is awe inspiring. No skimming (as I do... sorry... with much of Tolkien) over descriptions & info... trust me you will NEED it all. Goodkind has become my favorite author. His characters stay with you, his story hauntingly real.

This is the 2nd trilogy installment of The Sword of Truth series, and its still delivering. Although by the end of the 5th book, you get to see a dwindling of the story line, its still entertainment that only Terry Goodkind can deliver. Not as good as the first 3 books, in my opinon, this series loses track of the original characters we fall in love with in the first three. While still a good read, I was slightly disappointed.

This is a great series! :-) Some may not like the end to this series, but I found it to be rather good. I don't like a lot of loose ends at the end of my stories. Case in point "The Lady and the Tiger". I had to read that stupid thing in School and then you are supposed to "Write your own ending." This series is wrapped up well, and you aren't left hanging on anything. I love it. :-)

I loved the Sword of Truth series and just finished the last one (# 11) a few days ago. I miss all the characters and wish there were more books in the series. Will be watching the TV series, which is "based on" these books but there are changes in the TV version, which is OK by me.

For anyone who loves fantasy, or even those who are not keen on fantasy, will love this book series. The characters are without a doubt some of the very best ever written. The over all storyline keeps you guessing whilst still giving you a feeling that you are somehow apart of the journey as well. I would highly recommend this series to anyone who wants to escape to a world full of love, friendship, trust, loyalty, and more... or for those who just want a good read!

The fourth book in Terry Goodkind's series mantians the same momentum of his previous novels. Each of his books are like opening a door to a new yet familar world. I find that reading Temple of the Winds returns the reader to familar ground vistiting characters we have come to know and love. Some story elements are a bit contrived in order to give the main characters a strugle to fight against but at the same time the struggle is what these books are all about. An engaging read that will propell the reader further into Goodkind's world.

This contains the second 3 books in thsi ongoing series. although each book is essentially standalone, there are strands that appear in every book. So I would read books 1-3 before reading these. It's a good series though, but is certainly not of the calibre of Martin or Erikson

absolutely amazing, hoing from being an average joe to saveing lives, this book is truly adventurous, and the carachters are very relatable, none of them are out of the ordinary, but they capture you and take you into their sleepless journey.

Terry Goodkind continues the story of Richard and Kahlan. This box set was worth it since I had the three books at once and could have read through them as quickly as the plot carried me along. Will recommend for Terry Goodkind fans.

People like Weber or Turtledove make it hard to tell which side is the villain because they make people on both side real and sympathizable. Goodkind does it by making them both equally reprehensible. The political platform of both sides boils down to: The other guy is pure evil. Ally yourself with me to stop him or I will kill you.

No complaints at all about the seller. The book came quickly in perfect condition. For the seller, 5 stars.

But the product itself.... the series...The first 3-4 books are fantastic (minus all the rape)... after that, it's stretched out SO thin... literally hundreds of pages go by with no plot substance beyond the political ideologies of Ayn Rand. Capitalism good. Any interest in anything beyond yourself equates to mindless inexcusable torture. The characters lose 90% of their substance and personalities and devolve into "Richard makes arbitrary decisions because he feels like it regardless of logic. Everyone follows like lost puppies."

Not the seller's fault, of course.