Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Audiobook review: Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind

Here's the book synopsis:
An Epic of Awesome Power Kahlan has at last gained the one goal she had always thought was beyond her grasp ... love. Against all odds, the ancient bonds of secret oaths, and the dark talents of men long dead, Richard has won her heart. Amid sudden and disastrous events, Richard's life is called due to satisfy those treacherous oaths. To save his life, Kahlan must forsake Richard's love and cast him into the chains of slavery, knowing there could be no sin worse than such a betrayal. Richard is determined to unlock the secrets bound in the magic of ancient oaths and to again be free. Kahlan, alone with the terrible truth of what she has done, must set about altering the course of a world thrown into war. But even that may be easier than ever winning back the heart of the only man she will ever love.

My take:

The short version--Terry Goodkind is a powerful author and has done a fantastic job of entertaining us!

SPOILERS WARNING
Only hit the "read more" or look down if you already have read the book or don't mind spoilers.




This is the second book in the Confessor series after "Wizards First Rule".

Darken Raul is dead and the world is saved!  Hardly.  This book plays on the wizards second rule: The greatest harm can come from the best intentions.  The message is clear and gives a great example of "good intentions gone bad".

After the "defeat" of Darken Raul, Kahlan and Richard travel back to the mud people to marry.  Richard suffers from massive head-aches and three sisters of the light arrive tell Richard he suffers from head-aches because he has the gift (of wizards) and that they wish to train him in some other far off place on how to be a wizard so he doesn't die from the pain of the gift.

Meanwhile the spirit of Darken Raul is trying to get the veil between the keeper and the material world open so the keeper can come through and kill everyone.  Richard goes with the third sister of the light, Verna.  He learns some things, she learns some things and everybody's faith in each other is tested to their boundaries. 

I found the second book to be wonderful!  The ending felt a little bit rushed and also the "easy way out" by using a sort of "Calvary" ending with Richard being able to see Kahlan through Denna's magic or whatever, but the rest of it was amazing!

Audiobook has saved me from the intimidation of the 1,000 page phobia and I was able to enjoy this book within a few weeks.

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