We begin the 4th night of our Sword of Truth 13 Night Marathon. Tonight’s post is Temple of the Winds.
Temple of the Winds by Terry Goodkind – a Review
Temple of the Winds is Terry Goodkind’s 4th Sword of Truth book. I absolutely loved Temple of the Winds. What made this great was that it got my attention from the beginning, which I enjoyed and continued to move forward at a rapid pace, and a humdinger of an ending. I do have to note, for those who have not read this series, there are some spoilers in this review. So if you don’t want to know, then do not read further.
I adored the beginning with Richard, Kahlan and the mord-sith girls. I loved how he was able to soften them up with feeding the chipmunks..cute. I loved their interaction with their sister of the agiel, Kahlan. I have come to love Cara, as one of the strongest female characters that I have read. In this case, Bravo to Goodkind for making such strong female leads as Kahlan, Cara, Berdine (I really like her), Raina, and even Denna (who I did not like early on).
I did not like Nadine, nor Drefan. I knew she was a bitch. On that same thought, I knew early on that he was bad. I knew when Drefan violated Cara while she was out of it, that he was another villain under the disguise of being Richard’s nice guy brother. Kahlan sensed that early, but never let herself look deeply at the real Drefan.
The plague was a good story, but I thought it was too long, with some new unnecessary characters. I guess the point was to show the devastation and grief. I loved Nathan, and Zedd as usual. Ann was ok, at times irritating. Verna too was ok, not as good as in previous. I really liked Shota in this book, and was happy Kahlan and her made peace..for now. But all, including Zedd have come realize the awesome power of Richard.
Now we come to Richard and Kahlan once again being torn apart. It is one thing when Goodkind separates them over and over again. But to force them to marry another, then have them “consummate their marriage’ immediately was a fiasco. To make Kahlan who loved Richard more then life itself..do what she did and have Richard (& fans doubt her)… I felt bad for her, as she fought her horror with her soul the first time thinking it was Drefan….she was out of her mind, thinking all was lost forever & let her screwed up emotions rule her behavior. Cara doing the switch..somehow, somewhere there should have been a warning…just me venting. Fortunately it wasn’t Drefan, so we can be happy about that.
The ending was intense, exciting, totally awesome. Though I hated the part where Drefan became the Lord Rahl. Again was thrilled when Nadine was killed after hearing her laugh and giggle thinking she was having sex with Richard. Glad Deena helped again to push Richard back, and also Richard hopefully finally eliminating Darken Rahl, and nice touch for Raina to be the light to help Richard gain his strength to fight Drefan. Kahlan suffering, yet doing everything she could to help her sister Cara. At the end, Drefan was the main villain here, a certified madman. His torture of Cara with the rats, his stabbing Kahlan…and finally Richard….our magnificent Richard coming to his full power…healing Cara with what little strength he had …then though he had nothing left…healing the love of this life, Kahlan. Then using his power to bring himself to full strength….killing the hated Drefan with raw power was great.
I adored the ending…seeing Zedd, Shota coming to wish them luck and warn them; seeing the mud people (Chandelan, the Bird Man); finally to see them get married. Also funny to ignore Zedd telling them that the mud people want their spirit house back..lol Cara making sure to close the door and push him away. Classic…. Great book, great ending.
Tell us your own thoughts of Temple of the Winds.
Reviewed by Barb
Wow…so much detail to this series…..*sigh*…will I ever get to read these books.
Another great review Barb…keep it up..lol
what another wonderful review , barb. i love reading every ones reviews here, a great place and nice people. i learn about some good books.
thank you to all of you encouraging me to read this series. i will try the first book that miranda reviewed. wizards first rule.
Sounds like an amazing series. Great review, Barb.
Great review Barb, you are doing a really good job on this marathon. I really enjoyed this book for pretty much the same reasons you listed. I really enjoyed watching Richard bring out emotion and humanity in Cara and her sisters. They are wonderful with Richard and I was heartbroken over Raina’s death from the plague. *looks around for Miranda incase I made another boo boo in memory recall 😉 * That scene was masterfully crafted by Mr.Goodkind. This book was well written and probably up there as one of my fav in the whole series.
I have missed a lot of the SOT reviews. I’ll come back later when i get back from work. I have read most of Terry Goodkind’s books, there are a few I did not read, including The First Confessor. soon though.
I enjoyed Temple of the Winds, maybe not as much as the first couple of books, but cant wait for your reviews on two of my favorites, Faith of the Fallen, which was so awesome, and the super Confessor, which so ably ended it all.
But it didn’t end it, we have our favorites back. Wonder if you will do The Omen Machine
Eric, yes we will be doing The Omen Machine. The marathon will end with The First Confessor.
You are right, Confessor ended the arc of the Sword of Truth. But happily we get to see them all in TOM, and he is now working on the next Omen Machine book.
The good news is that Terry will also continue Magda and Merrit, which since you did not read TFC, is their books
~”On the red moon will come the fire storm, the one bonded to the blade will watch as his people die. If he does nothing, then he, and all those he loves will die in it’s heat. For no blade, forged of steel or conjured by sorcery can touch this foe. He must seek the remedy in the Winds. Lightining will find him on that path, for the one in White…his true beloved….will betray him in her blood.”
*long contented sigh*
Ms. Barb. This review is so spectular. It brings me back to the heartpounding moments of the glorious Temple of the Winds. The way it stole my breath, the way I was on the edge of my seat….the way that I whooped in triumph like a child, witnessing Richard’s staggering power in the end as he defeated Drefen. It can only be described with two words. Bad a$$. Inarticulate, I know. *laughing*
This is the book where readers see their gentle woodsguide, truly com into his power. Not only as the War Wizard, but as the Seeker of Truth with which he was named in Wizard’s First Rule. That moment, when Richard could barely stand….dying of the plague he took into himself to save his people…bereft of the Sword which had become an extension of himself. That moment when Drefen attacked armed with Richard’s own sword of Truth, we witness the meaning of Zedd’s words. “The Seeker is the true weapon….the sword is just a tool.” Powerful. Breathtaking. I will never forget the end of this novel.
It was a rough road to the phenomenal end. Readers fall in love with Cara, for the infallibly loyal, deeply complex, amazing female character she is. Even when faced with her greatest fear, she did not break. Her love, and loyalty to her Lord Rahl was more powerful than all consuming fear. Ah Cara. How I adore her. Richard’s shadow….the sole person whom never betrays him, even inadvertently.
Which brings me to Kahlan. This book shook my utter faith in her as Richard’s true equal. The only one who could ever be worthy of the courageous heart which beats within the chest of the Seeker. I was not mad at Kahlan….I was furious with Terry Goodkind. LoL. It took alot to not write him a letter….
When you hear TG talk about Richard and Kahlan, it is so surreal, and wonderful. He speaks on how they live within him, are his best friends….that he knows how either would react in any situation. The moment when Kahlan thought she was being intimate with Drefen, made me question Terry’s claim, because personally, I could not fathom the Mother Confessor….a woman above Queens. The sole confessor to ever know LOVE….could immediately hop into bed with another man after believing the love of her life lost to her. Thank GOD Cara made the switch, and led Kahlan to Richard….but still….Kahlan did what she did thinking she was with Drefen. I will never forget the moment when lightning flashed and the man’s eyes were gray instead of blue….
Richard would NEVER betray someone he loved. This was the first, and only time I was ever upset with Kahlan’s character, and felt like I didnt know her at all. It was not until the very end…..when Richard came back from the Temple of Winds to talk to Kahlan, that I was able to see through Richard’s impossibly forgiving eyes, that Kahlan simply acted rashly in her utter desolation, after what she thought was the destruction of her every dream. However, when Richard begged for HER forgiveness for walking out on her, and not allowing her to explain. Come on Goodkind. I still fume over that.
I can be objective when it comes to Richard…..*cough* Again Barb, wonderful review!
wonderful post, Miranda. I love when you tell us how you feel. 🙂
I actually hated that scene when Kahlan was with Drefan (or she thought so). Hated when Nadine was giggling.
Terry wrenches so many emotions from readers in his work, and this journey was quite harrowing, even unto others in the series. I will admit it….I sobbed like a baby when Richard was dying–and with no control over the magic which flows through his veins–heals Cara and Kahlan with the sheer will power of his limitless love for them both. So moving.
One of the biggest complaints of fans is that we never see throughout the course of the SoT series, Richard learn to call upon his magic, and use his gift at will….but personally, I feel it enrichens the experience that it comes forth in times of absolute need. If Richard would been able to heal the love of his life, and the woman he loves like family at will, it would have have taken away from the staggering intensity of the scene. I feel the “need” trigger is far more fascinating. I am in no hurry…our beloved Zedd will whip him into shape in due time. heehee
I love how Soul of the Fire is nearly an extension of TotW….except a large difference of SotF to his other work, is that I DETESTED the end! Waiting nearly two years for the next installment after such a horrific experience suffered by our hero’s was utter TORTURE.
But Faith of the Fallen….Lord but it was worth ever single day I spent pulling my hair out while waiting. Readers are so lucky to be able to read these books back to back nowdays. 🙂
Truly, I cannot imagine waiting so long for the next book. Especially as we will see in SOTF, and that depressing ending. To be able to read these books straight through to Confessor, was great. Made it that much better. Of course then I had to wait for The Omen Machine. 🙂