by Reiko Yukawa

Created on: October 30, 2006   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

The Sword of Truth series, written by Terry Goodkind, consists of eleven full books and one novella. Begun in 1994 with Wizard's First Rule, and continuing with another book almost every year since then, this series is the extraordinary journey of Richard and Kahlan and the people they love saving the world from great evil time and time again. The setting is a not-unfamiliar fantasy world filled with magical creatures and artifacts, but every detail is carefully crafted so that it seems real as well.

Each book introduces a new threat that must be vanquished before the world can be at peace again, although by the fourth book, one looming threat appears that cannot be permanently resolved until the end of the whole series. Richard and Kahlan constantly find themselves in strange and dangerous situations that they must escape by mastering themselves and their powers and trusting each other.

Each book also introduces a new rule that wizards must follow if they are to use their magic properly and effectively. The second book was originally titled "Wizard's Second Rule" to follow the pattern of the first one, but the actual titles are much more interesting and memorable. Most of the rules have to do with how people behave, rather than magic itself. But as one of Richard's teachers always said, sometimes a trick is better than magic. Understanding the rules allows Richard to get people to give him the information he needs as the Seeker of Truth and even trick his own teacher to prove that he has learned the rules correctly.

Although Richard constantly claims he is just a "simple woods guide," his abilities are actually numerous and complex, with knowledge that shows up in many ways in the writing. He has woods lore from his background, which he teaches to Kahlan and other characters at times. By the third book, he is an exceptional swordsman thanks to the capabilities of his very special sword, the namesake of the series, and in a later book he becomes a talented marble sculptor. In every book, his leadership draws others to him and enables him to overcome incredible odds and dangers.

Kahlan is just as talented in her way. Her magic talent is very specific, allowing her to "touch" a person and change their mind to have nothing but devotion for her. This allows her to defend herself from any one person. Her passion and kindness draws others to her to help protect her from larger threats. Together, she and Richard make an incredible team.

Trust is one of the largest issues

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