Book Review: The Law of Nines by Terry Goodkind
"Your mother was twenty-seven when it came to her.
Now you're twenty-seven, and it's come to you.
" Turning twenty-seven may be terrifying for some, but for Alex, a struggling artist living in the Midwest, it is cataclysmic.
Inheriting a huge expanse of land should make him a rich and happy man; but something about this birthday, his name, and the beautiful woman whose life he has just saved, has suddenly made him - and everyone he loves - into a target.
(summary from the inside cover) This fast paced page turner from Terry Goodkind, author of the Sword of Truth series that is a definitive classic of the fantasy genre, is the first book in an anticipated trilogy.
Goodkind changes his writing style to fit into the thriller category, using shorter sentences and choppier syntax than in his other books.
He does not delve as deeply into the character development, which is fitting for the genre.
Comparatively, The Law of Nines takes a bit longer to get into the story, but once you make it through the slow beginning the action does not stop until the end.
The story takes place in our modern world, with supernatural connections to the other world in which the Sword of Truth series takes place.
Although it is a stand-alone novel, The Law of Nines parallels the Sword of Truth series, using the same last names for the main characters who are the modern-day descendants of the two main characters in the other series.
The fact that the characters are related is evident in their personalities and their reactions to the situations that they are presented with.
However, not being familiar with Goodkind's previous works does not have a detrimental effect on the reader's enjoyment of this book.
In fact, I think it would add more to the mystery element of the story.
Overall, Terry Goodkind proves able to successfully change his writing to fit into different genres while maintaining some of the aspects that make him one of the most talented fantasy writers of the day.
Just as with his other books, The Law of Nines is aimed at a mature audience who can handle the descriptions of violence and torture.
Although this book does not nearly measure up to the genius that is the Sword of Truth, it is a great beginning to Goodkind's expansion into new frontiers of the literary world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Terry Goodkind was born in 1948 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Before he became a writer, he was a marine and wildlife artist and also built cabinets and violins.
He has dyslexia, making reading a writing a challenge, which is why he was never previously interested in a literary career.
He was living off the coast of Maine (where some of The Law of Nines takes place) when he began to write Wizard's First Rule, the first novel in the Sword of Truth series, which was published in 1994.
He went on to write twelve books in the series, which have sold over 25 million copies and have been translated into more than 20 languages.
It has also been made into a television series dubbed Legend of the Seeker.
His writing integrates philosophical and human themes into the epic fantasy genre, with absolutely remarkable character development.
He says he has been influenced by the books of Ayn Rand and her philosophical approach called Objectivism.
Objectivism is briefly defined as the belief that certain things such as moral truths exist independently of human knowledge or perception of them, focusing on what is external or independent of the mind.
The themes embedded in Goodkind's books convey morality and expose readers to ideas and outlooks on life and humanity that take the mind to another level of comprehension.
The Sword of Truth series immediately draws the reader into the story and evokes a spectrum of different emotions, and at times his vivid descriptions of evil situations can be disturbing.
These elements all add to the story, producing an all-around classic collection that is a must-read for anybody who calls themselves a fan of the literary fantasy drama.
Now you're twenty-seven, and it's come to you.
" Turning twenty-seven may be terrifying for some, but for Alex, a struggling artist living in the Midwest, it is cataclysmic.
Inheriting a huge expanse of land should make him a rich and happy man; but something about this birthday, his name, and the beautiful woman whose life he has just saved, has suddenly made him - and everyone he loves - into a target.
(summary from the inside cover) This fast paced page turner from Terry Goodkind, author of the Sword of Truth series that is a definitive classic of the fantasy genre, is the first book in an anticipated trilogy.
Goodkind changes his writing style to fit into the thriller category, using shorter sentences and choppier syntax than in his other books.
He does not delve as deeply into the character development, which is fitting for the genre.
Comparatively, The Law of Nines takes a bit longer to get into the story, but once you make it through the slow beginning the action does not stop until the end.
The story takes place in our modern world, with supernatural connections to the other world in which the Sword of Truth series takes place.
Although it is a stand-alone novel, The Law of Nines parallels the Sword of Truth series, using the same last names for the main characters who are the modern-day descendants of the two main characters in the other series.
The fact that the characters are related is evident in their personalities and their reactions to the situations that they are presented with.
However, not being familiar with Goodkind's previous works does not have a detrimental effect on the reader's enjoyment of this book.
In fact, I think it would add more to the mystery element of the story.
Overall, Terry Goodkind proves able to successfully change his writing to fit into different genres while maintaining some of the aspects that make him one of the most talented fantasy writers of the day.
Just as with his other books, The Law of Nines is aimed at a mature audience who can handle the descriptions of violence and torture.
Although this book does not nearly measure up to the genius that is the Sword of Truth, it is a great beginning to Goodkind's expansion into new frontiers of the literary world.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Terry Goodkind was born in 1948 in Omaha, Nebraska.
Before he became a writer, he was a marine and wildlife artist and also built cabinets and violins.
He has dyslexia, making reading a writing a challenge, which is why he was never previously interested in a literary career.
He was living off the coast of Maine (where some of The Law of Nines takes place) when he began to write Wizard's First Rule, the first novel in the Sword of Truth series, which was published in 1994.
He went on to write twelve books in the series, which have sold over 25 million copies and have been translated into more than 20 languages.
It has also been made into a television series dubbed Legend of the Seeker.
His writing integrates philosophical and human themes into the epic fantasy genre, with absolutely remarkable character development.
He says he has been influenced by the books of Ayn Rand and her philosophical approach called Objectivism.
Objectivism is briefly defined as the belief that certain things such as moral truths exist independently of human knowledge or perception of them, focusing on what is external or independent of the mind.
The themes embedded in Goodkind's books convey morality and expose readers to ideas and outlooks on life and humanity that take the mind to another level of comprehension.
The Sword of Truth series immediately draws the reader into the story and evokes a spectrum of different emotions, and at times his vivid descriptions of evil situations can be disturbing.
These elements all add to the story, producing an all-around classic collection that is a must-read for anybody who calls themselves a fan of the literary fantasy drama.
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