Temple of the Winds

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Return to the world of Richard Cypher, whose adventures have stirred the blood and filled the hearts of legions of satisfied readers. When Richard was a simple woods guide, he never dreamed he would get caught up in magic, war, and dangers so extraordinary that the fate of his entire world would hang on his actions and decisions. Over the course of his journeys Richard learned to accept his true role, first as the Seeker and the wielder of the Sword of Truth, and then, in Stone of Tears, as the new Lord Rahl and the war wizard who led the fight against the Keeper and his dark minions. Everything Richard has learned thus far, all the wisdom, the magic, and the conviction he holds, will be for naught as the power-mad Emperor Jagang returns with his multitude of demonic underlings. For Richard must now challenge the impossible: the magic that thwarts magic, the three-thousand-years-sealed-away fortress of evil that has begun to infect the world with a terrible, sorcerous plague. He must find the Temple of the Winds. But once the shadow of betrayal falls across that mission, Richard must accept the Truth and find a way to undo the damage...or his world will perish.

FROM THE CRITICS

VOYA - Elaine McGuire

In this Book Four of the Sword of Truth series, Richard the Seeker (also Lord Rahl and megapowerful Wizard) must fulfill a bound fork prophecy (meaning one of two unavoidable paths will happen). One fork takes him to the legendary Temple to cure the world of a deadly plague caused by nasty Emperor Jagang, but this same fork also promises the betrayal of his beloved Kahlan, the Mother Confessor. Bound to duty, Richard and Kahlan choose to save the world (how nice) and lose each other. Kahlan marries the feigning good but really bad half-brother Drefan Rahl, and Richard takes the plague into himself. Meanwhile, the ancient wizard Zedd and Sister (of the Light) Ann are captured by a procession of tribal peoples who threaten to sacrifice and/or enslave them, but the pair acts so goofy the natives think their gods would not be satisfied. Subplots abound (involving sisters of the Dark and the Light, Prophets, political conspiracies against Richard, etc.), and it is miraculous that all the strands come together neatly at the end. The author must have one heck of an outline. Richard's haphazard but effective powers, plus a healthy dose of wit help keep the book surprisingly light. This definitely is for readers who already love this series. (An untidy thread does exist, of course, promising a Book Five, featuring a freed Keeper of the Underworld, perhaps?). VOYA Codes: 4Q 2P S (Better than most, marred only by occasional lapses, For the YA with a special interest in the subject, Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).

AudioFile - Susan C. Awe

Dick Hill�s incredibly dramatic reading of this fourth book of The Sword of Truth series transports listeners to Richard Cypher�s world. Richard, the Seeker of Truth, is caught up in a world of magic, war and extraordinary dangers. His actions and decisions determine the fate of this world! Hill builds the suspense and intrigue of Goodkind�s stirring and complex epic; his vocal depiction of the power-mad Emperor Jagang is evil personified. Hill�s voices bring the stress, fear and distress of these characters to the listeners and wrap them in the evil that is the Temple of the Winds fortress. Will Richard and his beloved Kahlan Amnell save the day, or will Jagang triumph? Stay tuned! S.C.A. �AudioFile, Portland, Maine

San Diego Union Tribune

Terry Goodkind once again demonstrates that fantasy writing works as a vehicle for exploring adult themes. While employing all of the action and magic typical of the genre, he incorporates a rare sense of realism. Characters laugh, make love and die unexpectedly and brutally.

Kirkus Reviews

Another independently intelligible doorstopper addition to Goodkind's Sword of Truth series (Blood of the Fold, 1996, etc.). This time, sword-wielder and wizard Richard Rahl, his warrior beloved Kahlan, grandfather Zedd, and the rest of the cast are threatened by the Imperial Order and their dream walker, Jagang, who sends a wizard-assassin, Marlin, to kill Richard. Meanwhile, old flame Nadine, befuddled by a witch, shows up intending to marry Richard; close behind comes the healer Drefan, Richard's half- brother. Marlin/Jagang announces gleefully that he's caught Richard in a "bound fork prophesy," a fancy way of saying heads I win, tails you lose.

Another one for the fans.