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Stone of Tears (Sword of Truth #2)

by Terry Goodkind (Goodreads Author)

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 50,828 ratings · 930 reviews

Kirkus called Wizard's First Rule, Book One of The Sword of Truth, "a wonderfully creative, seamless, and stirring epic fantasy debut." Piers Anthony lauded it as "a phenomenal fantasy, endlessly inventive, that surely marks the commencement of one of the major careers in the genre. It starts in early and keeps hitting you with new magical wonders, building into a truly gr...more Kirkus called Wizard's First Rule, Book One of The Sword of Truth, "a wonderfully creative, seamless, and stirring epic fantasy debut." Piers Anthony lauded it as "a phenomenal fantasy, endlessly inventive, that surely marks the commencement of one of the major careers in the genre. It starts in early and keeps hitting you with new magical wonders, building into a truly gripping adventure."

In Wizard's First Rule, Richard Cypher's world was turned upside down. Once a simple woods guide, Richard was forced to become the Seeker of Truth, to save the world from the vile dominance of Darken Rahl, the most viciously savage and powerful wizard the world had ever seen. He was joined on this epic quest by his beloved Kahlan, the only survivor among the Confessors, who brought a powerful but benevolent justice to the land before Rahl's evil scourge. Aided by Zedd, the last of the wizards who opposed Rahl, they were able to cast him into the underworld, saving the world from the living hell of life under Rahl.

But the veil to the underworld has been torn, and Rahl, from beyond the veil, begins to summon a sinister power more dreadful than any he has wielded before. Horrifying creatures escape through the torn veil, wreaking havoc on the unsuspecting world above.

If Rahl isn't stopped, he will free the Keeper itself, an evil entity whose power is so vast and foul that once freed, it can never again be contained.

Richard and Kahlan must face Rahl and the Keeper's terrible minions. But first, Richard must endure the ministrations of the Sisters of the Light, or die from the pain of magic that is his birthright and his curse. While Richard undertakes the arduous journey to the forbidden city of the Sisters, Kahlan must embark upon a long and dangerous mission to Aydindril, citadel of the old wizards, where she hopes to find Zedd and the help only he can lend to their desperate cause.

War, suffering, torture, and deceit lie in their paths, and nothing will save them from a destiny of violent death, unless their courage and faith are joined with luck and they find the elusive...Stone of Tears.
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Hardcover, 979 pages

Published September 15th 1995 by Tor Books (first published 1995)

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May 08, 2008 Richard Houchin rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Richard: we've gone from children being brutalized to the very depths of psychosexual sadism and perversion, including copropilia and yes, a little bit of pedo/necrophilia too
Mike: pedo AND necro?
Richard: yeah
Mike: at... the same time?
Richard: yes. I feel genuinely guilty reading this book
Mike: .....
.......
Richard: it's unbelievable
Mike: Dammit amazon, why don't you have same-day shipping?
Richard: it's a book they would sell to children without carding them, but if GTA gets sold to a kid it's ho...more

15 likes · like · see review

Jul 11, 2011 Jessica rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Stone of Tears, much like its predecessor in the Sword of Truth series, was an entertaining story written in mediocre words.

The whole of the book -- or at least every other page -- is filled with sensational imagery and description. Everything about the characters and the events is passionate, desperate, and extreme. It gets a little tiring.

Even so, I enjoyed reading how various prophecies unfolded in twisted ways, I loved the boyish friendship between Richard and Gratch, and I even wept at the...more

4 likes · like · see review

Jun 13, 2013 Genesis rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Genesis by: Artemas

Shelves: high-epic-sword-and-sorcery-fantasy, epic-series-to-read-back-to-back, in-my-library, read-2013

I never read anything by Scott Lynch, but I can tell we'll get along just fine.
Why should I waste my time and paragraph space diluting my dislike (or in this case, black hatred) when there's always a Kraken that needs to be unleashed?
Wise words, Lynch. I applaud your art.

Review of Wizard's First Rule and Stone of Tears take one!

As stated above, this rant should be a combo of the first two books, but more focused on book 2 .
My problems with Stone of Tears should impact on the rating a lot more em...more

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Jul 07, 2011 Michaela Anne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This book is monsterous - considerably longer than the first book of the series, Wizard's First Rule -almost 1000 pages long. Needless to say, I never once found it boring,dull,or droning on and on. Every page and chapter in the book added something to the plot and the continuing saga of Richard and Kahlan.

The story starts right from the same time when Wizard's First Rule ended, not having to explain months or years of events that the reader didn't get to, well, read about. That always annoys m...more This book is monsterous - considerably longer than the first book of the series, Wizard's First Rule -almost 1000 pages long. Needless to say, I never once found it boring,dull,or droning on and on. Every page and chapter in the book added something to the plot and the continuing saga of Richard and Kahlan.

The story starts right from the same time when Wizard's First Rule ended, not having to explain months or years of events that the reader didn't get to, well, read about. That always annoys me when a series does that. So far, this series is made all the better because it hasn't done that.

In this book, even more than the first one, I noticed that Goodkind switches to the point of view of several other side characters - and in some cases, different villans. However, this really adds a lot more depth to the book. I like to have different perspectives on events - it just makes the book seem all the more interesting. Some of my favorite side characters were introduced - including Sister Verna, one of the Sisters of Light. I identified most with her because she is the tempermental, strong-willed kind of lady who is just trying to do her job, yet Richard (known as Richard With the Temper amongst the Mud People - and for good reason) is constantly been a stubborn ox and arguing with her about everything. Of course, I understand Richard's point of view as well. He's already half-denying that he has the magical gift,yet of course he does - but in addition he has to leave his love, Kahlan and journey to a far-off place without marrying her as planned!

Cutest character - a baby gar that Richard almost kills, but seeing the way it cries and looks up at him with those big eyes, decides to leave it be. He ends up befriending the gar, Gratch, who follows him around as a loyal friend. Awwww!♥

I also loved Warren as a character. He's the shy, mousy sort of guy who is always made fun of. However, Richard sees him as a friend and important ally, since Warren can decipher the confusing prophecies that name Richard as the "bringer of death".

And Richard certainly lives up to his title. He seems to be really accepting his role as the Seeker, and now a wizard, in this book. At times it seems like he is always intense, focused, sometimes insulting to people, and making threats to those who may count themselves as his enemies. But what really made the book interesting was how Richard seemed to be able to do everything, any challenge -including things that nobody else had done for thousands of years. Yet, he always attributes his accomplishments to luck, chance, or foolish superstitions and stories.

At the same time, I found Kahlan's story intriguing - especially with the addition of Chandalen as a stubborn and usually insulting side character. He becomes loveable though, especially when he and the reader are able to recognize how Kahlan is not only a strong woman, but a fierce war leader as well.

And the ending - well let's just say it was satisfactory - for the reader and the characters. I'm still in love with this series and am looking forward to the third book.(less)

7 likes · like · see review

Jun 30, 2009 Keely rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: childhood, fantasy, american, reviewed

It is always curious to see fantasy authors who don't consider themselves to be fantasy authors. Case-in-point: Terry Goodkind. The former landscape painter has told us how he isn't a fantasy author in every interview he's ever given:

"The books I write are first of all novels, not fantasy, and that is deliberate; I'm really writing books about human beings."(1)

"To define me as a fantasy writer is to misunderstand the context of my books by misidentifying their fundamentals."(2)

"The stories I'm t...more

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Jan 12, 2009 Jaye rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I liked the book. Although I couldn't put it down while reading, I do have some issues with it, that I can tell will bleed into the rest of the series.

1. Richard and Kahlan spend the entire book apart... This truly sucks. We spend all of WFR waiting for them to find a way to be together. They do. Then they are separated for an entire book and think the other dead. This is ridiculous, it's the exact same struggle that they go through when Richard is held by Denna. From beginning the 3rd book, I...more

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Jul 25, 2008 Ben Babcock rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Ben by: Stephanie Chow

Shelves: fantasy, borrowed, 2008-read

This book was bad. I found parts of it way better than the first book, Wizard's First Rule, and parts of it abysmal. The only saving grace was the fact that I'm a sucker for crowning moments of awesome, and this book has quite a few.

Richard seems to be turning into a Mary Sue (or Marty Stu, if you have it that way). Don't get me wrong--I love to torture a character, rip away his world, and do bad things to him in general. But you need to make them stick. When you send someone through this pain a...more

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Apr 03, 2008 Rob Towell rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: have-read

This series as a whole is very good. I found that once I picked up the first book I flew through the whole series, stopping only when I read the last one out. I then continued reading as they came out. When I started reading them their was only five books, now that the series is complete we can set the whole thing into some perspective. I will be happy to see the TV show starting fall of 2008 and hope it is as good as the books.

On the less than benign side, the author does tend to stop telling t...more This series as a whole is very good. I found that once I picked up the first book I flew through the whole series, stopping only when I read the last one out. I then continued reading as they came out. When I started reading them their was only five books, now that the series is complete we can set the whole thing into some perspective. I will be happy to see the TV show starting fall of 2008 and hope it is as good as the books.

On the less than benign side, the author does tend to stop telling the story and start preaching pretty often in the books. The books were written by a Moral Relativist in the style of Ann Rand and he tends to spend what seems to be about 20% of each book preaching this message of Objectivism. As someone solid in my faith and not very sensitive to other view points it did not affect me and I was able to continue reading, however I have met people who hated it based solely on the authors preaching and others who loved it for the same.

The Books bounce from Great to below average and back up to great again as you read through the series. I found Wizards First Rule, Blood of the Fold and Faith of the fallen were all five star books worth every minute spent reading them. While Stone of Tears, Soul of the Fire and Naked Empire were a waste of time all together. The rest of the series I would consider a three star series worth the time to read, but nothing special.

A strength of the Author is that he has the ability to articulate well and balances the need to describe a setting whether it be a city tavern or palace with enough detail for you to feel like you are there while not rambling on forever without focus. His ability to engage you in the emotion of the character at the time and create exciting scenes of both political and martial nature is impressive. I plan to read his other books as soon as I get a chance.

A weakness of the author is he seems to give the Protagonist powers and abilities just so he can think of a way to take them away. It also seems that all the other characters in the book only exist as contrast for the Protagonist (Richard). Also the scope of power available to the characters varies greatly by plot and this can be very frustrating if you keep track of stuff like that. Or if you are like me and try to solve the problem in you mind before seeing what the protagonist does.

My only technical peeve with these books was the inconsistent nature of the way Magic/Powers worked and how they interrelate, which also focused heavily on every new power introduce was a trump over every other power.

All in all though there are good and bad things in these books they are overall very good.
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Feb 02, 2009 Andrew rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, high-fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

10 likes · like · see review

Aug 08, 2009 Kegel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I like this better than the first book, although it still has some of the flaws of that one. It is really long and drags in the middle part (too much backstory, too much being 'on the way' to what I felt to be the main plot). It really picks up in the latter part, but then the resolution of the main conflict is done in the course of very few pages, which was a bit disappointing after I hadn't been able to put down the book before because it had become so suspenseful!
The writing itself is okay......more

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Dec 03, 2008 Blake rated it 4 of 5 stars

Goodkind really knows how to weave a storyline with realistic characters in situations that build and build and build, seemingly with no end in sight. As in every great fantasy epic, the realms of the supernatural, the extranatural, and the purely human are explored in depth. Every book in this series rings with human experiences spiced with just enough action and intrigue.

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 07, 2013 Al added it · review of another edition

SUMMARY: In Wizard's First Rule, Richard Cypher's world was turned upside down. Once a simple woods guide, Richard was forced to become the Seeker of Truth, to save the world from the vile dominance of Darken Rahl, the most viciously savage and powerful wizard the world had ever seen. He was joined on this epic quest by his beloved Kahlan, the only survivor among the Confessors, who brought a powerful but benevolent justice to the land before Rahl's evil scourge. Aided by Zedd, the last of the w

...more

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Jan 05, 2011 Brian rated it 3 of 5 stars

Book 2:

same flaws - very overly melodramatic for stupid reasons. Obvious plot twists to increase melodrama. Decent page turner. A little better than the first. Tries to blur good vs evil but fails miserably as people are still end up being good or evil and good always prevails. Not a lot of depth to the story or characters (no real intricate plotting??)

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Feb 23, 2009 Nathan rated it 4 of 5 stars

+970 pages. Have you ever watched a movie that was paced and characterized well until the very end? Then it wraps-up so quickly you can't help but think the production team just ran-out of money?That is this book. 5 pages before the end, the protagonist still has no idea how to resolve the issues he's been coping with throughout the entire book. Ditto the secondary charcters. 5 pages out, no one has any idea how to resolve their problems, then suddenly the protagonist slays about a hundred baddi...more

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May 27, 2013 Evan Quade rated it 2 of 5 stars

Wizard's First Rule, fantastic. It was a well-made start for a long series.

But Stone of Tears, the story didn't somehow go straight forward to carry on with more events. I thought I was going to be reading the most epic ever. It's a big disappointment when I make a goal for a series and get lead to disaster. It's like I was wasting too much time reading through far too much full details on different characters when we pretty much know their personalities and natures by now. We the readers want t...more

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Mar 19, 2013 Kara Prem rated it 5 of 5 stars

I think I enjoy this book more as a re-read, I can relax and know that the story will work itself out, without worrying about the complications.

Richard has not yet fully come to terms with who he is, and just wants to marry Kahlan and return to a simpler life. Maybe it won't be so simple since she's the Mother Confessor, but still, no more races against death. Yeah right.

Richard's magic is waking up and he has no idea how to wield it. To save him, Kahlan turns Richard over to the Sisters of the...more

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Dec 27, 2012 Helena Magalhães rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is the second book in «The Sword of Truth» series and I think I liked it even more than the first one. This time Richard, Kahlan and Zedd are separated from each other and have to deal with their own adventures in order to be together again. Kahlan stands out as an amazing feminine character, more similar to the one portrayed in «The Legend of the Seeker» TV series.
This is the kind of book that independently of its thickness you simply can’t put it down and lasts only for a couple of days....more

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Nov 26, 2012 Kevin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Kevin by: Michael Hamilton

I "read" this book solely because it was one of the few audiobooks that I possessed, and I wanted something to fill my mind as I hiked for exercise. I read the first book in the series, Wizard's First Rule, for the same reason.
Both did a very good job of making boring tasks more tolerable. The author keeps your attention with a tricky and involved plot, rather overwrought suspense, hints of sex, and plenty of violence.
But both books were somewhat embarrassing to have read. The writing and wish...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Lisa (Harmonybites) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, novels

I have to admit--I rather giggle at some of the rather snarky reviews of this book. There are times I found this book cheesy, and its sadomasochistic touches disturbing. Enough that I feel a bit sheepish I do like it that much (after book 7 I didn't like the series at all, so fair warning) but yes, overall I did greatly enjoy this sequel to Wizard's First Rule--and that book I loved.

A blurb for that first book from Piers Anthony called the book "endlessly inventive" and I do think that's a lot o...more

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Sep 24, 2012 Gabriel C. rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, 2012

Trigger warning.

Oh man! I filled both sides of an envelope with incomprehensible scribblings about how much this book sucked. I want to see how far I can get without referring to it, and then we'll see just how much I have forgotten. It's hard to say how long I can take this. What was this book, like 900 pages? 979, it seems. There are ten more in the series. 9000 pages, huh? Each one of these is more than half as long as War and Peace. Christ. While I was googling to try to figure that out, I r...more Trigger warning.

Oh man! I filled both sides of an envelope with incomprehensible scribblings about how much this book sucked. I want to see how far I can get without referring to it, and then we'll see just how much I have forgotten. It's hard to say how long I can take this. What was this book, like 900 pages? 979, it seems. There are ten more in the series. 9000 pages, huh? Each one of these is more than half as long as War and Peace. Christ. While I was googling to try to figure that out, I ran into a blog with Terry Goodkind quotes that indicate he's as full of himself as he seems in his authorial voice. Wow, he's just breathtakingly deluded if he thinks of himself as anything other than a tired hack regurgitating the same weak stew that has kept fantasy in business for the last fifty years or more.

So let me start with his obsession with children of rape. The rape itself is really disturbing, both his insistent focus on it and his extremely careful assurance that none of the main characters be violated in this way. I don't mean disturbing in any literary sense. I mean disturbing in making me wonder what Terry Goodkind thinks about over there in the Western U.S. all the time. The weird prostitute thing doesn't help. I totally agree that some people would be into prostitutes and a ton of casual sex if all that were available to them. But the idea that every single wizard, every single guardsman, whatever, would not just be into prostitutes, but be so into them that they'd drop their duties for a dude who'd buy them hookers... (Let me not get into the unbelievability of the premise that no one else had considered doing this, say, the Sisters of the Dark for one... I'm trying to talk about his sexuality here). Does he think that basically every man everywhere is ruled only by his libido? Every evil man? It's a very strange idea that all the refugees from a sacked city would be raped women. If everyone is supposed to be dead, then let everyone be dead. It's just strange, he doesn't just want rape to be part of the plot, he wants to dwell on the rape, almost lovingly. The way one persons hands are tied. The way another is bent over a piece of furniture. Okay, and the repetitive use of children of rape as a thing. Women who think of themselves as violated, who are counseled by the wise protagonist to think of pregnancy as a gift, who eventually, humbled, come to agree. Sounds rotten, really rotten, to me.

Okay, what else? I don't want this to be all about the sex. It's incredibly tedious, the insistence on monogamy. I thought for just the shortest of instants there was going to be a chance with the weird noble savage arranged marriage thing, but of course not. Well, he has 10 more books to suck less. Yeah right. The blogger has sunk my hope of that.

Here's another terrible little thing. How about you're an intelligent humanoid, maybe a little stupider than a human, way smarter than an animal. Let's say that you're a baby and someone comes along and kills your mother in front of you. How about you fixate on that person, love that person with an unconditional, unrequited, all-consuming love for the rest of your life. How about that?

All right, I'm sick of guessing, let's see what else I've got. Oh yeah, how about, man, oh man, how about you're new in town, you've caused a bunch of people to die, and when someone complains, you tell them if they open their mouth even to apologize for the rest of the day, you'll kill them? And mean it. That sounds really cool.

How about the symbolism of having the sisters of the light not knowing anything about horses, loving their hierarchy so much that they don't know anything outside of it. That's not a straw man, I'd bet. The characterization of bad guys in general is terrible. They're all deluded fools devoted to the Keeper, half mad and all violent. There is not a hint of nuance.

Man this book is disappearing in a haze! These notes mean nothing to me. Oh, more noxious things. The good guys laughing it up at the idea of hanging a man to death for swearing in front of the queen. Good guys losing their shit in anger that someone else did something they didn't know was wrong because they weren't warned. Good guys keeping stupid, stupid secrets from one another.

Let's turn to the plot. There are so many holes! I won't list all the people who know things they couldn't or the people who don't know things they must. Let's not discuss the many, many, examples of people impetuously stepping on their own feet by rushing into situations and doing something without checking the situation first. You'd think that people who were trained to lead and used to the yoke of rulership would learn not to do that. Maybe by book seven. No, let's focus on the big ones. The Dei ex machina. Need to get somewhere really fast? Here. Need to break this evil old spell? There. Need to flush out a coven? Destroy an invading army? Done, done, done.

The more I write here, the more afraid I am of what I'll find when I turn to the Wheel of Time, which I still remember with fondness. I think the only trash fantasy I still remember with actual fondness is that series and just the Magician books by R. E. Feist, nothing past that first book (or two books whatever).(less)

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Sep 15, 2012 Philippe Lhoste rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, roman

Peut-être ne sachant pas s'il aurait assez de succès pour écrire un deuxième tome, l'auteur avait fini le premier tome de façon relativement fermée : le méchant était mort, le monde était sauvé. Je me demandais ce qu'il y aurait dans le second tome...
C'est simple : une menace encore pire sur le monde, un méchant encore plus puissant (et moins atteignable), un monde élargi, avec de nouveaux peuples, et plein de nouvelles avanies pour les héros.
Et l'auteur conclut son histoire dans ce tome, tout e...more

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Jul 27, 2012 Craig rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review should not be construed as a negative one, even though this book is the one that made me decide not to read anymore of the series. Again, the characters are interesting except for the villains. You never really grow to have any feeling for them whatsoever, they just don't have any depth. The plot is ok and flows fairly well, the problem is it is another book where the heroes are dogged by world-ending catastrophe that is only loosely related to the first book. On the face, that is no...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Sakura87 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: autori-nordamericani

Seconda regola del mago: le migliori intenzioni possono generare i danni più grandi.

Avevamo lasciato Richard Cypher, al termine del primo volume, in volo sul drago Scarlet con l’amata Kahlan, felice di aver impedito la distruzione del mondo per opera del mago Rahl e per aver scoperto in sé il modo di potersi congiungere alla sua innamorata senza essere assoggettato dai suoi poteri di Depositaria.
La saga è composta da undici volumi, quindi era prevedibile che la loro serenità non sarebbe durata a...more Seconda regola del mago: le migliori intenzioni possono generare i danni più grandi.

Avevamo lasciato Richard Cypher, al termine del primo volume, in volo sul drago Scarlet con l’amata Kahlan, felice di aver impedito la distruzione del mondo per opera del mago Rahl e per aver scoperto in sé il modo di potersi congiungere alla sua innamorata senza essere assoggettato dai suoi poteri di Depositaria.
La saga è composta da undici volumi, quindi era prevedibile che la loro serenità non sarebbe durata a lungo, ma certo nessuno si sarebbe mai aspettato che il secondo libro iniziasse poche ore dopo la conclusione del primo, senza cioè un attimo di pace per gli sventurati protagonisti. Così è, invece: Zedd si ritrova nei Giardini della Vita con la scatola dell’Orden aperta e una strana pietra nera in mano, senza sapere cosa farne o come liberarsene. Ci vuole molta poca immaginazione per comprendere che questo è l’inizio di un nuovo pericolo: ben presto si scopre che Richard, consentendo a Rahl di aprire la scatola sbagliata per annientarlo, ha invece cacciato il mondo in un pericolo ben più grande, lacerando il Velo che separa il mondo dei morti da quello dei vivi, esponendo quest’ultimo alla minaccia del Guardiano. Per di più, a Richard non è concessa nemmeno una misera notte d’amore con la sua donna, perché diviene preda di insostenibili mal di testa, e prima che si possano celebrare le loro nozze presso il Popolo del Fango, giungono tre donne con un’inquietante offerta: Richard rischia di essere ucciso dai suoi mal di testa, chiara rivelazione che possiede il Dono del mago, se non imparerà a controllare i suoi poteri nascenti. Per farlo, dovrà recarsi nella lontanissima Tanimura, nel Vecchio Mondo, dove sorge la sede dell’ordine delle Sorelle della Luce, e indossare un collare che contenga i suoi poteri finché le Sorelle non gli avranno insegnato a usarli. Richard ha solo tre possibilità di accettare, ma dopo aver rifiutato le prime due e dopo essere stato marchiato dallo spirito di Darken Rahl, da lui inavvertitamente evocato, che rivela la nuova minaccia, Kahlan decide di spingerlo a ogni costo ad accettare l’ultima offerta, spezzandogli il cuore nonostante sappia i patimenti dell'uomo quando ha indossato il collare di Denna.
Partito Richard con l’ultima sorella, Kahlan non può fare altro che correre in cerca di Zedd.

Questa è solo una minima introduzione a tutte le nuove peripezie che Goodkind ha inventato per i suoi personaggi. C’è da dirlo, l’inventiva non gli manca di certo: gli episodi sono numerosi e diversificati, alcuni molto appassionanti e veramente ben narrati. Tanto per citarne uno, un lungo capitolo è dedicato alla descrizione di una città distrutta e saccheggiata da un esercito, con la minuta rappresentazione dei cadaveri e degli scempi che sono stati compiuti sugli abitanti. Altri sono dedicati agli scontri delle giovani reclute sopravvissute, guidate da Kahlan, per indebolire l’armata nemica.
L’evidente difetto di questo libro è la prolissità, soprattutto quella della parte iniziale: occorrono più di trecento pagine (per lo più inutili) per entrare nel vivo della narrazione. Superato il lunghissimo incipit, però, il libro ingrana improvvisamente e le centinaia di pagine centrali volano, fino alla gradevole conclusione che, nonostante ci troviamo appena all’inizio della saga, dona un finale chiuso al romanzo.
Diversamente dal primo volume, si riduce l’attenzione dedicata ai personaggi secondari (Chase, Zedd, Adie, Rachel) a favore dei due protagonisti, su cui adesso si può iniziare a formulare un giudizio (sia pure meramente soggettivo): da lettrice di un discreto numero di fantasy, posso dire che la continua ripetizione della bellezza dei protagonisti -specialmente lei- risulta oltremodo irritante.
Sappiamo che lui è attraente e affascinante, e d'accordo, è persino normale che in luogo in cui ci sono moltissime donne e pochi maschi lui possa identificarsi con l'Alfa da cui tutte gradirebbero farsi dare una bella botta per generare uno splendido erede. E' anche normale che venga sempre sottolineata la bellezza dei capelli di Kahlan, in un mondo dove la loro lunghezza ha a che fare con lo status sociale. Ma che venga ribadito di continuo quanto bello sia il suo volto, quanto sodo il suo nobile deretano, quanto prosperoso il suo seno e quanto alta e snella la sua figura –che il personaggio permette generosamente di ammirare cavalcando smaliziatamene ignuda alla testa di un esercito-, direi che è un clichè su cui nel primo libro si può anche sorvolare, ma nel secondo, essendo già ben chiaro il concetto, è imperdonabile.
A differenza di Richard, le cui sventure lo rendono oltremodo simpatico al lettore in virtù del fatto che trascorre molto meno tempo a piangersi addosso di quanto si possa pensare, Kahlan appare irrimediabilmente detestabile; forse calcando meno la mano sul suo aspetto si sarebbe potuto evitare quest’effetto, ma non è l’unico problema: lei sa fare ogni cosa in ogni situazione. Ha grandi poteri, è sempre saggia (o almeno convinta di esserlo, perché spesso le conseguenze delle sue azioni smentiscono questa presunta saggezza), presuntuosa salvo poi piangersi addosso perché tutti la temono in quanto Madre Depositaria e non la trattano da donna, grande condottiera, grande stratega, grande consigliera. Si dà sempre da fare per agire in prima persona, con il risultato di rischiare nell’ordine la verginità e la pelle (sua e di chi la accompagna). Nel caso in cui ve lo state chiedendo, si salva sempre per il rotto della cuffia, e sempre grazie ad un aiuto esterno giunto mentre cercava di prendere tempo.
Tuttavia, ma non certo grazie alla sua presenza, i capitoli dedicati a Kahlan sono tra i migliori del romanzo.
I personaggi -com’è ovvio che sia- si sono evoluti rispetto al primo romanzo: il pericolo delle grandi saghe, però, è che tornino al punto di partenza per poi subire un’ulteriore evoluzione, dunque occorreranno gli altri volumi per scoprire se Terry Goodkind sarà in grado di mantenere costante la loro crescita. In questo secondo romanzo si è già sfiorato il pericolo, quando, dopo un volume e mezzo in cui dovrebbe essere ormai indubbio l’amore dei due protagonisti, basta un nulla per incrinare il loro rapporto e far credere a Richard di non essere abbastanza per lei. Occorreranno circa cinquecento pagine perché il protagonista comprenda ciò che il lettore ha capito immediatamente, e cioè che quello dell’amata Kahlan è stato un sacrificio per il suo bene.

Per farla breve, il secondo volume della Spada della verità è consigliato (e lo sarebbe stato ancor più con quattrocento pagine in meno): da metà in poi supera in capacità di appassionare il lettore anche il primo volume.
Il pericolo di dovermi ricredere sulla saga, visto il numero di volumi e di pagine, è alto, ma voglio essere ottimista.(less)

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Jun 15, 2012 Steve Battisti rated it 2 of 5 stars

I started this on a flight to California recently, having mistakenly skipped the first one in the series. (Aside: Why oh why is it SO DARNED HARD TO TELL when you have picked up book #5 in a series? So many stupid paperbacks don't include this information on the cover, the flap, or anywhere. Grrr.)

Anyway, this book is the novel equivalent of, well, of the low budget TV show they made out of it. There were a few times where I liked a turn of phrase, and it is partially catchy story. The thing is,...more

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May 27, 2012 Jake Scholl rated it 3 of 5 stars

Note: I would read book one first entitled Wizard's First Rule.

I don't usually read books over 800 pages. Why? Because I get bored. That is why I don't read Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time saga anymore. By no means are Jordan's books badly written, I just get confused with which character does what.

When I started Terry Goodkind's gigantic Sword of Truth saga, I was worried he'd confuse me later. Thankfully, he did not. He kept me on my toes throughout Wizard's First Rule , throwing shocker after...more

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Feb 28, 2012 Corey Sanders rated it 3 of 5 stars

Reading the first two books of the Sword of Truth series has been like looking at a beautiful picture through tinted, muddied class. Goodkind has fantastic ideas, but they are hidden behind some of the worse writing I've ever experienced. Its like he missed writing class the day they taught show don't tell. There just isn't any mystery to his stories. He weaves a tale that is fun and fast-paced, full of imagination, but lacking intrigue. Everything is pretty much just as it seems and Goodkind is...more

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Dec 21, 2011 Kathy Davie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, urban

Second in the Sword of Truth fantasy adventure series (you may know it by its television series name, Legend of the Seeker).

My Take
It's one of those epic stories...979 pages is pretty epic! And, fortunately, Goodkind covers so much ground and we get a big chunk of resolution. Of course, he does set us up with two new challenges for future installments. I know it will be worth it though as Goodkind has created a huge cast of amazing characters with a wide range of values from truly evil to inc...more

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Sep 27, 2011 Eric rated it 2 of 5 stars

I read this a couple years after the first book of the series, Wizard's First Rule, which I remembered enjoying very much. Unfortunately, Stone of Tears didn't live up to expectations. The dialog is wooden at best, and I endured many a scene of one character telling another in excruciating detail about something that other character already knows in order to bring the reader into the loop - a very poor technique, in my opinion. (Richard's point-by-point exposition of Kahlan's powers, TO Kahlan h...more

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Aug 05, 2011 T. M. rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Darker than the first, but there are some lighter moments, such as with the baby Gar that Richard befriends, Gratch.

Kahlan and Richard are about to be wed when they are torn apart by the Sisters of the Light and Richard's terrifying headaches. Kahlan journeys off to help stop a brewing war, casting Richard aside in a cruel manner to help protect him. Meanwhile, Zed has to keep everything under control when creatures of the Underworld begin to attack.

A long follow-up to the first novel.The endi...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Steve Cran added it · review of another edition

Richard Cypher aka Richard Rahl has defeated his evil father by using the Wizard's First Rule and having him open the wrong box of Orden. But all is not well. The veil between the living and the Underworld has been torn and the Keeper wants to take over our world. THe story opens in the People's Palace of Dhara. Richard is the new emperor but he is reluctant to assume the throne. In fact he is with the Mud people. Zed the wizard, Chase and his newly adopted daugthter are in the people's palace w...more Richard Cypher aka Richard Rahl has defeated his evil father by using the Wizard's First Rule and having him open the wrong box of Orden. But all is not well. The veil between the living and the Underworld has been torn and the Keeper wants to take over our world. THe story opens in the People's Palace of Dhara. Richard is the new emperor but he is reluctant to assume the throne. In fact he is with the Mud people. Zed the wizard, Chase and his newly adopted daugthter are in the people's palace when a vile creature from the underworld called a Screeling is let lose in the people palace. It kills many people and injures them as well. It is is finally killed when Zed heats up the water and somehow freezes the Screeling. Only then can it be killed. After this episode Zed realizes that the has to travel all the way to Aydindril.

Kahalan the mother confessor and Richard end up with the Mud people. Scarlett a red Dragon flies them their. Richard can call upon the dragon any time. Scarlett hated Darken Rahl. While hanging out with the Mudpeople Kahlan and Richard formulate wedding plans. These get scuddled when the sisters of light show up offering Richard a way to deal with his heaqaches caused by his newly emerging subractive and additive magical abilities. THe headaches he is told could kill him. Wedding plans scuttled and Richard is collared with a Rada Han. Sister Verna escorts him through the lost desert, the land of the Majendie and Du Chaillu's land. Richard is rebelious at having to where the collar and fights it every step of the way.
Zed meets with his own adventure. He hooks up with an old freind Adie and both are attacked by a creature from the underworld called a Skrin. The bite makes them sick and the cure causes them to forget who they are. THey wont recover their memories untiol they reach Adydindril.

Kahlan after setting Richard off to the Palace of the prorphets heads to Aydindril. Along the way she must battle a new threat, the new inperial order wghich ravages any city that resists it. Kahaln and a stalwart army take the battle to the New world order but once in Aydindril kahlan is in for a surprise. She is accused of treason and murder and is publicly executed in front of everyone, or so they think. Richard eventually gets free from the Palace and the ending I wil leave to you to read.(less)

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About Terry Goodkind

Terry Goodkind is a contemporary American writer and author of the best-selling epic fantasy series, The Sword of Truth, creator of the television show The Legend of the Seeker, and writer of the self-published epic, The First Confessor: The Legend of Magda Searus (a prequel and origin story of the first Mother Confessor). He has over 20 million copies in print and has been translated into more th...more

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Books by Terry Goodkind

Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth, #1)

Temple of the Winds (Sword of Truth, #4)

Faith of the Fallen (Sword of Truth, #6)

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“The Second Rule is that the greatest harm can result from the best intentions. It sounds a paradox, but kindness and good intentions can be an insidious path to destruction. Sometimes doing what seems right is wrong, and can cause harm. The only counter to it is knowledge, wisdom, forethought, and understanding the First Rule. Even then, that is not always enough.” — 139 people liked it

“We all can be only who we are, no more, no less.” — 95 people liked it

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Stone of Tears (Sword of Truth #2)

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