In this book Goodkind regains much of the ground he lost in the previous novels, with a gripping tale filled with interesting character development, plenty of advances in the plot, but a lot of the excellence of this book works in a stand alone context. I loved this book thoroughly, though I didn't always agree with it's message. This was an excellent example of using the fiction form to tell a good story and work in a bit of philosophy, without one getting in the way of the other too much. A pity that the rest of the series never quite reaches this level of craftsmanship again. This is what we've been waiting to feel again since the first book, with magic mystery, overwhelming obstacles and truly heroic heroes blending into a great story, whether you are a fan of the series or not. And a worthy read regardless of your position on the philosophy present