Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
TOR Fantasy (1996), 979 pages
Description
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.… (more)
Media reviews
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Enjoyed the book, but cringed constantly at the similarity between this book at the Wheel of Time series by robert jordan.
Sisters, Novices, Sisters of the dark, Men being collared, the keeper, the seals.
there was more but can;t think of them at the moment.
BEsides this it was still an easy read
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and i rarely put it down :) Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member JohnMunsch
The author seems absolutely determined to just keep stacking the deck up against the good guys until it just gets ridiculous. He strives perhaps overly hard to make their quest seem absolutely hopeless in the hope that that will make their ultimate success that much more... moving, thrilling, what?
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Anyway, it does seem a little forced at times but I still enjoyed it. Show Less
LibraryThing member teharhynn
Awesome-Tastic. The story got a bit diluted with Richards wanderings in the middle, but it really picked up in the end. It was heart-wrenching in many places, but there was a good mix of humor in others. All the characters that you know and love feel that they could die at any minute. I got to the
I will definetly read the next one. Toasted-Toads Truth.
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middle, and couldn't put it down. I will definetly read the next one. Toasted-Toads Truth.
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LibraryThing member soliloquies
The writing has improved slightly with this one, but you can't really take them seriously. Poor old Richard seems destined to be tortured by every woman he meets. This is only book two, but they seem to be following a pattern of woe, disaster and then Richard saving the day at the very last minute.
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Ah well, sometimes you need books like this to read... Show Less
LibraryThing member librarymeg
Stone of Tears is the second volume in Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, and it has all the same characteristics as the first. It's intricately plotted, speeds along at a quick pace, and develops your affection for the characters. It also covers a lot more of the world Terry Goodkind has
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built, introducing new lands and people into the struggle for the fate of the world. This book, and the series as a whole, has the tendency to stress me out. I'm never sure how or when Goodkind will resolve the seemingly insurmountable obstacles he places in the path of his characters. As stressed as I get, though, I wouldn't have it any other way. Highly recommended to fans of epic fantasy. Show Less
LibraryThing member andrewt93
This book is about Richard Rahl tearing the veil and him being unwilling taken to the Palace of Prophets where he is supposed to learn how to control his gift. This book is just as good as the first and everything is getting more complex than before. This book also has a good lesson about people:
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kindness and good intentions can be an insidious path to destruction. If you like fantasy then this is a good book for you to read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Crewman_Number_6
This series has promise, but the sappy love story sometimes is distracting. It is unbelievable for me that a man would mope so much "She sent me away, boo hoo" boring after the 10th time. Also, with all the annoying prophecy loops, I kind of felt like I was in a bad Star Trek episode--can't violate
All in all, it was readable and I will continue with the series.
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the space time continuum.All in all, it was readable and I will continue with the series.
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LibraryThing member megdutch91
Wow. It just keeps getting worse.
This book really just went downhill from the already bad first one. I found myself skimming just to make it through with my sanity... it was just too much.
I will NOT be continuing this series. Ever. I regret buying the first three. I had a (false) hope that they
This book really just went downhill from the already bad first one. I found myself skimming just to make it through with my sanity... it was just too much.
I will NOT be continuing this series. Ever. I regret buying the first three. I had a (false) hope that they
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would get better, but sadly, this is not the case... Show Less
LibraryThing member harpua
Book 2 in this series starts immediately after the ending of book 1. We begin to see the relationship between Richard and Kahlan grow even further and even more complex throughout this book and the book focuses on the two characters trials and seperation from one another. Richard becomes more cold
Overall the book was good and continues the story along nicely. While a second book never has complete resolutions, they should have some on some minor plot points….this one does, but it seems that things were wrapped up simply because of page count. While I hate to say this on an 11 book series, there are many points in this book that I think could have been expanded on and ideas and thoughts delved into a bit deeper. Having said that, a very well written book and still pretty quick read.
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(and if I recall he continues to grow more cold and distant throughout the series), but this fits in with his roll as a war wizard (as well as a bit of an unstable emotions — Richard really needs to take some anger management classes).Overall the book was good and continues the story along nicely. While a second book never has complete resolutions, they should have some on some minor plot points….this one does, but it seems that things were wrapped up simply because of page count. While I hate to say this on an 11 book series, there are many points in this book that I think could have been expanded on and ideas and thoughts delved into a bit deeper. Having said that, a very well written book and still pretty quick read.
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LibraryThing member Karlstar
This is a promising continuation to the series that started with Wizard's First Rule. Richard and Kahlan must confront new challenges, as you might expect. This book is dynamic and interesting, though at times a bit harsh.
LibraryThing member ovistine
Second in the "Sword of Truth" series, this one follows Richard and Kahlan as Richard discovers -- and learns to use -- his gift for magic, while Kahlan discovers a powerful new enemy in the world of men. This book is probably most memorable for Kahlan's charge into battle with the young men of
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Galea, but it's also the first time we meet Nathan Rahl (who is not in the book enough by far!). Show Less
LibraryThing member lostinmyownlibrary
Richard and Kahlen's second adventure in the Sword of Truth series. Beginning right after the events of the first book, the story is written well enough that you don't even need to read the first one but you will get more enjoyment if you do.
LibraryThing member janemarieprice
The second in the Sword of the Truth series is not outstanding in any way, but there was more action than the first which made the pace better for me. The world is very detailed – I assume it gets only more so as the series goes on. While the undying love story does not dominate the story
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completely, it is over the top and produces some cringe-worthy dialog. Show Less
LibraryThing member jenreidreads
At first, I couldn't help but compare this book to Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time. So many aspects felt so similar, particularly the Sisters of the Light (Aes Sedai). But then I wondered if that's really so bad...what if I had read this series before WoT? I would have thought differently. And by the
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end, things felt sufficiently different, and the story really picked up so that I just wanted to keep reading. Definitely a good installment in this series, and I look forward to continuing it. Show Less
LibraryThing member DavidBurrows
If anything, better than Wizard’s First Rule. A really good plot. Lots of good characters. It switches between subplots well and keeps you wanting more. As per the first book, quite a long book but it keeps you hooked. Very well written and easy to read. I really liked some of the characters.
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I’d recommend this. Again, lots of fresh ideas. Show Less
LibraryThing member seekermaniac
evan better so far i love the details the author gives in this book,its a good action packed novel,read it!!!
LibraryThing member Rosaz
Shades of Lord of the Rings! In the second installment of the Sword of Truth Series, the intrepid trio are separated, and spend almost 1000 pages trying to find each other. Richard is sent to school, Zed wanders around, and Kahlan has the knuckle-biting adventures. Stone of Tears is slow to start,
The Mord-Sith are absent until the end of the book, but the author turns his love of sadistic sex to Kahlan, placing her in danger of gang rape over and over. After awhile, I was screaming, Oh no, not again!
If you enjoyed Wizards First Rule, and were not queasy with the unrelenting sadism of that book, I can recommend Stone of Tears. Otherwise, stop at Wizard's First Rule or you will be saying, "now why did I read this book and put those images into my head?".
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but the action picks up in the second half of the book and moves at a fast pace to the conclusion. The Mord-Sith are absent until the end of the book, but the author turns his love of sadistic sex to Kahlan, placing her in danger of gang rape over and over. After awhile, I was screaming, Oh no, not again!
If you enjoyed Wizards First Rule, and were not queasy with the unrelenting sadism of that book, I can recommend Stone of Tears. Otherwise, stop at Wizard's First Rule or you will be saying, "now why did I read this book and put those images into my head?".
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LibraryThing member dbhutch
The Stone of Tears, the second book of Goodkind's epic, takes the reader forward, introuducing Richard to himself as a wizard, learning his ancestry, and being taken from all that he loves to be trapped in time by the Sisters of the Light. We also get introduced to the real threat in Richard's
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world, the Imperial Order, and its radical followers. Kahlan commits the Midlands to war, and finds herself betrayed. An excellent sequel to Wizards First rule. Show Less
LibraryThing member Cecilia_Hardy
The Stone of Tears did not flow as well as the first book did to me. Unlike the first book, I was able to put The Stone of Tears down and forget about it. It took me a month just to finish the book; not due to a lack of time, but a lack of interest. It just didn't intrigue or capture me like the
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first book. The ending, however, did pull me in and I will be reading the third book because of this. Show Less
LibraryThing member SonicQuack
To produce a second Sword of Truth story which manages to stay fresh for over a thousand pages proves that Terry Goodkind is a very talented author. There is so little rehash of the first novel that Stone of Tears could be read standalone, although there's value in reading The Sword of Truth first
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in terms of understanding the back-story and characters. Almost the whole cast of the first story as brought back in to play against the forces of the Keeper, with the action centring around Richard the Seeker and Kahlan the Mother Confessor. Their separate arcs are both interesting and unpredictable, neither suitable for younger readers. The character development is excellent, with no clumsy flashbacks or chapters filled with historical content. Readers get to know the main characters through conversation, reflection upon actions happening to them and by small nuances cleverly woven in to the narrative. Effectively this means there is no padding in the massive tome, so don't expect to rush through Stone of Tears, it's a book to be savoured. Show Less
LibraryThing member christinelstanley
After giving up on this book about a third into it, a reviewer pointed out that I'd missed the best of it, so I picked it up again and discovered they were right. Thank you for that.
This is the second sword of truth book and like the first, it could do with some serious editing. But I like the
This is the second sword of truth book and like the first, it could do with some serious editing. But I like the
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plot and characters, hence four stars. An enjoyable holiday read, if overly long. Show Less
LibraryThing member sweetcatastrophe
My favorite Sword of Truth book by far. I loved Denna. I stayed up into the very early hours of the morning several days straight to finish this book. I was completely captivated by it.
LibraryThing member clstaff
A great second book to a fantasy series. It follows the same main characters from the first book and seamlessly continues their adventures.
LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
A good follow-up to Wizard's First Rule. The adventures of Richard, Kahlan, and Zedd continue now that the veil between the world of the living and the underworld is torn from the events at the climax of the previous book. But before this rift is healed, Richard must embark on a journey, which
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takes him to the Palace of the Prophets, where he learns of his magical gift while his friends struggle in a battle with the Keeper of the Underworld. A great series so far, one I look forward to continuing. Show Less
LibraryThing member crios
I read the first book. Then I read the second book. Then I read the third book. Then I got half way through the fourth book and I thought to myself, "Why the hell am I reading this?" It suddenly occurred to me that I really don't like the writing in these books. The only reason that I gave all
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these books two stars rather than one is because I have to give the author some credit for getting me to read four books. I'm still not sure why or how I got that far. Show Less
LibraryThing member DanieXJ
Richard has the gift but doesn't want it. Richard has the gift but doesn't want it. Richard has the gift but doesn't want it. Kahlan is the Mother Confessor but doesn't want to be. Kahlan is the Mother Confessor but doesn't want to be. Kahlan is the Mother Confessor but doesn't want to be. That's
It's the second in the Sword of Truth series, the sequel to the Wizard's First Rule. In this one we learn about the second rule, to paraphrase, good things you do even for the reasons sometimes make everything turn to crap (hey, I said I was paraphrasing). In this epic Kahlan and Richard spend most of their time apart which made the story seem like it was being pulled in two. Fighting a war and fighting, uh, I guess a bunch of anti-nun types who collar young boys. I put it in those words not to shock, but to warn. The boys they collar are the ones who have the wizard's gift. I've read a wide variety of books with all sorts of stuff in it, some of it tasteful, some of it not so much, a lot of it just implied. In this book, there was just something so insanely creepy about the relationship between the Sisters of the Light characters and the Wizards to be.
Then of course, like the first one, it repeats, well, a whole lot of stuff ad infinitum, and then repeatedly... This makes the plot drag worse than someone trying to get through a Wizard's shield with no subtraction magic.
And again, like in the first, the sad thing is that some parts of the book, some characters, some scenes are so brilliant and amazing that it hurts to read the crappy stuff. We meet Cara and one of the Sisters of the Light, Verna. But, all that goodness is buried an mired in the muck and dreck that is the rest of the story. So, a middling three stars. The bad mostly balances out the good, but only barely.
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the sort of feeling I got while reading this book.It's the second in the Sword of Truth series, the sequel to the Wizard's First Rule. In this one we learn about the second rule, to paraphrase, good things you do even for the reasons sometimes make everything turn to crap (hey, I said I was paraphrasing). In this epic Kahlan and Richard spend most of their time apart which made the story seem like it was being pulled in two. Fighting a war and fighting, uh, I guess a bunch of anti-nun types who collar young boys. I put it in those words not to shock, but to warn. The boys they collar are the ones who have the wizard's gift. I've read a wide variety of books with all sorts of stuff in it, some of it tasteful, some of it not so much, a lot of it just implied. In this book, there was just something so insanely creepy about the relationship between the Sisters of the Light characters and the Wizards to be.
Then of course, like the first one, it repeats, well, a whole lot of stuff ad infinitum, and then repeatedly... This makes the plot drag worse than someone trying to get through a Wizard's shield with no subtraction magic.
And again, like in the first, the sad thing is that some parts of the book, some characters, some scenes are so brilliant and amazing that it hurts to read the crappy stuff. We meet Cara and one of the Sisters of the Light, Verna. But, all that goodness is buried an mired in the muck and dreck that is the rest of the story. So, a middling three stars. The bad mostly balances out the good, but only barely.
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Subjects
Awards
Locus Award (Nominee — Fantasy Novel — 1996)
Science Fiction Book Club Award (Nominee — Book of the Year — 1996)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
1995-09-15
Physical description
979 p.; 4.2 inches
ISBN
0812548094 / 9780812548099