Wizard's First Rule
Written by Terry Goodkind
Narrated by Sam Tsoutsouvas
4/5
()
About this audiobook
The masterpiece that started Terry Goodkind's New York Times bestselling epic Sword of Truth
In the aftermath of the brutal murder of his father, a mysterious woman, Kahlan Amnell, appears in Richard Cypher's forest sanctuary seeking help . . . and more. His world, his very beliefs, are shattered when ancient debts come due with thundering violence.
In a dark age it takes courage to live, and more than mere courage to challenge those who hold dominion, Richard and Kahlan must take up that challenge or become the next victims. Beyond awaits a bewitching land where even the best of their hearts could betray them. Yet, Richard fears nothing so much as what secrets his sword might reveal about his own soul. Falling in love would destroy them--for reasons Richard can't imagine and Kahlan dare not say.
In their darkest hour, hunted relentlessly, tormented by treachery and loss, Kahlan calls upon Richard to reach beyond his sword--to invoke within himself something more noble. Neither knows that the rules of battle have just changed . . . or that their time has run out.
Wizard's First Rule is the beginning. One book. One Rule. Witness the birth of a legend.
Terry Goodkind
Goodkind was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, where he also attended art school, one of his many interests on the way to becoming a writer. Besides a career in wildlife art, he has been a cabinet maker, violin maker, and he has done restoration work on rare and exotic artifacts from around the world. In 1983 Goodkind moved to the forested mountains he loves. There, in the woods near the ocean, he built the house where he and his wife, Jeri, live, and came at last to tell his own stories.
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Reviews for Wizard's First Rule
3,479 ratings145 reviews
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Very enjoyable book with a slightly different take on magic, and a very interesting world.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Incredibly entertaining, once you begin to listen, you will not be able to stop!, toasted toads truth :)
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5There's so many stereotypes thrown together that made it hard to listen to after the first half.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Terrific, I loved it. Suspense, love (but not excessive) , magic, surprises, personalities and great writing.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The best fantasy book I read in years. I can’t believe I’d never heard of it until I found it on this app
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5It skips a bunch of important parts. At the end it skipped the most important scene...
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is my favorite of the series. Even if you never read any of the other books, this story standalone is beyond magnificent. I simply have no words. An impeccable balance of Heart found within a magical world full of Light and Dark. I read this book four times in my youth, and have just listened to it 12 years later. Aged like a fine wine.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This is a really good book, but the narrator is almost unbearable.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bit too much rape and s&m. Interesting use of the tao.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Best books I've ever read!! Read them over and over. Now I'm listening to them.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The 4 chapters leading the the final one dragged on forever. Turning up the speed just to get to the end made it bearable.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Absolutely amazing! Read this one twice and listened the 3rd time. If you want to be sheltered from bad things happing to good people, stay in the children's section.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Sam you did such a wonderful job I can't emphasize it enough. I read these back in high school and treasured this series, but you have given me a whole new level of excitement to experience the audiobook versions. Looking forward to the rest!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book. I could not put it down. It was amazing.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I've read this series before but this audiobook of it is absolutely enthralling! Narrative was done beautifully and passionately! I'm excited to relive the rest of these adventures. Thank you!
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Fabulous reader + fantastic author. Would highly recommend this book
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Amazing story telling and the man who read it was positively entertaining
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This is one of the all time greats! I’ve read this book twice and listened to the audiobook once, and I’m pretty sure I’m going to revisit it again in the future. Yes, it’s that good.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Pedophilia, child mutilation and abuse, rape, body shaming, really bad logic, poor character and story development, and just plain-dumb key moments. Why is this book not banned? The child abuse descriptions should get this book banned.
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5One of the worst pieces of fiction that I've ever read.
The magic of the Sword of Truth itself is very interesting, but it seems that was the single good idea the author had. The characters are one dimensional, the wizard's first rule itself is insulting and shallow, the outcomes are predictable, and somehow even the excruciatingly long time spent with the sadistic sex-witches was boring.
Note to future authors: if you intend to torture a character, a "magical pain stick" is not the way to go about it.
I listened to this all the way through and learned only that I will never pick up a Terry Goodkind book again. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Incredible novel! This was my second time listening to the audio version. About 10 years ago I listened to the entire series, and it is one of the best fantasy series of novels that I have ever read.
No spoilers, but I have seen some reviews here mention a torture “scene”. There is a prolonged one that spans about two chapters (or about 2 1/2 of the 38 hours). It’s uncomfortable to get through the first time, but understand that it is very necessary to the ongoing storyline, and growth of the main character, in many ways. I mention that here because understanding that it had a necessary point made it a lot easier to get through, and a lot more interesting to pay close attention to, the second time through. - Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Really good story, with humorous taps into various other books I’ve read. The best reference the was the Star Wars and Gone with the Wind references. Very funny.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Oh my God this is one of the books that you get in 1000 characters are amazing I am shaking ready for the sequel.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The book was riveting, the one who read it was PERFECT in every way!
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5I have mixed feelings about Wizard's First Rule. The writing lacks a degree of subtlety, leaving little room for the reader to draw their own conclusions, and sometimes changing directions in a jarring way. And yet, there's still enough story there that I did enjoy it.If you're looking for something amazing, this isn't it. But as a casual read, it does just fine. And while I will check out more of this series, I don't feel rushed to do so.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This story captivated me from the first couple of pages. I have read it a few time and listening to it in my car. The entire series is great, but one of the books is very dark. If you like this you may also like Magic Kingdom for sale sold by Terry Brooks.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5I don't think I can put to words how this book makes me feel. This is my second time reading it, and nothing has changed. There are probably flaws hidden somewhere but if they are I never noticed, too engrossed in the book. Even if I had seen them, I don't think I would have cared. The story makes up for anything lacking. And the twists and turns! My God. I have never read a book, expect maybe George R R Martin's Game of Thrones series, that plays with you mind so thoroughly, urging you this way and then oops, no that way, but wait actually this way. I've read a lot so have begun to be able to predict some twists in stories. I am in always in the dark here. I get this dreadful feeling that there can't be anything Richard can do, that it's hopeless, that he can't help but fail, and then twist, he pulls through. And it doesn't seem like Goodkind shoved something there unannounced just so Richard would be victorious. It's all woven together. Reading it for a second time now, I was able to see clues five hundred pages before. Everything is connected; amazingly so. But now I'm just babbling. To summarize: I absolutely love this book. If you are a fantasy fan and have not read it yet, pick it up as soon as you have finished what you are currently reading. And maybe take a few days off of work so you can read uninterrupted. :)
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Favourite Book I have Ever Read. Highly recommend. The narrator is excellent, really brings to life the characters and the story. whisking you away with the intricately detailed world.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A really fantastic beginning to a very long series. Richard is a simple woodsman who just wants to live in peace, but when a woman in distress crashes into his life he's forced to use all his skills to survive. I loved the clash of cultures and assumptions that ensue between Richard and Kahlan, and I love the growing respect between them. Richard's crash-course in how the outer world works is a great read; it's informative without being an infodump, and tells as much about Richard's character as it does Kahlan's country. This is a true adventure story.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Not a bad start to a series. I like the boundries, I like the division of magic and non magic, and though you don't know it yet I like how the world continually opens up further and further as the series progresses. Richard is a tad unbelievable, but is clearly the hero to be, for now, for ever. I would like to see a little more darkness in main characters, little more uncertainty. Richard comes accross as a little smug to me, but its not all that bad, I still like the series.