Books#6 and 7 Temple of Winds and Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind

- just so as not to confuse: book number 5 is here too. I decided to put all of Goodkin's books together.

I am very glad to be able to include books written by Terry Goodkind in this count. He is my favorite author, and his books as well as his characters have become very special to me. I have to thank Goodkind for being such a good author that his readers may have this type of connection with his books. I feel as though I really know Richard, Kahlan, and Cara. They have also taught me/reinforced life lessons. 

Book #5 The Third Kingdom by Terry Goodkind

This book definitely lives up to it's expectations. It's the 16th book in the series, and has had a lot to live up to. It's characters all embrace personal growth, and the book itself has enough action to keep the pages turning. 

I know that Richard has lost his magical capabilities in the past, but I'm really glad that he had to complete his quest in this novel without his magic. It shows that he truely is a rare person (as everyone, in the novel, who meets him says). It proves to his readers that problems can be solved without the aid of magic, and Richard is just as capable without. Yes, you could argue that without Samantha's help (the sorceress) he never would have gotten into the third kingdom, but I believe their paths separated after they entered for a reason; so Richard could prove that he doesn't need magic to save his people. I think it is fitting because he has always had a hard time coming to terms with his magical capabilities, and he has always put faith in people who do not have magic. 

Book 6 Temple of the Winds by Terry Goodkind

I had to re read this one because The Third Kingdom, as well as the last few books keep mentioning Temple of the Winds and what Richard had to do while he was there. 

The life lesson in this novel is forgiveness. Kahlan must betray Richard in order for him to be able to walk through The Hall of the Betrayed and enter the Temple of Winds. It's important to know that the Temple is stashed away, and not in the world of the living, nor is it the world of the dead, much like the third kingdom. I kind of wondered if the Temple would have been considered to be a part of the third kingdom because it also is between worlds. 

I really hate giving away the novel in my posts, but I really would like to be detailed. Richard realized that Kahlan's act of betrayal was actually an act of her claiming her life as her own, and not allowing prophecy or the horrible events going on in her life to dictate her happiness. (Although that is a very roundabout way of explaining it, I truely do not believe Kahlan was happy about what she did, even if she enjoyed herself.)

I really think Richard's true character was shown the minute he refused to forgive Kahlan and instead asked her for forgiveness. She so badly needed him to forgive her, and he wouldn't say "I forgive you" just to make her happy, instead he did what he felt was right. He asked her to forgive him because he decided he had no right to be mad at her for what she did. I don't think any other person could or would be able to forgive Kahlan. He even risked death, in fact, he accepted death just to be able to return and ask for her forgiveness. Of course, like every other Goodkind novel, Richard faces death and always overcomes it. I guess he really is fuer grissa oust draka.  The bringer of death, as it is always near him, and he always controls it. 

Book #7 Faith of the Fallen by Terry Goodkind

I just couldn't get enough of Kahlan and Richard's story, I had to read a third one. (Which is saying a lot, these books are all 400-800 pages long.)

I've always wanted to re read Faith of the Fallen and do a character study of Nicci. Her character is so complex.. She was a Sister of the Light who served the Creator, then she turned to a Sister of the Dark, serving the Keeper. What is so interesting is that in Faith of the Fallen she claims her reasons for becoming a sister of the dark is so that she could better serve the Creator. 

 I just got a little sidetracked- back to the character study idea- when I re read this novel, I realized, again, how much philosophy about life itself, and reason is in this novel, and I really think I could write a paper analyzing this book in detail that is just as long or longer than the novel itself: it's just that good. 

Anyways, back to Nicci. She really interests me because when she is in Faith of the Fallen, she allows herself to be Jagang's slave because she truely believes in his cause. (Also, another complicated mess that I could write pages on.) 

Just for the record, Jagang is a big bully, and his actions don't necessarily equate his cause that he is fighting for, but the whole idea is that mankind is ugly, sinful, and so on, and will be redeemed in the next life. He wants to make it so that everyone is equal, and the good of mankind is in the highest order. No one person should have more than the next person (even if he/she works harder, the extra income is given to the person who can't or won't work.) 

Nicci's altruistic nature is a problem. Which is odd, because it's good to be charitable, but Nicci feels as though she must give everything, and loses sight of what is really important, which is taking care of herself. She is not happy, and does not believe she has the right to be. 

The only thing she does for herself, is capture Richard. She wants to find something that is missing in her life. A spark. The same spark she sees in Richard's eyes, the same spark she once saw in her father's eyes. By the end of the novel, Nicci realizes that her life is her own to live, and she need not be enslaved to Jagang, or to other people, she claims herself to be Nicci, just Nicci. She does not renounce the Keeper and become a sister of the Light again, she loses all of her titles (Slave Queen, Death's Mistress) and is just herself, which means more than being sworn to the Keeper or the Creator. 

Richard's ideals on life and reason helped her come to this epiphany. I think the last sentence on the back of the novel sums it up perfectly: "The tale of how Richard and Kahlan will face these challenges is a tale of the power and nobility of the human spirit at its freest and best." 

Richard is able to show people what the human spirit should be. That you should be proud of yourself, not depressed because of how aweful (or sinful) mandkind is. I would love to go into more detail about this concept, and Nicci's transformation, but I have too many unorganized thoughts swimming around in my head. There is simply too much to say. Also, as I have expressed earlier, I would like to flesh this out into a formalized paper.

It amazes me how, at the end of this novel everyone is happy. Only Richard's capacity for forgiveness, and happiness that his people have proven to him that they wish to fight Jagang allow him to look past the fact that Nicci manipulated him into leaving Kahlan, his true love. As soon as Kahlan and Richard finally begin to have a life of their own, and are able to at last be together, Nicci steals Richard away and forces him to, in a way, be her husband. How devastating. If i were Kahlan, I would have run Nicci through with a sword after she broke the link to the Maternity spell. 

That is all I have to say, for now. 

My next book is October themed: The complete works of Edgar Allen Poe. I can't wait to read and blog more.