But the other reason is simply that he tells interesting stories about intriguing characters.Īlthough Goodkind has created a complex fantasy world, he did not design his novels to explore that world. In part, no doubt, this success stems from the popular genre in which Goodkind writes.
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Fans around the world eagerly anticipate them, and his stories are the subject of both official and unofficial chat rooms and Web sites. His books appear on the bestseller lists of the New York Times, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal. Of course, several Objectivists other than Ayn Rand have written novels, but Goodkind is far and away the most widely read Objectivist novelist since Rand herself. They are clearly and directly influenced by Rand’s work, and the book’s heroes occasionally invoke Objectivist principles. Far more important, however, are the characters, plots, and themes of Goodkind’s novels. His official Web sitehad a philosophy section with quotations from Rand about esthetics and other areas of her philosophy. You’d think that a book that begins with the line “Rotten human flesh glistened in the sunlight, discolored by the bruised hues of putrefaction” couldn’t get much darker, but Shroud of Eternity doesn’t pull any punches when it comes to exploring the more disturbing uses of magic.Can a sword-and-sorcery author inherit the mantle of Ayn Rand ? Terry Goodkind, who writes in that fantasy genre, has explicitly stated that he is an Objectivist. Following the advice of the witch Red, they continue on to the ancient city of Ildakar, a place hidden from time and space by a magical shroud that has been in place for over a millenia.Īt first glance, Ildakar seems like a paradise, filled with immortal beings living in a self-described “free city,” but there is something disturbing beneath the surface of this gleaming metropolis. Shroud of Eternity picks up where Death’s Mistress leaves off, with Nicci, a magic-less Nathan, and Bannon journeying deeper into the Old World. Nicci and Nathan have dual missions: Nathan, to restore his magic Nicci, to save the world.
TERRY GOODKIND SWORD OF TRUTH SERIES
(Fun fact: I started the Harry Potter series with Chamber of Secrets before going back to read the first book in the series.) If you’re one of those kinds of readers, here’s what you need to know to hit the ground running with Shroud of Eternity, the second book in the Nicci Chronicles series. Some people just want to dive into a series with the book everyone is currently reading and talking about. Read Shroud of Eternity on Amazon! The Standalone Route The book follow their episodic adventures, from fighting off selkies to saving a fishing village from a fleet of Norukai slavers, as they undertake their larger quest. The Nicci Chronicles, while informed by the Sword of Truth series, have only tangential ties to the original series. While the number of books in the series lent the universe a depth of world and character, they also had the weight of ongoing prophecy and what had already come before to shoulder. She is joined in her quest by Nathan, an ex-prophet and wizard Bannon, a young sailor and former cabbage farmer whose life Nicci saves and Thistle, a young orphan girl.ĭeath’s Mistress is a new lease on fantasy series life for Goodkind, whose Sword of Truth books had both the pros and cons of being part of such a long narrative.
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As a former lieutenant in Jagang’s army, where she was known as “Death’s Mistress,” Nicci is the perfect person for the job. The Nicci Chronicles starts with Death’s Mistress, which has Nicci going out into the far reaches of Richard and Kahlan’s kingdom to spread news of Richard’s triumph over Emperor Jagang.
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As I previously mentioned, Shroud of Eternity is the second book in the new series, so there’s only one previous book you have to read if you want to catch up fully with what’s happened so far. Who has time to read 17 books, amirite? If you’re looking for a fun, thrilling, female-led fantasy series, then The Nicci Chronicles could be the saga for you.