Goodkind really lets us have it in this book. And it hurts.

I've read the SOT saga three times... WFR five times... LON three times... so I'm pretty much invested in these characters. Because I want to be. Also, unlike some... I never thought the books ever became 'preachy'... or that they 'lost something' after FOTF... they seemed better to me. I like reading what Richard believes... when he addresses situations and seems to talk for pages and pages... where we learn what drives him. I find it interesting. I don't understand how others don't like that... if you don't... stop reading. Richard's beliefs are absolutely essential to Richard's character. If you're not into Objectivism (which I've never read or studied)... then don't read this series. I find that about 95% of the time, I agree with Richard's stances. I personally do find a lot of 'truth' in what he says.... and I'm a Christian.

Having said that, I found this book to be somewhat of a return to the Goodkind style of the earlier books. It is fast moving and fun to read. Gone are Richard's extended speeches (which I miss), and plot is very much the focus. Looking back, I found THE OMEN MACHINE to be somewhat of a rough read compared to the other books. It was shorter, the chapters were shorter (ala Patterson), and it had been years since the last book... so maybe it was difficult for Goodkind to settle back into his world. Well, Goodkind has adapted and settled into the new format pretty well in this book. THE OMEN MACHINE is a great book, but it set the tone for these last three... a lot darker... and a lot more painful to experience. Just when you think good can finally have a rest... think again, because there are dark forces out there that have been plotting while you were busy fighting the 'other' bad guys.

Sidenote: I would have loved to read an account of Jagang's army going head to head with Sulachan's army. Imagine that fight! It would have lasted... for a while, I think. Or maybe not! LOL

SEVERED SOULS is a heartbreaking book. I deliberately read it slowly... so I could really enjoy it. This is very close in style to the earlier books... and Richard and Kahlan are given stumbling block after stumbling block to overcome. The odds could not be worse. I found myself getting physically exhausted at 33%... the situations were so overbearing. Then the heroes begin to question themselves... and why they are doing what they are doing. I found that riveting. It's natural to put yourself in their shoes, or to think of times when you felt the same... and wonder what you would do. I lost myself in the story, and kept wondering what was going to happen. There are some interesting new characters, and I can't help feeling that maybe... just maybe ... things aren't as they seem. That certain characters aren't really dead, or that there is a way for them to come back.

I would not recommend this for new readers... but if you are one of the legions of Richard's fans... this book is for you. New readers wouldn't appreciate the impact of this one, and it is so much more powerful if you do.

I find myself hoping that this book simply can't be the end... no way.

Thanks for an awesome book, Terry...

This is another solid outing by Goodkind, however it is going to go down as one of my least favorite books in the series. I am going to try, as best as possible, to keep spoilers out of my comments:

PROS:

-Once again, Goodkind does a better job of weaving previous backstory into the tale as opposed to frontloading the novel with heavy exposition. This is very friendly for long-time readers and, in all honesty, I'd not recommend a new reader to start with this volume as all the emotional impact would be negated anyway. Smart choice by the author making for a smooth reading experience.

-The characters from the last two books are still some of the best since perhaps the initial story, "Wizard's First Rule." We continue to get fresh faces the reader will actually be curious about in the future.

-Depending how the series evolves, possibly a great villain origin occurs in the book that gives me great hope for antagonists in future stories

CONS:

-Although Goodkind always seems to end books on a "cliffhanger," the ending here feels more like a "buy the next book" plot device than an enticing ending. Some of the advertising for the book itself supports this notion, such as the voicemail from the publisher in a recent ad on the author's website. To paraphrase: "oh... you can't end it here" No, he can't!

-Part of the reason for the above is some heavy-handed foreshadowing in the book that both spoils the ending early on AND spoils any potential resolution in future volumes. Should there be a new book (and there most certainly will be- the ending is far too poor as a bookend for a long-running series) the reader should know what to expect MUCH more so than usual. In a book that seems to be written to evoke continuous surprise, there was very little of it to be had if you pay attention at all...

-For all the emotional impact this novel endeavors to make, one of the key scenes to illicit an emotion is jarringly fast and ends up losing impact due to both brevity and lack of expected prolonged character reaction. This was the literary equivalent of pulling a band-aid off quickly.

Again, it's an enjoyable Goodkind book that dots all the "i"s and crosses the proverbial "t"s. That makes it better than a majority of fiction straight away. Within the context of its own universe, however, this feels proportionately weak. It's like the shock jock radio of Sword of Truth novels.

Having been a while since I had read book 13 in The Sword of Truth series, I had to reread the last couple of chapters in 13 before I started 14, Severed Souls. Mr. Goodkind has written another shinning jewel in his Sword of Truth crown Although I hated for certain events to happen in this novel, I know Mr. Goodkind has something in mind to placate his many fans of this truly outstanding series. After leaving us totally devastated with his impersonation of J.R.R. Martin, I expect book 15 to put me back together (emotionally). For those of you reading this review who are diehard fans of The Sword of Truth series this is a "can't miss" novel that will pull you into the story, tug at your heart strings, make you gasp in excitement and probably break your heart a little bit along the way. Without giving anything away, I'll just say that Richard is in deep do-do and Kahlan has some major decisions to make and isn't in the best shape to be making them. This book will grab you and won't let you go.

Background: Like many of the people here, I followed the entire Sword of Truth series from start to finish, and back again. In fact, I grew up with these books, as I began reading them around the age of 13 (when it had only reached Blood of the Fold, I believe). I recently finished rereading the entire collection, including Debt of Bones, and then set out to finally read the new installments beginning with The First Confessor (which I always wanted to read fresh out of the series -- why I waited so long). Reading them back to back was an entirely new experience and viewing the series through adult eyes was also totally different. I'll admit that I, too, had felt the series lost steam as it went on (possibly because of the hopeless nature of things, and something I really loved about the first few was the delightful magical elements -- which dwindled as the story unfolded) during my first read-through. I had better stamina this time around, though my favorites do still remain with the beginning four books of the series.

I remember being satisfied with the way the original series was concluded, but also vaguely displeased only because I felt "and they lived happily ever after" plus everything tied up with a big bow was too cliché.

All that said, I absolutely adored The First Confessor, which really set the stage for Omen Machine, Third Kingdom, Severed Souls, and Warheart (the next, and apparently last, installment). These new books have a distinctly different feel to the original series -- it's much darker. Loose ends aren't always tied up. I do get the sense that the series is getting ready for conclusion, I was nervous during Severed Souls that this would be the final story, knowing going in that Richard was going to die.

Also, I was VERY upset to have another central character death spoiled for me by fellow fans!! (I had been frantically searching for information as to whether this would be the last book.) It of course didn't make the event any easier for me, and I can't say how I would have reacted had I not known beforehand. I cried nonetheless. The way Richard died was ultimately very fitting, and I've always liked to allow the storyteller to show me how things pan out rather than trying to speculate and potentially ruin the thrill of the ride for myself. And yes, I cried once again. I was moved.

The thing is, as a very emotionally invested reader, I would love to read about Kahlan and Richard indefinitely. But we know who they are and I feel that ultimately I just want to know that they are able to live their lives together enjoying each other and the ones they love. By now, I feel like the entire world's fate has rested on Richard's shoulders way too many times, and he deserves to be happy. This needs to be the end of the series (as much as I hate saying goodbye), as any more would just be another iteration of the basic plotline that has fueled all 15 books (terrible evil/tyrant tries to take over the world and Richard is the only one able to save it).

I am salivating to get my paws on Warheart, and the irony is that this time around all I do want is a happy ending with a big bow. (Careful what you wish for, I guess.)

Severed Souls is not a happy book. But Goodkind does an excellent job of raising the stakes in a big way, as he's always been talented at. I was sufficiently stressed out for the last quarter of the book(!!), and I'm annoyed I have to wait 10 more months to read the final story. Once the immediate threat/distraction of the half-people tapered off, the energy of the book picked up considerably and was kind of horrifically beautiful.

I assume anyone considering this book has read the prior Sword of Truth books because I cannot fathom why anyone would start with Book 14. Thus, my comments assume some familiarity with the overall storyline.

I found the overall story interesting and I felt this book improves on the previous two in this current story arc. It seems to me quite clear there will be further sequels as well. I was pleased to see there weren't as many lengthy speeches as there have been in the previous few books, and I felt like the narration wasn't quite as repetitious as it was in "The Third Kingdom" with the endless hacking through zombies.

With that said, it's still not quite up to the level of the original series. Other reviewers have noted some of the issues involving the characters not using their heads and the like. As I've read this second series, I've wondered why the characters come across as so inept. Richard seems to have forgotten the various Wizard's Rules he learned in the original series, and I find it baffling that when he apparently has a source of unlimited power (the power of Orden) he hasn't used it. (Perhaps a future Goodkind book will tell us of a limitation on Orden that would explain this omission?) Some of the narrative themes get a bit overdone from time to time, especially Richard and Kahlan wringing their hands at the thought of life without each other because that aspect has been part of pretty much every Sword of Truth book. Surely the reader understands the depth of these two characters' feelings for each other!

The other thing that puzzles me is that Terry Goodkind's writing style seems to have evolved in a peculiar way. It's a simpler style that to me often feels choppier: lots of short sentences that read as though the book is written for a younger audience. In some ways that's not a big deal, but it makes me feel like I'm reading what's sometimes called "young adult fiction" and I find that frustrating (perhaps because a major part of what I do for a living involves the written word).

****Indirect spoiler in next paragraph****

But you know, in spite of all that, I thought this book was a step up from some of the other recent ones and I applaud Terry Goodkind for the major plot twist at the end. If you've read "The Law of Nines," then it seems like a given Richard has to be resurrected in some manner in order to carry on the Rahl bloodline under the Amnell name (recall Jax Amnell explaining how her ancestor, the great Lord Rahl, had decided to stop using his surname for his children). It'll be interesting to see how it happens.

I had said in my review of the previous book that I wasn't sure if I'd continue with this series. After reading "Severed Souls," I will certainly read the next book to find out how it resolves the ending of this one.

At this point I realize that if you're a fan of the series, you might be critical of the books and the writing but you'll keep drinking the kool aid to find out what happens next. Mr. Goodkind seemed like he was a little less repetitive in this book than in the last one, which was a welcome relief. He did however; spend a good deal of time rehashing things that had already happened...which was helpful at times, annoying at others. I realized when I first started reading the book that I couldn't really remember where we left off...so getting pointers about what happened previously was good for the most part.

Is it a super awesome book? No, not really. It earns 5 stars because I'm in a good mood today and I look at this universe that Mr. Goodkind gave to us, his readers and I appreciate it. We always want to hear what happens next in the story, even if we're going to sit here behind our computers and throw him under the bus for how he writes or repeats...we criticize, but in the end, we love the story.

I, much like many others, have followed Mr. Goodkind's work for some time now. Severed Souls, book #3 in what I call the expansion for SOT has come to an end for me, and let me just say this... Wow... I read Omen Machine and Third Kingdom, and I had a small difficulty with the two. The issue was that the overall style felt as if things were forced into situations rather than the ease other situations from SOT had in flowing. I figured out that the direction was new and that must have been what made things feel a bit choppy at first, but with Severed Souls, things finally felt like they clicked into place. It was a good read, especially the last half of the book where I found myself doing back and rereading certain parts just to make sure what happened really happened. I've always been a fan of foreshadowing being placed like a landmine. You know it's there, bid you won't know exactly where it is until you step on it. With this third book of the expansion, that finally came back. It was definitely something I found missing in the first two of the expansion. I must now wait for the fourth and final book, Warheart, to see what becomes of our adventurers and I find myself mentally pacing until it's release.

So all in all, a good book, and for me none too soon. I don't know what it was, but something about Omen Machine made me fall off the Goodkind wagon for a bit. I'm glad to find myself on it once again.

If you wish to read about hollow Mary Jane characters and predictable plots with comfortable fairy-tale endings, then find another author. If it is your desire for characters to act as YOU think they should act and for stories to end as YOU want them to end, then perhaps you should write your own book. If you need inspiration for your future writing career, keep reading...

Terry Goodkind stories take his readers through a gambit of emotions in a richly detailed world with entertaining characters. Terry makes it easy for one to engage their suspension of disbelief and become immersed in the story.

Anyone can put text on a page. But an author who can tap your emotions by making you laugh, cry or yell at your book in frustration and anger...THAT is a story teller...that is Terry Goodkind.

Terry often drags his heroes along the flaming road to hell, this time he actually tossed one into the abyss that lies beyond. That is where that character will reside unless we - the readers- can convince Terry to share the final story of Richard and Kahlan. He knows how it all ends...we do not. Please make some noise (post a review) and ask him to put his mind to the task one...more...time...

Thank you Terry - a patiently waiting reader of your tales

Love this story! I can't get enough and hope we hear of the tales of Richard and Kahlan for many many years to come!

Great book! Really, if you have read Terry Goodkind before, then this is no different: amazing writing skills, stunning descriptions, thrilling suspense! At the moment of this review I have not yet finished reading it, but if you like other Terry Goodkind works then you will like this one as well!

Shipping was quick and the book in mint condition!

I have to say this is probably the best book of the Goodkind saga. I noticed more a more descriptive feature in all these new books but as the most of the Terry's book the reading is easy and fast plus this end is really unpredictable. Can't wait until November for the new one. Recommended

A unexpected continuation to Richard and Kaplan’s story! Be prepared for quite a bunch of surprises out of Goodkind’s wit!

Actually 5 stars might be a bit over the top, but I was so relieved to read a SoT book again that thoroughly drew me in and allowed me to forget my annoyance at Goodkind's tendency to overexplain everything. I have always loved Goodkind's stories, but the constant repetition sometimes makes me want to throw the book against a wall. Severed Souls starts out a bit tedious too, when Goodkind explains the same thing over and over again, in almost the same words. Honestly, Terry, have some faith in your readers. We're not that slow to understand. However, later the story picks up speed and it becomes hugely enjoyable. It's certainly far better than Omen Machine and The Third Kingdom. I hope he keeps it up in the next one!