I don't usually throw books, but this one was across the room, spine-side-up on crumpled pages before I realized what I was doing.
I read Terry Goodkind's new book, Chainfire, yesterday, and the reason it ended up on the floor was because just as the book ramps up to the climax, it ends.
This has to be one of the best books Goodkind has written. with parts that are truly terrifying and others that are really touching. Richard is injured by an arrow and while he's injured he realizes that Kahlan is gone. The problem is that no one else even remembers her existence and insist she was only a dream. All the evidence Richard can find of her existence is circumstantial at best and both Cara and Nicci become more and more convinced he's delusional. By the middle of the book, Goodkind does such a good job that I wasn't sure Richard didn't just dream her up. His quest for her leads him to give up his most prized possession: Richard gives Shota back the Sword of Truth, just when he needs it the most.
Of course, it wouldn't be nearly as fun without the usual deadly peril to the hero. While he is hunting for someone that exists only in his memory, Richard is being hunted by a creature that cannot be killed and is particularly deadly, created by the Sisters of the Dark and attuned to Richard's magic. He can't even read a book of prophecy without calling the beast, and those around him die horrible deaths when it appears.
This book is overly descriptive in some places, often redundantly so, slowing the pacing down to nearly a halt and , but that's normal for Goodkind. However, with the book-thrwoing ending, it looks like Goodkind is finally going to bring this series to its climax and conclusion.
It's good stuff, Maynard.
