One man, Richard Cypher, holds the key to the fate of three nations, of humanity. But until he learns the Wizards First Rule, his chances of succeeding in his task are slim. And his biggest problem is admitting that magic exists at all...

In a world where heart hounds stalk the boundaries for unwary human prey, blood-sucking flies hunt on behalf of their underworld masters and where artists can draw more than your likeness, Richard finds there is no place to hide, nowhere safe.

Here magic makes love twice as sweet, betrayal and loss twice as bitter. 

I first started reading this phenomenal series several years ago. I had compulsively read David Eddings fantasy offerings and had decided to find out what other fantasy authors had to offer.

Tad Williams, Piers Anthony, Robert Jordan, they all write fabulous stories and series which draw the reader in and allow him or her to be absorbed in the world the author has created.

Terry Goodkind with this story fully deserves to count himself in the league of genius fantasy authors. I have never been so fully absorbed by a story as I have been by Goodkind's series.

With that said, I will find it difficult indeed to write reviews of these books unless I confine myself to the individual books in the series. It must be understood that this IS a series and as such, it should be read from first to last. Each book manages admirably to hold itself up on its own merits, but in order to fully grasp the hugeness of the world Goodkind has created, you should at some point or other read the books in series.

Goodkind's attention to detail and his ability to relate to his characters mean each character in this first story is fully rounded enough for the readers to be able to accept them for who they are. Its not difficult to suspend your belief for long enough to be sucked into the story and be lost for the afternoon. Goodkind manages to round out his stories in such a way that nothing useful to the story is missed. For example, most fantasy writers deal with characters sexuality in a manner which leaves the reader somehow thinking of Sir Galahad and the Knights of the Round Table. Goodkind doesn't by any means go into sordid details, but he also leaves the reader in no doubt that the character is a real human being with real desires and physical needs. Its that kind of detail which makes the story so readable.

I'm not going to go into details about the story itself, but I will say that this book ticks all the boxes required of a decent story, let alone a fantasy story. Believable characters, a well defined world, a climate, an ecology and good villains, Goodkind has left me with nothing but good words to say. Buy this book immediately. Then buy the rest of the series. Book a couple of weeks off work, because you are going to need them.