From Publishers Weekly
After unwittingly destroying the magical wards that had sealed off the Old World from the New for 3000 years, the war wizard Richard Cypher discovers that he has inadvertently created a gate through which the evil Keeper, Emperor Jagang, and his minions can enter the land. Separated from his beloved, the former Mother Confessor Kahlan Amnell, who is in hiding to avoid being executed by the people she once served, Richard must now accept the power of his father, Darken Rahl, and use all of his magical abilities to defeat Jagang, to save Kahlan and to close the gate. As in the two previous novels of The Sword of Truth fantasy cycle (Stone of Tears, etc.), Goodkind builds an intricate plot teeming with violence, treachery and intrigue. Newcomers to the series may find it a challenge to get up to speed, but once they do, they?as well as Goodkind's large, loyal readership?will delight in a complex epic fantasy that crackles with vigor and magical derring-do. Author tour. Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
This is the third installment of Goodkind's heroic fantasy "Sword of Truth" series. Reluctant wizard Richard Cypher and his love, the warrior Kahlan Amnell, live in a world of magical boundaries that hold back the forces of darkness. But war is coming because the barrier between the worlds has been breached, and the "Blood of the Fold," a group of fanatical zealots, is attempting to kill all people with magic. They are nothing, however, compared to the ancient, unspeakable evil about to be unleashed. There is a lot of sword and sorcery action here, and although it has a darker tone than most fantasies, there is also a strain of humor unseen in works by Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks, or David Eddings. In addition, series protagonist Amnell is rapidly becoming one of the most interesting female characters in a genre where they are few and far between. Buck Schirner is an adept reader, expert at rendering this vast, glittering tapestry of a world. This superior production is an excellent choice for public libraries where multivolume fantasy series are in demand.ABarbara Perkins, Irving P.L., TX Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From AudioFile
A war wizard engages in the "the dance of death" with the Sword of Truth. Buck Schirner chronicles events with a calm detachment, bordering on cool indifference. A few seconds of ominous music at the end of each side fits the grim mood of the book. Schirner reads well and maintains a steady pace. He creates distinction between the various voices of the characters while allowing the plot to hold center stage. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine

From Booklist
The third book of Goodkind's bid to rival Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time at the fantasy saga game falls rather short of Jordan's very high standard. Yet, like the rest of The Sword of Truth, it is an eminently readable example of the multivolume fantasy subgenre. Blood aptly figures in its title, for it boasts by far the most action--for the most part well done, whether with swords or sorcery--in any of the Sword installments to date. The strain of humor that marked its predecessors gets crowded aside by the subject matter, however, and series protagonist Kahlan Amnell emerges here as one of the outstanding female principals in current fantasy. The pacing is exceedingly brisk, and Goodkind's more sustained focus on Kahlan, Richard Cypher, and the wizard Zedd increases the accessibility of his long work. Although obviously too far along in the saga to be recommended as a starting point, Blood will make those who have been following it from the beginning very happy. Roland Green

From Kirkus Reviews
Flood of the Bold somehow seems more appropriate; still, here's another adventure (Stone of Tears, 1995, etc.) for reluctant wizard Richard Cypher and his eponymous sword. Richard is joined by his beloved, the warrior Kahlan Amnell, and his grandfather, the wizard Zedd; once again their world is threatened by an ancient, unspeakable evil. What a surprise. Like the others, this entry is self-contained, though newcomers may find the references to previous events confusing. Anyhow, the outcome's all but indistinguishable from dozens of other bloated epics (see David Eddings, Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks, and so on). And so on. (Author tour) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review
"Goodkind delivers a rousing, original, and rewarding story."--Marion Zimmer Bradley


Review
"Goodkind delivers a rousing, original, and rewarding story."--Marion Zimmer Bradley


Review
"Goodkind delivers a rousing, original, and rewarding story."--Marion Zimmer Bradley


Book Description
An Epic of Two Worlds

In a world as rich and real as our own, Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell stand against the ancient forces which besiege the New World-- forces so terrible that when last they threatened, they could only be withstood by sealing off the Old World from whence they came. Now the barrier has been breached, and the New World is again beset by their evil power.

War and treachery plague the world, and only Richard and Kahlan can save it from an armageddon of unimaginable savagery and destruction.

Terry Goodkind, author of the brilliant bestsellers Wizard's First Rule and Stone of Tears, has created his most masterful epic yet, a sumptuous feast of magic and excitement replete with the wonders of his unique fantasy vision.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

When Richard Cypher's odyssey began nobody could have imagined where his adventure would lead. Overcoming personal tragedy and becoming the Seeker, wielder of the magical Sword of Truth, Richard defeated the megalomaniacal wizard Darken Rahl and fell in love with Kahlan Amnell, who, as the Mother Confessor, wields considerable magic in her own right and presides over the Midlands, dealing justice in disputes both large and small throughout her land. The Blood of the Fold, a group of fanatical anti-magic zealots, have joined the forces thwarted by Richard and Kahlan. They are the unwitting pawns of a sorcerous evil from the Old World, a realm that has been magically sealed for thousands of years. Richard, Kahlan, and their allies now face the combined might of two worlds - the old and the new. This stunning confrontation threatens an armageddon of unimaginable proportions unless Richard and Kahlan can believe in the power of their love and their faith in the Truth.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

This is the third installment of Goodkind's heroic fantasy "Sword of Truth" series. Reluctant wizard Richard Cypher and his love, the warrior Kahlan Amnell, live in a world of magical boundaries that hold back the forces of darkness. But war is coming because the barrier between the worlds has been breached, and the "Blood of the Fold," a group of fanatical zealots, is attempting to kill all people with magic. They are nothing, however, compared to the ancient, unspeakable evil about to be unleashed. There is a lot of sword and sorcery action here, and although it has a darker tone than most fantasies, there is also a strain of humor unseen in works by Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks, or David Eddings. In addition, series protagonist Amnell is rapidly becoming one of the most interesting female characters in a genre where they are few and far between. Buck Schirner is an adept reader, expert at rendering this vast, glittering tapestry of a world. This superior production is an excellent choice for public libraries where multivolume fantasy series are in demand.--Barbara Perkins, Irving P.L., TX Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

AudioFile

A war wizard engages in the "the dance of death" with the Sword of Truth. Buck Schirner chronicles events with a calm detachment, bordering on cool indifference. A few seconds of ominous music at the end of each side fits the grim mood of the book. Schirner reads well and maintains a steady pace. He creates distinction between the various voices of the characters while allowing the plot to hold center stage. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2000, Portland, Maine

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