Arguably the most controversial epic fantasy series ever, Terry Goodkind’s Sword of Truth split opinions for its rampant use of explicit language.
Here are the top five things to know about the books:
Romance and Sex
Close your eyes and hide your kids; Sword of Truth isn’t anything close to being graded PG-13, as there’s enough steam in it to make beads of sweat pop out of your skin with nearly every turn of the page.
Richard and Kahlan are also some of the most beloved couples in epic fantasy, and while some readers have opined on just how convenient their story arc was, you can’t deny that theirs was a star-crossed love.
There are also plenty of racy scenes involving other characters, so if you like some hot spice in your fantasy, the Sword of Truth series is suitable for you.
Raw Violence
Disembowelment, beheading, impalement, poisoning, maiming, and blood rituals all feature in this gore-fest of a series called the Sword of Truth.
The Sword of Truth series will test your appetite for the grim, the bad, and the ugly, with several dark themes, violent scenes, and even more violent characters.
Philosophy- A Lot of It
Many readers who didn’t find the Sword of Truth series as spectacular as I did will point to the over-flogging of several socio-philosophical themes.
Communism vs. individualism, objectivism vs. subjectivism, communism vs. capitalism, and libertarianism vs. totalitarianism are some of the philosophical debates depicted in the Sword of Truth series. As you read, you’ll encounter such lengthy monologues that, at times, it almost feels like you’re reading a classical philosophical text.
Still, this is one of the things I enjoyed the most in the books. If you plan on picking this up anytime soon, you’ve been warned!
A Female-Only Military Corps
The Sword of Truth TV series has already shown us more or less what the Mord Sith should look like.
While fans of the books will moan at the watering of the entire plot in the motion picture adaptation, the sight of Tabrett Bethell in a languid pose will forever be synonymous with Richard’s most devoted Mord Sith, the bewitching but dangerous Cara.
Female military corps aren’t a novelty in epic fantasy, but they aren’t precisely a trope either.
The Sword of Truth series unapologetically introduces readers to the Mord Sith, regardless of any moral arguments on the legitimacy of such an institution.
Whatever your side of the morality divide, the Sword of Truth series features some of the most wonderful female characters in epic fantasy.
Overpowered MC
Few main characters in epic fantasy are as overpowered as Richard. He not only wields a super sword but also has magic too! That goes without saying that he’s the ultimate ladies’ man, with rippling abs, an imposing physique, and plenty of natural charm.
Only perhaps Rand al’Thor of the Wheel of Time series can lay claim to being the total package in all of epic fantasy.
While modern epic fantasy has almost totally moved away from the trope of overpowered and too-perfect MCs, the Sword of Truth does it in a unique way that makes you fall in love with the character and root for him through his many trials, even if he eventually overcomes.
Wrapping Up
For those who’ve read all 11 books in the main Sword of Truth series, there are no in-betweens. You either found the books remarkable or took offense at certain depictions and opinions highlighted in the story.
True, the author didn’t shy away from the spotlight by drawing attention to such a range of controversial and sensitive themes. Still, it’s part of what makes the Sword of Truth one of my favorite fantasy series ever.
So, will you be reading the books? If you have, let us know in the comments section.
