Naked Empire (Sword of Truth Series #8)

by Terry Goodkind

Overview

Beginning with Wizard's First Rule and continuing with six subsequent fantasy masterpieces, Terry Goodkind has thrilled and awed millions of readers worldwide. Now Goodkind returns with a broad-canvas adventure of epic intrigue, violent conflict, and terrifying peril for the beautiful Kahlan Amnell and her husband, the heroic Richard Rahl, the Sword of Truth.

Richard Rahl has been poisoned. Saving an empire from annihilation is the price of the antidote. With the shadow of death looming near, the empire crumbling before the invading hordes, and time running out, Richard is offered not only his own life but the salvation of a people, in exchange for delivering his wife, Kahlan, into bondage to the enemy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780765344304
Publisher:	Tom Doherty Associates
Publication date:	06/01/2004
Series:	Sword of Truth Series , #8
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	752
Sales rank:	25,831
Product dimensions:	4.10(w) x 6.75(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

One of the most popular writers of fantasy today, Terry Goodkind divides his time between Maine and Nevada.

Read an Excerpt

"You knew they were there, didn't you?" Kahlan asked in a hushed tone as she leaned closer.

Against the darkening sky, she could just make out the shapes of three black-tipped races taking to wing, beginning their nightly hunt. That was why he'd stopped. That was what he'd been watching as the rest of them waited in uneasy silence.

"Yes," Richard said. He gestured over his shoulder without turning to look. "There are two more, back there."

Kahlan briefly scanned the dark jumble of rock, but she didn't see any others.

Lightly grasping the silver pommel with two fingers, Richard lifted his sword a few inches, checking that it was clear in its scabbard. A last, fleeting glimmer of amber light played across his golden cape as he let the sword drop back in place. In the gathering gloom of dusk, his familiar, tall, powerful contour seemed as if it were no more than an apparition made of shadows.

Just then, two more of the huge birds shot by right overhead. One, wings stretched wide, let out a piercing scream as it banked into a tight gliding turn, circling once more in assessment of the five people below before stroking its powerful wings to catch its departing comrades in their swift journey west.

This night they would find ample food.

Table of Contents

Editorial Reviews

"Wonderfully creative, seamless, and stirring." --Kirkus on Wizard's First Rule

"Wonderful." --Kliatt on Stone of Tears

"Each volume of the Sword of Truth...proves more difficult to review than the last. There are only so many was of heaping praise on a series that gets better and better." --SFX on Blood of the Fold

"...outstanding work...adrenaline and characters who actually behave like adults. Highly recommended." --San Diego Union Tribune on Temple of the Winds

"...thoroughly enjoyable." --VOYA on Soul of the Fire

"Mr. Goodkind's compelling prose weaves a magic spell over readers." --Romantic Times on Faith of the Fallen

"Near-perfect pacing, well-realized settings, and superior descriptive narrative." --VOYA on The Pillars of Creation

From the Publisher

[Goodkind's] epic will have its readers turning pages and eagerly awaiting the fifth volume.

Booklist

Mr. Goodkind's compelling prose weaves a magic spell over readers.

Romantic Times

Rousing adventure!

Yuma (Arizona) Daily Sun

This is the eighth entry in Goodkind's massive "Sword of Truth" series. While the publisher touts this as a "standalone" novel, don't believe it. New listeners will find the rapid regurgitation of back story and the slew of characters and references incomprehensible if they are not familiar with the preceding volumes. This installment begins as Richard Raul and his wife, Kahlan, journey to the land of D'Hara to continue fighting the evil Emperor Jagang, the Dream Walker. They are accompanied by their friends Jensen, Tom, and Cara and a stupid goat that receives way too much attention from the author. The group is pursued by evil birds and mysterious entities full of dire warnings; they stumble into the land of Bandakar, whose people have been banished there by an evil wizard. While the Wizard's Eight Rule is revealed, it remains untranslated, heralding another long book in our near future. Listeners will be mystified by this one. While the production is adequate, the price is high for a subpar series entry. Read by Jim Bond, this is guardedly recommended for libraries where Goodkind is popular.-Barbara Perkins, formerly with Irving P.L., TX Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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