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Sister of Darkness: The Nicci Chronicles #2
Shroud of Eternity
Shroud of Eternity picks up where Terry Goodkind’s New York Times bestseller Death’s Mistress left off, promising a thrilling brew of bloodshed, sex, deception, and sorcery.
The formidable sorceress Nicci and her companions—the newly powerless Nathan and the youthful Bannon—set out on another quest after driving ruthless Norukai slavers out of Renda Bay. Their mission: restore Nathan’s magic and, for Nicci, save the world.
Guided by the witch-woman Red's mysterious prophecy, the trio makes their way south of Kol Adair towards a wondrous city shrouded behind time, Ildakar. But the grotesque omens on their path to Nathan's salvation—severed Norukai heads on pikes, a genetically modified monster, and a petrified army of half a million—are just a taste of the unimaginable horrors that await within the Shroud of Eternity.
The formidable sorceress Nicci and her companions—the newly powerless Nathan and the youthful Bannon—set out on another quest after driving ruthless Norukai slavers out of Renda Bay. Their mission: restore Nathan’s magic and, for Nicci, save the world.
Guided by the witch-woman Red's mysterious prophecy, the trio makes their way south of Kol Adair towards a wondrous city shrouded behind time, Ildakar. But the grotesque omens on their path to Nathan's salvation—severed Norukai heads on pikes, a genetically modified monster, and a petrified army of half a million—are just a taste of the unimaginable horrors that await within the Shroud of Eternity.
18 pages, MP3 CD
First published January 1, 2017
612 people are currently reading
3190 people want to read
About the author
Terry Goodkind
279 books12.3k followersTerry Lee Goodkind was an American writer. He was known for the epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth as well as the contemporary suspense novel The Law of Nines (2009), which has ties to his fantasy series. The Sword of Truth series sold 25 million copies worldwide and was translated into more than 20 languages. Additionally, it was adapted into a television series called Legend of the Seeker, which premiered on November 1, 2008, and ran for two seasons, ending in May 2010.
Goodkind was a proponent of Ayn Rand's philosophical approach of Objectivism, and made references to Rand's ideas and novels in his works.
Goodkind was a proponent of Ayn Rand's philosophical approach of Objectivism, and made references to Rand's ideas and novels in his works.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
February 25, 2018
Laughably bad, if you know what I mean. The cover art is the only good thing about this book.
Read
February 28, 2018https://twitter.com/deharme/status/967636173626757120
I think that pretty much sums up my opinion of Terry Goodkind as a person.
Your behavior is deplorable, Terry. You'll never see a cent of my money ever again. And once I've finished reviewing the last three of your Sword of Truth books, I doubt I'll ever bother picking them up again. You're a very hateful, vengeful, and pompous asshole. I still remember the time when I came to you with a book that I loved. A book that you could probably say saved my life. And you were annoyed with me because I wanted you to sign that, instead of your newest book. You were very flippant with me, and you audibly sighed when I tried to tell you why that book meant so much to me, like you couldn't be bothered to take the time to listen to someone whose life one of your books changed. I remember how you called your fans idiots when none of them could figure out the confusing mess that was the climax of one of your books. I remember how you broadcasted the name and contact information of someone you caught pirating your books on Facebook. Yes, he broke the law and stole from you, let the lawful authorities deal with it, rather than destroying the man's life and reputation. The list goes on, but for the sake of brevity, I will end there. You have done so many things that show to the world what a horrible person you are. For me, this business with the cover of your latest book was the last straw. I'm done with you, Terry Goodkind. Some people deserve their fame. Some writers are genuinely decent, caring individuals who remember that their fans are the ones writing those royalty checks, and that the editorial and publication teams at your publisher are just doing their jobs to make your book a success. You're not one of them. What, exactly, do you plan to do when there are no artists left willing to work on your book covers for you, because they don't want to be publicly ridiculed and blasted by an ungrateful author? Blank or crudely photoshopped covers really grab the eye, don't they? Whatever tattered shreds of respect I may still have had for you, sir, are now gone. Goodbye.
I think that pretty much sums up my opinion of Terry Goodkind as a person.
Your behavior is deplorable, Terry. You'll never see a cent of my money ever again. And once I've finished reviewing the last three of your Sword of Truth books, I doubt I'll ever bother picking them up again. You're a very hateful, vengeful, and pompous asshole. I still remember the time when I came to you with a book that I loved. A book that you could probably say saved my life. And you were annoyed with me because I wanted you to sign that, instead of your newest book. You were very flippant with me, and you audibly sighed when I tried to tell you why that book meant so much to me, like you couldn't be bothered to take the time to listen to someone whose life one of your books changed. I remember how you called your fans idiots when none of them could figure out the confusing mess that was the climax of one of your books. I remember how you broadcasted the name and contact information of someone you caught pirating your books on Facebook. Yes, he broke the law and stole from you, let the lawful authorities deal with it, rather than destroying the man's life and reputation. The list goes on, but for the sake of brevity, I will end there. You have done so many things that show to the world what a horrible person you are. For me, this business with the cover of your latest book was the last straw. I'm done with you, Terry Goodkind. Some people deserve their fame. Some writers are genuinely decent, caring individuals who remember that their fans are the ones writing those royalty checks, and that the editorial and publication teams at your publisher are just doing their jobs to make your book a success. You're not one of them. What, exactly, do you plan to do when there are no artists left willing to work on your book covers for you, because they don't want to be publicly ridiculed and blasted by an ungrateful author? Blank or crudely photoshopped covers really grab the eye, don't they? Whatever tattered shreds of respect I may still have had for you, sir, are now gone. Goodbye.
Read
February 25, 2018No. I am just not doing this to myself again. No more reading the same plot barely recycled. No more supporting Mr Goodkind's views. And definitely not after the tasteless way he treated his cover artist.
authors-behaving-badly
February 25, 2018
January 21, 2026
“She decided she would incinerate him if he made lascivious comments to her”!
Clearly one does not look askance at Nicci, formerly known as Mistress of Death, LOL!
BE WARNED! Unless you are a reading veteran of, let’s say, half a dozen odd of the past exploits of world conqueror and newly established emperor of freedom and goodness Richard Rahl, his wannabe Mord-Sith lover, Nicci, and their buddy, wizard Nathan Rahl, much of SHROUD OF ETERNITY will simply make no sense!
Subject to that proviso, SHROUD OF ETERNITY is an absolutely transparent, totally plot-driven good vs evil fantasy in which Nicci, Nathan, and their tag-along young friend Bannon seek to fulfill a prophesy provided to them by a witch they encountered on a previous quest – in short, to restore Nathan’s lost magic and, by-the-bye, to save the world!
SHROUD OF ETERNITY will definitely not be in the running for any prizes based on its literary merits or its depth of character development. “Good” is “good” and “evil” is so outrageous, so graphic, so violent, and so gross and nasty that Stan Lee and Marvel Comics would do well to grab some pointers for a new super villain or two. Josef Mengele may have established a standard for evil with his grotesque experiments on prisoners but the city of Ildakar’s “fleshmancer” makes Mengele look more like Albert Schweitzer by taking medical creativity to entirely new levels.
If all of this sounds very stark, shallow, and rather cartoonish, then you’ve hit the nail on the head. But, darn it all, from first page to last, unlike so many of the SWORD OF TRUTH novels, it’s absolutely entertaining and completely compelling. Taking a page from the James Patterson style of chapter writing, Goodkind crafted a series of shifting narratives and locales moving from one cliff hanger crisis to another and kept me relentlessly flipping pages through what could easily have been a dreary unreadable door stopper!
Definitely recommended. So much so in fact, that #3 in the series, SIEGE OF STONE is already on my desk ready for reading in the next couple of weeks.
Paul Weiss
Clearly one does not look askance at Nicci, formerly known as Mistress of Death, LOL!
BE WARNED! Unless you are a reading veteran of, let’s say, half a dozen odd of the past exploits of world conqueror and newly established emperor of freedom and goodness Richard Rahl, his wannabe Mord-Sith lover, Nicci, and their buddy, wizard Nathan Rahl, much of SHROUD OF ETERNITY will simply make no sense!
Subject to that proviso, SHROUD OF ETERNITY is an absolutely transparent, totally plot-driven good vs evil fantasy in which Nicci, Nathan, and their tag-along young friend Bannon seek to fulfill a prophesy provided to them by a witch they encountered on a previous quest – in short, to restore Nathan’s lost magic and, by-the-bye, to save the world!
SHROUD OF ETERNITY will definitely not be in the running for any prizes based on its literary merits or its depth of character development. “Good” is “good” and “evil” is so outrageous, so graphic, so violent, and so gross and nasty that Stan Lee and Marvel Comics would do well to grab some pointers for a new super villain or two. Josef Mengele may have established a standard for evil with his grotesque experiments on prisoners but the city of Ildakar’s “fleshmancer” makes Mengele look more like Albert Schweitzer by taking medical creativity to entirely new levels.
If all of this sounds very stark, shallow, and rather cartoonish, then you’ve hit the nail on the head. But, darn it all, from first page to last, unlike so many of the SWORD OF TRUTH novels, it’s absolutely entertaining and completely compelling. Taking a page from the James Patterson style of chapter writing, Goodkind crafted a series of shifting narratives and locales moving from one cliff hanger crisis to another and kept me relentlessly flipping pages through what could easily have been a dreary unreadable door stopper!
Definitely recommended. So much so in fact, that #3 in the series, SIEGE OF STONE is already on my desk ready for reading in the next couple of weeks.
Paul Weiss
February 25, 2018
I don't need to read this book to know that it's trash
noty
February 25, 2018anything but good or kind tbh
March 26, 2023
Zeer goed boek.Favoriete schrijver.Kan niet wachten tot het volgende deel uit komt in juli.Ik hoop dat het een hele reeks wordt zoals de wetten van de magie.Het was zo goed dat het moeilijk is om een volgend boek te kiezen.❤️👍
yikes
March 2, 2018yikes. maybe word it a little better next time.
to be honest, though, publishers really should start to work closer with authors and take their concerns into consideration throughout the cover art process, just so they dont screw up on some key details (plus can i just say no more whitewashing).
that said, the facebook post did not make it clear that the beef was with the publishers. plus, having a laugh at the publishers' decisions at the expense of the cover artist? not cool.
to be honest, though, publishers really should start to work closer with authors and take their concerns into consideration throughout the cover art process, just so they dont screw up on some key details (plus can i just say no more whitewashing).
that said, the facebook post did not make it clear that the beef was with the publishers. plus, having a laugh at the publishers' decisions at the expense of the cover artist? not cool.
February 10, 2018
Very disappointing.
Although not bad and the dark creativity of Goodkind is still rather warped I just felt that the characters nor the plot was very good this time round.
Nicci imo was made to look weak when compared to how kick ass she was in the last book. The villains are kind of stereotypes and really do nothing new.
Overall this book missed out on having a good villain, it made the main character look too weak and the action was lacking this time round.
I will definitely read the next book in the series but I just wasn’t satisfied this time around.
Although not bad and the dark creativity of Goodkind is still rather warped I just felt that the characters nor the plot was very good this time round.
Nicci imo was made to look weak when compared to how kick ass she was in the last book. The villains are kind of stereotypes and really do nothing new.
Overall this book missed out on having a good villain, it made the main character look too weak and the action was lacking this time round.
I will definitely read the next book in the series but I just wasn’t satisfied this time around.
January 18, 2018
I'm happy to bring to you my thoughts and musings about Terry Goodkind's latest book. Anyone who knows me he's my favorite author, so I try my best to give my most unbiased opinion. He wrote The Sword of Truth series and began his spin-off series now known as The Nicci Chronicles just last year. The first book in this new spin-off series is called Death's Mistress. Be sure to check out his entire catalogue of books because he's an amazing Fantasy writer.
Many have criticized Goodkind's later books due to his constant "preachy" spiel. I do concur with the masses that his later books in The Sword of Truth series were filled with religious rants and constant repetition. However, Goodkind seems to be taking a turn for the better and is showing some of his old writing prowess. Death's Mistress while a great start to this new spin-off series, I will admit Goodkind seemed to include too many different things which threw off the cohesiveness of the story. For one, there were too many "villainous" characters in the story which made it hard for a reader to take any of them serious. However, Goodkind rectified those few pitfalls from that book and completely transformed everything in Shroud of Eternity.
We find our ragtag pairing of Nicci and Nathan trekking deeper into the Old World, past Kol-Adair to the ancient and mysterious city of Ildakar. We quickly find out the city is in tact and inhabited with the wizards whose powers rivals of that of old, reason being their city has been around for over 15 centuries. Ildakar protected itself with a powerful enchantment known as the shroud of eternity, which took the city out of time and space. This shroud was a protective measure against an invading army that sought the destruction of the city. It's ruling class of gifted nobles are damn near immortal. They have created what they believe to be a Utopia, but like all Utopias, something sinister plagues the city underneath its picture-perfect image the gifted nobles try to uphold.
The mysterious sinister element is what immediately draws you to the story. Nicci as always is leery of what she has walked into, while Nathan, a scholar in every sense of the world, seeks to find out everything he possibly can about the city and its inhabitants. After all, Nathan and Nicci are on a mission (I won't reveal what it is just in case you haven't read the first book), so they hope to find answers in Ildakar. We see the magical city show it's rot when we see the fighting area where people are forced to fight to the death against each other and against sinister magical creatures that were created with "fleshomancy". We see blood magic, slavery, but fleshomancy seems to be the most cunning and dark element to Ildakar. Humans seem to be dolls, mere matter to use to create new creatures through magical creation. Through this magical creation the gifted nobles have created a race of human cattle that are used for pleasure, hard labor, and worse of all, food. YES! You read that right! CANABALISM! Goodkind uses these sinister world-building tid-bits to remind us of his views of social justice, social hiearchy, and social engineering.
Nathan for the most part struggles to make a dominant presence in the book. He complains about something (I won't say what, since it's a spoiler for book one), and bemoans the entire time. His obsession with fixing his problem causes quite a hardship for him because he gets himself into some sticky situations, particularly the wizard that does the "fleshomancy". Bannon ironically, the non-magical one, spots the rotten element of Ildakar a lot sooner than his magical friends. He finds ways to show his own form of heroism, despite being in a city full of powerful gifted. Nicci in my eyes struggled more in this book. She was the most vulnerable I have ever seen her. She's in a city full of men and women who easily overpower her, despite having both Additive and Subtractive forms of magic. However, the last few chapters are her redemption and are some of the best Nicci scenes.
Goodkind reminds us of his critiques on the world with this installment. Power corrupts and when left to its own devices, breeds the kind of rot that is hard to get rid of. Shroud of Eternity takes great strides in being more cohesive than its predeccesor and we find our characters the most vulnerable than we have seen, allowing for us as a reader to see how far they have come and how far they have to still grow. The cliffhanger at the end will have you reeling and make you curse Goodkind for his devious antics. It leaves readers off with many questions, but sets up the next book beautifully. It shall be a great book.
Many have criticized Goodkind's later books due to his constant "preachy" spiel. I do concur with the masses that his later books in The Sword of Truth series were filled with religious rants and constant repetition. However, Goodkind seems to be taking a turn for the better and is showing some of his old writing prowess. Death's Mistress while a great start to this new spin-off series, I will admit Goodkind seemed to include too many different things which threw off the cohesiveness of the story. For one, there were too many "villainous" characters in the story which made it hard for a reader to take any of them serious. However, Goodkind rectified those few pitfalls from that book and completely transformed everything in Shroud of Eternity.
We find our ragtag pairing of Nicci and Nathan trekking deeper into the Old World, past Kol-Adair to the ancient and mysterious city of Ildakar. We quickly find out the city is in tact and inhabited with the wizards whose powers rivals of that of old, reason being their city has been around for over 15 centuries. Ildakar protected itself with a powerful enchantment known as the shroud of eternity, which took the city out of time and space. This shroud was a protective measure against an invading army that sought the destruction of the city. It's ruling class of gifted nobles are damn near immortal. They have created what they believe to be a Utopia, but like all Utopias, something sinister plagues the city underneath its picture-perfect image the gifted nobles try to uphold.
The mysterious sinister element is what immediately draws you to the story. Nicci as always is leery of what she has walked into, while Nathan, a scholar in every sense of the world, seeks to find out everything he possibly can about the city and its inhabitants. After all, Nathan and Nicci are on a mission (I won't reveal what it is just in case you haven't read the first book), so they hope to find answers in Ildakar. We see the magical city show it's rot when we see the fighting area where people are forced to fight to the death against each other and against sinister magical creatures that were created with "fleshomancy". We see blood magic, slavery, but fleshomancy seems to be the most cunning and dark element to Ildakar. Humans seem to be dolls, mere matter to use to create new creatures through magical creation. Through this magical creation the gifted nobles have created a race of human cattle that are used for pleasure, hard labor, and worse of all, food. YES! You read that right! CANABALISM! Goodkind uses these sinister world-building tid-bits to remind us of his views of social justice, social hiearchy, and social engineering.
Nathan for the most part struggles to make a dominant presence in the book. He complains about something (I won't say what, since it's a spoiler for book one), and bemoans the entire time. His obsession with fixing his problem causes quite a hardship for him because he gets himself into some sticky situations, particularly the wizard that does the "fleshomancy". Bannon ironically, the non-magical one, spots the rotten element of Ildakar a lot sooner than his magical friends. He finds ways to show his own form of heroism, despite being in a city full of powerful gifted. Nicci in my eyes struggled more in this book. She was the most vulnerable I have ever seen her. She's in a city full of men and women who easily overpower her, despite having both Additive and Subtractive forms of magic. However, the last few chapters are her redemption and are some of the best Nicci scenes.
Goodkind reminds us of his critiques on the world with this installment. Power corrupts and when left to its own devices, breeds the kind of rot that is hard to get rid of. Shroud of Eternity takes great strides in being more cohesive than its predeccesor and we find our characters the most vulnerable than we have seen, allowing for us as a reader to see how far they have come and how far they have to still grow. The cliffhanger at the end will have you reeling and make you curse Goodkind for his devious antics. It leaves readers off with many questions, but sets up the next book beautifully. It shall be a great book.
will-never-read
February 27, 2018I've never read one of Goodkind's books, and his behaviour assures that I never will.
Put up various posts on Facebook, publicly insulting and humiliating the cover artist. And then deleted comments from people who didn't agree with him, and blocked them. No apology to the artist, although did try and make light of the situation by saying that both of them got loads of publicity from this. Disgustingly unprofessional.
Put up various posts on Facebook, publicly insulting and humiliating the cover artist. And then deleted comments from people who didn't agree with him, and blocked them. No apology to the artist, although did try and make light of the situation by saying that both of them got loads of publicity from this. Disgustingly unprofessional.
September 17, 2018
Ah but it is good to be back! Life got pretty busy for me, so my reading had taken a bit of a back seat as far as volume goes, and I fell off the wagon when it came to actually reviewing things I had read. I hope to get back on track with my reading and reviewing, so without further ado;
Shroud of Eternity, Book 2 in The Nicci Chronicles series(Book 19 in the Sword of Truth series) by Terry Goodkind.
This novel really cemented the more focused plot-line and storytelling that we have seen previously in the Nicci Chronicles. The more concise and direct story, the smaller cast of characters and scale of engagements(though they still get quite large!), as well as the less rigid theme has really given Goodkind the creativity he needed to shine again. This novel/series really brings back that feeling of adventure as our cast explores new lands and new peoples. Having a smaller cast of characters allowed for much more individual focus and development, which was a huge plus as a long time fan of both Nicci and Nathan.
**Spoilers**
The novel picks up right where Death's Mistress left off; with Nicci, Nathan, and Bannon catcing a glimpse of the fabled Ildakar, where Nathan will be made whole and Nicci will save the world. What we find there appears to be a magical utopia, the perfect wizardly society held outside of time for the past 1500 years and ruled over by ancient and powerful wielders of magic in the Wizards Duma. Though all is not as it seems, and almost immediately there are cracks in the perfect image of Ildakar, and there is a tremor of tension within the Wizards Duma. As the vast majority of novel takes place in Ildakar, Goodkind is really able to showcase his skillful world building and storytelling abilities, breathing real life and beautiful creativity into this bustling metropolis. I absolutely loved the level of detail that is dedicated to building the city of Ildakar, and how there is a vivid duality to the city. While the upper levels are a resplendent and magical place, there are things that very evidently mar the noble houses, and tarnish the city as a whole. From slave trade and pleasure parties, to horrific blood sacrifices and appalling magical genetic experimentation, Goodkind does an amazing job of slowly introducing the reader to the grim and gritty side of Ildakar.
Our characters saw quite a bit of adventure and experience in Ildakar:
Nathan is a character that I have always enjoyed and admired, and seeing him at one of the lowest points in his long life, coupled with the immense inner struggle with who he was, was very well done. The conclusion of his arc in this series was absolutely fantastic, and I can't wait to see where Goodkind takes him next.
Bannon was quite the interesting character in this one, and I liked getting to see him grow both as a fighter and as person. Arriving in Ildakar, finding people "his own age", and having to deal with that influence on him, coupled with a tearful reunion was a joy to read. What started as a somewhat annoying character really transformed into one of my favourites. The reunion was actually one of my favourite parts of this book, his tenuous relationship with his long lost friend Ian was an exceptionally done sub-plot in the novel, and once Bannon was forced into the arena training, it was one of the highlights of the story getting to see how their relationship changed and evolved. I'm also really looking forward to seeing how Bannon and Lila's relationship will turn out in book 3!
And the titular Nicci. She's been a favourite character of mine throughout the Sword of Truth series and this novel was no exception. And at this point, how can you mention Nicci without including Mraa. Their relationship and how it changed and evolved was exceptionally done* I will say I wish I saw a little more personal character growth from her, as the only growth we really saw was with her Panther. Nicci has always had a very strong personality, and while she did see quite a bit of growth in the main-line Sword of Truth series, it seems she mostly sticks with her supremely badass, supremely powerful sorceress with an extremely cold heart and a passion for freedom. While I do love that character, it is always nice when they grow some too.
Overall, I without a doubt love this novel, and it ranks definitely among my all time favourites when it comes to the overall Sword of Truth series. While it does have a few stumbles and sometimes a hefty piece of plot-armour, this really is Goodkind at his best. With excellent world building, a magnificent use of tension, and an extremely well written cast of characters, Shroud of Eternity was definitely a breath of fresh air for the Sword of Truth series, and as the second entry in the Sister of Darkness this is really proving to be a damn fun series. And with a seriously devilish cliffhanger to end it all with, I really can't wait to see what's in store for Nicci and Co. in the next book.
(Still need to add thoughts on the Wizard's Duma)
*I'm biased as an extreme cat person.
Shroud of Eternity, Book 2 in The Nicci Chronicles series(Book 19 in the Sword of Truth series) by Terry Goodkind.
This novel really cemented the more focused plot-line and storytelling that we have seen previously in the Nicci Chronicles. The more concise and direct story, the smaller cast of characters and scale of engagements(though they still get quite large!), as well as the less rigid theme has really given Goodkind the creativity he needed to shine again. This novel/series really brings back that feeling of adventure as our cast explores new lands and new peoples. Having a smaller cast of characters allowed for much more individual focus and development, which was a huge plus as a long time fan of both Nicci and Nathan.
**Spoilers**
The novel picks up right where Death's Mistress left off; with Nicci, Nathan, and Bannon catcing a glimpse of the fabled Ildakar, where Nathan will be made whole and Nicci will save the world. What we find there appears to be a magical utopia, the perfect wizardly society held outside of time for the past 1500 years and ruled over by ancient and powerful wielders of magic in the Wizards Duma. Though all is not as it seems, and almost immediately there are cracks in the perfect image of Ildakar, and there is a tremor of tension within the Wizards Duma. As the vast majority of novel takes place in Ildakar, Goodkind is really able to showcase his skillful world building and storytelling abilities, breathing real life and beautiful creativity into this bustling metropolis. I absolutely loved the level of detail that is dedicated to building the city of Ildakar, and how there is a vivid duality to the city. While the upper levels are a resplendent and magical place, there are things that very evidently mar the noble houses, and tarnish the city as a whole. From slave trade and pleasure parties, to horrific blood sacrifices and appalling magical genetic experimentation, Goodkind does an amazing job of slowly introducing the reader to the grim and gritty side of Ildakar.
Our characters saw quite a bit of adventure and experience in Ildakar:
Nathan is a character that I have always enjoyed and admired, and seeing him at one of the lowest points in his long life, coupled with the immense inner struggle with who he was, was very well done. The conclusion of his arc in this series was absolutely fantastic, and I can't wait to see where Goodkind takes him next.
Bannon was quite the interesting character in this one, and I liked getting to see him grow both as a fighter and as person. Arriving in Ildakar, finding people "his own age", and having to deal with that influence on him, coupled with a tearful reunion was a joy to read. What started as a somewhat annoying character really transformed into one of my favourites. The reunion was actually one of my favourite parts of this book, his tenuous relationship with his long lost friend Ian was an exceptionally done sub-plot in the novel, and once Bannon was forced into the arena training, it was one of the highlights of the story getting to see how their relationship changed and evolved. I'm also really looking forward to seeing how Bannon and Lila's relationship will turn out in book 3!
And the titular Nicci. She's been a favourite character of mine throughout the Sword of Truth series and this novel was no exception. And at this point, how can you mention Nicci without including Mraa. Their relationship and how it changed and evolved was exceptionally done* I will say I wish I saw a little more personal character growth from her, as the only growth we really saw was with her Panther. Nicci has always had a very strong personality, and while she did see quite a bit of growth in the main-line Sword of Truth series, it seems she mostly sticks with her supremely badass, supremely powerful sorceress with an extremely cold heart and a passion for freedom. While I do love that character, it is always nice when they grow some too.
Overall, I without a doubt love this novel, and it ranks definitely among my all time favourites when it comes to the overall Sword of Truth series. While it does have a few stumbles and sometimes a hefty piece of plot-armour, this really is Goodkind at his best. With excellent world building, a magnificent use of tension, and an extremely well written cast of characters, Shroud of Eternity was definitely a breath of fresh air for the Sword of Truth series, and as the second entry in the Sister of Darkness this is really proving to be a damn fun series. And with a seriously devilish cliffhanger to end it all with, I really can't wait to see what's in store for Nicci and Co. in the next book.
(Still need to add thoughts on the Wizard's Duma)
*I'm biased as an extreme cat person.
February 22, 2018
4.5 Stars
January 20, 2019
After being very disappointed with the first book in this series I was not expecting that much from this one. But, I was pleasantly surprised, Goodkind seems to have recovered his ability as a great storyteller. It didn't take long for this story to get off and running and I was sucked into it after the first 30-40 pages.
Nicci, Nathan and Bannon come to a great city where Nathan thinks he can regain his gift. The city is ruled by a group of very powerful wizards and at first everything seems to be just what they are looking for. But, beneath the surface things are not quite as idyllic as they seem.
This book is not without it's faults. Goodkind has a few annoying tendencies and they are apparent in this book. He repeats things to often, especially his philosophical viewpoints, the main characters are often naive and miss the most obvious clues. The book doesn't exactly end in a cliffhanger, but the next book is set up to continue the story. Luckily I have the next book already.
Not a book without faults but I still found it an enjoyable read and much better than his last couple of his books.
Nicci, Nathan and Bannon come to a great city where Nathan thinks he can regain his gift. The city is ruled by a group of very powerful wizards and at first everything seems to be just what they are looking for. But, beneath the surface things are not quite as idyllic as they seem.
This book is not without it's faults. Goodkind has a few annoying tendencies and they are apparent in this book. He repeats things to often, especially his philosophical viewpoints, the main characters are often naive and miss the most obvious clues. The book doesn't exactly end in a cliffhanger, but the next book is set up to continue the story. Luckily I have the next book already.
Not a book without faults but I still found it an enjoyable read and much better than his last couple of his books.
February 28, 2018
In Shroud of Eternity, Nicci, Nathan and Bannon encounter a society so thick will a strange kind of evil that it the light of Lord Rahl's truth cannot permeate it. Instead, all of their efforts are focused on achieving their objectives while escaping the alluringly deadly city of Ildakar before the shroud is raised once more.
While they're in the city, each one of the three of them is sucked into whirlwinds of cruelty, rebellion and hidden agendas. They must each find their way across their different paths, paths riddled with deep secrets, dangerous women and powerful destructive magic.
In Shroud of Eternity, Terry Goodkind once again shows that he can consistently churn out first-rate epic fantasy all set in one big world.
The storytelling is smooth and easy. There are no needless embellishments in the form of plot-distracting world-building. The author continues his trend of writing books in such a way that they can be read as stand-alones.
The themes are typical Terry Goodkind: good, evil and the ideology of freedom. While other readers could complain about the recurring themes, the author's ability to present these themes in these kinds of stories is worthy of commendation.
Another cliffhanger ending! Hopefully the next book will be out soon!
While they're in the city, each one of the three of them is sucked into whirlwinds of cruelty, rebellion and hidden agendas. They must each find their way across their different paths, paths riddled with deep secrets, dangerous women and powerful destructive magic.
In Shroud of Eternity, Terry Goodkind once again shows that he can consistently churn out first-rate epic fantasy all set in one big world.
The storytelling is smooth and easy. There are no needless embellishments in the form of plot-distracting world-building. The author continues his trend of writing books in such a way that they can be read as stand-alones.
The themes are typical Terry Goodkind: good, evil and the ideology of freedom. While other readers could complain about the recurring themes, the author's ability to present these themes in these kinds of stories is worthy of commendation.
Another cliffhanger ending! Hopefully the next book will be out soon!
March 5, 2018
Predictable and lackluster. The repetitive plot devices, recycled from the Sword of Truth series leaves little to the imagination. Worse is that for no reason whatsoever main characters suddenly start behaving completely out of character. Suddenly foolish, gullible and blind to the obvious Nicci & Nathan blunder into one earth shattering problem after another. Speaking of which, no reasoning, analysis or explanation is given for Nathan losing his magic in the first place, seemingly suddenly and pointlessly. But it's convenient. just change Richard to Nathan, suddenly a bumbling wild magic problem. I wanted this to go somewhere new, but its like we change the names and locations and have the same old plot devices. City sealed away from time, secret archive of ancient knowledge oh yes, conveniently previously sealed away too.
May 14, 2021
This is the second book in a series, and it's pretty much the same as book 1. The writing is good, the characters are pretty good overall, and the action is fast paced and keeps the story moving. These are my first Terry Goodkind reads; I understand the author is very prolific, so there are many more if I decide to keep reading. I'm not a huge fantasy fan, so I may not be rating these books as highly as a "true fan" might. There's absolutely nothing wrong with the books, I'm just not deriving as much fun as I'd hoped I would. A solid 3 star, possibly 3 1/2....
February 29, 2024
Η ιστορία της Νίκι συνεχίζεται με πολύ ωραίες ανατροπές!
March 30, 2018
Oh Terry Goodkind. Some of your books are so captivating. It seems like you want to squeeze every penny out of fans like myself who can't help but seek closure with these series and even though the series should be done. So, in all fairness, I will point out what I believe to be the pros and cons of this book.
**** Some minor spoilers ahead *****
Pros: An expansive but connected world, well depicted fight scenes.
Cons:
1. The protagonist, Nicci is essentially a female Jesus who preaches to everyone she meets about how unjust they are in an attempt to proselytize them over to the ways of Richard Rahl. Her fighting ability is so inconsistent, she is supposed to be an extraordinarily battle hardened sorceress but when fighting a "mord sith" like opponent, she suddenly forgets that magic doesn't work on them, and then tries using magic twice?
2. Bannon is a shallow character whose maturity and fighting ability is really inconsistent. It is hard to accept he has this enormously painful and tragic upbringing but at the same time is extraordinary naive about the cruelties of the world. Sometimes he fights and he is near invincible with his sword, then other times he has trouble fighting a bear.
3. The narration in the book is really irritating. The book will repeat passages over and over to the reader, as if you had the attention span of a five year old. About every five chapters Nicci goes into a monologue about what a great guy Richard Rahl is. Every chapter we are told (as the readers) how slavery is bad, and the government is corrupt.
4. It doesn't seem feasible to me that you could lecture an isolated city's governing body repeatedly about how corrupt and evil they are and they would just politely listen. It isn't normal behavior for someone to repeatedly insult your way of life and you basically respond "well we really aren't so bad... just spend some more time with us!"
So anyway, this has gone on awhile. I wish this series would have ended with the Imperial Order, then it became a stretch to add a few more books, now it is just getting ridiculous. It is so enormously convenient that there is a hidden city isolated from the world that is suddenly exposed to the main characters...
Anyway, I know I will continue reading Terry Goodkind's novels but I do not recommend this book to anyone who hasn't started it.
**** Some minor spoilers ahead *****
Pros: An expansive but connected world, well depicted fight scenes.
Cons:
1. The protagonist, Nicci is essentially a female Jesus who preaches to everyone she meets about how unjust they are in an attempt to proselytize them over to the ways of Richard Rahl. Her fighting ability is so inconsistent, she is supposed to be an extraordinarily battle hardened sorceress but when fighting a "mord sith" like opponent, she suddenly forgets that magic doesn't work on them, and then tries using magic twice?
2. Bannon is a shallow character whose maturity and fighting ability is really inconsistent. It is hard to accept he has this enormously painful and tragic upbringing but at the same time is extraordinary naive about the cruelties of the world. Sometimes he fights and he is near invincible with his sword, then other times he has trouble fighting a bear.
3. The narration in the book is really irritating. The book will repeat passages over and over to the reader, as if you had the attention span of a five year old. About every five chapters Nicci goes into a monologue about what a great guy Richard Rahl is. Every chapter we are told (as the readers) how slavery is bad, and the government is corrupt.
4. It doesn't seem feasible to me that you could lecture an isolated city's governing body repeatedly about how corrupt and evil they are and they would just politely listen. It isn't normal behavior for someone to repeatedly insult your way of life and you basically respond "well we really aren't so bad... just spend some more time with us!"
So anyway, this has gone on awhile. I wish this series would have ended with the Imperial Order, then it became a stretch to add a few more books, now it is just getting ridiculous. It is so enormously convenient that there is a hidden city isolated from the world that is suddenly exposed to the main characters...
Anyway, I know I will continue reading Terry Goodkind's novels but I do not recommend this book to anyone who hasn't started it.
June 30, 2018
I really enjoyed Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, so I found myself deeply disappointed that his spin-off series wasn't nearly as good. I've been left with the impression that his publishers are forcing him to write when his heart's not in it anymore. Or maybe he's writing for the money and doesn't care about the content anymore? I certainly don't want to believe that. In any case, there are a number of factors that have left me with a sad nostalgia for the writer I used to know.
Nicci was one of my favorite characters from the original series, but her character doesn't have the same strength and powerful presence this time around. She's supposed to be the main character of this series, and she's been hollowed out to a shell of her former self, still madly in love with Richard and focused on doing whatever he wants from her. Strong female character quietly pining an unrequited love? No, thank you. She's still in charge and tough as nails, but I don't feel the same passion and strength that used to emanate from her.
The rest of our characters are broken down into basic elements of backstory which are repeated again and again. Who's benefit this is for I'm not sure, because we all know that Nathan Rahl has lost his gift and that's all he cares about. We don't need constant repetition of how troubled and lost he feels in a world that has changed so drastically for him. We know Bannon Farmer is broken up inside by the trauma he experienced at the hands of his father; the guilt he feels for letting his only friend be captured by slavers. There's got to be another way of conveying the importance of these facts than repeating them almost verbatim every couple of chapters.
As for our side story with Verna and company... I couldn't find a reason to be interested. There wasn't much interesting about them retracing Nicci and Nathan's path down into the previously unexplored part of the world. What purpose did documenting their journey serve? I still don't know. Maybe this is a set up for the next novel, but I will never know as I will not being spending the time to read it.
Nicci was one of my favorite characters from the original series, but her character doesn't have the same strength and powerful presence this time around. She's supposed to be the main character of this series, and she's been hollowed out to a shell of her former self, still madly in love with Richard and focused on doing whatever he wants from her. Strong female character quietly pining an unrequited love? No, thank you. She's still in charge and tough as nails, but I don't feel the same passion and strength that used to emanate from her.
The rest of our characters are broken down into basic elements of backstory which are repeated again and again. Who's benefit this is for I'm not sure, because we all know that Nathan Rahl has lost his gift and that's all he cares about. We don't need constant repetition of how troubled and lost he feels in a world that has changed so drastically for him. We know Bannon Farmer is broken up inside by the trauma he experienced at the hands of his father; the guilt he feels for letting his only friend be captured by slavers. There's got to be another way of conveying the importance of these facts than repeating them almost verbatim every couple of chapters.
As for our side story with Verna and company... I couldn't find a reason to be interested. There wasn't much interesting about them retracing Nicci and Nathan's path down into the previously unexplored part of the world. What purpose did documenting their journey serve? I still don't know. Maybe this is a set up for the next novel, but I will never know as I will not being spending the time to read it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 5, 2018
if you want blood and guts along with philosophy, then this, or rather, these books are for you
fleshmancer andre gave me the creeps;
like a souped up dr steinman (bioshock), hmmm?
general utros
p284: although nicci did not approve of three young men, bannon could make his own friends and learn his own lessons, even if he burned his fingers in doing so.
fleshmancer andre gave me the creeps;
like a souped up dr steinman (bioshock), hmmm?
general utros
p284: although nicci did not approve of three young men, bannon could make his own friends and learn his own lessons, even if he burned his fingers in doing so.
October 14, 2018
Goed vervolg waarin het centrale verhaal zich ontwikkeld rond Nicci, Nathan en Brandon. Een goed verhaal in een bekende stijl. Het las lekker weg, ik had het in een paar dagen uitgelezen. Het blijft een van mijn favoriete fantasie werelden.
April 11, 2019
Jammer genoeg voor de zoveelste keer meer van hetzelfde (Mrra,...) , gecombineerd met het opnieuw opvoeren van personages, die in deze serie beperkt zijn tot een betreurenswaardige parodie van zichzelf... De setting is wel aangenamer en het einde iets veelbelovender.
April 18, 2018
I absolutely loved this. I think I loved it slightly more than the first one. It took me longer than I had intended to finish, but I can't wait until the third book comes out!
April 11, 2020
A superb second part to this new series. (Well, it's new to me, anyway).
As always, the world-building and character development are expertly handled. Old familiar characters from the Sword of Truth series encounter new friends and enemies in a land far from their comfort zone. Unfamiliar cultures and customs provide a challenge for the main trio of Nicci, Nathan and Bannon, with the addition of non-human companion Mrra.
I especially love how certain elements tie in with established lore from the Sword of Truth series but I won't go into specifics because ... SPOILERS!
The abiding theme of overthrowing tyrants prevails throughout the story. Some amazing plot twists, although I did work one of them out before the great reveal.
A thoroughly enjoyable work of epic fantasy. Looking forward to the next instalment.
As always, the world-building and character development are expertly handled. Old familiar characters from the Sword of Truth series encounter new friends and enemies in a land far from their comfort zone. Unfamiliar cultures and customs provide a challenge for the main trio of Nicci, Nathan and Bannon, with the addition of non-human companion Mrra.
I especially love how certain elements tie in with established lore from the Sword of Truth series but I won't go into specifics because ... SPOILERS!
The abiding theme of overthrowing tyrants prevails throughout the story. Some amazing plot twists, although I did work one of them out before the great reveal.
A thoroughly enjoyable work of epic fantasy. Looking forward to the next instalment.
January 9, 2021
I love his series of other books, but this one kinda lost some steam. The first one of this particular series was good: Death's Mistress. This story fell short of excitement and lack of characters. It was stuck in one place called, Ildakar ruled by a ruthless, and evil husband and wife. Ildakar has been hidden from the world behind a Shrould for centuries. The shrould is a combination of the magic the husband and wife have with the blood of hundreds of slaves.
So Nicci, Nathan and Bannon are stuck in this place. They try to leave but a battle will be the end.
So glad i can finally move on to the next one in this series. Hopefully it is more entertaining.
So Nicci, Nathan and Bannon are stuck in this place. They try to leave but a battle will be the end.
So glad i can finally move on to the next one in this series. Hopefully it is more entertaining.
June 9, 2018
I go back and forth between It was okay and I liked it. There were good parts to this story but it was soooooo sloooooow in places. OMG how much do we have to talk about how horrible this place is and how it has to change? The characters were waiting for them to figure out how to help Nathan and were in a holding pattern and I felt bored waiting along with them.
That said, I still love the characters though I'd like to see them changing a bit more. Nicci acknowledging its okay to not have a heart of ice for example.
That said, I still love the characters though I'd like to see them changing a bit more. Nicci acknowledging its okay to not have a heart of ice for example.
dnf
August 11, 2025Well, that sword of Damocles has been abandoned. It occurred to me at some point that what better way to get a third wheel out of your hair is to send them on a largely pointless mission. That plus the whole Mary Sue-esque vibe of said third wheel, oh, and the sheer size of these tomes whereupon one gets the feeling the goal is to use All The Words…
I spent a bit of time yesterday trying to find a reason to continue. What I found was a Deaux ex Machina in the last book. And a feeling of open endedness. I’ll pass.
I spent a bit of time yesterday trying to find a reason to continue. What I found was a Deaux ex Machina in the last book. And a feeling of open endedness. I’ll pass.
February 22, 2018
While I didn't enjoy this as much as the first book, I still thought it was an enjoyable read.
A full review will be up soon.
A full review will be up soon.
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