What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I read this book between 2005-2007, sorry, I know it's a bit of a gap. It was in my HS library. I think it was aimed at the older students, so 17 and up, but I remember reading it when I was 13 to 15. It was a black hardcover book, I don't remember if there was a dust jacket or not. I'd say fantasy/fiction with a little romance in it, I remember blushing when they got to a "racey" scene and hiding upstairs so my mom wouldn't ask about it. I don't remember the title, author or main characters unfortunately.

Some of the details I can remember: The book had a female lead, her and her mother are nomads on the run, and her mother dies very near the beginning of the book, murdered pretty violently in their rock face home while the daughter was out scouting (I think). They had taken in a man who is sick and make him sleep in the cave with the goat (due to trust issues), placing a magic barrier in front of the cave to keep him safe. The man they take in has white hair and a green cloak.

They explain magic using a drawing of a circle inside a square inside of another circle, with an eight pointed star in the centre that crosses the different "layers"/realms. There is a plant that has healing/poison properties that resembles this image in the book as well.

One of the people employed to hunt them is a tall blonde with a red leather body suit, high tight pony tail and a type of shock baton.

Another character, who is connected to the female lead by blood I think, kills his mother for being a mean old crone to him for too long and builds a fireplace out of her bones. He then ventures to a big city for the first time. He sexually attacks the lady hunting them, where it is discovered that he is seemingly immune to the shock baton (the female lead is discovered to be immune to it too later). This character also meets his end (sort of, as I don't think he can die) when he's trapped under a pile of rubble near the end.

I will add to the post as I think of more things, I'm sorry it's not a whole lot. Please Help if you can, I've been thinking about this book furiously for the last few months and I really would love to read it again.

this sounds reeeeeeeeeeeeealy familar but i cant quite put my finger on it, is it the sword of truth series by terry goodkind, the woman in red leather reminds me of the mord sith from that?

Justin wrote: "this sounds reeeeeeeeeeeeealy familar but i cant quite put my finger on it, is it the sword of truth series by terry goodkind, the woman in red leather reminds me of the mord sith from that?"

OMG, you're awesome Mr. Justin. It is in that series, yes. I wasn't aware that it was part of a series. The name of it jumped out at me when I was reading the list of books in the series (17! holy wow!)
The book I'm talking about is "The Pillars of Creation", book number 7 in the series. Thank you!!

Dear Moderators, I don't know where you would like this put, or if that counts as "shelving it".

I am new to the site and am amazed and overjoyed that my quest was solved so quickly!

not a problem XD glad i could help =D

Glad you found your book so quickly, Siren. Here's the link - The Pillars of Creation by Terry Goodkind.