THE LAW OF NINES
TERRY GOODKIND
AUGUST 8, 2009
“Your mother was twenty-seven when it came to her. Now you’re twenty-seven‚ and it’s come to you.” Turning twenty-seven may be terrifying for some‚ but for Alex‚ a struggling artist living in the Midwest‚ it is cataclysmic. Inheriting a huge expanse of land should make him a rich and happy man; but something about this birthday‚ his name‚ and the beautiful woman whose life he has just saved‚ has suddenly made him — and everyone he loves — into a target.
This fast paced page turner from Terry Goodkind, author of the Sword of Truth series that is a definitive classic of the fantasy genre, is the first book in an anticipated trilogy. Goodkind changes his writing style to fit into the thriller category, using shorter sentences and choppier syntax than in his other books. He does not delve as deeply into the character development, which is fitting for the genre. Comparatively, The Law of Nines takes a bit longer to get into the story, but once you make it through the slow beginning the action does not stop until the end. The story takes place in our modern world, with supernatural connections to the other world in which the Sword of Truth series takes place.
Although it is a stand-alone novel, The Law of Nines parallels the Sword of Truth series, using the same last names for the main characters who are the modern-day descendents of the two main characters in the other series. The fact that the characters are related is evident in their personalities and their reactions to the situations that they are presented with. However, not being familiar with Goodkind’s previous works does not have a detrimental effect on the reader’s enjoyment of this book. In fact, I think it would add more to the mystery element of the story.
Overall, Terry Goodkind proves able to successfully change his writing to fit into different genres while maintaining some of the aspects that make him one of the most talented fantasy writers of the day. Just as with his other books, The Law of Nines is aimed at a mature audience who can handle the descriptions of violence and torture. Although this book does not nearly measure up to the genius that is the Sword of Truth, it is a great beginning to Goodkind’s expansion into new frontiers of the literary world.
rmk