Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I'm not exactly sure what happened here. I've read *EVERY* single book from cover to cover of the Richard and Khalan series and I have to say that this has to be the worst out of all of them. I won't reveal any spoilers for those who haven't caught up, but since Terry Goodkind has already mentioned that a hero will die, I'll just refer to the person as the "hero". That's probably one of the biggest gripes in the book -- the hero died in such a dishonorable way it was insulting and a huge letdown. This leads to the second problem with the book. Terry has often gone to great lengths to describe magic and the various different kinds that exist. He clearly communicates how differently a war wizard's magic works, how subtractive magic works and how additive magic works -- always explaining in intricate detail of how things are done. Now, with the "darklands" (which isn't just lacking creativity in the name) there's the myserious "Occult powers". These Occult Powers can remove your underwear from your body without touching your pants! They can explain any possible phenomenon you find to be inexplicable. Nowhere in the book does Terry *ever* go into details about these "Occult Powers" and every experienced wizard, sorceress, (insert any other person with magic powers here) seems like a dumb, ignorant child when it comes to them -- including Richard. It's upsetting to see people who have been through terrible wars and have fought and defeated fearsome enemies like Darken Rahl and Jagang all of a sudden look like a bunch of kindergarteners battling "occult powers" that somehow seem to be immune to magic. The wizards of long ago were able to fight off these folks and instead of Richard trying to find information on how to do so (I don't know--pay another visit to the Temple of the Winds, maybe?), Terry goes ON AND ON about the stories we have already read in great detail. He explains things readers already know, because who their right mind would pick up the 14th book in a series as the first book to read? The battle scenes go on and on. They were walking through forests for what seems like an eternity. The death inside them has been eating away at them for more than 2 books now. I have to say, it was very disappointing and uneventful. I feel like it was rushed and not given much though. 560 pages of nothing. Sorry, Terry -- you have done MUCH better before. I hope you read this review -- I've loved many of your other books in the series so please take this review seriously.