Confessor (novel)
 First edition cover | |
| Author | Terry Goodkind |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | Keith Parkinson |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Sword of Truth |
| Genre | Epic fantasy novel |
| Publisher | Tor Books |
Publication date | November 13, 2007 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardback) |
| Pages | 608 |
| ISBN | 0765315238 |
| Preceded by | Phantom |
Confessor is the eleventh book in Terry Goodkind's epic fantasy series The Sword of Truth, and the last in the Chainfire trilogy bringing an end to the current story arc with the Imperial Order story line as well as the series. The book was announced on February 20, 2007 on the author's official website.[1] The book was released November 13, 2007
Plot introduction
A short plot description of the book was released on the author's official website, which read:[1]
- Descending into darkness, about to be overwhelmed by evil, those people still free are powerless to stop the coming dawn of a savage new world, while Richard faces the guilt of knowing that he must let it happen. Alone, he must bear the weight of a sin he dare not confess to the one person he loves…and has lost.
- Join Richard and Kahlan in the concluding novel of one of the most remarkable and memorable journeys ever written. It started with one rule, and will end with the rule of all rules, the rule unwritten, the rule unspoken since the dawn of history.
- When next the sun rises, the world will be forever changed.
Plot summary
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Richard Rahl is advised that he is a player in the Boxes of Orden. Both he and Ulicia are advised that the time to open the Boxes has been reset i.e. one year from when Nicci put Richard in play. Six breaks into the Wizard's keep and steals the third box of Orden from Nicci and Zed - The Wizards Keep is damaged and must be abandoned. Catacombs below the People's Palace are revealed by Jagang's excavations in making the ramp tot he People's Palace. Three Sisters enter, killing Anne and capturing Nicci by combining their powers to overcome the Palace's spell-form. Soldiers are sent into the catacombs to prepare an attack and the hole is hidden. The Sisters of the Dark discover 'the original Book of Counted Shadows'.
Richard paints his team in symbols to hide his features so he is not recognised. His team meet and defeat Jagang's team BUT Jagang announces the win is invalid. This unfair decision causes a riot in the camp during which Richard and Nicci escape and Kahlan is 'rescued' by Samuel. Richard and Nicci (helped by Adie) go back to the Palace through the catacombs, helped by the fact that Nathan and Cara are suspicious and are investigating the missing Anne and Nicci.
Rachel is lured to Tamarang by Violet but is given a piece of chalk by someone looking like her mother (turns out to be Shota) and changes drawings, killing Violet and reuniting Richard with his gift. Zed is captured by Six - who is in league with Jagang and has helped attack D'Haran forces by riding a red dragon (so not all were destroyed by the Chimes). Richard is told by Nicci that he must not reveal his love for Kahlan otherwise Chainfire will not restore her love for him - but will do the rest.
Richard has to go through the Underworld - is attacked by the beast - and is rescued by the Mud People (Shota has sent Rachel on Gratch-Richard's Gar friend- to tell them to do so). At the Palace, Nathan thinks Richard is dead and is going to accept Jagang's terms (which include surrendering Nicci - who is imprisoned, and access to the Garden of Life to open the boxes).
Kahlan is attacked by Samuel (who is taking her to Six) but touches the Sword of Truth and realises she is a Confessor, she touches Samuel. Richard on the way to Tamarang meets Kahlan and, although cannot reveal his love, carves another model of spirit.
Six has imprisoned Zedd and Chase and appears when Richard reaches the cell. Shota kills Six and Richard, Kahlan and Zedd fly back to the People's Palace on the red dragon (revealed as 'Gregory' son of Scarlett)
Back at the Palace, Richard causes Jagang to become infatuated with Nicci with nightmares. He surrenders, Jagang and the Sisters enter the Garden of Life. Jagang goes to see Nicci - who puts a Rada-Han on him and eventually kills him.
Back in the Garden the Sisters complete the magic to find out which Box is correct and open it. It turns out that all the books were fakes - they refer to the word Confessor, which was not known at the time that the Boxes were created and so had been created later. The Sisters are sucked into the Underworld.
The key to the Magic of Orden is the Sword of Truth. Kahlan tells Richard she loves him - to Richard's dismay. Richard puts the Sword on each box - one box turns the Sword white. Richard opens the box and uses the magic to send believers in the Order to a new world, devoid of magic, as well as repairing the damage caused by the Chimes. Kahlan then says she was protected because her love for Richard was genuine (for the second time) i.e. She had not been told she loved him.
Review
Overall the ending of the book is quite disappointing. Goodkind has developed the habit of introducing machina ex dues at appropriate moments, thus leaving the reader a little disappointed. Goodkind also continues on his quest to introduce excessive dialogue into his books, using this dialogue as a means to expand and elaborate the nature of the world and magic in particular (perhaps seeking to give the Sword of Truth series significant depths beyond what is portrayed in the books, ala Tolkein in the LOTR Trilogy) which significantly detracts from the action of the book. To illustrate, there are approximately 70 pages in Phantom where Goodkind discusses the nature of the Order - just in case everybody hasn't got it yet.
Another example is during the discovery of the catacomb breakin. Cara, Vera and Nathan have an extended conversation regarding the crypt staff and what they think. The situation is slightly critical (ie the enemy has just burrowed unnoticed into the heart of the Peoples Palace!) and yet they have a conversation. Where is the urgency - the do first, talk later situation?
Cover art
Cover artist Keith Parkinson died before Confessor was published but had created art for all the books in the saga beforehand. Author Terry Goodkind had the following to say, "When Keith and I were working on cover concepts for Chainfire he came up with a number of color roughs that, because of their simple, iconic nature were very close to being final. At the time I recognized three of these roughs as perfect for the Chainfire Trilogy. That means that the final book of the series had already been done by him before he passed away so that is the cover that will appear on the book."[2]
Known characters
- Richard is the ruler of the D'Haran Empire and a war wizard (has the gift for both additive and subtractive magic). He is a person who believes in truth and freedom. He is against all that the Imperial Order stands for. However, in Phantom he temporarily loses his gift and Nathan becomes the new Lord Rahl.
- Kahlan is Lord Rahl's wife. Bereft of all memories, she strives to remember what she has lost ... at all costs.
- Emperor Jagang is the ruler of the Imperial Order. He believes that magic is a repressant of mankind and as such must be eliminated, although he himself is a dream walker (a person who can control others with magic). To him, only the collective has meaning. He holds Kahlan prisoner.
- Zedd is Richard Rahl's grandfather on his mother's side and is also First Wizard.
- Nathan Rahl is a prophet, an ancestor to Richard Rahl on his father's side, and almost 1,000 years old.
- Annalina Aldurren is a sorceress of great power and former Prelate of the Sisters of Light. She is dedicated to Richard with all of her heart even though some of the things he does, she finds a bit irritating.
- Nicci is a sorceress and Sister of the Dark who has turned over to Richard's side.
- Cara is a Mord-Sith as well as Richard's bodyguard and close friend.
Footnotes
- ^ a b Confessor at Terry Goodkind's official website.
- ^ Terry Goodkind - Ask Terry - Q & A at Terry Goodkind's official website.