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A brave protagonist, a beautiful heroine with a mysterious background, and a prophecy that makes them the target of crazed murderers and the key to an ancient secret. All these classic ingredients can be found in Terry Goodkind’s latest book, The Law of Nines, and make for a compelling read. But fans of his epic 11-book Sword of Truth series will find themselves disappointed as they read Richard and Kahlan’s story told again and less successfully.
The main character, Alexander Rahl, finds his life turning upside down on his 27th birthday as he saves himself and a gorgeous woman named Jax from being run over by a speeding truck. On the same day, Alex’s grandfather, Ben, tells him that he has inherited a vast tract of land in Maine. Although the gift sounds like a dream to a painter like Alex, Ben advises Alex to never set foot on the land. The mysteries continue as Alex discovers that his gallery paintings are purchased for thousands of dollars only to be defaced, his girlfriend Bethany keeps badgering him with a surprise gift, and his damsel-in-distress Jax is actually trying to save his life.
Although the first hundred pages of the book sets up what appears to be an original plot, it is quickly clear that Goodkind reverted to his old formula to complete the story. Jax tells Alex about the Law of Nines, a prophecy that names him as the savior of a political war led by Radell Cain. Although he is reluctant to believe her, the assassins that pursue them day and night convince him to take up the hero mantle. Although they are attacked several times, Alex and Jax manage to evade their enemies and head to Maine, where Alex’s recently inherited property holds the answer to all of their difficulties.
Despite the buzz about Goodkind’s first contemporary thriller, The Law of Nines may as well be called “The Glock of Truth” for all its parallels to Goodkind’s previous books. Alex’s story of transforming from a simple artist into a Glock-wielding fighter is no difficult than Richard’s transition from a woodcutter to a sword-battling Seeker. To add insult to injury, Goodkind turns technology into a substitute for magic. The success of the Sword of Truth series lies in the ingenuity of the magical world. Between the powerful wizards and prophets, the intriguing Confessors and Mord’Sith, and all the magical powers and devices they had their disposal, he created a diverse universe that really sparked the imagination. But in this book, Goodkind boils down all those ideas to their modern technological equivalents, taking away their creativity and charm.
The Law of Nines is an interesting, fast-paced book filled with action and adventure that new readers of Goodkind’s work will enjoy. But for longtime fans, the constant references to the Sword of Truth series show just how much this book pales in comparison.
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