Temple of The Winds: Sword of Truth Series

I know I have been slacking in my reading and book reviewing, I started this book quite some time ago, and with work, the holidays, company it took a lot longer than anticipated to finally make it through the rest of this book.  The Temple of the Winds is the 4th book int he Sword of Truth Series and really touches upon quite a few areas in the beliefs of all of the characters within.  Just when you think that maybe everyone can have some peace for a minute more Hell breaks lose with the continued forward press of Jagang.  This was the first book that didn't really feature any epic battle scenes yet.

This book follows Blood of the Fold and we are opened up to a Wizard that is sent by Jagang to kill Richard.  Ever being more than it seems, Richard is presented with a bound fork prophecy that reads:
On the red moon will come a firestorm. The one bonded to the blade will watch as his people die.  If he does nothing, then he, and all those he loves will die in its heat...  To quench the inferno, he must seek the remedy in the wind. Lightning will find him on that path, for the one in white, his true beloved, will betray him in her blood.

With this huge disaster hanging over there heads they must set out to find the meaning and again look to find ways to get around the prophecy.  Overall int he series I would say that this book is more of a fill int he background of the wizards from the old war and let us learn more about prophecy and Nathan.  There is a lot of setting up events and making you feel bleak and hopeless in this book.  I think it sets up for book 5 quite nicely (Soul of the Fire). 

We have a lot of the same characters from Blood of the Fold that return to our story to include of course Richard and Kahlan, Zedd who is with the Prelate Anna, Verna & Warren.  As I said before we get to know Nathan a lot more in this book as well as his traveling companion Clarissa who is new to us.  Cara, Berdine & Raina the mord sith are still around protecting Richard and we get to know two other characters, the healers Nadine from Richard's homeland and Drefan from a brotherhood of healers.  And of course it wouldn't be a book without a little bit of meddling from the witch woman Shota.  Last but not least Jagang plays an ever present background of threat hiding behind his minions and dark sisters. We are missing in Adie humor unfortunately throughout this book.

Once again we have to wonder if Richard & Kahlan are doomed to be separated by events and prophecies beyond their control and wonder if they will ever get married.  Richard must sacrifice all of himself if he is to make the New World come together in an effort to stand against Jagang's Imperial Army.  We get to see the inner working behind the diplomacy of his efforts and wonder at what the future might bring.  We know the war is coming but when will it strike and how? 

One cannot forget that there isn't a Sword of Truth book without a Wizard's Rule.  As with the 3 before we are not introduced to the Wizard's Fourth Rule: There is magic in sincere forgiveness, the magic to heal. In forgiveness you grant, but more so, in forgiveness you receive. —Chapter 41, p. 398, U.S. hardcover edition.  It is explained in the novel as follows: "Forgiving and being forgiven are powerful elements of healing for the soul. Forgiving others grants by the giving of forgiveness but more so one receives self healing by the necessity of letting go of bitterness through forgiveness of others." 
The wizard's third rule: Passion rules reason. "Letting your emotions control your reason may cause trouble for yourself and those around you."
And back to the wizard's second rule: The greatest harm can result from the best intentions. "It sounds a paradox, but kindness and good intentions can be an insidious path to destruction. Sometimes doing what seems right is wrong, and can cause harm. The only counter to it is knowledge, wisdom, forethought, and understanding the First Rule. Even then, that is not always enough. [...] Violation can cause anything from discomfort, to disaster, to death."
And of course the Wizard's First Rule: "People are stupid."  "People are stupid; given proper motivation, almost anyone will believe almost anything. Because people are stupid, they will believe a lie because they want to believe it's true, or because they are afraid it might be true. People's heads are full of knowledge, facts, and beliefs, and most of it is false, yet they think it all true. People are stupid; they can only rarely tell the difference between a lie and the truth, and yet they are confident they can, and so are all the easier to fool.
 If you are interested in reading my book reviews of the three previous novels you can check them out at:

Blood of the Fold: Book 3

Stone of Tears: Book 2

Wizard's First Rule: Book 1