The Sword of Truth Series Reading Order
Looking for the complete The Sword of Truth reading order? This guide lists all 9 Terry Goodkind books in The Sword of Truth in order — with covers, ratings, and page counts for every entry. The full series spans approximately 7,771 pages.
Wizard's First Rule
The Sword of Truth #1
Richard Cypher, a simple woods guide, lives a quiet life in Westland, a realm devoid of magic and safe from ancient dang… Richard Cypher, a simple woods guide, lives a quiet life in Westland, a realm devoid of magic and safe from ancient dangers. When a mysterious woman named Kahlan Amnell crosses the boundary from the magical Midlands seeking help, Richard is thrust into a perilous quest far beyond his imagining. Guided by an eccentric wizard, he must confront the malevolent Darken Rahl, whose dark power threatens to enslave all living beings and shatter the very fabric of existence. As the reluctant Seeker of Truth, Richard must embrace his destiny and wield the legendary Sword of Truth to save the world, even if it means sacrificing everything.
Stone of Tears
The Sword of Truth #2
The veil between worlds has been torn, unleashing the terrifying Keeper of the Underworld and its minions upon the land… The veil between worlds has been torn, unleashing the terrifying Keeper of the Underworld and its minions upon the land of the living. Richard Cypher, the newly proclaimed War Wizard, is the only one who can prevent a horrific invasion of the dead and seal the rift with the fabled Stone of Tears. Yet, bound by ancient oaths, he is forced to become a student at the distant Palace of the Prophets, a place where his unique and potent magic is feared and forbidden. As Richard battles to master powers he doesn't understand, the malevolent forces of the Imperial Order also loom, and the very fate of all creation hangs precariously in the balance.
Blood of the Fold
The Sword of Truth #4
The Seeker of Truth takes his rightful place as the new ruler of D'Hara in the third novel of the #1 New York Times–best… The Seeker of Truth takes his rightful place as the new ruler of D'Hara in the third novel of the #1 New York Times–bestselling author's epic fantasy series. After escaping from the Palace of Prophets, Richard comes to terms with his true identity as a War Wizard. But when he brings down the barrier between the Old and New Worlds, the Imperial Order suddenly poses a threat to the the freedom of all humankind. As the Imperial Order sends delegations and armies into the New World, Richard's only chance to stop the invasion is to claim his heritage as the new Lord Rahl and ruler of D'Hara. But convincing the D'Harans of his legitimacy won't be easy. Meanwhile, a powerful enemy is on the trail of Richard's love, Kahlan Amnell. And when the spell Richard cast to protect her is broken, he must martial his newfound authority—and the armies that come with it—to save her life.
Temple of the Winds
The Sword of Truth #4
Richard Cypher, war wizard and wielder of the Sword of Truth must battle the power-mad Emperor Jagang who returns with h… Richard Cypher, war wizard and wielder of the Sword of Truth must battle the power-mad Emperor Jagang who returns with his multitude of demonic underlings. To defeat the evil Jagang and eliminate the sorcerous plague infecting the world, Richard must find the Temple of the Winds.
Soul of the Fire
The Sword of Truth #5
Richard Rahl, a prophesied leader, finds his world plunged into chaos when an ancient, destructive magic is unleashed. T… Richard Rahl, a prophesied leader, finds his world plunged into chaos when an ancient, destructive magic is unleashed. This terrifying force, known as the Soul of the Fire, threatens to consume all life and knowledge, plunging the land into eternal darkness. To combat this encroaching doom, Richard must embark on a desperate quest, navigating treacherous landscapes and facing formidable foes, as he grapples with the true meaning of his power and the sacrifices required to save those he loves. The fate of existence rests on his shoulders, and time is running out.
Faith of the Fallen
The Sword of Truth #6
The Wizard¿s Sixth Rule, the most important rule there is . . . And one that Richard Rahl, Seeker of Truth, has just wor… The Wizard¿s Sixth Rule, the most important rule there is . . . And one that Richard Rahl, Seeker of Truth, has just worked out for himself. Sometimes it seems that life is naught but a dance with death for the war wizard and his lover Kahlan, until Richard suddenly and irrevocably turns his back on the fight, leaving the people of the New World to fend for themselves. As Kahlan struggles to understand his words, Richard is gone without warning ¿ plucked from her side by a Sister of the Dark known as ¿Death¿s Mistress¿. Without Richard¿s unique magic, there may be nothing left for the New World but life under the crushing weight of the Imperial Order of Jagang the Just . . .
Naked Empire
The Sword of Truth #8
The Sword of Truth saga continues with Naked Empire, from New York Times-bestselling Terry Goodkind-- a sprawling epic a… The Sword of Truth saga continues with Naked Empire, from New York Times-bestselling Terry Goodkind-- a sprawling epic adventure focusing on the central figures of Richard and Kahlan. Beginning with Wizard's First Rule and continuing with subsequent fantasy masterpieces, Terry Goodkind has thrilled and awed millions of readers worldwide with his Sword of Truth series, the basis for the TV show Legend of the Seeker. Here Goodkind returns with a broad-canvas adventure of epic intrigue, violent conflict, and terrifying peril for the beautiful Kahlan Amnell and her husband, the heroic Richard Rahl, the Sword of Truth. Richard Rahl has been poisoned. Saving an empire from annihilation is the price of the antidote. With the shadow of death looming near, the empire crumbling before the invading hordes, and time running out, Richard is offered not only his own life but the salvation of a people, in exchange for delivering his wife, Kahlan, into bondage to the enemy.
The Pillars of Creation
The Sword of Truth #9
Sequel to the New York Times bestselling Faith of the Fallen New York Times bestselling author Terry Goodkind has create… Sequel to the New York Times bestselling Faith of the Fallen New York Times bestselling author Terry Goodkind has created his most lavish adventure yet. Tormented her entire life by inhuman voices, a young woman named Lauren seeks to end her intolerable agony. She at last discovers a way to silence the voices. For everyone else, the torment is about to begin. With winter descending and the paralyzing dread of an army of annihilation occupying their homeland, Richard Rahl and his wife Kahlan must venture deep into a strange and desolate land. Their quest turns to terror when they find themselves the helpless prey of a tireless hunter. Meanwhile, Lauren finds herself drawn into the center of a struggle for conquest and revenge. Worse yet, she finds her will seized by forces more abhorrent than anything she ever envisioned. Only then does she come to realize that the voices were real. Staggered by loss and increasingly isolated, Richard and Kahlan must stop the relentless, unearthly threat which has come out of the darkest night of the human soul. To do so, Richard will be called upon to face the demons stalking among the Pillars of Creation. Discover breathtaking adventure and true nobility of spirit. Find out why millions of readers the world over have elevated Terry Goodkind to the ranks of legend.
Phantom
The Sword of Truth #10
Kahlan Amnell, the Mother Confessor, faces a terrifying magical plague that erases her identity from the minds of everyo… Kahlan Amnell, the Mother Confessor, faces a terrifying magical plague that erases her identity from the minds of everyone she meets. Haunted by a name she cannot recall, she wanders a world where no one recognizes her, leaving her vulnerable and unable to warn allies of the grave danger looming. Meanwhile, Richard Rahl races against time to find his beloved and break the spell before the true purpose of this sinister affliction is revealed. If he fails, not only will Kahlan be lost forever, but the very fabric of their world risks unraveling into an inescapable darkness.
Chainfire
The Sword of Truth #10
Richard Rahl awakens to a terrifying new reality: his beloved wife, Kahlan, is gone, and no one else seems to remember s… Richard Rahl awakens to a terrifying new reality: his beloved wife, Kahlan, is gone, and no one else seems to remember she ever existed. As the world around him insists he was never married, Richard's sanity is questioned, and he finds himself isolated in a desperate quest to prove Kahlan's existence and find her. Believing a powerful magic has erased her from the memories of all he knows, Richard must navigate a treacherous landscape of deception and forgotten truths. With time running out and reality itself unraveling, he must uncover the source of this insidious curse before Kahlan is lost to him forever, and perhaps, before the entire world forgets what truly matters.
Confessor
The Sword of Truth #11
Trapped in the desolate Old World, War Wizard Richard Rahl finds himself stripped of his identity and separated from Kah… Trapped in the desolate Old World, War Wizard Richard Rahl finds himself stripped of his identity and separated from Kahlan, as Emperor Jagang's forces unleash a devastating conquest across the New World. With the very fabric of reality unraveling under a terrifying magical plague, Richard must uncover the ultimate truths about his heritage and the insidious Chainfire spell that threatens to erase all memory and magic. The fate of freedom, the existence of magic, and the future of humanity hinge on Richard's ability to unite the disparate peoples and confront the ancient forces determined to rewrite creation itself.
Confessor, Limited Edition
The Sword of Truth #11
Descending into darkness, about to be overwhelmed by evil, those people still free are powerless to stop the coming dawn… 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.
The Omen Machine
The Sword of Truth #12
In The Omen Machine, #1 New York Times-bestselling author Terry Goodkind returns to the lives of Richard Rahl and Kahlan… In The Omen Machine, #1 New York Times-bestselling author Terry Goodkind returns to the lives of Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell—in a compelling tale of a new and sinister threat to their world. Hannis Arc, working on the tapestry of lines linking constellations of elements that constituted the language of Creation recorded on the ancient Cerulean scroll spread out among the clutter on his desk, was not surprised to see the seven etherial forms billow into the room like acrid smoke driven on a breath of bitter breeze. Like an otherworldly collection of spectral shapes seemingly carried on random eddies of air, they wandered in a loose clutch among the still and silent mounted bears and beasts rising up on their stands, the small forest of stone pedestals holding massive books of recorded prophecy, and the evenly spaced display cases of oddities, their glass reflecting the firelight from the massive hearth at the side of the room. Since the seven rarely used doors, the shutters on the windows down on the ground level several stories below stood open as a fearless show of invitation. Though they frequently chose to use windows, they didn't actually need the windows any more than they needed the doors. They could seep through any opening, any crack, like vapor rising in the early morning from the stretches of stagnant water that lay in dark swaths through the peat barrens. The open shutters were meant to be a declaration for all to see, including the seven, that Hannis Arc feared nothing.
Severed Souls
The Sword of Truth #16
From Terry Goodkind, author of the Sword of Truth series, comes Severed Souls, a New York Times best selling novel of Ri… From Terry Goodkind, author of the Sword of Truth series, comes Severed Souls, a New York Times best selling novel of Richard Rahl, Kahlan Amnell, and their world. From the far reaches of the D'Haran Empire, Bishop Hannis Arc and the ancient Emperor Sulachan lead a vast horde of Shun-Tuk and other depraved "half-people" into the Empire's heart, raising an army of the dead in order to threaten the world of the living. Meanwhile, far from home, Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell must defend themselves and their followers from a series of terrifying threats, despite a magical sickness that depletes their strength and which, if not cured, will take their lives...sooner rather than later. "Richard saw the point of a sword blade sticking out from between the man's shoulder blades. He spun back toward Richard after throwing the woman out of the opening, ready to attack. It seemed impossible, but the man looked unaffected by the blade that had impaled him through the chest. It was then, in the weak light from the fire pit off to the side, that Richard got his first good look at the killer. Three knives were buried up to their brass cross-guards in the man's chest. Only the handles were showing. Richard saw, too, the broken end of a sword blade jutting out from the center of the man's chest. The point of that same blade stuck out from the man's back. Richard recognized the knife handles. All three were the style carried by the men of the First File. He looked from those blades that should have killed the big man, up into his face. That was when he realized the true horror of the situation, and the reason for the unbearable stench of death."
⚠️ Content Warnings
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