Hateful Things

Another strong entry in the series. A little wordy in classic Goodkind fashion, but with a story that kept me hooked right through another excellent ending.

Goodkind’s familiar tendencies are still here , he can be long-winded and repetitive, and sometimes explains a point a little more thoroughly than it probably needs. But in Hateful Things, that bothered me less because the actual plot moves along well and I really like where the larger story is going.

The shorter format works nicely for this story. There’s a sense that something bigger is gradually unfolding, while Richard, Kahlan, and the rest of the characters still feel comfortably familiar. And once again, Goodkind managed to surprise me at the end. Just like the first book, the final turn was something I didn’t see coming and made me immediately curious about what happens next.

One of my favourite moments was Berdine wishing Richard would speed up his retelling of what happened in the library. Given Goodkind’s reputation for taking his time and occasionally repeating himself, that felt wonderfully meta. Whether it was intentional self-awareness or not, it made me laugh.

Overall: An easy 5 stars for me. Yes, Goodkind still likes to take the scenic route now and then, but I enjoy these characters and this world enough that I’m happy to come along. The larger story is developing nicely, and two books in a row have now managed to catch me off guard with their endings.