In the second novel to the eight novel series, Richard Rahl has just stopped the powerful wizard, his father Darken Rhal, from taking over the world with three magic boxes of Orden. He gets his life back with his beloved Kahlan, and is to be married to her. Then they get some strange visitors on horseback, three women that know how to help Richard with his headaches, but he would have to wear a collar, which he loathes. He gets there chances to accept the offer of the collar or be killed. He soon finds out that everytime he does not accept the collar one of the woman kills herself and passes on her power for the next woman to succeed. Kahlan knows the collar will save his life but knows the kind of pain he went through with a collar and is having a very hard time with what she has to do if Richard does not accept the collar on the second offer.
The three woman were from farther away than Richard had ever known existed, they were Sisters of Light, sorceresses compelled to teach young boys how to control their gift. Richard constantly argues with his "captor" on their long journey to the Palace of Prophets. Richard will be at the palace for as long as it takes his to use his gift. He is soon told by Warren, a young man with vast knowledge which Richard finds useful to his "escape", that the palace has a spell that ages the people within 10 to 20 times slower than outside. Seemingly flustered by this information, Richard speeds up research at the palace so he can be with his Kahlan. Richard thought she betrayed him by making him put on the collar, to save his life, to prove his love to her, but realizes he was wrong to be so blind to her devotion to him when he has to do the same for a friend whose life becomes threatened. | ||
Plot & Themes Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy world/fantasy past Coming of age Yes Youngster becomes - a powerful magician Inner Struggle Yes Plotlet: - coping with mental/magical powers Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book Descript. of chases or violence - 10 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 20 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30 % Main Character Identity: - Male Profession/status: Age: - 20's-30's Main Adversary Profession/status: Has magical powers? Yes Magical/mental powers of main antagonist: - can cast all sorts of spells Eccentric: Yes How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Cynical sense of humor Intelligence - Very much smarter than other characters Setting Earth setting: - 18th century Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - very explicit references to deaths and torture Sex in book? Yes What kind of sex: - descript of kissing - descript of touching personal anatomy - licking - impregnation/reproduction - actual description of sex - description of breasts - rape/molest (yeech!) How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript |