The Law of Nines

By: Terry Goodkind

Narrated by: Mark Deakins

Length: 14 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

Turning 27 may be terrifying for some, but for Alex, a struggling artist living in the Midwest, it is cataclysmic. Something about this birthday, his name, and the beautiful woman whose life he has just saved has suddenly made him - and everyone he loves - a target. A target for extreme and uncompromising violence...

©2009 Terry Goodkind (P)2009 Penguin

The Law of Nines - My First Review

I really like The Law of Nines! I first read it when it came out on CD years ago, and I bought it again when Audible had it on sale. It reminds me a bit of Dean Koontz, and it also ties into Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series, even though it is a contemporary thriller set in our world.

Apparently, Terry Goodkind intended to write a sequel to The Law of Nines, one which I suspect would have tied in even more to the world of The Sword of Truth and expanded the background to the events in The Law of Nines, but the publisher wouldn't let him write it because they felt there wasn't sufficient reader interest. I'm sad that I probably won't ever get to read that sequel, and any more that might have followed it.

I do have a few nitpicky complaints about the book: First, when Jax comes to our world, she not only understands and speaks English, but reads and writes it as well. This seems a little too convenient without some form of explanation. Second, during the first scene in the shower, when Alex is supposed to be drugged to the eyeballs, barely able to manage one-word responses when spoken to, yet makes a well-reasoned argument why he and Jax should receive better treatment, if only temporarily, but no one catches on that he isn't as out of it as he should be? Third, where did the prophecy and the Law of Nines come from in the first place since those who originally came to our world did not possess magic themselves and magic does not exist in our world?

Mark Deakins' narration is very good and I wish he narrated more of Terry Goodkind's books.

Thank you Terry Goodkind for another great book! I look forward to many more from you, maybe even the sequel to The Law of Nines? For now, I intend to pick up your latest, The Girl in the Moon, at my earliest convenience.

To those of you who, like me, enjoyed The Law of Nines, and hope for a sequel someday, please consider reviewing it!

OK, well read story.

I liked the general story. More than a little bit cliche. Feels like it was writen to order. Not serious, but fun.

Loved it!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely. The story is great! I geeked when they made Sword of Truth references!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I loved Alex. He was developed really well.

Have you listened to any of Mark Deakins’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. i haven't, but i like him.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No. i thought the book was amazing though!

very awesome

I was glad to have listened to the first 15 books to understand about the world without magic. It fit the complete series.

Awesome!

I really enjoyed listening to this book. It has everything that The Sword of Truth series has but it's set in our world. Can't wait to see where it goes from here!

A good listen.

I really did enjoy this book. The author needs to hurry to the next book.

Meh.

Performance is fine if that's all you want in an audio book. The story is pretty hetero/ gender-normy, which also, if that's your thing, more power to you. I just prefer something with a bit more depth and nuance that doesn't feel like a 17 year old's wet dream presented as fantasy.

Hopefully the start of another great series

After coming to truly love the characters in the the Sword of Truth Series, I was skeptical about the author creating new characters that I would care about also... I was wrong, what a pleasant surprise. I hope he's writing the next in the series, Now!!

Amazing

Any hardcore fan of the Sword of Truth series will love this book. Gives a different perspective that you will enjoy.

Nothing new, but not horrible

Goodkind created a great character in his Sword of Truth series, it took 3 books to flesh him out. In this book Goodkind tried to re-create the same exact character, but gave him no time develop. He went directly from a sheltered 'normal' guy to a well-trained and practiced military 'hero.'

The story was good, but the writing was not so much. Goodkind took paragraphs of conversation to slowly bring the characters to understand the obvious. This might be part of the story telling - after all both of the main characters are completely out of their own element - but it was a painful listen with the repetition.

I liked the Sword of Truth series, and will read Goodkind's next book, but I wish he had done a better job with this one.