Naked Empire

Sword of Truth, Book 8

By: Terry Goodkind

Narrated by: Jim Bond

Length: 22 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

"'You knew they were there, didn't you?' Kahlan asked in a hushed tone as she leaned closer. Against the darkening sky, she could just make out the shapes of three black-tipped races taking to wing, beginning their nightly hunt. That was why he'd stopped. That was what he'd been watching as the rest of them waited in uneasy silence.

"'Yes,' Richard said. He gestured over his shoulder without turning to look. "There are two more, back there." Kahlan briefly scanned the dark jumble of rock, but she didn't see any others. Lightly grasping the silver pommel with two fingers, Richard lifted his sword a few inches, checking that it was clear in its scabbard. A last fleeting glimmer of amber light played across his golden cape as he let the sword drop back, in place. In the gathering gloom of dusk, his familiar tall, powerful contour seemed as if it were no more than an apparition made of shadows.

"Just then, two more of the huge birds shot by right overhead. One, wings stretched wide, let out a piercing scream as it banked into a tight gliding turn, circling, once, in assessment of the five people below before stroking its powerful wings to catch its departing comrades in their swift journey west. This night they would find ample food."

Epic edge: listen to more in the Sword of Truth series.

©2003 Terry Goodkind (P)2003 Brilliance Audio

Critic reviews

"Jim Bond's narration imparts a mythical quality while transporting the listener to a world of wizards, soul-stealers, potions, and magic." ( AudioFile)

Wonderful Book!

Terry Goodkind is one of my favorite authors and the world he had created is second to none. I love his use of truths of life. Very inspiring.

Talga Vasternich

Talga Vasternich the Wizard's Eight Rule meaning Deserve Victory is what Richard learns after been poisoned by a group of pristinely ungifted people who wish for Richard to destroy the Imperial Order army that is occupying their land, in return for the antidote. What Richard and Kahlan learn is that a weapon called a slide created using dark magic and a wizard named Nicolas is controlling the army and is spying on their camp and is intent on claiming Kahlan and killing Richard for Jagang in return for the land of D'hara. If this is not enough Richard's gift is also killing him, and it is only a matter of time before either the poison or his gift will kill Richard. This is another brilliant novel in the Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind and is again well narrated by Jim Bond. A great read and a great listen.

An absolute must for fantasy readers!

This is an absolutely excellent series. There is a lot in this book that I have been able to bring to life in my tabletop pathfinder games. Very very excellently well done. I have just finished the series on my third way through! Can't get enough 😀👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

Too much ayn rand style with over explaining

I absolutely love Terry Goodkinds work. But, there’s tangents in this book that just beat to death the philosophy of Ayn Rand. It’s fine to a point but could be so much better without all of that.

The price of power

The peril in this book feels real and consequential. The characters are seeing new levels of development and the setting continues to expand with a whole new group of people.
I really enjoyed how the solution to both perils come from within Richard.

Loved it!

This was a great addition to the series. A roller coaster ride of emotions, all of your favorite characters, I even enjoyed the triumph over mindless mob mentalities. A+ in my book.

love this series, so excited to start the next

the book was great just like everyone before it. looking forward to starting chain fire, the narrator was great hope the next is as good.

Narrator ruined an OK book

Would you try another book from Terry Goodkind and/or Jim Bond?

Like many have said Terry Goodkind's books in this series almost grind to a stop while Richard (and Goodkind) explain the exact same things over and over and over again. That being said I am still a fan of Goodkind and will continue to read or listen to his books.
Jim Bond on the other hand should never be allowed to narrate another book. The statement (copy/pasted) below from this books main page could not possible be more wrong.

""What the Critics Say"
"Jim Bond's narration imparts a mythical quality while transporting the listener to a world of wizards, soul-stealers, potions, and magic." (AudioFile)""

I would really like to know what book the Critics at AudioFile was listening to, There is no way it was the same one I listened to. The only place Jim Bond's narration transported me to was a world of constant irritation as I listened to his mechanical voice. Please, please Audible redo all of the Jim Bond narrated books in this series, pretty much any narrator could do better...except the narrator of book 4 that was not intelligent enough to listen to the any of the first 3 books to find out how the names were pronounced.

Would you ever listen to anything by Terry Goodkind again?

Yes

How could the performance have been better?

A different narrator would have improved the book, pretty sure Stephen Hawkings could have made it sound better.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Naked Empire?

Too numerous to recount.

great series

love the series but this storyline was the slowest moving one. still enjoyed it. The narrator is very good and has a pleasing tone.

Good Story & this; A must have piece of the puzzle

Where does Naked Empire rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is among this great story with Richard & Kahlan. It's needed for the story but it's kind of
Redundant and some parts are obvious and long winded awaiting that NEW Piece of the puzzle, But this one rates about in the middle of my favorite in the season.
The sisters of the Dark and the light I guess seem to be very deep on the bench, I guess there were more of those sisters than I originally thought.

What other book might you compare Naked Empire to and why?

Any other of MR. Goodkind's books.

Which scene was your favorite?

Probably when Richard destroyed all of those guy's in the desert all at once.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No

Any additional comments?

It's ok but a must have in the series.