Wow, OK, the worst thing that I think off hand that I can say about this one, much to my own chagrin is the writing style, honestly Chainfire was pretty good. It wasn't perfect and it wasn't as good as Wizards First Rule.

The reality is Chainfire is the first of what is going to become the first of a set of sub-trilogies that will compose the ending of this massive epic fantasy. Richard has finally woken up from his near fatal injuries to find that his wife Kahlan is missing once again. Strangly though, nobody even remembers that she even exits except him. Nicci and Cara think his “wife” is from a dream he had when he was feverish for those two days, while recovering from his injuries. Cara and Nicci think that he is delusional and their beliefs are only strengthened every time someone who knows Richard hears him talk about Kahlan and non of them remember her either.

To Richard this says that there is something bigger at play and that it has to be magic at play and it is large and complex and is going to have disastrous consequences somewhere if this issue isn't solved.

Richards main arc is to deal with this emotional fallout and its not a fun one for obvious reasons. There are some interesting sub-plots involving Jagang trying to re-conquer Altur'Rang as a lesson, so the Old World will fall back in line and back under his book. There are blank chunks because of this “spell” that no one has a memory of and this is another issue. On top of that, a beast is created and sent out by Jangang is not hunting Richard and it causes some huge and massive collateral damage.

Now that we have the series back on track and we are seeing the same character's with each book again and we have some stability in characters and while Cara and Nicci are frustrating when they are harping on Richard to give up on this “Kahlan” person that they don't remember and get on with solving the problems that they are facing. Nicci and Cara are supportive and sweet at times and I wish they had been given more of those moments vs. harping and getting on Richard. They would have gotten so much further so much faster.

I really want to finish this series and I can say that it does end and while you are going to see this all post in one or two day, this is a week of typing and I am going to be so happy to see the end of this typing. But, I do cherish the happy memories that I have of this series that I am reliving through these reviews. Not only of the books but of the things that went on in my life, the important things that happened through each read.