Chainfire is the ninth book in the Sword_of_Truth fantasy series by Terry Goodkind. It was published in 2005. The Sword of Truth is a fantasy series written by Terry Goodkind. ... Terry Goodkind is an American writer, author of the Sword of Truth series. ... Jump to: navigation, search 2005(MMV) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Story

Richard Rahl is the ruler of the D'haran Empire. He rules a collection of nations that previously made up D'hara and the Midlands. Richard Rahl and the D'haran Empire have been in a struggle with the Imperial Order, an Empire from the Old world, lead by Emperor Jagang for the last few books of the Sword_of_Truth series. Richard Rahl is the primary protagonist in the Sword of Truth fantasy series by Terry Goodkind. ... The Sword of Truth is a fantasy series written by Terry Goodkind. ...

Chainfire continues the story of Richard in his attempt to defeat the Imperial Order. The story begins with Richard seriously injured from an enemy arrow. He is brought to Nicci, a sorceress, who heals him. When he awakens he discovers that his wife, Kahlan, is missing. More than that though, no one around him seems to remember her. Nicci and Cara both attribute Richard's memory of Kahlan to dreams and delusions brought about by the injury. In the Sword of Truth fantasy series by Terry Goodkind, Kahlan Amnell is the Mother Confessor and the last Confessor, originally from the Midlands. ...

Fearing for his beloved's life, Richard desperately tries to find some trace of her and at the same time convince the others that she exists. His search leads him to the witch woman, Shota, who reveals the words Chainfire and the Deep Nothing. She demands the Sword of Truth for this information. She also informs Richard of some kind of conjured beast created by Jagang and his Sisters of the Dark. The beast is meant to kill Richard and is apparently unstoppable and unpredictable. What's more, it tracks Richard when he uses his gift.

In the meantime, it turns out that Ann and Nathan together have discovered many pages blank in books of ancient prophecy. They seem to remember that the pages should not be blank, but can't remember what was originally written there. Zedd makes the same discovery independently.

Concerned, but still determined to find his wife, Richard makes his way to Zedd at the Wizard's Keep who has no memory of Kahlan either. Ann, Nathan, and Nicci make their way to the Keep as well and are reunited with Richard, Zedd, and Cara.

As Richard continues to attempt to prove the existence of the woman he loves, the others are more convinced he is mentally ill and plot to "heal" him. At the same time it turns out that Kahlan was kidnapped by the four remaining Sisters of the Dark who had escaped the Dream Walker in "Blood of the Fold". They have cast a spell using subtractive magic to unmake people's memories of her and her memories of herself. The Sisters use Kahlan to steal the Boxes of Orden from the Garden of Life in the People's Palace in D'Hara.

Richard, Nicci, and Cara travel through the Sliph to the People's Palace and learn that the Boxes are missing. Richard has figured out that the Sisters have stolen his wife and the Boxes, though as it turns out, they only have two as the new Seeker (probably Samuel) stole the third from one of them. Richard leaves the Palace and his army both to find Kahlan and to prevent the Sisters from using the Boxes to let out the Keeper of the Dead.

Richard and the two women then return to the Wizard's Keep and manage to convince Zedd, Nathan, and Ann of the truth. No one but Richard remembers Kahlan, but at least now they believe that she exists.

Wizard's Ninth Rule

In this volume we discover the Wizard's Ninth Rule: In the Sword of Truth series, a new Wizards Rule is introduced in each new novel. ...

 "A contradiction cannot exist." 

Professional Reviews

EpicSFF Chainfire Review April 3, 2005