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  • Naked Empire

  • Sword of Truth, Book 8
  • By: Terry Goodkind
  • Narrated by: Jim Bond
  • Length: 22 hrs and 30 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (329 ratings)
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Naked Empire cover art

Naked Empire

By: Terry Goodkind
Narrated by: Jim Bond
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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)

What listeners say about Naked Empire

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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Just get on with the story!!!!

One of my least favourite books from the series. Only slightly above Pillars of Creation as it actually has the main protaganists that we have come to know and care about in it. However this book is used as a mouthpiece for the author to share his personal views on communism, capitalism and passivism, which is nothing new for writers throughout history except the good ones don't do it at the expense of the pace and narrative.

Far too many chapters of long speeches that have nothing to do with the plot, characterisation or driving the narrative forward. The editor needs to be shook as this book is waffle and I found myself drifting in and out. I watered the whole garden without really listening and didn't feel the loss of it. in fact I was glad that I was a closer to the end of the book.

The point of Jensen still eludes. I can't stand her character. Whiny, ineffectual and judgemental. The entire boring and pointless episode of being stuck in the rock I kept shouting LEAVE HER THERE!!

If I hadnt read the series of books before I would have jumped ship at this point but I know the series gets better and I I don't like to quit so easily. The character's of Cara and Khalen are sorely underused and come across as Richard's fan club rather than the powerful intelligent women that they are. I love their double act and when they are on form some provide some of the best moments of the series. I don't like the character inconsistency of Khalen. I love her as valkerie warrior and playful lover/ wife or sister of the agiel to Cara, merciless, but it seems daft when she is all doubt and indecisive or despite Richard's track record constantly doubts his instincts.

However I am a fan of the series and the baddies Jagang and The Slide are thoroughly worth the effort and the narrator does an excellent job at bringing them to life so I will buckle down and cross fingers that the editor wakes up for the next one as I am starting to seriously doubt whether or not I even like this author anymore.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

another good book in the series

Best thing about this was the great side plots woven in to the main Richard plot. Lots of philosophizing which can be a bit mind numbing at times, but it was gripping as most of these books.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

narration is utterly devoid of emotion.

They need to use a different narrator. it's like he is reading you a shopping list.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Probably the end of the journey for me

For the last couple of books the characters have become less and less interesting and more like instruments of the authors particular view of the world. Richard has become increasingly pompous and sanctimonious while the other characters merely serve to ask him questions and reveal his 'great wisdom'. Even the villains have become two dimensional and tropish.

None of this is helped by the narrator. While he speaks with expression of sorts, it is of a style that seems incongruous to the words being said.

I had hoped that things would improve but it has left me with no desire to read or listen to the remaining books.

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

worst one of the series

just long rants by Richard , got a bit tedious and the political slant isn't exactly well disguised

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Return to form

a much better installment than the previous, interesting story and some tense moments. Zedd and Addys story is particularly heartbreaking this book

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

A real hard slog to get through.

So boring.Wish he would just stick to telling a good story and not bother with the endless monologues explaining the gift.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

epic series

An epic book full of every element you need for a great piece of writing; magic, action, love, grizzly scenes, as well as moral concepts. All these books feature wonderfully imagined lands with rich histories that add to the book's realism and make it difficult to put down. There are strong characters that have a lot of depth to them and the narrator tells the story with ease and expression the compliments the story well. I'm looking forward to the next book.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

excellent beheading!

very enjoyable as with the whole series. and this one has a goat, couldn't ask for more really.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Prepare for a dull read until the end

This isn't much better than Pillars of creation unfortunately. The only quality is that Richard and Kahlan are back on the scene.

I don't know why Terry Goodkind has to continually over explain things to the point of it being painful. Telling us things over and over again that we've read in past books.

I wanted to give up on this book several times, especially when Richard is trying to convince Owen and his men about ...'their ways.'
But the last few chapters saved it self and has reignited my interest in the sword of truth series. I now feel that I want to go on and listen to Chainfire. Its just a shame that I didn't enjoy the whole book. I don't think that Jim Bond helps either. His narration can be wooden and irritating at times.

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