Heart of Black Ice is the fourth book in the Sister of Darkness cycle by Terry Goodkind. Released 21st Jan 2020 from Macmillan on their Tor imprint, it's 528 pages and available in hardcover, paperback, audio, and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

One of several series in the Sword of Truth universe, this cycle is an epic campaign fantasy completing (at least for the time being) Nicci, Nathan, & Bannon's story arc. There is no spoon feeding of backstory and as such, it's emphatically not a standalone. This series (one of several) contains over 2100 pages by itself and the entire world arc probably contains well over 10,000 pages of content at this point.

Terry Goodkind is a powerhouse of a writer. He's prolific, pumping out an amazing oeuvre in the 2.5 decades since Wizard's First Rule dropped in 1994. The books have proven to be solidly popular since then with a body of work that is impressive by any standards.

For readers who have gotten to this point in the series, this is more of the same (and better than the previous book which was sadly a low-hurdle exercise). For readers unfamiliar with Goodkind or this universe and magic system, I recommend starting with Wizard's First Rule.

I recommend it to fans of "hard" campaign fantasy books shaped like bricks who are already invested in the series. The books are written for them. The book (indeed the series) is full of harsh objectivist philosophy and shades-of-evil which grated on me after a while. I found the experience grueling. There are graphic descriptions of body horror, torture, threatened sexual abuse, cannibalism, etc which I found I needed to skim over (yes, it's mostly done by the really bad guys, but in nauseatingly detailed descriptions).

Three stars for me, likely four+ for fans who are already invested. I've been around since book one in 1994, but I honestly don't know if I'll continue with the author.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes

It’s hard to believe it was only 3 years (and 4 books) ago that we were introduced to the witch woman’s prophecy that saw Nicci and Nathan embark on their epic journey across the Old World.

<I>‘Future and Fate depend on both the journey and the destination. Kol Adair lies far to the south in the Old World. From there, the Wizard will behold what he needs to make himself whole again. And the Sorceress must save the world.’</I>

We already saw Nathan’s part of the prophecy realized last year in Siege of Stone, restoring a magic that hadn’t yet been lost when the prophecy was delivered, but the lingering promise of Nicci’s part has remained tantalizingly out of reach. More than that, it’s remained frustratingly unclear, since Nicci is a woman who has (and will undoubtedly again) performed acts of heroism that one might argue have indeed saved the world. While that prophecy is not the sole focus of Heart of Black Ice, it is something of which the characters are well aware, and (in the end) it is what drives the climax of the Nicci Chronicles.

Having set a lot of pieces in motion, particularly in the last book, Terry Goodkind brings friends and foes together here, drawing them ever closer, and propelling them into one massive final confrontation. That means there’s a lot going on, multiple story threads and POVs to be accomodated, but he weaves them all together in a book that is just about perfectly balanced and solidly entertaining. Yes, it’s a little formulaic, a little predictable, and even a little frustrating with the deus ex machina aspects of the finale, but all of that is entirely in keeping with both genre conventions and expectations set in the Sword of Truth saga.

In terms of those POVs and story arcs, Nathan’s is probably the least interesting, although it does have its heroic moments (the Weeping Stone spell especially), and travelling with Prelate Verna forces them to confront their shared history. Nicci’s arc is a little scattered, taking her all across the Old World, and it is very much a solo journey, but the way it ties into the overall mythology and magic of the entire Sword of Truth saga gives it some real ‘wow’ moments of real significance. She feels like herself again, after what I felt was a weak portrayal in the third book, and the struggles she faces to understand her role in the prophecy reveal a vulnerable side of her we haven’t really seen before.

Bannon’s part of the tale was, rather surprisingly, my favorite. His struggles and triumphs aboard the Norukai ships are fantastic, bringing his story full-circle in a lot of ways, and the manner in which Adessa and Lila become a part of that story is genuinely exciting. He’s a character who has really grown over the course of the series, and while I felt his personality was a little bland in the last book, here we see him reach his full potential as a character, becoming more than just an ordinary hero archetype. In terms of action and excitement, it is no stretch to say that this trio carries much of the novel.

I guess it shouldn’t be surprising in a final volume, but Heart of Black Ice shows no fear and no hesitation in killing off key characters, often in ways we don’t see coming, and far sooner than we might have expected. There’s a weight of significance here, a looming sense of things coming to an end, and I think Goodkind did a fantastic job of wrapping up all the storylines. Like I said, the way in which the heroes converge in the right place at the right time is a little forced, but it’s precisely how many of these sagas end. Despite the little things that nagged at me, this was a solid read that more than delivered on what I was hoping for.

I didn’t realise that this was the fourth book in a series. However just reading the first few pages made me put it down and seek out the previous three books in the library. Yes I binge read all four books and it was great..

Terry delivers again! Note, if you haven't read the first three, this is NOT a stand alone! Pulling from his other works, this series is wonderful!

Heart of Black Ice by Terry Goodkind, a solid novel from this writer of epic fantasy. Nicci and Nathan are facing off against the remnants of a long dead empire and things are not looking good. Along the way we make a few new friends and lose some old ones.

Engaging from the first page! Terry Goodkind is a powerhouse in the fantasy genre. When I read the Wizard’s First Rule, I had no idea just how prolific this world and it’s characters would become. The story of Kahlan Amnell and Richard Cypher has grown into one of the most beloved stories within this world. However, even the most morally questionable characters within this world are appreciated, without conflict, there’ would be no heroes. Nicci provides some of the most intense and blushing reads of her pursuit of Richard. This female anti-hero yet enemy-turned-loyal-companion of Richard and Kahlan, has become even more of a loved figure within their realm post Emperor Jagang, Nicci follows her purpose in protecting Richard. She becomes a trusted friend of all. Now that the world ever has been resolved and peace rules the land, Nicci follows her own path. What follows is another grand adventure that only Terry Goodkind can write in this an amazing land he has created. Heart of Black Glass is an apt title for Goodkind’s latest novel concluding the Nicci Chronicles. It goes out with a ride you will never forget but will definitely enjoy!