Death’s Mistress: The Nicci Chronicles, Book 1

Goodkind’s series launch, a tie-in to his well-known Sword of Truth series, is more of an episodic ramble than a classic fantasy quest. He begins this chronicle with two familiar characters going in search of Red, a witch woman. Nathan Rahl, kin to the new ruler of D’Hara, is tasked with spreading the news of the liberation of all peoples while the sorceress Nicci protects him and gathers information on the far reaches of the world. The pair learn from Red that Nicci “must save the world” and that Nathan needs to travel to Kol Adair, where he will “behold what he needs to make himself whole again.” At Tanimura they board a ship heading south and meet Bannon Farmer, an eager, naive young sailor on his first voyage. The trio battle vicious selkies, boatloads of Norukai slavers, and assorted magic users. Along the way, Nathan loses his magic but not his taste for fine clothes. Little ties together the challenges that the three characters face. Goodkind’s name guarantees an audience, but they’ll find this installment unsatisfying. Agent: Russell Galen, Scovil Galen Ghosh Literary. (Jan.)