A Debt of Bones Review

A Debt of Bones
By Terry Goodkind
Gollancz, 116 pages

FT rating: 9.0


Her friends and family kidnapped and her village sacked, A Debt of Bones opens showing Abby waiting in line to ask for help from her last hope: a wizard.  And not just any wizard, only the First Wizard Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander will do.   This is a dangerous request from the “Wind of Death”, but Abby is confident because she has an ace in the hole, or more accurately, the sack.  When she finally sees him, one of the most interesting parts of the story unfolds as Abby isn’t granted a private meeting, she has to share First Wizard Zedd’s time with other wizards, generals, sorceresses and confessors.  Even though she has come to call in her debt of bones, Zedd denies her request and she is sent away.  After a little help, Abby meets with Zedd who agrees that her debt of bones is legitimate and agrees to help, but there is a time limit.  The story progresses quickly and Abby goes in search of her child.  Will she find her before Zedd’s magic separates them forever?

Now it must be said that I have read the Sword of Truth series and was already acquainted with the outcome of the story.  That being said, I was hooked into this story and read it in one sitting.  The world was well developed and the dialogue and interaction was eloquent and meaningful.  Mr. Parkinson’s cover art and illustrations added a wonderful dimension to the story and helped visualize some of the Sword of Truth’s central things particularly the Grace.  Do not be fooled by the brevity of this story or that it is a prequel.  For new readers, this book will lay the ground work for the Sword of Truth series and gives an example of the rhythm and tempo of Mr. Goodkind’s writing.  Sword of Truth followers will see the story of Zedd and the making of the boundaries only enhancing the series as a whole.  Well worth the read whether you’re a Goodkind fan or not, I highly recommend Debt of Bones.