Finally Finished the Book - Meh.

[Fallen Confessor]

Not a great ending. Nothing big happened. No real cliff-hanger. I am not at all surprised or depressed that the next book wont be a sequel from Terry to the Law of Nines. I may actually sell the book. I wouldn't read it again. It was good, don't get me wrong, but nothing in level to Terry's other stories.

Anyway. I beamed with joy when Alex said "I love you, Jax Amnell". It was great to finally be confirmed what I had thought very early on- Jax is a Confessor and descendant to Kahlan. So really happy about that. I also beamed when Jax mentioned the People's Palace. Was really great to hear.

I also loved when Alex and Jax camped out for the night. I right away thought Terry was in his element. That setting is what he loves, what he's use to. Describing the forest, climbing over hills, gravel etc. It had a feel of his sword of truth books because of that.

The big fight scene was ... ok. I was happy that Vandis, Caine and the pirate died along with many others. It was sad that Jax had to return to her world and leave Alex, but was happy to know that she and Alex got engaged. I was desperately hoping Alex could find a way to take himself into Jax's world, but instead, she's coming to his.

Not very happy with that, but there we go. This also opens up no sequel, at all! If Alex cannot go there, and Jax will go to Alex's world. There is no possible storyline, interesting enough, to last an entire novel. I'm glad it ended where it did because it is a nice fitting way to end the story. Both worlds are safe, everyone is happy. Happy Ending.

If he follows this story up, then cool, if not, I wont cry over it. I just hope his next book is better. I was quite let down with this book. But ho hum.

[jef374]

I think there will have to be some follow up. Jax did say she would be back and if Terry has taught us anything it is that magic has two sides. Remember, Richard was not supposed to be able to marry Kahlan for love.
I felt that LO9's revisted WFR in a lot of ways besides the obvious. I am sure this was done intentionally since I found LO9's in the mystery section of the bookstore.
I too felt like this was not Terry's best story, although the writing is still suberb and the charactors were excellent. Again, I chalk this up to the fact that it is the opening story to a new set of readers with enough Sword of Truth series to keep the faithful interested.

[mutsuxshinobi]

How would jax get kahlans last though? when they got married wouldnt khalan have taken richards last name Kahlan Rahl?

[Gwynasyn]

Not necessarily. IIRC, you need think waaaaaaaaaaaay back to the first few books, at some point while Richard either said to Kahlan or thought to himself that he might want to take her name rather than she take his. I think it might have been at the time when he was still ashamed of his Rahl lineage.

[John Galt]

Originally Posted by mutsuxshinobi

How would jax get kahlans last though? when they got married wouldnt khalan have taken richards last name Kahlan Rahl?

There are quite a few theories:

Harold had a child we never knew about and one of his lineage married a confessor (eww, incest :P)

Cara, Nicci, or someone else who really loved and admired Kahlan decided to name their children after her.

Richard wanted to take Kahlan's name in Stone of Tears so when Rahl devotions were ended he finally did or they simply let their children take their name.

I find the last explanation most likely.

[_-Scarlett-_]

There's the theory that the boy children had the Rahl last name and the girl children had the Amnell last name.

[Confessor Kahlan]

Originally Posted by John Galt

Richard wanted to take Kahlan's name in Stone of Tears so when Rahl devotions were ended he finally did or they simply let their children take their name.

I believe this theory.

[scurus]

i think it would make sense for the story that Richard takes Kahlan's last name since Jax mentioned that there are "no more Rahls" in her world.

however though, wouldn't that make them cousin's hundred times removed or such?


both far descendents of darken

[Cuda]

I believe Kahlan's last name came from her father who was 'confessed' by her mother for mating. There were other children fathered by him before kahlan, therefore the Amnell line continues.
As for 'no more Rahls', I'm not sure of this one, Richard being the only known Rahl after Jennsen went to the 'new world'. I would assume Richard and Kahlan would try to have children. People are still people and I would think that confessors would still be needed in a world of magic.
Perhaps Richard did away with Devotions, but I think he kept the Rahl surname.

[scurus]

ok, this is from the SoT wiki :

"Harold was killed at Kahlan's camp, however, most of the Galean troops returned to their homeland. Unfortunatly, they were of little use in defending against the Order, who eventually made their way through the Midlands. Galea was over run and Queen Cyrilla was captured. She was made to whore for Jagang's men, as Jebra had predicted, until one day she was beheaded; her severed head used as the ball in a game of Ja'La between Jagangs men."

i'm not sure if harold had children, but if not i assume this would leave Kahlan the last Amnell. i know families can be much bigger than that, so more importantly... it seemed like there was some added significance to Jax being an Amnell... the story alluded to her being a "lady in white"/confessor. And since Kahlan was said to be the last confessor in SoT it would suggest Jax is her descendant.

as for "no more Rahls", Jax in the story said something along the lines of: 'the Rahl line has far since been gone from my world'

or something similair.

so if there were no more Rahls, it may just be because they carried a different last name after richard

i obviously don't know for sure but this seems to make sense