Debt Of Bones by Terry Goodkind
01/10/2002 . Source: Katie McGivern 

Pub: Gollancz. 116 page paperback. Price: £ 4.99(UK). ISBN: 0-57507-311-X.

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Terry Goodkind details the story of a young woman, Abby, and her desperate bid to save her family.

To do this she must enlist the help of the most powerful and important man, Wizard Zorander. This story is set in the world of Goodkind's series, 'The Sword Of Truth', and is an explanation of the beginnings of this world. This story can stand alone from the series.

I enjoyed reading this story. There is a good moral dilemma at the heart of the book: should you sacrifice personal happiness for society?

Well illustrated with good well-developed characters. The main characters, Abby and Zorander, are believable and in the end you genuinely care for them.

The action scenes are fast moving and the twist at the end is predicable but still enjoyable. It is also captivating enough to make you want to read more of Terry Goodkind.

But I am not sure why this story was published in book form at all. The illustrations, while beautifully drawn, add little to the story.

It has already been published in the Legends collections (where fantasy authors write short stories set in their worlds) and as part of that collection it stands out as a great fantasy story.

As a short story published in book form it left me feeling short-changed.

Katie McGivern