The Omen Machine
Written by Terry Goodkind
Narrated by Sam Tsoutsouvas
4.5/5
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About this audiobook
In The Omen Machine, #1 New York Times-bestselling author Terry Goodkind returns to the lives of Richard Rahl and Kahlan Amnell—in a compelling tale of a new and sinister threat to their world.
Hannis Arc, working on the tapestry of lines linking constellations of elements that constituted the language of Creation recorded on the ancient Cerulean scroll spread out among the clutter on his desk, was not surprised to see the seven etherial forms billow into the room like acrid smoke driven on a breath of bitter breeze. Like an otherworldly collection of spectral shapes seemingly carried on random eddies of air, they wandered in a loose clutch among the still and silent mounted bears and beasts rising up on their stands, the small forest of stone pedestals holding massive books of recorded prophecy, and the evenly spaced display cases of oddities, their glass reflecting the firelight from the massive hearth at the side of the room.
Since the seven rarely used doors, the shutters on the windows down on the ground level several stories below stood open as a fearless show of invitation. Though they frequently chose to use windows, they didn't actually need the windows any more than they needed the doors. They could seep through any opening, any crack, like vapor rising in the early morning from the stretches of stagnant water that lay in dark swaths through the peat barrens.
The open shutters were meant to be a declaration for all to see, including the seven, that Hannis Arc feared nothing.
Terry Goodkind
Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth series has sold over 26 million copies in 20 languages. Before becoming a full-time writer Terry worked as a wildlife artist, a cabinetmaker and a violin maker. terrygoodkind.com @terrygoodkind facebook.com/terrygoodkind
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Reviews for The Omen Machine
107 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The plot had potential, but ended up being a bit repetitive and lackluster. I was interested to see where Goodkind would take the series after the last book being the supposed end of the series. This book starts the day after Cara and Benjamin's wedding. People start declaring prophecies for awful events that quickly become true. And we all know how much Richard hates prophecy. And of course there is a whole new big bad introduced.Not the most exciting book. Much of the story takes place at the People's Palace. I wish there had been a map, because I had a hard time gauging distances. Goodkind introduces a new land to the north, and I had a hard time picturing how long it should take people to travel to and through that land. It made the ending feel abrupt.Maybe I am just all Sword of Truthed out. It didn't hold the same appeal I felt when I started the series over a decade ago. I will see how I feel about reading the next one when it comes out. Because the way he ended the book, it is obvious he plans on continuing the series.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Omen Machine picks up where Confessor left off, following the characters from The Sword of Truth series in the beginning of a new adventure. They are confronted by several new puzzles and threats---and they're big ones. It is true, as many of the book's critics have complained, that the build-up is a little slow at first, and the ending doesn't fully resolve all the major conflicts. But the pace picks up as it goes along, and the ending is clearly setting up for a sequel (or possibly sequels).This wasn't my favorite Goodkind book, but I enjoyed it and found it intriguing---it has left me eagerly anticipating the follow-up. Bottom line: if you didn't like Goodkind's last several novels, you're probably not going to like this one. If you have enjoyed his books up to this point, you'll probably enjoy this, too.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I was thrilled to see that Goodkind was continuing his Sword of Truth series so I was excited to pick this book up. It started out good with a new dark plot line and the same broad spectrum of characters. Towards the middle I thought it dragged just slightly but otherwise the whole book was very fast paced. And shorter than Goodkind’s other books. The story and writing however didn’t meet the par of Goodkind’s first few books in the series. I can’t specifically say why but I felt this book had potential it didn’t utilize. Maybe it was the lack of character development. The book was too fast paced here for that. I’m not positive. I did like the story and am looking forward to the next book.
- Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Because I loved The Sword of Truth Series, the characters, and the world, I wanted to see how Terry Goodkind handled the world AFTER the death of tyranny. I was sorely disappointed.While I could understand the possibility that someone new, who never read the previous 11 books, would pick this book up and read it with fresh eyes, I cannot understand the continued repetitiveness of describing who these characters are/were throughout the entire length of the book.Goodkind's repetitive nature doesn't stop with just telling the reader who the characters are. He has a nasty habit of repeating a lot of the information in the story, sometimes paragraph after paragraph, sometimes weaving it in throughout the chapter, or chapters. After a few times the reader starts scratching their head and wondering if the author thinks the reader is dumb or forgets easily. The 525 page book could easily have been edited down to 300 pages just by removing the repeat offenders. Or, edited down to 300, then brought back up to 525 pages by finishing the story! (but I will go into that in a moment)The feel of the writing was definitely not Goodkind feel. In my eyes and heart, I believe that either Goodkind forced this book to appease his fans, or he had a ghost writer. The characters I came to love were flat, nothing more than a sounding board. There was no growth. The characters had already fulfilled their growth in The Sword of Truth series. It ended. That should have been the last we heard of everyone. But for some reason, everyone wanted another Richard and Kahlan story. I certainly did not need this. Kahlan lacked her usual strong feminine appeal. Just because she was sick she didn't need to be so clingy. She never was in the previous books. Now that Jangang is gone, what? she suddenly turns all princess-y and becomes insecure and needy? I was not happy with her, or any of the other major minor characters that were so well-loved. In this book, they only provided a means for Richard to figure the puzzle out. They asked childish questions, obvious questions. Basically, it was like Richard was talking inside his head, but Goodkind slapped a face/name to the one asking the questions. They really weren't needed. Very disappointing.The reader is left wondering who really is the antagonist in this book. Based on the synopsis, we would assume Hannis Arc is. But after reading it in total, we are left wondering. Really, is it the machine? Is it the Hedge Maid? Bishop Arc? Abbot Ludwig? Come on, make up our minds already! It took 500 pages to build up to the climax of the story. Richard talking to the machine. Prophecy running rampant throughout the lands. The discovery of a mysterious prophecy machine. The treason going on in the palace instigated by Abbot Ludwig for the sake of Bishop Arc. But really, Ludwig wants all the power. A slight detour showing us that Bishop Arc is guiding the Hedge Maid.At 500 pages we are lead to believe that Bishop Arc is the true antagonist. We "guess" that he's controlling the Hedge Maid and The Omen Machine. He is controlling "prophecy" and that Richard will have to fight him in the end to stop all the nonsense. Yet, we are left with the "knight in shining armor come to save the beautiful princess from the horrible Hedge Maid", but the REAL evil is never addressed at the end. All the questions that surround the omen machine, Bishop Arc, and Abbot Ludwig are left unanswered. It was a poorly executed ending. More like, "OMG there's so much more story, but I have to hurry up and finish because I'm at 500 pages, and really it's only about Richard and Kahlan so I can end it there, right?!"No, I'm sorry, I did not like this book. It was not in the nature of Goodkind. I feel cheated. I don't think this book is worthy of the rest of his books. The story is good, whenever/if ever he finishes it. But to leave it as is...I will not be recommending this to anyone. Richard and Kahlan, and all the rest of the characters from the Sword Of Truth world, should have ended with the final book in the series, Confessor.I do hope his next book THE FIRST CONFESSOR will be much better. At least that will have new characters and a new plot to follow, grow, and hopefully fall in love with.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I was happy to return to the world of Richard and Kahlan in this continuation of the Sword of Truth series. Terry Goodkind has truly created compelling and vibrant characters to populate this fantasy series. In this engaging book, Richard, Kahlan, and their friends are confronted with chilling predictions and the discovery of an omen machine in the People's Palace of D'Hara. Despite having won a long war and restored peace to the New World, Richard and Kahlan struggle to prevent rebellion and the breakdown of their rule. Terry Goodkind does not disappoint and I hope he continues to feature Richard and Kahlan and their cohorts in more novels.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Great book. Not as eventful or exciting as the others but still overall a good book. Thank you Goodkind. I hope your resting in peace man.