Blood of the Fold is part three of The Sword of Truth. Verna is now Prelate of the Sisters of the Light and takes control of the Palace. She has to figure out who of her colleagues is Dark and who is not, a task that is proving to be quite hard. Meanwhile, Richard formally takes up leadership of D’Hara in order to secure Aydindril and stabilise the Midlands. He also has to deal with representatives from all the Midlands states who are hesitant to follow his lead. In the south, Emperor Jagang plans his invasion of the New World and has the fanatic Blood of the Fold soften up the Midlands for him. Kahlan is busy travelling back and forth and does not do anything of note.
Verna’s plot is quite interesting, but lacks surprising elements if you know Wheel of Time; the parallels to hunting the Black Ajah — and of the Sisters to Aes Sedai in general — are apparent. Kahlan’s part really disappointed me. I enjoyed her chapters the most in volume two and now she hardly appeared; I just hope she is not demoted to hero’s wife permanently. Richard’s plot is moving rather slowly for most of the time, building for the future. He makes many good decisions but is so appallingly stupid in the overhastily constructed ending that it hurts. The Mord’Sith bodyguards and our elderly wizards make for a couple of funny scenes that help with all the gloom and sappiness. Read more »