Death's Mistress

Sister of Darkness: The Nicci Chronicles, Book 1

By: Terry Goodkind

Narrated by: Christina Traister

A New York Times bestseller, Death’s Mistress: Sister of Darkness begins The Nicci Chronicles, Terry Goodkind’s series with a cast of characters centered on one of his best-loved characters in the now-concluded Sword of Truth.

One-time lieutenant of the evil Emperor Jagang, known as “Death’s Mistress” and the “Slave Queen”, the deadly Nicci captured Richard Rahl in order to convince him that the Imperial Order stood for the greater good. But it was Richard who converted Nicci instead, and for years thereafter she served Richard and Kahlan as one of their closest friends—and one of their most lethal defenders.

Now, with the reign of Richard and Kahlan finally stabilized, Nicci has set out on her own for new adventures. One of her jobs will be to keep her travelling companion, the unworldly prophet Nathan, out of trouble. But her real task will be to scout the far reaches of Richard Rahl’s realm. This will take her and Nathan to visit the mysterious witch-woman Red, to tangle with the street life of the port city of Tanimura, to fight lethal battles on the high seas, and ultimately to a vast magical confrontation far from home…with the future of life itself, in the Old World and the New, at stake.

Full of life and story, this is a sweeping, engaging tale in the grand Goodkind manner.

The Nicci Chronicles
1. Death’s Mistress
2. Shroud of Eternity
3. Siege of Stone

©2017 Terry Goodkind (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved

story slow in parts

I have loved TG books for over 10 years. i stopped reading about Richard some yrs ago and when i happened to pick up the 3rd volume of the Nicci Chronicles i decided to give this series a try. I thought Christina Traister did a fantastic job with the story, the interp of the story. I enjoyed the story though i thought it was slow in parts. i almost stopped listening in after the 6 or 7 chapters, but knew with my history of reading not listening to TG's many books on Richard i should continue and i am glad i did. TG's descriptions and details are what made me go back these many years ago and purchase volumes 1 and 2 of his first books on Richard after i had read 2 chapters of his 3rd book on Richard's exploits. I carried and read them around Europe on my two week trip and continued the series after i returned to the states. I am glad i continued listening to this Book 1 and have just purchased volume 2&3 on audible. for tuture listeners, press on it will be worth ur efforts and patience.

Wonderful

Another great story from Terry Goodkind. I have only one complaint and that is that the narrator mispronounced a couple of names from the original series. Other then that she was great too.

Great book, but...

The narrator needs to familiarize herself with how Jagang's name was pronounced in the previous audiobooks- Ja gang, not Ja gong...it took away from the story, but otherwise she did a great job.

Decent start to a series, with GOOD narration.

If you have read/listened to enough Goodkind, you know what is going to happen next, Still entertaining. Nicci and Nathan are both great characters and worth knowing about their new journey.

The Sword of Truth series has gone through 6 different narrators, Names and places have been pronounced many different ways through out. Not sure why folks get so hung up on that. Happens in real life and we all take in stride.

Of all the books I have listened to over the years I break the narration styles into 3 categories: read out load, read to you and 'Performed'. Christina Traister does a really good job of reading the story to you, so don't listen to the naysayers Christina. It's a great way to hear a story, makes it more personal.

In short, if you are a Goodkind fan, this is more than worth the credit. If you are new to Goodkind, go back and start with Wizards First Rule, also worth the credit as most of the ones in between, besides, you'll need all of the backstory.

Not quite what I expected

What did you like best about this story?

The spunk of the two new characters.

What about Christina Traister’s performance did you like?

A little distracting when she pronounces Jagang and Alterange differently from all the other audio books in the series. I don't think she previewed any of the other books. Please be consistent through a series in pronunciation.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Youth wins out over age.

Any additional comments?

I wasn't sure if there was a ghost writer involved. It didn't seem like a Terry Goodkind novel.
This is the first on describing sexual acts. Not that it is wrong, but it doesn't sound like Mr. Goodkind.

Mispronouncing names

Is there anything you would change about this book?

It was ok but after years of reading Terry's books this reader mispronounces character names

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Pronounce characters names correctly

What didn’t you like about Christina Traister’s performance?

She mispronounces Jagang's name.

Did Death's Mistress inspire you to do anything?

No

Any additional comments?

No

Story was enjoyable, but predictable at times.

Narration was a bit dry and the further into the story we went the less enthused the narrator seemed.

story is good but the duration is just bad

the story of this book was great, it felt like Terry Goodkind was back to Wizard's First Rule quality work.

But the narration was just horrible. mispronounced words mispronounce names, slight pauses in the story where you could tell they had to redo it.

I enjoyed it but the narrator tried their best to make it not so.

A great book

Very enjoyable from start to finish. A very recommended book. The author is a true genius and the reader is very good

AWESOME AND AMAZING

I was captivated... spellbound... I couldn't stop listening... I could visualize everything characters... places... everything!