Book review - David Eddings' Belgariad Series

SPOILER ALERT below:

I read the first book in David Eddings’ Belgariad series, Pawn of Prophecy, many years ago and bought the second, Queen of Sorcery, expecting to finish the series.  But I didn’t.  Like many of my books, I’ve lugged them all over the country from one house to another.

Since I’m back on my reading schedule, I decided to finish the series, which include 5 books total.  The third through the fifth are Magician’s Gambit, Castle of Wizardry and Enchanters’ Endgame. 

The series follows Garion, a humble kid from a farm, being raised by his Aunt Pol, but soon learns that he has to fulfill a prophecy.  Each book opens like a reading from a Bible, with back stories of how the Earth was formed by the seven Gods, how Torak tried to command it all but the Orb seriously maimed him, only certain people can touch the Orb, that someone is Garion, etc.

The race of people who rule the world and guard the Orb have long been wiped out but everyone is looking for the one with the mark on the palm of their hand, i.e. Garion, who can retrieve the Orb and defeat the evil Torak.

Garion is your typical clichéd, reluctant hero but goes with his Aunt Polgara, a powerful, immortal sorceress, and her father Belgarath, an even more powerful, immortal sorcerer to find the stolen Orb and face Torak.  They gather a small group of people from different races to accompany them across thousands of leagues, face many serious dangers and play their own part in fulfilling the prophecy.

Most of the action takes place in the first four books, when Garion and company recover the Orb and restore it to the Rivan castle on the Isle of Winds. 

The fifth book, however, is nothing but filler as if Eddings or his publishers wanted to extend the series beyond its usefulness.  Garion and his initial group of friends take a back seat to minor characters and scenes that do not contribute to the end of the story.  Much of Enchanters’ Endgame is dedicated to Garion’s fiancé Ce’Nedra, an annoying, spoiled brat, who manages to gather and mobilize an enormous army into a war that is unnecessary, since Garion faces Torak alone. 

SPOILER ALERT!!: Garion wins.

The entire story could have been condensed to four books and the series would have been much more enjoyable, but the last installment drags and ruins the experience for the reader.  This is one set of books that won't be making another move with me.