Reviews of Naked Empire are notably polarized among fantasy readers: Naked Empire (Sword of Truth, #8) - Goodreads

Richard must find a way to liberate these people from the Imperial Order, led by the brutal Emperor Jagang. However, he faces a significant internal obstacle: the Bandakar follow an extreme pacifist philosophy that forbids violence, even in self-defense, which Richard views as a dangerous denial of reality.

The book serves as a sharp critique of unconditional non-violence. Richard argues that by refusing to acknowledge and fight evil, the Bandakar effectively enable it.