Customer Reviews

The Lost Runes (The Runespell Trilogy #2)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

However if, like me, you didn't really enjoy the first book, but you have a vague desire to find out what happens and a vague hope that the series will improve, I suggest you give up now. As in the first book, the world is well developed, the book is well written and there are some interesting ideas. But the characters continue to be annoying and the plot continues to dawdle. I gave up on this book halfway through, which is probably the worst thing I could say about a book.

This is an excellent book which gives a glimpse of the authors prodigous talent, which is later realised in the fourth book, 'The Lament Of Abalone". Following on from the impressive debut, The Runes Of War, the story picks up pace as the author solidifies her characters and brings extra cohesiveness to the plot. Once again, the colour and descriptiveness of the writing is wonderful, making for easy suspension of disbelief and stunning mental imagery.

There is a natural and realistic flow to the development of the characters - and it begins to become apparent who the real heroine of the story is. The interaction of arrogant Hal, shy Casper and high priestess Brid is superb, with all the complexities of a 3-way relationship dealt with very skillfully.

The story develops nicely, all the while enjoyable and refreshing - with the lines between good and evil still bleary as the 'heroes' are confronted by a people dying of starvation, acting purely on the will-to-live.

A top read !

As with a previous reviewer, I continued this series from "Runes of War" hoping this series would find its focus. To a degree it has: description continues to be the series' strength, and the author has in large part abandoned the repetitive and unevolving self-recrimination I found so wearisome with the characters of Spar and Branwolf in the first book. However, this remains a travel-bound text, the ongoing and apparently never ending quest providing an excuse for a fair number of incidental and--in terms of plot focus--irrelevant adventures that are left to sustain the reader's interest. After a time this plot device becomes very wearisome and predictable.

The main characters, while evolving somewhat, still seem essentially rooted to the characters established in the first book, with often the secondary actors, such as May or Cybillia, providing the greater character development and interest. The primary villains remain attenuated, serving only provide the occasional threat, and again we find secondary figures such as Gatto providing much of the conflict within the narrative, while more important characters, such as Gwion, remain mostly as phantoms. And, after dragging himself around through much of the book to little purpose, the dragon simply swims away into the sunset.

There is an uncomfortable and seemingly random blend of various borrowings from myth and religion, creating a hodgepodge cosmology incorporating Nordic, Celtic, Christian, and Greco-Roman traditions that at times merge uneasily, such as with the Satanic rites revolving around the worship of Lokki. All of this seems baldly uninventive and derivitive, lacking the imaginitive strength of authors such as Hobb, Jordan or Tolkien, who, though they have borrowed, recontextualized their mythic sources enough to in large part recreate their own cosmologies, or missing the narrative purity of others such as Kerr, Marillier or Bradley, who have chosen to create their stories around the legends of a particular mythology. This blithe tossing about of mythic references seems contrived and carelessly implemented.

Finally, while descriptively rich, this alone is not enough to successfully carry the story. This tale needs greater and tighter plot development, as well as depth of characterization. Also, the author has a bad habit of inaptly using language: The repeated and inappropriate use of individual words--insipid hair and turgid air of apprehension but two of many instances, these words in particular problematic in their repeated usage--create unnecessary questions as to the author's understanding of language, unfortunate when considering the strength of her description narrative elsewhere, though, in fairness, her editor should have caught this.

While I would not dismiss this trilogy and, if allowed, would give it a half star more, the first two books contain persisting problems that do much to undermine and ennervate its narrative and emotional power. Tighter plot focus and greater character development will be needed in future for this author's work to rise above the ordinary.

This is the second of five books by a first- rate author. Set in the realm of Belbidia, the principal characters seek the forgotten magic that is the only way to save the land from destruction. The odds are overwhelming and the author keeps you on the edge of your chair to the very end. Ms. Welch needs to become better known to US readers; across the water, folks know what a treasure they have! Buy and enjoy!

The second installment of the Runespell Trilogy picks up right where the first book left off. The tired company, including Spar, Brid and Hal, have just returned to Torre Alta bearing the Runes of War, which will protect the fortress for the next nine months. However, with hundreds of thousands of bloodthirsty Vaalakans ready to besiege the fortress, the Runes of War alone are not enough. They need to reunite the Trinity of the Old Faith - the Crone, the Mother and the Maiden. But Morrigwen, the Crone, is near death and an unknown enemy horribly, hopelessly traps Keridwen, the Mother. It is up to the Maiden, Brid, accompanied by Spar and Hal, to search for the mysterious Keepers who can lead them to the Druid's Egg. Their quest takes them further south into the treacherous lands of the New Faith, where recognition may lead to a fiery death. Along the way, the travelers suffer many trials and tribulations, encountering Inquisitors, Vaalakans, and mercenaries, to name just a few. They also receive help from some unexpected quarters.

Welch pays less attention to the events taking place at Torre Alta, but some of them are key to the plot. Treachery is afoot, but the besieged people are slow to realize it. Welch gives us some tantalizing glimpses, but little seems to come of it. Frankly, I found this a bit frustrating, but I suspect that all of the pieces will be coming together in the final volume of this series.

As with her previous novel, The Runes of War, Welch's descriptions are interesting and complete. Her character development continues to improve. It quickly becomes apparent that some of the main characters are dealing with a lot of inner turmoil. Friendship, rivalry and love will all have a part to play in the final outcome. Welch also has a lot to say about the female-based Old Religion and the male-oriented New Religion, including that the influence each one has on the relationships between men and women. One thing that I did find rather implausible was the way the group always manages to come through their troubles with money and supplies intact. Despite all their problems their purses never seem to be lost, their stomachs are rarely empty, and their clothes usually survive too! The Lost Runes ends on a positive note, but there is still much that needs to be done if Torre Alta, the Trinity, and the world are to be saved. Stay tuned for the next installment.

I was really delighted to find that Jane Welch could improve upon `The Runes of War' but she certainly does in this second instalment as Caspar, Hal and Brid begin their journey to find the Runes. All of the characters become even more likeable- you can really feel them growing as the book progresses - especially Caspar as he battles with Hal over Brid's adoration. I honestly sat down and read this book in one evening- it's a really good page turner for people who like a good fantasy read.

I was hooked on the book from page one. I loved the characters somuch that I had to reread the book. I'm in suspense waitting for hernext novel which is available in europe now.

This book is brilliant and I strongly recommend it to anyone that is reading this now. Buy it! The characters are wonderful, as is normal, and once you're onto book 2, believe me you won't be able to put it down. Try it.

This book is really really good, and is worth every penny. It has all the classic elements of fantasy novels that we love. Strange religion, magic spells, mythical creaures, and powerful ancient artifacts.The is the second book of the runespell trilogy. The first one being "Runes of War", and the third one "Runes of Socerery". Although this is the second novel I recommend that you read it first. It will draw into the world of Belbidia faster than the first one. After that read the first one to fill you in on the details that you didn't understand, for lack of knowing the character's past history. Then proceed to read the dramatic and explosive conclusion in "Runes of Socerery" This series,is perfect for anyone fond of Raymond E. Feist's "Riftwar" series.