Sons Of The Oak : The Runelords Book Five [Import] [Paperback]

David Farland (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Orbit; paperback / softback edition (2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1841495646
• ISBN-13: 978-1841495644
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,842,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars the story needs glamour endowments [no spoilers], January 20, 2007

By 

Oscar "DaRK KNighT" (St. Louis, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sons of the Oak (The Runelords, Book 5) (Hardcover)

"Sons of the Oak" revives the "The Runelords" saga as a new generation of characters emerges due to the hastened life cycle from metabolic endowments in the middle of a mass character cleansing via abruptly brutal deaths. The novel begins rapidly and continues the accelerated pace throughout supplying occasional paragraphs of beautifully written descriptions.

However, the storyline contains several evident flaws ranging from unreasonable encounters between Runelords in positions of power (where it would be simple to force endowments) to minimal individual development. The rarity of blood metal to create forcibles helped reduce overpowered individuals in the series but doesn't necessarily diminish the power behind existing and new characters.

It is difficult to stir any attachment or emotion towards almost all of the characters. Crucial events with Earth King Gaborn are rushed. Humphrey the Ferrin attempts to be cute and funny ends up annoying. Averan and Baron Waggit, strong characters in previous novels, receive only a brief mention. I relished Captain Stalker aggressive temperment and Rhianna's freshness but the mediocre management of their behavior and conclusion damages the plot's finale, which is quite surreal.

A detailed map of the significant terrains would have been useful.

Thank you.

26 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Ideas - Sub-par writing, November 20, 2006

By 

Craig Daniels (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sons of the Oak (The Runelords, Book 5) (Hardcover)

I guess I feel compelled at times to buy books that I know aren't going to be that good. But with some of these fantasy series, if you have invested 1000+ pages (usually even more) into a series you have an interest in seeing what is going to happen next. I should have remembered how poorly the Lair of Bones ended and not wasted my money on this book.

I think it needs to be said - David Farland is not a great writer. I think he has survived through the superior "runelord" idea thus far, but the glamor of that has ended (for me at least) with this book. We pick up with Gaborn's progeny, some type of evil universe plot and the eldest son is found to be an old soul reincarnated to save the world.

The book overall is disjointed, rambling, and unbelievable. Just as an example of the poor craftmanship of the book - 5 years pass at the start of one chapter with a line something like "5 years passed quickly". What kind of writing is that?

I like the runelord idea and sort of wish David Farland would license that out to good writers to take the idea further than he is able to with his talents. I definitely do not recommend this book in hardcover and would be hardpressed to recommend the book in softcover whenever that comes out.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Better than the reviews suggest, January 20, 2007

By 

Kevin M. Wagner "Sci Fi Guy" (scifiguys.com) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sons of the Oak (The Runelords, Book 5) (Hardcover)

I felt compelled to write as I thought some of the reviews for this book were largely unfair. While I do not believe this is the best book in the series, I thought it was a very interesting and good read. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I hunted down some other books by the author. As an aside, if you like a more sci-fi take, be sure to get Farland's Tales of the Golden Queen which is very good (Written as David Wolverton).

Regardless, as to this book, the characterization is very good and the author really allows the reader to get to know the characters and grow with them The magic system is original and provoking and the pacing is largely done well though it does jump years a bit inartfully.

If you enjoy epic fantasy, you will enjoy this book. It is also a good place join the Runelords saga if you have not read the previous books.