Sons of the Oak (Runelords) [Mass Market Paperback]

David Farland (Author)

Book Description

Series: Runelords | Publication Date: August 28, 2007

Certain works of fantasy are immediately recognizable as monuments, towering above the rest of the category. Authors of those works, such as Stephen R. Donaldson, Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind, come immediately to mind. Add to that list David Farland, whose epic Runelords series continues now in Sons of the Oak.

The story picks up eight years after the events of Lair of Bones and begins a new chapter in the Runelords saga focusing on Gaborn's son, Fallion. Gaborn, the Earth King, has been traveling far from his home, to strange and unknown places. While beyond the edge of the earth, he finally succumbs to the accelerated aging that comes from all of the endowments he has taken. His death is the signal for a revolution, an attack from the supernatural realms by immensely powerful immortal beings.

These forces have discovered that Gaborn's son is the resurrection of an immortal, one whose potential power is so great that he might be able to reorder the entire universe. Fallion's enemies have decided that they must control him, and failing that, destroy him. He is only a child, but he is the heir to Gaborn's kingdom, and so must flee to the ends of the earth to avoid the destruction of all that Gaborn accomplished.

One of the mightiest of contemporary fantasy epics continues.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for The Lair of Bones

"A resounding climax. . . . The suspense is real, the action is nonstop, and the characterizations continue to convince. . . . [this is] a series that has put Farland on high-fantasy readers' maps."--Booklist

"The Runelords Saga comes to a gripping conclusion in David Farland's The Lair of Bones. . . . Fans of Robert Jordan and Terry Goodkind will enjoy Farland's Runelords."--Romantic Times

"Sometimes truly terrifying, sometimes impossibly sweet, The Lair of Bones is a tale sure to entrance any reader. This is a superb story with deeply empathetic characters."--Sara Douglass

"David Farland's Runelords books are among the best fantasies on the market today."
-- Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of A Forest Of Stars and Dune: The Machine Crusade

About the Author

David Farland is the author of the bestselling Runelords series, including Chaosbound, The Wyrmling Horde and Worldbinder. He also writes science-fiction as David Wolverton. He won the 1987 Writers of the Future contest, and has been nominated for a Nebula Award and a Hugo Award. Farland also works as a video game designer, and has taught writing seminars around the U.S. and Canada. He lives in Saint George, Utah.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Tor Fantasy (August 28, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765341085
• ISBN-13: 978-0765341082
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

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.