Customer Reviews

Sons of the Oak (Runelords)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

"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.

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.

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.

The writing of the book is far, far below that of the first two or three books, and the ideas introduced are less compelling, but it was still a fun read. It really picks up the pace in the last half and manages to flesh out the characters. I'll continue to read the Runelords, but I hope he returns to the ideas and the kind of writing that made the first two books such a blast to read. Less stereotypical shadow villains, more Raj Atin badassery.

His parents are dying and Fallion, son of the Earth King, is too young. Fallion may be too young, but the world, and indeed all worlds, need him. His earth has become a center and there is a chance that the one true world, a world that was shattered a million million years earlier, may be recreated. Whether it is recreated for good or evil remains to be seen--and Fallion will play a role. But first, he must survive. A former guard, now without any of the endowments which gave him his strength and speed, a water witch, and an aging assassin attempt to take Fallion and his younger brother beyond the end of the world, to a place where they can escape the might of enemies who seek to control him, seek to turn Fallion's power to their own use.

The temptation is great. Even as a child, Fallion is powerful. He is a fire mage--the same type of talent that was the great enemy his father faced. And the fire is always there, always asking, always tempting, always giving the same answer--destruction. Fallion knows that, ultimately, he must make the same choice that his mentor made--to destroy the dedicates--those who give their strength, their life force, their wit, their sight, to his enemy or to lose. Neither choice can have any satisfaction. Defeat is unthinkable--but the murder of innocents is no way to bring about a new and better world.

Author David Farland launches into the next generation in his creative RUNELORD series. Farland's RUNELORD universe is rich with its elemental mages (earth, water, fire, air), its runes of power, and especially the ability to transfer talents from one individual to another. The 'Force Warriors' who can move many times faster than ordinary humans create fascinating problems for Fallion to overcome--without sacrificing his ideals.

Farland's strong writing, the fascinatingly complete world he draws, and the complex dilemmas his characters face make SONS OF THE OAK a fantasy worth reading. It isn't necessary to have read the earlier books in the series to get the full enjoyment from this one, although many characters and the rules of magic continue forward. I'm happy to recommend this fantasy novel.

The older I get, the more I seem to add to my list of "Life's Certainties" such as Death & Taxes...one of them I have learned by coming to this site often and reading reviews is this: Opinions May Vary. I cannot tell you how many times I have finished a novel I absolutely LOVED only to see it ripped apart by other reviewers making me wonder at times if we even read the same book...Some books are almost universally praised (ie Harry Potter) and some, like the Runelord novels seem to be torn between those who loved it, enjoyed it, thought it was just okay to those who downright hated every word.

Personally I have enjoyed this series from the very beginning -- but I can also see the point of view of others who thought differently. One thing I can hardly ever fully understand is for those who really disliked the first novel, why buy the second and soforth? I don't CARE how much time I have invested into reading a novel or a series, if the author has lost my interest I simply stop reading -- whether at the end or right in the middle of a book. Once again, this is where the Opinions May Vary comes into play.

Others have sufficiently talked plot and storyline so I won't bother to go into that except to say what I genuinely HOPE will be something that will help others when deciding to read this series: IF you like the first book, I would venture to say you will end up wanting to buy and read the rest. The writing is on par all the way through, as is the storyline and action/adventure/magic etc. If you aren't wanting to pick up Brotherhood of the Wolf right away when you finish the Runelords, then don't bother. It is really as simple as that (IMO).

I am looking forward to book 2 in this 2nd series scheduled to hit the shelves next month (Worldbinder) and for those who have enjoyed this series thus far, go ahead and give this one a try--chances are you will be glad you did.

Hope this helps.

I bought this for my hubby since he loves the Runelord series. He read the whole book in a matter of days. He said he loved it and that he can't wait for the next one to come out (in Sept '07).
He said if anyone enjoyed or read any other part of the series, they will like this book just as much.

I tend to be reading several books at once at any given time. A new David Farland novel, however causes me to immediately drop what I am doing and read it exclusively. The Runelords series is packed with action and excitement as well as insightful retrospection. The actions and motives of the characters in Sons of the Oak gives me plenty of cause to examine my own actions and motives, fully immersing me mentally and emotionally into his world and thus making the book, and indeed the entire series to this point, intensely satisfying.

This is a great book! Finished it in just a few days and am awaiting the realease of the next book.

Ok why did I say "good bathroom reading material"...well because that is where the book sat...and that was where I read it...it passed the time (if you know what I mean). The book never made it into the bedroom on the bedside table, or the recliner-side table...because it is put-down-able...in other words I didn't feel the need to take it with me out of the bathroom to whatever other room I was going to. Boring? No not really...just not very engaging...it was kinda like the Readers Digest, interesting in small amounts, but nothing to drag around with you. BTW, I'm not purchasing these, I'm checking them out of the library because I wouldn't spend the money on them. Why do I read them? Well I like the premise, it gets my imagination clicking...it's just that the author's writing is lack-luster....and almost as though he forgets to write things down and we have to fill in the blanks. I would hazard to say the writing style is more like a foundation for a final filling out.

Not a hard book to read...just not overly interesting. The only reason I checked it (and the others out) was because I got the first one in a yard sale for a quarter and after reading it, was bored, and found the next one at the library...and so on.