Rating: 
Summary: It's over? Really!? ...well I'll be darn.
Review: A fantasy series that actually ends. Oh my.
But I feel like Farland wanted out of the whole thing. This book, although entertaining is a cursory attempt at what the previous novels have led up to. It's an ending however unfulfilling. If you read the series, buy this book, read it, and put it to rest. Runelords could have been great...
Rating: 
Summary: Sad, but Satisfying.
Review: A very sad book...but very clever as well...dont worry no spoilers... There is the resolution of the reaver war, and some friends are lost and others go onto other things... Its unclear if there is going to be a sequel or not... If not the series was definatly worth the read. and if there is a sequel i hope that the earth can rejuvinate some of those who have fallen...lest the remain in the lair of bones forever...Well Done Mr. Farland.
Rating: 
Summary: complete disappointment...
Review: By the time I finished this book I was trying to convince myself that the other books in this series must've been better than this... this utter waste of time! The poor editing, abrupt ending and subpar pacing were enough to wreck the story. But the way that the series ending seemed to be more of an afterthought, than part of a larger cohesive idea. I'm still wandering what happened to several of the subplots that were just forgotten, or ignored in an effort to just end things. Its' one thing to leave loose ends for future books, its another to just drop a plot or character completely. FRUSTRATING. that word pretty much somes up this experience.
Rating:
Summary: Worth Reading, Abrupt Conclusion
Review: Good story in a world with very interesting magical lore. The climax is rather abrupt and the conclusion rather weak. There are many characters you are left wondering what happened to: what happened to the army coming from the south, where is Daylan Hammer, what exactly is happening with the remaining evil spirit. I guess that is fodder for another book. Overall still a book of this genre.
Rating:
Summary: Abrupt ending
Review: I am actually reviewing the series and not just this book.
The series overall was actually quite good, mostly because it had a semi-conclusion, which in this day and age, means something (see Jordan or Goodkind).
I found it hard to believe that all the action that took place over 4 books encompassed less than three weeks in that world. So much happened to the characters, and it was hard to believe that they could grow so much over such a short span of time. That said, I thought the execution was otherwise quite good.
The tension was built up quite nicely, with good foreshadowing and hints, which is always a requirement in an epic fantasy.
However, I was disappointed with the ending. There was a tremendous battle sequence in the final pages, but the book seemed to petter out rather than ending on a climactic note. There will definitely be more books in this series, which is fine, but I would have preferred a more definitive ending to this particular sequence of events. Right now, it seems the world is in an short interlude.
Rating:
Summary: A Bit Dissapointing
Review: I believe Craig Daniel's review summed up all that I wanted to say about it. And, like Craig, I would of given this book a 2 if it weren't for the other three books. And, unfortunetly, I don't think I'm interested in this series anymore... Beware, fans of Farland. This book may surprise you in a 'bad' way.
Rating:
Summary: Slight improvment over #3 though not by a lot
Review: I don'y know who is too be held resonsable for this mess of a book but they should be shot. I for one am blaming the editor becuase there is no way the author who gave us the first two installments of this serise could have knowingly contrbuted to the fourth.
It is one of those books that is not exactly good and not exactly bad the fact remains that you can skip whole chapters and really not miss one secound of the action. The previous reviewers are right it is almost as if David Farland grew sick of writting the book, it doesn't so much end as just stop.
As result
Questions that all readers have are never ansewered
Charecters from previous books are just forgoten
After waiting 4 books for the final resolution between good and evil the final showdown happens much too easily.
Overall-The main moral of this story seems to be
Rating:
Summary: Eagerly awaited, mixed reception
Review: I eagerly awaited the fourth book because it seemed inevitable that many plotlines and themes would draw tightly together to form a stunning story. Although the book starts strongly with beautiful imagery of Raj Ahten's triumphant parade, it rapidly descends to terse narrative instead of the complex webwork of words and ideas which characterized the first three books. It seemed as though the author had so much material and so many threads to work with that it would have become snarled if they were woven in the same fashion as the first three. Either that or the author was under a harsh deadline or limitation and had to slash out anything which was not vital the the resolution of plotlines. Regardless of the reason, I felt that much of the magic, mystery and wonder was replaced by a straightforward relation of events. This disappointed me, for it was not simply the author's tale of the characters' actions which was interesting, but the initial socio-economic theories and deeply personal interplays which I found fascinating in the first three books. The foregoing will not, and should not, dissuade series readers from this book. Indeed, I may read it again at a later date - just not anytime soon.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing end to a pretty good series
Review: I echo the comments of most of the other reviewers. Farland obviously lost all interest in this particular book. Way too abrupt of an ending, and so many details left unattended. A real disappointment to what I considered a pretty good series overall. Oh, and the editing was horrible. Numerous mistakes that jump out at you.
Rating:
Summary: Marginal end to a creative concept
Review: I enjoyed the series, but I'd agree with many of the reviewers. The first two books of the series were the best. I enjoyed the concept and the direction. I made it through the series and I'm glad it is over. I think it should have been compressed into a trilogy. It appears that the writer lost steam and interest in his own work.
This last book had major editing problems. There were cases were the characters and regions had the incorrect names. It was blatant. I'd be surprised if anyone proofread this work with anything but a spell-checker.
I'd recommend this book for people who have read the first three books, but check it out of the library.
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