Rating: 
Summary: why not better cover art? [no spoilers]
Review: I found the book to be entertaining. Well timed action and story arc changes. And I've liked the forcible concept.My big concern is having so many Dedicates and those caring for them. Issues of agriculture, supply lines, education, armed forces, and politics could be more seriously damaged with the number of Dedicates used throughout especially when they are casualties of war. An example would be the extremely huge drain on a society considering the number used for Raj Ahten and his Invincibles. If you take a strong farmer for a strength endowment prior to a battle, now you need to care and feed him and still care for the land. Substitute the strength example with any of the attributes 1000 fold and you see a crisis develop. I'm not happy with how a metabolism endowment affects the time process. If I understand correctly, the book starts 7 actual days since the first book although to Prince Gaborn or Raj Ahten it seems longer. For strategy I think of supply lines, (re)construction, establishing Dedicates, healing of non-endowed people, and (re)tooling instruments of war. The time affecting these issues are overlooked and could be if the campaigns lasted months but the battles occurred over 7 days. I feel they weren't properly addressed and leave me incomplete. I'm picking at details but overall the story was decent. A nice surprise or two but Baron Waggit is no where to be seen (although I have my theories) and he was important in the first 3 books. Sadly it ends a little fast, as if at a high metabolic rate. I would have liked the equivalent of an additional book to better articulate some of the above comments. Thank you.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing end to a great series
Review: I wasn't sure about the series when I read the first book, but as I got into the second and then the third I was drawn in by the characters and the story line. I was therefore very disappointed by how abruptly the author chose to end the series. I agree with others that Jordan and other fantasy authors don't know when to end a series, but in this case Farland ended too fast. And I really don't like what he did to Gaborn and Iome. Here we have the possibility of a great romance and love story like David Eddings did with his characters, and at the end of the fourth book he throws them away. In a realm full of magic, if a person can receive endowments, why can't they voluntarily relinquish them too?
There really is no resolution to the story. Many of the story lines are left open, obviously so the author can continue the series. But without the main characters that drew us into the story in the first place, who is he going to interest to read on?
I thought the series was great, but the last couple chapters of The Lair of Bones and the conclusion to the series were a real let down.
Rating: 
Summary: What editor let this out?
Review: I'm a fan of this series. I like the ideas David Farland plays with (an oligarchical system relying upon its people for taxes in funds as well as taxes in body and mind, a non-scientific magic system where knowledge of spells cannot always be taught and a strength in unity theme). I like the previous books in the series. And then I read Book 4. Characters' names are misplaced in chapters, endowments are misnamed, character resolutions are incomplete or not even referenced (whatever happened to Daylan Hammer?) and the pace, oh my, the pace. So what happened with this book? Did David Farland grow tired of this universe and push this out only at the coaxing of Tor? Did his editor suddenly go blind? Did somebody else write this? While it is nice to actually have some finality to a fantasy series (beware Jordan, beware!), this book is a travesty. And while I'm ranting, when will the publishing companies realize that with cover art like this, nobody is going to want to read their books in public?
Rating:
Summary: What editor let this out?
Review: I'm a fan of this series. I like the ideas David Farland plays with (an oligarchical system relying upon its people for taxes in funds as well as taxes in body and mind, a non-scientific magic system where knowledge of spells cannot always be taught and a strength in unity theme). I like the previous books in the series. And then I read Book 4. Characters' names are misplaced in chapters, endowments are misnamed, character resolutions are incomplete or not even referenced (whatever happened to Daylan Hammer?) and the pace, oh my, the pace. So what happened with this book? Did David Farland grow tired of this universe and push this out only at the coaxing of Tor? Did his editor suddenly go blind? Did somebody else write this? While it is nice to actually have some finality to a fantasy series (beware Jordan, beware!), this book is a travesty. And while I'm ranting, when will the publishing companies realize that with cover art like this, nobody is going to want to read their books in public?
Rating: 
Summary: Pleasantly surprised
Review: I'm surprised by the number of negative reviews of this book. I really enjoyed it. It was a nice end to this part of the series (he certainly leaves plenty of room to continue the series with some new characters later if so inclined). I, for one, am thrilled to find an author that isn't afraid to provide an end to some of his storylines - it's a great contrast to fantasy authors like Jordan and Goodkind who drag out their sad tired stories forever. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading some more by David Farland, whether he continues this series or does something new.
Rating:
Summary: Since when "no happy end" is an automatic negative?
Review: I've just skimmed through the first few reviews of the book, and I must say I'm quite astonished at what I've read. Some reviewers are claiming that the book is bad simply because "there is no clear ending", "I don't like what he did to Gaborn and Iome" etc. etc. This sounds to me awfully like a disappointed kid waiting to hear "... and they lived happily ever after" again.
If someone doesn't like unclear endings where the characters don't "live happily ever after", then probably Lord of the Rings would leave him disappointed too ("What do you mean Frodo and Sam don't live their lives in happiness in Bag End?").
What I really like in what Farland did to the plot (and what many will probably dislike) is adding a touch of maturity and reality to an otherwise quite archetypal fantasy story. What we usually expect from a heroic fantasy is to leave us with easy answers in the end - Farland builds the impression that there will be easy answers throughout the first 3 books, shattering that impression in the last one. Saying that the last book is a bit philosophical in nature would be an overstatement - after all, I would still classify the series as "entertainment fantasy" and not "intelectual fantasy", but it does add an unexpected level of depth.
If you don't mind what I've described in the previous paragraphs, you'll probably come to enjoy this last book of the series as much as I did. The plot is quite simple to follow, the action is fluent, the characters are well fleshed-out. Just don't read with expectations that Gaborn will become a demigod and single-handedly wipe out all threats from the world - you will be very, very disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: It's a VERY GOOD BOOK!!!!
Review: Like I said it's a good book and a good series. I really recommend this book. Obviously you have to read the other three, but thats okay because they are good too. I don't want to give anything away but Mr. Farland does a good job at the detail he put in it. I wouldn't say it's for fans only. Farland gives something new and old at the same time. READ THE BOOK. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because the way it ended it left me wanting more....and I don't know if he's going to continue this. I could easily see the runelord series becomeing a world like "Dragonlance"...and that would be the coolest thing. This genre needs a new world for us to explore.
Rating:
Summary: Ehh
Review: The book is ok, the story just kind of ends. All through out the series there is a lot of tension and back story that builds. Unfortunately the final book does'nt deliver with many of the plot threads coming to unsatisfactory and rather shallow endings.
Rating: 
Summary: A more than satisfying installment!
Review: The first books in this series have been both original in their exploration of a new magical device, and captivating because of your connection as a reader to the human story. I was lucky enough to read the first three books in quick succession, and then purchase this last installment.
If you have followed this series, you will not be disappointed, there are the signature Farland unexpected twists even in expected situations, there is the valiance of the human (and nonhuman) spirit in the face of overwhelming odds, there is the tension between what is right versus what is expedient in difficult times. I highly recommend this fourth book, and even though it successfully resolves the series, it does leave open wiggle room for a second series if the author so desires....Here's to hoping the author so desires.
Rating:
Summary: fast paced action packed epic fantasy
Review: The High King of Indhopal Raj Ahten continues his evil campaign to gain immortality regardless of the price other lesser folks must pay for him to achieve his goal. Only the Earth Prince Gaborn has been able to stop the malevolent Raj from succeeding. A fire destroyed Raj, but Scathain, Lord of Ash out arises from the residue, containing the same objective of immortality at any cost as his predecessor did.Besides his constant war with Raj, Prince Gaborn must deal with the devastation caused by the assault on Carris by the reavers. The people smell of fear and sense terror in the air. Desperate to stop the reavers and help his people regain their equilibrium, Gaborn sets off on a dangerous quest. Accompanying the Earth King are Binnesmann the Wizard, nine year old Earth Warden Apprentice Averan (a rare reavers' expert) and Gaborn's wife planning to keep him safe. They journey to the Mouth of the World where they plan to enter the cavernous passage to the Underworld in search of THE LAIR OF BONES. There they will confront the One True Master. Fans of epic fantasy, especially those who cherish the Runelords sagas, will want to read THE LAIR OF BONES. As usual David Farland paints a vivid landscape regardless of locale that makes his realm seem so real and the glossary serves as a terrific reference aid. The fast-paced story line is action-packed from the start to the finish. However, the climax accelerates the speed to a G-Force level that only long time fans will fully appreciate the fourth entry. Harriet Klausner
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