The Runelords: The Sum of All Men (The Runelords, Book One)

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Summary: David Farland : A New Sci-Fi Master
Review: This first book is a work of art, and starts what we likely be one of the great fantasy series ever. The introduction of the practice of taking another's attributes to strengthen oneself is a spellbing story element. Overall one of the best books in decades.

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Summary: The Runelords: The Sum of All Men
Review: Great book, always keeping you in suspense, but the ending really kills you because the next book isn't out yet!

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Summary: An epic and satisfying read
Review: Having read most of the reviews of this book I feel I have to make my own comment. No this is not a new Tolkien and one here compared it to junk food, which in a way is true if you do see Tolkien as a gourmet meal. But I have to say after reading this through that I became involved in this book, because it had a fast moving and somewhat complex plot, some spectacular scenarios but foremost it was epic. I love epic books such as A Song of Ice and Fire and Magician by Raymond E. Feist because they are larger than life, through them you can get lost in something out of this world. This book delivers on that part and it is an involving fantasy world and his magic system is thought through and there are enormous battles and tragic fates for many characters. One of the things that I was intrigued most by in this book is how everyone is not just made demigods without losing anything but how they truly do suffer and lose people, friends and family. There is one truly heartbreaking scene where a soldier, one of the good guys, has to kill a small, innocent and mute eight year old girl because she is his enemy's servant. Farland really makes us feel how a part of this soldier's soul dies with him when he has to do this monstrous deed. The thing that I think most people don't like with the Runelords is its simplistic writing, because it is simple in many ways, it only covers in detail the important and epic events, not how the leaves in the green forest look, which might be a turn off for some who like Tolkien writing but not for others who want the book to progress into the important, "cool" stuff. Comparing this to junk food is in a way the right thing to do, it tastes good and its not healthy getting too much of it, because you won't have much of a life to go back to and you'll keep on coming back for more. I recommend it to those who may want more quantity in fantasy and yet do want that bit of quality. This is not a book for nitpicking, no fantasy books ever hold when you start nitpicking, just enjoy it.

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Summary: The Runelords
Review: WOW....on a level of Terry Brooks and the Shannara series, and R.A.Salvatores Dark Elf. I loved this book. It mixes conventional fantasy with a little of the real day things. I loved introduction of a new world so new and real that you thought you were there. A keeper and one for the mantle.

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Summary: Good book, but...
Review: Very well written and much of it is a well-crafted story. However, the super-hero emphasis (e.g., people that can run 100+ miles per hour) made it very difficult for me to really get into this book. Lots of familiar flashy fantasy-novel elements such as superheroes, utopian monarchies, various strange evil beasties and mysterious forces in the woods. These things don't condemn a novel but they're treated very superficially, i.e., unremarkable parts of the landscape that are never explained or filled out. The only thing really developed adequately in the book is the magic system. This gives this book an aura of "junk food", looks and even tastes good but hard to digest and not very nutritious. And maybe you don't want to be seen eating it. All that aside, I really enjoyed the book, it's worth 3 stars for the writing but 4-5 stars are Tolkien, Stephen Donaldson, Parke Godwin, Charles Barnitz, Frank Schaefer, Bernard Cornwell's Arthur series.

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Summary: Jordan watch out
Review: The first effort of David farland is one of the best fantasy books I have read in a long time, and I have read a lot of them. The story is gripping and the creation of a new type of magic is very intersting. but what sets this book apart from the rest is the fact that by the end of the book you will feel the agony with the main charaters. this book almost brought me to tears. If you are a fan of Jordan, Goodkind or Eddings read this book.

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Summary: Get the sequel
Review: This book starts out as some might think a fantasy would. A hero and a princess, but it quickly becomes a very original novel. It creates the characters in you mind as individual people in a world of kings and lords with the strength of hundreds. This is a must, and I am ready for the next one from Farland.

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Summary: Good and hoping it gets better...
Review: I loved the book. It dragged at times and I thought maybe itcould have dealt less with the forcibles. I felt that he jumped tothe forcible issue too soon, making them seem less important, just a simple power race. The characters were good, and considering this is his first book I have high expectations. I thought Goodkind was a Jordan ripoff at first, but now think different. I think Farland will prove to be the same.

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Summary: Worth Reading
Review: Runelords is a book worth reading just for the discription of the magic system. I think that Mr. Farland could use some assistance fleshing out his characters a bit more. For one he has chosen the worst name, Gaborn, for the main character. I got so tired of reading the name that I would sub the "prince" or "born" or ... I could not believe it when I read that.

The magic system is very interesting and has some wonderful possibilities. I look forward to reading more.

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Summary: A wonderful, thought provoking epic fantasy.
Review: I believe that David Farland is on his way to becoming the next Robert Jordan. This novel is supremely satisfying and entertaining.