Rating: 
Summary: Very good and so much better than most fantasy books;-)
Review: This series are very good written, while Wizard born's not as good as the 2 previous it's still better than most fantasy books i read (and I read...a lot! No comment on my life;-)) Wizard born slows down the pace but continue the same enthralling story of this series and the ending is very very good....Can hardly wait for the 4th book.
But one thing: I hope Mr Farland don't do the same mistake as Robert(Robot)Jordan and his wot series, wh never finish his series and the ending's not in sight...
Rating: 
Summary: For high school D&Ders
Review: This stuff is juvenile, bad D&D derivative. The characters are not all that interesting, and the plot takes longer than it would to unfold in real life. I really can't see the appeal, except to people who read John Gar.
Rating: 
Summary: Farland's series continues to impress - a great book
Review: Up until Farland began this series, I had begun to give up on the whole fantasy genre even though I am a long-time fantasy reader. Every book I read seemed to be a boring, shallow thinking regurgitation of those before it. Farland's series hit the scene like a breath of fresh air, restoring my faith and hope in the possibility of good works of literature coming from the fantasy genre. While Farland's stories are an excellent read from a storytelling point of view, they do not always give what you want or expect from the hero's or the villians...and in my opinion this is part of why his books are so good, but is also probably why it gets such mixed reviews. The plotlines are realistic rather than predictable, as are the characters. The philosphical ideas and moral/ethical dilemmas he explores are complex, but he merely opens the reader's mind to them without forcing his viewpoint on them down your throat - instead you are left to reflect on them yourself. Definitely not the type of fantasy for those who want to be spoon-fed, but this series is a master work, there can be no doubt about it, and yet I found it anything but boring - I could not put the book down.
Rating:
Summary: Great fantasy, unique, entertaining and thoughtul
Review: When I started this series I wasn't sure if it was all it was cracked up to be. But to me it just seems to get better and better. He started with the endowment system in the first book, and while it seems like that was the focus toward the beginning, I don't think it was ever supposed to be the real issue. To merely stick to that, and the problem of Raj Ahten trying to become the Sum of all Men, would be too one dimensional. I think a lot of time was spent on that in the beginning, because it was new and innovative and the readers needed to be able to understand it and get used to it, along with all it's questions and implications. But in this and partly in the one previous, Farland does a very good job of raising the stakes with the various elements in his world. I find all the side plots very intriguing, not because they're all wonderful and amazing parts of the story in their own right, but because each of the characters off doing their thing, actually gives the impression that they are an integral part of the conflict that is going on. They each have their role to play, and their own choices to make, which may effect the course of history. Myrimma and Borenson starting their journey to Inkarra, Celinor and Erin traveling to see King Anders, and Raj Ahten fighting reavers in his homeland. The only one that really disappoints me completely is Iome. She does nothing, accomplishes nothing, and doesn't even seem to be in line to do anything of significance in the future. Just a boring damsel in distress. But with the rest, I can only wish that their parts had been drawn out a little more. They just seemed a little incomplete (yes, I know there is another book).
Gaborn is probably one of my favorite fantasy heroes. Some people have complained that he's a boring whiney wimp. Well, I'd argue that he doesn't really whine, and I personally don't find him boring. But the fact is, he kind of is a wimp. The cool thing, though, is that that is kind of the point. Farland mentions many times how people find Gaborn unimpressive. He has not glamor. He's not an amazing, fierce warrior. He's not a fearless leader. He doesn't even always do the right thing. But he tries. And that's what I find intriguing. He's always trying to do the right thing, and at every turn he has to make moral decisions that actually affect those around him and the entire plot of the book. And he actually THINKS. You don't get much meaningful thinking from Robert Jordan. I mean, when Rand 'al Thor thinks, its about how low his nearest woman's neckline is. But when Gaborn Val Orden thinks, it's about whether he should attack reavers now to satisfy a thirst for vengeance or hold off because doing something now might bring greater disaster later on. He deals with issues of faith in a higher power that he knows is real, but is often difficult to comprehend or follow. He struggles with how he must use the child Averan's ability to absorb reaver knowledge by eating their brains, even though it is putting her through extreme torment. Gaborn is actually an interesting hero, because he seems so much more human than the heroes of other stories.
Raj Ahten is also much more interesting in this book. Instead of a lethal madman, obsessed with himself, we find a guy who actually wants to save his people. He starts to realize that people expect him to be a terrible, cruel, ruthless general. He struggles at the idea of losing his humanity to become a servant of fire. A reader could almost hold out hope for the guy.
All in all, I thought this was a great book. Some parts could have used some more fleshing out, but I liked a lot of the developments. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
All in all, I think this book could have had a few of the storylines fleshed out a little more, but it's constantly entertaining, and at the same time insightful, and philosophically and ethically intriguing.
Rating:
Summary: Great fantasy, unique, entertaining and thoughtul
Review: When I started this series I wasn't sure if it was all it was cracked up to be. But to me it just seems to get better and better. He started with the endowment system in the first book, and while it seems like that was the focus toward the beginning, I don't think it was ever supposed to be the real issue. To merely stick to that, and the problem of Raj Ahten trying to become the Sum of all Men, would be too one dimensional. I think a lot of time was spent on that in the beginning, because it was new and innovative and the readers needed to be able to understand it and get used to it, along with all it's questions and implications. But in this and partly in the one previous, Farland does a very good job of raising the stakes with the various elements in his world. I find all the side plots very intriguing, not because they're all wonderful and amazing parts of the story in their own right, but because each of the characters off doing their thing, actually gives the impression that they are an integral part of the conflict that is going on. They each have their role to play, and their own choices to make, which may effect the course of history. Myrimma and Borenson starting their journey to Inkarra, Celinor and Erin traveling to see King Anders, and Raj Ahten fighting reavers in his homeland. The only one that really disappoints me completely is Iome. She does nothing, accomplishes nothing, and doesn't even seem to be in line to do anything of significance in the future. Just a boring damsel in distress. But with the rest, I can only wish that their parts had been drawn out a little more. They just seemed a little incomplete (yes, I know there is another book).
Gaborn is probably one of my favorite fantasy heroes. Some people have complained that he's a boring whiney wimp. Well, I'd argue that he doesn't really whine, and I personally don't find him boring. But the fact is, he kind of is a wimp. The cool thing, though, is that that is kind of the point. Farland mentions many times how people find Gaborn unimpressive. He has not glamor. He's not an amazing, fierce warrior. He's not a fearless leader. He doesn't even always do the right thing. But he tries. And that's what I find intriguing. He's always trying to do the right thing, and at every turn he has to make moral decisions that actually affect those around him and the entire plot of the book. And he actually THINKS. You don't get much meaningful thinking from Robert Jordan. I mean, when Rand 'al Thor thinks, its about how low his nearest woman's neckline is. But when Gaborn Val Orden thinks, it's about whether he should attack reavers now to satisfy a thirst for vengeance or hold off because doing something now might bring greater disaster later on. He deals with issues of faith in a higher power that he knows is real, but is often difficult to comprehend or follow. He struggles with how he must use the child Averan's ability to absorb reaver knowledge by eating their brains, even though it is putting her through extreme torment. Gaborn is actually an interesting hero, because he seems so much more human than the heroes of other stories.
Raj Ahten is also much more interesting in this book. Instead of a lethal madman, obsessed with himself, we find a guy who actually wants to save his people. He starts to realize that people expect him to be a terrible, cruel, ruthless general. He struggles at the idea of losing his humanity to become a servant of fire. A reader could almost hold out hope for the guy.
All in all, I thought this was a great book. Some parts could have used some more fleshing out, but I liked a lot of the developments. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
All in all, I think this book could have had a few of the storylines fleshed out a little more, but it's constantly entertaining, and at the same time insightful, and philosophically and ethically intriguing.
Rating:
Summary: The thinking persons fantasy adventure...
Review: While searching desperately for a fun and exciting new fantasy series to begin a few years back, I ran into 'The Runelords' and it was everything I wanted out of High Fantasy, and more. While there are a few who found it did not live up to expectations, I personally found it to be VERY fulfilling. I am extremely picky when it comes to fantasy. Jordan is nothing more than an extended bore-fest for me, however, I found David Farland's storytelling style to *click* with me just right.Book two picked up where 'The Sum Of All Men' left off, and kept me spellbound. I anxiously awaited 'Wizardborn' with anticipation while wondering if Farland could sustain this story so well after 2 well-written stories. The answer to that is YES. Rarely have I read a series of novels that taught me as much as I have learned while reading this series. Very thought provoking as well as entertaining. The characters have been well thought out, and even the Reavers, who at first seemed to be a background annoyance, have turned into very serious characters who think and feel...NOTHING at ALL like what you'd expect from monster-like characters in your average (or even above-average) Fantasy novels. Even the reigning bad guy (Raj) is more than 2-dimensional. Farland is continuously surprising me with this series, something that is almost unheard of in this genre (aside from the explosively unpredictable Song of Ice & Fire series by George R. R. Martin). As entertaining as it is original, the 'Runelords' novels rank up there with some of the best I have ever found. If you are open to a new and thrilling experience in the field of fantasy, get to know David Farland's world...it is an adventure well worth taking, and one I will be sad to see end.
Rating: 
Summary: A letdown
Review: Wizardborn is the third book in the Runelords series by David Farland, and on the whole I think below par. Farland made an excellent start with the first book in the series, basing it on an original idea and excellent characters. Wizardborn continues the adventures of Gaborn and friends as they have to fight the triple threat of the Reavers, Lord Anders who is devoted to air, and Raj Ahten.
The weaknesses of the book stem in part from the format; there are so many characters in that epic that even a lengthy book is not enough to cover them all; add to that that the focus, shifting as it is between so many of them, does not make things easier. It would have helped if Farland had confined the story to two or three main characters, instead of fragmenting it all over the place, but of course he is trying to emulate Jordan or Martin with his multiple plots. Sorry, but he is simply not talented enough to get away with that washing down of the story.
Another thing is that the series seems to be heading towards a confrontation-or a collaboration- of the elements with Myrrima standing for water, Binnesman and Averan for earth, Anders for air and Ahten for fire. Aside from being a staple of fantasy by now, this made the end, on the whole, fairly predictable.
Also, it is frustrating that the whole book seems to be less of a complete story than a juxtaposition of episodes furthering the plot. At some points in the narrative you really do get the feeling that you are in the middle of a serial, which is annoying enough on TV, but unbearable with books. I am aware that this is a common enough procedure in fantasy, and that many authors use this, but unfortunately for Farland you are not caught up enough in his story not to notice that.
Rating:
Summary: A consummately [...] series of books
Review: [...]. This is an average work of midlist level fantasy. There is a D&D sort of feel to the magic system, and a Dragonlance feel to the rest of it. Gaborn is the single most [weak]hero I have ever had the displeasure to experience in a work of fiction. The women and children are even worse--cloying, flat characters, even in Farland's attempt to make them Brave and Cool. In short, I am almost as amazed by the praise for this series as I am for that of the hideous Ruin Mist saga. Suffice to say that I might have enjoyed both books more if they were not so overhyped.
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