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stevetw's review
4.0
So, this is as of right now, the last book released in the series, ironically exactly a decade ago as of when I post this. Farland has stated that he is still working on the sequel, but it's been a decade, so we'll see. He clearly isn't intending this to be the last book, but we'll see what happens.
So, I definitely enjoyed this book a lot. Definitely more than Worldbinder, and after seeing the whirlwind of characters in some of the recent books, it was nice to see familiar characters returning. I had missed Borenson, and so it was nice to pick his story up again. I liked reading what happened in other parts of the world, and seeing a wider impact of the binding.I ALMOST feel sorry for the wyrmlings being manipulated by the larger forces around them, but they appear to be quite happy to be manipulated. Another sticking point for me is the huge numbers again. The numbers of warriors and speed of production would be impressive in an industrial society, and this is clearly not that, so it strains credulity. The battle scenes are good, and I do like the political infighting among the followers of Lord Dispair. I do like the examination of the morality of killing those who aren't yet a threat, but who you know will become a threat if allowed to live. And, I do enjoy the set up for an even larger battle, but then that goes back to the numbers problem I already mentioned. and regarding the fact that we're still waiting on the next book for a decade, I definitely hope to see the next book completed. I'm hoping we're not left with an uncompleted series, with the conclusion of this epic battle left unwritten. Farland has had some health issues from what I've read, so we'll see what happens, and given the scale he describes, this is only the very beginning of the war to come.
I highly recommend this book, and look forward to its sequel.
So, I definitely enjoyed this book a lot. Definitely more than Worldbinder, and after seeing the whirlwind of characters in some of the recent books, it was nice to see familiar characters returning. I had missed Borenson, and so it was nice to pick his story up again. I liked reading what happened in other parts of the world, and seeing a wider impact of the binding.I ALMOST feel sorry for the wyrmlings being manipulated by the larger forces around them, but they appear to be quite happy to be manipulated. Another sticking point for me is the huge numbers again. The numbers of warriors and speed of production would be impressive in an industrial society, and this is clearly not that, so it strains credulity. The battle scenes are good, and I do like the political infighting among the followers of Lord Dispair. I do like the examination of the morality of killing those who aren't yet a threat, but who you know will become a threat if allowed to live. And, I do enjoy the set up for an even larger battle, but then that goes back to the numbers problem I already mentioned. and regarding the fact that we're still waiting on the next book for a decade, I definitely hope to see the next book completed. I'm hoping we're not left with an uncompleted series, with the conclusion of this epic battle left unwritten. Farland has had some health issues from what I've read, so we'll see what happens, and given the scale he describes, this is only the very beginning of the war to come.
I highly recommend this book, and look forward to its sequel.
troy's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ppigg81's review
3.0
Finished and I still can't figure out where in the timeline this fits with book 7...
Book the book was pretty good once you got into it.
Book the book was pretty good once you got into it.
kyratt's review against another edition
3.0
This book had some of the excitement of the earlier volumes in the series.
I don't understand why this book wasn't integrated into the last book though. The Borenson storyline was alot better than the Fallion one, so it would've lifted the last one up. The book was enjoyable and I'm very curious about the end of the series. I hope part 9 will still be published at some point!
I don't understand why this book wasn't integrated into the last book though. The Borenson storyline was alot better than the Fallion one, so it would've lifted the last one up. The book was enjoyable and I'm very curious about the end of the series. I hope part 9 will still be published at some point!
trsclee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
storyphoria's review against another edition
3.0
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With the wyrmlings all but crowned the victors, this book jumps POV over to Borenson and family on the other side of the world. Giving us a look at what they were up to as the events of the previous 3 books unfolded on the other side of the world. In keeping with the second half of this series I bet you can guess what's coming... things aren't going so great. Every victory feels like a defeat and sadly I can only guess that Farland was leading us down deeper and deeper into despair in order to deliver a whopper of a grand finale in book nine. Sadly, we may never see that, which makes the second half of this series feel not only incomplete, but incredibly one sided or one note in tone as hopeless despair feels like the only focus here.
Farland has created a wonderfully epic world in the Runelords Saga, though as it sits I can only recommend reading the first 4 books in the series and letting that be your ending. It's much more satisfying than the final 4 books in this series have been - not that I hated them, but they just didn't click for me.
https://solo.to/storyphoria
With the wyrmlings all but crowned the victors, this book jumps POV over to Borenson and family on the other side of the world. Giving us a look at what they were up to as the events of the previous 3 books unfolded on the other side of the world. In keeping with the second half of this series I bet you can guess what's coming... things aren't going so great. Every victory feels like a defeat and sadly I can only guess that Farland was leading us down deeper and deeper into despair in order to deliver a whopper of a grand finale in book nine. Sadly, we may never see that, which makes the second half of this series feel not only incomplete, but incredibly one sided or one note in tone as hopeless despair feels like the only focus here.
Farland has created a wonderfully epic world in the Runelords Saga, though as it sits I can only recommend reading the first 4 books in the series and letting that be your ending. It's much more satisfying than the final 4 books in this series have been - not that I hated them, but they just didn't click for me.
ginn's review
3.0
Definitely better than the last instalment, but perhaps that's because it's centered around my favorite character, Borenson. Of course, in this book, he becomes Aaath Ulber, but he's alright too.
I found it interesting that once he gains endowments of wit, he regains some of his Borenson personality.
I didn't like how it ended. I know it's an ongoing series, but I'd like to have proof that the story doesn't end here. Is there another one coming out eventually? Why do authors (and their publishers) keep torturing us like this?
I found it interesting that once he gains endowments of wit, he regains some of his Borenson personality.
I didn't like how it ended. I know it's an ongoing series, but I'd like to have proof that the story doesn't end here. Is there another one coming out eventually? Why do authors (and their publishers) keep torturing us like this?
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