Dave Farland's "Runelords"

[Inkthinker]

Just picked up the fourth and final book in this series, which I've been very slowly consuming over the last few years... I can't say I love the writing a lot, or even the characters, but if anyone else has read this, I'd like to ask... is this or is this not one of the most interestingly superhero/anime style premises in traditional fantasy novels?

The hereoes and villains all possess incredible superhuman abilities, weilding gigantic swords and hammers and bows made of layered steel (I imagine them as sort of like the springs on an older car's rear suspension). They battle giant rune-covered monsters that weild even bigger swords and polearms and so forth, and fling about spells based on elemental forces... I don't know or even really think that Farland is a huge fan of Final Fantasy, but I think that a couple of those artist/designers would have a field day with his material.

Maybe it's just me. :D

So I'm totally into it for the premise, and I'm going to finish off this last book in a couple days, but if anyone else is into the series, I'd like to hear what you think of it. We probably ought to keep it spoiler-free though, for people who haven't read it yet... plus, I still haven't finished this last book.

[Damon]

This is one of the those series that just had too long of a wait between some of the books. I really loved books one and two, I thought the whole concept of the attributes and such. Not only that but I thought the quality of writing went a tad downhill after books 1 and 2 as well. All and all a good read but I think it could have continued better then it did.

[adamthered]

I really enjoyed it for the most part, though felt ripped off when I finished book four and realized it was the end. I read a while ago it was supposed to have been five books.

But yeah, the power concepts were really cool.

[Inkthinker]

I have a growing suspiscion that I've actually read book four, but it was that unmemorable that I've forgotten. For instance, I have a very good idea of where Gaborn and his trek into the underworld is going... I know I've read this before. But I can't for the life of me recall where Myrrima and Borenson's subplot is headed. Just the same, as I read it, whenever I hit a plot point it's like suddenly seeing a person you haven't thought of in years.

Which is nice, I suppose... but it doesn't really speak well of his writing.

But just to check... doesn't it work out that Averan's focus as an Earth Mage is that she's connected to reavers... she ends up going into the Underworld to try and form a connection between the men and their lifelong enemy.

Is that right? Or was that part of the ending for vol. 3?

Anyhow, yeah, I admit that what I really dig here is the powers concept. I think it'd make an awesome comic.

[adamthered]

I have a growing suspiscion that I've actually read book four, but it was that unmemorable that I've forgotten. For instance, I have a very good idea of where Gaborn and his trek into the underworld is going... I know I've read this before. But I can't for the life of me recall where Myrrima and Borenson's subplot is headed. Just the same, as I read it, whenever I hit a plot point it's like suddenly seeing a person you haven't thought of in years.

Which is nice, I suppose... but it doesn't really speak well of his writing.

But just to check... doesn't it work out that Averan's focus as an Earth Mage is that she's connected to reavers... she ends up going into the Underworld to try and form a connection between the men and their lifelong enemy.

Is that right? Or was that part of the ending for vol. 3?

Anyhow, yeah, I admit that what I really dig here is the powers concept. I think it'd make an awesome comic.

I honestly can't remember exactly how it ended. I know if Book 3 they all decided they were going to take the fight to the Reavers and in book 4 they did just that. But I can't recall how it all went down.

[Inkthinker]

The sad thing here is that I allowed myself to be sidetracked by Salvatore's Hunter's Blades trilogy... it's not immensely better or anything, but I enjoy it in a sort of "pulp-fantasy" manner.