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The Runelords #4
The Lair of Bones
In THE LAIR OF BONES the stars fall from heaven and the very earth trembles in pain. With Gaborn's kingdom of Mystarria in ruins, four powerful kings march to claim its spoils, even as a vast army of reavers from the underworld sallies forth, intending to put an end to mankind. In one last-ditch effort to heal the earth, Averan leads the Earth King, Gaborn Val Orden, far below the surface to the Lair of Bones, to confront the leader of the reaver hordes. There Gaborn must confront an ancient evil - before the world is torn apart. In this fourth volume of THE RUNELORDS series, David Farland continues to rewrite the boundaries of epic fantasy. There are only impossible decisions for his protagonists, and the evil of the reavers may simply be a mask for the true horrors to come...
432 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2002
50 people are currently reading
2238 people want to read
About the author
David Farland
155 books1,199 followersDavid Farland is the author of the bestselling Runelords series, including Chaosbound, The Wyrmling Horde and Worldbinder. He also writes science-fiction as David Wolverton. He won the 1987 Writers of the Future contest, and has been nominated for a Nebula Award and a Hugo Award. Farland also works as a video game designer, and has taught writing seminars around the U.S. and Canada. He lives in Saint George, Utah. He passed away on January 14, 2022.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidf...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/davidf...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
September 28, 2019
You know, in general, I really enjoyed reading this. All the endowments, the whole sum of all men thing, still has its creepy-ass aspect to it but we get to see a lot more of the people who give up their best traits for the high-and-mighty elite. It may not resolve anything, but at least we know that the GOOD devotionals are doing it out of love.
Would YOU go blind so your elite leader could have super-freaking-excellent sight? Or become weak so he becomes strong? Or sleep for twenty years so he can heal super quick?
No? Well, this is a fantasy and I just have to assume that there is some cultural s*** going on.
Putting that aside, I got all giddy when so many of the main characters went all out and dived into the earth to put an end to the gigantic crab leader and stick it to the million-plus reavers pouring out of the ground to put an end to all mankind. I have no problems with that. It was awesome. :) Supermen, nature magic, massive stakes. It's all here.
It's even awesome despite the nagging questions I have after reading it. Like all those seemingly useless plot threads that seemed to be so important in the text -- only to go absolutely nowhere at the culmination of the final battle.
Ah, but at least a certain cinder-boy got a satisfyingly ignoble end. :)
You know, for four books that take place over a single week, I'm pretty impressed at the way it gets pulled off. It's epic and the magic system allows for a ton of movement and events to occur very quickly. That's fine by me. But there's just one thing... the end of this book sped the hell up in a rather spectacularly annoying way. As in, everyone lived happily ever after even though our MCs basically have to split up because they're living at different rates and OH, btw, all these young-ass characters are suddenly old men and women. Yeah, yeah, the magic system has consequences, but still, these were FOUR BOOKS taking place in a week! Until the end when everyone dies of old age. lol
I know this sounds like I have a major issue with these books but it's just not true. I have a need to complain very loudly about a series I think does a great job pulling a very interesting rabbit out of its hat and I want to bitch and moan because I actually love it and wish I could see it fixed. Or explored further.
Fortunately, there are 4 more books. Guess what I'm reading? :)
Would YOU go blind so your elite leader could have super-freaking-excellent sight? Or become weak so he becomes strong? Or sleep for twenty years so he can heal super quick?
No? Well, this is a fantasy and I just have to assume that there is some cultural s*** going on.
Putting that aside, I got all giddy when so many of the main characters went all out and dived into the earth to put an end to the gigantic crab leader and stick it to the million-plus reavers pouring out of the ground to put an end to all mankind. I have no problems with that. It was awesome. :) Supermen, nature magic, massive stakes. It's all here.
It's even awesome despite the nagging questions I have after reading it. Like all those seemingly useless plot threads that seemed to be so important in the text -- only to go absolutely nowhere at the culmination of the final battle.
Ah, but at least a certain cinder-boy got a satisfyingly ignoble end. :)
You know, for four books that take place over a single week, I'm pretty impressed at the way it gets pulled off. It's epic and the magic system allows for a ton of movement and events to occur very quickly. That's fine by me. But there's just one thing... the end of this book sped the hell up in a rather spectacularly annoying way. As in, everyone lived happily ever after even though our MCs basically have to split up because they're living at different rates and OH, btw, all these young-ass characters are suddenly old men and women. Yeah, yeah, the magic system has consequences, but still, these were FOUR BOOKS taking place in a week! Until the end when everyone dies of old age. lol
I know this sounds like I have a major issue with these books but it's just not true. I have a need to complain very loudly about a series I think does a great job pulling a very interesting rabbit out of its hat and I want to bitch and moan because I actually love it and wish I could see it fixed. Or explored further.
Fortunately, there are 4 more books. Guess what I'm reading? :)
July 21, 2011
The last few weeks the publishing world has been awash with excitement over the publication of GRRM's latest book. I'm sure it's stupendous fare. I read about 200 pages of the first book--if that much--and put it down. Just wasn't my style. I suppose that I am not in the audience for that particular book, despite the fact that I rather enjoy fantasy.
Today I finished a book that was my style. I am in its audience. And I can't help but feel a certain amount of wonder at the fact that others aren't as excited as I am about this series. The last book is yet to be written, but I understand that the author is finally about ready to write it.
I just read book four of the Runelords, The Lair of Bones. Five starts. Fantastic book. I haven't been this excited about a book since I finished reading Brandon Sanderson's third Mistborn book.
Quite simply, this is a fantastic book. It is book four in the series, and as I understand it, this book finishes the plotline for the characters introduced in book 1. New characters take the forefront starting in the next book. So, this is, in a sense, a end of types.
And what a fantastic end. Massive in scope, this book moves along quickly. I never felt like it was slow or that I wanted the plot to get going. It kept going the entire time. The characters are actually likable people. The elements of wonder are pervasive and convincing. The plot moves forward with every chapter. Elements from the three previous books are wound into the entire story. Plot threads are closed, and little things from earlier books come into play, and bear importance here.
If you like epic fantasy, this is about as good as it gets. A highly recommended read.
Today I finished a book that was my style. I am in its audience. And I can't help but feel a certain amount of wonder at the fact that others aren't as excited as I am about this series. The last book is yet to be written, but I understand that the author is finally about ready to write it.
I just read book four of the Runelords, The Lair of Bones. Five starts. Fantastic book. I haven't been this excited about a book since I finished reading Brandon Sanderson's third Mistborn book.
Quite simply, this is a fantastic book. It is book four in the series, and as I understand it, this book finishes the plotline for the characters introduced in book 1. New characters take the forefront starting in the next book. So, this is, in a sense, a end of types.
And what a fantastic end. Massive in scope, this book moves along quickly. I never felt like it was slow or that I wanted the plot to get going. It kept going the entire time. The characters are actually likable people. The elements of wonder are pervasive and convincing. The plot moves forward with every chapter. Elements from the three previous books are wound into the entire story. Plot threads are closed, and little things from earlier books come into play, and bear importance here.
If you like epic fantasy, this is about as good as it gets. A highly recommended read.
August 19, 2015
This review will have spoilers, as with the others. I wrapped up my re-read of the Runelords series with the final book in this series, "The Lair of Bones." I left ... disappointed. Here's why:
1. The moral issue of endowment-slavery is not only unresolved, it is almost totally unexplored in this book, especially compared to the first and second books. Gaborn is only able to defeat the One True Master because of the thousands of endowments given to him by his subjects in Heredon, and he hardly even thinks of it other than to note that it is happening and forgive Iome for initiating it.
2. The book was absolutely riddled with copy errors. The High King of Inkarra is twice referred to as the King of Indhopal, names are spelled wrong, words run together, some letters are replaced by numbers (???), there is *continual* confusion over the position of Carris relative to the mountains, lakes and various armies (for example: Raj Ahten is positioned between the mountains and Carris. The mountains are west of Carris. Yet characters constantly refer to Raj Ahten being east of Carris.
3. Raj Ahten becomes a servant of Fire at the end of Book 3. In Book 4, he is wholly ineffective and dies a tidy, ignominious death at the end. His story should have ended a book sooner.
4. The Erin/Celinor/King Anders/Asgarath subplot was totally unresolved and should have never been included in any of the books.
5. Sarka Kaul, the renegade Days, hints that he has some special knowledge of how to defeat the reavers and/or Raj Ahten, but he goes off-screen at Carris and promptly dies upon his reappearance. Why was he even included?
6. The Consort of Shadows gets a ton of character development (well, more than anyone else in this book), but does absolutely nothing and is eventually crushed by a rock. What was the point of his Earth knowledge if it was never going to matter?
7. The whole Inkarra plotline was, predictably, dumb and pointless. Borenson and Myrrima spend 75% of this book and most of the previous book traveling there, manage to get the Storm King to agree fight alongside Gaborn, and then nothing happens. The Inkarrans never show up to help anyone fight, Borenson and Myrrima have a pointless subplot of being captured that accomplishes nothing, and then they are guided home by the equally pointless Sarka Kaul. Seriously. What was the point???
Basically, the book had a lot of great action scenes, Gaborn finally got to stop whining and become a reaver-killing badass, it moved pretty quickly, etc, but it was a wasteland of dead-end plotlines and missed opportunities. Weak ending to a relatively well-written, if under-realized, series.
1. The moral issue of endowment-slavery is not only unresolved, it is almost totally unexplored in this book, especially compared to the first and second books. Gaborn is only able to defeat the One True Master because of the thousands of endowments given to him by his subjects in Heredon, and he hardly even thinks of it other than to note that it is happening and forgive Iome for initiating it.
2. The book was absolutely riddled with copy errors. The High King of Inkarra is twice referred to as the King of Indhopal, names are spelled wrong, words run together, some letters are replaced by numbers (???), there is *continual* confusion over the position of Carris relative to the mountains, lakes and various armies (for example: Raj Ahten is positioned between the mountains and Carris. The mountains are west of Carris. Yet characters constantly refer to Raj Ahten being east of Carris.
3. Raj Ahten becomes a servant of Fire at the end of Book 3. In Book 4, he is wholly ineffective and dies a tidy, ignominious death at the end. His story should have ended a book sooner.
4. The Erin/Celinor/King Anders/Asgarath subplot was totally unresolved and should have never been included in any of the books.
5. Sarka Kaul, the renegade Days, hints that he has some special knowledge of how to defeat the reavers and/or Raj Ahten, but he goes off-screen at Carris and promptly dies upon his reappearance. Why was he even included?
6. The Consort of Shadows gets a ton of character development (well, more than anyone else in this book), but does absolutely nothing and is eventually crushed by a rock. What was the point of his Earth knowledge if it was never going to matter?
7. The whole Inkarra plotline was, predictably, dumb and pointless. Borenson and Myrrima spend 75% of this book and most of the previous book traveling there, manage to get the Storm King to agree fight alongside Gaborn, and then nothing happens. The Inkarrans never show up to help anyone fight, Borenson and Myrrima have a pointless subplot of being captured that accomplishes nothing, and then they are guided home by the equally pointless Sarka Kaul. Seriously. What was the point???
Basically, the book had a lot of great action scenes, Gaborn finally got to stop whining and become a reaver-killing badass, it moved pretty quickly, etc, but it was a wasteland of dead-end plotlines and missed opportunities. Weak ending to a relatively well-written, if under-realized, series.
July 15, 2021
While the series continues, this was the ending volume of the tetrad; the other volumes in the series take place several years later. This review is for TLOB, but also an assessment of series as a whole. Farland clearly improved over the course of the series-- the first two volumes were a bit too sprawling and the latter two evidenced much tighter editing (including little quips and such as the intro to each each chapter). What is remarkable about the series is that it all takes place in the span of a month or so. For over a thousand years, the various kingdoms and such varies little; suddenly, everything changes at once.
The primary 'magic' system in the series involves runes and endowments; 'dedicates' give various endowments (brawn, stamina, vision, grace, etc.) to another via a 'facilitator' and branding irons made of 'blood metal'. The dedicates, bereft of an endowment, are cared for in the king's keep in comfort (at least for the ethical ones). I can definitely see how people may be turned off by such-- it really is an insidious form of slavery in a way. Yet, it serves to create the runelords who have almost superhuman abilities due to various endowments. Farland pushes the limits of this in interesting ways-- too much brawn may cause one to break bones for example. It also sets up new avenues to go after kings and such-- killing their dedicates and hence robbing them of various powers.
Each volume has a vivid, bloody denouement, rivaling the one found in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Farland gives us monsters aplenty-- huge reavers from the underworld with a taste for human flesh; strange hominoid giants 20 feet tall; a king who has thousands of endowments who seeks to conquer the world; elementals of fire, water, wind and earth that impose their will upon humanity. Finally, each volume has a frenetic pacing with multiple POVs that rotate, with the leads of each on some quest or another.
In TLOB, the Earth King Gaborn heads deep into the underworld with his wife and the earth warden and his apprentice, little Averan. His former bodyguard and his wife head deep into Inkarra to summon the help of the king there. The prince of a northern kingdom and his wife from the horselands head back to seek help, and of course, the evil king who wants to conquer the world also plays a role. Again, a very busy, exciting volume to be sure!
I mentioned in a review of an earlier volume that this series lacks a kind of gravitas-- yes, it is high fantasy, but feels more like a popcorn read with lots and lots of action. Sure, their is some pondering of the ethics of endowments (Gaborn does not like to take them for example) but push comes to shove and the endowments flow. It is hard to really feel for the thousands and thousands of people who die along the course of the journey. If you are a fan of epic fantasy and like lots of action, you should love this series. 3.5 stars, rounding up.
The primary 'magic' system in the series involves runes and endowments; 'dedicates' give various endowments (brawn, stamina, vision, grace, etc.) to another via a 'facilitator' and branding irons made of 'blood metal'. The dedicates, bereft of an endowment, are cared for in the king's keep in comfort (at least for the ethical ones). I can definitely see how people may be turned off by such-- it really is an insidious form of slavery in a way. Yet, it serves to create the runelords who have almost superhuman abilities due to various endowments. Farland pushes the limits of this in interesting ways-- too much brawn may cause one to break bones for example. It also sets up new avenues to go after kings and such-- killing their dedicates and hence robbing them of various powers.
Each volume has a vivid, bloody denouement, rivaling the one found in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Farland gives us monsters aplenty-- huge reavers from the underworld with a taste for human flesh; strange hominoid giants 20 feet tall; a king who has thousands of endowments who seeks to conquer the world; elementals of fire, water, wind and earth that impose their will upon humanity. Finally, each volume has a frenetic pacing with multiple POVs that rotate, with the leads of each on some quest or another.
In TLOB, the Earth King Gaborn heads deep into the underworld with his wife and the earth warden and his apprentice, little Averan. His former bodyguard and his wife head deep into Inkarra to summon the help of the king there. The prince of a northern kingdom and his wife from the horselands head back to seek help, and of course, the evil king who wants to conquer the world also plays a role. Again, a very busy, exciting volume to be sure!
I mentioned in a review of an earlier volume that this series lacks a kind of gravitas-- yes, it is high fantasy, but feels more like a popcorn read with lots and lots of action. Sure, their is some pondering of the ethics of endowments (Gaborn does not like to take them for example) but push comes to shove and the endowments flow. It is hard to really feel for the thousands and thousands of people who die along the course of the journey. If you are a fan of epic fantasy and like lots of action, you should love this series. 3.5 stars, rounding up.
May 28, 2016
OH, WOW.
Oh wow oh wow oh wow oh wow oh wow.
Ohhhhhh wow. OH WOWWWWWWW.
Yes, it is THAT good. But half the credit goes to Ray Porter's narration in the audiobook. I was shocked to see this book had such low ratings, mainly for length and reader boredom, because I have been glued to my earbud for two days trying to soak it all up!
It never once felt long to me, except for the thought that SO MUCH was happening. This book in itself is epic, and as the 4th of a series, its breadth and scope is almost emotionally exhausting.
But so, so worth it.
As long as it's the audio version, that is ;)
Oh wow oh wow oh wow oh wow oh wow.
Ohhhhhh wow. OH WOWWWWWWW.
Yes, it is THAT good. But half the credit goes to Ray Porter's narration in the audiobook. I was shocked to see this book had such low ratings, mainly for length and reader boredom, because I have been glued to my earbud for two days trying to soak it all up!
It never once felt long to me, except for the thought that SO MUCH was happening. This book in itself is epic, and as the 4th of a series, its breadth and scope is almost emotionally exhausting.
But so, so worth it.
As long as it's the audio version, that is ;)
November 10, 2016
No one writes conflict & myth better than Farland. He creates the races and nations of this world complete with legends, powers and prejudices. The characters are alive, and the reader comes to truly care for these characters as they come to care for each other. Those that relish & delight in losing themselves in long complex tales of epic fantasy will be in their element here, and there's much promise of more to come in future volumes.
Off to begin book 5!
Off to begin book 5!
May 10, 2025
Heiki dashed my hopes of being done with this series. Thanks man! Well, I kinda suspected it anyway. These generic fantasy spammers tend to always milk their series relentlessly. But fortunately the Humble Bundle I got these from only had the first 4. Which is called "the Earth King series". The second one is called "Scions of the Earth series" and I plan to avoid it like the plague.
Content-wise, even more reavers. Tens of thousands have been killed, but they are still very big and scary, but then again we somehow manage to kill tens of thousands without much hassle. The narrative of Ultimate Goodness demands a sacrifice of boring chapters of empty struggle. It is a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it. Much heroics, yell a battlecry, they again want to draw some runes. Oh no, the drawing. Bring the royal eraser!
Fear not men. We fight for freedom and liberty! And for a dream to choose our own weights and measures. We will have a word for the number 12 and it shall be called a dozen. 12 inches to a foot. 12 feet to a yard? If it only were so simple. 3 feet to a yard. How many yards to a mile? No one knows. But there will be 5280 feet to a mile, a simple number anyone can remember. This is Washington's dream!
... I seem to have gotten lost due to losing interest in the narrative. Oh well, onwards to find a Good Read!
Content-wise, even more reavers. Tens of thousands have been killed, but they are still very big and scary, but then again we somehow manage to kill tens of thousands without much hassle. The narrative of Ultimate Goodness demands a sacrifice of boring chapters of empty struggle. It is a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it. Much heroics, yell a battlecry, they again want to draw some runes. Oh no, the drawing. Bring the royal eraser!
Fear not men. We fight for freedom and liberty! And for a dream to choose our own weights and measures. We will have a word for the number 12 and it shall be called a dozen. 12 inches to a foot. 12 feet to a yard? If it only were so simple. 3 feet to a yard. How many yards to a mile? No one knows. But there will be 5280 feet to a mile, a simple number anyone can remember. This is Washington's dream!
... I seem to have gotten lost due to losing interest in the narrative. Oh well, onwards to find a Good Read!
May 18, 2022
MacGuffin Quest.
A MacGuffin is "an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself."
That's "The Lair of Bones." Farland's 4th Runelords novel (and series generally) introduces a new MacGuffin in every book for its separate plot lines to pursue but other than having cool-in-a-D&D-sense names (Lair of Bones, One True Master, Rune of Desolation, etc), these areas and the characters that surround them exist only to give the POV characters something to do/oppose. So people are captured, tortured, manipulated in a very Snidely Whiplash sense without any real pathos or significance. It checks all the blocks of high epic fantasy, but there's little soul here.
Ostensibly, reborn Earth King Gaborn is still trying to save the Earth from the demonic Reavers but we quickly get into "endowment math." Farland's magic system has people gifting abilities like strength, wit, grace, etc to their lords to make them more powerful. While it works as an abstract concept, Farland leans too far into the difference between 32 endowments of brawn vs 47 endowments of metabolism to be anything other than fake nerd math in support of a fake system.
The other big bad, Raj Ahten, underwent a significant change in the last novel and is now more an elemental fireweaver, but still basically a runelord king? I guess.
And that's kind of my problem with this series....on paper these are clearly momentous and world changing events, yet the way Farland writes them it feels so very pedestrian. Characters undergo outward changes but they remain largely cardboard cutouts. In high fantasy, it's usually the main protagonist that fills that Everyman role with more colorful side characters around him/her to keep the reader engaged. But here, EVERY character just kind of exists such that with all this chaos surrounding them, the reader feels strangely disengaged.
A MacGuffin is "an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself."
That's "The Lair of Bones." Farland's 4th Runelords novel (and series generally) introduces a new MacGuffin in every book for its separate plot lines to pursue but other than having cool-in-a-D&D-sense names (Lair of Bones, One True Master, Rune of Desolation, etc), these areas and the characters that surround them exist only to give the POV characters something to do/oppose. So people are captured, tortured, manipulated in a very Snidely Whiplash sense without any real pathos or significance. It checks all the blocks of high epic fantasy, but there's little soul here.
Ostensibly, reborn Earth King Gaborn is still trying to save the Earth from the demonic Reavers but we quickly get into "endowment math." Farland's magic system has people gifting abilities like strength, wit, grace, etc to their lords to make them more powerful. While it works as an abstract concept, Farland leans too far into the difference between 32 endowments of brawn vs 47 endowments of metabolism to be anything other than fake nerd math in support of a fake system.
The other big bad, Raj Ahten, underwent a significant change in the last novel and is now more an elemental fireweaver, but still basically a runelord king? I guess.
And that's kind of my problem with this series....on paper these are clearly momentous and world changing events, yet the way Farland writes them it feels so very pedestrian. Characters undergo outward changes but they remain largely cardboard cutouts. In high fantasy, it's usually the main protagonist that fills that Everyman role with more colorful side characters around him/her to keep the reader engaged. But here, EVERY character just kind of exists such that with all this chaos surrounding them, the reader feels strangely disengaged.
December 14, 2017
This book was by far the best of the series. I found myself racing through the pages with Borenson and Myrrim; Gaborn, Iome, Binnesman, and Averan; Erin; and Chemoise. Each of these characters reached his or her element in this novel; each person finally became the person he or she was supposed to be.
July 13, 2019
The Lair of Bones is the 4th of 8 books in the Runelords series and the novel is basically broken up into focusing on a set of characters with an overall story line about the monstrous insect-like Reavers and their attack on the city of Carris.
Gaborn and his retinues journey underground to find the fabled lair of bones and taking out the source of the reavers place of power.
Borenson and Myrrima's perilous journey south to Inkarra and the defense of Carris from the Reaver attack above ground.
Celinor and Erin's journey to Celinor's father, King Anders.
And Raj Ahten and his continuing drive to basically rule the world though he goes through quite a significant change in the novel.
A glossary at the end of the novel would have been welcomed in book one of the series.
I enjoyed yet again the quotes leading off each chapter especially chapter 21 with "Never fear a man based upon his outward form, but upon his inner spirit" - Erden Gaboren
A passage from the book I liked reading was "..dark Beldinook beer so rich that you could smell it in the sweat of your armpits for a week after you drank". p. 288
The book was enjoyable enough and seemingly comes to an actual conclusion to end it, but there are 4 more in the series.
Gaborn and his retinues journey underground to find the fabled lair of bones and taking out the source of the reavers place of power.
Borenson and Myrrima's perilous journey south to Inkarra and the defense of Carris from the Reaver attack above ground.
Celinor and Erin's journey to Celinor's father, King Anders.
And Raj Ahten and his continuing drive to basically rule the world though he goes through quite a significant change in the novel.
A glossary at the end of the novel would have been welcomed in book one of the series.
I enjoyed yet again the quotes leading off each chapter especially chapter 21 with "Never fear a man based upon his outward form, but upon his inner spirit" - Erden Gaboren
A passage from the book I liked reading was "..dark Beldinook beer so rich that you could smell it in the sweat of your armpits for a week after you drank". p. 288
The book was enjoyable enough and seemingly comes to an actual conclusion to end it, but there are 4 more in the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2025
3.5 Stars★★★✯☆ - a fitting conclusion and action-filled finale that just doesn't feel as satisfying as I would've guessed
I did not expect to read this series this year and I'm glad I wrapped up books 3 and 4 to finish off 2025. But Wizardborn and now The Lair of Bones just felt off in ways hard to describe. The Lair of Bones is the definitively stronger entry of the two-part finale, but when it comes down to it, neither of them come very close to the strong heights of The Sum of All Men and Brotherhood of the Wolf. This comes from several factors: the looming threat of the big bad reavers through the first two books is perfectly executed. Having Raj Ahten be the primary villain and the reaver situation was a great way to double the tension and problems taking place. But Wizardborn and Lair of Bones don't really maximize the aspects foreshadowed very satisfyingly.
The Lair of Bones does a lot of things right in that it brings more tension and purpose to this final act than the confused and meandering Wizardborn did but with so much story already having taken place, there's really only a fairly straightforward tale left to tell. The adventure of the underworld, the marriage of Borenson and Myrrima, and Erin Connell's storylines are all solid at face value, but knowing where the story has to go, it really wraps it all up quite hastily in the last 100 pages. While Lair of Bones is by far the shortest book in the series, I really wish it had been able to be expanded for a more in-depth or intentional finale with character moments/development that these characters deserved after thriving in Brotherhood of the Wolf.
When it comes down to it, this 4-book arc was VERY enjoyable to read. It had many many aspects that traditional epic fantasy lacks and I'm shocked at how I'd never heard of it before this year. The elements that make it dark are really more of a off-puttingly gross kind of thing rather than moral or ethic darkness, but it was definitely a choice on Farland's part. All in all, this was quite the experience that I'd recommend to most readers despite it being an imperfect 4 book quartet. Though I'll probably be stopping here and not continuing on with book 5.
I did not expect to read this series this year and I'm glad I wrapped up books 3 and 4 to finish off 2025. But Wizardborn and now The Lair of Bones just felt off in ways hard to describe. The Lair of Bones is the definitively stronger entry of the two-part finale, but when it comes down to it, neither of them come very close to the strong heights of The Sum of All Men and Brotherhood of the Wolf. This comes from several factors: the looming threat of the big bad reavers through the first two books is perfectly executed. Having Raj Ahten be the primary villain and the reaver situation was a great way to double the tension and problems taking place. But Wizardborn and Lair of Bones don't really maximize the aspects foreshadowed very satisfyingly.
The Lair of Bones does a lot of things right in that it brings more tension and purpose to this final act than the confused and meandering Wizardborn did but with so much story already having taken place, there's really only a fairly straightforward tale left to tell. The adventure of the underworld, the marriage of Borenson and Myrrima, and Erin Connell's storylines are all solid at face value, but knowing where the story has to go, it really wraps it all up quite hastily in the last 100 pages. While Lair of Bones is by far the shortest book in the series, I really wish it had been able to be expanded for a more in-depth or intentional finale with character moments/development that these characters deserved after thriving in Brotherhood of the Wolf.
When it comes down to it, this 4-book arc was VERY enjoyable to read. It had many many aspects that traditional epic fantasy lacks and I'm shocked at how I'd never heard of it before this year. The elements that make it dark are really more of a off-puttingly gross kind of thing rather than moral or ethic darkness, but it was definitely a choice on Farland's part. All in all, this was quite the experience that I'd recommend to most readers despite it being an imperfect 4 book quartet. Though I'll probably be stopping here and not continuing on with book 5.
March 3, 2020
Well, the author defaulted back to constantly repeating the same information in this. There are so many words I hate now because they are used way to much in these books.
It appears the “main” concern has been dealt with but it’s clear it was left open for another in the series (plus I own 1-5 so I guess that helps knowing too)
I have zero connection to any of these characters, the action is mediocre, the story telling is repetitive and stretched on for so long. I’m just mostly bored with this. I mean I was interested in the stars falling but apparently that’s fixed? Maybe I don’t know.
Tbh I’m only continuing this read through because I own books 1-5.
It appears the “main” concern has been dealt with but it’s clear it was left open for another in the series (plus I own 1-5 so I guess that helps knowing too)
I have zero connection to any of these characters, the action is mediocre, the story telling is repetitive and stretched on for so long. I’m just mostly bored with this. I mean I was interested in the stars falling but apparently that’s fixed? Maybe I don’t know.
Tbh I’m only continuing this read through because I own books 1-5.
July 2, 2024
This was a great book compared to the last one in my opinion. I really liked the way that Farland approached the combat scenes in this one. My biggest complaint is still around the accelerated time scale of things.
I feel like most other writers would have had the events in the first four books play out over at LEAST six months. Some writers would have had them take place over a year or more.
Farland had them take place over like a week. It was wild.
But that aside, this was a really good book.
I feel like most other writers would have had the events in the first four books play out over at LEAST six months. Some writers would have had them take place over a year or more.
Farland had them take place over like a week. It was wild.
But that aside, this was a really good book.
July 16, 2021
The Runelords saga has been quite a thrill for me. David Farland is every bit as nuanced and complex as other authors who have been given far too many accolades. That is not to take away from anyone else and only to say, Farland is amazingly underrated. This world was fresh and compelling. What he did in book 4, wrapping together so many storylines in a truly epic culmination was fantastic. When you get this deep into a series there isn't much you can say without spoilers, so I'll just leave it at this; The Lair of Bones was one hell of a ride!
December 19, 2022
This is another series that I started on audible and couldn't walk away from. I enjoyed it a lot.
Bulk Input Day.
Bulk Input Day.
September 15, 2016
Да завършиш фентъзи поредица в днешно време е такава рядкост, колкото и да завършиш сериал - обикновено авторите продължават да пишат нови и нови томове, защото им плащат на страница, докато качеството постепенно спада, докато накрая не изоставят поредицата недовършена когато интересът към нея съвсем спадне.
Дейвид Фарланд обаче си е свършил работата съвестно и четвъртата книга дава завършек на сагата, макар и не толкова удовлетворителен и пълен, колкото ми се искаше. Все пак факт е, че прочетох четирите книги без да мога да ги оставя, което говори достатъчно.
Дейвид Фарланд обаче си е свършил работата съвестно и четвъртата книга дава завършек на сагата, макар и не толкова удовлетворителен и пълен, колкото ми се искаше. Все пак факт е, че прочетох четирите книги без да мога да ги оставя, което говори достатъчно.
November 26, 2016
With each book this series got weaker and weaker, ignored obvious issues and jammed in more tropes. Apparently this was supposed to be the last book in the series (even said it was the "thrilling conclusion" on the dustjacket), but it left so many gaping holes that the author went on to write several more books which I am utterly uninterested in reading. I ended up actively hating a good number of the characters, including protagonists. I'm done with this series, and don't recommend it to anyone.
July 22, 2019
Overall, this is a nice conclusion to this arc of the story.
However, the entire four book arc takes place over about two weeks. It feels something like if Lord of the Rings was condensed in the TV show 24's format: yes, it becomes much tighter, but loses a lot of the power because you know that everything is happening over a really short time span. There is little or no character development, at least realistic character development, of course. Who radically grows or changes in two weeks?
The main draw is still the magic system which Farland created.
However, the entire four book arc takes place over about two weeks. It feels something like if Lord of the Rings was condensed in the TV show 24's format: yes, it becomes much tighter, but loses a lot of the power because you know that everything is happening over a really short time span. There is little or no character development, at least realistic character development, of course. Who radically grows or changes in two weeks?
The main draw is still the magic system which Farland created.
May 15, 2007
I left my comments on the series as a whole in my review of the first book, Sum of All Men, but let me say this about this book, because it is a big pet peeve of mine -- It is a different size than the other books. I own all four, in hardcover, and this one is larger than the other three. It drives me crazy and it looks retarded on my shelf. End rant.
January 13, 2015
This book has the grittiness and action inside it that I really like to read about. Adventure, sacrifice, sheer guts involved in making things happen with characters that are memorable and more real in their personality traits and quirks. I liked it and want to read more from this author.
January 6, 2018
I also picked up books 5 & 6, but the series has lost its luster (halfway through book 5). Solid writing. I'm just not a fan of Gaborn's progeny taking over.
April 7, 2024
I love this series and I am so sad to see it go but my god what a wild ride it was, I can’t wait to read these books to my future children
October 15, 2025
Dark Secrets, Ancient Magic, and Bone-Chilling Power — Let’s Talk Lair of Bones by David Farland! 💀⚔️🌌
Hey, my fearless fantasy fam! 😍🔥 I just emerged (barely alive, honestly 😅) from Lair of Bones, book four in The Runelords saga, and WOW—this one is pure, unfiltered dark fantasy greatness! 🩸📖 It’s intense, mystical, and packed with revelations that shake the entire world of the Runelords to its molten, rune-etched core. 🌋💎 If you love stories where heroes descend—literally—into the depths of danger, prepare for an epic that hits like an earthquake of magic and madness! ⚔️🔥
The Earth Trembles, My Runic Warriors! 🌎💀
The stakes? Astronomical. 💥 The tension? Off the charts. 📈 Gaborn, Iome, and their allies must journey into the Underworld itself—yes, an actual lair of bones—to face unspeakable ancient powers stirring beneath the surface. 😱🕯️ The world feels heavier, older, and more mythic than ever. The ground itself groans with history, and the line between life and death blurs into something both terrifying and sacred. 🌑✨ It’s giving epic myth meets cosmic horror, and I’m OBSESSED. 🌀🔥
Gaborn, Our Earth King, Faces the Darkness Within! 👑🌍
Gaborn has officially ascended to full Earth King status, but that crown? It’s heavy. 😔💫 He’s wrestling not only with enemies from the depths but also with his own limitations, mortality, and faith. ⚖️🕊️ His compassion and courage are tested in ways that feel raw and human. Watching him evolve from noble prince to weary, world-carrying savior is emotional AF. 🥺💎 He’s tired, broken, but still standing—and honestly? That makes him more heroic than ever. 🌙⚔️
The Magic is Darker, Deeper, and Deadlier! 💀🪄
The rune magic system that we fell in love with? It’s now evolved. 🌌🔥 Farland takes it underground—literally—into the roots of the world, where new powers and ancient horrors dwell. 👀💀 There are moments where the magic feels almost alive, whispering, tempting, demanding sacrifice. 🕯️✨ Every spell feels dangerous. Every rune burns brighter. It’s haunting, gorgeous, and utterly unforgettable. 💎🌑
Villains, Monsters, and the Shadows Beneath! 😈🐉
The creatures in Lair of Bones? Nightmare fuel in the best way. 👁️💀 From twisted subterranean horrors to ancient entities that predate humanity, this book pulls no punches. 🩸🔥 Raj Ahten’s shadow still looms large, but now we’re facing something even older—something primal and earth-bound that doesn’t play by mortal rules. 😳🌋 The sense of dread builds beautifully, page by page.
The Feels Are Heavy, My Brave Souls! 💔🌕
This book hurts, in that deeply satisfying fantasy way. 🥹💫 Themes of death, duty, and rebirth run through every scene. Gaborn and Iome’s bond remains the emotional anchor amidst all the darkness—they’re soulmates forged by fire and fate. 🔥💖 Their moments of tenderness amid chaos? Pure magic. 🕯️🌹
The Tea, My Mythic Dreamers! ☕⚡
Lair of Bones is more introspective and slower-paced than its predecessors—but that’s what makes it sing. 🎵🌌 It’s the calm before the cataclysm, the descent before the rise. Farland weaves philosophy, horror, and heroism into something that feels ancient, like you’re reading a myth unearthed from stone tablets. 🪶💀
Final Vibes, My Earthbound Legends! 🌙⚔️
Lair of Bones is the dark heart of The Runelords saga—haunting, epic, and bursting with sacred energy. 🌋💎 It explores the price of kingship, the depth of faith, and the enduring power of life when surrounded by death. 🩸✨
Bottom line, my rune-carved crew: It’s eerie, emotional, and absolutely epic—a descent into shadow that will leave you breathless, enlightened, and craving more of Farland’s mythic world! 💀🔥📚
Hey, my fearless fantasy fam! 😍🔥 I just emerged (barely alive, honestly 😅) from Lair of Bones, book four in The Runelords saga, and WOW—this one is pure, unfiltered dark fantasy greatness! 🩸📖 It’s intense, mystical, and packed with revelations that shake the entire world of the Runelords to its molten, rune-etched core. 🌋💎 If you love stories where heroes descend—literally—into the depths of danger, prepare for an epic that hits like an earthquake of magic and madness! ⚔️🔥
The Earth Trembles, My Runic Warriors! 🌎💀
The stakes? Astronomical. 💥 The tension? Off the charts. 📈 Gaborn, Iome, and their allies must journey into the Underworld itself—yes, an actual lair of bones—to face unspeakable ancient powers stirring beneath the surface. 😱🕯️ The world feels heavier, older, and more mythic than ever. The ground itself groans with history, and the line between life and death blurs into something both terrifying and sacred. 🌑✨ It’s giving epic myth meets cosmic horror, and I’m OBSESSED. 🌀🔥
Gaborn, Our Earth King, Faces the Darkness Within! 👑🌍
Gaborn has officially ascended to full Earth King status, but that crown? It’s heavy. 😔💫 He’s wrestling not only with enemies from the depths but also with his own limitations, mortality, and faith. ⚖️🕊️ His compassion and courage are tested in ways that feel raw and human. Watching him evolve from noble prince to weary, world-carrying savior is emotional AF. 🥺💎 He’s tired, broken, but still standing—and honestly? That makes him more heroic than ever. 🌙⚔️
The Magic is Darker, Deeper, and Deadlier! 💀🪄
The rune magic system that we fell in love with? It’s now evolved. 🌌🔥 Farland takes it underground—literally—into the roots of the world, where new powers and ancient horrors dwell. 👀💀 There are moments where the magic feels almost alive, whispering, tempting, demanding sacrifice. 🕯️✨ Every spell feels dangerous. Every rune burns brighter. It’s haunting, gorgeous, and utterly unforgettable. 💎🌑
Villains, Monsters, and the Shadows Beneath! 😈🐉
The creatures in Lair of Bones? Nightmare fuel in the best way. 👁️💀 From twisted subterranean horrors to ancient entities that predate humanity, this book pulls no punches. 🩸🔥 Raj Ahten’s shadow still looms large, but now we’re facing something even older—something primal and earth-bound that doesn’t play by mortal rules. 😳🌋 The sense of dread builds beautifully, page by page.
The Feels Are Heavy, My Brave Souls! 💔🌕
This book hurts, in that deeply satisfying fantasy way. 🥹💫 Themes of death, duty, and rebirth run through every scene. Gaborn and Iome’s bond remains the emotional anchor amidst all the darkness—they’re soulmates forged by fire and fate. 🔥💖 Their moments of tenderness amid chaos? Pure magic. 🕯️🌹
The Tea, My Mythic Dreamers! ☕⚡
Lair of Bones is more introspective and slower-paced than its predecessors—but that’s what makes it sing. 🎵🌌 It’s the calm before the cataclysm, the descent before the rise. Farland weaves philosophy, horror, and heroism into something that feels ancient, like you’re reading a myth unearthed from stone tablets. 🪶💀
Final Vibes, My Earthbound Legends! 🌙⚔️
Lair of Bones is the dark heart of The Runelords saga—haunting, epic, and bursting with sacred energy. 🌋💎 It explores the price of kingship, the depth of faith, and the enduring power of life when surrounded by death. 🩸✨
Bottom line, my rune-carved crew: It’s eerie, emotional, and absolutely epic—a descent into shadow that will leave you breathless, enlightened, and craving more of Farland’s mythic world! 💀🔥📚
October 19, 2020
The fourth installment of author David Farland’s Runelords series opens on the fourth day of the month of leaves, with Raj Ahten’s caravan arriving at the Palace of the Elephant at Maygassa, with his servant Wuqaz wanting to go to Ghusa. Ahten follows through the Great Salt Sea, with another of his supporters, Feykaald, bringing him stolen treasure from the Earth King’s camp. Meanwhile, Averan learns of the way to the eponymous Lair of Bones, with King Gaborn reluctant to allow his consort Iome to join his expedition into the Underworld, location of the titular area.
Furthermore, Sir Borenson and his wife Myrrima flee the village of Fenraven, reaching the ancient city of Batenne and encountering the Inkarrans, who are held in disdain. South of the city, they visit the camp of the wizard assassin Pilwyn Coly Zandaros, who attempted to murder Gaborn, who in the meantime descends into the Underworld, where there are signs of reavers, who quickly attack. Averan knows the way through the reaver tunnels, and engages in battle with the villainous Consort of Shadows. Within the Underworld, they encounter the abandoned residence of Erden Geboren.
On the fifth day in the month of leaves, the Consort of Shadows captures Averan, drawing close to the Lair of Bones. As this occurs, the Inkarrans hold Sir Borenson and Myrrima prisoner at a mountain fortress, bringing them before the Storm King, with the latter experiencing a poisoning. A minor subplot involves Uncle Eber telling his pregnant niece Chemoise that Gaborn commanded them to take refuge, with the Darkling Glory coming. High in the Hest Mountains, Raj Ahten escorts his army with an intended conquest of Mystarria. Erin reaches Raven’s Gate, with King Anders mustering his forces.
Gaborn continues to race through the Underworld, facing reavers as well as the scavenging ferrin, his consort Iome ultimately finding a shortcut through the subterranean tunnels. The imprisoned Averan attempts to connect with the green woman Spring, although the olive maiden actually doesn’t play much of a role in the fourth entry. Borenson and Myrrima eventually flee Iselferion with the Inkarran Days Sakra Kaul as their guide, with the others of the hostile tribe giving chase. In the hills west of Carris, Raj Ahten gathers his forces, and Chemoise queues herself to give an endowment, although she has her unborn child to consider.
Borenson, Myrrima, and Sarka Kaul ride away from the reaver forces, with Erin Connal in the meantime heading to war in the retinue of King Anders. The One True Master ultimately confronts King Gaborn, and Averan works on creating magical seals critical to victory. In the end, I definitely enjoyed this entry of the Runelords a little more than its predecessors, with a glossary at the end defining some of the common terminology native to the series. There are many areas where the book’s editor didn’t do their job well, but I would definitely recommend this novel to those who enjoyed its precursors.
Furthermore, Sir Borenson and his wife Myrrima flee the village of Fenraven, reaching the ancient city of Batenne and encountering the Inkarrans, who are held in disdain. South of the city, they visit the camp of the wizard assassin Pilwyn Coly Zandaros, who attempted to murder Gaborn, who in the meantime descends into the Underworld, where there are signs of reavers, who quickly attack. Averan knows the way through the reaver tunnels, and engages in battle with the villainous Consort of Shadows. Within the Underworld, they encounter the abandoned residence of Erden Geboren.
On the fifth day in the month of leaves, the Consort of Shadows captures Averan, drawing close to the Lair of Bones. As this occurs, the Inkarrans hold Sir Borenson and Myrrima prisoner at a mountain fortress, bringing them before the Storm King, with the latter experiencing a poisoning. A minor subplot involves Uncle Eber telling his pregnant niece Chemoise that Gaborn commanded them to take refuge, with the Darkling Glory coming. High in the Hest Mountains, Raj Ahten escorts his army with an intended conquest of Mystarria. Erin reaches Raven’s Gate, with King Anders mustering his forces.
Gaborn continues to race through the Underworld, facing reavers as well as the scavenging ferrin, his consort Iome ultimately finding a shortcut through the subterranean tunnels. The imprisoned Averan attempts to connect with the green woman Spring, although the olive maiden actually doesn’t play much of a role in the fourth entry. Borenson and Myrrima eventually flee Iselferion with the Inkarran Days Sakra Kaul as their guide, with the others of the hostile tribe giving chase. In the hills west of Carris, Raj Ahten gathers his forces, and Chemoise queues herself to give an endowment, although she has her unborn child to consider.
Borenson, Myrrima, and Sarka Kaul ride away from the reaver forces, with Erin Connal in the meantime heading to war in the retinue of King Anders. The One True Master ultimately confronts King Gaborn, and Averan works on creating magical seals critical to victory. In the end, I definitely enjoyed this entry of the Runelords a little more than its predecessors, with a glossary at the end defining some of the common terminology native to the series. There are many areas where the book’s editor didn’t do their job well, but I would definitely recommend this novel to those who enjoyed its precursors.
April 2, 2019
An excellent end to this stage of the saga! Tied up most of the loose ends and yet left enough points to begin the next section of the story. He could have ended the series here very nicely, or, as he did, begin a new storyline.
I am sort of wondering why Carris was used again as the battlefield. We knew that the castle had been severely damaged from the last battle, so why did the Earth send them to defend it again? After the first battle, even an army of commoners probably could have taken the castle, to say nothing of Runelords, and of course, we saw that it proved no match for the Reavers.
Some of the other parts that honestly seemed to have little point was the whole Inkarra storyline. Maybe this is something that will be developed in future books, but Borenson and Myrimma's trip to this dark land seemed to have no point. Their army never came to fight at Carris, didn't influence any of the other characters, and the Days that came with them really didn't seem to provide any critical help in the battle.
The other bothersome part was the fact that Raj Ahten becoming a servant of fire seemed to have little effect on him other than him being able to shoot fire from his hands, and his skin seemed to change. They made a big deal of his last scene of him getting this new name, and then only used it as he was being killed at the end of the book. Furthermore, he didn't seem to be serving Fire at all, but still serving himself. Yes, you could argue that this lust for power is part of serving Fire, but he never seemed to be subservient to any Fire Master, certainly not the way Gaborn served the Earth or even the way Mymirra served Water.
Lastly, for Asgarath being so powerful, his leaving was hugely anticlimactic. Again, this seems like it could be a thread to be picked up in future books, but if this was the end point, then this most powerful evil of all seemed rather toothless.
Despite these criticisms, I did enjoy the book. We finally got to see how the Reavers lived after 3 books, with lots of speculation in the previous two. The action was fun to read, and I could really visualize the sequences, even the parts with Runelords moving at superhuman speeds. Seeing what each member of their team brought to bear, and how they and they alone fit into the battle, was excellent, and showed the limits imposed even on the all-powerful Gaborn.
I can't wait to continue my journey!
I am sort of wondering why Carris was used again as the battlefield. We knew that the castle had been severely damaged from the last battle, so why did the Earth send them to defend it again? After the first battle, even an army of commoners probably could have taken the castle, to say nothing of Runelords, and of course, we saw that it proved no match for the Reavers.
Some of the other parts that honestly seemed to have little point was the whole Inkarra storyline. Maybe this is something that will be developed in future books, but Borenson and Myrimma's trip to this dark land seemed to have no point. Their army never came to fight at Carris, didn't influence any of the other characters, and the Days that came with them really didn't seem to provide any critical help in the battle.
The other bothersome part was the fact that Raj Ahten becoming a servant of fire seemed to have little effect on him other than him being able to shoot fire from his hands, and his skin seemed to change. They made a big deal of his last scene of him getting this new name, and then only used it as he was being killed at the end of the book. Furthermore, he didn't seem to be serving Fire at all, but still serving himself. Yes, you could argue that this lust for power is part of serving Fire, but he never seemed to be subservient to any Fire Master, certainly not the way Gaborn served the Earth or even the way Mymirra served Water.
Lastly, for Asgarath being so powerful, his leaving was hugely anticlimactic. Again, this seems like it could be a thread to be picked up in future books, but if this was the end point, then this most powerful evil of all seemed rather toothless.
Despite these criticisms, I did enjoy the book. We finally got to see how the Reavers lived after 3 books, with lots of speculation in the previous two. The action was fun to read, and I could really visualize the sequences, even the parts with Runelords moving at superhuman speeds. Seeing what each member of their team brought to bear, and how they and they alone fit into the battle, was excellent, and showed the limits imposed even on the all-powerful Gaborn.
I can't wait to continue my journey!
October 21, 2020
With this book ends the first arc in David Farland's Runelords Saga, which started with The Sum of All Men(Runelords), The Brotherhood of the Wolf, and Wizarborn, and now ends with The Lair of Bones.
The first thing I need to say is that this book is masterfully paced. The opening has to have lots of things going on, but none of it seems to be action filled. It is almost entirely character and plot focused and was really engaging. The different plot lines jumped back and forth enough to keep me interested in them all without being too bogged down in any one. The middle and ending had tons of action, and I can tell that this book was influenced by both Lord of the Rings' ending and some Shannara books ending and that Brandon Sanderson definitely learned some things from this book.
I can't get into too much of the ending without spoilers, but it was properly bittersweet. The ending actually reminded me a little of some old Western movie endings mixed with the V for Vendetta ending(very small reason for this) as well as LOTR. I would have done several different things differently, but Farland did an excellent job nonetheless.
The only problems I have with the book really revolve around Erin and Celinor's storyline. I see why Farland did this, it just felt weak to me. It wasn't emotionally resonant like the others were.
Also, this book only has one map, and I think that Farland would do better to both add more maps and interpserse them throughout the book, not make them front heavy.
However, I did really enjoy this book. It provides a satisfying ending, but unfortunately doesn't have the weight that the other books had, nor does it stand up there with other amazing endings like the Wheel of Time, Mistborn, or Lord of the Rings. 7.0 out of 10! Good job Farland(now finish up the final book in the series, it's been 11 years already!)
The first thing I need to say is that this book is masterfully paced. The opening has to have lots of things going on, but none of it seems to be action filled. It is almost entirely character and plot focused and was really engaging. The different plot lines jumped back and forth enough to keep me interested in them all without being too bogged down in any one. The middle and ending had tons of action, and I can tell that this book was influenced by both Lord of the Rings' ending and some Shannara books ending and that Brandon Sanderson definitely learned some things from this book.
I can't get into too much of the ending without spoilers, but it was properly bittersweet. The ending actually reminded me a little of some old Western movie endings mixed with the V for Vendetta ending(very small reason for this) as well as LOTR. I would have done several different things differently, but Farland did an excellent job nonetheless.
The only problems I have with the book really revolve around Erin and Celinor's storyline. I see why Farland did this, it just felt weak to me. It wasn't emotionally resonant like the others were.
Also, this book only has one map, and I think that Farland would do better to both add more maps and interpserse them throughout the book, not make them front heavy.
However, I did really enjoy this book. It provides a satisfying ending, but unfortunately doesn't have the weight that the other books had, nor does it stand up there with other amazing endings like the Wheel of Time, Mistborn, or Lord of the Rings. 7.0 out of 10! Good job Farland(now finish up the final book in the series, it's been 11 years already!)
July 8, 2023
That was epic. It's the best of the series yet. What more can I say. It took me two days to read it, I could hardly put it down, David Farland weaves a magical web, that draws you into the story, and makes you almost believe and feel everything that the characters do.
The Lair of Bones is the fourth instalment in RuneLords series by David Farland, and damn was it good, a brilliant story of good versus evil. This was supposed to be the last in the series, but I guess David Farland had so much more to give to this world.
This book brings a fantastic conclusion and a well-deserved end to some very unsavoury characters. It's action-packed with epic battles, The story goes along at a fast pace all throughout the novel and then about 3/4ths of the way into it it begins reaching the climax and jumps into an even higher pace which will keep you hooked till you've finished. When it ends, it will leave you feeling at peace.
The Earth King Gaborn kingdom of Mystarria lies in ruins. After the devastating destruction from the reavers, they are unrelenting as a vast army of reavers sallies forth from the underworld, intending to put an end to mankind.
Men are still at war with each other, as
four powerful kings march to claim its spoils of war. In one last-ditch effort to heal the earth, the wizardborn Averan leads the Earth King, Gaborn Val Orden, far below the surface to the Lair of Bones, to face the leader of the reaver hordes. There, Gaborn must confront an ancient evil before the world is torn apart.
I absolutely love this series, epic fantasy at its best. If you haven't checked out this series yet, I very highly recommend that you do, you won't regret it....😁🔥💀🖤
The Lair of Bones is the fourth instalment in RuneLords series by David Farland, and damn was it good, a brilliant story of good versus evil. This was supposed to be the last in the series, but I guess David Farland had so much more to give to this world.
This book brings a fantastic conclusion and a well-deserved end to some very unsavoury characters. It's action-packed with epic battles, The story goes along at a fast pace all throughout the novel and then about 3/4ths of the way into it it begins reaching the climax and jumps into an even higher pace which will keep you hooked till you've finished. When it ends, it will leave you feeling at peace.
The Earth King Gaborn kingdom of Mystarria lies in ruins. After the devastating destruction from the reavers, they are unrelenting as a vast army of reavers sallies forth from the underworld, intending to put an end to mankind.
Men are still at war with each other, as
four powerful kings march to claim its spoils of war. In one last-ditch effort to heal the earth, the wizardborn Averan leads the Earth King, Gaborn Val Orden, far below the surface to the Lair of Bones, to face the leader of the reaver hordes. There, Gaborn must confront an ancient evil before the world is torn apart.
I absolutely love this series, epic fantasy at its best. If you haven't checked out this series yet, I very highly recommend that you do, you won't regret it....😁🔥💀🖤
June 29, 2021
He knew. He could not deny his senses. It was no dream. So he got up and ran down, down, deeper into the Underworld carrying the brightness in his heart.
The Lair of Bones finishes a major arc in Farland's Runelords series. We see Gaborn's important calling carried to an end as he confronts the One True Master deep underground. The end of these first four books almost feels mythic, ramping up from high fantasy into the kind of legend you would expect to exist in this world. It really works.
We again see the convergence of varying threats and Farland's resolution is deeply satisfying. None of it feels out of the blue thanks to carefully seeded plot threads. (Unintended earth king pun!) All of the characters show courage, humility and heart as they navigate unbelievable challenges. Without giving too much away, Farland also uses his endowment magic to extend opportunities for courage to more minor characters and townsfolk caught in this mess.
All in all, it's a satisfying conclusion that feels like it bookends the first three books just right. Blessedly no more talk of walnuts. 4/5.
The Lair of Bones finishes a major arc in Farland's Runelords series. We see Gaborn's important calling carried to an end as he confronts the One True Master deep underground. The end of these first four books almost feels mythic, ramping up from high fantasy into the kind of legend you would expect to exist in this world. It really works.
We again see the convergence of varying threats and Farland's resolution is deeply satisfying. None of it feels out of the blue thanks to carefully seeded plot threads. (Unintended earth king pun!) All of the characters show courage, humility and heart as they navigate unbelievable challenges. Without giving too much away, Farland also uses his endowment magic to extend opportunities for courage to more minor characters and townsfolk caught in this mess.
All in all, it's a satisfying conclusion that feels like it bookends the first three books just right. Blessedly no more talk of walnuts. 4/5.
December 7, 2022
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This book, The Lair of Bones(The Runelords, #4), feels like the final book in this series…even though there are still FOUR MORE after this one. It is, however, the last of this series that I had previously read and now I more fully remember why.
All in all, if you have been reading along with me and are on your own Runelords journey, I think you’ll find that The Lair of Bones is a very satisfying conclusion to this fantasy quartet. Yes, there’s plenty of cliches and plot armor, but it’s a wonderful journey and this book delivers an ending that is pitch perfect in fist pumping fun and bittersweet gut punches. You may well want to stop your Runelords journey right here and be happy with the series you’ve enjoyed so far. You could do it easily as this book wraps up the main storylines perfectly.
https://solo.to/storyphoria
This book, The Lair of Bones(The Runelords, #4), feels like the final book in this series…even though there are still FOUR MORE after this one. It is, however, the last of this series that I had previously read and now I more fully remember why.
All in all, if you have been reading along with me and are on your own Runelords journey, I think you’ll find that The Lair of Bones is a very satisfying conclusion to this fantasy quartet. Yes, there’s plenty of cliches and plot armor, but it’s a wonderful journey and this book delivers an ending that is pitch perfect in fist pumping fun and bittersweet gut punches. You may well want to stop your Runelords journey right here and be happy with the series you’ve enjoyed so far. You could do it easily as this book wraps up the main storylines perfectly.
February 19, 2018
I'm very torn on this series. I enjoyed the plot and characters, and overall it was well written. But the endowment system bothered me. It made human life seem more valuable with the ability to give your attributes to others, while simultaneously showing a complete disregard for humanity. Some of the characters just seemed a bit tone deaf to the whole situation.
The endowments also made the world feel smaller. Instead of a vast continent with a massive system of caves underneath, it became a land that could be crossed in a day or two by a runelord (aka every character).
I like the reavers, but they were pretty overpowered. I get it was to offset the runelords, but two story tall armoured sentient arachnids sporting twelve foot blades with one tiny weak spot is nuts.
It was a good story and there were a lot of interesting pros to the endowment system, it just brought some cons along with it is all.
It was a fitting ending to the series.
The endowments also made the world feel smaller. Instead of a vast continent with a massive system of caves underneath, it became a land that could be crossed in a day or two by a runelord (aka every character).
I like the reavers, but they were pretty overpowered. I get it was to offset the runelords, but two story tall armoured sentient arachnids sporting twelve foot blades with one tiny weak spot is nuts.
It was a good story and there were a lot of interesting pros to the endowment system, it just brought some cons along with it is all.
It was a fitting ending to the series.
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