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The Runebinder Chronicles #1
Runebinder
Magic is risen.
When magic returned to the world, it could have saved humanity, but greed and thirst for power caused mankind's downfall instead. Now once-human monsters called Howls prowl abandoned streets, their hunger guided by corrupt necromancers and the all-powerful Kin. Only Hunters have the power to fight back in the unending war, using the same magic that ended civilization in the first place.
But they are losing.
Tenn is a Hunter, resigned to fight even though hope is nearly lost. When he is singled out by a seductive Kin named Tomás and the enigmatic Hunter Jarrett, Tenn realizes he's become a pawn in a bigger game. One that could turn the tides of war. But if his mutinous magic and wayward heart get in the way, his power might not be used in favor of mankind.
If Tenn fails to play his part, it could cost him his friends, his life…and the entire world.
When magic returned to the world, it could have saved humanity, but greed and thirst for power caused mankind's downfall instead. Now once-human monsters called Howls prowl abandoned streets, their hunger guided by corrupt necromancers and the all-powerful Kin. Only Hunters have the power to fight back in the unending war, using the same magic that ended civilization in the first place.
But they are losing.
Tenn is a Hunter, resigned to fight even though hope is nearly lost. When he is singled out by a seductive Kin named Tomás and the enigmatic Hunter Jarrett, Tenn realizes he's become a pawn in a bigger game. One that could turn the tides of war. But if his mutinous magic and wayward heart get in the way, his power might not be used in favor of mankind.
If Tenn fails to play his part, it could cost him his friends, his life…and the entire world.
394 pages, Hardcover
First published November 14, 2017
238 people are currently reading
6334 people want to read
About the author
Alex R. Kahler
8 books157 followersAlex (A.R.) Kahler is the nomadic author of quite a few books and series, including THE IMMORTAL CIRCUS and RAVENBORN. When not writing or on the road, he can be founding climbing things and drinking copious amounts of coffee. Although born in Iowa, his heart resides in Scotland. And about a dozen other places scattered across the globe. Including, currently, SoCal. Track his travels on Instagram @arkahler
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 329 reviews
November 21, 2017
I won an arc copy of this in a Goodreads/Firstreads giveaway.
This cover is so freaking awesome and I admit I judged a book by its cover. I didn't realize exactly what it was about.
The beginning started out good, well accept for one thing but the author did that part really well. But I just wasn't feeling the rest of it. The concept of all these monsters is really cool though!
The book seems to have mixed reviews so you could be one that loves it 😊
Happy Reading!
Mel 💕
This cover is so freaking awesome and I admit I judged a book by its cover. I didn't realize exactly what it was about.
The beginning started out good, well accept for one thing but the author did that part really well. But I just wasn't feeling the rest of it. The concept of all these monsters is really cool though!
The book seems to have mixed reviews so you could be one that loves it 😊
Happy Reading!
Mel 💕
Want to read
August 22, 2017Hello I just randomly found this book on GR and I went to check out what it is about and landed on
this article
of which I'll share a little extract for you lazy kids because I believe everyone, queer or not, will benefit from reading what the author said:
I just legit teared up reading this last part and y'all can't believe how excited I am to read this book when it comes out (hi publisher and author if you're reading this can I get an ARC maybe?)
Also you can read an extract of the first chapter and it sounds really promising so I'm even more excited *__*
For most of us, just existing means having to constantly defend ourselves. Not necessarily from outright attacks or vitriol, but from the assumption that anything other than “straight” is an anomaly. That we are the outliers. That in order to find the most basic human needs of love and acceptance, we must be willing to share what society believes sets us apart. It’s a vulnerability that is often taken for granted.
And that’s why I wrote Runebinder.
I’m done writing books where it’s assumed the protagonist and supporting cast are straight. I’m done writing about queer sexuality as though it’s something that must be explained or justified. Don’t get me wrong—“issue” books concerning sexuality and coming out are so, so important and always will be. But I think (I hope) we’re moving past that point as a culture.
We’re learning that sexuality is a spectrum. That we define sexuality and gender—they don’t necessarily define us unless we want them to.
When I wrote Runebinder, I wanted to code queer—to write a world where the reader is brought to assume everyone is queer unless told differently. The protagonist Tenn never comes out. He never says “I identify as X” in order to make the friends or save the world or get the guy. And yeah, that’s a fantasy world, but he also uses magic to hunt down humanoid monsters, so let’s not get too caught up in what’s realistic. When I wrote the first draft ten years ago, it was unheard of to have a gay protagonist in a fantasy story. It makes me incredibly happy to see that tide turning, especially in YA fiction. More and more fantastic writers are creating worlds where everyone is a little bit queer, where sexuality is a spectrum and the discussion fluid.
We don’t need to be justified to exist, to have a story worth sharing, or to be on the page. We can be. We can breathe. We can exist and see ourselves without having to define who we are, on or off the page. And that, I think, is a powerful message to queer and straight readers alike.
We’ve been around forever.
We aren’t going anywhere.
We have always been the heroes of our own stories.
And now, we get to share them with the world.
I just legit teared up reading this last part and y'all can't believe how excited I am to read this book when it comes out (hi publisher and author if you're reading this can I get an ARC maybe?)
Also you can read an extract of the first chapter and it sounds really promising so I'm even more excited *__*
November 27, 2017
This is my new favorite book.
First, it was a lot of elements I love. Elemental control, mage, witches, evil magic, post-apocalyptic world, burning desire, deep and interesting characters. But to top it off it displays a gay romance without explanation. I have NEVER connected to a character like I have with Tenn, so much so that 50 pages in I was in tears because I connected with him so much.
Alex is one of my new favorite authors and humans and I hope we get news on the sequel soon!
First, it was a lot of elements I love. Elemental control, mage, witches, evil magic, post-apocalyptic world, burning desire, deep and interesting characters. But to top it off it displays a gay romance without explanation. I have NEVER connected to a character like I have with Tenn, so much so that 50 pages in I was in tears because I connected with him so much.
Alex is one of my new favorite authors and humans and I hope we get news on the sequel soon!
November 5, 2018
The magic and all the deadly creatures were super fascinating in this LGBT fantasy. The main character Tenn is a hunter who battles monsters as well as depression. I liked the world and the lore about the gods, but some of it was a little confusing. The plot was compelling and intense. The amount of death and violence was captivating. I also loved the mystery element. A book without a hint of mystery is like a character without personality. It builds suspense and drives the reader forward.
In Runebinder, we try to uncover why Tenns coveted by the human prophets as well as the monstrous kin. Theres a lot of inner struggle going on and Tenns self pity was difficult to read at times, but I understand he's dealing with depression. He was relatably humble and flawed, but his choices at the end were kind of frustrating. The romance was heartbreakingly adorable. I also thought the twins were awesome and that the incubus was intriguing, but I was wary of getting attached to anyone with all the killing going on.
The way the story is told felt a bit odd at times. Im not exactly sure why. Maybe its the third person perspective while only following one character or the use of past tense in some places. I dont usually notice analogies, but this book has an abundance of them. Not all of them were necessary, but some were pretty clever. I also wasnt a big fan of the jock stereotype in the first couple pages, but I thought the LGBT rep was great. The writing style just takes some getting use to, but the engaging story made it easy to keep reading.
This story leans heavily on the chosen one trope without any real explanation as to why Tenn was chosen. I saw the major twist coming, but the second part was unexpected. The pace was well balanced between backstory and fight scenes. I was never bored which is a major accomplishment. I expect the writing will improve as the author publishes more books. The Goodreads ratings had me a little worried at first, but I ended up really enjoying it and after the way things ended Im looking forward to the sequel.
*received in exchange for an honest review*
In Runebinder, we try to uncover why Tenns coveted by the human prophets as well as the monstrous kin. Theres a lot of inner struggle going on and Tenns self pity was difficult to read at times, but I understand he's dealing with depression. He was relatably humble and flawed, but his choices at the end were kind of frustrating. The romance was heartbreakingly adorable. I also thought the twins were awesome and that the incubus was intriguing, but I was wary of getting attached to anyone with all the killing going on.
The way the story is told felt a bit odd at times. Im not exactly sure why. Maybe its the third person perspective while only following one character or the use of past tense in some places. I dont usually notice analogies, but this book has an abundance of them. Not all of them were necessary, but some were pretty clever. I also wasnt a big fan of the jock stereotype in the first couple pages, but I thought the LGBT rep was great. The writing style just takes some getting use to, but the engaging story made it easy to keep reading.
This story leans heavily on the chosen one trope without any real explanation as to why Tenn was chosen. I saw the major twist coming, but the second part was unexpected. The pace was well balanced between backstory and fight scenes. I was never bored which is a major accomplishment. I expect the writing will improve as the author publishes more books. The Goodreads ratings had me a little worried at first, but I ended up really enjoying it and after the way things ended Im looking forward to the sequel.
*received in exchange for an honest review*
November 23, 2017
Thank you NetGalley for sending me an eARC in exchange for review
DNF @ 10%
It's been a while since I've had a DNF. Like, a really long time. However, Runebinder really wasn't the book for me. I feel as though I may have DNF'ed it a little early but when the word 'lust' is mentioned twice within a page I can't help the gag that leaves my body and forces me to drop my phone. Can't deal.
I also was struggling with the writing style. I'm not sure if it was just the eARC version but it was formatted a tad strange that let to me getting lost, quite a bit. I really couldn't deal. Not only that, but I feel like you're just expected to know what's going on in this world. It's an urban fantasy mixed with a dystopian from the seems of it but nothing was explained by 10%, something that frustrates me because it leaves me wondering if I missed something pages back.
I'm sure the diversity through this is great, but I just really couldn't get into the writing. I may come back at a later date when I can purchase a physical copy, but for now its a no.
DNF @ 10%
It's been a while since I've had a DNF. Like, a really long time. However, Runebinder really wasn't the book for me. I feel as though I may have DNF'ed it a little early but when the word 'lust' is mentioned twice within a page I can't help the gag that leaves my body and forces me to drop my phone. Can't deal.
I also was struggling with the writing style. I'm not sure if it was just the eARC version but it was formatted a tad strange that let to me getting lost, quite a bit. I really couldn't deal. Not only that, but I feel like you're just expected to know what's going on in this world. It's an urban fantasy mixed with a dystopian from the seems of it but nothing was explained by 10%, something that frustrates me because it leaves me wondering if I missed something pages back.
I'm sure the diversity through this is great, but I just really couldn't get into the writing. I may come back at a later date when I can purchase a physical copy, but for now its a no.
March 26, 2018
[2.5 Stars]
Here's the thing: I really, really enjoyed the concept of this fantasy post-apocalyptic world. Magic comes back to Earth, and everything goes to hell after the corruptibility of humans is capitalized on by vengeful gods. I loved the elemental control and the concept that people could elect to attune to the different spheres and control water, earth, air, and fire. People having grouped up for survival fighting off hordes of deranged former-humans was so awesome. So basically, the world was really cool, and it has a lot of promise.
BUT I could not handle the main character and the intensity of his instalove! Holy moly. He enters into a crazy obsession with a fellow magic-using boy after being with him for less than a day. I immediately began hoping they would not be together to hopefully end the never-ending obsessive thoughts about their future dream house complete with pets. It was too much, and I would roll my eyes every single time it came up (frequently). I eventually started rooting for the evil characters hoping they would kill the main character off so that we could get a new main character. It slowed down the plot frequently and distracted from what should have been a fight for the survival of the human race. The writing style showed promise, but really, Tenn was too frustrating for me to get invested fully. I just didn't love the experience of reading this book in the end.
Here's the thing: I really, really enjoyed the concept of this fantasy post-apocalyptic world. Magic comes back to Earth, and everything goes to hell after the corruptibility of humans is capitalized on by vengeful gods. I loved the elemental control and the concept that people could elect to attune to the different spheres and control water, earth, air, and fire. People having grouped up for survival fighting off hordes of deranged former-humans was so awesome. So basically, the world was really cool, and it has a lot of promise.
BUT I could not handle the main character and the intensity of his instalove! Holy moly. He enters into a crazy obsession with a fellow magic-using boy after being with him for less than a day. I immediately began hoping they would not be together to hopefully end the never-ending obsessive thoughts about their future dream house complete with pets. It was too much, and I would roll my eyes every single time it came up (frequently). I eventually started rooting for the evil characters hoping they would kill the main character off so that we could get a new main character. It slowed down the plot frequently and distracted from what should have been a fight for the survival of the human race. The writing style showed promise, but really, Tenn was too frustrating for me to get invested fully. I just didn't love the experience of reading this book in the end.
November 25, 2017
Okay. I have THOUGHTS.
I think, on the surface, I would have given this book 3 stars. It's not a masterpiece, but it's entertaining and I wanted to keep reading.
THAT SAID, the way Alex Kahler wrote a dystopian/fantasy where LGBT+ characters are a norm, not questioned, and very much the heroes, was FANTASTIC. So much respect for this novel. I will absolutely be picking up the rest of the series, whenever that may be.
I think, on the surface, I would have given this book 3 stars. It's not a masterpiece, but it's entertaining and I wanted to keep reading.
THAT SAID, the way Alex Kahler wrote a dystopian/fantasy where LGBT+ characters are a norm, not questioned, and very much the heroes, was FANTASTIC. So much respect for this novel. I will absolutely be picking up the rest of the series, whenever that may be.
Read
June 12, 2023imagine The Walking Dead and Avatar: The Last Airbender, but a lot more sexier and a lot more gay. and a whole lot better!
I do wish there was more explanation on how the magic system works though.
I do wish there was more explanation on how the magic system works though.
November 16, 2017
SEE THIS REVIEW AND MORE AT LITERATURE DREAMS!
"Find the boy that Water weeps for. His words will shape the world."
Runebinder written by Alex R. Kahler is book one in "The Runebinder Chronicles".
Although November's theme is Blast from the Past, I promised to review some new releases. Today I am fulfilling that promise. Runebinder was published this month on the 14th.
Story in a Sentence: In a world destroyed by the misuse of magic and greed for power, Tenn has been singled out by a dangerous Kin named Tomás but when another hunter named Jarrett comes bearing the news that he is a prophesized one, Tenn needs to decide which side he is on.
Before I preordered this book, I scrolled through Goodreads and found this comment with a quote from the author. It struck me straight in the heart and I knew immediately that this is the kind of author I want to support.
"We don’t need to be justified to exist, to have a story worth sharing, or to be on the page. We can be. We can breathe. We can exist and see ourselves without having to define who we are, on or off the page. And that, I think, is a powerful message to queer and straight readers alike.
We’ve been around forever.
We aren’t going anywhere.
We have always been the heroes of our own stories.
And now, we get to share them with the world."
I wanted to love it. I honestly wanted to. I would love to write an amazing review and tell everyone to read it, but I can't. I pride myself on writing honest reviews and I cannot give this book a good one.
The main problem with this book is lack of explanation. Why is Tenn the chosen one? What does that mean? How will that impact the fate of the world? Why does Tomás want Tenn? (This was kind of answered.) Why does Tomás hate being called an incubus? What does Tomás mean when he says that Jarett has an alternative motive? The questions were endless and barely answered. I understand that this is a series and we will learn more as the story progresses but I would have appreciated a basic platform to then build upon.
The confusion was only made worse by the introduction of new characters. I couldn't comprehend why the mattered, what was their role, and how they came to know the other characters. To be fair, it was answered with most of the characters but in a vague way that still left me confused. A perfect example of this is Tori. She goes from being barely introduced to becoming a character that Tenn nearly kills himself for. Now I understand he has a deeply emotional character, but even Devon and Dreya were all about saving her too. In summary, the introductions of characters and their dynamics did not flow.
Now I loved how the author did the LGBTQ element. It is so original and refreshing. Here is another quote from the author: "When I wrote Runebinder, I wanted to code queer—to write a world where the reader is brought to assume everyone is queer unless told differently. The protagonist Tenn never comes out. He never says “I identify as X” in order to make the friends or save the world or get the guy." The amazing thing is he actually accomplished this. I am ridiculously impressed. It didn't feel forced or overpowering. I genuinely enjoyed his "code queer" approach. Incredible. I loved it.
Ironically, I do have a problem with the relationships. Tomás' relationship with Tenn made complete sense. I mean he is incubus? It is a pretty safe bet that Tenn is going to be immediately attracted to him. I also really enjoyed Tomás because I have this thing for psychotic bad boys. I always ship in favor of the bad boy no matter the consequences. Anyways... Tenn's relationship with Jarrett's bothered me. I understand that he knew Tenn from one of the magic schools before the monsters unleashed hell. He was a year ahead of Tenn and they had a flirty relationship involving studying in a library. Despite this adorable backstory, how did Tenn and Jarrett go from a bud of a relationship to being full out lovers? Also are they lovers? They kissed a couple of times and slept in the same bed, but I never got the impression that they went to fourth base. I guess it could have meant the less "saucy" version, but I didn't get that impression from Tomás. Regardless, their dynamic was just way too instantaneous for me. It didn't feel natural, which was really disappointing because they were so cute together.
I am obsessed with monsters. If you read my blog, you know this. I was so excited when I discovered that monsters played a huge role in this book. Now I don't know if I am being picky, but I didn't like them, especially the Howls. When reading about monsters, I want detail. I want to be able to clearly picture them because without that I can't be scared. I heard a lot about them but didn't see a lot of action. Despite this, I LOVED Matthias and Tenn's relationship. The clues gave me shivers. The whole game idea was excellently executed. It was very exciting to read about.
Overall, this was disappointing. The premise was cool but done in a way that left me with too many questions. The main character was adorable, but not what I want to see in a "chosen one" trope. The ending was confusing yet very intriguing. I am giving it a rating of 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I am rounding up due to the impressive execution of what the author calls a "queer code". I have never seen it work before so I feel that Kahler should get some extra credit. At this point, I am debating whether or not to continue the series, but I am definitely considering it. We will see...
To purchase Runebinder, click here.
"Find the boy that Water weeps for. His words will shape the world."
Runebinder written by Alex R. Kahler is book one in "The Runebinder Chronicles".
Although November's theme is Blast from the Past, I promised to review some new releases. Today I am fulfilling that promise. Runebinder was published this month on the 14th.
Story in a Sentence: In a world destroyed by the misuse of magic and greed for power, Tenn has been singled out by a dangerous Kin named Tomás but when another hunter named Jarrett comes bearing the news that he is a prophesized one, Tenn needs to decide which side he is on.
Before I preordered this book, I scrolled through Goodreads and found this comment with a quote from the author. It struck me straight in the heart and I knew immediately that this is the kind of author I want to support.
"We don’t need to be justified to exist, to have a story worth sharing, or to be on the page. We can be. We can breathe. We can exist and see ourselves without having to define who we are, on or off the page. And that, I think, is a powerful message to queer and straight readers alike.
We’ve been around forever.
We aren’t going anywhere.
We have always been the heroes of our own stories.
And now, we get to share them with the world."
I wanted to love it. I honestly wanted to. I would love to write an amazing review and tell everyone to read it, but I can't. I pride myself on writing honest reviews and I cannot give this book a good one.
The main problem with this book is lack of explanation. Why is Tenn the chosen one? What does that mean? How will that impact the fate of the world? Why does Tomás want Tenn? (This was kind of answered.) Why does Tomás hate being called an incubus? What does Tomás mean when he says that Jarett has an alternative motive? The questions were endless and barely answered. I understand that this is a series and we will learn more as the story progresses but I would have appreciated a basic platform to then build upon.
The confusion was only made worse by the introduction of new characters. I couldn't comprehend why the mattered, what was their role, and how they came to know the other characters. To be fair, it was answered with most of the characters but in a vague way that still left me confused. A perfect example of this is Tori. She goes from being barely introduced to becoming a character that Tenn nearly kills himself for. Now I understand he has a deeply emotional character, but even Devon and Dreya were all about saving her too. In summary, the introductions of characters and their dynamics did not flow.
Now I loved how the author did the LGBTQ element. It is so original and refreshing. Here is another quote from the author: "When I wrote Runebinder, I wanted to code queer—to write a world where the reader is brought to assume everyone is queer unless told differently. The protagonist Tenn never comes out. He never says “I identify as X” in order to make the friends or save the world or get the guy." The amazing thing is he actually accomplished this. I am ridiculously impressed. It didn't feel forced or overpowering. I genuinely enjoyed his "code queer" approach. Incredible. I loved it.
Ironically, I do have a problem with the relationships. Tomás' relationship with Tenn made complete sense. I mean he is incubus? It is a pretty safe bet that Tenn is going to be immediately attracted to him. I also really enjoyed Tomás because I have this thing for psychotic bad boys. I always ship in favor of the bad boy no matter the consequences. Anyways... Tenn's relationship with Jarrett's bothered me. I understand that he knew Tenn from one of the magic schools before the monsters unleashed hell. He was a year ahead of Tenn and they had a flirty relationship involving studying in a library. Despite this adorable backstory, how did Tenn and Jarrett go from a bud of a relationship to being full out lovers? Also are they lovers? They kissed a couple of times and slept in the same bed, but I never got the impression that they went to fourth base. I guess it could have meant the less "saucy" version, but I didn't get that impression from Tomás. Regardless, their dynamic was just way too instantaneous for me. It didn't feel natural, which was really disappointing because they were so cute together.
I am obsessed with monsters. If you read my blog, you know this. I was so excited when I discovered that monsters played a huge role in this book. Now I don't know if I am being picky, but I didn't like them, especially the Howls. When reading about monsters, I want detail. I want to be able to clearly picture them because without that I can't be scared. I heard a lot about them but didn't see a lot of action. Despite this, I LOVED Matthias and Tenn's relationship. The clues gave me shivers. The whole game idea was excellently executed. It was very exciting to read about.
Overall, this was disappointing. The premise was cool but done in a way that left me with too many questions. The main character was adorable, but not what I want to see in a "chosen one" trope. The ending was confusing yet very intriguing. I am giving it a rating of 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. I am rounding up due to the impressive execution of what the author calls a "queer code". I have never seen it work before so I feel that Kahler should get some extra credit. At this point, I am debating whether or not to continue the series, but I am definitely considering it. We will see...
To purchase Runebinder, click here.
August 27, 2017
I won an arc of this book through a goodreads giveaway.
So I really really hate when a book is DNF for me, but unfortunately in this case it is. I really really tried to get through it but I just couldn't.
First off let me start by saying that the premise of the book sounds great and it was immediately something I wanted to read. I started reading this book with high expectations but with each page that I got through it didn't get better.
This review will contain a few spoilers for some of the characters and plot, so don't read past this point if you don't want to be spoiled.
One thing that I did really like about the part of the book I was able to read through, was that the main character is a gay man. It was refreshing to have a lead character be gay, and to have his love interests reflect that. It's too often that it's just a secondary character that is gay for the sake of diversity, without being provided any love interests. But really that's where the compliments for this book end with me.
It could have been a great book with a great gay lead, but instead the main character, Tenn, is whiny, his thoughts and speech were disjointed for me and very rarely does he sound like a well spoken character. His "love" interests, if you can call them that, are pathetic and tacky. The "good guy" love interest, Jarrett is introduced as this somewhat mysterious figure but just comes across as stale. Also both the main character and him know each other from their shared past. In fact, they even dated at some point. Now the reason they don't immediately recognize each other, even though only a few years have passed since this version of Earth went to hell, is because magic has altered their appearances. But really, I couldn't understand how based on the descriptions provided by the author. A few scars and some muscle mass does not a physical transformation make.
The "bad guy" love interest, Tomas, is an incubus, although he seems to dislike being called that? Why? Don't know, couldn't bring myself to read till the end of the book to find out. He does however have a weird tendency to say things that make absolutely no sense. His dialogue was atrocious (all of the dialogue is bad). At one point the author described him as wearing skintight black pants, snakeskin cowboy boots, and no shirt. I'm sorry. That description alone should have been enough to make me stop reading there because anyone who puts a character in that kind of outfit and thinks it's attractive has no taste.
The character descriptions of everyone honestly is literally just emo kids from high school. No joke, the author himself even uses the word emo to describe a character. Also apparently after the world fell apart, the characters decided to change their original names to the ones they now call themselves. (ie: Jarrett used to be Kevin, and the lead Tenn used to be Jeremy) Why? No idea. Honestly I think Jeremy is a vast improvement over Tenn, but that's me.
Overall I couldn't take anymore of the main character's internal, badly written, dialogue. 40% in and I gave up.
This book seems to have been written by someone who wanted to create a cool post-apocalyptic magical world and instead created at best some subpar fanfiction for the genre.
So I really really hate when a book is DNF for me, but unfortunately in this case it is. I really really tried to get through it but I just couldn't.
First off let me start by saying that the premise of the book sounds great and it was immediately something I wanted to read. I started reading this book with high expectations but with each page that I got through it didn't get better.
This review will contain a few spoilers for some of the characters and plot, so don't read past this point if you don't want to be spoiled.
One thing that I did really like about the part of the book I was able to read through, was that the main character is a gay man. It was refreshing to have a lead character be gay, and to have his love interests reflect that. It's too often that it's just a secondary character that is gay for the sake of diversity, without being provided any love interests. But really that's where the compliments for this book end with me.
It could have been a great book with a great gay lead, but instead the main character, Tenn, is whiny, his thoughts and speech were disjointed for me and very rarely does he sound like a well spoken character. His "love" interests, if you can call them that, are pathetic and tacky. The "good guy" love interest, Jarrett is introduced as this somewhat mysterious figure but just comes across as stale. Also both the main character and him know each other from their shared past. In fact, they even dated at some point. Now the reason they don't immediately recognize each other, even though only a few years have passed since this version of Earth went to hell, is because magic has altered their appearances. But really, I couldn't understand how based on the descriptions provided by the author. A few scars and some muscle mass does not a physical transformation make.
The "bad guy" love interest, Tomas, is an incubus, although he seems to dislike being called that? Why? Don't know, couldn't bring myself to read till the end of the book to find out. He does however have a weird tendency to say things that make absolutely no sense. His dialogue was atrocious (all of the dialogue is bad). At one point the author described him as wearing skintight black pants, snakeskin cowboy boots, and no shirt. I'm sorry. That description alone should have been enough to make me stop reading there because anyone who puts a character in that kind of outfit and thinks it's attractive has no taste.
The character descriptions of everyone honestly is literally just emo kids from high school. No joke, the author himself even uses the word emo to describe a character. Also apparently after the world fell apart, the characters decided to change their original names to the ones they now call themselves. (ie: Jarrett used to be Kevin, and the lead Tenn used to be Jeremy) Why? No idea. Honestly I think Jeremy is a vast improvement over Tenn, but that's me.
Overall I couldn't take anymore of the main character's internal, badly written, dialogue. 40% in and I gave up.
This book seems to have been written by someone who wanted to create a cool post-apocalyptic magical world and instead created at best some subpar fanfiction for the genre.
Want to read
April 4, 2018Post-apocalyptic fantasy gays I am here for it.
December 12, 2017
A copy of this novel was provided by Harlequin Teen Australia for review.
Here are four things I think you should know about Runebinder:
1) It’s a queer YA fantasy
Which are quite rare, even though there are more and more popping up. It’s still such an exciting thing to discover that a queer YA fantasy is heading to shelves, and when I heard about Runebinder it was no different. I was super keen for this story, and the added bonus that it’s #ownvoices.
There were no labels used in Runebinder, but I believe if there were Tenn would ID as gay. He only ever thought about a future with husbands in it so I’m going to go ahead and say that this boy likes boys and probably only boys. Which was AMAZING. Having a gay teen boy at the helm of the start of what I can tell is going to be an intense fantasy series is just exciting as hell. To see a love triangle between three guys, to see Tenn struggle between the good boy and the bad boy, to read about his first crush, and his longing for a normal future with a husband and kids and a cute house. It was just EVERYTHING. Every. Thing.
2) It’s set in the real world
Runebinder is set in a future where magic came into the world and everything pretty much went to shit. I thought the world building was on point. I loved the way Kahler weaved the information into the story so naturally instead of just info-dumping and being ‘done’ with it. Another great thing is that I learned more about the world as Tenn learned more about it, which felt like I was really going on the journey with him.
The only thing I was a little confused over were the terms used for the evil magic people. I understood what most of them were, but couldn’t quite grasp the difference between two of them. Keep in mind that I read an ARC of this, though, so that could have been cleared up in the final book. And besides, it didn’t have any real impact on my enjoyment of the book, it was just more of a narrowed-eye moment when I couldn’t figure out which was which.
3) The first few chapters were a little hard to get into
I’d say about the first three chapters weren’t as gripping as they could have been. As a reader, you’re thrown straight into Tenn’s world without any kind of preamble. Also, a lot happens in those chapters. I was worried that the rest of the book would have that same feeling of not being able to connect to the story but it certainly disappeared for me. By about the fifth chapter or so I was used to the world and the writing, and by the second half of the book it was in my precious kind of territory so it was definitely worth it to push through.
4) It kind of felt like a trilogy in one book
Which I don’t think was a bad thing at all. The book is divided into three parts, so maybe that’s why? I often feel like books that are broken up into parts are only done so for dramatic effect and I can never really tell why there are parts. But the parts in Runebinder are really distinct in terms of story, setting, and character development.
-
Overall, I really enjoyed Runebinder! It certainly lived up to my excitement for it as a queer YA fantasy. I really hope that it does well because I would absolutely love to see where Tenn’s story takes him, and who he becomes. If you’re looking for a fresh new fantasy with a queer main character then I point you in the direction of Runebinder.
© 2017, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
Here are four things I think you should know about Runebinder:
1) It’s a queer YA fantasy
Which are quite rare, even though there are more and more popping up. It’s still such an exciting thing to discover that a queer YA fantasy is heading to shelves, and when I heard about Runebinder it was no different. I was super keen for this story, and the added bonus that it’s #ownvoices.
There were no labels used in Runebinder, but I believe if there were Tenn would ID as gay. He only ever thought about a future with husbands in it so I’m going to go ahead and say that this boy likes boys and probably only boys. Which was AMAZING. Having a gay teen boy at the helm of the start of what I can tell is going to be an intense fantasy series is just exciting as hell. To see a love triangle between three guys, to see Tenn struggle between the good boy and the bad boy, to read about his first crush, and his longing for a normal future with a husband and kids and a cute house. It was just EVERYTHING. Every. Thing.
2) It’s set in the real world
Runebinder is set in a future where magic came into the world and everything pretty much went to shit. I thought the world building was on point. I loved the way Kahler weaved the information into the story so naturally instead of just info-dumping and being ‘done’ with it. Another great thing is that I learned more about the world as Tenn learned more about it, which felt like I was really going on the journey with him.
The only thing I was a little confused over were the terms used for the evil magic people. I understood what most of them were, but couldn’t quite grasp the difference between two of them. Keep in mind that I read an ARC of this, though, so that could have been cleared up in the final book. And besides, it didn’t have any real impact on my enjoyment of the book, it was just more of a narrowed-eye moment when I couldn’t figure out which was which.
3) The first few chapters were a little hard to get into
I’d say about the first three chapters weren’t as gripping as they could have been. As a reader, you’re thrown straight into Tenn’s world without any kind of preamble. Also, a lot happens in those chapters. I was worried that the rest of the book would have that same feeling of not being able to connect to the story but it certainly disappeared for me. By about the fifth chapter or so I was used to the world and the writing, and by the second half of the book it was in my precious kind of territory so it was definitely worth it to push through.
4) It kind of felt like a trilogy in one book
Which I don’t think was a bad thing at all. The book is divided into three parts, so maybe that’s why? I often feel like books that are broken up into parts are only done so for dramatic effect and I can never really tell why there are parts. But the parts in Runebinder are really distinct in terms of story, setting, and character development.
-
Overall, I really enjoyed Runebinder! It certainly lived up to my excitement for it as a queer YA fantasy. I really hope that it does well because I would absolutely love to see where Tenn’s story takes him, and who he becomes. If you’re looking for a fresh new fantasy with a queer main character then I point you in the direction of Runebinder.
© 2017, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.
trigger warning: homophobia/misia, animal death, animal hunting, multiple graphic murders, graphic fights, depictions of gore, torture, death of parents, mass murders, suicide, suicidal ideation, use of ableist language, multiple deaths, deaths of family members, deaths of friends, and dubious sexual consent (character under the influence of incubus) in this novel
June 7, 2018
Wow...
I dare said that this is one of the best dystopian theme book that I had read.
I dare said that this is one of the best dystopian theme book that I had read.
April 11, 2018
First Off
Seriously freakin out about the awesomness
And the writing so good
Oh and for the so called (LOVE TRIANGLE) Shit I shipped both
Now I need to go to read some..... Do I want to read Runebinder again?
Seriously freakin out about the awesomness
And the writing so good
Oh and for the so called (LOVE TRIANGLE) Shit I shipped both
Now I need to go to read some..... Do I want to read Runebinder again?
November 20, 2017
3.5/5 STARS
I received an ARC of this novel from Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I really wanted to love this book, it had been hyped up to be the next big fantasy series, with a LGQBTI+ rep as well - I was completely sold. I didn’t dislike it, I didn’t love it – I just liked it.
The unique world Kahler has created is fascinating, however it is delivered in my opinion quite messily – which leaves the reader frustrated with the book. There is a lot to this world that Kehler has created, from the world itself (it's kind of post-apocalyptic like Earth but post-apocalyptic because of Magic and Necromancers) to the magic, the rules of the magic, gods and the creatures/beings that roam in it.
There was a lot of information that just wasn’t put across in the right way because there is literally so much to learn of this world.
I found a few things were briefly brushed upon, but given that this is a series, I am sure that we will learn more about those things in the coming books.
I honestly didn’t really enjoy the main character Tenn, he was increasingly frustrating, immature and ill tempered. You know why he is like this as you read the novel but it didn’t stop me from rolling my eyes and wishing he would just stop and use his brain for a moment.
I really enjoyed the side characters quite a bit, especially the twins. I find them quite fascinating and I look forward to learning more about them in the coming novels.
I am completely living for the LGQBTI+ rep in this novel though. It’s so blood good to read a YA Fantasy Novel with LGQBTI+ rep.
Plot wise, the book did have a relatively good plot – but I found it was quite dragging. However, this is the first novel in a series so it is painting quite a bigger picture.
The book and the events that occurred within it interested me, and I am looking forward to reading book two and seeing where it takes the characters next.
I received an ARC of this novel from Harlequin Australia in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I really wanted to love this book, it had been hyped up to be the next big fantasy series, with a LGQBTI+ rep as well - I was completely sold. I didn’t dislike it, I didn’t love it – I just liked it.
The unique world Kahler has created is fascinating, however it is delivered in my opinion quite messily – which leaves the reader frustrated with the book. There is a lot to this world that Kehler has created, from the world itself (it's kind of post-apocalyptic like Earth but post-apocalyptic because of Magic and Necromancers) to the magic, the rules of the magic, gods and the creatures/beings that roam in it.
There was a lot of information that just wasn’t put across in the right way because there is literally so much to learn of this world.
I found a few things were briefly brushed upon, but given that this is a series, I am sure that we will learn more about those things in the coming books.
I honestly didn’t really enjoy the main character Tenn, he was increasingly frustrating, immature and ill tempered. You know why he is like this as you read the novel but it didn’t stop me from rolling my eyes and wishing he would just stop and use his brain for a moment.
I really enjoyed the side characters quite a bit, especially the twins. I find them quite fascinating and I look forward to learning more about them in the coming novels.
I am completely living for the LGQBTI+ rep in this novel though. It’s so blood good to read a YA Fantasy Novel with LGQBTI+ rep.
Plot wise, the book did have a relatively good plot – but I found it was quite dragging. However, this is the first novel in a series so it is painting quite a bigger picture.
The book and the events that occurred within it interested me, and I am looking forward to reading book two and seeing where it takes the characters next.
January 13, 2018
3.5*
And I'm still not entirely sure what I just read. Sort of magic based dystopian urban fantasy with zombie like creatures and necromancers. Anyway I did enjoy this a surprising amount considering that I felt no deep tie to the characters. It's a good, solid fantasy, it just didn't quite hit the tropes I want out of a fantasy novel and there's nothing wrong with that. I liked Ten. It was good to see another queer protagonist and still have them be a fully rounded character. (Of late too many YA SFF books have had diversity as a unique selling point, without doing the work to make it an aspect of the character rather than tokenism.)
The story was quite a typical 'chosen one' scenario with enough twists to make it fresh. The overall feel was quite gothic (or dare I say emo?). Personally I wanted there to be more world building. I also felt I spent the whole book looking for a deeper message under the main theme, only to realise that was the message. It was a bit simplistic for me but that's very much personal preference. Overall a decent book. I'd read the next in the series.
And I'm still not entirely sure what I just read. Sort of magic based dystopian urban fantasy with zombie like creatures and necromancers. Anyway I did enjoy this a surprising amount considering that I felt no deep tie to the characters. It's a good, solid fantasy, it just didn't quite hit the tropes I want out of a fantasy novel and there's nothing wrong with that. I liked Ten. It was good to see another queer protagonist and still have them be a fully rounded character. (Of late too many YA SFF books have had diversity as a unique selling point, without doing the work to make it an aspect of the character rather than tokenism.)
The story was quite a typical 'chosen one' scenario with enough twists to make it fresh. The overall feel was quite gothic (or dare I say emo?). Personally I wanted there to be more world building. I also felt I spent the whole book looking for a deeper message under the main theme, only to realise that was the message. It was a bit simplistic for me but that's very much personal preference. Overall a decent book. I'd read the next in the series.
January 18, 2020
3.5 stars. Magic queer kids saving the world are one of my favourite things to read about. I rounded up on this one for that reason--I liked it, but it gets bumped up because it's freaking Harlequin Teen (Harper Collins) publishing magic queer kids saving the world, plus it's a queer-as-normative world. Also, the cover is killer good. It's an ambitious, big story and it's nowhere near done, but I loved that it's everyday no-big-deal queer kids, who have always been no-big-deal queer, out there fighting the bad guys and kicking ass and saving the world. I wanted to like this more than I actually did, but I definitely enjoyed it. It's violent and full of zombies and there's lots of blood, but it's also full of elemental magic and surprises and interesting characters. Tenn, our "chosen one" MC, could have been a bit less bland, but his adventures were exciting. I didn't really connect with him, though. I liked this, but I wanted more. I expect I'll read the next book when it comes out.
August 3, 2017
4.5 stars!
dark, intense, and fascinating. loved the new world kahler
created in this dystopic fantasy, and loved our hero tenn as well.
dark, intense, and fascinating. loved the new world kahler
created in this dystopic fantasy, and loved our hero tenn as well.
January 5, 2024
Here's my review - it's spoiler free.
I wish I fell in love with this. :(
https://becklebooks.wordpress.com/201...
I wish I fell in love with this. :(
https://becklebooks.wordpress.com/201...
November 19, 2017
i don't know how, but somehow this book made me cry.
RTC.
RTC.
July 22, 2018
Review also on my blog
Twitter
Bookstagram
I received an arc from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Runebinder can be best described as a regressed future America with elemental magic, featuring a gay main character. The main character Tenn has power over water. There is also a theme of magic being seen as being associated with the devil in this world.
So for me, this book really fell in the middle. I had trouble completely grasping the magic system and wish it went into more detail, at least for me. I also had trouble following what exactly was happening at time.
I did really enjoy the main character. He was interesting to read about. He is kind of presented with two love interested, Jarrett and Thomás. I would say of the two I prefer Thomás. I found Jarrett kind of... boring. Thomás was a really interesting character and there's clearly a lot more to him than what's already been presented. Jarrett was a character I didn't really care about.
I am interested in the rest of the series, I might read the rest of the books when they come out. I do recommend it if you're looking for an own voices gay fantasy, but I found myself bored at times.
Bookstagram
I received an arc from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Runebinder can be best described as a regressed future America with elemental magic, featuring a gay main character. The main character Tenn has power over water. There is also a theme of magic being seen as being associated with the devil in this world.
So for me, this book really fell in the middle. I had trouble completely grasping the magic system and wish it went into more detail, at least for me. I also had trouble following what exactly was happening at time.
I did really enjoy the main character. He was interesting to read about. He is kind of presented with two love interested, Jarrett and Thomás. I would say of the two I prefer Thomás. I found Jarrett kind of... boring. Thomás was a really interesting character and there's clearly a lot more to him than what's already been presented. Jarrett was a character I didn't really care about.
I am interested in the rest of the series, I might read the rest of the books when they come out. I do recommend it if you're looking for an own voices gay fantasy, but I found myself bored at times.
October 24, 2017
Disclaimer: I received an ARC in an exchange for an honest review.
I don't know to feel about this book. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. The last 75 pages were interesting though.
It's weird. The pacing of this book isn't slow. You start off with intense action and delve right into the world. But.... I just didn't feel connected to it.
The relationship between Tenn and Jarret is odd. It's cute but odd. The author tries to downplay the insta-love by making them college buddies who had crushes on each other, which would've worked out fine except Tenn didn't even recognize Jarrett when they meet again. I think the author tries to explain this away with trauma of their world falling apart?
I'm not sure.
There was also A LOT going on. I imagine because this is book 1 and the author is setting the world building up.
Typical MC who has low confidence and is even more crippled with being the chosen one.
I would read book 2. Would it be high on my TBR? Probably not.
It's s decent read but I just didn't have a ton of reactions. Just writing out this review is hard. Nothing much to say about it. A pretty typical dystopian-esque fantasy novel.
I don't know to feel about this book. It wasn't bad but it wasn't great either. The last 75 pages were interesting though.
It's weird. The pacing of this book isn't slow. You start off with intense action and delve right into the world. But.... I just didn't feel connected to it.
The relationship between Tenn and Jarret is odd. It's cute but odd. The author tries to downplay the insta-love by making them college buddies who had crushes on each other, which would've worked out fine except Tenn didn't even recognize Jarrett when they meet again. I think the author tries to explain this away with trauma of their world falling apart?
I'm not sure.
There was also A LOT going on. I imagine because this is book 1 and the author is setting the world building up.
Typical MC who has low confidence and is even more crippled with being the chosen one.
I would read book 2. Would it be high on my TBR? Probably not.
It's s decent read but I just didn't have a ton of reactions. Just writing out this review is hard. Nothing much to say about it. A pretty typical dystopian-esque fantasy novel.
December 20, 2017
YA fantasy with a leading gay character, monsters, magic, romance? Um, yes, this is the book for me! As soon as I read the back cover I was sold. 'Magic is risen. As Magic rises, humanity falls.' proclaims the back. Sounds awesome!
I will say, I did have some issues. I felt like the beginning was rushed and it didn't calm down for a good 80 or so pages. It was honestly exhausting! Because of the rushed pacing, I never felt fully grounded in the story, and when I was finally getting some much needed explanations about the world and what was happening, it came too late.
I also felt like Jarrett and Tenn's relationship was too rushed, and they needed more time together, but what we saw was cute and maybe in time/in the next book their relationship will grow. Then we have Tomas *ahem* and I seriously wonder about him. I mean, he's totally evil right? He goes around killing...but there's something about him too that intrigues me. We'll have to see!
I loved the magic, and the twins. I loved all the ideas and the small explanations we were given, but I want to read more and that's no bad thing.
Looking forward to book two, a fine beginning. Four stars.
I will say, I did have some issues. I felt like the beginning was rushed and it didn't calm down for a good 80 or so pages. It was honestly exhausting! Because of the rushed pacing, I never felt fully grounded in the story, and when I was finally getting some much needed explanations about the world and what was happening, it came too late.
I also felt like Jarrett and Tenn's relationship was too rushed, and they needed more time together, but what we saw was cute and maybe in time/in the next book their relationship will grow. Then we have Tomas *ahem* and I seriously wonder about him. I mean, he's totally evil right? He goes around killing...but there's something about him too that intrigues me. We'll have to see!
I loved the magic, and the twins. I loved all the ideas and the small explanations we were given, but I want to read more and that's no bad thing.
Looking forward to book two, a fine beginning. Four stars.
December 2, 2017
DNF after 3 chapters
*uggly crying* This was supposed to be good!
This just reads like a movie, and not a good one at that. More like that cheap crap that went straight to DVD and you need lots of booze and funny comments from friends to get throught it.
*uggly crying* This was supposed to be good!
This just reads like a movie, and not a good one at that. More like that cheap crap that went straight to DVD and you need lots of booze and funny comments from friends to get throught it.
August 7, 2018
While the magic seems a little underdeveloped and feels like it was mostly made up as the book was written this book is gay as fuck and I loved it, even if it took me nearly a month to read ...
December 3, 2019
Warnings: physical violence, gore, homophobia, sexual assault
Rep: Main character is queer, as are some secondary characters
Runebinder is a dystopic fantasy set in a contemporary/slightly futuristic world where the rediscovery of magic resulted in the end of the world caused by necromancers. Now, people live in pockets of civilization, with mages called Hunters to protect them from the Kin, people who were turned into elemental creatures and their minions, the Howls. Tenn is a Hunter who, during a routine foraging mission, expends a large amount of power that attracts the attention of several forces. Then, he gets dragged into the world of the Kin's rivalries, and the Hunters' plans and prophecies.
Firstly, I want to talk about the world and the rune-based magic system - it is elemental like Avatar, but people can have more than one sphere they can use. Tenn, for example, uses Earth and Water, both of which affect him in some way, but Water causes frequent flashbacks. From the flashbacks, we know about what happened during the end of the world, and how it changed in the three years since. We also learn about the magic schools before the end, when Tenn was just a student at one such school, and where he had met Jarrett, who he meets once again in the present, quite changed and in a leadership position. The Kin and the Howls are also explained through past memories, and how they are created (according to which sphere) determines what kind they become. Tomas, for example, is a fire Kin, and the world has vampires, zombies, incubi/succubi, etc accordingly.
Tenn's characterization is wariness, mixed in with despair, and he learns to have a little hope by the end of the book. He frequently claims that this is not a chosen one story, but surprise, that is what it is. The ending ends one threat but gives rise to another, so there's that to look forward to in the next book. The romance is a bit complicated, in that it is a 'love triangle' (I don't like Tomas as a love interest which is why the quotes) and Tomas hints that Jarrett has ulterior motives. For Tenn, Jarrett represents hope for things to be okay like they were before, but their relationship development exists mostly in the past and due to familiarity. They are both different people now, and I would like to see them grow it anew from who they are now, tbh. Tomas can go fork himself for all I care; being an incubus doesn't mean you can just touch people without their consent or mind control them.
The pacing is slow, not just for the first part of the book, but the latter two, too. There was a lot of exposition to get through, sure, but there's also a lot of ruminating on Tenn's part to slow down the pace. There are bits of action here and there, but they don't pick the pace up much, and Tenn being constantly chased by this one Matthias gets tiresome after some time. The audiobook narrator was pretty good, but the heavier voice given to Jarrett made me initially think he was in his 30s or something, and I was surprised to learn he was only a year older than Tenn. Overall, its a good start to the series.
Rep: Main character is queer, as are some secondary characters
Runebinder is a dystopic fantasy set in a contemporary/slightly futuristic world where the rediscovery of magic resulted in the end of the world caused by necromancers. Now, people live in pockets of civilization, with mages called Hunters to protect them from the Kin, people who were turned into elemental creatures and their minions, the Howls. Tenn is a Hunter who, during a routine foraging mission, expends a large amount of power that attracts the attention of several forces. Then, he gets dragged into the world of the Kin's rivalries, and the Hunters' plans and prophecies.
Firstly, I want to talk about the world and the rune-based magic system - it is elemental like Avatar, but people can have more than one sphere they can use. Tenn, for example, uses Earth and Water, both of which affect him in some way, but Water causes frequent flashbacks. From the flashbacks, we know about what happened during the end of the world, and how it changed in the three years since. We also learn about the magic schools before the end, when Tenn was just a student at one such school, and where he had met Jarrett, who he meets once again in the present, quite changed and in a leadership position. The Kin and the Howls are also explained through past memories, and how they are created (according to which sphere) determines what kind they become. Tomas, for example, is a fire Kin, and the world has vampires, zombies, incubi/succubi, etc accordingly.
Tenn's characterization is wariness, mixed in with despair, and he learns to have a little hope by the end of the book. He frequently claims that this is not a chosen one story, but surprise, that is what it is. The ending ends one threat but gives rise to another, so there's that to look forward to in the next book. The romance is a bit complicated, in that it is a 'love triangle' (I don't like Tomas as a love interest which is why the quotes) and Tomas hints that Jarrett has ulterior motives. For Tenn, Jarrett represents hope for things to be okay like they were before, but their relationship development exists mostly in the past and due to familiarity. They are both different people now, and I would like to see them grow it anew from who they are now, tbh. Tomas can go fork himself for all I care; being an incubus doesn't mean you can just touch people without their consent or mind control them.
The pacing is slow, not just for the first part of the book, but the latter two, too. There was a lot of exposition to get through, sure, but there's also a lot of ruminating on Tenn's part to slow down the pace. There are bits of action here and there, but they don't pick the pace up much, and Tenn being constantly chased by this one Matthias gets tiresome after some time. The audiobook narrator was pretty good, but the heavier voice given to Jarrett made me initially think he was in his 30s or something, and I was surprised to learn he was only a year older than Tenn. Overall, its a good start to the series.
July 27, 2018
Daannnnng!
Runebinder by Alex R. Kahler started out with action, and kept the suspense up all the way. No repetition, but scene after scene of our heroes fighting for their lives.
The author impressed me with the ability to pull the reader into this world, the US after magic returns, in what is called The Resurrection. I felt the desperation of our hero, how he clutched to any and every scrap of normalcy in an insane world. He survived the initial attack of the monsters to become a hunter, shielding what was left of mankind. Shutting out the past, he wants no reminders, not even his own name. He's given up Jeremy for Tenn, the name he now wears as a different person, in a different world, like a soldier who returns home with a nickname given by comrades in arms.
The magic within him won't let him forget his past completely, and every time he uses it, his worse memories come to life. Everyone he knew and loved is dead. He's resolved himself to death soon too, as twenty years old is the life expectancy of a hunter, and Tenn is eighteen.
I'll admit to being surprised at the level of gore and details in the battle scenes, this being a young adult, then remembering other YA stories filled with danger and pain. I found the words poetically woven together, and I backed up the audio book to replay favorite passages.
War and loss have taken a toll and, never expecting to see someone he knows, he at first doesn't recognize the guy he crushed on at fifteen, especially when they meet in battle. Jarrett symbolizes hope, a possibility for a future, which is just what Tenn needs. He fantasizes about them making a life together because he needs reasons to keep going, to wake up every morning.
When the hope dies, he survives for revenge.
Then there is Tomas, the intriguing villain who is a lovely shade of gray, neither totally good or evil, or perhaps he's evil and occasionally does good for his own agenda. Either way, he is an excellent driver to the story. If it hadn't been for an awful deed performed when he meets Tenn, I might have even considered him a future love interest for the character I've grown to love.
Tenn is a chosen one, sought after by many for their own purposes, but he's no golden child the world bows down to. He's gritty, hardened, though he still has a vulnerable heart.
The twins were the perfect sidekicks for him, and though we know little about them, I'm hoping future installments will show us more of their lives and motivations.
Highly recommended, one of the best books I've listened to this year, and I wish the sequel was on audio book. Well, guess I'll have to read it the old-fashioned way.
Oh, and daaaannnng again for the amazing cover and narration.
Runebinder by Alex R. Kahler started out with action, and kept the suspense up all the way. No repetition, but scene after scene of our heroes fighting for their lives.
The author impressed me with the ability to pull the reader into this world, the US after magic returns, in what is called The Resurrection. I felt the desperation of our hero, how he clutched to any and every scrap of normalcy in an insane world. He survived the initial attack of the monsters to become a hunter, shielding what was left of mankind. Shutting out the past, he wants no reminders, not even his own name. He's given up Jeremy for Tenn, the name he now wears as a different person, in a different world, like a soldier who returns home with a nickname given by comrades in arms.
The magic within him won't let him forget his past completely, and every time he uses it, his worse memories come to life. Everyone he knew and loved is dead. He's resolved himself to death soon too, as twenty years old is the life expectancy of a hunter, and Tenn is eighteen.
I'll admit to being surprised at the level of gore and details in the battle scenes, this being a young adult, then remembering other YA stories filled with danger and pain. I found the words poetically woven together, and I backed up the audio book to replay favorite passages.
War and loss have taken a toll and, never expecting to see someone he knows, he at first doesn't recognize the guy he crushed on at fifteen, especially when they meet in battle. Jarrett symbolizes hope, a possibility for a future, which is just what Tenn needs. He fantasizes about them making a life together because he needs reasons to keep going, to wake up every morning.
When the hope dies, he survives for revenge.
Then there is Tomas, the intriguing villain who is a lovely shade of gray, neither totally good or evil, or perhaps he's evil and occasionally does good for his own agenda. Either way, he is an excellent driver to the story. If it hadn't been for an awful deed performed when he meets Tenn, I might have even considered him a future love interest for the character I've grown to love.
Tenn is a chosen one, sought after by many for their own purposes, but he's no golden child the world bows down to. He's gritty, hardened, though he still has a vulnerable heart.
The twins were the perfect sidekicks for him, and though we know little about them, I'm hoping future installments will show us more of their lives and motivations.
Highly recommended, one of the best books I've listened to this year, and I wish the sequel was on audio book. Well, guess I'll have to read it the old-fashioned way.
Oh, and daaaannnng again for the amazing cover and narration.
November 16, 2018
This was an excellent book! I found it by searching for "gay" and "fantasy" and this book did not disappoint. Lovely world-building, an organic and well-done explanation of magic, and lots of scary creatures.
This is a very scary book!!
It's very apocalyptic, in somewhat of a global warming way, and that is just one of the ways that Runebinder hit me very close to home. The protagonist is gay, and he's a very likeable character, in my opinion. Also, a lot of his troubles with magic remind me a lot of PTSD - in fact, a lot of this book reminded me of Zone One by Colson Whitehead. There was a distinct flavor of trying to bury/ignore the past as being responsible for present catastrophe.
Tenn, the main character, is entirely relateable to me, personally. He's gay, and he clearly has PTSD, and he's also attuned to Water, so like, me in a nutshell. There are some interactions with an incubus which was sometimes stressful. I'm often wary about the frequent conflation between magic-sex-sin, and I'm even more on edge when that has to do with gay sex. But there is a lot of gay interactions outside of the incubus, and it becomes super clear that Tenn's struggle with the incubus is just one more part of the story (and might even be read to have hints of him coming to terms with the fact that he doesn't have to hate himself for being gay, although that 'lesson' is very faint, and I might be projecting).
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to my friends. BUT it is also very very scary, please feel free to ask me for content warnings if you would like.
This is a very scary book!!
It's very apocalyptic, in somewhat of a global warming way, and that is just one of the ways that Runebinder hit me very close to home. The protagonist is gay, and he's a very likeable character, in my opinion. Also, a lot of his troubles with magic remind me a lot of PTSD - in fact, a lot of this book reminded me of Zone One by Colson Whitehead. There was a distinct flavor of trying to bury/ignore the past as being responsible for present catastrophe.
Tenn, the main character, is entirely relateable to me, personally. He's gay, and he clearly has PTSD, and he's also attuned to Water, so like, me in a nutshell. There are some interactions with an incubus which was sometimes stressful. I'm often wary about the frequent conflation between magic-sex-sin, and I'm even more on edge when that has to do with gay sex. But there is a lot of gay interactions outside of the incubus, and it becomes super clear that Tenn's struggle with the incubus is just one more part of the story (and might even be read to have hints of him coming to terms with the fact that he doesn't have to hate himself for being gay, although that 'lesson' is very faint, and I might be projecting).
Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to my friends. BUT it is also very very scary, please feel free to ask me for content warnings if you would like.
September 15, 2017
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway.
The plot follows the typical YA genre structure--lone teenage boy singled out for being able to save a world where there are no adults and complete sentences. The kids who are responsible for saving the world have no real life experiences so it's really difficult to believe they are each willing to die for any reason at the drop of a hat. There is also no explanation as to why the prophecy picked out this unremarkable 18 year old middle class white boy except that he is probably super similar to the author, although I'm just guessing here...
I realize I am not this book's target demographic but I must be honest about my critique. The descriptions are repetitive at best, all feelings from the main character are cringe-worthily cliched, and I just don't see any examples of mature writing in this whole book. It baffles me that this is the first in a series because it really should stop at this one.
The plot follows the typical YA genre structure--lone teenage boy singled out for being able to save a world where there are no adults and complete sentences. The kids who are responsible for saving the world have no real life experiences so it's really difficult to believe they are each willing to die for any reason at the drop of a hat. There is also no explanation as to why the prophecy picked out this unremarkable 18 year old middle class white boy except that he is probably super similar to the author, although I'm just guessing here...
I realize I am not this book's target demographic but I must be honest about my critique. The descriptions are repetitive at best, all feelings from the main character are cringe-worthily cliched, and I just don't see any examples of mature writing in this whole book. It baffles me that this is the first in a series because it really should stop at this one.
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