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471st out of 1,611 books
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10,835 voters
Brotherhood of the Wolf (The Runelords #2)
by
David Farland (Goodreads Author)
Volume Two of The Runelords
Raj Ahtan, ruler of Indhopal, has used enough forcibles to transform himself into the ultimate warrior: The Sum of All Men. Ahtan seeks to bring all of humanity under his rule-destroying anything and anyone that stood in his path, including many friends and allies of young Prince Gaborn Val Orden. But Gaborn has fulfilled a two-thousand-year-old...more
Raj Ahtan, ruler of Indhopal, has used enough forcibles to transform himself into the ultimate warrior: The Sum of All Men. Ahtan seeks to bring all of humanity under his rule-destroying anything and anyone that stood in his path, including many friends and allies of young Prince Gaborn Val Orden. But Gaborn has fulfilled a two-thousand-year-old...more
Paperback, 659 pages
Published
September 15th 2000
by Tor Fantasy
(first published 1999)
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A spectacular sequel that promises much to come, for a truly ambitious series of outstanding scope!
Brotherhood of the Wolf is the second installment within the magnificent Runelords series, which exceeds all expectations with its complexity of plot and depth. Exquisite storytelling that is so absorbing and compelling, David Farland puts the ‘epic’ in fantasy with his remarkable and totally original creation. Detailed, realistic and cleverly crafted the scope of world-building is just astonishin...more
Brotherhood of the Wolf is the second installment within the magnificent Runelords series, which exceeds all expectations with its complexity of plot and depth. Exquisite storytelling that is so absorbing and compelling, David Farland puts the ‘epic’ in fantasy with his remarkable and totally original creation. Detailed, realistic and cleverly crafted the scope of world-building is just astonishin...more
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I enjoy the writing in this book, though the more I read the more flaws I feel I find. The way that the forcibles seem to lack credibility and the method that they seem to work, just doesn't feel right. When the idea was first brought in I really like it, but now as I read more into it, much of it seems to lack planning, as if he wanted to change how it works.
Now I will forgive him a good deal on it as it was brought in the the authors first fantasy novel, which means he may have thought it up b...more
This book tired me a little. It is a compeling story, about caring characters, but it suffers from the typical illness of epic fantasy: nothing happens for 500 pages, until the bombastic, epic battle climax. Truly, this novel could be a couple of hundred pages leaner.
Those are my only complaints, though. As a sequel to «The sum of all men», this volume lives up to its task. David Farland delivers a satisfying story and cleverly brings forth a host of new characters, and he gives life to each an...more
Those are my only complaints, though. As a sequel to «The sum of all men», this volume lives up to its task. David Farland delivers a satisfying story and cleverly brings forth a host of new characters, and he gives life to each an...more
A very entertaining read. Starts off kind of slow and contains many fantasy cliches. That being said, it is also action packed and has a very unique feel to it as well.
Farland has trouble giving life to the main characters, I feel like they really don't have any consistent personality and are very boring. There are a lot of side-characters that are really personable and you come to really enjoy, however they are also lumped in with even MORE side characters who you vaguely get to know but are ju...more
Farland has trouble giving life to the main characters, I feel like they really don't have any consistent personality and are very boring. There are a lot of side-characters that are really personable and you come to really enjoy, however they are also lumped in with even MORE side characters who you vaguely get to know but are ju...more
It seems that both The Earth King and The Wolf Lord have a common enemy: The Reavers - strange, 16-ton insects which live underground. As The Reavers attack both kingdoms, Raj Ahten besieges the strategic location of Carris - only to be besieged by Reavers himself.
Another fine book, which focuses on the strengths and limitations of its characters. Whilst there are battle scenes with thousands of men dying, it is the personal conflicts which the protagonists must overcome. And, at the end of the...more
Another fine book, which focuses on the strengths and limitations of its characters. Whilst there are battle scenes with thousands of men dying, it is the personal conflicts which the protagonists must overcome. And, at the end of the...more
This series I never really the first book the sum of all men the brotherhood of the wolf well I honestly this book had me reading non stop till I was finished and I craved more in a epic tale of legendary rune branded to make a normal stronger of everything u can think of brawn wit stamina and the list goes on as my favorite character Raj Ahten the most evil villain and I think the most greediest interesting person with his abily to shatter castles by singing to them facing off 30 foot reavers w...more
A rather alarming fantasy world, in which magic is performed by human semi-sacrifice. (The human donor is crippled for life, and the recipient gains awesome powers.) Things look grim for our heroes: they lose a fight with some sort of human villain, and then they lose a fight with some giant insect-things, and in the background I think the world is ending or something.
In fairness I should note that I hadn't read the first book. This book felt mostly grim and depressing, and I don't plan to ever...more
In fairness I should note that I hadn't read the first book. This book felt mostly grim and depressing, and I don't plan to ever...more
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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Aug 18, 2010
Angie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone with a strong stomach
Shelves:
fantasy,
lds-authors
The more I think about this book, the less sure I am that I liked it. All that talk of eating reavers and drinking blood just makes me feel a little bit ill. And it just took so long for everything to happen. I can't believe the entire book took place over the course of about a week. I didn't really like the way that Farland organized the book. I always had to backtrack whenever I got to a new character, and that is not only annoying, but also a bit confusing.
However, because I am such an avid r...more
However, because I am such an avid r...more
I kept going with this series, but I honestly couldn't muscle through this book. The writing, frankly, just is NOT good. The overall magic system had a lot of potential, but the battles and the story was not great, and the characters incredibly annoying. About 80% the way through I wanted to finish the book just so I could be done with it. Eventually, I put it down and picked up something else worth reading.
Apr 16, 2008
Ronando
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
More brain candy
Recommended to Ronando by:
Josh
Shelves:
fantasy_scifi
This book was pretty much more of the same, but with even more of the same. Much stronger emphasis on endowments but now they bring in ... REAVERS, big scary beatles the size of elephants and heads the size of the bed of a Ford pick up truck. Oh, and they swing swords and clubs that weigh 800 pounds. Oh, and the themselves weigh 20 tons. Oh, and there are mage Reavers too, all led by a viscious Fell Mage Reaver she bitch from hell that casts some wicked curse spells.
I do have to say though, that...more
I do have to say though, that...more
This was a nice follow-on to the first book of Runelords series.
I was engaged and intrigued the whole book.
The only criticism I have is the "sudden" change of heart for Iome about the dogs. I wanted a bit more explanation and more of her reasoning. But, perhaps it was there and I read through the book too quickly to catch it.
I am excited to read the next book in the series though (I have it and almost changed its order in my "to read" stack, but I wanted to go to a different genre first in prep...more
I was engaged and intrigued the whole book.
The only criticism I have is the "sudden" change of heart for Iome about the dogs. I wanted a bit more explanation and more of her reasoning. But, perhaps it was there and I read through the book too quickly to catch it.
I am excited to read the next book in the series though (I have it and almost changed its order in my "to read" stack, but I wanted to go to a different genre first in prep...more
The editing in these Runelords books is atrocious. There are all kinds of misplaced words, with the end of sentences being cut off and completely relocated to the wrong paragraph.
BUT, the story is fantastic. The concept of endowments is unique and the way that system can be used/exploited introduces all kinds of questions about morality.
Despite the terrible editing, I will be reading this entire series.
BUT, the story is fantastic. The concept of endowments is unique and the way that system can be used/exploited introduces all kinds of questions about morality.
Despite the terrible editing, I will be reading this entire series.
The last 3 pages were stupid...
I want to smack Gaborn's wife.
I think the very fact that you say something to the effect of I will save the people and then manage to get a force warrior killed haveing pulled about 80 people out when your husband said just the night before 1 force warrior = 400 people is kind of a defeat but it never crosses the stupid girls mind.
Also Rah Ahten is a pathetic little whiny girl.
I want to smack Gaborn's wife.
I think the very fact that you say something to the effect of I will save the people and then manage to get a force warrior killed haveing pulled about 80 people out when your husband said just the night before 1 force warrior = 400 people is kind of a defeat but it never crosses the stupid girls mind.
Also Rah Ahten is a pathetic little whiny girl.
i found it surprising that so many 'slammed' this book as one of the worst in the series, i found it thoroughly entertaining... a 'proper' follow up in the series (leading you into the answers that you question while reading, not losing pace nor going off on superfluous tangents).
I really liked this one. I've read some negative reviews that nothing happens for the first 500 pages, but I disagree. There is a lot of setup work, but I found it all moved along at a good clip. I'm particularly intrigue with the girl Averan.
I'm going to take a one-book break from this series and then dive into book 3!
I'm going to take a one-book break from this series and then dive into book 3!
Book two is still one of the better fantasy series out there because it struggles to avoid the cliches of the genre. It still fails. It also violates a few other rules of writing, for example:
Rule #38a: If your book goes over 500 pages and your name is not Leo Tolstoy, make it smaller.
Rule #38b: If your trilogy goes over 3 books, make it smaller.
Rule #48: If you are a really good writer, than you are permitted to bring _at_most_ a single character back from the dead in a series (c.f. J.R.R.Tolki...more
Rule #38a: If your book goes over 500 pages and your name is not Leo Tolstoy, make it smaller.
Rule #38b: If your trilogy goes over 3 books, make it smaller.
Rule #48: If you are a really good writer, than you are permitted to bring _at_most_ a single character back from the dead in a series (c.f. J.R.R.Tolki...more
The first book was good, obviously, because I read the second one. The book gets a little monotonous with Gaborn being a little girl about making decisions and the whole "SAVE MOTHER EARTH" aspect that is shoved down your throat at every turn.
Jun 29, 2010
Pa
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those interested in Lord of the Rings type fantasy
The second book in the Runelords series. Like its predecessor, a well-above-average fantasy tale. The characters are interesting and generally not one-dimensional. The plot is well developed, though the tale is likely almost endless.
This book has a lot of neat ideas. The author has developed a very interesting world and some decent characters. The only thing I find is that the first third of his books seems to be very slow reads. They are enjoyable, and really quite distinct in the world of fantasy.
I'd have to agree with another commentor who mentioned the disparity in how fighting a certain creature is handled. It seems a herculean task in the beginning of the book and at the end, far easier. (not easy, but not nearly as t...more
I'd have to agree with another commentor who mentioned the disparity in how fighting a certain creature is handled. It seems a herculean task in the beginning of the book and at the end, far easier. (not easy, but not nearly as t...more
Exlent story line,with a plenty of action Terry Brooks Puts Action,tragedy,heroisn, in his writtings. The other books Terry wrote The Runelords, and Wizardborn are great books to read.
This is better than the first one, The Sum of All Men.
The suspense and action just keep going... Especially enjoyed the development of a few key characters.
Interest is sustained by introducing the practicer of taking endowments from dogs, rather than humans.
I love this series of book so much I can't swap it, because I know I will read it again. High praise!
The war between Orden and Raj Ahten continues. Orden has been designated the Earth King, and the Earth is aiding him, while Raj Ahten attempts to draw Orden into battle. But yet a new, unstoppable threat is taking form, requiring perhaps otherwise unthinkable acts.
The story is pretty engrossing--I really want to find out what happens. But the author has an irritating habit of explaining in great detail the internal logic of each of the major (and some minor!) characters. It's kind of disruptive...more
The story is pretty engrossing--I really want to find out what happens. But the author has an irritating habit of explaining in great detail the internal logic of each of the major (and some minor!) characters. It's kind of disruptive...more
Much better than Farland's first novel. There is some pretty good characterization going on here.
Not as good as the first one, but I'm still intrigued and will read the next one.
Amazing book 2 in the series. Love the story and noble characters.
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David 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 Sa...more
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