Worldbinder

Runelords, Book 6

By: David Farland

Narrated by: Ray Porter

Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

With Worldbinder, the best-selling epic series breaks new ground.

After the events of Sons of the Oak, Fallion and Jaz, the sons of the great Earth King Gaborn, are living as fugitives in their own kingdom, newly invaded and secretly controlled by supernatural beings of ultimate evil. The sons are hiding until they can regain their rightful places in the land.

Fallion seems destined to heal the world and feels the supernatural calling to act. When he summons his powers to do so, though, two entire worlds collapse into one, and every living thing in both worlds is transformed into an entirely new being - yet still somehow the same. Evil is certainly still the same - and may have influenced all of this for a terrible purpose.

David Farland is the pseudonym of Dave Wolverton, an American author of fantasy fiction who lives in Utah with his wife and five children. He was a budding author during his college years but came to prominence when he won the Writers of the Future L. Ron Hubbard Gold Award, for On My Way to Paradise, in 1987. He has achieved much renown in the science fiction field, but fans may know him best as the author of Star Wars novels; The Courtship of Princess Leia was met with acclaim from critics and readers alike and became a New York Times best-selling novel.

©2007 David Farland (P)2012 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"David Farland has written a series that rivals the best of Terry Brooks, Terry Goodkind, and Orson Scott Card." ( SFRevu)

"Farland excels in dreamlike imagery." ( Publishers Weekly)

Farland hits the reset button.

I am a big fan of the Runelord series and the first three books were riveting. I loved the world created by David Farland and the moral choices that were faced by those trying to defend their lands from other Runelords. With book four the story started to slide a little bit and unfortunately that trend has continued. Book 5, Sons of the Oak, passed the reins of the story over to Gaborn’s sons, Fallion and Jaz, and I just didn’t find them as interesting as Gaborn himself. Worldbinder continues with those same main characters; however, it changes just about everything else.


Farland hits the reset button on his story by having Fallion combine 2 completely different worlds together. The new world created is a hybrid of both old worlds and some characters who were dead on Fallion’s world are now back alive in new incarnations of themselves. Those who were alive on both worlds were combined into someone new with the memories of both. Anyone who did not have a counterpart on the other world remains the same but feels like half a person. I must admit this is a very interesting concept but the manner in which it is implemented just didn't sit well with me. Farland oversimplifies what happens during the binding into something that wasn’t very believable for me.


The transition from Gaborn to Fallion in book 5 lessened the franchise for me. When book 6 completely changed the world around Fallion I found my interest beginning to wane but I was going along hoping for the best. Then the book just ended. The story is incomplete and there is no resolution at all in Worldbinder. Do not pick up this book unless you are willing to be in it for the long haul as this felt more like half a story to me. Even Ray Porter's narration was not up to snuff and felt quite rushed at times. I will give book 7 a listen to see if it pays off but right now I feel like I should have called it a day after book 4.

Good, and captivating but...

It was no struggle to keep going but many dark and hopeless moments. Not cheery.

The Empire Strikes Back but with out any of the hopeful parts

I wanted to like this story the whole time I was listening. I kept thinking ok, that was pretty dark but things are going to turn around now. Then things would get darker. “Yay! We are learning about Daylan” I thought, only to learn... well I don’t want to spoil anything but I will say learning about Daylan didn’t make me feel any better.

Overall I would say it was a good book but I surely won’t be listening to it again any time soon.

Here’s to hoping the book titled “The Wyrmling Horde” will be more uplifting *sigh*

A new world wrapped in the same great story.

I love the addition of the new world and how they brought the forcibles into a whole new world of magic.

A good read, and challenge to the end

This was not as grabbing as the Son of the oak. Story is dark, but it is the main plot that feels muddy. It sets up for the next episode very nicely, and even though I struggled, I am ready for the next one.

feels like a big tonal shift

I've been binging through all of this series and so far this is the first one where I wanted to take a break from it. the first few books were more fantasy/dark fantasy but this book is definitely grim dark. you feel hopeless during the entire book and wasn't a big fan of some of the choices the author made. when the world's are combined those with counterparts on the other world are fused and have memories of both but only 1 personality and its not a new personality just 1 of them stays and that's it. also the knights eternal being able to use all the different magics but only using death magic and flame weaving but their flame weaving is different because they can't hold any heat since they're dead but they can drain heat from others and that heat just disappears. also plot of the book is that mankind is inherently evil and this is supported throughout the book

The Runelord Multiverse

The Runelord Multiverse.

Some intriguing elements in this 6th Runelords novel brought low by thin characters and generic fantasy battles.

Here, Fallion, son of the Earth King, following the last battle against generic demons, finds the demon world and his world splintering. To save both, he joins them together and we get an interesting setup where alternate realities merge and clash. People that have died in one world exist in the other and people that exist in both find themselves occupying the same body. Legends that exist in one world are made flesh in another. This includes an alternate version of Fallion and Jaz' father, the Earth King Gaborn (whom they barely knew as children).

So while there's ample chance for really interesting character moments, they're never really developed or explored. Instead, we get "Wyrmlings" in place of "Reavers" and the plot beats of Major Fantasy Battle(tm) remain.

Fortunately the battle and book are over quickly.

enthralling

how can i compare this is amazing series I look forward to next in a a ries

Refreshing storyline

I think this is a pretty good storyline. The chaos and unforeseen negative consequences when the two world's merged was a nice and pleasant twist. Also, kudos to the performer. His range of character voices and flawless flow really brings the characters to life.

Good, but not my fave in the series

loved it but still my least fave so far in the series. it's short and felt rushed considering so much happened

optional header is not optional!!

was annoyed when it ended now I need the next book asap!!

Great story...lots of action...i loved reading the runelord books and now listening to them on Audible.

Get on with it?

Taking far too long now could easily have told the story in half the time .