Mum's Monday: Chaos Bound ‘The Runelords’ by David Farland

Book one

The book starts off slow but quickly becomes a fight for survival against the water of the sea. Although this is very much a fictional/ fantasy story it is written in such a good way, that you can picture the events happening in the real world, even including when Sir Borenson turns from a man to a beast.

This story high-lights that someone can fall from being rich to no different or worse than the poor people you may look down upon. This shows you shouldn’t judge people.

The descriptions of events in this book are really well done, they are in-depth and unique. At the start of chapter two I wander where the story was going, but by the end, les just say ‘It all comes together’.

In this book it describes really well how a ‘Pony and a warhorse are much the same’, although this is very much set in a fictional world it is written in such a way that for me as the reader, I can relate events and creatures to here in the real world, this is very clever.

This story high-lights that sadly someone of a higher ranking can fall on hard times, as Sir Borenson realises, whilst talking with Baron Walkin. It is nice to see Walkin see the good in Sir Borenson for Borenson’s son Draken’s sake.  

It is sad to see this book high-light that, as in the case of Sir Borenson, that people are judged on how they look and not what is on the inside. Although Sir Borenson hasn’t been a saint, having done some very bad things, there is still good in him, in being productive in providing for his family, or at least trying to after the flood.

At the start of chapter five, humans go up against the larger Wyrmlings. Although it is good to see that sometimes speed can win against size, in this case sadly, it doesn’t all go the human’s way.

In chapter seven Sir Borenson becomes Aaath Ulber. It is a sad and tragic outcome in this chapter, but Sir Borenson was trying and sadly succeeded in protecting his family. It is sad to read about the loss of control and the Walkin’s flee, but if they don’t now feel safe, it can be their only option.

Chapter eight questions whether someone who has no control of themselves, loses control and does something terrible, can they be held responsible for their actions? As in this case there are a lot of factors involved as to who started the fight. This chapter also high-lights how children can suffer because of the actions of their parents.

This book is very well written to show life lessons in amongst all the, very much non-fictional setting. The setting is interesting and the story incorporates an in-depth look at life as a whole. I wouldn’t say ‘This book is a page turner, that you can’t put down’ you can, but when you go back to a few days later you can easily pick up the story again, I found it easier to read one chapter at a time.

In chapter nine you could say that the author has drawn research from seeing the aftermath of a natural disaster like a tsunami. The description of all the debris floating in the river is very much like of what you would see after a disaster. This has been researched really well.

Book two

In chapter thirteen it high-lights that if you really love someone you will wait for them, in all the uncertainty and it is nice to see Rain and Aaath Ulber sort out, what could be seen as their differences.

In chapter fifteen the detail in this book is done so well to even include the sound that an ice berg makes, floating in salt water.

In chapter eighteen it does make you question as to who you can trust, luckily Rain is safe.

In chapter twenty-one it is good to see strategy against might win out. However, Aaath Ulber has worked out it isn’t over yet and there is a bigger plan afoot. This part is very cleverly written to get across all the scenes played out in this book and the war scenes to come.

Parts of this book remind me of what you can find in a computer or console game, in the way the characters can enhance themselves with ‘Endowments’. This could also be seen as an upgrade that a character can gain for themselves in a game.

In chapter twenty-seven there is a very well written description of Aaath walking on water. We have all heard of walking on water, but to read a more in-depth description, the sponginess of the water, is brilliant.

In chapter twenty-eight we have all heard of people believing in ‘Life after death’ but this makes me question ‘Life after spirit’, which is another clever part.

The war, when it happens is written at a fast pace and the end of this book leaves you wanting more.

Overall, this, for me wasn’t an easy book to read, one thing that stood out the most was, there are so many characters introduced in this book, that it is hard to keep up with them all. This is also a most unusual fantasy story, cleverly written.