The Earth King Rises

John David Wolverton (may 28, 1957 - january 14, 2022), better known by his pen names: Dave Wolverton and David Farland was a writer of science fiction and fantasy works. 'The Runelord'-series hit the New York Times bestsellers list. From 1999 to 2002 he was the English professor for creative writing at Brigham Young University. Among others he taught: Brandon Sanderson, Brandon Mull, Jessica Day George, Eric Flint, Stephenie Meyer and James Dashner.

'The Runelord'-series ran from 1998 to 2009 and encased eight volumes. At the time of his death he was working on three different novels, which also held A Tale of Tales; a new Runelords installment.


In the series David Farland treats us to a tale of epic proportions in a well thought-out world, which holds two different kinds of magic systems.

Prince Gaborn Val Orden visits the city incognito to get a feeling for its people, for he is to be married to the princess Iome; the daughter of his father's friend. He likes to get to know the people and if possible the behaviour of the prinsess, before he is to propose to her.

Unbeknown to him, Raj Ahten, the Wolf Lord and Runelord from the south, is also secretly on his way to sack the same city. He wants to conquer the northen kingdoms quickly, become strong by taking endowments from its people and then return home before the reaver attack on his own kingdom. He has taken quite a lot of endowments already, and feels he is close to becoming the second Sum of All Men, just as the Runelord from legend, who didn't need any endowments from his people anymore to still get the same benefits.


THE MAGIC SYSTEM(S):
The world David Farland created knows two different magic systems. There is the 'normal' elemental magic system, where wizards (or weavers or wardens) wield Earth, Fire, Water or Air magic. Next to that there is the system of taking, or giving, endowments. This last one is the main magic system for the series. Giving, or taking, an endowment means that one person (or beast) gives up an attribute (like: Brawn, Grace, Wit, Metabolism etc..) and gives that to the recipient. The giver, called a Dedicate, loses that attribute and gives it to another, who'll become a Runelord. The attribute stays with the receiver until the death of either the giver or the receiver. At the death of the receiver the giver gets the attribute back. Giving an endowment is not without danger. For instance someone giving an endowment of strength, might die because his heart no longer has the strength to beat. Giving an endowment can only be done once in a lifetime, and must be given free of will.
In the process of giving an endowment, a special mage, called a facilitator, uses a forcible in the form of a rune (which can only be used once) for the wanted attribute. First the giver is being branded by the forcible, which takes the attribute, and then the receiver is branded with the forcible. The rune can only be branded on a clean part of the skin. Therefore strong Runelords (Runelords with a lot of endowments) use vectors when they know they want a lot of endowments. A vector is a person that also has taken endowments from others, but then give the same attribute they've taken to someone else.

The world is a nice mix between 'normal' elemental magic and a new magic system. The new magic system is limited in multiple ways and is thoughtfully developed. As an example, the world takes into account that Dedicates (a giver of an Endowment) need to be protected from harm, and therefore have their own keep and security.

Each character has its own flaws and insecurities, even a character as Raj Ahten has his own motives for why he does the things he does. And those are sometimes rooted in history, just as in our own world. The setting for the world is medieval Europe or historical Middel East. The world feels real to the described setting. In the different chapters we are in the heads of one of the main characters, and sometimes a side character. By being in the head of these characters, the characters and the magic system strengthen each other because their thoughts reflect a lot on how the magic system works and how that influences the world around them, and with that their actions. Like David and Goliath, Gaborn stands against Raj Ahten, who has taken so much endowments, that a dagger to the heart heals as soon as the dagger is removed. Eventhough that is true, Raj Ahten is still limited by how the magic system works. As most of his endowments are vectored to him, he does not have control over the balance between those endowments, which then is something he has to compensate for himself.

You quickly grow attached to the characters David Farland produces, be it the 'good' or 'evil' kind. Besides the character connection, he tells an exciting story in an exciting world, which is of epic proportions and belongs in the Epic Fantasy category.

The book is devided into five smaller books, each covering a consequetive day. The chapters are of differing length.