THE SUM OF ALL MEN The Runelords, Book 1

This first in the Runelords series is set in a society in which vassals give up attributes, such beauty or strength, to their lord, who accepts them as "endowments" that strengthen him. The young prince Gaborn leads the opposition to Ahten, who strives to become invincible by harvesting as many endowments as possible. Ray Porter keeps the battles fresh with a tone of wonder as the events unfold. He uses pace effectively to vary the intensity of the battles and to show the vulnerability and humanity of Gaborn and his allies. Porter narrates as a historian, with subtle clues to his biases and prejudices, but a general dedication to telling the story objectively. J.E.M. © AudioFile 2009, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2009]