Runebinder (The Runebinder Chronicles Series #1)

by Alex R. Kahler

Overview

“Runebinder is wall-to-wall elemental magic and mayhem. Alex R. Kahler knows how to rock some socks.” —Kendare Blake, New York Times bestselling author of Three Dark Crowns

“If The Walking Dead and Constantine had a baby and that baby was unabashedly queer as hell, it would be Runebinder. “ —Tristina Wright, author of 27 Hours

“A roller coaster ride through a world of chaos and blood.” —Carrie Ryan, New York Times bestselling author The Forests of Hands and Teeth series and Daughter of Deep Silence

Magic is risen.

When magic returned to the world, it could have saved humanity, but greed and thirst for power caused mankind’s downfall instead. Now once-human monsters called Howls prowl abandoned streets, their hunger guided by corrupt necromancers and the all-powerful Kin. Only Hunters have the power to fight back in the unending war, using the same magic that ended civilization in the first place.

But they are losing.

Tenn is a Hunter, resigned to fight even though hope is nearly lost. When he is singled out by a seductive Kin named Tomás and the enigmatic Hunter Jarrett, Tenn realizes he’s become a pawn in a bigger game. One that could turn the tides of war. But if his mutinous magic and wayward heart get in the way, his power might not be used in favor of mankind.

If Tenn fails to play his part, it could cost him his friends, his life…and the entire world.

Books in the Runebinder Chronicles:
Runebinder
Runebreaker
Runemaker

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780373212637
Publisher:	Harlequin
Publication date:	11/14/2017
Series:	Runebinder Chronicles Series , #1
Edition description:	Original
Pages:	400
Sales rank:	574,359
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.50(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Alex is many things, but first and foremost, he's a Sagittarius. He's taught circus arts in Madrid, drummed with Norse shamans, studied writing in Scotland, and watched the Northern Lights from a hot tub in Iceland...and that's the abbreviated list. He writes fantasy for adults and teens, with special focus on LGBTQ+ characters and immersive mythologies.

Editorial Reviews

"Runebinder is wall-to-wall elemental magic and mayhem. Alex R. Kahler knows how to rock some socks." –Kendare Blake, New York Times bestselling author of Three Dark Crowns

"A roller coaster ride through a world of chaos and blood." –Carrie Ryan, New York Times bestselling author The Forests of Hands and Teeth series and Daughter of Deep Silence

"Smart and original, this devastating fantasy has irresistible characters and startling twists around every corner. And can I just say: Sexy. As. Hell." –New York Times bestselling author Andrea Cremer

"Runebinder is the deliciously dark love child of an epic fantasy and a stark dystopian that will keep readers up all night." –Delilah S. Dawson, author of the Blud series, the Hit series, and Star Wars: The Perfect Weapon

"Runebinder is what the dark side of magic looks like. Bloody and brilliant." –Erica Cameron, author of Island of Exiles

"If The Walking Dead and Constantine had a baby and that baby was unabashedly queer as hell, it would be Runebinder. Visceral and haunting, Kahler has crafted a post-apocalyptic horror that will live in your bones long after the final page." - Tristina Wright, author of 27 Hours

"Dark, fascinating, and intense—Kahler has created a new hero and world you'll want to lose yourself in."—Cindy Pon, author of Want and Serpentine

From the Publisher

11/01/2017
Gr 9 Up—Set in the postapocalyptic landscape of the Midwestern United States, this series opener is a tale of magic gone wrong. Once, magical powers existed in harmony with the energy centers of the world. But the ruling Kin's lust for power transformed the once-beautiful use of magic into a world controlled by corruption and fear. Only the Hunters—those brave enough to fight off the Kin—may have enough power to fight back. But they will have to use the same magic that destroyed the world they knew in order to do it. Now Tenn, one of the Hunters, has to choose to fight and risk losing his life or to remain in a world where everything he once loved has already been lost. Tenn's voice crackles with sarcasm and humor, despite the hopeless situation in which he is living. His yearning for something more is resonant of teens' desire to move beyond the confines of their parents' world and into something grander of their own making. Tenn's romantic pursuits will also keep readers interested. Will he choose Jarret, a Hunter like himself? Or will he go for Tomas, the sexy but cunning member of the Kin? The dialogue between characters is quick and easy and keeps the novel moving at an even pace. VERDICT Recommended for fans of dystopian fiction and fantasy.—Tabitha Nordby, Red River College, Man.

School Library Journal

2017-09-18
Another post-apocalyptic world gone mad.Tenn is a Hunter whose tattoo binds him to the powers garnered by the Spheres of Water and Earth, powers that rise in him against his will during an unexpected kraven attack. The monstrous, hybrid kravens and the evil necromancers have despoiled the modern world. The white teen and his comrades live at Outpost 37, a makeshift military post housed in a vacant hotel in Outer Chicago. Following the hunt, Tenn receives an unexpected visit from incubus Tomás, one of the most powerful Howls in the world, a servant loyal to the Dark Lady. For reasons unknown, Tomás wants to capture Tenn, and most of the book is built upon the question of why every powerful figure in the world wants to claim Tenn as their own. The fleeing Tenn is accompanied by powerful Sphere carriers sent to protect him, just the first of many to tell him that he is wanted by the Prophets. The slow build of the story becomes repetitive as it devotes itself to Tenn's desirability. The plot is at times buried in very graphic details, often sexualized, with too many villains to follow. Tenn's friends drop left and right, high casualties that leave readers with a Game of Thrones "everyone dies" feel—though without the compelling story. The busyness interferes with what should be a grounded series opener. Byzantine worldbuilding and high levels of gore plus a muddy plot equal reader dissatisfaction. (Fantasy. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews