Robin Hobb

Nevare Burvelle was destined from birth to be a soldier. The second son of a newly anointed nobleman, he must endure the rigors of military training at the elite King's Cavella Academy—and survive the hatred, cruelty, and derision of his aristocratic classmates—before joining the King of Gernia's brutal campaign of territorial expansion. The life chosen for him will be fraught with hardship, for he must ultimately face a forest-dwelling folk who will not submit easily to a king's tyranny. And they possess an ancient magic their would-be conquerors have long discounted—a powerful sorcery that threatens to claim Nevare Burvelle's soul and devastate his world once the Dark Evening brings the carnival to Old Thares.

Book One of The Soldier Son Trilogy

Shaman's Crossing

Sandrin

Very disappointed with this one. The story was slow, depressing, and pointless. The main character was extremely stuck up, stupid, and frankly an ass. There was SOME character development that i enjoyed but it came at the end of the book.
At the beginning of the story i was hooked but NOTHING INTERESTING EVER HAPPENED AFTER THAT. There were some redeemeing scenes and side characters that kept me going but thats about it.

Rachel Kanyid

As per usual, Robin Hobb created an exceptionally beautiful and descriptive story, with fluid story building and amazing character development! Glad I finally am getting to this story!

The first book in a brand new trilogy from the author of the Farseer, Liveship Traders and Tawny Man trilogies.

Kirsten Simkiss

Definitely 2 stars. Hoooo boy, I could not wait to be done with this book. I slogged through it with the hope that it would pick up, but it really never does. The story drags on, and I don't mean just because it's a 577 page book. The main character, tasked with carrying us through the narrative, is the most pedantic study in faux Victorian white male privilege you can hope to have. He was awful. If I ever met him in person, he'd be the spoiled white kid that I'd have avoided not because he was a bad person but because he was incapable of putting himself in another's shoes. 

However, despite the main character being a basic being that will be utterly forgettable, I did find several of the side characters to be compelling and there were aspects of the world that were quite interesting. I loved Gord's speech about his being a soldier and how his weight would not change that, only how he might approach his role. I thought the caste system of birth order was interesting and while I've seen other caste systems in books, I'm not sure I've seen one quite like this one.

The world was needlessly complex and yet at the same time very basic. Unless you're a map reader during the story, most of the places mentioned in the book have little bearing on the actual story. All the cultures are bad rewrites of real world cultures. Most notably: Victorian England, Native cultures, and Middle Eastern cultures. It wasn't even vaguely disguised. They were just given different names and placed in this fictional continent. The only population that was more different were the Specks, which seemed to be a race evolved almost as half human and half animal.

All in all, I just really didn't enjoy this book. I can't say I would recommend it to others. I have decided I will not be reading on in this series.

The first book in a brand new trilogy from the author of the Farseer, Liveship Traders and Tawny Man trilogies. Young Nevare Burvelle is the second son of a second son. Traditionally in Gernia, the firstborn son is heir to the family fortunes, the second son bears a sword and the third son is consecrated to the priesthood. Nevare will follow his father - newly made a lord by the King - into the cavalry; to the frontier and thence to an advantageous marriage, to carry on the Burvelle name. It is a golden future, and Nevare looks forward to it with relish. For twenty years King Troven's cavalry have pushed the frontiers of Gernia out across the grasslands, subduing the fierce tribes of the plain on its way. Now they have driven the frontier as far as the Barrier Mountains, home to the enigmatic Speck people. The Specks - a dapple-skinned, forest-dwelling folk - retain the last vestiges of magic in a world which is becoming progressive and technologised. The 'civilised' peoples base their beliefs on a rational philosophy founded on scientific principle and a belief in the good god, who displaced the older deities of their world. To them, the Specks are primeval savages, little better than beasts. Superstitions abound; it is said that they harbour strange diseases and worship trees. Sexual congress with them is regarded as both filthy and foolhardy: the Speck plague which has ravaged the frontier has decimated entire regiments. All these beliefs will touch Nevare's training at the Academy; but his progress there is not as simple as he would wish. He will experience prejudice from the old aristocracy: as the son of a 'new noble' he is segregated into a patrol comprising other new nobles' sons, all of whom will encounter injustice, discrimination and foul play in that hostile and deeply competitive environment. In addition, his world view will be challenged by his unconventional girl-cousin Epiny; and by the bizarre dreams which visit him at night. And then, on Dark Evening, the circus comes to Old Thares, bringing with it the first Specks Nevare has ever seen... d' peoples base their beliefs on a rational philosophy founded on scientific principle and a belief in the good god, who displaced the older deities of their world. To them, the Specks are primeval savages, little better than beasts. Superstitions abound; it is said that they harbour strange diseases and worship trees. Sexual congress with them is regarded as both filthy and foolhardy: the Speck plague which has ravaged the frontier has decimated entire regiments. All these beliefs will touch Nevare's training at the Academy; but his progress there is not as simple as he would wish. He will experience prejudice from the old aristocracy: as the son of a 'new noble' he is segregated into a patrol comprising other new nobles' sons, all of whom will encounter injustice, discrimination and foul play in that hostile and deeply competitive environment. In addition, his world view will be challenged by his unconventional girl-cousin Epiny; and by the bizarre dreams which visit him at night. And then, on Dark Evening, the circus comes to Old Thares, bringing with it the first Specks Nevare has ever seen... on Dark Evening, the circus comes to Old Thares, bringing with it the first Specks Nevare has ever seen...

Shaman's Crossing Book One of The Soldier Son Trilogy

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