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Shaman's Crossing: Book One of The Soldier Son Trilogy Review

Like you dear reader, I'm a vigorous fan of the fantasy genre. I've read it all... from the popular books that usually become movies or television to the obscure short story collections. I'm also usually the first one to rip an author when I feel like they start to lose it, because more than most genres, when a fantasy author starts to dip, they fall fast! Many a series has been ruined by authors that forget every story has an ending, or maybe some authors just lose that originality spark that helped them in the first place. I show no mercy and have even had the Harry Potter fanboys chasing me around with broomsticks when I pronounced the sixth book a bore.

Having said all that, I feel confident telling you this book Shaman's Crossing IS NOT a boring piece of work. It's been some time since I read Hobb's Assassin Apprentice series but this new trilogy reminds me of the FitzChivalry formula. A normal boy, probably more sensitive than other kids his age, deals with growing up, deals with the disillusionment of the cruel adult world, makes some serious mistakes, and so on... it's all here, it's the exact same formula with more of Hobb's colorful descriptions, but here's where I think it loses some people:

This time around, it's more about normal house poltics and intrigue. Hobb borrows the same theme from George R.R. Martin's Game of Throne series, only with even more political intrigue and less battles. There are no colorful dragons in this book. There are no "machine gun wizards" that can gun people down psychically or with lightning in their own mysical way. There aren't even any "uber cool assasins" with ingenuitive killing devices. Nope, it's really just about a boy growing up in a harsh aristocracy that takes no prisoners. And here's another clue if you'll like this book. Do you enjoy Louis Lamour? Because the first third of this novel where the protagonist grows up on the frontier plays just like a classic western. (Think A Man Called Horse if you want even more details.) Hobb has obviously borrowed from Plains Indians in building a culture for the aboriginees of her fantasy land which gives it even more of a western feel. And that's why I love this book. The hero is not a hero, he's a normal EXTREMELY fallible human being, and he does this in settings that are a cross between a western adventure and a hardcore Game of Thrones political intrigue chapter. That's why I love this book and I hope the second one will keep me just as thrilled.

Shaman's Crossing: Book One of The Soldier Son Trilogy Feature

ISBN13: 9780060758288
Condition: New
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Shaman's Crossing: Book One of The Soldier Son Trilogy Overview

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.

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Customer Reviews

A pleasant surprise - Sonny Saggese - Boston
I must say that I wasn't expecting much from this book and/or series up on reading some of the reviews here. With that said I found this to be a nice story and told very well. Sure there is not a lot of action in the traditional sense, drawn out romance, or action packed violence, however things are happening. I enjoyed the pacing of this book, and definitely enjoyed the world building as told from a first person account. It is like a puzzle with pieces slowly being put in place the more you read into this series the more a wider picture is displayed.
My only flaw with this book, or author is that sometimes with the dream sequences the author is much too descriptive and it can be somewhat tedious to push through, but those moments in the book are quite rare and the book moves along with a steady pace. Things are definitely happening in this book and it is progressing the story. It's just not happening in a traditional Fantasy Fiction way, with the pacing or with what is happening. The Author seems very comfortable writing in the first person, and I enjoy all of her characters and development. I must say that the more you read into this series the more impressive the world building becomes. There was definitely a lot of thought put into the magic of this world and how it would live and clash with different people.

Coming to Grips with Family Heritage - W. Bentrim - Bucks County, PA
Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb (a.k.a. Megan Lindholm

This is the first book in the Soldier Son Trilogy. Nevare Burvell, a second son, is destined to be the family soldier. His naïve acceptance that birth order is responsible for all aspects of life is challenged by his life experiences.

Once again Hobb creates a believeable society. Her characters have depth and passion. The stratitied nature of Nevare's society is the basis for much of his behavior. A clear metaphor regarding progress and environment is illustrated. I enjoyed the relationship between Epiny and Nevare. The lack of women's rights in the story helps to point out some of the continued inequities in today's world. The author does a nice job of combining modern themes in a fantasy scenario that is extremely entertaining without pontificating.

I highly recommend the book.

A Good Start - Michael K. Wright - Florida
I'm not in the habit of writing reviews, but I felt this book earned the review. I'm not going to be the most literary review you read, with the dazzling buzzlines and great descriptions, but I'm going to try and convey how I felt reading it.

Somewhere about a third of the way through a familiar sensation struck me. I cared. It had been a while since it had happened and it took a bit to recognize what it was, but I cared about the characters. I wanted to know what happened to them, I wanted them to suceed and I was glued to the pages. Regardless of style, or plotline, or anything else "technical" that is why I rated 5 stars. When someone can craft a character that you have actual feelings about they have done their job as a writer.

I'm definatly off to get the next in the series.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 04, 2010 09:53:05

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Saturday, September 4, 2010