Customer Reviews

Shaman's Crossing (The Soldier Son Trilogy, Book 1)

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(40)
3 star:		(33)
2 star:		(29)
1 star:		(25)

 

 

I'm a fan of Hobb's other books, but I avoided reading this book for a while due to the negative reviews I read here. But I finally decided to try it, and I just finished it last night, having stayed up four hours past my bedtime to do so.

The main criticisms that other reviewers have brought up so far have been that the book is slow and dull, that nothing really happens, that it's only a setup novel, and that the main character, Nevare, is uninteresting. I find none of these to be true. Actually, based on the negative reviews, while reading the book I kept expecting to get bored or bogged down. I didn't. In almost every chapter there's something happening, something changing, something moving forward. You'd have to be blind not to see it.

Other reviewers have remarked on Nevare's lack of uniqueness. I really do not understand this. Sure, there's the distinct absence of a stereotypical prophecy saying that he's destined to save the world, but there's no dearth of interesting things about Nevare. One reviewer said that "Nevare does not question his society, his role, his society's racism or destructive policies; he is as stuffy as most of his kind." Another noted that he is "shallow and accepts things as they come." I must disagree. I feel that there is tension in Nevare's personality stemming from his being disgusted with the state of affairs (e.g. the way Plainspeople are treated; the destruction of the forest), and not understanding why things are the way they are, yet being commanded by people he respects to accept those things. This polarization of his character -- on the one hand, firmly believing in the rightness and immutability of his place in the world, and on the other, deeply questioning it -- is at the heart of the story, and is a theme that surfaces again and again and again. What is the right thing to do? When should one have faith, and when should one question? When is it right to obey, when to rebel? When do you accept and when do you question authority? There is a place for both; how ought one choose to do each? What do you do when doing the right thing will lead only to punishment?

Like any of us -- like FitzChivalry -- Nevare forgets or denies what he knows to be true -- quite often, in fact. This frustrated me in the Fitz novels as well as this book, but it's realistic.

I found Shaman's Crossing much like Assassin's Apprentice. They are both character studies at heart, following a protagonist through a variety of different, quirky experiences that come to shape who he is. In all of Hobb's stories, the character is what shapes the plot more than vice versa. These character-driven plots tend to meander into places that violate the conventions of standard fantasy because there is no grand prophecy to fulfill; the chips fall where they will. I find this to be no different between Fitz's story and Nevare's. One difference between Fitz and Nevare is that Fitz started out with more overtly interesting qualities, e.g. he has magical abilities, is a prince's bastard, and is trained as an assassin. Perhaps some readers of Shaman's Crossing will feel comparatively stifled by Nevare's commitment to his obligations and responsibilities, by his lack of political importance or magical abilities. But for reasons I've already outlined, I think there's plenty about Nevare to interest. It doesn't at all require patience or interest in philosophical topics to do so.

I also find fascinating how Hobb subverts our preconceived ideas. For instance, I mentioned earlier that there's no prophecy that Nevare will save the world. Actually, though, the whole experience with Dewara and then Tree Woman makes clear that each of them expects him to save their world. But this once again begs the question of what it means to do the right thing. What does it mean to "save the world," if saving one world will destroy another? There's no clear-cut answer.

The setting is a bit strange to me, as the government is feudal, with kings and lords, yet many aspects of it resemble 18th or 19th century United States, with muskets and spiritualistic seances and such. It's a strange juxtaposition. And you have Plainspeople who are clearly a parallel to Native Americans, and many of the social issues are the same. I was a bit nervous that Hobb would take the easy way out and simply set up a Natives-good colonists-bad dichotomy, which is just as stupid as the old Natives-evil colonists-good thing. But this gets very tangled and confused in a very satisfying way, as both sides (more than two, actually) are willing to cause death and violence to achieve their ends. Again, through Nevare's eyes we come back to the question of what is right and just and honorable, how much do you accept of your reality. Who's good? Are the Plainspeople good? Is Tree Woman good? Are the colonists good? It brings up the question of why people do what they do -- again, the heart of the story.

I think that those who saw only a flat, boring story didn't explore what the story offered. Unlike in the Fitz stories, nobody dies except from plague. No great wars are waged. Nevare is not in contact with people in power. But much is happening.

So, in closing, I'd like to reiterate that I disagree with the negative reviews, as I think a tremendous amount of importance occurs in the book, and that it is yet another fascinating character study from Robin Hobb. I recommend it and I look forward to the next in the series.

I am a solid Robin Hobb fan and was thrilled when I found that she had a new trilogy out....and I read this book, cover to cover, with no skimming even when I hit the parts that did actually bore me - something I never thought Hobb could do - because her incredible descriptive abilities are almost mesmerizing and hold me glued to the page....even when a voice in my brain is screaming, "is she going to go through the bit about soldier's sons and noble's sons one more time?!" She must have gone over and over several issues pertinent to the story as though this were the second book in a trilogy and she needed to keep reminding you of this...that, or she thinks her readers are incapable of remembering the basic relationships on which her story is based (duh!)...it borders on insulting at times, Robin!

I think that the repetitiveness throughout the book is what causes a lot of the slowness and dryness and sense of boredom that prior reviewers complain of....there is simply no reason to keep repeating over...and over...and over....and over.....how the battle lord's sons and noble's soldier sons differ.

While this certainly isn't the most interesting of Hobb's worlds I've lived in......it is crafted as fully....and drew me in as completely....and that is what I look for in a book....to go somewhere different, have some different experiences and marvel at how someone can think up all that!

I have read all of Robin Hobb's books and have noticed that all of her series tend to start out with a whimper and end with a bang. I read "Assassin's Apprentice" back when it first came out and was unimpressed. It was only years later when I went back and was able to read the entire Farseer series in one sweep that I became a diehard Hobb fan.

"Shaman's Crossing" is a setup book. It revolves around a young man Nevare who as second son to a noble is destined by his culture to become a soldier. The first half of the book deals with his training at his father's estate and the latter half deals with his experiences at a prestigious millitary school for the children of nobles.

The book sets up all the protagonists and antagonists. One struggle will involve a struggle between the old nobles and new nobles(Nevare's father). Another story arc will be between Nevare's people and a race of sorcerous forest dwellers called dapples whose lands Nevare's people are invading.

Overall the excellence of this book will depend on the quality of the finished series. This is rather an excellent building book to a great series or the first book of a series that will drag on to an uninteresting conclusion.

The reason for the four stars and not five is that even in a book that is a building block to a larger story I like a little more contained story, but upon finishing this book I immediately wanted to read the next book of the series.

The thing I like about Robin Hobb is that she avoids the usual fantasy stereotypes. This book is no exception. I think I must be one of the few people who approached this book NOT looking for another Fitz. One of my biggest complaints (and many others will agree) with latter books by Eddings, Jordan etc, is that all the characters seem the same. I feel an author fails when they create a new series and you can easily place all the characters from the previous series, with new names.

Nevare is a fresh character. His world is a new setting. He's an ordinary person, which I feel in a Fantasy genre that has no shortage of lost kings, all powerful magicians, and beautiful princesses, is a very rare and interesting thing.

At first I found it a bit strange a premise for a story. At first look, it does seem like it would be dull. But I found the story of his days at home and his training at the academy engaging and interesting.

Expect this book to be different. Don't expect to find Fitz dressed up as a Soldier's Son. This isn't a story of kings and princesses and dragons. It's a lovely tale of a person's strengths and doubts.

Several previous reviewers have stated that they didn't like this new series (Soldier's Son trilogy), especially compared to Robin Hobb's earlier works. My wife and I have disagree greatly: while we loved Robin's earlier works (the Assassin series, the Liveship Traders, and the Tawny Man books), we felt Shaman's Crossing was an excellent book, and were sad to reach the end of it.

Shaman's Crossing is the beginning of a trilogy, so don't expect everything to be wrapped up by the end. As others have noted, it also starts somewhat slowly, as you learn the background and makeup of the protagonist, Nevare Burvelle. Even this background, however, is an enjoyable read, with the story throwing you into an "adventure" of sorts within the first few pages.

The characters in the novel are very believable, each with their own backgrounds and points of view, and the situations and locations keep the story moving along, while also providing a real depth to the world. By the time we finished this first novel, we felt we really understood Nevare's world, and were eager to continue the story.

What more can I say -- it's a great book, doesn't require any previous series knowledge, and should be picked up and read immediately! :)

If you've read Hobb's earlier series, you'll find that Shaman's Crossing has a slower start. Some of that, I think, is that the character's situation isn't as much of a hook. Instead of starting with the 6-year-old bastard son of a prince who is trained to be an assasin, we're introduced to the young son of a man new to the nobility, who is trained into obedience and groomed to become a soldier. It's not quite as gripping, initially, and the book doesn't exactly spring into action.

Unlike many other reviewers, however, I really liked this book. Hobb is a master (mistress? that doesn't sound as good) at creating a setting and imbuing it with life. She's also exceptionally good at the fictional version of us watching a horror movie, with the Sweet Young Thing climbing into the attic clad in only a nightgown -- that sense of shouting, "You idiot! Can't you see that --!" When I'm that engaged in the story, it's easy to sit up way past my bedtime to read "just one more chapter."

Hobb describes a universe which I find completely believeable, in which birth order determines one's life and position, different "natives" have unique magics (or are rumored to have some), another country has developed superior technology to our protagonist's, and political intrigues percolate in the background. Each of those is interesting to explore in its own right, and in my opinion Hobb does not disappoint. I'm looking forward to what follows in the next book, because I can almost predict that I'll have to flip back through the pages of Shaman's Crossing to see exactly where she told us that Something Was Coming.

This novel was not what I was expecting from Robin Hobb at all, which is probably why so many readers are giving it low marks. I am sure that most expected your basic medievel type fantasy novel with tons of mysterious magic and action heavy plot. That just doesn't happen here.

Instead, the reader is treated to a unique world, where medieval characteristics are combined with an expansion of a country similar to the United States in the 1800s. I know the first mention of firearms in the novel shocked me, but quickly I could get a great feeling of the land and the politics surrounding the main character. As for the academy setting, I was reminded of John Jakes' style of writing, where mundane activities will color the story from here on out, and it is important to establish them.

Granted, this is a "Set-up" novel as others have mentioned. However, I found the politics and situations to be interesting on their own, and know that in the next two novels, they will have a distinct impact of the story.

Now for the "Tree-woman", here is the true heart of the novel, for you can tell that the struggle of the expanding country verses the natives well-versed in the lore of the land, is the focus of this trilogy. Will the expanding nation devastate the land with no regard for nature and conservation? Or will the natives succeed in saving their way of life only by murdering the newcomers with the plague ? I, for one, can hardly wait for the next installment of this trilogy.

Summary of review - if you are looking for blood and guts action and intense suspense, this is not for you. However, for a good story about the building of a man, and a nation with a slight fantastic flair, I highly reccommend this novel.

With the conclusion of the Tawny Man trilogy (Fool's Fate), Robin Hobb has decided to move on, at least temporarily, to another world she's created. Shaman's Crossing is the first book in the "Soldier Son" trilogy, but it is quite self-contained. In fact, if the front cover didn't mention the trilogy, I would never have known (though I probably could have guessed, considering everybody's writing trilogies these days). I do like the fact that it's a story in itself, and it's fairly complete with no dangling ends. Unfortunately, it is also incredibly slow which makes it really hard to get through.

In Hobb's new world, the first son of a noble inherits the title and property of the lord. The second son of a noble is destined to be a soldier. Recently, the king has raised certain soldiers who acquitted themselves well in the previous wars versus the Plainsmen to a "new" series of lordships, which has created a lot of class tension between the originals and the new. Navare is the second son of one of the new nobles, and he can't wait to grow up and go to the military academy and become an officer. All of his childhood is geared to that destiny, and he can't think of anything else that he could be. But when he gets there, all is not what it seems. A strange encounter as he was growing up seems to be affecting his dreams now, and his very odd cousin, Epiny, sees another aura around him that doesn't appear to be his own. Will his hard times at the academy grow into murder? Or worse? And what of the magic that appears to be affecting his very soul? Navare's first year at the academy may be his last.

Hobb has set up an interesting world with conflicting nobilities, a history of warfare and an honour system that ties everything together. Everything in Navare's childhood is geared to teach him lessons and prepare him for life as an officer, yet one of these events may completely turn him away from the academy. The pull between the magic that Navare doesn't even understand and his determination to do what the Good God has laid out for him is striking, and keeps Navare an interesting character. The story is told in first person from Navare's point of view, so we see this struggle quite clearly. At times, Navare gets annoyingly archaic in his attitudes and he sounds too much like a prig, but this is all part of his growing up process.

Characterization has always been Hobb's strong suit, and here is no exception. Everybody is clear and there is little confusion. Though some of Navare's fellow cadets tend to blur together, none of them are important to the plot, and the important ones are easily remembered. When Navare gets in the middle of a quiet power struggle between two of the other cadets, it's very immediate because of the viewpoint we see. Even the antagonists are quite clearly defined and while we never see anything from their side, we can usually tell what is going on behind their actions.

One caution (I wouldn't call it a fault) if you're used to books with either short chapters or easy stopping places where you can put the book on your bedside table and go to sleep. There is none of that here. The chapters are usually at least 20 pages long, and they are one continuous narrative. So if you don't like stopping in the middle of the action, choose your reading times wisely.

The one fault I would say that Shaman's Crossing has is the very slow pace of the entire thing. If the story wasn't self-contained, I would say that it was all set up (and it may still be for the rest of the series, for all we know). We get a lot of detail about Navare's childhood, with the initial chapters only jumping a few years each. Several encounters are important to what happens later, but there are others that appear to be just character-building or establishing the setting. In fact, the first chapter is a perfect example, where Navare meets a Scout and his daughter (the Scout married a Plainswoman, so the daughter has some magic). Scouts aren't exactly looked upon well, and this Scout is no exception. An altercation happens and Navare feels some kind of attachment to this girl. I'm sure this sets up something in subsequent books (if it doesn't, I'll be extremely annoyed) but it doesn't do much for this story other than establish part of the world and give the reader a little action to start off with. This is even more important because there isn't much action after this point.

Honestly, it's only the strength of Hobb's characterization and my faith in her storytelling ability that kept me reading, as the pace was almost glacial. In fact, it's even slower than Fool's Fate and we don't have established characters that we already know and love to help us through. The last third of the book is quite good and moves quickly, though the final confrontation is a bit of a let-down.

If you're a Robin Hobb fan, you will probably really like Shaman's Crossing, for the characterization if nothing else. If you're not already a fan, I would suggest that you don't start here. Read one of the "Assassin" books or even the "Liveship Traders" first. If you don't, it's very possible you'll get bogged down here and never want to try Hobb again. Once you have some grounding in her writing style, Shaman's Crossing will be worth picking up again. I'm giving this book four stars because I ultimately did enjoy it and I'm very glad I read it, but I'd give it 2 stars for first-time readers.

David Roy

I've been an enthusiastic fan of Robin Hobb for ten books now; the first nine of those books being the fantastic and captivating tales of Fitz-Chivalry and the Six Duchies.

I went into this book expecting the usual mesmerizing ambiance and deep, interesting characterizations that marked all nine of her previous books. I was on the whole not disappointed; while Hobb's new world of Forests and Mountains and Plains, Cavalla and Shamans and Magics warring against each other, schoolboy drama and teenaged antics reminds me of a weird cross between Harry Potter, a Civil War re-enactment and a really long game of Magic: The Gathering, she actually pulls it off, and her world comes alive and envelops you into it just as much as the Six Duchies ever did. Hobb is truly a master of descriptive writing and she has never been stronger on that account.

Her characters for the most part are equally good. The Six Duchies and the Liveships were stocked with amazing, vibrating, and most of all truly LIVING characters, that felt like actual people that you could love or hate for their own unique personalities. From Caulder to Epiny to Spink to the Tree Lady, this remains true in this book; all but for one gigantic, hideous, glaring exception: The protagonist.

As in the Assasin's Trilogy, the reader is firmly captured inside the persona of the main character. But where Fitz was deep, complex, captivating and a joy to follow along with, Nevare Burvelle is the single most boring, insipid, horrifically predictable piece of cold turkey ever to be rudely slapped across my eyes.

I mean, it's really quite amazing. As you read the book, you simply will NOT believe the depths of shallowness, contrivance, and predictability that you are excrutiatingly subjected to as you ride on this mumble-drone's shoulder for the entire duration. The image I had in my head for pretty much the entire book was of the Tree Lady actually physically materializing before him in a brazilian carnival costume and dancing the conga in front of him while slapping him repeatedly in the face going, 'I'm controlling you! I'm controlling you! I'm controlling you!' and afterwards Nevare putting his hands on his hips and going 'Gee willickers, what a strong daydream I just had.' What is really sad is that this is, pretty much literally, what goes on through the entire book. His reactions and decisions to everything going on around him, from fights between his roommates to finding a drunk boy, are so deliciously and moronically boring that you will find yourself wondering if Hobb is actually mocking you on purpose.

Now, it might sound like I didn't enjoy Shaman's Crossing, which is far from true. I immensely enjoyed being swept up into Robin's mind and world through her excellent narration and descriptions one more time, and will certainly read the next book. Just please, Robin, ditch the Harry-Potter-imitation-wannabe and make Epiny or Gord the protagonist instead.

Sometimes you want to smack Nevarre for being a bonehead. I felt the same way about FitzChivalry a lot of the time.

Nevarre stubbornly refuses to believe that his life is being affected or influenced by the magic. FitzChivalry refuses to admit he's a Catalyst, and refuses to believe in the Fool's prophecy.

Anyway, you do want to smack Nevarre. Because sometimes he's being stubborn, sometimes he reacts emotionally, and sometimes he insists on living in his narrow life-view - molded by his upbringing as a little soldier, religion, and rural, sheltered upbringing.

This is a realistic character. His patrol mates at the academy are realistically portrayed - Gord, fat & picked on, but patient and thoughtful; Spink, the poor New Noble boy who struggles at math; Trist, the handsome charismatic type; etc. His uncle, Epiny, etc are also well portrayed.

For folks complaining that this is slow compared to the Farseer, they apparently haven't read "Assassin's Apprentice" 6+ times like I have. It moves with the same sort of pace - almost all character driven storytelling and setup, little action.