Shaman’s Crossing (The Soldier Son #1)

I will keep this review brief. I have read the entire series – all 3 books – over about a two year timeframe. I read the first book in just a few days. I’m now returning to write quick reviews of the first 2 books and a longer closing review of the third.

You will note that I mentioned reading the first book in a few days – maybe even a couple. The reason is that the first book is very good. I’m not going into details on plot and such, which you can find plenty in other reviews. What I will say is that Hobb paints a quite unique world here with this trilogy. A world somewhat similar to old American West in culture and technology, but still with aspects like nobility, class structure, and, of course, some fantasy elements. With the exception of a rather fantastic setting in one early chapter though, the fantasy elements of the first book are limited, other than the fact that this is a fantasy world. That changes quite a bit in the later books.

I rather enjoyed the somewhat straight-forward story depicted in the first book as we see the main character – Nevarre – grow from young boy to young man. As we get familiar with this world, a few of the major supporting characters. and get and understanding of what drives his destiny to become a soldier of nobility.

I will note that there is a major event near the end – well, like most fantasy books – that will set forth some dramatic changes to the story that really, besides the mildest of allusions, the reader is unaware of until early in the second book.

So with that said, this review is simply to not only encourage but to warn prospective readers that while the first book is a very enjoyable and engaging read, the remaining story leads to a very different atmosphere and tone. Actually, I cannot think of anything that even compares to this story in fantasy literature – at least that I have read. I’m certainly not going to mention what that is here as I detest spoilers of any kind, but if you choose to start this trilogy as a Hobb fan from ..say.. Farseer…expect a far different ride. But expect some of the same qualities of writing you’ve come to expect from Hobb as well as characters you become emotionally invested in.

So in closing, and pointing back to my first comment about reading the trilogy over two years, I will say that starting in book 2 the read became – gradually – more of a struggle for me to push on. The slow reading was certainly impacted by other things and distractions along the way, but the point is that I had to slowly adjust myself to the way the story evolved, because as mentioned it is very different. So as my title suggest, keep an open mind and it just may pay off for you, but this trilogy is not for everyone. You will know if it is not about mid-way through Book 2, but all the same Book 1 is a fine read.

Robin’s books are great. Usually the first in a series or Trilogy etc sets up the characters and gets better as they go along..This story is not a Fantasy like her others although it is set in a Fictional world, it is more Supernatural with much that could relate to our world , past and present.

The ‘World’ made me think of America in the very Early 1800’s with its Manifest Destiny and westward expansion or even the European nations grabbing what they could of countries and setting up colonies. Its about the expectations of parents and family relations ships. Miss conceptions of people, their cultures, societies and beliefs. It makes you think!

Despite having read several of Robin Hobb’s novels, I still marvel at her ability to take a “small” story and make it a book! Her worlds are always heading in a new direction, and this novel about a soldier’s son, Nevare Burvelle, is no different. What starts as a simple novel of a young man coming of age, with a bit of a twist (including magic). What seems like a planned lifestyle goes very awry for young Nevare. Not only is he not as brave or smart as you would think he will be, he still comes out on top in the end.

After reading part of Robin Hobb’s Liveship trader trilogy (which had excellent writing and characterization that unfortunately made me hate with a passion all characters who were bad-which there were a lot of) I had kind of sworn her off as an author. But Lately I’ve been have questing urges and the words soldier son and “Shaman’s Crossing” appealed to my wanderlust.

Unfortunately I misinterpreted those very words. I expected a novel with some type of physical journey- a “Lord of the Rings” esc saga covering uncharted territory, incredibly negative odds and massed evil. A real old fashioned fantasy epic.

What we have here is a fantasy journey of a more physiological nature.

Nevare Burvelle is a product of the currently eastward expanding and massively tradition ruled Gerina, where all sons follow in the footsteps of their fathers. If dad was a baker, or a horse trainer, or a sailor, then so are you. If dad was a soldier, so are you. Unless your father is a Lord, in which case there is a very clear line of career progression based on the birth order of all sons. The first is the heir, the second a soldier (an officer of course) the third a priest, the forth an artists and so on and so forth according to your bounty. Much like the implied English heir and a spare program that sent a spare to the army or the church.

Nevare is the soldier son in his family-as was his father before his success in warfare led to him being among the many soldier sons of noble families to be granted their own nobility and lands in the newly conquered plains. Because of his own life journey Nevare’s father (Lord Burvelle of the East) has great hopes for his second son and sets out to train him for the life of a soldier from an early age. This includes many tutors-one of which changes the course of Nevare’s life forever.

For a plains warrior is brought on to teach Nevare the way of the plains. Where Gerinan society is ordered and polite, the plains were ruled by many tribes of hunter gatherers who had a strong belief-and tangible prowess-in magic. But war with Gerina to the west and the specks (a forest dwelling, greenish speckled race who also uses magic) to the east has wiped out the once mighty power of the plains. Even their sacred lands (think heaven) have been stolen by the specks.

Unable to take them back on his own Nevare’s teacher brings him to the holy place to use his iron magic to defeat the speck guardian keeping the plains folk from their place. But Nevare is young and confused and the attempted task takes something vital out of him-and plants something in him that could bring down his civilization.

The rest of the novel is Nevare at his soldier academy. And it is tedious. Day after day of vaguely described war fare tactics and conversations with other soldier sons and rivalry between the soldier sons of the new nobles against the old.

Until the secret Nevare is hardly aware he’s keeping breaks out and threatens everything.

This is an interesting book in many ways but overall the endless, unchanging first person narration with so few climatic events just wore me down. What this book accomplishes in 600+ pages could have been whittled down to half the size and still have accomplished the same goals. Characterization (so fantastic in the Liveship trader series, which was in third person) is not great here, nor is the setting ever really explored. The best parts of the book are descriptions of the various cultures but even that is never really explored in a way to satisfy.

Tons of potential here, but the end effect is tepid at best. Still eventually I’ll read the other books in the series-this book did leave me with questions I’d like answered. But its not urgent.

Three stars.

After reading the Farsee trilogy I was looking forward to being absorbed in a different story but unfortunately i was actually bored reading the Soldier Son. I found the endless soul searching of the main character depressing and the story was not moved on . I don’t think I will be reading the rest of the trilogy. I am really sad about it as I loved the farsee trilogy and I found the author’s writing style was exceptionally good.

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