From the Bookshelf of The Robin Hobb Collection…

Shaman's Crossing (Soldier Son #1)

Robin Hobb

Start date: April 1, 2014

Discussion: SoldierSon #1: Shaman's Crossing

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SoldierSon #1: Shaman's Crossing

Shaman's Crossing - 2017 buddy read
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Shaman's Crossing Re-Read SPOILERS
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What Members Thought

Mar 29, 2014 David Sven rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, audiobooks, flintlock-fantasy

I still don't get why this book is rated almost a star less on goodreads compared to the Realm of the Elderlings books. The writing is just top notch stuff. I get that the plot is slow as it usually is in most her books, but then again if you are already in love with Robin Hobb you know that it's the characters more than the plot that drive the story. It's the relationships between characters that provide most of the dramatic tension.

Anyway, I loved this book. The story is told from a single fir I still don't get why this book is rated almost a star less on goodreads compared to the Realm of the Elderlings books. The writing is just top notch stuff. I get that the plot is slow as it usually is in most her books, but then again if you are already in love with Robin Hobb you know that it's the characters more than the plot that drive the story. It's the relationships between characters that provide most of the dramatic tension.

Anyway, I loved this book. The story is told from a single first person male POV, which reminded me a lot of the way the Fitz and Fool books are written. The setting has a very old Colonial American feel with the Gernians and their cavalry fighting the horse warrior culture(Native American Indians)on the plains with references to another superpower occupying the coast (French or English). They even have muskets though they don't feature heavily in the book. Throw in another forest/jungle dwelling people on top of that plus the old magic of this world and you get quite a mix.

Protagonist, Nevare Burvelle, is the second sun of a Cavalry (Cavelle) officer. All second sons become soldiers in this world and being the second son of a second son means Nevare is off to the Cavelle Academy. I love stories with a boarding school setting whether it be Hogwartz from the Harry Potter book or the University in Rothfuss' King Killer Chronicles. This book was no exception. Even though it takes a while to get to the Academy, once we do the book got even more interesting for me. Unlike the ones I mentioned this Academy is not a school of magic. it's a straight up military school, but no worse off for that. The friendships, the rivalries between "Old Noble's sons and New Noble's sons, the atrocities committed, the intrigue that reflects the politics and happening of the wider world - it all works together in a way that had me looking forward to each listening session.

Speaking of listening sessions, Jonathon Barlow does an excellent job as narrator. His quiet spoken voice really suited the main protagonist contemplative demeanour through the book and is a good option for anyone considering the audio version of the book.

I'm giving this one 4.5 stars upgraded to five because that goodreads rating really doesn't do the book justice. The Fitz and Fool books are still my favourite but if this book is anything to go by I predict this series will top the Liveships and Rainwilds series. A great start.

4.5 stars

...more

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Apr 01, 2014 Hanne rated it liked it

Shelves: fantasy

Over the years Robin Hobb has become an absolute powerhouse in the world of fantasy. After devouring all her Elderling books, it was time for the odd trilogy in the bunch: the soldier son. A lot is different in this trilogy, and yet a lot remains the same: there are mysterious plotlines brewing (excellent for speculation!), but at the end of the day, it’s all about the characters.
I’m more than ok with that – I’m a very character-driven reader. Yet what this book didn’t have versus all the other ...more

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Apr 01, 2014 Ctgt rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

I've started this review three or four times only to become disgusted with my effort, slam the laptop closed and storm away. There are several authors who do this to me, Hobb and GGK are two who for whatever reason make it difficult for me to explain why I enjoy their work so much.( I'm reading Under Heaven right now and can see myself heading in the same direction with that review.) It's all about the characters with Hobb, if you are looking for an action packed book you need to look elsewhere. I've started this review three or four times only to become disgusted with my effort, slam the laptop closed and storm away. There are several authors who do this to me, Hobb and GGK are two who for whatever reason make it difficult for me to explain why I enjoy their work so much.( I'm reading Under Heaven right now and can see myself heading in the same direction with that review.) It's all about the characters with Hobb, if you are looking for an action packed book you need to look elsewhere. If you enjoy watching characters develop and you want to peer over their shoulders as their lives intertwine with each other as well as the society around them then you might want to give this a try. Granted this is the first book in the series so we are still waiting to see how or if these characters fully grow and change but already we can see Epiny change within this book. She tests the boundaries of the society in which she lives by upsetting almost every social norm. I started out thinking she was just an obnoxious twit looking to get a rise out of people for the fun of watching them squirm but there is much more to her than that shallow first impression. Of course we have Nevare, the main character no one likes. Born as the second son (soldier) he can be extremely frustrating to read about as he irritates you with his almost mindless adherence to societal norms, to the point of wanting to flick his ear and scream "WAKE UP". I guess Hobb is using Nevare as an instrument(very blunt at this point) to examine the society in which he was raised, we don't necessarily have to love him at this point but we need to understand how he was raised and why he reacts the way he does. It's easy to get your audience to fall in love with a character who has all those fantastic traits, wisdom, courage, strength, compassion but how many people actually have all those traits and use them when needed? Very few. Hobb sets up a world that has fairly strict guidelines in regards to family and class. She also looks at stereotyping and pokes a finger in the eye to those of us who tend to believe secondhand information without applying critical thinking.

This is definitely a slow burn and there were some tedious moments in the first third of the book but by the end I was completely invested and couldn't put it down. ...more

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Sep 18, 2017 Len Evans Jr rated it it was amazing

Well-developed world and great characters!

5 likes · Like · see review

May 16, 2017 Andi rated it liked it

So, after finishing all of Robin Hobb's other series (*sniff*), I decided to jump to her other works. This and those under her real name. Chose this first because it's three books and I like getting invested in her series. The reviews for this series have been not so kind and at the most, well, mixed.

How did I do this round? Would I mourn for Fitz, The Fool, and the Six Dutchies?

Sure I miss them, and sure this book isn't up to the standard of that series, but damn... it's dark and different.

How So, after finishing all of Robin Hobb's other series (*sniff*), I decided to jump to her other works. This and those under her real name. Chose this first because it's three books and I like getting invested in her series. The reviews for this series have been not so kind and at the most, well, mixed.

How did I do this round? Would I mourn for Fitz, The Fool, and the Six Dutchies?

Sure I miss them, and sure this book isn't up to the standard of that series, but damn... it's dark and different.

How to wrap this all up in a summary? This is how I took it: In a fantasy world, almost like an AU US, the world is very religious-bound. There is a set of rules made up for families. When a family gives birth to a son, this 'first son' becomes the political son. The 'second son' becomes the soldier son. The third son, if a third son is born, becomes a priest. The main character is a soldier son because he is the second born. He is to go and train in the military school so that he can become part of the Calvary. Now. there are a group of people that they have been kicking out of their native lands, Plainspeople. These people once fought against the Calavry but have now succeeded to them and is slowly becoming overtaken by their rules/laws. There is, however, a group that have splintered off from the Plainspeople, they're called Specks. They are in tune with the forest, nature, and despise everyone who stands against them.

The solider son had a run in with the great Speck goddess and unknowingly tendered part of his soul to her... there, in her mystical world, she creates a duplicate of the main character who will one day replace the main character and use her magic (that was given to the duplicate) to destroy everyone who is their way for the sake of their world.

... It's a strange book, and it's a dark one. It has a lot of themes that sway very close to that line of racial issues. I hear a lot of people have further issues with the other two books because the main character undergoes some changes (physically) and people deemed it as if the author was picking on those who shared the similiar traits.

I'll make the judge when I get to it. Right now, I can see that Robin had something in mind when this book came into play. I haven't figured out if it was some type of 'save the trees/nature/rainforest' thing, but it seems like that's what I'm gonna call this first book.

The character reminds me a lot of Fitz, though instead of harboring Fitz' moody and 'chance to jump into situations without thinking', this one is cautious, timid at times, and wants to be the best in a world that has been decided for him since birth.

I've already marked my place in the second book. So, my review for that one will tell where I stand on the series. ...more

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Nov 16, 2013 Shane Findlay rated it did not like it

I have a hundred page rule. If by a hundred pages I am not 'drawn in' I will call it quits. Because this was a favourite author, I made an exception. Gave it another fifty pages. Sadly this did not resolve the issue. ...more

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May 22, 2015 John rated it really liked it

Shelves: american-author, fantasy, 21st-century

Not my favorite of Robin Hobbs' books, it's slow even for her. But the characters are so fleshed out it's hard not to enjoy it still. ...more

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May 09, 2013 Jesse rated it liked it

3.5 Stars as far as Robin Hobbs excellent standard is concerned. Compared to the farseer's and Rain wilds, there was something lacking. But was still a great book, with well developed characters. Read in 3 days. Will definitely continue the series. ...more

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