Shaman's Crossing
Book Tracking
Sign up to add this book to your recommneded, reading, or planned reading list.
Book Covers
Multiple editions, click to view covers:
Planning on Reading
Book Details
Written by Robin Hobb.
Buy this on Amazon
($25.95)
Editorial Review (from Amazon.com)
The first book in a brand new trilogy from the author of the Farseer, Liveship Traders and Tawny Man trilogies. When the two-hundred year war between the kingdoms of Vania and Landsing ended the Landsingers were left in triumphant possession of Vania's rich coal and coast territories. When young King Troven assumed the throne of Vania thirty years later, he was determined to restore her greatness, not through waging another assault upon their traditional enemies, but by looking in the opposite direction and colonising the wild plains and steppes to their east. Over the next twenty years, cavalry forces manage to subdue the rolling plains formerly wasted on nomadic herders and tribesmen.Troven's campaign restores the pride of the Varnian military and to reward them, Troven creates a new nobility that is extremely loyal to their monarch. Beyond the grasslands lies the current frontier of Varnia, the heavily forested Barrier Mountains, home to enigmatic Specks: a dappled, forest dwelling people, unable to tolerate the heat and full sunlight of the plains. The new settlers find the Specks slightly dim-witted and overly placid, and yet strangely difficult to control. There are tales that they are 'blood-drinkers' and their nature worship of ancestral trees has presented difficulties for those who wish to harvest the forest's exotic timber. They also harbour strange diseases, ones that cause the Specks little more than a week or two of discomfort but which frequently kills those settlers and soldiers who fall victim to it. For that reason, prolonged contact, and especially intimate contact with the Specks is judged both fool-hardy and disgusting. Nevare Gerar is the second son of one of King Troven's new lords. Following in his father's footsteps, a commission as a cavalry officer at the frontier and an advantageous marriage await him, once he has completed his training at the King's Cavalry Academy.User Reviews (2) Login or create an account to write a review.
Fence thinks this book is Good.
I’m a big fan of Hobb’s Fittz books, so I was looking forward to this coming out in paperback. And despite hearing some bad reviews I think it was a very enjoyable read. Not as good as the Farseer books, but still engaging and interesting.
Nevare Burvelle is the main character; the second son of a lord it is his destiny to become a soldier, an officer, and to fight, as all second sons must, for king and country. This is a duty and responsibility he looks forward to. The Writ of the good god lays out the life choices of nobility and Nevare has no problems with his path. He wants to be a good officer, to make his father proud, to bring honour to his family and his name.
This is very much a Hobb book, and by that I mean that character development is more important than plot, and I like that. But I would have to say that the story itself isn’t all that fascinating. Somewhat interesting, yes, but not as gripping as it could have been. If I’m totally honest it feels like an introduction to the life of Nevare rather than a book in its own right. Still, the story does end, so if don’t want to read on in the series, then you don’t have to.
Julie Carter thinks this book is Good.
This is not the place to start if you are new to Hobb. The book could be 2/3 the length and would have benefited from it. It ends up pretty compelling, but has a lot of padding that shouldn't be there. I do look forward to the next in the series.