Shaman's Crossing, Book One of the Soldier Son Trilogy

By: Robin Hobb

Narrated by: John Keating

A Hugo and Nebula Award finalist, New York Times bestselling author Robin Hobb is hailed by the Baltimore Sun as a “master fantasist.” Shaman’s Crossing begins her epic Soldier Son Trilogy.

The second son of a recently titled nobleman, Nevare Burvelle survives the King’s Cavalla Academy—where nepotism and corruption reign—to become a soldier in the Gernian king’s army. As he and his fellow soldiers are thrust onto the front lines of the king’s brutal territorial expansion campaign, they struggle against the Plainspeople—forest-dwellers who possess a powerful magic long dismissed by the Gernians. These rebels refuse to bow to the king’s tyranny. And as the battles rage, dangerous thoughts invade Nevare’s consciousness, forcing him to question his role in the army—and the life he’s always known.

Hobb doesn’t disappoint with this intricate fantasy tale featuring larger-than-life characters and exotic landscapes.

©2005 Megan Lindholm (P)2009 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Here is a master storyteller out to make a point and succeeding beautifully." (Publishers Weekly)

This book is really hard to put down from reading

I get through Books much too fast and when I have a trilogy to look forward too I just push on through them if it is a good book this is an excellent book. The characters are very well developed the theme though I thought was a little slow in getting to the point once it grabs your attention it’s got to you all the way.

Great!

Loved it! Harry Potter-ish in some ways. Great narrator too. Looking forward to the next one

First person story telling…

2.5 Stars
Reading from a single persons point of view was difficult for me – maybe that is because I rarely read a long book that only has one point of view.

The overall story was average but it seemed to be mostly terrible experiences to the main character and only a few parts that I could get excited about. The parts with the childish cousin were almost unreadable – really, she walked around with a whistle in her mouth! Much of the story was predictable as was the world, people and magic. I am not sure yet if I want to move on to the second book.

Robin Hobb rocks

I love this - my first time reading this series, and on my 2nd read of alll her other stuff. She’s the best

slow to start but good book.

it starts off kinda slow with character and story development but gets really good after that.