Shaman's Crossing
The Soldier Son Trilogy, Book 1
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Shaman's Crossing
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Narrated by:
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Jonathan Barlow
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By:
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Robin Hobb
About this listen
The first book in the Soldier Son trilogy, from the author of the Farseer, Liveship Traders and Tawny Man trilogies.
Young Nevare Burvelle is the second son of a second son. Traditionally in Gernia, the firstborn son is heir to the family fortunes, the second son bears a sword and the third son is consecrated to the priesthood. Nevare will follow his father – newly made a lord by the King – into the cavalry; to the frontier and thence to an advantageous marriage, to carry on the Burvelle name. It is a golden future, and Nevare looks forward to it with relish.
For twenty years King Troven's cavalry have pushed the frontiers of Gernia out across the grasslands, subduing the fierce tribes of the plain on its way. Now they have driven the frontier as far as the Barrier Mountains, home to the enigmatic Speck people. The Specks – a dapple-skinned, forest-dwelling folk – retain the last vestiges of magic in a world which is becoming progressive and technologised. The 'civilised' peoples base their beliefs on a rational philosophy founded on scientific principle and a belief in the good god, who displaced the older deities of their world. To them, the Specks are primeval savages, little better than beasts. Superstitions abound; it is said that they harbour strange diseases and worship trees. Sexual congress with them is regarded as both filthy and foolhardy: the Speck plague which has ravaged the frontier has decimated entire regiments.
All these beliefs will touch Nevare's training at the Academy; but his progress there is not as simple as he would wish. He will experience prejudice from the old aristocracy: as the son of a 'new noble' he is segregated into a patrol comprising other new nobles' sons, all of whom will encounter injustice, discrimination and foul play in that hostile and deeply competitive environment. In addition, his world view will be challenged by his unconventional girl-cousin Epiny; and by the bizarre dreams which visit him at night. And then, on Dark Evening, the circus comes to Old Thares, bringing with it the first Specks Nevare has ever seen…
©2012 Robin Hobb (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers LimitedListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
'Hobb is one of the great modern fantasy writers… what makes her novels as addictive as morphine is not just their imaginative brilliance but the way her characters are compromised and manipulated by politics.'
The Times
Praise for The Liveship Traders series:
‘Even better than the Assassin books. I didn’t think that was possible’
George R R Martin
A truly extraordinary saga… the characterizations are consistently superb, and [Hobb] animates everything with love for and knowledge of the sea. If Patrick O’Brian were to turn to writing high fantasy, he might produce something like this.’
BOOKLIST
‘A wonderful book, by a writer at the height of her abilities’
J V Jones
What listeners say about Shaman's Crossing
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- E. Stevens
- 28-05-20
A slow burner, but excellent
This is not a page-turner of a book in the normal sense, but the more you enter into the world the more fascinating it becomes.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- E A Hill
- 29-05-17
A fantastic new story with great characters
I really enjoyed this first book and the author has produced some great new characters and landscapes. The narrator did a fantastic job and has been my favourite out of all the audiobooks I have bought so far. I love Robyn Hobb books for their great storytelling and lovable characters- this did not disappoint
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- G. J. Curran
- 21-09-24
Very slow start but gripping once you get into it
I’m a huge hobb fan and loved realm of the elderlings but this is different, still a first person narrative, the main character being a teenage boy who wants so much to please everyone and meet their expectations of him, but the world is very different. There is very little of the traditional type of magic you would normally expect from a fantasy story but it is engaging and the characters are full and 3 dimensional as I would expect from this author, I look forward to the next instalment.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Yvonne
- 01-05-15
How wrong was I?
I thought that Robin Hobb was going to burn out of great ideas but no another series that is unique, interesting and full of fresh characters and new worlds.
With Shamans Crossing they sets up another world full of petty people, desperate aliens and innocence hero's and achieves that brilliant conundrum, do you sympathise most with the hero however worthy, or the alien who wants to be left alone.
I am so glad I have a long drive today and can get into volume two and won't have to wait any longer.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Marioncostadelsol
- 06-05-20
Highly Recommended, a great listen!
This gripping production was my constant companion through many days of lockdown!
Essentially a "cant put it down" experience:beautifully narrated and expertly written, this imaginative and captivating story had me engaged from start to finish...
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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- Debbie
- 31-03-15
Mostly ok
Well most of the book was great especially the start but then it gets boring at the end and doesn't build characters very well I found myself disliking characters that the book says I should like the performance was good but the story isn't great like other Robin Hobb books
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- robert hutton
- 30-05-20
excellent book
this book was recommended by a friend, it was not quite what I was expecting and took several twists and turns. it's a very good book, I look forward to listening to the others in the trilogy. I would highly recommend this.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Orla fennin
- 08-01-23
brilliant
really enjoyed this story. was reluctant as I so love the previous books in the serious and thought it coukdnntbe as good. However I thought wrong. maybe its Hobb's gift of writing but talk about been transported yet again.
Great characters and I couldn't leave it down. Highly recommend to any fans or non fans. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Vincent
- 22-03-13
Not for the faint hearted.
The writing, production and reading for this trilogy is excellent. I knew that the story gets very bleak when I took the work. As is usual with her writing it is very emotive and the magic is very unique. I wonder how hard it was to write. It is not really a reread for me in the same way as the movies Midnight Express or Unforgiven which despite their excellence I will not watch again. It is a pity that her Megam Lindstrom works are not on audio.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- Viv
- 17-11-14
Not one of Robin's best
A touch of 'The Dark Materials' in this story with a rather naive main character and a slow, rather dull story. The narration was of a similar one pace, almost boring delivery. Nonetheless the characters are sufficiently strong to tempt me to get Book 2 (though the only review available wasn't very promising!) Definitely one for listening to whilst you are doing something in the garden or on a commute.
It was however good enough to make me want to find out what happened.
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