Shaman's Crossing
 | |
| Author | Robin Hobb |
|---|---|
| Cover artist | John Howe (UK) & Christophe Vacher (US) |
| Language | English |
| Series | Soldier Son Trilogy |
| Genre | Fantasy |
| Publisher | Voyager Books (UK) & EOS (US) |
Publication date | 4 July 2005 (UK) & September 2005 (US) |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 400 p. (hardback edition) & 544 p. (paperback edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-00-719612-1 (UK hardback edition) Parameter error in {{ISBNT}}: invalid character |
| Followed by | Forest Mage |
Shaman's Crossing is a book by Robin Hobb, the first in her Soldier Son Trilogy. It is written in first-person narrative from the viewpoint of Nevare Burvelle and follows his life through his first year in the King's Cavalla Academy.
Plot summary
Template:Spoiler Young Nevare Burvelle is the second son of a second son in the fantasy nation of Gernia. According to Gernian religious practice, firstborn noble sons are heir to the family fortunes, second sons bear swords as soldiers, and third sons are consecrated to the priesthood. Holy Writ specifies other roles as well for subsequent sons. Nevare will follow his father -- newly made a lord by the King -- into the Cavalla (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 cavalla 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 vestiges of magic in a world which is becoming progressive and technologised. The 'civilised' peoples base their convictions on a rational philosophy founded on their 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.
During Nevare's youth, his father hires a Dewara, a plainsman of the Kidona tribe and a former enemy of Gernia, to teach Nevare things he cannot learn from a friendly tutor. After a grueling set of lessons, Dewara offers Nevare the chance to "become a Kidona" by participating in a ritual and killing an enemy of the Kidona. During the ritual, Dewara places a dried poisonous toad in Nevare's mouth and Nevare experiences a vision. The vision involves Nevare crossing a strangely constructed series of bridges and culminates in a meeting with Tree Woman. Dewara urges Nevare to kill her, because she is the enemy. However, he falls off the final bridge and only with Tree Woman's aid can he survive. He accepts her assistance and as payment, she claims him as her weapon to halt the destruction of her people.
Nevare awakens at his father's house, nearly dead from beating and exposure and missing a patch of hair and skin from his scalp.
Soon after his 18th birthday, Nevare heads to the King's Cavalla Academy to begin his formal training. His upbringing and tutors' lessons serve him well at the Academy, but his progress there is not as simple as he would wish. He experiences 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 carnival comes to Old Thares, bringing with it the first Specks Nevare has ever seen...
Characters in "Shaman's Crossing"
- Nevare Burvelle – the main protagonist
- King Troven – ruler of Gernia
- Keft Burvelle – Nevare's father
- Corporal Parth – Nevare's soldiering tutor at the story's opening
- Scout Halloran – scout for the army
- Sil Halloran – Halloran's daughter, part Gernian, part Plainspeople born
- Commander Hent – commander at Franmer's Bend
- Sargeant Duril – Nevare's riding tutor
- Rosse Burvelle – the eldest brother
- Vance Burvelle – the younger brother
- Yaril Burvelle – the younger sister
- Elisi Burvelle – the elder sister
- Master Rissle – Nevare's academic tutor
- Dewara – A Kidona tribesman hired to teach Nevare
- Epiny Burvelle – Nevare's younger cousin, an eccentric girl
- Colonel Stiet – commandant of the King's Cavalla Academy
- Caulder Stiet – Colonel Stiet's son, a ubiquitous presence at the academy, disliked by cadets
- Spink – a short, poor, but honest cadet at the academy; Nevare's friend.
- Gord – a wealthy, obese, highly intelligent cadet at the academy
- Trist – a handsome, likeable academy cadet with a penchant for bending the rules
External links
- Review by Jay Tomio at Fantasybookspot.com
Trivia
- The book's dedication reads "To Caffeine and Sugar, my companions through many a long night of writing."
Release details
- 2005, UK, Voyager ISBN 0-00-719612-1, Pub date 4 July 2005, Hardback
- 2005, UK, Voyager ISBN 0-00-721468-5, Pub date 4 July 2005, Hardback (1000 copy limited and numbered edition)
- 2005, USA, EOS ISBN 0-06-075762-0, Pub date September 2005, Hardback
- 2006, UK, Voyager ISBN 0-00-719613-X, Pub date 6 February 2006, Trade Paperback
- 2006, UK, Voyager ISBN 0-00-719614-8, Pub date 3 July 2006, Paperback (with new cover)
- 2006, USA, EOS ISBN 0-06-075828-7, Pub date September 2006, Paperback
Template:SoldierSonTrilogyBooks
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