A review by redlotus_andjoy
Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

An underappreciated, absolutely fantastic work from the amazing Robin Hobbs. An absolute 5 star read for me.

Nevare, the central protagonist, drove me absolutely crazy with his silence, his hesitancy, his cowardice. I also loved him for his devotion to duty, his persistence, and his reverence for his father and the soldier son tradition. Following his growth from back country naïveté towards a glimmer of political/social reality was a great deal of the tension in this story. How many times did I mutter, ‘Oh, for pete’s sake, Nevare, get a clue!’?

I loved how Hobbs portrayed his father, a new noble, a good man full of kindness and care, and nevertheless a sexist bigot. People are complicated, we are often living contradictions, and Hobbs really captured that.