Forest Mage: The Soldier Son Trilogy

This book series is really good. My husband cannot put them down and reads through them pretty fast. Robin Hobb is a great author. However, my barely 15 year old son enjoyed the first book in this series, so for Christmas I bought the remaining two ...there are a couple of graohic sexual references that I personally was not prepared for. My husband questioned whether my son should continue reading them. They only really happen once in each book but they may be uncomfortable or inappropriate for younger readers.

I can't say that I'm really surprised by all the negative reviews for FOREST MAGE, but I would like to challenge the majority opinion here, and defend the quality of this story. I do hope that the negative reviews don't discourage potential readers from reading these emotionally-charged stories from one of the best epic fantasy authors of all.Most of the negative reviews here have focused on these books (and this one in particular) being depressing, boring, or overly-long, and while I certainly see their points, I have to contest all three points. First of all, the fact that Hobb has the power to cause actual feelings of depression in her readers testifies to the emotional intensity of the story and the connectedness readers feel with Nevare. I mean, no matter how bleak Conan the Barbarian's life gets, you don't start feeling sorry for him to the point of being actually sad. There's no emotional attachment there! Nevare's story is absolutely brutal, unfair, sad, and frustrating. And it has incredible emotional impact on readers precisely because Navare as a character is intimately knowable, believable, and sympathetic. It simply demonstrates the talent of the author that she can craft such fleshed-out and like-able characters. And despite the obese, depressed, whore-visiting Nevare not being exactly the typical fantasy hero or easy-to-love, it is his very imperfections and self-doubt that drive the reader up the wall with frustration (and sometimes down the drain with depression). Any story that has such emotional power ranks as well-worth the read to me.As for being boring, keep in mind that this isn't your typical hack-and-slash, fire-and-lightening, orcs-vs-dwarves fantasy. This is a carefully set up study of our vulnerability and helplessness to fate, as well as our resilience in the face of incredible hardship. And while there might not be many sword fights with between elves and orcs, or midnight flights from Ring Wraiths, there is still lots of more subtle action here. A marked increase in the amount magic in FOREST MAGE (compared with  Shaman's Crossing ) is also evident here, with a greater involvement of the Specks, and Nevare's growing understanding of his own power. I suspect that many of the people that complain of this book lacking action are the same that complained of the first being too mundane. In some ways, it is the very mundane-ness and Navare's inaction that make the few moments of true excitement all that much more powerful.And, while this book is certainly long, I don't think it can be consider TOO long by any means. Every chapter chronicles some new and important event that continues to shape Nevare into who he must become, and the descriptive style of Hobb's is what makes her worlds so intimately knowable. If you can allow yourself to enjoy the detail of the tastes and textures of food for Nevare (that in itself is some of that subtle action), and really get emotionally invested in Neavare's future, I think you'll thoroughly enjoy this captivating story (for all 700+ pages). Personally, I can't wait to read the concluding volume, and will keep my expectation sky-high for Hobb. Highly Recommended!

I will preface things by saying that I have completed the trilogy and now returning to review all three books.Book 1 was quite an enjoyable and engaging read. We came to know Nevarre - our hero- as he grew from young boy to young man, experiencing many joys and traumas on his way there. A unique world was created by Ms. Hobb with the gusto we expect from her.With Book 2, things change dramatically for our hero almost from the first page, and honestly, the story goes in quite a different direction from this point forward. Nevarre experiences an extremely life-altering after-effect of the Speck plague/magic that's set his course on a dramatically different road.For a good half of the book, the story is indeed rather engaging as we see how Nevarre struggles and yet tries to persevere through this mind-blowing physical change. I will say here that I can't come close to comparing the nature of this fantastical transformation of a hero/heroine to any other fiction I've read before. Of course, most here who are even this far in the trilogy are likely rather avid readers of fantasy in the first place. In most fantasy our hero/heroine has some sort of strengths - albeit physical, magical, intellectual or all the above. Yet, at the same time they often face obstacles, short-comings, maybe character flaws, injury, and possibly even some sort of disfigurement. Nevarre's transformation - and yes, a result of a magic present in the world - is not really like any of these things with the exception of a correlation to the latter, yet plays a pivotal role in the plot and events impacting Nevarre the rest of the way.The reason I go into detail on this subject is that the extreme nature of this particular change plays very much into the perception that humans have of other humans. And generally when we read - or at least when I read - we expect our heros to excel in some ways. As a male, I expect to read about a male hero in fantasy that I can imagine myself or aspire myself to be, or likewise a heroine I can admire and respect. Despite Nevarre's obviously strong character - yes, he has some flaws but you know he is good - his transformation may have a huge impact on how one may or may not perceive him moving forward. And, I will say this, it is not a situation I would find myself fantasizing about, aspiring to be a hero like Nevarre.So, to point, if you plan to go further with Book 2 expect an underlying psychological aspect to the story as there is a deeply troubling and uncomfortable progression, or regression rather, to the series especially for at least a good portion of this book. Things settle in a bit as Nevarre's world changes dramatically toward the end as it story directs the reader toward how the story will be in Book 3.I read the first book quicklyin a matter of days. Book 1 was much more conventional and quite enjoyable. I started to struggle in book two , mainly adjusting my "perception" to Nevarre's new reality (in this fantasy world). Probably finished the last two books over the course of a year or so as I took it in smaller doses.Overall, I can say I enjoyed the trilogy after completion, although enjoy may not be exactly the right description. I guess I can say I'm better for having read it. It is not for everyone, but if is one thing in the fantasy genre, it is very different.

I was left with a deep sense of sadness and abhorence for the deeds done to the native people's, but more especially to the character Nevarre' . It seemed to reflect the worst, yet in others like Adzil, the best in the human psyche. Those with power over others due to birth right or money seek to manipulate and destroy others who are obstacles to their objectives, traditions, or ambitions or for no other reason, but fear and prejudice. These two books were very well written , from someone who has witnessed the worst traits in human nature. Thank god there were small kindnesses to balance the despair.

Others have said similar things, but I'll repeat some.1) yes. I get it. Nevare was clearly an idiot. That's why he was sent off with dewara. But I refuse to believe anyone can be this much of an idiot.2) just. Nothing happens. I've got used to Robin hobb's slow middle books in all her trilogies. But nothing happens. Whiny brat gets fat, runs away, whines for 20 chapters, runs away again.Some people have called this trilogy dark. It is. And it's good at making you think about the plight of the fat man. But Nevare just acts so unbelievably stupidly at every turn, demonstrating a total lack of any of the skills he learned at the academy.

Having listened to the first one as an audio book (from the library) and found it to be decidedly dull but somehow still pleasant enough listening, I am not totally sure why I chose to plough onwards with the second book. It continues very much in the same vein, never really stirring any emotions or rising above a very modest trot. In this regard it reminds me of some of the L. E. Modesitt Recluse books - a genteel read that doesn't tax the reader with anything as trying as involvement. Maybe it is down to my really not engaging with the lead character at all - he just isn't very likeable (a review I saw of the first book suggested he needed to get a backbone - pathetic would not be an altogether unfair assessment of his character). One can sympathise with his being trapped inside a body he finds vile and the other unpleasant things that happen as his life rather falls to pieces, but it is hard to care much what does happen to him.Finally, that fish on the front: what on Earth is that about, shouldn't the cover bear some resemblance to something that goes on in the book?Will I read the final one? perhaps; will I care if Navarre ends up as toast?...not so much.

When I read Soldier's Son I thought it was really good, but it didn't have as deep a fantasy feel.This is where that starts.This is a fantastic trilogy. If like me you've read the Fitz -Chivalry stuff and the Rain Wilds/Ships books but you've heard this is very different, put those misgivings aside.This trilogy is as good as those books once it gets going.

Great plot, big fan of Robin Hobb and her world building having previously devoured all the Realm of the Elderlings books and Shamens crossing. However, there is a huge printing error in the paperback edition of Forest Magic I received from Amazon. Chapter 30 started, then suddenly the plot suddenly skipped forward with no explanation of what appears to be key events in-between leaving me very confused as to what I missed. Appears that chapter 30-32 are missing and chapter 33 and 34 are both repeated twice. Page numbers suddenly change too out of sync. Now need to find another copy/buy kindle version to fill in the gaps to allow me to move onto Regegades Magic which I'm looking forward too.