Obwohl ich wirklich gern wissen wollte, wie die Autorin die Geschichte Nevares noch herumreißt, bin ich etwas enttäuscht. Robin Hobb ist anscheinend selbst nur mehr wenig eingefallen und die Ereignisse rund um ihren von der Magie gebeutelten Helden sind auch in einer Fantasy-Welt äußerst unglaubhaft. Und statt einem Ende gibt es zwei. Schade, denn die ersten beiden Bände waren wirklich toll und Robin Hobb ist seit vielen Jahren eine meiner Lieblings-Fantasy-Schriftstellerinnen ... ( )

The third and final volume of THE SOLDIER SON TRILOGY.

I intended to read this trilogy back to back, but I just couldn't manage it. FOREST MAGE gave me so much trouble that I found myself reluctant to pick up the final volume. I put it off for seven long months.

Finally, I told myself it was time. I'd launch right in. I'd finish the trilogy. I'd cross RENEGADE'S MAGIC off my list. And I'd pray like hell that it was better than FOREST MAGE.

It was. I still wasn't quite there emotionally, but I do think Hobb did some interesting things with the books.

She shifts her focus once again; this time, we spend most of the book with the Specks. There are still a lot of great big emotional circles, but they're served up with a side of fascinating cultural stuff. And, best of all, we finally see the last of Nevare's ethnocentrism fall away. He comes to realize that the Gernian way isn't the only way. The Specks are different, yes, but they're neither primitive nor evil. Their culture is as rich and full as his own. Hobb excels at writing characters who change and grow in believable ways, and I think she's accomplished some good stuff here. Nevare isn't as likable as Fitz, Malta, Paragon, or any of her other deliciously flawed protagonists, but the progression is still there. It takes a while to come about, but in the end it's handled very well.

I also loved the way the magic came together at long last. Again, it took a very, very long time for everything to mesh, but I think that was sort of the point. I teared up quite often over the last hundred pages, and I finished with a grin on my face. I was very pleased with the ending. I'm sure you could argue that it undercuts what's come before, but I don't think that's really the case. Nevare has changed a great deal over the course of his story, and I think the ending puts him in position to use his knowledge. I loved it.

I was pleased with the book, but it does have its problems. Hobb begins with pages and pages of summary. (She did the same in FOREST MAGE, but not in any of her previous trilogies. I wonder if this was an editorial demand). I have quite a good memory, so I found this tedious. She then introduces a plot twist that leaves Nevare distanced from the action for much of the novel. This was a logical extension of everything that had come before, and I can see why it was necessary, but it did make the book drag at times. I eventually got to the point where I had to take a brief break from it. I wanted to enjoy it, and I was having trouble doing so. It all worked out in the end, but for a while there it was touch and go.

I'll be interested in seeing how the series rereads. I'm sure I'll appreciate the progression more when I know how it all comes together in the end. For now, though, I'm not sure that I can wholeheartedly recommend this trilogy. If you'd like to give Hobb a try, you'd do best to start with THE FARSEER, then work your way on through THE LIVESHIP TRADERS and THE TAWNY MAN. They're all awesome. THE SOLDIER SON TRILOGY is good, but it doesn't quite reach the same level.

(A slightly different version of this review originally appeared on my blog, Stella Matutina). ( )

I thought this trilogy really picked up with the last book, however the last hundred or so pages seemed a bit unnecessary. Still I remain satisfied overall, and in spite of the author's desire to fix absolutely *everything* before letting the book end, I found the conclusion much more satisfying than that of her previous trilogy. Except for the tiny little detail that I'm not sure whether or not we are supposed to know what happens to the main character right after the last page! ( )

This is an odd book to review. On a tactical scale - words, sentences, paragraphs I found that it was quite engaging. When I was reading it, I liked reading it. However when I wasn't reading it found it quite an effort to go back to.

The story of Nevarre continues, this time with him living wholly among the Speck. There is a LOT of writing about food and eating: I'd suggest avoiding this book if you're on a diet. Nevarre-the-Speck tries to rescue them from the intruders from Gettys with very mixed success. Finally they realise they must marry his two halves for the magic to work properly. They sort of manage this, everything sorts itself out and the Great Man he has become dies.

The pesky God of Balances comes along and parts of Nevarre go on, find Amzil, marry her and you get the impression lives happily ever after.

I've tried to work out why I don't like this in the overall sense. There are a few reasons.

First I get the impression it's a story that ought to have been told in a single book, it could have been great told small and tight, but it was padded into the inevitable fantasy trilogy at someone's behest. This leaves it slow and meandering.

Second, there are some messages about culture clashes in there. That's fine, good even. Most of them are, rather disappointingly, completely laid out in front of you at various points, explicitly. The problem is that it feels as if there's a mish-mash of cultures to have the clashes between. Each of the cultures has identifiable bits of several real cultures mixed into it, and this makes them feel spongy and not quite comfortable in themselves which also makes their inability to deal with each other feel off.

Third I don't like the hero. I don't respect him. Ms. Hobb has tried to lay out how his past has affected him and made him into these characters that I don't like and whilst I buy the explanation it doesn't really help. If you're going to read 2,000 pages about someone liking them or at least being interested in them helps I find. If you've managed to get through the first two books, this is better than Forest Mage, and it completes the story, but I wouldn't suggest starting the series. In fact you could probably pick this book up and get most of the back story and have a much more satisfying experience. ( )

http://rivkat.livejournal.com/194211.... ( )