Forest Mage (The Soldier Son Trilogy, Book 2)

Robin Hobb's greatest strength as a writer is her ability to set characters with certain weaknesses and strengths of their own down into a set of circumstances and watch them react. I think she generally lets them react on their own, the way they would in such circumstances. Several people have characterized this book and its predecessor as slow and even boring. I completely disagree, as I could hardly put either one down. But this may be because I share Robin Hobb's view of reality--that life is brutal and there is a lot of pain in the world. If you have never been pushed almost beyond endurance by circumstances that, through no fault of your own, seem constantly on the edge of spinning out of control, then you probably won't appreciate these very difficult books. I say "difficult" because these are painful to read. As are the nine books in Hobb's three previous trilogies. I partially agree with those who wish to give Nevare a kick in the rear, but I think his behavior is realistic. His father is overbearing and demanding from the beginning, making his son feel as if he (the father) isn't pleased with him and making the disastrously bad decision to send Nevare out to that evil Plains fellow (I forget his name). Nevare has to live with his father's disapproval and with the results of his father's mistake. In the second book, Nevare is thrust out so far from his home that he has to be cut loose from any attachment to his father's opinion. These circumstances would create a certain paralysis in a character. Parents with rigid expectations for their children in terms of who their children should be (I'm not talking here about normal discipline) often create emotional cripples, and that's exactly what has happened with Nevare. I think Hobb is one of the greatest living fantasy writers today. Her books make me think--over and over again. I am now rereading my way through the first three trilogies (Farseer, Liveship, and Tawny Man) for the second or third time. I admit to being of a contemplative nature, so if you need a ton of fast-paced action, the Soldier Son books might not be for you. But I can't wait until the last one comes out, and I hope Robin Hobb won't quit writing for a good many years yet.

"Forest Mage" is a refreshing exception to the usual fantasy book formula. The narrating character is wonderfully and believably imperfect. The plot revolves around challenges to and changes in his psyche, detailing his internal journey of self-discovery rather than relying (as so many books do) on a clear-cut good-versus-bad conflicts. I imagine that people who only get a thrill from reading a constant stream of fight scenes may find this book a little slow, but those who take an interest in a character's internal development will have trouble putting it down. Though, I must add that once you adjust to the pace, there is plenty of action and suspense to enjoy, with a touch of horror for spice-- I found it quite gripping. Robin Hobb has once again demonstrated her masterful skill in creating complex and fascinating characters, and everything from the storyline to the setting reflects this. An excellent read!

I wasn't sure I liked this book in the beginning. Nevare was not a character I especially liked in the first volume of this trilogy and I thought my feelings for him were not going to change. And they didn't, not until the final few paragraphs of Forest Mage, a few paragraphs that I found such a perfect ending that it completely redemed Nevare for me. As for the rest of the book, I didn't find it depressing at all, just totally engrossing. I didn't do much of anything for a day and half but read this book. I love Robin Hobb's world-building, her way of creating such marvelous cultures and mythologies. This book was no exception. The forest, the Specks, the walkers, I loved all of it, and would happily have continued reading for another 700 pages. Can't wait till volume 3; this story is going to haunt me until I can finally read the ending. Thanks Robin, for another enthralling story.

Other reviewers have stated repeatedly that this novel was depressing. That is true, but Robin Hobb has never been an author with a light-hearted, upbeat tone to her books. She does however always deliver characters with great depth and feeling. While reading the novel, you become totally immersed in its world and extemely hestiant to leave it, no matter how dark and depressing it is. As always, the characters seem to be real people. Living, breathing, people with their own itineraries. None are neither all good or all evil, but moved by complicated needs and desires that make them so real. I have just finished reading this novel about 30 minutes ago, and feel as if someone important to me has died or disappeared. That is how deeply Robin Hobb's characters affect me. ***Warning, small spoilers in this review. I usually try to avoid these, but with this novel, I don't how else to comment on it.*** While the first novel showed up the maturing of the boy, Nevare, this novel shows the making of the man. In the first portion of novel, Nevare begins to be stripped of everything in his world. His physical fitness, his education, his love, and his family. Disaster after disaster befall him. Although he attempt to make the best of it, and grows into a man, taking charge and better the area around him, he stil loses everything dear to him. In the second, and longest portion of the novel, Nevare is broken down to the lowest of the low... weak-spirited, reviled, almost friendless, and constantly attempting conform to his destiny as decided on by his father. Even after his father has renounced him, he stuggles to gain his place in this society that he was "born" to have. Nevare however is meant for other destinies, no matter how he may try to revolt against them. Over and over his defies this new destiny, only to destroy his current life, and everything around him. Guides and mentors are given to him by his destiny, simultaneously giving him insight and providing him an antagonist to fight against. Temptations are thrown at him from both sides. Nevare is cursed to be torn between two world, able to see the good and evil in both, and unable to give himself completely to either one. The end of the novel is heartbreaking. Nevare is finally able to commit to one side, but the reader's heart aches for him and his fate. ***End of slight spoilers*** I eagerly await the final novel in the trilogy, hoping against hope, that Nevare is redeemed and is rewarded with all he desires (Just like I did with the Farseer trilogy). Unfortunately, I realize that Robin Hobb's trilogies do not usually end that way, and I doubt that the Solder's Son trilogy will be any different. As soon as the third novel is available for pre-order, I will buy it and check constantly on it status, much like I did for this novel.

I give this a personal five stars, but I can see why some would be put off by this series. I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to say that the main character becomes incredibly obese. This is a blow to his self-esteem, career, most relationships, and the way he is treated by the world. Also, there is a lot of hardship and macabre scenes. The protagonist has a sort of split-personality soul. Finally, the writing style is dense, almost like the main character's journal, light on dialogue. Sounds like a dull read? On the contrary, my productivity was destroyed over Labor Day weekend as I devoured it! It is much more compelling than Shaman's Crossing. Personally I didn't find it predicatable at all. While I often was led to realize things before Nevare himself could come to grips with them, this serves the story. It doesn't deflate the plot, because you want to see what he'll do both before and after he realizes things. This is not high fantasy. I consider high fantasy to be Tolkienesque, sort of hero-and-sword stuff, in an epic fashion. In contrast, in Forest Mage there's not a drop of glamor, no true love, and no happy ending yet in sight. Particularly satisfying is the full development of everyone's motivations, without resorting to good-and-evil morality, or even simple wrong and right. Plus it's set in the gunpowder age of his civilization, more similar to our early 1800s than most fantasy settings are. Some good supporting characters do carry over between books, but he doesn't get much of their companionship, due to the circumstances of the plot. (He does get very close to a few new people/entities though). I didn't find it bereft of emotion either, quite to the contrary. The main theme is duality. Now that Nevare has recovered the other half of his soul, he is a more complete person, with more initiative and daring, yet he is constantly struggling to come to grips with the two very different halves of himself. That Hobb has compellingly pulled off this tricky characterization is to her credit. It's no wonder that Nevare is slow to accept some truths, because he wants to stay the old Nevare, the soldier's son, instead of sucumbing to his Speck half, the magic, and a whole new way of thinking. He is begining to accept the magic, but he can't reconcile himself to the idea that he is merely a tool now, and all the choices he tries to make for himself end in disaster. In fact there is a Speck parable which Nevare tells as a bedtime story to some children that sums it up. The child is set a task by his mother, but he dilly dallies and tries to do as he pleases. All kinds of misfortunes befall him as a result. Ultimately he goes to do the task, and finds that his mother has already done it. Moral: some things are too important to be left undone. The magic will acomplish its goal one way or another. Much as Nevare would like to determine his own future, and serve as the bridge between peoples, betraying neither, t