Forest Mage by Robin Hobb - a review (spoiler galore)
Since I have had to work at home this week I have had plenty of time to read through Forest Mage, the second part of The Soldier Son-trilogy.
First, I find this book to be of a higher quality as a reading experience than the first one. The prose flows more naturally and I find myself having trouble to put away the book. The main character, Nevare, was left at the end of book one as a survivor of a plague caused by a people called Speck. These people are enemies of Nevare's native nation Gernia and wants to prevent any attempt of invasion. As book two progresses Nevare discovers the plague has left him with a rather peculiar condition. He grows fat and encounters prejudice and cruelity from people, particularly his own father. About halfway through Forest Mage Nevare's father disowns him and Nevare has no choice but to seek his fortune in a small town on the frontier.
Just like book one, I feel quite irritated by gender, but this time it goes for the portayal of both sexes. Women are secondary to the story and they appear as either family members or whores (ok, I am slightly exaggerating here). I also deplore that sexuality is so closely tied to the evil of the Speck.
Another major gripe I've got is that Nevare sinks so deep into self-loathing. It reminds me of Hobb's first trilogy about Fitz the assassin. He too had his fair share of depressive thoughts as he became a pawn in games between royal fractions. I also think of Althea "I want my ship!" Vestrit in Liveship Traders, but unlike Nevare and Fitz she never sunk into loathing herself. Instead she went out into the world to prove herself capable on her own terms. She remains one of my favourite characters because she had the courage to see her life for what is was and face it. Nevare does not display the same kind of bravery or maybe Hobb goes too far to make his life miserable. I still want to hit him with a frying pan, due to his constant refusal to reach out and take the small chances of comfort he is offered.
Once I am finished I will devote my half term holiday to P.C. Cast. I long for a fantasy world where people can enjoy food, become divine and experience a fulfilling sexual experience.
First, I find this book to be of a higher quality as a reading experience than the first one. The prose flows more naturally and I find myself having trouble to put away the book. The main character, Nevare, was left at the end of book one as a survivor of a plague caused by a people called Speck. These people are enemies of Nevare's native nation Gernia and wants to prevent any attempt of invasion. As book two progresses Nevare discovers the plague has left him with a rather peculiar condition. He grows fat and encounters prejudice and cruelity from people, particularly his own father. About halfway through Forest Mage Nevare's father disowns him and Nevare has no choice but to seek his fortune in a small town on the frontier.
Just like book one, I feel quite irritated by gender, but this time it goes for the portayal of both sexes. Women are secondary to the story and they appear as either family members or whores (ok, I am slightly exaggerating here). I also deplore that sexuality is so closely tied to the evil of the Speck.
Another major gripe I've got is that Nevare sinks so deep into self-loathing. It reminds me of Hobb's first trilogy about Fitz the assassin. He too had his fair share of depressive thoughts as he became a pawn in games between royal fractions. I also think of Althea "I want my ship!" Vestrit in Liveship Traders, but unlike Nevare and Fitz she never sunk into loathing herself. Instead she went out into the world to prove herself capable on her own terms. She remains one of my favourite characters because she had the courage to see her life for what is was and face it. Nevare does not display the same kind of bravery or maybe Hobb goes too far to make his life miserable. I still want to hit him with a frying pan, due to his constant refusal to reach out and take the small chances of comfort he is offered.
Once I am finished I will devote my half term holiday to P.C. Cast. I long for a fantasy world where people can enjoy food, become divine and experience a fulfilling sexual experience.