Forest Mage by Robin Hobb

Hobb is very good at trilogies, and I read this thick book, the second of The Soldier Son Trilogy, in 2 days. I did think at the end that the hero had taken a long time to arrive there, considering it was clear to me as a reader where he had to go. But it didn't seem long as I was reading it.

Someone wrote that Lewis and Tolkien cured writers of thinking hero's physical journeys were easy and not important enough to write about. Hobb makes you walk every step of the hero's mental, moral and emotional journey, as well as detailing the physical journeys. And yes, it is all interesting. We learn more about the Specks people, and what has happened to the Plains people. What we need to know from the first book is put in appropriately. An excellent reading experience, bring on the third book!

Forest Mage first published 2006