Forest Mage

[timelord4]

A bit flat this book, however, I do recommend persevering and try Renegade Mage. It has a good ending and wraps up the series tidily.

[murphy]

Originally Posted by Rahl Windsong

Well I finally finished The Forest Mage and I have to say I can not for the life of me figure out why Robin Hobb would write Nevare as she did in this book. Why does she think that we want to read about this incredibly obese character, described in great detail exactly what it is like to be so over weight? I am pretty much certain anyone who is over weight would not even want to read the book simply because it would constantly remind them of their own problems.

It seems as though she attempted to make the reader feel sorry for the Nevare character, when all I really felt was disgusted with how she tried to make Nevare into Fitz by making him fat. There, I have said it, Nevare is a carbon copy of Fitz in terms of how she attempts to make the reader feel about the character.

I will not be reading the rest of this series and I am really glad I found Forest Mage at my local library, I almost did purchase it...whew!

Edit: And no, I am not over weight so I don't hold a grudge in that regard. However I do have friends and family that are over weight and I know they would hate this book with a passion. Robin Hobb made a mistake with the Nevare character, either that or she only has the one main character type in her because I kept seeing Fitz under all that weight.

I too put the Forest Mage down for months. However, when the third book came out, I ordered it and finished FM. Having now finished Renegade's Magic, I'm glad that I persevered in finishing up the trilogy. I liked the final ending and thought it worthwhile. I did like the first series better, though.

[Fahim]

I'm done with the second third and am on the final third. I can't believe how stupid, oblivious and pig-headed Nevare is It's great writing by Hobb in that I want to bash his head in for being so blind to everything that goes on around him, for being totally contradictory in each of his actions, for dismissing anything which does not adhere to his own world-view. So I keep reading to find out more about how much more stupid he can get in the course of one book. But at the same time, I keep thinking that this is not the best way to spend my time if I simply wanted enjoyment out of reading. Nevare is absolutely, infuriatingly annoying and if he's supposed to be one of the brightest amongst the Gernians, I have no idea how those people came to be in power in the first place. But then again, I guess parallels can be drawn to our own world and our history to show that just such situations are more than possible

On to the last stretch to see what the ending that everyone is talking about, is

[Anomander]

My issues with the book is the way she gave really powerful negative views of the other tribes in the story, and never gave strong positive views. Savages! She didn't do enough research to show the underlying civilisation of these "savages", she just ended up making them seem really.... savage.

It was a good story - I read it in one go, but as a non-european, I always winced whenever she gave a negative view of the tribes.

[Fahim]

Originally Posted by Anomander

My issues with the book is the way she gave really powerful negative views of the other tribes in the story, and never gave strong positive views. Savages! She didn't do enough research to show the underlying civilisation of these "savages", she just ended up making them seem really.... savage.

Not sure I understand you correctly here. The viewpoint is that of Nevare and obviously, he doesn't believe that the plains people or the Specks are anything but savages because that's what he's been brought up to think. I don't believe you can blame Robin Hobb for that since the whole story is in Nevare's perspective. Of course, you might be saying something different and I might be missing the point here

But there are indeed hints and in the story (at least in Forest Mage, haven't gotten to Renegade's Magic yet) where she manages to convey the fact that while the Gernians might think them savages, the Specks might have a culture of their own which is nothing like that of the Gernians. She also conveys the image that neither of the cultures are inferior to the other - just different. The place where that came out strongest for me was when Nevare visits the Speck village with Olikea and sees not a village of huts but a people who live completely one with nature ...

[Anomander]

Originally Posted by Fahim

Not sure I understand you correctly here. The viewpoint is that of Nevare and obviously, he doesn't believe that the plains people or the Specks are anything but savages because that's what he's been brought up to think. I don't believe you can blame Robin Hobb for that since the whole story is in Nevare's perspective. Of course, you might be saying something different and I might be missing the point here

But there are indeed hints and in the story (at least in Forest Mage, haven't gotten to Renegade's Magic yet) where she manages to convey the fact that while the Gernians might think them savages, the Specks might have a culture of their own which is nothing like that of the Gernians. She also conveys the image that neither of the cultures are inferior to the other - just different. The place where that came out strongest for me was when Nevare visits the Speck village with Olikea and sees not a village of huts but a people who live completely one with nature ...

Hmm. You may have a point there - maybe I am indeed overreacting. I just felt that the description of their culture didn't quite negate the bad impressions that people had. It felt like Nevare was observing the specks culture from the eyes of an outsiders, I didn't get the feel that he was describing the specks culture as a speck. Perhaps that was actually what she was trying to do....

[Fahim]

Originally Posted by Anomander

I just felt that the description of their culture didn't quite negate the bad impressions that people had. It felt like Nevare was observing the specks culture from the eyes of an outsiders, I didn't get the feel that he was describing the specks culture as a speck.

I take it that you haven't read Renegade's Magic yet? I've just started reading it and by about chapter fifteen, you'll notice that Nevare is describing the Specks in a completely different way In fact, he admits to the fact that he'd been thinking of the Specks as uncivilized savages and had never considered the fact that they might have a completely different culture and civilization than the Gernians ... In fact, Renegade's Magic seems to be a much better book than Forest Mage. It's definitely not as annoying as Forest Mage but it's still slow - I'm almost halfway through the book and nothing much of importance has happened yet

[Elsid]

I liked the books a lot actually. Old Robin does seem to have a thing about her main charecters letting/making everyone think they are dead.

Though I didn't enjoy the books as much as the 'Farseer' and 'Tawny man' books, her style of writing is absolutly amazing. She puts so much depth into her charecters and her descritpions are wonderfully vivid.

I did find Navare a bit annoying though, but I still liked him. He's well meaning at least.

[Rosemary]

I didn't like the Tawny Man books very much and yet I enjoyed Forest Mage. I have to agree though, her character Navar was not well thought out. The story line was good and so I am looking forward to reading Renegade's Magic.

[murphy]

Originally Posted by Rosemary

I didn't like the Tawny Man books very much and yet I enjoyed Forest Mage. I have to agree though, her character Navar was not well thought out. The story line was good and so I am looking forward to reading Renegade's Magic.

Things do get better in Renegade's Magic.

[nixie]

Forest Mage, I enjoyed the first half but then she seemed to lose it 3/4 of the way through but I carried on and was hooked enough to finish the series. Renegade's Magic, I found good in parts but over all disappointing. The series had so much potential,but never lived up to it.

[The Ace]

I think Hobb does a reasonable job of capturing the essence of Nevare and his people's view of the world.

The Specks are seen early on as naked savages because that's what they are to the Gernians (spoilers ahead).

Nevare first learns that the Speck markings are man-made, and then sees them wear clothes as Winter approaches before finally seeing their culture for what it is, sophisticated but completely alien.

On the whole, I enjoyed this series, especially the clash of cultures, neither of whom really understood the other due to a lack of common ground.

[Sar]

I've been reading the series. I really liked the first two books. But I am getting really sick of Navare fighting with his other self. I am also sick of his tireless sense of duty. Characters have to change and grow in order to be interesting.

[Quokka]

Forrest Mage spoilers

Just finished Forrest Mage and I seem to be slightly opposite to a lot of readers, I really struggled through Shaman's Crossing and the first half of Forrest Mage but felt it picked up a lot in the second half.

I thought the whole private school/acadamy thing had been done so many times before and the fact that Nevare continued to be blind to things that the reader and even other characters could see has been annoying (from memory didn't Fitz do some of this as well?) to the point that I was starting to really dread reading about the wedding which maybe I should put down to good writing.

From the time he left his home again I thought things started to improve, the only problem I have with Nevare's obesity is we knew from the very start that he was going to be isolated and mistreated, Hobb really seem's like beating her main characters down so in her next series I'm really, really hoping her main character isn't an outcast of any sort! But other than that I thought she did a great job writing Nevare's transformation, please just let him be over he's 'why me' phase in Renegade Mage.

I must have had Forrest Mage for almost a year before I read it (I bought it more for a friend who had enjoyed Shaman's Crossing) but I'm certainly planning on reading Renegade Mage a lot sooner.