Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

Forest Mage - Robin Hobb

July 1, 2022.
Requested by Siobhan.

I probably will start later in the month but I’m all over this book.

I have to apologise, I'm only 200 pages into Shaman's Crossing! :( So I've failed miserably at keeping up with my own buddy read schedule.

Hope others you aren't as behind as me enjoy book 2! I'll get here when I can! 😅

Started now!! Only 13 days late 😅 sorry
Has anyone else started reading? :)

Up to chapter 5 (view spoiler)[

I am not enjoying this as much so far as book 1. Nevare was never the most lovable character, but he is getting worse! I'm really struggling to like him, all he's done is moan about his weight blah blah, and he blames everyone for his problems, and doesn't use his head. Hope it improves! (hide spoiler)]

I’m about halfway through. It is not as engaging as the first book but I’m still enjoying it. I’m hoping it will be the bridge between the first and third books.

Nevare’s Dad - pre-chapter 13(view spoiler)[I haven’t been this enraged at a character in a while. If this guy doesn’t get his just desserts then I’m writing a strongly worded letter to Hobb and demanding a short story when this guy meets every cruel end. What a major PoS. He just doesn’t trust Nevare at all and has these ideas about him and his character that go against his actions. Ahhh I want to pound his face in. (hide spoiler)]

The interesting thing with these books is that I never have any idea where it’s going. Usually when I read a book I have an idea and can make guesses but this one is always so random. I think I like them a lot for this reason.

I'm only up to chapter 8 :)

I agree I have no idea where it's going and I like that!

I have struggled with weight all of my life and I am up to Ch 7... This has been so hard to read, not because I don't like it, but because I completely understand the way he feels!!!! I left Bulgaria when I was 17, and I was considered heavy for my age at 168 pounds at the time. I had muscle and did sports and never sat down for long. Then I came to America and living in the Midwest, I learned to rely on my car for everything, ate food I had no idea even existed back then... I went back home when I was in my early 30s for the one and only time. I was over 300 pounds and people looked at me as if I was a monster... As big as I was, I have never felt so small... I tried diets, I tried everything, and I have never been able to take down the weight... Even cancer didn't do it last year... My thyroid is absolutely destroyed by the radiation and there seems to be no hope for my weight loss... It has driven me to become a hermit, because I just can't deal with people's judgement all the time... I have learned to live with myself, but as Navarre said, people see me as the weight first and foremost, and don't consider the person I am behind the prison of fat... Every word and emotional nuance is so true, I have no idea how Robbin Hobb has been able to nail it !!!! I know I don't have the magic reason for my fat, but I understand everything he is going through in the most painful and realistic way!!!!

That’s interesting because I have also been fat all my life and I’m finding almost none of this to be true. Perhaps because I have always been fat? Even as a kid. There was a time in college where I was considered more curvy but I didn’t notice because of body dysmorphia and have always felt hugely fat. I did get picked on as a kid but I’ve never experienced any of the things that are happening to Nevarre as an adult.

I’m sorry you are relating to this, Choko. Seriously. I thought it was overblown and that people in this world are just unusually rude or that being overweight was extremely rare. While reading this I just want to hug Nevarre and now I also want to hug you!

Thank you so much for being so nice to me!!! There is a reason I live in GR - this is my safe space:)))

Believe it or not, Americans are about the only people I know who are not as cruel to overweight people as the rest of the world. Every time I visit my dad, his first words, before hello , are "you must have gained more weight, what are you doing to yourself???"... My Polish friends see me and start telling me how sorry they feel for me, to be that fat, and the main theme of conversations become the best diets they know... Some random people from Brazil saw me on the beach and told me that heavy people like me don't exist in their country, but if they do, they don't show themselves in public... This is just the tip of the iceberg... The worst, anywhere, is when kids look at me and ask their parents what is wrong with me... Have in mind, I am over 350 pounds now... So yeah, she really hit the nail on the head, at least compared to my experiences...

I am up to Ch. 12... This is one bad thing on top of another... My heart is just breaking for Nevare! All those opposing powers are trying to break a good young man... I wonder, in the long run, if he is going to break...

Yeah, overweight people are very common in America so I think that’s not a thing really anymore. Everybody I know who isn’t from America has been here long enough to know the culture and not be rude about it.

I can’t think of a single time when someone has been rude to me about my weight as an adult. It happened a lot when I was little. Yikes!

My hope for Nevarre is that this is like a tempering phase where he’ll come out the other side wiser, kinder and ready to be a major badass. It seems to me -chapter 19ish (view spoiler)[ that he loses weight as he uses the magic. My guess is he’s going to fully embrace his power at some point and the weight will go. Then I hope he goes back to his dickhead father and shallow ex-fiancé as a powerful bronzed new hotness and enacts some much deserved retribution! And rescues his poor sister. (hide spoiler)]

Hahaha! I need retribution too! At least in showing them that he is worth it in some showy way, since they obviously can't see it! I am up to Ch. 14 and I am kind of scared for (view spoiler)[ his sister and the woman and her children he just left behind... He is leaving them in some horrid conditions, and I know they were in such even before him, but his presence gave those children, and his sister before that, some hope, and now he had to leave them again... Just seems harsh... But whom am I kidding, everything about this series has been harsh so far... I am not sure if we will get anything close to a happy ending at all. (hide spoiler)]

I am quite a head now. As depressing as the story is, it is also brilliantly written and I can't put it down! I have several other BR's I am putting off just so I can stick with this one... I am in Ch. 27... I can foresee only more terrible things happening...

I just finished and I have to exercise a real strength of will not to jump straight into the next book!!!! There is so much emotion! I gave this book a 5 star, even though I have one main problem with Nevare - I know he is just barely 20 years old, and I know he was sheltered in his peculiar way, and I know he is uncommonly naive, but he does act quite stupidly at times. People tell him stuff and his favorite phrase is "I don't know what you mean"... At times I want to shake him! If he was a female, we would be saying that she is ridiculously stupid, but in his case, we chuck it to not allowing himself to accept anything outside of his box, despite being shown time and again things are not so simple, but not too complicated either, as long as you accept that not everything has to happen the way you were raised to believe... Still, an amazing book!

I’m stalled out at 50% because I ran out of time and had to return it to the library. I’m back in line with an estimated 3 week wait. 😫

That sucks! do you read it on Kindle or audio?

Audiobook

Aww man! :( Hope the hold comes in sooner.

((Sorry for tots falling behind yet again everyone! ugh. I'm going to try and finish book one this week and comment in the discussion post. Then start on book 2 right after! So I might be a little stilted with my reading timeline compared to you all, but I can't wait to read all of your comments on the series <3))

I'm still dawdling along with this one, Katie, so you're not too far behind! :)

Phew! That makes me feel a tad better :)

I’m also still stalled out waiting on a library hold.

100 pages in or so and I didn't expect the main topic of the story to be of Nevare's sudden weight gain! O.O I think it's amazing how something like this can affect us on a personal level. Like with you Choko and what you shared <3 Or Felina even <3 It sucks that we still life in a society where certain body types are still shamed. And assumptions are made :/

While I can't relate like some here in the discussion my partner is what I call "fluffy". He is a very large boi. lol. So when I read a line last night that Nevare said.... "People don't know that beyond the fat lies muscle like there always was." I had to chuckle and tell him. My guy can lift fridges and couches by himself. lol. You can be large and strong! It's too bad that the worst of people only see disgust at times :/

My partner also dealt with a great deal of weight gain after chemo Choko. From lung cancer. So I bet he could relate a bit on that level. Hugs~

Anyways....Thoughts up until Chapter 5
I HATE (view spoiler)[Nevare's family. My god! His father. The worst. The siblings aren't any better. Is that how you welcome home your son?! A son who SURVIVED A PLAUGE!!!!! I get so riled up and protective in situations like this. I can't wait until he really shows his family what's what. For we've seen how capable and special Nevare is. I'm sure there is more in store.

Speaking of untapped potential. Anyone else think that he's taking on weight because the tree woman was such a person? Is he taking her spot in this magical realm of the specks? Since he killed her? Is it the magic? I feel like something is in the works....

Let's see....Oh, his "crush" is a terrible person. For not even taking the time to talk to Nevare. To ask how he was. And just to assume the worst of him because of his condition :/

The old magic in the garden with the dove was disturbing... (hide spoiler)]

Also, can I just say the cover of this book is lovely until I know what the scene is supposed to depict...Isn't this supposed to show the tree woman being slain? Like Nevare recaps in the beginning?! Ugh. Eyeroll. They don't even portray her correctly here. She's supposed to be a lady full of curves and voluptuous nature. Which isn't uncommon for most goddesses of old. Especially fertility goddesses. So why can't we have that on a cover? kinda irks me when they redraw something like that.... unless it's not the tree woman??

Up to Chapter 10 and oh my gosh. Nevare's father is so hateful!!! Ugh. I can't even.

(view spoiler)[Like after everything. He just choses to believe the lies he tells himself. That nevare is a cheating, lying, glutton who wishes to take the family's fortune?! Are we talking about the same dude here? Seriously. It's so shocking and disappointing to know when someone's mind is set they can have these disillusions.

I can't believe what he put Nevare through. Even shutting him in his room like that. The length his father will go to "fix" a problem. Which honestly isn't even a problem to begin with. But in this society. If you fail to live up to your lineage ala a soldier...that's unforgivable? Even when newer families are having to reroute the lineage laws because of the plague deaths???

I'm shocked and saddened that most of Nevare's family died in the plague. They were unkind to him some, yes. But they didn't understand. And they still loved him. Sickness is a terrible thing. It doesn't discriminate. We saw that with COVID too >_<

I'm so so happy that Yaril apologized to Navere. She came up front and told him why she betrayed her brother. Thinking of political alliances, and even just wanting her father to notice her :/ I truly loved the time they got to know one another again.

It was just made worse when their father appeared to dinner. How DARE he say Nevare was plotting this whole time? And that he did a disservice to his family. For it was him, Duril, Yaril, and a few servants who kept things running when he was grieving. The nerve!

I know Nevare is better off for being disowned. But I worry about what his father will do with Yaril. :/ That's too much pressure and I wish he would just take her with him. But that's not this book sadly.

Also, Duril remains to be best ~<3

One thing I really hope that doesn't happen is that Nevare gets back to his normal weight. I don't want weight gain to be a plot point for plot points sake, you know? We already know magic is involved someway because of Deware... but sometimes in fantasy novels problems are magically hand waved away. And then things just don't matter as much? And that becomes a very dangerous topic sometimes. Like with mental health or body appearances. I just don't want things to be taken lightly here. I'm just hoping Nevare grows to love and accept himself more and become a respected person. Maybe a sorcerer? Who knows? :D (hide spoiler)]

Oh yeah, I was ready to kill his father!

I just finished this one. So good!

End of book spoiler (view spoiler)[ I’m sad the Nevarre is forced to leave behind all his hopes and dreams and everything he worked so hard for but I’m excited for him to finally embrace the situation he’s finding himself in. Often we see our lives a certain way and have a difficult time navigating change. I completely understand him fighting the magic and being hesitant to leave behind the people he loves. But I want to see him embrace what he is and kick some ass! (hide spoiler)]

Felina wrote: "Oh yeah, I was ready to kill his father!

I just finished this one. So good!"

Right?! Just the worst!!

I'll have to check your spoilers a bit later. I plan to finish the book this week :D

Katie I couldn't agree more about (view spoiler)[ Nevare's weight gain and hoping it isn't magically sorted out. I have been kinda assuming he'll get back to his normal self eventually, but I think it would be much better if he learns to accept his new self and become a badass sorcerer!! (hide spoiler)]

Felina wrote: "End of book spoiler [spoilers removed]"

I finally finished! What an ending! (view spoiler)[ Totally agree with you, I'm so sad he had to leave Spink and Amzil when she loves him for who he really is!
But I'm also excited to see him finally embrace the magic, can't wait to see what he can do!
And I can hope he ends up with Amzil and his lovely friends in the end right?! XD (hide spoiler)]

Siobhan wrote: "Katie I couldn't agree more about [spoilers removed]"

Exactly!!! Funnily enough when thinking of this (view spoiler)[magic weight gain it's actually used a lot for super powers. Like in Naruto how Choji consumes lots of snacks and foods to power up his ninjitsu. Or even Fatgum in My Hero Academia. So lots of anime powers I guess XD (hide spoiler)]

Ending Review
(view spoiler)[
Oh. My. Gosh. You know, I kinda want to tell Nevare “I told you so” but I think that’s a tad too soon. ^^;

Once again I feel that Hobb has surpassed her previous book. I just get so absorbed in these characters and descriptive proses. The hours just kind of flew by.

I still struggle with the stubborn naivety if Nevare, but I also kind of love it. He’s just so adamant that he’ll reject magic and become a true Soldier’s Son that he doesn’t even realize he’s still a pawn in a much grander game.

The more frustrating fact is that he fails to realize how much his decisions impact others. Even his aims to keep secrets from Epiny or Spink. He’s doing it from a good place, but it all just tumbles apart when the magic is involved. Luckily, even when Nevare is facing the worst of things he had such loyal friends and family standing among him (no matter how often he tries to turn them way). I truly adore Epiny, Spink, and Amzil with all my heart <3

If only this soldier’s son had listened closely to the magic all along this would have been a much shorter book. But then again he might have missed meeting Amzil or Hitch. Sometimes it’s about the journey more than the destination, right? And his failures to listen to the will of magic have costed him greatly. Giving him no other options at this point.

But listen to me blabbing. This isn’t much of a review but an overall thoughts of the book I suppose…

The characters are wonderful as mentioned before. And again I have hated more than one nefarious person within these pages. The setting and plot hooks of this book were certainly unexpected. From things going downhill at the academy, to the plague coming home to roost, to finding a new path, learning the harsh realities of the word and the distrusting people who live in it, until we finally come to a lone grave keeper post out in the middle of nowhere. Things are certainly not linear for Nevare and his journey. But it’s these moments that stuck out the most for me. Like when he befriends a distrusting Amzil as she’s doing her best to fend for her children before winter falls, or finally bonding with his sister Yaril again after their falling out, or Duril being heartbroken about Nevare not writing letters to him even if he can’t read, or Spink and Epiny’s undying loyalty to their friend. These are all of the moments I truly appreciate and hold in my mind. <3

Another thing I truly appreciate is the talk of body image in these pages. For after the plague instead if becoming gaunt and sickly Nevare starts to pack on a few pounds. And the sheer hatred and judgment he got just for his changed appearance is heartbreaking. And it’s something a lot of people have to deal with day to day. And although this weight gain was due to the Speck magic I still think it was handled very well. The inner thoughts and struggles really came through. I only hope that in the final installment he can be more accepting of who he has become now. Even if it wasn’t his chosen path. I hope he finds some peace, and a way to help everyone with his newfound magic~

Knowing how Hobb writes I may be a bit niave myself in hoping for a happy ending for the world and it’s characters. But one can only hope ^^;
(hide spoiler)]

Ending Thoughts~
Gosh. I feel like I haven’t responded in forever. But I truly adored every inch of this book. There were so many emotions on this journey. (view spoiler)[Rage at those who sought to paint Nevare in a bad light, fear for Epiny in her struggles with depression, and the joy at (almost wrote Fitz there for a second. Lol) Nevare finding a new friendship with Amzil and her kids before winter fell. I will never tire of Hobb’s proses.

But wow. That ending. I can’t believe Epiny saved him in the end like that! Tying her own fate towards the speck magic now. Finally things are kicking into gear with Nevare’s cousin in on the plan. Just seeing her and Spink’s dedication to the cause makes me see how mopey Nevare can be at times. He doesn’t realize that he can ask for help at times. That his family do in fact love him. No matter how changed he thinks he had become.

Loved how Amzil is just blowing up things in a prison break at the end there!! That damn magic. Condemning him further and trying to send him back to the forest for good. I only hope that he got his family free of its snare.

The new commanding magics at the end was a shocking twist. We had seen it before of course when he would Jedi mind trick people out of anger. But to see him finally determined to give into all of its power was something to behold.

Carinsa is still the worst. Even if she did plead for an apology at the end. I just. Some of these people were absolutely horrid!! And yes. It’s about perspective. Sure. They meant no harm. But still. I like true Justice being had to it’s just maddening to see mob Justice happen like that :/

Speaking of blame. I head NO idea hitch was the one who killed the woman from the whore house!! It shockingly makes sense. But at least let the girl go. Frame him. Was murder necessary? Poor flora. I think that was her name??

Gosh. I feel like there’s so much more to say. But I think I’ll leave it here and see what everyone else has talked about so far (hide spoiler)]

I'll have to go back and check all of your guys's ending thoughts soon. In a D&D game now, so I can't respond XD