I am through around 130 pages of Shaman's Crossing, and I am not very impressed.  This is the first book I have read by Robin Hobb.   Is this series not very good or is it going to get better?

Thanks!

I liked it, wasn't mindblowing, but the Tawny Man series is MUCH MUCH better.

while i really enjoyed her Farseer and Tawny Man books, i barely made it through Shaman's Crossing and returned the other two books in the Soldier Son trilogy to the library unread.  so while i don't know if this particular series improves, i would definitely say to give her another chance starting with Assassin's Apprentice.

I agree with everyone else.  I devoured the Farseer, Tawny Man and Liveship Trader series.  Shaman's Crossing I barely finished.  I read the first chapter or two of the second book and gave up.  Definitely give the other series a shot though.  They were great reads.

I finished the first one.  Barely.  But loved the Farseer and Tawny Man series.  There was just too much politics in the Soldier's Son.  The other books, the politics supports the characterization instead of overwhelming it.

I'm repeating what the others have said, but I too loved Farseer, Tawny Man and Liveship.  I recommend Robin Hobb wholeheartedly based on those.  But I've haven't read/ordered Soldier's Son yet; I have far too many other series on my TBR.  But I am disappointed to hear it's not of the same caliber.  I may try it someday but no rush, I guess.

I would second both the Farseer and Tawny Man trilogies...those books were excellent both me and my husband loved them.  I also liked the LIveship traders series, but not as much as Farseer and Tawny Man.  My husband started reading hte Soldier's Son trilogy and says it is awful; in fact he disliked it so much that I don't think I am even going to attempt reading it.

I don't understand how Soldier's Son came out of the same brain that created Liveship Traders!  I slogged through the entire trilogy because I kept hoping it would get better...it never did.  But, as others have said, the set of nine books that make up the Farseer/Liveship Traders/Tawny Man series is much better, though Liveship Traders is far and away my favorite.

Soldiers Son was ok IMO. I adore Robin Hobb but yes, her new series fell flatter than I'd have liked. That being said, again though she did a fantastic job with the "sacrifice". What I mean is how all of her characters always have to sacrifice for others. Again and again. That she did well, again, in this series but it was a little drier than her other stuff. In the end you really feel for the character, but you do have to slog through the books at times.

I have all the Tawny Man and the Solder's Son trilogy on my TBR--loved the Farseer and Liveship series both. I am *really* looking forward to the Rain Wilds series coming out next--I just snagged a copy of the first one as an early release to review and can't wait to get it!

Cheryl

I whole heartedly loved the Farseer Trilogy and Tawny Man just like everyone else.  Liveship traders was enjoyable, but I really couldn't slog through the latest series in Soldier Son.  I think I just really don't enjoy the main character and find him pretty weak.

Has anyone read the latest book - Dragon Keeper?  I thought it was much better than the Soldier Son series but not as good as the other two.  It's a continueation of the Liveship Traders trilogy.  Here is a review from Amazon:

In a novel as good as it is massive, the first of two Rain Wilds Chronicles, Hobb returns to the dragons of the Rain Wilds forests, first met in her Liveship Traders trilogy. They have survived but aren?t thriving. Weak and sick, they must be cared for by the forest?s inhabitants. The only way to save them is to send them back up the Rain Wilds river, lest they run amok and destroy the more civilized peoples who don?t want the responsibility of caring for them. On the perilous journey to do just that, a rich merchant?s wife from Bingtown and a 16-year-old girl from the Rain Wilds tribes meet. They initially have nothing whatsoever in common except wanting to help the dragons, but that is enough for a bond between them to be eventually established as they fight natural and man-made hazards. The scenes on the water will remind readers of the Liveship Traders, as will the good characterizations and the lush forest settings. Hobb continues to occupy a perch at or near the top among contemporary fantasists. This book is imaginative, literate, and compassionate from first page to last.

I haven't read the Soldier Son trilogy but I loved the Farseer, Liveship, and Tawny Man trilogies.  I have heard Soldier's Son is not nearly as good and I am not in any hurry to read it.

I have read "Dragon Keepers."  It was OK, but I felt like it was half a book.  It ends and you're just like  "and..."  But I am excited to read the next one.

One word of advice if you read the other trilogies.  Don't read anything about them!  Don't even read the backs of the next books.  I had a couple surprises spoiled for me this way and it was very sad.

I think I'm one of the few people who actually really enjoyed this series. I thought it was innovative and that Hobb continued her streak in developing realistic characters. I wasn't 100% sold on the ending, but the series as a whole was very satisfying, and rereadable. 

I'm another one that LOVED the Farseer and Tawny Man trilogys but just couldn't get through more than a few chapeters of the soilder son series.  I was really dissappointed with it...