You ready to embark on a wild ride? Well, buckle up because we've got the first book of the Soldier Son trilogy, narrated by the fantastic Jonathan Barlow. Author Robin Hobb, known for her incredible Farseer, Liveship Traders, and Tawny Man trilogies, takes us on another gripping adventure.
Now, let me introduce you to the protagonist, Nevare Burvelle. He's the second son of a second son, and let me tell you, that's no ordinary position to be in. You see, in Gernia, tradition dictates that the firstborn son inherits the family wealth, the second son becomes a warrior with a shiny sword, and the third son takes on the holy path as a priest. But Nevare's destiny lies in the cavalry, following in the footsteps of his newly anointed lord father.
Imagine the excitement bubbling in this young man's veins as he looks forward to a bright future. He's about to ride out to the frontier, maybe even snag himself a strategic marriage and carry on the noble Burvelle name. It's a dream come true, my friends.
For two decades, King Troven's cavalry has been pushing the boundaries of Gernia, taking on those fierce tribes of the plain. They've come a long way, all the way to the mighty Barrier Mountains, which shelter the enigmatic Speck people. Now, let me tell ya, these Specks are something else. Picture a folksy folk, their skin speckled like dappled sunshine, dwellers of the ancient forests. They're the last vestige of magic in a world that's charging forward into progress and technology.
But hold your horses, because the civilized folks think they've got it all figured out. They base their belief system on scientific principles and a good god who's replaced all those once-powerful deities. To them, these Specks are like primitive beasts, barely worthy of a second glance. Myths say they bring strange diseases and worship trees. People even believe that getting down and dirty with them is both filthy and stupid, especially since the Speck plague has wiped out entire regiments. Yikes!
Now, imagine how all these beliefs and superstitions are going to affect Nevare, especially during his time at the prestigious Academy. Training ain't gonna be no walk in the park for him, my friends. Oh, no. As the son of a "new noble," he's segregated into a group of other new noble's sons. And let me tell you, there's nothing friendly about that bunch. Injustice, discrimination, foul play – you name it, they've got it in spades.
But hey, there's more. Nevare's worldview is about to be challenged in ways he never imagined. First, there's his cousin Epiny, who's anything but conventional. She's stirring things up and forcing Nevare to question everything he thought he knew. And, just to keep things interesting, our dear Nevare starts having these bizarre and unsettling dreams that come to him in the dead of night.
But wait, there's one more twist in this gripping tale. One evening, the circus rolls into town, and guess who's with them? That's right, the first Specks Nevare has ever laid his eyes on. Brace yourselves, folks, because things are about to get even more intense.
So, grab your headphones and prepare yourself for an epic journey. With Robin Hobb's imaginative storytelling and Jonathan Barlow's captivating narration, this audiobook will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions. Buckle up, my friends, it's gonna be one wild ride.
