Nevare Burvelle was born into duty. As the second son of a nobleman, his path is clear: military training at the King’s Cavella Academy, followed by a lifetime of service in Gernia’s campaign of conquest.
But war isn’t his only battle.
At the academy, Nevare faces cruelty and classist scorn. Beyond its walls, an ancient enemy waits. The forest-dwelling Specks wield a forgotten magic that defies reason, and it’s calling to Nevare—changing him in ways he doesn’t understand.
As the empire pushes further into uncharted lands, Nevare finds himself torn between the world he was raised to serve and a power that could consume him entirely.
Shaman’s Crossing is the first book in Robin Hobb’s Soldier Son trilogy—a sweeping, richly layered tale of fate, magic, and resistance.
