Shaman's Crossing e-book - $1.99

[Farseer]

I agree with Rocketking as it very much depends on the reader.

Though I would almost always hand someone Assassin's Quest to begin their Hobb sojourn with (as the Realm of the Elderlings books are also my favourites ), there are many who have actually ventured into the RotE via Gernia. Some of this is evidenced in the various Gernia threads here on thePlenty but also in many other places.

While the majority of reviews do make it pale into insignificance somewhat when compared with the RotE tale, especially when reviewed by those who read RotE books first, I found the SS series to be more than readable and enjoyable and there is obviously enough there for those who read it first to want to then move on into Farseer etc...as many do.

I actually found many parallels between the SS and RotE books and while SS could never, ever be considered as good as RotE (in my opinion, of course...but then, for me, no other book series by any other author can be considered as good either! ), it is difficult to fairly compare a series of three books with a series of twelve, soon to be thirteen with BoD, as well as the many short stories that accompany the main plot. This is especially true when we have invested so much of that time with the characters we love so much within the RotE books.

I would even go so far as to say that reading SS hugely improved my understanding of *spoilers for all ROTE books*

Spoiler

the concept of ascendancy within the RotE, with regard to Kettle (Kestral) and Gull's places within Verity-as-Dragon, the Greater and Lesser dragons as well as the Vestrit family's anmas within Paragon, Vivacia and Bolt and even Fitz while he was joined with Nighteyes etc...

All very, very interesting.

Aside from introducing a new reader to Hobb's work, I think the offer would be a wonderful opportunity for those of you who have read the RotE books but who are a little fearful of forking out $$ for any of the SS books in the face of the negative reviews. Having the opportunity to purchase Shaman's Crossing for $1.99 is an easy way to try it before having to invest further in the second two books, especially if borrowing from a library isn't an option.

I know I bought and had the SS books on my bookshelf for years before I finally forced myself to read them, and I wish I had read them sooner. Give them a go and if you hate them you hate them but, as Rocketking pointed out, you shouldn't expect something like the RotE books...they are something else altogether.

PS I should have thought about this a little more and placed this in the Bingtown's night market thread rather than creating a whole new one! Apologies!