I must admit I was a little slow to start reading Robin Hobb’s latest novel, Shaman’s Crossing (it’s already out in paperback here), but I’m glad I did. It’s a fantastic book, like all her others, but it’s the differences that make it great. Unlike the conventional fantasy setting, she has set hers in a world rather like the era of the American Civil war (or so I’m guessing. I have very limited knowledge of any American history but I’m pretty sure it fits that era than any other.) For instance, the characters fight with swords as well as guns (musketts and shotguns), which I thought was odd at first but you really get into it.

Anyway, I won’t ramble on about it any more than I have to but if you’ve read her other books and are a bit iffy about this one, definitely give it a go. If you haven’t read any of her work and want something a bit different, also give it a go. Also on the plus side is that it doesn’t leave you with a cliff hanger that has to wait a year or two for the next book to be resolved (so there’s no Wheel of Time rubbish happening.)