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Much better than the first part, or to be more precise two parts fit together very well. A lot of open threads and parts of the setting seemed unnecessary, in the second book suddenly came together.

While the first book was for me mainly about immersion in alien culture, second is about things much closer to my heart: finding home, communicating across barriers. There is even some romance.

Also the aliens are very good.

Only minus is this book is still set in facist empire (that is somehow ruled wisely) and the characters are not starting a revolution ;)

Content warning

• Emotional and physical abuse;
• Colonialism, told the perspective of young cadet to colonial forces, son of a lord to colonial estate;
• Fictional, monotheistic, constraining religion taken deadly seriously;
• Strong gender roles;
• Disease and death;
• Discrimination of fat people;

I strongly suspect that other author would condense whole trilogy into a single book. But Hobb has her style and prefer slow narration.

The book tells the story of Nevare, a son to a lord of recently established Lord to conquered territories. He is a son destined to be a solider (according to some religious scriptures). I mildly disliked Nevare, he is young, naive, totally not critical of his own society (which is obviously feudal, colonialist, genocidal, incapable of learning new ideas and what not). Among the brutality of his life he manages to make a few friends, and receive some gentleness.

You can read this as a study on how and why feudal societies, where nobody is truly happy, can subjugate "naive" and "primitive" societies.

The book contains a lot of world-building the next books will build upon.

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