Books like Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb

Nevare Burvelle, the second son of a newly ennobled family in the kingdom of Gernia, sets out with his father to carry on the Burvelle name within the royal cavalry. As the army pushes the frontier beyond the Barrier Mountains, it encounters the Specks – a forest‑dwelling people who retain the last vestiges of ancient magic. In a society that prizes rational science and a new divine order, the Specks are seen as primeval savages. Nevare’s training at the academy brings him face to face with aristocratic prejudice, his own family’s new status, and the complexities of a world split between progress and tradition. Through encounters with the Specks, dreams, and the unconventional influence of his cousin Epiny, Nevare must navigate a dangerous frontier, an evolving belief system, and the internal struggle of a young soldier seeking his place in a changing world.

First publish date: July 4, 2005