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Harpercollins
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Literature. Thriller. HTML:NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Nearly twenty years ago, Robin Hobb burst upon the fantasy scene with the first of her acclaimed Farseer novels, Assassin�s Apprentice, which introduced the characters of FitzChivalry Farseer and his uncanny friend the Fool. A watershed moment in modern fantasy, this novel�and those that followed�broke exciting new ground in a beloved genre. Together with George R. R. Martin, Robin Hobb helped pave the way for such talented new voices as Scott Lynch, Brandon Sanderson, and Naomi Novik. Over the years, Hobb�s imagination has soared throughout the mythic lands of the Six Duchies in such bestselling series as the Liveship Traders Trilogy and the Rain Wilds Chronicles. But no matter how far she roamed, her heart always remained with Fitz. And now, at last, she has come home, with an astonishing new novel that opens a dark and gripping chapter in the Farseer saga. FitzChivalry�royal bastard and former king�s assassin�has left his life of intrigue behind. As far as the rest of the world knows, FitzChivalry Farseer is dead and buried. Masquerading as Tom Badgerlock, Fitz is now married to his childhood sweetheart, Molly, and leading the quiet life of a country squire. Though Fitz is haunted by the disappearance of the Fool, who did so much to shape Fitz into the man he has become, such private hurts are put aside in the business of daily life, at least until the appearance of menacing, pale-skinned strangers casts a sinister shadow over Fitz�s past . . . and his future. Now, to protect his new life, the former assassin must once again take up his old one. . . . Praise for Fool�s Assassin �Hobb knows the complicated workings of the wayward human heart, and she takes time to depict them in her tale, to tell her story sweetly, insistently, compellingly. . . . A book meant to be inhabited rather than run through.��The Seattle Times �[FitzChivalry Farseer is] one of the best characters in fantasy literature.��Fantasy Book Review �[Hobb�s] prose sparkles, her characters leap off the page.��Tordotcom �Modern fantasy at its irresistible best.��The Guardian �Fantastic . . . emotionally rich storytelling.��Library Journal (starred review).… (more)
Media reviews
It is still impossible to resist. And when the seeds of doom Hobb sowed so near the start of the novel finally begin to sprout, when the life of contentment Fitz has built so carefully around himself starts to crumble in earnest, it is hard to know whether to read as fast as possible, to find out
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what happens, or to savour the pages, knowing this is the start of another trilogy and that the ending will leave you bereft.
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User reviews
LibraryThing member tldegray
I should probably admit right now: I've never read anything else in this sprawling, multi-series, universe. I went into this with no preconceived ideas of what this book and its characters would be. And I loved it. There were parts where I just grinned like a fool as I read, because the writing was
Here's a thing I truly, truly liked: Fitz is aging. His wife is aging. A lot of this book has to do with aging and the limits of age. As I am aging, this is something I've begun looking for.
I also liked the portrayal of family and found-family and how loyalty to one's family is so important. And I liked that Fitz frequently and kindly gets called on his nonsense.
Some of the absolute best parts in this book were of Fitz and his daughter. I could have lived in that world.
The ending got me, the book made me happy, you should read it.
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so good and the events so pleasing. Not to say everything in this book was joyous, because it wasn't, but more to say I found pleasure in the reading of this book. It hit me in an emotional place.Here's a thing I truly, truly liked: Fitz is aging. His wife is aging. A lot of this book has to do with aging and the limits of age. As I am aging, this is something I've begun looking for.
I also liked the portrayal of family and found-family and how loyalty to one's family is so important. And I liked that Fitz frequently and kindly gets called on his nonsense.
Some of the absolute best parts in this book were of Fitz and his daughter. I could have lived in that world.
The ending got me, the book made me happy, you should read it.
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LibraryThing member Narilka
“Time is an unkind teacher, delivering lessons that we learn far too late for them to be useful. Years after I could have benefited from them, the insights come to me.”
Many years have passed. FitzChivalry Farseer's days as a royal assassin and spy are long behind him. Having fully adopted his
I don't know how she does it. Robin Hobb is the queen of the slow burn and some of the most wonderful characterizations, and best character relationships, I've ever read. Fool's Assassin is the first book in Hobb's final Elderlings trilogy titled The Fitz and the Fool and is the 7th book to star Fitz. Just when you think you've known all you can about a character Hobb proves you wrong and continues to add layers to the complex and rich world she's created and the characters that live here.
There will be some spoilers beyond this point. You've been warned.
Much of this book is devoted to the domestic daily life at Withywoods and I loved every minute of it. Hobb's prose is gorgeous. Fitz spends a lot of time being introspective of his past as Molly runs the house. I never really was a fan of Molly throughout the series. I think both time and being away from Farseer politics has helped mellow her character out so she's the most tolerable she's been to date. Even still, their relationship is a bitersweet one. Due to events from the Tawny Man trilogy, Fitz doesn't age normally and has to watch as Molly's mental health slowly declines as she ages. It is with great joy and much confusion to learn that Molly is pregnant in her 50's. The new addition to the family, their daughter Bee, is a surprise and a delight. It was wonderful reading about her and getting to know this character.
Since the focus of this book is on Withywoods, those of you hoping for old characters to make a return will be disappointed. While Chade and the others do make appearances, they are not central to this story though I suspect some of them may have bigger roles in the remainder of the series. Still, Fitz is Fitz and proves yet again that the more things change, the more they remain the same.
As I mentioned earlier this book is a slow burn. While the action is kept to a minimum until the very end there is plenty of tension throughout. It makes for an emotional and engaging read with some scenes being deeply moving. This is Robin Hobb - you just know the peace for Fitz and his family can't last. The last 100-150 pages were intense, with that final chapter being so high adrenaline that it took me a while to calm down after reading it!
Fool's Assassin is a fantastic start to this new trilogy. For those who have not read Robin Hobb, you definitely need to start back at the beginning with Assassin's Apprentice. Now it's straight on to book two for me.
Many years have passed. FitzChivalry Farseer's days as a royal assassin and spy are long behind him. Having fully adopted his
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Tom Badgerlock identiy, he and his wife Molly have retired to Withywoods to spend the rest of their days together as they care for the estate. Haunted by memories of his old friend the Fool and wondering what has happened to him since their parting, Fitz finds himself at relative peace as he reflects on his past. When menacing pale skinned strangers appear at Winterfest and seem to have killed someone in Fitz's house, Fitz realizes his past is not done with him and he'll have to use some of his old skills if he is to protect the future of those he loves.I don't know how she does it. Robin Hobb is the queen of the slow burn and some of the most wonderful characterizations, and best character relationships, I've ever read. Fool's Assassin is the first book in Hobb's final Elderlings trilogy titled The Fitz and the Fool and is the 7th book to star Fitz. Just when you think you've known all you can about a character Hobb proves you wrong and continues to add layers to the complex and rich world she's created and the characters that live here.
There will be some spoilers beyond this point. You've been warned.
Much of this book is devoted to the domestic daily life at Withywoods and I loved every minute of it. Hobb's prose is gorgeous. Fitz spends a lot of time being introspective of his past as Molly runs the house. I never really was a fan of Molly throughout the series. I think both time and being away from Farseer politics has helped mellow her character out so she's the most tolerable she's been to date. Even still, their relationship is a bitersweet one. Due to events from the Tawny Man trilogy, Fitz doesn't age normally and has to watch as Molly's mental health slowly declines as she ages. It is with great joy and much confusion to learn that Molly is pregnant in her 50's. The new addition to the family, their daughter Bee, is a surprise and a delight. It was wonderful reading about her and getting to know this character.
Since the focus of this book is on Withywoods, those of you hoping for old characters to make a return will be disappointed. While Chade and the others do make appearances, they are not central to this story though I suspect some of them may have bigger roles in the remainder of the series. Still, Fitz is Fitz and proves yet again that the more things change, the more they remain the same.
As I mentioned earlier this book is a slow burn. While the action is kept to a minimum until the very end there is plenty of tension throughout. It makes for an emotional and engaging read with some scenes being deeply moving. This is Robin Hobb - you just know the peace for Fitz and his family can't last. The last 100-150 pages were intense, with that final chapter being so high adrenaline that it took me a while to calm down after reading it!
Fool's Assassin is a fantastic start to this new trilogy. For those who have not read Robin Hobb, you definitely need to start back at the beginning with Assassin's Apprentice. Now it's straight on to book two for me.
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LibraryThing member rivkat
Review copy. OK, I feel I need to chat with other people who’ve read the book about this. I’ve been away from Hobb for several years—the fanfic prejudice, plus the fact that I just couldn’t much enjoy the books with the river serpents in them, put her low on my priority list. But I really
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enjoyed the initial Fool books (until that weird no-homo stuff at the very end) and I couldn’t resist a chance to revisit Fitz. This is very definitely a book for fans of the original series, in that it is almost all about the texture of Fitz’s life and not very much happens for almost all of the book. Also, the Fool is absent for most of it, though Fitz periodically moons over him. Fitz is in retirement; he and his wife have an unusual daughter late in life; his former mentor sends various other troublesome people to hang out with him in obscurity. The thing that gets the plot moving is a prophecy about an “unexpected child,” supposedly the Fool’s. As various people try to find the Fool’s missing son, the answer is so apparent that it is actively annoying that no one in the narrative figures it out. (This is what I want to chat about: when did other readers get it?) Also, Fitz’s daughter picks up some of the narration about halfway through. She is plausibly self-involved and somewhat self-pitying, and if I were closer to the me who really enjoyed young, misunderstood narrators with special powers/destinies I would probably have enjoyed her more. She did grow on me over time; her occasional pettiness made perfect sense, even as she inherited some of Fitz’s most annoying traits. At the very end, a sudden change requires a sequel and portends more suffering for Fitz. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sweet_Serenity
I was introduced to Robin Hobb about a year or two ago. I began with the Farseer Trilogy, and then read all of her other series except the Shaman one. I have found so much to love in her books, but at the same time no other writer can frustrate me the way she does.
Her core strength is her
The magic in the books is so complex, intriguing, elegant. The Skill & the Wit were strokes of genius on Hobb's part, and they fit Fitz very well. Fool's Assassin offers snippets of this brilliance, but not quite enough to completely satisfy.
Robin Hobb has a lovely imagination, but her actual writing skills lack alot of finesse sometimes. I can always overlook this, when things get rolling and Hobb gives us more action, emotion, and drama. But this book had some serious pacing problems- it didn't really get going until the last quarter. And so I noticed. I noticed that her writing was very passive, dull, and overly in the past. I found myself shaking my head at the amount of times I read the word 'had' in a single paragraph, before I reminded myself I owed Hobb more than to pick at her writing that way after her books have given me so much joy. But it was very difficult to ignore. I don't expect an aesthetic masterpiece, but I do wish the story had remianed thrilling enough that the words could race through my mind without giving me time to pick over them.
As I mentioned earlier, the pacing was bad. The action was all in the first and last chapters, with domestic stuff poured in the middle. Now, some of the domestic stuff was interesting. A new character, Bee, and her struggles to connect with her father, were nice to read about, even if they were overly domestic. But the book really could have been shortened a hundred pages or so from the middle, and come out better for it.
My very last frustration with the book- the ending. It was a tragic cliffhanger. For the last few pages, I could see where it was going, but I was in denial. I thought back to all Hobb's other books, and thought she could not possibly be this cruel. In the past, if bad things happen towards the end of a book, there has always been a mini-resolution of some sort. She usually smooths out the rough edges a little for the ending. But no such luck here. Characters with potential ahead of them ruthlessly smited, and every hope and dream of the survivors dashed. George. R. R. Martin would be proud of her.
So, I was very disappointed. But there were a few gems in the book that make everything worth it. So I would ignore everything I just said, and pick up the book anyway. I don't regret reading it. The thing we've all been waiting for, the reunion of Fitz & The Fool was everything I could have wished for. And I will hope that with the next book Hobb puts a little more thought into her writing style, and that she shows a little more kindness to her dear characters and the readers that love them.
Her core strength is her
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characters, who are always so vivid, so full of emotion, and startlingly human. And her Farseer characters are her very best. I've loved Fitz & The Fool from the very start, and the cast of supporting characters are amazing. The magic in the books is so complex, intriguing, elegant. The Skill & the Wit were strokes of genius on Hobb's part, and they fit Fitz very well. Fool's Assassin offers snippets of this brilliance, but not quite enough to completely satisfy.
Robin Hobb has a lovely imagination, but her actual writing skills lack alot of finesse sometimes. I can always overlook this, when things get rolling and Hobb gives us more action, emotion, and drama. But this book had some serious pacing problems- it didn't really get going until the last quarter. And so I noticed. I noticed that her writing was very passive, dull, and overly in the past. I found myself shaking my head at the amount of times I read the word 'had' in a single paragraph, before I reminded myself I owed Hobb more than to pick at her writing that way after her books have given me so much joy. But it was very difficult to ignore. I don't expect an aesthetic masterpiece, but I do wish the story had remianed thrilling enough that the words could race through my mind without giving me time to pick over them.
As I mentioned earlier, the pacing was bad. The action was all in the first and last chapters, with domestic stuff poured in the middle. Now, some of the domestic stuff was interesting. A new character, Bee, and her struggles to connect with her father, were nice to read about, even if they were overly domestic. But the book really could have been shortened a hundred pages or so from the middle, and come out better for it.
My very last frustration with the book- the ending. It was a tragic cliffhanger. For the last few pages, I could see where it was going, but I was in denial. I thought back to all Hobb's other books, and thought she could not possibly be this cruel. In the past, if bad things happen towards the end of a book, there has always been a mini-resolution of some sort. She usually smooths out the rough edges a little for the ending. But no such luck here. Characters with potential ahead of them ruthlessly smited, and every hope and dream of the survivors dashed. George. R. R. Martin would be proud of her.
So, I was very disappointed. But there were a few gems in the book that make everything worth it. So I would ignore everything I just said, and pick up the book anyway. I don't regret reading it. The thing we've all been waiting for, the reunion of Fitz & The Fool was everything I could have wished for. And I will hope that with the next book Hobb puts a little more thought into her writing style, and that she shows a little more kindness to her dear characters and the readers that love them.
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LibraryThing member bobaprime
Well it can only get better from here. Way to much character development on characters who are already well known and to much on characters that you inevitably have no reason to care. When reading through farseer and tawny man colored glasses it is no bad but disappointing. As a new reader with no
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prior knowledge, this is ok. Show Less
LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
What a great book!
The most striking thing, to me, about this work is how very well Hobb balances small, quotidian dramas with world-shaking events. She understands perfectly how, from an individual’s perspective (and especially, from a child’s perspective) the small things can actually be the
This is the seventh big, fat book following the life of FitzChivalry FarSeer. Having followed the series from the beginning (as I have) will definitely enhance the reader’s experience – but I actually wouldn’t say it’s necessary to have read any previous volumes. Hobb is a master of drawing characters in bold yet sensitive lines that get a reader emotionally invested in a character with remarkable rapidity. Warning: if you read this one first, you’ll want to go back and read all the others!
The events here begin some years after we last saw Fitz – he’s now known as Tom Badgerlock, and is a settled holder at the manor house of Withywoods. He’s achieved a certain level of domestic contentment – but, of course, one that is tempered by a number of issues. Looming large among those is his feeling of sadness and loss that his beloved Fool seems to have abandoned him for good. He is also disconcerted by the fact that, due to the side effects of magic, his cherished wife, Molly, is aging faster than he is. In addition, hoped-for children never materialized….
Well, to see where things go from there, you’ll have to read the book. Falling into these pages feels like a long-awaited homecoming. This is, in every sense, a return to Hobb’s best writing. Don’t get me wrong – the Soldier Son trilogy was ok. The Rain Wilds chronicles are pretty good. But this series is the best. Even though there’s plenty of grief and violence here, somehow wrapping yourself in this book feels like curling up on the sofa with a warm, fluffy blanket.
And… like its predecessors, it’s nice and satisfyingly long….
The most striking thing, to me, about this work is how very well Hobb balances small, quotidian dramas with world-shaking events. She understands perfectly how, from an individual’s perspective (and especially, from a child’s perspective) the small things can actually be the
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big things. And her writing is good enough that even the small things keep the reader on the edge of one’s seat (although this is not to imply that big things aren’t happening here as well).This is the seventh big, fat book following the life of FitzChivalry FarSeer. Having followed the series from the beginning (as I have) will definitely enhance the reader’s experience – but I actually wouldn’t say it’s necessary to have read any previous volumes. Hobb is a master of drawing characters in bold yet sensitive lines that get a reader emotionally invested in a character with remarkable rapidity. Warning: if you read this one first, you’ll want to go back and read all the others!
The events here begin some years after we last saw Fitz – he’s now known as Tom Badgerlock, and is a settled holder at the manor house of Withywoods. He’s achieved a certain level of domestic contentment – but, of course, one that is tempered by a number of issues. Looming large among those is his feeling of sadness and loss that his beloved Fool seems to have abandoned him for good. He is also disconcerted by the fact that, due to the side effects of magic, his cherished wife, Molly, is aging faster than he is. In addition, hoped-for children never materialized….
Well, to see where things go from there, you’ll have to read the book. Falling into these pages feels like a long-awaited homecoming. This is, in every sense, a return to Hobb’s best writing. Don’t get me wrong – the Soldier Son trilogy was ok. The Rain Wilds chronicles are pretty good. But this series is the best. Even though there’s plenty of grief and violence here, somehow wrapping yourself in this book feels like curling up on the sofa with a warm, fluffy blanket.
And… like its predecessors, it’s nice and satisfyingly long….
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LibraryThing member Vinbert
I absolutely adored this book. It inspired me to go back to the beginning. I had read the first book in the Fitz series, but had never followed up on them. I find the characters to be engaging and real, and they definitely inspire empathy and sympathy.
LibraryThing member Vinbert
I absolutely adored this book. It inspired me to go back to the beginning. I had read the first book in the Fitz series, but had never followed up on them. I find the characters to be engaging and real, and they definitely inspire empathy and sympathy.
LibraryThing member LaPhenix
Despite a meandering story and some truly obnoxious characters, this book held my interest. The most powerful scene, however, involved the cruel torture and eventual mercy killing of a dog who only wanted to be loved and make his owner happy. So was it worth it? No, probably not.
LibraryThing member LibStaff2
3.75 Stars
For epic fantasy and Robin Hobb fans. I love that the book continues a great saga; when you fall in love with characters and/or storylines, you will read any and all material you can get your hands on. This work falls in that category. However, a good chunk in the middle of the novel
Net Galley Feedback
For epic fantasy and Robin Hobb fans. I love that the book continues a great saga; when you fall in love with characters and/or storylines, you will read any and all material you can get your hands on. This work falls in that category. However, a good chunk in the middle of the novel
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drags a bit. Granted, the setup for the next book takes some time. The book starts off well and everything is described in such intricate detail that you feel as if you are there experiencing it with the characters. But after a while, it slows down the story. The pace picks back up near the end. The novel could've been 50-100 pages shorter without taking away from the plot or the beauty of the writing, but any true fans will not let this minor issue deter them. It's worth it!Net Galley Feedback
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LibraryThing member nhlsecord
I am so pleased to have found this book for it gave me back my pleasure for reading. The story moved quickly along, always kept my interest, and kept me guessing about what was going to happen all the way through. Even though it is almost 700 pages, I read it quickly. I look forward to the next 2
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in the series! Show Less
LibraryThing member TheCrow2
Robin Hobb wrote an excellent book once again fore the first volume of her new trilogy. It's a big word because in the majority of the sequel to the Assassin trilogy basically nothing happening. But strangely it's a page-turned nonetheless and the final sixty pages are made you forget whatever
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complains you had. Show Less
LibraryThing member nbmars
Note: Spoilers for previous books in the Farseer saga.
No one who has followed the stories of Fitz and The Fool through the Farseer Trilogy and the Tawny Man Trilogy will be able to resist this continuation of this fantasy saga, which begins when Fitz is 47, and takes us through the next 15 or so
The stories take place in the mythic lands of the Six Duchies, where FitzChivalry Farseer, illegitimate son of royalty, now lives at the estate of his late father in Withywoods, three days distance from the capital at Buckkeep Castle. He is now known as Tom Badgerlock, husband to Lady Molly (Fitz’s childhood sweetheart), and he spends his days managing the holdings, ostensibly on behalf of Molly’s daughterr Nettle (also Fitz’s daughter), who is SkillMaster to the King.
In this book, a new child comes into Fitz’s life at the country estate of Withywoods, and changes his perspective on everything. The developing relationship between him and his little daughter Bee dominates the narrative, and is as complicated and sweet as you might expect from Hobb.
Two other characters join the story, who were sent by Chade for sanctuary with Fitz: a young and very attractive but shallow woman, Shun, and a young man, FitzVigilant, known as Lant. Fitz isn’t enamored of either, but does his duty to Chade.
And finally, a surprise character makes a reappearance in this book, one that will warm the hearts of readers who thought this character was gone forever.
Fitz has his flaws, one of which is that it takes him probably 1000 pages more than the readers to understand what’s going on, but he wouldn’t be so endearing if he were perfect. As it is, he remains fiercely loyal, brave, conflicted, and still sort of desperate for a “normal” life, which he is never meant to have.
The book ends with a cliffhanger, so I am grateful I waited to read it until I could pick up with the next volume!
Note: This is not a standalone book; readers will want to read the other two trilogies first.
No one who has followed the stories of Fitz and The Fool through the Farseer Trilogy and the Tawny Man Trilogy will be able to resist this continuation of this fantasy saga, which begins when Fitz is 47, and takes us through the next 15 or so
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years of Fitz’s life.The stories take place in the mythic lands of the Six Duchies, where FitzChivalry Farseer, illegitimate son of royalty, now lives at the estate of his late father in Withywoods, three days distance from the capital at Buckkeep Castle. He is now known as Tom Badgerlock, husband to Lady Molly (Fitz’s childhood sweetheart), and he spends his days managing the holdings, ostensibly on behalf of Molly’s daughterr Nettle (also Fitz’s daughter), who is SkillMaster to the King.
In this book, a new child comes into Fitz’s life at the country estate of Withywoods, and changes his perspective on everything. The developing relationship between him and his little daughter Bee dominates the narrative, and is as complicated and sweet as you might expect from Hobb.
Two other characters join the story, who were sent by Chade for sanctuary with Fitz: a young and very attractive but shallow woman, Shun, and a young man, FitzVigilant, known as Lant. Fitz isn’t enamored of either, but does his duty to Chade.
And finally, a surprise character makes a reappearance in this book, one that will warm the hearts of readers who thought this character was gone forever.
Fitz has his flaws, one of which is that it takes him probably 1000 pages more than the readers to understand what’s going on, but he wouldn’t be so endearing if he were perfect. As it is, he remains fiercely loyal, brave, conflicted, and still sort of desperate for a “normal” life, which he is never meant to have.
The book ends with a cliffhanger, so I am grateful I waited to read it until I could pick up with the next volume!
Note: This is not a standalone book; readers will want to read the other two trilogies first.
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LibraryThing member randalrh
I enjoyed this out of nostalgia, but mostly only out of nostalgia. Possibly there's an interestingly revealed world out there somewhere, but I can't tell yet.
LibraryThing member plunkinberry
Another GREAT installment in the Fitz saga. This was a long book but quite a good one; I look forward - eagerly - to the remaining books in this trilogy.
It is frustrating to see things that the characters cannot - maybe it's having a more overall knowledge of the story and not their singular
It will be tough waiting for the next book...
It is frustrating to see things that the characters cannot - maybe it's having a more overall knowledge of the story and not their singular
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perspective - but there were parts of this book that were somewhat predictable, but no less enjoyable. It will be tough waiting for the next book...
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LibraryThing member Unreachableshelf
This review is based on an e-galley, which I will miss very much when it expires.
Fool's Assassin is Robin Hobb's fourteenth novel in the Realm of the Elderlings books, and although so far I'd say you could probably get away with just reading the other Fitz trilogies before reading this one (The
The most important thing for fans to know about this book is that, although the Fool gets equal billing in the title of the series, he's not on the page much in this book. Don't think that this is his story more than the Tawny Man trilogy is. In fact, there is in general a lot of building in this book and it mostly focuses on Fitz's family relationships and daily life.
That is not to say that I don't like this book. I do. Robin Hobb regularly rips my heart out every hundred pages or so. The Realm of the Elderlings is, as always, fascinating, and her characters are a pleasure to spend time with, even when one wants to shake them. I remember a LiveJournal community called fitz_is_stupid. Fitz remains, in some respects, rather stupid. I don't want to include spoilers for a book well into a series in a review published months before the release date, so I'll just say that something happens less than halfway through the book that seems rather obvious to me, and which Fitz has seen all the evidence for, that he still hasn't gotten at its end. But he is Fitz, and even though he's been well trained in observational skills of the kind that he uses when he reports to Chade, he's still amazingly oblivious in some areas.
This is very much a latter book in a series and the first book in a trilogy. Starting here wouldn't give you a good entry point, and stopping here without the intent to continue wouldn't be satisfying. If you're the sort of person who sometimes can't handle waiting for sequels, this might be a good series to wait to be completed before you start. As for me I'll be on the second book as soon as I possibly can.
Fool's Assassin is Robin Hobb's fourteenth novel in the Realm of the Elderlings books, and although so far I'd say you could probably get away with just reading the other Fitz trilogies before reading this one (The
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Farseer Trilogy, The Tawny Man Trilogy), you definitely wouldn't want to leap straight into this.The most important thing for fans to know about this book is that, although the Fool gets equal billing in the title of the series, he's not on the page much in this book. Don't think that this is his story more than the Tawny Man trilogy is. In fact, there is in general a lot of building in this book and it mostly focuses on Fitz's family relationships and daily life.
That is not to say that I don't like this book. I do. Robin Hobb regularly rips my heart out every hundred pages or so. The Realm of the Elderlings is, as always, fascinating, and her characters are a pleasure to spend time with, even when one wants to shake them. I remember a LiveJournal community called fitz_is_stupid. Fitz remains, in some respects, rather stupid. I don't want to include spoilers for a book well into a series in a review published months before the release date, so I'll just say that something happens less than halfway through the book that seems rather obvious to me, and which Fitz has seen all the evidence for, that he still hasn't gotten at its end. But he is Fitz, and even though he's been well trained in observational skills of the kind that he uses when he reports to Chade, he's still amazingly oblivious in some areas.
This is very much a latter book in a series and the first book in a trilogy. Starting here wouldn't give you a good entry point, and stopping here without the intent to continue wouldn't be satisfying. If you're the sort of person who sometimes can't handle waiting for sequels, this might be a good series to wait to be completed before you start. As for me I'll be on the second book as soon as I possibly can.
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LibraryThing member Velmeran
I was given a galley copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I may be committing some form of sacrilege here but I have not read any of the previous Fitz books. As a consequence I did get the sense that I was missing something. I was given enough information to get the
All that aside, I felt that this story spent a great deal of time drifting from place with no real purpose. I wanted to like the characters but was given no real reason to like them, nor dislike them. I kept waiting for the story to go somewhere and where it led was just to a part two [not surprising since it says it's a trilogy]. We were given just enough information to make us feel as though we were missing something.
It was well written and interesting...just not phenomenal.
I may be committing some form of sacrilege here but I have not read any of the previous Fitz books. As a consequence I did get the sense that I was missing something. I was given enough information to get the
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gist of Fitz' prior life. All that aside, I felt that this story spent a great deal of time drifting from place with no real purpose. I wanted to like the characters but was given no real reason to like them, nor dislike them. I kept waiting for the story to go somewhere and where it led was just to a part two [not surprising since it says it's a trilogy]. We were given just enough information to make us feel as though we were missing something.
It was well written and interesting...just not phenomenal.
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LibraryThing member StigE
I was looking forward to this book with some trepidation. I loved the Farseer trilogy, felt so-so about the Liveship Traders and hated Soldier's Son.
The language flows well, but there's very little happening in the book. We're treated to dances, detals of harvesting, reading lessons, musings,
Fitz himself seems like a duller shadow of his old self and misses obvious plot holes as they parade before him with excruciating slowness.
There's still a lot of the old magic there, and the series might still redeem itself, but I am looking a lot less forward to the next book than I was to this one.
The language flows well, but there's very little happening in the book. We're treated to dances, detals of harvesting, reading lessons, musings,
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petty infighting over the breakfast table, tantrums, endless details of clothes and redecoration of rooms. The plot takes about 500 pages to kick off and then it is a bit of a race to the end. Fitz himself seems like a duller shadow of his old self and misses obvious plot holes as they parade before him with excruciating slowness.
There's still a lot of the old magic there, and the series might still redeem itself, but I am looking a lot less forward to the next book than I was to this one.
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LibraryThing member krau0098
I got a copy of this book to review through NetGalley. I was a huge fan of both the Farseer Trilogy and the Tawny Man trilogy. I enjoyed Liveship Traders but not as much as the other two. I started reading the first book in The Soldier Son trilogy and really hated it. So I was ready to give up on
Fitz-Chilvary, now known as Tom Badgerlock, spends his days running the holding of Withywood, which his daughter Nettle technically owns. Tom is enjoying being a father to Molly’s children and having Molly as a wife. But age is taking it’s toll on Molly and she is starting to fade. Tom still remains healthy and spry as a result of events in his past. This is when strange white messengers start arriving with a desperate message for Tom. Tom has been trying desperately to stay out of Farseer business, but despite his best efforts he gets drawn back in.
This was a very slow moving book but very well done. This is a hard book to review because much of the second half is told from the perspective of a character that has not even been born yet at the beginning on the book.
Much of the book deals with Tom Badgerlock’s (FitzChilvary’s) day to day running of Withywood Holding. Tom occasionally gets drawn into Farseer issues but tries to stay away from Buckkeep Castle and the intrigue. Tom and Molly are hoping for a quiet life, but of course that wouldn’t be interesting to read about, would it?
Woven throughout this are strange incidents of pale messengers that try desperately to reach Tom but never quite making it. Very far into the book (over half way through) we find out that the Fool has been trying to contact Fitz about a very pressing issue.
The story is very well written and flows nicely, I love reading Hobb’s writing style. However, it does move very slowly. There is very little action, lots of intrigue, and lots of day to day living types of things.
Fitz-Chivalry does end up taking on two new characters to his household, both of them are FarSeer bastards. There is a spoiled noblewoman named Shun and a failed apprentice from Chade named Fitz-Vigilant. I am not completely sure what their part in the story was meant to be...beside to add some discord to Withywood. However, I am hoping they will play a more important role in future books.
It was a long book and it felt long, the story was not very tight but kind of wandered and rolled out gradually over time. We hear mostly from Fitz-Chivalry/Tom, some from Molly, and a lot from another POV which I won’t mention because...you know spoilers.
It was still an excellent read despite it’s slowness and I did enjoy stepping back into this world and reading about these characters that I know so well.
I will also mention that there are large jumps in time between the first few chapters, this is not made clear and was a bit confusing at first. Also there is no designation as to who's POV a chapter is being told from...so sometimes you have to read into the chapter a bit to figure out who you are listening to.
Overall I was pretty happy with this continuation of the Fitz-Chivalry story. The book moves slowly and wanders a bit, but it is very engaging. We get a chance to read about some of our favorite characters and meet some very intriguing new ones. I would definitely recommend reading at least the Farseer Trilogy before reading this book. I would also recommend the Tawny Man trilogy. Both provide a lot of background that affects what’s going on in this story. Recommended to those who love epic fantasy.
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Hobb until I saw that this continued the story of Fitz-Chivalry and the Fool. It ended up being a very slow, yet very engaging story.Fitz-Chilvary, now known as Tom Badgerlock, spends his days running the holding of Withywood, which his daughter Nettle technically owns. Tom is enjoying being a father to Molly’s children and having Molly as a wife. But age is taking it’s toll on Molly and she is starting to fade. Tom still remains healthy and spry as a result of events in his past. This is when strange white messengers start arriving with a desperate message for Tom. Tom has been trying desperately to stay out of Farseer business, but despite his best efforts he gets drawn back in.
This was a very slow moving book but very well done. This is a hard book to review because much of the second half is told from the perspective of a character that has not even been born yet at the beginning on the book.
Much of the book deals with Tom Badgerlock’s (FitzChilvary’s) day to day running of Withywood Holding. Tom occasionally gets drawn into Farseer issues but tries to stay away from Buckkeep Castle and the intrigue. Tom and Molly are hoping for a quiet life, but of course that wouldn’t be interesting to read about, would it?
Woven throughout this are strange incidents of pale messengers that try desperately to reach Tom but never quite making it. Very far into the book (over half way through) we find out that the Fool has been trying to contact Fitz about a very pressing issue.
The story is very well written and flows nicely, I love reading Hobb’s writing style. However, it does move very slowly. There is very little action, lots of intrigue, and lots of day to day living types of things.
Fitz-Chivalry does end up taking on two new characters to his household, both of them are FarSeer bastards. There is a spoiled noblewoman named Shun and a failed apprentice from Chade named Fitz-Vigilant. I am not completely sure what their part in the story was meant to be...beside to add some discord to Withywood. However, I am hoping they will play a more important role in future books.
It was a long book and it felt long, the story was not very tight but kind of wandered and rolled out gradually over time. We hear mostly from Fitz-Chivalry/Tom, some from Molly, and a lot from another POV which I won’t mention because...you know spoilers.
It was still an excellent read despite it’s slowness and I did enjoy stepping back into this world and reading about these characters that I know so well.
I will also mention that there are large jumps in time between the first few chapters, this is not made clear and was a bit confusing at first. Also there is no designation as to who's POV a chapter is being told from...so sometimes you have to read into the chapter a bit to figure out who you are listening to.
Overall I was pretty happy with this continuation of the Fitz-Chivalry story. The book moves slowly and wanders a bit, but it is very engaging. We get a chance to read about some of our favorite characters and meet some very intriguing new ones. I would definitely recommend reading at least the Farseer Trilogy before reading this book. I would also recommend the Tawny Man trilogy. Both provide a lot of background that affects what’s going on in this story. Recommended to those who love epic fantasy.
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LibraryThing member Sable677
Fool's Assassin is the first book that I have read by Hobb so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. I will admit that it took me a little bit to catch up on Fitz's past and his relationships with all of the other characters, but Hobb explains things here rather well so you don't need to have read
Received a copy of Fool's Assassin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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previous works to read this one. I found that with each chapter I became more and more invested in these characters especially Fitz and Bee. I also liked the alternating of perspectives between the two later in the book. The book has many twists and turns as well as introduces some interesting secondary characters to keep the reader's attention. Overall Fool's Assassin proved to be an amazing read that I would most certainly recommend. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.Received a copy of Fool's Assassin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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LibraryThing member mmoj
I so loved the Farseer Trilogy and Fitz/Tom Badgerlock that I was thrilled when I heard there was going to be more in the series. However I didn't enjoy this book as much as the Farseer Trilogy. Don't get me wrong, Robin Hobb is still one of the best Fantasy writers out there and this was a good
Fitz is now living as Holder Tom Baderlock and is living a self-imposed exile from Court. His wife Molly is pregnant but is pregnant for two years. Their daughter, when she's finally born is very small and Tom thinks she is mentally slow as well. I really enjoyed the ending but I thought the story moved slower than the previous books. Fitz needs his Fool, without which it's as if he's wandering around searching for a part of himself that he can't quite catch.
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book, but I just had such high hopes. Fitz is now living as Holder Tom Baderlock and is living a self-imposed exile from Court. His wife Molly is pregnant but is pregnant for two years. Their daughter, when she's finally born is very small and Tom thinks she is mentally slow as well. I really enjoyed the ending but I thought the story moved slower than the previous books. Fitz needs his Fool, without which it's as if he's wandering around searching for a part of himself that he can't quite catch.
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LibraryThing member Ma_Washigeri
Plus a half star. Might have made 4 if it had been a slightly slimmer volume. And the library has the next one in the series but it is hardback and enormous - cannot imagine what a 'large print' copy would look like! Anyway I can see why Fitz's friends may be getting very cross with him as he
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definitely doesn't have his mind on the job and acts strangely like the child Taffy - thump (or knife) first and ask questions later. Of course we benefit from having Fitz's point of view but actions speak louder than words. Having Bee's point of view sliced into the story line was a great idea because Fitz is definitely unreliable. And I shall read on to part 2, especially to see if my new favourite character dies or survives to save the day. Hint: if she survives she has a lot of maturing to do! Show Less
LibraryThing member infjsarah
As the final book of this trilogy is now in paperback and in my hands and I have just finished my reread I am finally able to pick this series up. I approach it with a desperate wish to finally read it and a fear of what suffering Robin Hobb is going to put characters you really care about
And I pretty much have to spoiler tag the rest of this Fitz gets 20 years of happiness at least. But it doesn't last. Molly dies. He gets an unexpected daughter and she is taken at the end of the book. That she is the "unexpected son" and a White Prophet is pretty obvious to the reader. I found it odd at first when the chapters switch to Bee telling her story and away from Fitz. But it is obviously necessary to tell the story and to start to care about her. The Fool only returns at the end and he has been tortured and nearly destroyed. .
Very glad I can go straight on to the next book.
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through!And I pretty much have to spoiler tag the rest of this
Very glad I can go straight on to the next book.
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LibraryThing member decaturmamaof2
Oh man... this one started a bit slow for my taste, but then it really got going, and ended with a ... cliffhanger! Dear Robin Hobb - I am very eager to get my hands on book #2!
LibraryThing member BlancheHaddow
As I said in another Robin Hobb review she is one of my favourite authors. This book was brilliant and really moved me. There was some connection with this book, I actually knew what one of the characters names was going to be just before they said it.
A few people don't like the book for the lack
A few people don't like the book for the lack
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of action. I just loved it as it was a journey and exploration and although it got "exciting" at the very end of the book I was actually a bit sad as I just didn't want the world to change! Show Less
Awards
Geffen Award (2016)
David Gemmell Legend Award (Shortlist — 2015)
Original language
English
Original publication date
2014-08-12
Physical description
5.94 inches
ISBN
0007444192 / 9780007444199