This was pretty weak. Hobb seems to delight in torturing her heroes endlessly, and in this book, that includes the Fool as well as Fitz. Each time I opened it, I dreaded finding out what fresh hell would be inflicted on Fitz, and I was rarely "disappointed." This has always been signature Hobb, of course—GRRM's characters are lucky in that he kills them eventually—but this book was particularly hard to read. I say it's weak for two reasons. First, very little happens; it is less a book and more a very, very extended prologue to a book. Second, and related, the ending is weak. Hobb's previous trilogies have always had a very neat structure. The first book is a self-contained adventure; if you'd like, you can stop there, satisfied, but the door is left open for a bigger saga. The second book ends with a cliffhanger; now you're committed. And the third is the resolution. This book, the first of a trilogy, ends with a whopping cliffhanger, breaking that pattern. And so it must, because it's not an adventure at all, it's just a prologue. I think Hobb's editors have become afraid of her, and that's a shame. I've been waiting for this thing for years, not daring to think it would ever happen. Surprise surprise, it doesn't. For most of the book, nothing bloody happens. And those were the bits I loved. About halfway through I gave up on the whole fantasy thing and concentrated on a very well written slow, Joanne Harris style family drama. I absolutely enjoyed the new narrator, I thought they were a very well written character. And then, at the very end, stuff started happening. But it all felt so rushed that none of it actually mattered and managed to touch me properly. Actually, I was and still am more worried for some of the new characters rather than our dear old friends. Conclusion: An unexpected book, on so many levels. I enjoyed the chance to get back into the familiar world and a slow simmering provincial [melo]drama, the things which most people would find profoundly boring. However, the exciting action packed finale left me emotionally cold.P.S Also, will Hobb ever get tired of lifting Sansa Stark as a character, dressing her in different gowns and giving her a far more boring development? I could endure Malta, but Shun on top of that is just a joke. Hobb is interesting and original enough to avoid these things, methinks.
What do You think about Fool's Assassin (2014)?
Awesome as always. Great to see Fitz enjoying life for a period. Everything comes toghter perfectly. Well wirth reading. Ignore drongos who hate
—Patto
Uneven. Description writing is entertaining,, but dialogue is deadly dull.
—loliblue
EVERYTHING I WANTED IN A NEW FARSEER NOVEL GOD IT WAS DEEPLY FULLFILING
—kat
I thought my expectations for this book were too high. I was mistaken.
—orelko
The most compelling book I've read in years. Couldn't put it down.
—asta
