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jehibdon82's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
justchia's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty solid introduction to a larger story i am very eager to continue reading. I love this world, i love hobb's writing style and the way she builds her characters. I can't wait to see what happens to them, particularly to leftrin, alise and my beloved little guy sedric.
bookshelfmonkey's review
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
_ottavia_'s review against another edition
4.0
4
I first entered Robin Hobb's world more then ten years ago, if I remember correctly. Still a teenager, with a limited experience in reading fantasy, I remember finding her words and creations fascinating, original and absorbing.
After spending the last two/three years not reading that much, as I wrote previously, I wanted to try and dive again in her writing. I wanted to find that world that I remembered so vividly but I was also worried that my memories were in fact, just memories. That those worlds and books maybe were great in my mind, at that age, but that now, with more years and books behind my back I could find them to be different.
And yet, without realizing, I read this book in four days, something that, for the record, didn't happen since... a while. Hobb still has (and always had, I'm happy to confirm) that magical gift for writing, that allows her to create wonderful complicated characters. Some people would say that her books start slow, with a plot that drags into real action. I say she takes her time (but I'll say that even I grew bored with the first part of 'Fool's Errand'), slowly introducing characters and conflicts, painting carefully this first book in what I hope will be another masterpiece.
On with the second.
I first entered Robin Hobb's world more then ten years ago, if I remember correctly. Still a teenager, with a limited experience in reading fantasy, I remember finding her words and creations fascinating, original and absorbing.
After spending the last two/three years not reading that much, as I wrote previously, I wanted to try and dive again in her writing. I wanted to find that world that I remembered so vividly but I was also worried that my memories were in fact, just memories. That those worlds and books maybe were great in my mind, at that age, but that now, with more years and books behind my back I could find them to be different.
And yet, without realizing, I read this book in four days, something that, for the record, didn't happen since... a while. Hobb still has (and always had, I'm happy to confirm) that magical gift for writing, that allows her to create wonderful complicated characters. Some people would say that her books start slow, with a plot that drags into real action. I say she takes her time (but I'll say that even I grew bored with the first part of 'Fool's Errand'), slowly introducing characters and conflicts, painting carefully this first book in what I hope will be another masterpiece.
On with the second.
emarmstrong's review
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
briely's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, and Body shaming
katieinca's review
5.0
I adore Robin Hobb. I think what I like most about her writing is how she takes absolutely nothing for granted. Loved meeting these characters, and loved the combination of the familiar and the strange.
brendalovesbooks's review
5.0
This is the Robin Hobb I know and love. Recently I tried reading Shaman's Crossing, and couldn't get into it at all. It was odd for me to not love a Robin Hobb book, but I had to set it aside.
The Liveship series has been my favorite of hers, and it may be too early to say, but I think I like this one even better. I have read some reviews that say this book was slow, but I didn't find that to be the case at all. Maybe it's just that I like her writing so much? I don't know, but I thought this moved at a great pace, and I liked that we got the story from more than one POV.
The ending was so abrupt that I would be very upset if I didn't have the second book already on my shelf. I will be picking it up right away.
I loved a lot of the characters in this book, and really, really hated one. He was kind of a villain that came out of left field for me, and I want him to just go away. I like Alise and her story, and really hope she starts standing up for herself more, and also gets a clue, somehow.
Lastly, I really love dragons, and I love dragon stories done well. So this was a huge hit for me in that sense. I think fans of Robin Hobb's earlier series won't be disappointed. If you've never read any of her books, I'd highly recommend working through them in order, starting with The Farseer Trilogy, then Liveship, then Tawny Man, then this one. You certainly don't have to, and I think this story would be easy enough to follow on its own. But those other books are just so good, and the world is so rich and developed. If you're a fantasy fan, you won't regret reading her books.
The Liveship series has been my favorite of hers, and it may be too early to say, but I think I like this one even better. I have read some reviews that say this book was slow, but I didn't find that to be the case at all. Maybe it's just that I like her writing so much? I don't know, but I thought this moved at a great pace, and I liked that we got the story from more than one POV.
The ending was so abrupt that I would be very upset if I didn't have the second book already on my shelf. I will be picking it up right away.
I loved a lot of the characters in this book, and really, really hated one. He was kind of a villain that came out of left field for me, and I want him to just go away. I like Alise and her story, and really hope she starts standing up for herself more, and also gets a clue, somehow.
Lastly, I really love dragons, and I love dragon stories done well. So this was a huge hit for me in that sense. I think fans of Robin Hobb's earlier series won't be disappointed. If you've never read any of her books, I'd highly recommend working through them in order, starting with The Farseer Trilogy, then Liveship, then Tawny Man, then this one. You certainly don't have to, and I think this story would be easy enough to follow on its own. But those other books are just so good, and the world is so rich and developed. If you're a fantasy fan, you won't regret reading her books.
eevee's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Robin "cycles of violence" hobb ! She never misses! The hest-sedric-alise dynamics are insane!
Robin Hobb never misses! Loved this one. Very interesting themes of disability, poverty and abuse, but also a good time. I don't really understand why this series is seen as so much weaker than the others? Weirdly plotted, but nothing too different from what is expect from hobb
So funny this plotline is woman goes on slumming it cruise with her evil husbands pathetic secret boyfriend and meets a sexy sea captain while uptown girl plays
Robin Hobb never misses! Loved this one. Very interesting themes of disability, poverty and abuse, but also a good time. I don't really understand why this series is seen as so much weaker than the others? Weirdly plotted, but nothing too different from what is expect from hobb