Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.41 AVERAGE
4.41 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Watching Fitz’s relationships develop was the main draw of this book. I love how complex the dynamic between the Fitz and the Fool is and it was fascinating to see the catalyst, white prophet storyline take more prominence. The political intrigue in this book is messy but it builds a great foundation for the last book.
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
my favourite thing about this series is the blurb does absolutely nothing to convey what happens in the books. if you read the blurb of the golden fool it sounds like you are about to read an adventurous story about a dangerous quest to kill a dragon. instead what you get is a story about a salty, irrational man who runs around trying to juggle both court politics and his own interpersonal drama at buckeep castle.
the emotional development of fitz really is my favourite thing about this series so far, so im glad we mostly get court intrigue and drama. the whole book we see fitz battle between the 2 sides of his heart. one side we have his automatic response to conflict: isolation, assumptions, martyrdom. on the other: family, love, responsibility.
The martyrdom vs responsibility one is interesting because previously fitz thought of himself as almost a victim of his own family. while he loved verity and swore to protect the throne, he also felt trapped by it . He constantly refers himself as simply a tool used to spy, Skill, and kill as the throne saw fit. In this book he starts to make a conscious choice where he "deigns" to ask for things in return and sets boundaries of what he will or wont do. Rather than a victim of his family, he takes an active role in the functioning of it, accepting his responsibilities.
the only negative i really take in this book is depicting reparations for what is essentially court sanctioned pogroms of Old Bloods as "too radical", supposedly as looking for revenge for the past. I guess this is expected of liberal american authors, but reparations arent revenge.
im sad fitz is homophobic to the fool. essentially sabotaging the one relationship he trusted and felt safe in. Instead he falls to scary homophobic rumours and decides saving face is more important. while i dont really understand the fools insistence they can only be friends as long as his love goes unacknowledged by fitz, i forgive it. it would be so hard for someone to show they would rather risk your friendship than be thought of as gay. it took too long for fitz to admit this is what hes done, but still the fact he does apologise to the fool eventually shows again he refuses the isolation he once sought so much comfort from
the emotional development of fitz really is my favourite thing about this series so far, so im glad we mostly get court intrigue and drama. the whole book we see fitz battle between the 2 sides of his heart. one side we have his automatic response to conflict: isolation, assumptions, martyrdom. on the other: family, love, responsibility.
The martyrdom vs responsibility one is interesting because previously fitz thought of himself as almost a victim of his own family. while he loved verity and swore to protect the throne, he also felt trapped by it . He constantly refers himself as simply a tool used to spy, Skill, and kill as the throne saw fit. In this book he starts to make a conscious choice where he "deigns" to ask for things in return and sets boundaries of what he will or wont do. Rather than a victim of his family, he takes an active role in the functioning of it, accepting his responsibilities.
the only negative i really take in this book is depicting reparations for what is essentially court sanctioned pogroms of Old Bloods as "too radical", supposedly as looking for revenge for the past. I guess this is expected of liberal american authors, but reparations arent revenge.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Classic Robin Hobb book 2 is always unraveling the mysteries for book 3 to sort out. Very emotional, felt like Elliania’s storyline kinda dropped out in the last third and I need to know what she’s doing! Aaaaahhhhh
emotional
sad
medium-paced
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
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If I could give this book six stars then I would. Fucking phenomenal.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Robin Hobb is quickly becoming my favorite author. The way she intertwines the series’s within the Realm of the Elderlings is genius and honestly, unbelievable. It’s truly a masterpiece and I’m only halfway through.
This was one was heart wrenching. I was distraught multiple times. I smiled a few times as well.
I feel like I got to know many of the characters much more in this book. I always cherish the books set in Buckkeep.
So much mystery ahead- I can hardly wait.
This was one was heart wrenching. I was distraught multiple times. I smiled a few times as well.
I feel like I got to know many of the characters much more in this book. I always cherish the books set in Buckkeep.
So much mystery ahead- I can hardly wait.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Homophobia, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Police brutality, Medical content, Medical trauma, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Blood, Dementia, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, War, Classism
adventurous
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not much happening in this one plot wise. Definitely feels like it’s all set up for the conclusion in the next book. But I could read about Fitz doing anything at all and it would still be 5 stars. This has so much great relationship work in it
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
what a choking book. im so serious this book made me feel multitudes i cant believe fitz and his all encompassing capacity to constantly make the wrong decisions and say the wrong words fueled by pure, genuine intentions. so many times i want to choke this man alongside chade. several times i just stopped reading bcs they pissed me off but that just kept me reading faster bcs i want to see an end to their embarrassment which led me to read this even faster than the first one.
i cant gush about every single character that i adored, jek, kettricken, thick, everyone is so loaded, another reason why i think this book is as stifling as it came out to be is bcs its the calm before the storm, really not much happened in terms of action because this book is just one ling build up, yet its so important. im dreading the next book bcs of this very reason lmao,
lord golden. idk what else to say sometimes i wish he had the courage to push fitz down his horse or the stairs a couple of times. the ending made me want to fly off a cliff. i think i can really say now that hes my fav character in all of rote so far. every time smth about his background is brought up i highlight the entire paragraph idc im starving
the political intrigue here is really something, you can compare it to so many discussions irl and find insight. one thing i really disliked is the ableism whenever describing thick, it really wasn’t necessary.
most of fitz’ woes and the narrative about his selfishness obstructing himself to allow the love others have for him to reach him was so good. then theres the matter of fathers and sons, someday id be smart and have more time to draw something out of that, hes the step father truly, the father that stepped down.
fools fate pls be kind i know ure not but its whatever at this point