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4.41 AVERAGE
4.41 AVERAGE
dark
sad
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
My first impression of this book, as with most books, was the cover. And after reading maybe 100 pages, I was already mad at whoever illustrated it for failure to read the whole book. Then I read 300 or so more pages and I got it. But still. It wasn't a good foot to get off on.
Golden Fool suffers a little from middle-volume syndrome. In order to have an impressive finish, in the middle book or move things have to get so rotten that you feel bogged down and don't actually see how any of this can end happily. (Good examples are "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Two Towers.") With a skillful (or lucky) author, this can also be an engaging read, but bits of [b:Golden Fool|45109|Golden Fool (Tawny Man, #2)|Robin Hobb|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170273739s/45109.jpg|2960727] were something of a slog.
However, the story is interesting and original and the characters, however stupid they are being at any given moment, are still strikingly original, well-drawn, wonderful, and fun to hang out with. Though I keep waiting to spend more time with Needle, and so far that's not happening.
Golden Fool suffers a little from middle-volume syndrome. In order to have an impressive finish, in the middle book or move things have to get so rotten that you feel bogged down and don't actually see how any of this can end happily. (Good examples are "The Empire Strikes Back" and "The Two Towers.") With a skillful (or lucky) author, this can also be an engaging read, but bits of [b:Golden Fool|45109|Golden Fool (Tawny Man, #2)|Robin Hobb|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170273739s/45109.jpg|2960727] were something of a slog.
However, the story is interesting and original and the characters, however stupid they are being at any given moment, are still strikingly original, well-drawn, wonderful, and fun to hang out with. Though I keep waiting to spend more time with Needle, and so far that's not happening.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Fitz is such a complex character. So many times I waver between wanting to shake some sense into him and knowing because of his upbringing it's just never going to happen.
Lots of really good links to the Liveship trilogy - but it's still a standalone thread if you want to read it as such.
Many of the threads gain complexity and depth. Will be interesting to see how they resolve in the next book
Many of the threads gain complexity and depth. Will be interesting to see how they resolve in the next book
Easily my favorite of the trilogy so far. Lots of great political intrigue and as FitzChivalry ages, I feel for him more and more. He is a dumb guy sometimes, but who doesn't make mistakes?
The ending was a little ho-hum but it is obviously a link to the final book, so I can forgive it.
The ending was a little ho-hum but it is obviously a link to the final book, so I can forgive it.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-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:
Complicated
As per usual with Robin Hobb and this world of hers, the same words will perfectly suffice in not sufficing. And that's the thing about this series, is that the characters are crafted so realistically that I am forced to love and hate them in turn, and that colors my judgment and makes it so that though I love this series and consider it high among my favorites, I cannot bring myself to reflect these sentiments in my rating.
Well, let's see... Dutiful is turning out to be a fantastic character, and wholly likable (thus far) too, a sure rarity in Hobb's books given how quickly I can be led to hate and love a character in turn—and none escape these whiplash emotions either, until now. Nettle, I dread, is too similar to Molly for me to truly like her, but she hasn't truly figured into the plot just yet. I'm guessing that's upcoming in the third novel, or else in Fitz & the Fool. Another thing I could definitely do with is a prominent female character in this newest coterie. Kettricken is superb, but she isn't as central a figure in this series as she was in the first trilogy. Starling, Laurel, and that's all. (I try not to think about Molly; I can't decide if she or Renna Tanner pisses me off more.) I just think it would be interesting to see how the dynamic between Fitz, Dutiful, the Fool, and Chade (and Thick) might change with that inclusion.
Well, let's see... Dutiful is turning out to be a fantastic character, and wholly likable (thus far) too, a sure rarity in Hobb's books given how quickly I can be led to hate and love a character in turn—and none escape these whiplash emotions either, until now. Nettle, I dread, is too similar to Molly for me to truly like her, but she hasn't truly figured into the plot just yet. I'm guessing that's upcoming in the third novel, or else in Fitz & the Fool. Another thing I could definitely do with is a prominent female character in this newest coterie. Kettricken is superb, but she isn't as central a figure in this series as she was in the first trilogy. Starling, Laurel, and that's all. (I try not to think about Molly; I can't decide if she or Renna Tanner pisses me off more.) I just think it would be interesting to see how the dynamic between Fitz, Dutiful, the Fool, and Chade (and Thick) might change with that inclusion.