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4.41 AVERAGE
4.41 AVERAGE
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.
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I like how the book begins exactly where Fool’s Errand ended. There was no gap or skip of time that would cause mystery. It was just simply continuing. This was also good because the book was much faster paced than the last. It got straight into the drama, no catch up which I enjoyed.
Although this book lacked in major events compared to previous books and what I suspect the next book to be like; I can’t help but say that this book so far is my favourite of the series. It’s hard for me to put in words why this is the case, it’s more a gut feeling. When I think of reasons why, one that comes to mind is that this book compared to the others was very relationship heavy. It was about friendships more than anything in my opinion and I think that sort of content just hits my heart more than dragon chasing...
Checkout my full review on my blog: https://angelicimpressions.blogspot.com/
Although this book lacked in major events compared to previous books and what I suspect the next book to be like; I can’t help but say that this book so far is my favourite of the series. It’s hard for me to put in words why this is the case, it’s more a gut feeling. When I think of reasons why, one that comes to mind is that this book compared to the others was very relationship heavy. It was about friendships more than anything in my opinion and I think that sort of content just hits my heart more than dragon chasing...
Checkout my full review on my blog: https://angelicimpressions.blogspot.com/
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The dualities of this book are manifold. It was fun to read, and I read it in record time. But what really actually happened in the plot? Why is the book called "The Golden Fool", when the Fool is barely the focus of 90% of the book?
As I said, I really enjoyed reading it. It's just so well written and the characters are fun, as is slowly uncovering the mysteries of this universe. But I'm definitely disappointed by the lack of actual story progress regarding the titular character of both the book and the trilogy here. That is made even worse byFitz and the Fool having this silly fight, and then behaving like stupid teenagers half of the book. Instead of sitting down and having a serious, adult conversation, they are stonewalling each other, and are being cold, petty and just infuriatingly silly. I just want them to get over themselves and their stupid medieval ideas and be each other's beloved. It was fairly obvious to me that this was just a plot device to stall the plot and drag it out for what I assume will be the conclusion in book three of this trilogy. I hate it. That's one of the reasons why this book is not a solid 5/5 for me.
Another reason for me is the lack of animals. All of the books with Fitz really shined with his bond beasts, and I felt that these characters were really missing here. I understand why it's missing here, but it still altogether makes it feel like this book is not whole. Very much a second book experience focusing more on world-building than plot advancement.
As I said, I really enjoyed reading it. It's just so well written and the characters are fun, as is slowly uncovering the mysteries of this universe. But I'm definitely disappointed by the lack of actual story progress regarding the titular character of both the book and the trilogy here. That is made even worse by
Another reason for me is the lack of animals. All of the books with Fitz really shined with his bond beasts, and I felt that these characters were really missing here. I understand why it's missing here, but it still altogether makes it feel like this book is not whole. Very much a second book experience focusing more on world-building than plot advancement.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Gore
Moderate: Ableism, Homophobia, Suicide
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Golden Fool is probably the best book I've ever read. It has great character development, great story, and best of all, one of the most unexpected plot twists of all times. For me, Hobb keeps showing time and again how much of a great storyteller she is.
Opposite to the previous installment, this book is not self contained. It stops in the middle of the story as any other second book, but it doesn’t have the “drag” feeling that second books usually have, probably because of a major surprise and of the amount of information we get out of it. The surprise made me so dumbstruck that I literally gasped out loud. It displayed once more her ability to give important information without a set up and take a somewhat predictable storyline to something no one could see coming. She’s done this several times in the 8 books (Farseer, Liveship and Tawny Man), but this one and that from Liveship 1 (yes, when that happens to Wintrow) were the true displays of her mastery.
Golden Fool starts exactly where the previous book finished and it follows Fitz, Chade, the Prince and the Fool into the betrothal with the Narcheska from the Out Islands. While they must go through the politics of this alliance, they must also learn how to practice the Skill, deal with the Wit situation in the realm and understand better their own relationships with each other. To increase the tension, there is a special appearance from the Bingtown traders, and it’s not just a very important link to the Liveship series, but it gives the reader a better understanding of how the world is tied together.
It’s very interesting to see how much the characters, especially Fitz, have grown and evolved. With his first person narration, it’s very easy to see it and he often makes good reflections on how he used to behave and what he used to believe and what is happening now. A lot of the times, this reflection is just obvious on the way he thinks, which is another major skill of Hobb, being able to not just write the point of view of several characters of different genders and ages, but also to show their growth in it. This is clear in Fitz, Malta, Althea, Wintrow. All of them, but more obvious in Fitz, since it’s a first person narration. We see what he sees, think what he thinks.
The book finishes halfway through the story, as expected of any trilogy and it doesn’t give many answers. The only concern for the third book is that it won’t be able to tie all the knots, and there are quite a lot of them to be tied. But all in all, it’s one of the easiest five stars a book ever received.
Opposite to the previous installment, this book is not self contained. It stops in the middle of the story as any other second book, but it doesn’t have the “drag” feeling that second books usually have, probably because of a major surprise and of the amount of information we get out of it. The surprise made me so dumbstruck that I literally gasped out loud. It displayed once more her ability to give important information without a set up and take a somewhat predictable storyline to something no one could see coming. She’s done this several times in the 8 books (Farseer, Liveship and Tawny Man), but this one and that from Liveship 1 (yes, when that happens to Wintrow) were the true displays of her mastery.
Golden Fool starts exactly where the previous book finished and it follows Fitz, Chade, the Prince and the Fool into the betrothal with the Narcheska from the Out Islands. While they must go through the politics of this alliance, they must also learn how to practice the Skill, deal with the Wit situation in the realm and understand better their own relationships with each other. To increase the tension, there is a special appearance from the Bingtown traders, and it’s not just a very important link to the Liveship series, but it gives the reader a better understanding of how the world is tied together.
It’s very interesting to see how much the characters, especially Fitz, have grown and evolved. With his first person narration, it’s very easy to see it and he often makes good reflections on how he used to behave and what he used to believe and what is happening now. A lot of the times, this reflection is just obvious on the way he thinks, which is another major skill of Hobb, being able to not just write the point of view of several characters of different genders and ages, but also to show their growth in it. This is clear in Fitz, Malta, Althea, Wintrow. All of them, but more obvious in Fitz, since it’s a first person narration. We see what he sees, think what he thinks.
The book finishes halfway through the story, as expected of any trilogy and it doesn’t give many answers. The only concern for the third book is that it won’t be able to tie all the knots, and there are quite a lot of them to be tied. But all in all, it’s one of the easiest five stars a book ever received.