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gracefulhope's review against another edition
5.0
Great continuation of the story with Fitz and the Fool and Bee and their friends and family.
johannaplatt's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.0
Pace was a little slower than Fool's Assassin and it could have perhaps used some tighter editing to help the story move along. I raced through the second half of the book as the plot was very compelling. Less POV from Bee in this one which I did miss. Another cliffhanger end leaving me wanting more!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, Pedophilia, Death, Sexual assault, Torture, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Child death, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Pregnancy
kiwifruit7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
allisonwunderland's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
4.75
kalldimma's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
katieinca's review against another edition
4.0
Very Hobb, in ways both wonderful and slightly maddening.
The great:
-Bee's storyline, where things actually happen, albeit at a sleigh's pace.
-the first 20% and last 10% of Fitz's storyline, same. Oh, that last 10%. I would gladly have given my money and reading time for that last 10% even if the rest of the book was crap.
-conversations that could only be this perfect with characters who have this much history. Example (paraphrased) Fitz: I blame myself. Kettricken: of course you do.
-the new (and new-to-this-trilogy) characters, human and animal. Especially Ash and Motley.
-some fun and thoughtful messing about with expectations around gender.
The things I didn't love so much:
-the hanging about at Buckkeep. While conversations happen. And tidings are considered. And time passes. And so on.
-Characters taking SO LONG to figure things out that it really tries my credulity. COME ON. I have a hard time believing even Fitz can be that thick about... things that were apparent to me in the early on in the previous book that took him and the Fool half of this one to put together.
Mixed: On the one hand, the conversations Fitz gets with Nettle, Chade, Kettricken, etc. are lovely, wrenching, and long overdue. On the other hand it feels like she's tidying things up for his funeral, and the title of the next book does not help me sleep easier.
So, yeah. Classic Hobb. Devoured it, and will probably reread at some point. Potentially infuriating pace if you're not absolutely in love with these characters. Which I am.
The great:
-Bee's storyline, where things actually happen, albeit at a sleigh's pace.
-the first 20% and last 10% of Fitz's storyline, same. Oh, that last 10%. I would gladly have given my money and reading time for that last 10% even if the rest of the book was crap.
-conversations that could only be this perfect with characters who have this much history. Example (paraphrased) Fitz: I blame myself. Kettricken: of course you do.
-the new (and new-to-this-trilogy) characters, human and animal. Especially Ash and Motley.
-some fun and thoughtful messing about with expectations around gender.
The things I didn't love so much:
-the hanging about at Buckkeep. While conversations happen. And tidings are considered. And time passes. And so on.
-Characters taking SO LONG to figure things out that it really tries my credulity. COME ON. I have a hard time believing even Fitz can be that thick about... things that were apparent to me in the early on in the previous book that took him and the Fool half of this one to put together.
Mixed: On the one hand, the conversations Fitz gets with Nettle, Chade, Kettricken, etc. are lovely, wrenching, and long overdue. On the other hand it feels like she's tidying things up for his funeral, and the title of the next book does not help me sleep easier.
So, yeah. Classic Hobb. Devoured it, and will probably reread at some point. Potentially infuriating pace if you're not absolutely in love with these characters. Which I am.
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This was really good, and I always love Robin Hobb's books. She has a way with writing that even when there's not a whole lot going on I'm still really engaged in the story. The only thing I didn't love about the bok was I felt like Fitz wasn't as smart as he should have been. I don't know how he's made it so long in life without getting himself killed, nevermind all his training as an assassin.
bookslut's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
4.0
mrbear's review against another edition
4.0
Another interesting addition to the Fitz series. This book is Classic Fitz, in the sense that he spend a lot of time thinking about things, being certain he has let everyone down, and overall not doing very much (but somehow every time he decides to take any action, it comes off as rash and ill advised). I liked it in the sense that I think this could be a good set up book, but you shouldn't read it unless you know what you are getting into (e.g., have read all the previous books in the series). It was helpful to have read the Liveship series to read this, and I actually wish I had also read the Rain Wilds series, because it seemed like that may have been useful near the end.