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adamd's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
podanotherjessi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I've been sitting on this review for a couple days because I struggle to talk about why I like the books I like at any time, and Fitz and his world are just so special that it becomes even harder. But this series is incredible, and if for some reason you're looking at this review without having picked up a single Elderling novel, take this as the sign that you should.
Okay, a review:
This book doesn't have a plot. Not in the traditional sense. There's no real central conflict, no inciting incident, and definitely no conclusion. But it doesn't really need one.
The story here is entirely in its characters. We watch Fitz struggle to adapt to the roles he has to play and find where he fits in the world he no longer feels like he belongs to. And along the way, he has some of the most emotional conversations I've read in a book.
It's a comfort to be back in Buck. And traveling with Fitz is like catching up with an old friend. Robin Hobb is truly a master of her craft.
Okay, a review:
This book doesn't have a plot. Not in the traditional sense. There's no real central conflict, no inciting incident, and definitely no conclusion. But it doesn't really need one.
The story here is entirely in its characters. We watch Fitz struggle to adapt to the roles he has to play and find where he fits in the world he no longer feels like he belongs to. And along the way, he has some of the most emotional conversations I've read in a book.
It's a comfort to be back in Buck. And traveling with Fitz is like catching up with an old friend. Robin Hobb is truly a master of her craft.
celticboar's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
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? Yes
4.5
alexandra_ivey's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.5
Fully sucked back in to this world. Don’t love fitz homophobia but the sweetness of all the relationships and how they grow in this is lovely.
anotherstory's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
I care soo much about all of this 👍
danielscones's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
5.0
imantura's review against another edition
4.0
i LOVED this book at some parts, but most of the time I was like plot where? I think I need action or at least a traditional storyline with rising actions and climaxes. The court politics and intrigue was the BEST part. 5.6/7
applegnreads's review
4.0
The biggest drawback of this book is that it is clearly a lead to a big finale. It feels that way throughout. Still, as we might expect, big things are happening.
sambora's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
2.75
Everyone knows at this point just how great Robin Hobb is. Her characters are some of the most life-like, multi-faceted and believable in fantasy fiction. But...
*This will be a Spoiler-Free review.*
The Golden Fool is definitely the second book in a trilogy, thus it suffers from many of the trappings #2's tend to do.
It has a lot of weight to carry, dealing with ramifications from book 1 - because my lordy that was a ride, all the while setting up the climax in the finale.
So yeah, this is definitely a bridge-book, but still an unquestionably enjoyable one.
It is beautifully written, there are some great character moments and a bunch of easter-eggs, crossovers and revelations...
But unfortunately I think it all came at the cost of the plot somewhat. There was a lot of the same thing happening again and again here - walking into town, trying to repair a relationship or spying on a conversation... One of these basic things happened in almost every single chapter.
Exciting? Often! But still repetitive.
This somewhat leads into my next minor complaint - the passing of time is a bit garbled here. According to the end of this book, less than a year has passed since the first book started, but multiple times quite substantial chunks of time have been told to pass, seasons change... It left me quite confused because it certainly felt like multiple years had come and gone. Maybe this is just me though.
Lastly, and I WILL be keeping this spoiler-free; something was missing from this book, and those that have read it will know what that is.
I am sure it's deliberate, Hobb without a doubt wants us to feel like it's missing, but still, it was certainly made lesser because of it.
I shall say no more on that.
But otherwise, my gripes aside, this was still a great read. I feel as though I learned a lot about the world and it's systems, as well as the timeline and how this story intersects with the other stories in the world.
Very enjoyable, but a little flawed and missing one of the core components that make these books so special.
*This will be a Spoiler-Free review.*
The Golden Fool is definitely the second book in a trilogy, thus it suffers from many of the trappings #2's tend to do.
It has a lot of weight to carry, dealing with ramifications from book 1 - because my lordy that was a ride, all the while setting up the climax in the finale.
So yeah, this is definitely a bridge-book, but still an unquestionably enjoyable one.
It is beautifully written, there are some great character moments and a bunch of easter-eggs, crossovers and revelations...
But unfortunately I think it all came at the cost of the plot somewhat. There was a lot of the same thing happening again and again here - walking into town, trying to repair a relationship or spying on a conversation... One of these basic things happened in almost every single chapter.
Exciting? Often! But still repetitive.
This somewhat leads into my next minor complaint - the passing of time is a bit garbled here. According to the end of this book, less than a year has passed since the first book started, but multiple times quite substantial chunks of time have been told to pass, seasons change... It left me quite confused because it certainly felt like multiple years had come and gone. Maybe this is just me though.
Lastly, and I WILL be keeping this spoiler-free; something was missing from this book, and those that have read it will know what that is.
I am sure it's deliberate, Hobb without a doubt wants us to feel like it's missing, but still, it was certainly made lesser because of it.
I shall say no more on that.
But otherwise, my gripes aside, this was still a great read. I feel as though I learned a lot about the world and it's systems, as well as the timeline and how this story intersects with the other stories in the world.
Very enjoyable, but a little flawed and missing one of the core components that make these books so special.