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armstrongangela83's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
luminous's review against another edition
5.0
I didn't want to stop listening so 5 stars. Much better than the first book, though it's funny, at the very beginning of this one Fitz has had a personality transplant. He was quiet and unsure until the very end of Apprentice, but at the beginning of this one, which picks up where we left off, he is super confident and doing leadership and talking. It was a surprising but welcome change. I am fine with his meekness in the first book - he's literally a child! Age 6 to 15 at the very end.
I also felt so much for Molly in this one. Hobb nails the relationship between her and Fitz. Ha, I said nails. But the problems, and how she's always right about him neglecting her and putting her last yet she still wants to work it all out...I mean that whole trajectory leading to how they left off was so, um, true to life haha.
I find myself really liking the magic of the Wit and the Skill. Appropriate applications and dangers, and good reasons both are distrusted by society at large.
I do think, however, that the court in general was too small, too sparsely populated. It seems like there would be more advisers and more allies that the king had assembled just through living there. It seems way too easy to get into important people's rooms.
Also, I remain frustrated by their utter stupidity regarding the red raiders. Why have there been no efforts to figure out who they are or to communicate with them in person? They're just like, "Oh, it's Outislanders," but no one has confirmed that. How can they spend years being attacked by these ships and have so little information about them and more, not even CARE that they don't know? And on top of all that, only have one person working on it and it's the king in waiting and by the way, it's kind of killing him?
And don't get me started on the mustache-twirling Regal, whom everyone allows to just evil all over the place. Sigh.
But it still gets 5 stars because it does, my son.
I also felt so much for Molly in this one. Hobb nails the relationship between her and Fitz. Ha, I said nails. But the problems, and how she's always right about him neglecting her and putting her last yet she still wants to work it all out...I mean that whole trajectory leading to how they left off was so, um, true to life haha.
I find myself really liking the magic of the Wit and the Skill. Appropriate applications and dangers, and good reasons both are distrusted by society at large.
I do think, however, that the court in general was too small, too sparsely populated. It seems like there would be more advisers and more allies that the king had assembled just through living there. It seems way too easy to get into important people's rooms.
Also, I remain frustrated by their utter stupidity regarding the red raiders. Why have there been no efforts to figure out who they are or to communicate with them in person? They're just like, "Oh, it's Outislanders," but no one has confirmed that. How can they spend years being attacked by these ships and have so little information about them and more, not even CARE that they don't know? And on top of all that, only have one person working on it and it's the king in waiting and by the way, it's kind of killing him?
And don't get me started on the mustache-twirling Regal, whom everyone allows to just evil all over the place. Sigh.
But it still gets 5 stars because it does, my son.
tracy_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
5.0
sabrinabarkouli's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
4.5
lilcurious's review against another edition
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The two halves of the book are very different from each other. The first is very slice-of-life, the seasons take a lifetime to pass, and Fitz is heartsick and always in need of adjusting to the next change. The second half is full of plot, which in Robin Hobb's books, I'm beginning to learn, means a lot of anger and anxiety. I understand how such a difference would make readers question the pacing and maybe feel like it dragged too much, but the characters in this series have such a grip on me I was dreading the end of the whole Realm of the Elderlings, which I know makes absolutely no sense because I wasn't even halfway through the second book out of 16, but my heart feels what it wants to feel.
I honestly find it hard to express how much these characters touch me, so I'm sorry for how sappy I'm going to sound, but I just need to write this okay? I know Burrich angers some people like he was made for it, and Fitz annoys others so much they think of dropping the Realm of the Elderlings altogether. But there is a tenderness and understanding Hobb is able to show to each and every one of her characters that I can't hope but revere. There's a heartache in me every time I so much as think of Burrich. Lady Patience with her agitated caring brings me to tears with every covert remembrance of Chivalry. He inhabits the book like a ghost and, even though I know he is good in a way only a dead man can be, I love him a bit. Chade is the perfect mentor character, with apparently infinite wisdom and trust, but so many secrets! And Fitz. Watching him grow up is a bewildering experience, I cannot believe everything he was made to endure in this book at only 16 yo, his pains seem so real to me, his memories so vivid.
I know this is not gonna be everyone's experience with this book, but there was so much comfort for me in the first half. The second felt like witnessing a dear friend going through a bad situation, so many emotions, but overall just so much worrying heartbreak. I wanted to jump into the next book since I finished this one, but I honestly don't think I'm ready. All that said, I don't think anyone who didn't like the first book will change their mind after reading this one, the characters stay true to themselves, the pacing takes maybe even longer to pick up than in the first one, people still think Fitz is whiny seeing from some reviews I read. But the character development keeps astonishing me, the plot comes together beautifully, I still wanna rip the antagonist's head to shreds, and so everything is right in my world. Amazing book, no notes.
I honestly find it hard to express how much these characters touch me, so I'm sorry for how sappy I'm going to sound, but I just need to write this okay? I know Burrich angers some people like he was made for it, and Fitz annoys others so much they think of dropping the Realm of the Elderlings altogether. But there is a tenderness and understanding Hobb is able to show to each and every one of her characters that I can't hope but revere. There's a heartache in me every time I so much as think of Burrich. Lady Patience with her agitated caring brings me to tears with every covert remembrance of Chivalry. He inhabits the book like a ghost and, even though I know he is good in a way only a dead man can be, I love him a bit. Chade is the perfect mentor character, with apparently infinite wisdom and trust, but so many secrets! And Fitz. Watching him grow up is a bewildering experience, I cannot believe everything he was made to endure in this book at only 16 yo, his pains seem so real to me, his memories so vivid.
I know this is not gonna be everyone's experience with this book, but there was so much comfort for me in the first half. The second felt like witnessing a dear friend going through a bad situation, so many emotions, but overall just so much worrying heartbreak. I wanted to jump into the next book since I finished this one, but I honestly don't think I'm ready. All that said, I don't think anyone who didn't like the first book will change their mind after reading this one, the characters stay true to themselves, the pacing takes maybe even longer to pick up than in the first one, people still think Fitz is whiny seeing from some reviews I read. But the character development keeps astonishing me, the plot comes together beautifully, I still wanna rip the antagonist's head to shreds, and so everything is right in my world. Amazing book, no notes.
fruitface's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
laurasauras's review against another edition
5.0
This series is so completely amazing. It's impossible to put down. It is wonderful that even though there are political struggles and physical threats to Fitz, we still feel his emotional and romantic struggles just as compelling. It's also a great example of a story that never feels the need to go into explicit sex or violence, but communicates the events just as effectively. I super super need to get the next book!
meep_7's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
griff1n's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
amandalyn's review against another edition
4.0
I feel like so much happened in this book I’m having a hard time organizing my thoughts. I really did enjoy it and I’m looking forward to finishing the series. I will say that I don’t feel like I’ve ever known where things are going in this series. It keeps surprising me. I can’t wait to finish the next one.