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A review by combativeroboguy
Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Fool's Fate is a phenomenal book, but it is not as good as I expected. I expected the best book I have read in Realm of the Elderlings. So far Ship of Destiny remains my favorite. This book is the second piece of media to make me cry though so do not mistake this for the worst book. I think this book has many positives and phenomenal payoffs while letting me down in some places.
I find that it is difficult to give spoiler free thoughts so far into a series but I will try. I think, like all Hobb books, each character is so brilliantly crafted so that we can understand their actions, especially Fitz's infuriatingly rash ones. This story puts the prejudice that we have seen in the past few books on the back shelf because, while it is still here it is no longer in focus. Instead, this book takes two things head on, Fate (As per the title) and trauma. Fitz is the embodiment of human will. There are few things more inspiring than man being stubborn. But at the same time, this book tackles what it means to deal with trauma and throughout this entire trilogy we have seen what happens when we run from our problems, from our fears and from that thing which destroys us. Now I'm done with the Spoiler free thoughts.
**SPOILER TIME**
Burrich: I am going to bounce around here, but Burrich in this book was infuriating. He barely has any space in the book but I just want to comment on how much he pissed me off. When he first tells Fitz that he was the better man for Molly, I thought "Well that's a dick move, but y'know what- that's fair." but then he kept telling it to Fitz and it felt like he was just trying to prove it to himself. His death though was brilliant. How he sacrificed himself, not for the Farseer crown but for his son in the battle between dragons.
Swift and Web: I did very much love Web in this book. I felt like the wise uncle who kept giving Fitz great advice as to how to deal with a petulant child. Both Fitz and Swift drove me insane from the start. Fitz refusing to tell Swift who he was annoyed me because all he had to do was tell Swift and then Swift would understand that, yes, Fitz does understand Swift's situation. They were very similar in how they were raised. I was tossing and turning when I read that Swift had come aboard the ship, especially when Nettle was upset with Fitz about it because their relationship is too heartwrentching. Anyways, my favorite scene with this duo is easily when Swift tries to bond with the mouse. As soon as he started, I was so tense and frightened that they would bond. Then Web jumps in and tells Swift what I have wanted Fitz to tell him FOR HALF THE GOD DAMN NOVEL! I loved that scene.
Dutiful: Dutiful was great here. I loved how he grew to love the Narcheska. I honestly expected him to be brutally murdered. I was clinging to that idea for the last hundred pages and I was very pleasantly surprised when he just survives. I was happy about that. I loved how the Prince would get so pissed when he discovered Nettle. I had always been thinking about what he would think about the fact that Fitz had chosen to be this selfish. Look at Dutiful, forced into the position that Nettle could have taken had she known of her Farseer blood. It is a sad thing, to be sacrifice. I loved his relationship with the Narcheska and how that grew into her being able to go create a new Mothershouse at Buckkeep. They were absolutely fantastic and I found myself rooting for the two of them to be able to marry and I was very worried it wouldn't happen because of all the things the Pale women had put in place which were a blockade to this. I loved it when the Narcheska emerged from the Pale Women's hold with her mother and sister. Seeing how Peotrre stood by his niece the entire time was just so heartwarming and I was honestly happy to see that she had returned.
Nettle and Thick: I'm going to start with Thick- WHO DROVE ME MAD THE ENTIRE NOVEL! I understand him, I do, but the fact that Sarda helped feed his terror of the boat drove me insane. I got so infuriated when Thick would say "no boat" because I dreaded what was to come and I know that was what Hobb wanted me to feel BUT STILL! Then when Nettle helped soothe him I was so happy because that would mean HE SHUT THE FUCK UP! And I know it sounds like I hate Thick, but I do like him- it's just that I hate him when he keeps talking about how the boat will kill him and refuses to be with the boat. I got really annoyed when he tricked Chade and the Prince because he then became a nuisance to Fitz in his journey to revive the Fool, which I'll talk about later. Then there was sweet Nettle. I always found myself looking forward to their conversations in her dreams especially when Fitz tells her to tell Burrich that a wolf with porcupine quills stuck in him delivered a message. Have I mentioned that I love Nighteyes with all my heart? I needed to make sure you knew that. Seeing Fitz talk about Nighteyes with Nettle was one of the most heartwarming scenes in the entire novel. Then watching as he haphazardly sent her into Icefyre drove me insane. I was shouting "DON'T DO THAT YOU IDIOT" the entire time as he asked her to do that. I also felt bad for her since he became skill dead when he ate that part of the elfbark cake since she thought he was dead and that they had left each other in unfinished terms. I loved how she had that childish imagination of him- that they would meet and be best friends. It reminded me that she is most certainly a child. I also found it pretty amusing that she was helping her mother hook up with Fitz. But I will talk about that relationship later.
The Fool: The Fool in this book drove me insane. I loved him and I hated him. My biggest problem with him was the revival. I love the Fool, I do. But I feel like the Fool should have remained in the grave after the Pale Woman had killed him. His ressurection made no sense to me because it felt like the only cost the fool had to pay was the memory of being tortured by the Pale Woman, which I understand is a cost but there was no price for actually being ressurected. Fitz didn't have to pay anything to bring him back to life, but I also did love how this was Fitz's denial. Hearing him shout out against the world is an image that I don't think will leave my mind. I loved it SO MUCH! He denies fate and that is one of my favorite themes that Fantasy can explore while no other genre can. I have to say though, my favorite part about the Fool in this book was when he tells Fitz how giving up those memories to Girl on a Dragon back in Assassin's Quest changed him. That action did irreparable action to Fitz's psyche. He shows clear signs of PTSD, not that I am an expert but I am currently doing research on the subject, in how he withdraws from society and is constantly trying to hide himself. I loved how he felt whole when he was forced to confront the pain. Many people with trauma do this, suppress the memory, like how Fitz did but we can't always run from our problems and expect them to be solved. It was a fantastic scene and I do not think I will ever forget it. But another great scene was when Civil confronts The Fool. I felt very bad for Civil, but the way he handled the situation was clearly irrational. I loved how this scene helped everybody piece together a part of the puzzle which had been kept hidden from us since Fool's Errand.
The Fitz: God Fitz is one mess of a man. I wouldn't have him any other way, but I am here to talk about Fitz and Patience. Their reunion was everything I had imagined it would be and more. I cried. Second time it has ever happened while I consumed a piece of Media. I was so happy when they were reunited and seeing Patience react to seeing... well Tom was just beautiful then how she righteously scolded him for never having returned. God I felt so bad for Patience. She is close to the end of her life but at the very least the boy she thought of as her son returned to her and she remains my favorite character. She is just so good. Now that I have spoken on my favorite part of this book , Fitz's reunion with Patience, I will talk about probably my least favorite part of it. Molly. This entire trilogy I had been expecting some new lady to show up and become Fitz's love interest, but nope. It was Molly. I had clung to the idea that there would be another love interest all the way up until Fitz traveled to Molly's cabin. I greatly dislike this because people move on. She had to and I feel like he needed to find someone else especially because Molly just does not feel like a good fit for him. I don't know, I'm mixed about it. But I do have to say that I love how Fitz comments on how neither he nor the Fool were given the chance to truly say goodbye, hinting at the fact that this story is not yet over. And I am beyond excited to see what comes next for FitzChivalry Farseer.
Conclusion
This is one of the best books I have ever read, but I do retain my problems with it. Despite its flaws though, this remains a stout entry into The Realm of the Elderlings, and like all of her other books, Hobb pulls off the Five out of Five stars here.
I find that it is difficult to give spoiler free thoughts so far into a series but I will try. I think, like all Hobb books, each character is so brilliantly crafted so that we can understand their actions, especially Fitz's infuriatingly rash ones. This story puts the prejudice that we have seen in the past few books on the back shelf because, while it is still here it is no longer in focus. Instead, this book takes two things head on, Fate (As per the title) and trauma. Fitz is the embodiment of human will. There are few things more inspiring than man being stubborn. But at the same time, this book tackles what it means to deal with trauma and throughout this entire trilogy we have seen what happens when we run from our problems, from our fears and from that thing which destroys us. Now I'm done with the Spoiler free thoughts.
**SPOILER TIME**
Swift and Web: I did very much love Web in this book. I felt like the wise uncle who kept giving Fitz great advice as to how to deal with a petulant child. Both Fitz and Swift drove me insane from the start. Fitz refusing to tell Swift who he was annoyed me because all he had to do was tell Swift and then Swift would understand that, yes, Fitz does understand Swift's situation. They were very similar in how they were raised. I was tossing and turning when I read that Swift had come aboard the ship, especially when Nettle was upset with Fitz about it because their relationship is too heartwrentching. Anyways, my favorite scene with this duo is easily when Swift tries to bond with the mouse. As soon as he started, I was so tense and frightened that they would bond. Then Web jumps in and tells Swift what I have wanted Fitz to tell him FOR HALF THE GOD DAMN NOVEL! I loved that scene.
Dutiful: Dutiful was great here. I loved how he grew to love the Narcheska. I honestly expected him to be brutally murdered. I was clinging to that idea for the last hundred pages and I was very pleasantly surprised when he just survives. I was happy about that. I loved how the Prince would get so pissed when he discovered Nettle. I had always been thinking about what he would think about the fact that Fitz had chosen to be this selfish. Look at Dutiful, forced into the position that Nettle could have taken had she known of her Farseer blood. It is a sad thing, to be sacrifice. I loved his relationship with the Narcheska and how that grew into her being able to go create a new Mothershouse at Buckkeep. They were absolutely fantastic and I found myself rooting for the two of them to be able to marry and I was very worried it wouldn't happen because of all the things the Pale women had put in place which were a blockade to this. I loved it when the Narcheska emerged from the Pale Women's hold with her mother and sister. Seeing how Peotrre stood by his niece the entire time was just so heartwarming and I was honestly happy to see that she had returned.
Nettle and Thick: I'm going to start with Thick- WHO DROVE ME MAD THE ENTIRE NOVEL! I understand him, I do, but the fact that Sarda helped feed his terror of the boat drove me insane. I got so infuriated when Thick would say "no boat" because I dreaded what was to come and I know that was what Hobb wanted me to feel BUT STILL! Then when Nettle helped soothe him I was so happy because that would mean HE SHUT THE FUCK UP! And I know it sounds like I hate Thick, but I do like him- it's just that I hate him when he keeps talking about how the boat will kill him and refuses to be with the boat. I got really annoyed when he tricked Chade and the Prince because he then became a nuisance to Fitz in his journey to revive the Fool, which I'll talk about later. Then there was sweet Nettle. I always found myself looking forward to their conversations in her dreams especially when Fitz tells her to tell Burrich that a wolf with porcupine quills stuck in him delivered a message. Have I mentioned that I love Nighteyes with all my heart? I needed to make sure you knew that. Seeing Fitz talk about Nighteyes with Nettle was one of the most heartwarming scenes in the entire novel. Then watching as he haphazardly sent her into Icefyre drove me insane. I was shouting "DON'T DO THAT YOU IDIOT" the entire time as he asked her to do that. I also felt bad for her since he became skill dead when he ate that part of the elfbark cake since she thought he was dead and that they had left each other in unfinished terms. I loved how she had that childish imagination of him- that they would meet and be best friends. It reminded me that she is most certainly a child. I also found it pretty amusing that she was helping her mother hook up with Fitz. But I will talk about that relationship later.
The Fool: The Fool in this book drove me insane. I loved him and I hated him. My biggest problem with him was the revival. I love the Fool, I do. But I feel like the Fool should have remained in the grave after the Pale Woman had killed him. His ressurection made no sense to me because it felt like the only cost the fool had to pay was the memory of being tortured by the Pale Woman, which I understand is a cost but there was no price for actually being ressurected. Fitz didn't have to pay anything to bring him back to life, but I also did love how this was Fitz's denial. Hearing him shout out against the world is an image that I don't think will leave my mind. I loved it SO MUCH! He denies fate and that is one of my favorite themes that Fantasy can explore while no other genre can. I have to say though, my favorite part about the Fool in this book was when he tells Fitz how giving up those memories to Girl on a Dragon back in Assassin's Quest changed him. That action did irreparable action to Fitz's psyche. He shows clear signs of PTSD, not that I am an expert but I am currently doing research on the subject, in how he withdraws from society and is constantly trying to hide himself. I loved how he felt whole when he was forced to confront the pain. Many people with trauma do this, suppress the memory, like how Fitz did but we can't always run from our problems and expect them to be solved. It was a fantastic scene and I do not think I will ever forget it. But another great scene was when Civil confronts The Fool. I felt very bad for Civil, but the way he handled the situation was clearly irrational. I loved how this scene helped everybody piece together a part of the puzzle which had been kept hidden from us since Fool's Errand.
The Fitz: God Fitz is one mess of a man. I wouldn't have him any other way, but I am here to talk about Fitz and Patience. Their reunion was everything I had imagined it would be and more. I cried. Second time it has ever happened while I consumed a piece of Media. I was so happy when they were reunited and seeing Patience react to seeing... well Tom was just beautiful then how she righteously scolded him for never having returned. God I felt so bad for Patience. She is close to the end of her life but at the very least the boy she thought of as her son returned to her and she remains my favorite character. She is just so good. Now that I have spoken on my favorite part of this book , Fitz's reunion with Patience, I will talk about probably my least favorite part of it. Molly. This entire trilogy I had been expecting some new lady to show up and become Fitz's love interest, but nope. It was Molly. I had clung to the idea that there would be another love interest all the way up until Fitz traveled to Molly's cabin. I greatly dislike this because people move on. She had to and I feel like he needed to find someone else especially because Molly just does not feel like a good fit for him. I don't know, I'm mixed about it. But I do have to say that I love how Fitz comments on how neither he nor the Fool were given the chance to truly say goodbye, hinting at the fact that this story is not yet over. And I am beyond excited to see what comes next for FitzChivalry Farseer.
Conclusion
This is one of the best books I have ever read, but I do retain my problems with it. Despite its flaws though, this remains a stout entry into The Realm of the Elderlings, and like all of her other books, Hobb pulls off the Five out of Five stars here.