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A review by katieinca
Fool's Quest by Robin Hobb
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.