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pimplop's review against another edition
4.0
si dejo de lado el romance y toda la heteronormatividad, es increíble
me quejé ene del libro mientras lo leía, no le tengo paciencia a traspié adolescente
me quejé ene del libro mientras lo leía, no le tengo paciencia a traspié adolescente
heddas_bookgems's review against another edition
3.0
“Once, in perhaps a thousand years, there may come a man capable of making such a great change in the world. A powerful king, perhaps, or a philosopher, shaping the thoughts of thousands. But you and I, Fool? We are pawns. Ciphers.”
Fitz is still recovering from the attack he endured. He’s a poisoned shadow of his former self. Self pity and anguish makes him decide not to return to Buckkeep. But when Fitz in seizure accidentally skills he decides otherwise as he becomes aware of the health of his King and the political turmoil that’s present at Buckkeep.
As much as I liked the Assassins Apprentice, the second book in the Farseer Trilogy, was a lot harder to get through. Luckily enough this was a buddy read with @booksandrollercoasters , so we pulled each other through the struggle of 600+ pages. Slow fantasy is my jam, but this book was so heavy on character development that it lacked on plot while I desperately wanted to know more about what was happening with the Red Ships.
Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this book. The writing style of Hobb felt yet again like a warm bath on a cold winters day. The characters were so well fleshed out that they felt almost like I reunited with my family. So when I was rejoined in company with Burrich, the Fool and the strong female characters like Kettricken, Molly and especially Patience (bless her heart) I was thrilled. I even jumped for joy when Fitz developed a strong connection to the cub, Nighteyes - we are brothers we are pack. Surprisingly this book was quite heavy on romance. Although it did seem a bit much and many seem to hate that specific storyline I quite liked it.
All in all I enjoyed this book and rated it 3,5 stars.
Fitz is still recovering from the attack he endured. He’s a poisoned shadow of his former self. Self pity and anguish makes him decide not to return to Buckkeep. But when Fitz in seizure accidentally skills he decides otherwise as he becomes aware of the health of his King and the political turmoil that’s present at Buckkeep.
As much as I liked the Assassins Apprentice, the second book in the Farseer Trilogy, was a lot harder to get through. Luckily enough this was a buddy read with @booksandrollercoasters , so we pulled each other through the struggle of 600+ pages. Slow fantasy is my jam, but this book was so heavy on character development that it lacked on plot while I desperately wanted to know more about what was happening with the Red Ships.
Nevertheless, I still enjoyed this book. The writing style of Hobb felt yet again like a warm bath on a cold winters day. The characters were so well fleshed out that they felt almost like I reunited with my family. So when I was rejoined in company with Burrich, the Fool and the strong female characters like Kettricken, Molly and especially Patience (bless her heart) I was thrilled. I even jumped for joy when Fitz developed a strong connection to the cub, Nighteyes - we are brothers we are pack. Surprisingly this book was quite heavy on romance. Although it did seem a bit much and many seem to hate that specific storyline I quite liked it.
All in all I enjoyed this book and rated it 3,5 stars.
sunny2081's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
lootgoblin's review against another edition
4.0
http://readfantasybooks.wordpress.com
Plot
Once I got a bit into the story I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, unlike many other books this book has a simple plot with not much to it. Basically, the Red Ship Raiders are at it again and no matter what Verity does they can’t be stopped. He gets some clues as to where the Elderlings might be found and with a few men he seeks them out. In his absence, things do not go well for Buckkeep with Regal trying to take the crown and leaving Buckkeep with nothing as he seeks to go inland for safety.
At first, the story moved slowly, but because I knew the characters already I was still intrigued and continued reading. Eventually, it was interesting enough to enjoy the story, but don’t expect any very exciting, fast paced parts like in other books because there are not any. Didn’t matter to me because what kept me going was my love for Fitz and my complete hatred of Regal and hoping that someone would kill him already. This is pretty much a story about developing characters, suspense, and making me anxious of what was going to happen by the end of the book. It is completely unpredictable!
The ending was fantastic by the way and nothing gets resolved so keep on reading! I can’t wait to find out what happens.
Characters
Despite a few, the characters are awesome. I love Fitz even though he was annoying at times with his complete and utter interest in Molly. At least it wasn’t too detailed, but that was pretty much all he ever thought about. I also enjoyed the developing relationship between him and Nighteyes! As well as his interesting use of both the Skill and Wit.
Verity is my second favorite character though for half of the book he isn’t really present, except in a few cases of Skilling, because he is off finding the Elderlings. I love how his relationship with Fitz is developing to the point where they are more like brothers. It is a great bond that they share. The declining relationship between Verity and Regal is awesome. Verity is finally realizing what his brother is capable of.
One of the best female characters is Ketrricken! Thought not too strong at first, she becomes stronger as the book progresses and even fights in a battle along side the men. She would be a great Queen and even many of here people believe that too! Her relationship with Verity lags a bit but soon they become a little closer. I was so upset because by the time they were getting to know each other more Verity decided to leave.
The character that is absolutely horrible and Robin Hobb does a great job to make me hate is Regal. He is a selfish little prince who doesn’t care what it takes to get the crown. As you read the book you have insights to everything that he is doing and it is just awful! I hate him!
Molly (Fitz’s love interest) isn’t a great character. I didn’t find her to be very interesting and she was always in a mood. She was always so angry at Fitz that it just became irritating, and I am not sure what Fitz sees in her.
Also, even though I much enjoyed him in the previous novel, in this one the Fool is just a bit annoying because of his clingyness to his King. This also became a little annoying. Should be better in the next book, hopefully.
I really enjoyed most of the characters and I think they are very well developed. Robin Hobb does an amazing job!
Writing
The writing of the book is perfect! I have no complaints and the world building is terrific!
Overall Thoughts
The book is a masterpiece, but may not be fore people who like a lot of action in there books. It moves slowly but still kept me on the edge of my seat and the characters are awesome! If you enjoyed the first novel I highly recommend reading this one and I know I will be reading the next one shortly.
My rating: 4.5/5
Plot
Once I got a bit into the story I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, unlike many other books this book has a simple plot with not much to it. Basically, the Red Ship Raiders are at it again and no matter what Verity does they can’t be stopped. He gets some clues as to where the Elderlings might be found and with a few men he seeks them out. In his absence, things do not go well for Buckkeep with Regal trying to take the crown and leaving Buckkeep with nothing as he seeks to go inland for safety.
At first, the story moved slowly, but because I knew the characters already I was still intrigued and continued reading. Eventually, it was interesting enough to enjoy the story, but don’t expect any very exciting, fast paced parts like in other books because there are not any. Didn’t matter to me because what kept me going was my love for Fitz and my complete hatred of Regal and hoping that someone would kill him already. This is pretty much a story about developing characters, suspense, and making me anxious of what was going to happen by the end of the book. It is completely unpredictable!
The ending was fantastic by the way and nothing gets resolved so keep on reading! I can’t wait to find out what happens.
Characters
Despite a few, the characters are awesome. I love Fitz even though he was annoying at times with his complete and utter interest in Molly. At least it wasn’t too detailed, but that was pretty much all he ever thought about. I also enjoyed the developing relationship between him and Nighteyes! As well as his interesting use of both the Skill and Wit.
Verity is my second favorite character though for half of the book he isn’t really present, except in a few cases of Skilling, because he is off finding the Elderlings. I love how his relationship with Fitz is developing to the point where they are more like brothers. It is a great bond that they share. The declining relationship between Verity and Regal is awesome. Verity is finally realizing what his brother is capable of.
One of the best female characters is Ketrricken! Thought not too strong at first, she becomes stronger as the book progresses and even fights in a battle along side the men. She would be a great Queen and even many of here people believe that too! Her relationship with Verity lags a bit but soon they become a little closer. I was so upset because by the time they were getting to know each other more Verity decided to leave.
The character that is absolutely horrible and Robin Hobb does a great job to make me hate is Regal. He is a selfish little prince who doesn’t care what it takes to get the crown. As you read the book you have insights to everything that he is doing and it is just awful! I hate him!
Molly (Fitz’s love interest) isn’t a great character. I didn’t find her to be very interesting and she was always in a mood. She was always so angry at Fitz that it just became irritating, and I am not sure what Fitz sees in her.
Also, even though I much enjoyed him in the previous novel, in this one the Fool is just a bit annoying because of his clingyness to his King. This also became a little annoying. Should be better in the next book, hopefully.
I really enjoyed most of the characters and I think they are very well developed. Robin Hobb does an amazing job!
Writing
The writing of the book is perfect! I have no complaints and the world building is terrific!
Overall Thoughts
The book is a masterpiece, but may not be fore people who like a lot of action in there books. It moves slowly but still kept me on the edge of my seat and the characters are awesome! If you enjoyed the first novel I highly recommend reading this one and I know I will be reading the next one shortly.
My rating: 4.5/5
ryanreadsfantasy's review against another edition
I really didn’t care for the narrator’s voice. Perhaps I’ll read the actual book one day and enjoy the story more. I liked the first book in the series a lot.
lfellin83's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
4.25
lindsayaries's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
4.5
I honestly was going to give it a 5, but I held back only because the pacing at times was slow.
There's so little critique I can offer this series. This book was amazing, better than the first, with a promise that the next one will be even better again. I can't believe Hobb's mastery of prose. I'm amazing with the rich environment and the world I know so much about and feels so real that isn't at all. It's just a level of fiction that feels like it has been lost or maybe forgotten lately. I hope we can find a way to return to it here and there, if just to remember how beautiful it can be.
This book continues the story of Fitz at Buck Keep. It picks up exactly after the end of the book 1 events. Somehow, the momentum from the end of book 1 is maintained throughout the entirety of this book. You feel the rising sense of threat, the tangling of threads as Fitz becomes more enmeshed in Buck Keep and the Farseers. There's a sense of conflict to come throughout the entire story and because of that, I felt gripped the entire time. For all 600 pages.
What's even more incredible is that Hobb somehow manages to govern my own mind. It's not until Fitz sees things that I begin to see them too. When Fitz's views shift, mine go with him. Then I look back and think "why didn't I see that sooner??"
I would and have recommended the Farseer trilogy to many people, but I realize it's not for everyone. It can be slow, it can be morose, but within it is some of the best fiction of all time. People have and should speak of Hobb like they speak of Tolkien, LeGuin, and Lewis. They should see Jordan and Sanderson as those who took inspiration from her. Who strove to create even a slice of what she did.
There's so little critique I can offer this series. This book was amazing, better than the first, with a promise that the next one will be even better again. I can't believe Hobb's mastery of prose. I'm amazing with the rich environment and the world I know so much about and feels so real that isn't at all. It's just a level of fiction that feels like it has been lost or maybe forgotten lately. I hope we can find a way to return to it here and there, if just to remember how beautiful it can be.
This book continues the story of Fitz at Buck Keep. It picks up exactly after the end of the book 1 events. Somehow, the momentum from the end of book 1 is maintained throughout the entirety of this book. You feel the rising sense of threat, the tangling of threads as Fitz becomes more enmeshed in Buck Keep and the Farseers. There's a sense of conflict to come throughout the entire story and because of that, I felt gripped the entire time. For all 600 pages.
What's even more incredible is that Hobb somehow manages to govern my own mind. It's not until Fitz sees things that I begin to see them too. When Fitz's views shift, mine go with him. Then I look back and think "why didn't I see that sooner??"
I would and have recommended the Farseer trilogy to many people, but I realize it's not for everyone. It can be slow, it can be morose, but within it is some of the best fiction of all time. People have and should speak of Hobb like they speak of Tolkien, LeGuin, and Lewis. They should see Jordan and Sanderson as those who took inspiration from her. Who strove to create even a slice of what she did.
far1s_'s review against another edition
4.5
This book frustratingly humanises Fitz and a handful of others, I think that is
what makes it so frustratingly good
Ultimately the reader knows what’s going to happen, Robin Hobb makes it clear how flawed our protagonist is, I think that it’s a brave choice but after thinking on it it definitely pays off,
I found myself frustrated with Fitz many times but that is the beauty of this book. His relationship with Molly was extremely jagged, plenty of ups and down that I want to see continue, I loved his interactions with Kettricken, Patience and The Fool really made the book for me aswell as the ending
Overall I think Hobb’s slower pace combined with her fleshing out of characters/world works for me, her prose flows smoothly so it often doesn’t feel laborious. Her character work is grounded and fleshed out and works well with the overarching plot.
what makes it so frustratingly good
Ultimately the reader knows what’s going to happen, Robin Hobb makes it clear how flawed our protagonist is, I think that it’s a brave choice but after thinking on it it definitely pays off,
I found myself frustrated with Fitz many times but that is the beauty of this book. His relationship with Molly was extremely jagged, plenty of ups and down that I want to see continue, I loved his interactions with Kettricken, Patience and The Fool really made the book for me aswell as the ending
Overall I think Hobb’s slower pace combined with her fleshing out of characters/world works for me, her prose flows smoothly so it often doesn’t feel laborious. Her character work is grounded and fleshed out and works well with the overarching plot.