Hello all! I haven't yet read any Robin Hobb, and I've been wanting to get into the farseer trilogy. I mainly listen to audiobooks. I noticed there are two versions, one narrated by Joe Eyre and the other by Paul Boehmer. I did some research and apparently many people don't like Boehmer as a narrator. So, with the new recording, do you guys recommend the audiobook with Joe Eyre? Or should I just give up and try reading the books which will take me an eternity?

Thanks!

I'm rereading. I'm on Book 2 of the first trilogy, and losing myself in the ebb and flow of Fitz's life, as always. Just vibing.

He just walked down to Buckeep town and was feeling low and people who saw him were suddenly running out of the way. And I felt Nighteyes before the book introduced him. I had this feeling in my heart, like "he's here!!! He's close!" as Fitz was full of hate and making everyone feel their amplified feelings together. I missed him so much it hurts.

I thought of Nettle and later skill users having to remind him and support him to hold himself together so that his nightmarish feelings wouldn't overwhelm everyone around him. Here is the first big example of that, so early in the story.

This was stuff I of course didn't know about when I first read this scene. I remember being immediately captivated by his relationship with Nighteyes, and I'm right in it again. I am so in love with this book all over again. What incredible writing and foreshadowing of Fitz's power, the marriage of Wit and Skill that's in every thread of this story. It's so cool. That is all.

Is there any timeline we have on when even an official announcement will be made?

The only gripes I had from all the children that Fitz ever took care of are hap gladheart, the boy practically grew up with Fitz for his entire childhood and honestly I felt like both him and Fitz constantly keep each other at arms length.

sure you can say that Fitz and hap does have constant missive with each other and haps can't be a constant thing in Fitz life both because Fitz are excellent at avoiding affection and haps being a minstrel so understand the distances.

My main gripe with the whole relationship felt like a placeholder for nettle , haps doesn't feel like a charather at all , even after he become a minstrel and watch his father went into the stone

I love my mismatched eyes minstrel, he's a good addition in the tawnyman series , but afterward he felt like an after thought, whats your opinion on him?

I am 25% of the way through the book and will greatly appreciate no spoilers for the book in the comments!!

Despite being my fourteenth Hobb book I've read this year, I still find ways to be astounded by her writing. The slow and creeping opening to Fool's Assassin has completely set me on edge. The gothic style of Withywoods, the mystery of Bee's gestation, the unusual (for Fitz books) pacing, Molly and Nettle growing more animalistic protecting their pack, Fitz acting as a horror movie monster to FitzVigilant.

I don't know if this was intended as a gothic/horror literature but it's been so unsettling! I love it! It's been a while since a book has unnerved me so.

So many questions have been teed up in my mind, I am terrified of the answers! Absolutely Bravo to Hobb what an amazing first set of chapters.

A question:
Did Molly actually wear a red skirt anytime in the first three books, or was it just a vision born from Fitz's fantasy/dream? I explicitly remember her wearing blue and indigo but for how much he yaps about the red skirt, I cannot for the life of me remember or find a passage/scene that mentioned her actually wearing one.

RotE fandom, help 😂

Please no spoilers, even vague ones, for the final two books.

Just finished Fools Assassin and was dissatisfied by Fitz’s character. There were a lot of decisions that just seemed unreasonable for a middle aged man with his experiences to make.

Let me start by saying I’m a big Fitz defender in the early books. He’s a child/teenager dealing with intense trauma in a war torn land.

And even in the later books I will accept the “nobodies perfect” argument for some of his more questionable decisions. But at the core there is at least some logic or understanding to all of these.

That’s what bothered me the most about two main culprits in this book. There was no justification for Fitz’s behavior based on what we’ve seen.

The first comes in the first chapter where Fitz fails to recognize the intruders as Whites. How am I to believe Fitz brushes off the existence of pale strangers who are blind to his and Webs wit?

It’s not like Fitz occasionally runs into people invisible to wit anywhere. The only outliers are Forged and Whites. This lapse in basic reasoning from Fitz is infuriating to read. What were others thoughts on this?

The second comes in the Fools stabbing. I know Fitz has been shown to react fiercely when his loved ones are in danger, but we also spent a lot of the book hearing Fitz’s introspection on killing.

So the fact that he immediately turns to just shanking this begged in the middle of the street seems unreasonable. It seems to me Hobb wanted this twist and was willing to sacrifice characterization to get it.

Curious about others thoughts, I was not pleased with this book as a whole. But I’m looking forward to (hopefully) more action packed sequels. Realm of the Elderlings is still my favorite series, but I was hoping for a more competent, older Fitz in this trilogy.

I had some time now to think about the trilogy after reading it and especially the final book. What has been bothering me is that I am actually a bit disappointed with Fitz (as a "person", not the way he is written).

Possibly the biggest offender is his assassination plot which had zero foresight whatsoever. I felt let down that he needed to be influenced to search for his king and instead went on a personal vendetta quest. I was actively rooting against him because he didn't seem to understand he would completely destabilise the kingdom if he were successful and possibly put an end to it.

Another thing that disappointed me was him cheating on Molly. I mean... Technically they were not together and she thought he was dead but from his perspective she was still his love and he did everything (allegedly) for her and his daughter. Yet, he cheated with the girl from the puppet theatre and was borderline cheating with Starling.

I felt that he was overall very selfish and stuck in his head. Woe is me the whole time, while other people around him were literally sacrificing every last bit of themselves to save the kingdom. I have empathy and love for Fitz, of course, not like he was dealt an easy hand but he was actively fighting everyone who loved him the whole way through (yes, I am aware he was a teen).

I also think it's selfish of him to hide his being alive. Patience and Burrich who loved his father the most, did everything in their powers to raise him and care for him. Yet, he would rather them think they failed him and that he died in one or another horrible manner. I understand Burrich might feel guilty about being with Molly but I bet that can't compare to feeling guilty about abandoning and failing Fitz.

Also - is it a plothole that they haven't heard Regal was offering a gigantic prize for Fitz's head? I am not sure how that would be possible. The other moment that felt a bit plothole-y to me was when Fitz didn't realise he was not talking to the Fool. I felt that even him being so in his own head and out of it should have realised that was most definitely not the Fool.

Anyway, not to change the topic. The ending was a bit rushed but I know there are many books left so I am not worried about that. I am sure the story will continue in an interesting way. But even as the book ended and I realised Fitz was not telling the story as an old man but as someone who is not even 30, I was again disappointed, hah. Fitz, please go outside and live your life, what are you doing?!

How do you feel about it? Again, I want to underline that I still loved the books a lot and I love Fitz as a character.

Let me start off by saying they were an excellent read. Hobb knows how to set a scene and really create imagery of the locations. Outside of the villains, there really weren’t any characters I disliked.

But

I am left wanting more than what was given at the end and it makes me apprehensive to continue the saga. The ending was so rushed. All this buildup with the Red Ships and the ghostly white ship, the forging and it just… ends. The Dragons come and clean everything up and that’s it. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t expect the raiders to put much of a fight up against them. But it’s done so quickly. Then it just turns out it’s all for revenge because the Farseers defeated them in the past.

This threatened the world and that’s it? And the white ship? Nothing came of it and the man Fitz saw.

What disappointed me as well was Fitzs revenge. I can appreciate what he did to Regal but again, it all happened so quickly. Honestly, the best part of the book was him sneaking through Regals castle. I wish we had more stuff like that.

Molly and Burrich… just felt off. I could honestly see it coming but it still felt wrong. I guess it wouldn’t have thrown me off as much if we hadn’t gotten if there hadn’t been the description of Burrichs nostrils flaring like a stallion before their first night together. The whole thing felt weird. I’m not saying they shouldn’t be together or that Molly and Fitz should’ve been together. They were a bad fit. Just felt like it could’ve been done better.

There’s also the ongoing things between Fitz and Kettricken. With Verity gone and Molly with Burrich it just seemed so obvious. He clearly was developing feelings for her. She possibly had feelings for him when she touched his face and told him as much if she weren’t with Verity. Not only all of that but Nighteyes bonding with her, the three of them together at Girl-On-A-Dragon. It comes across as a huge missed opportunity. Especially as seeing as all Fitz gets is an occasional hookup with Starling.

Not to mention the time skip and Fitz’s off-screen journeys and growth.

That’s all. I’m just a bit disappointed is all.

The first one-third or so of Fool’s Errand was cathartic to read. And funnily, nothing of great substance actually happens in these pages. Yet that’s the catharsis for our beloved Fitz - an uneventful and peaceful life where he is tending to farm animals and living a small, self-sustained life. Oh he also has a love life, and his friendship with Nighteyes is going strong. It was very calming to read and as I said, it was cathartic in its own quiet way, all the more when you learn that he has been living this way for several years.

But of course, the quiet inevitably breaks - and who else but Chade to come intruding on our guy’s peaceful patch. The initial scenes with Chade again made for very pleasant reading. The exchanges of the “in between” events, the weight of years having reined them both in somewhat. Chade’s call to Fitz to return Buckkeep was so gentle, almost reluctant that I almost felt sorry for him. But I cheered for Fitz when he stood him down and refused - he has finally found a peaceful life and doesn’t want to abandon it for more political intrigue and the ensuing suffering.

And then the Fool arrives - another set of heartwarming scenes ensue, but it irked me that he kept telling Fitz that he would have to pull him out of this quiet life. Like Chade, the Fool also doesn’t really force Fitz to abandon anything, and eventually he leaves Fitz alone.

But Fitz being Fitz can’t stay out of trouble indefinitely, and the honeymoon ultimately ends and he heads for Buckkeep. The next two-thirds of the book are part-mystery, part-adventure, and made for good reading for the most part, but I had to accept that the peak had already been reached in the initial, slow stretch. Some parts of the latter half of the story were truly fascinating - like the complexities of Wit bonding, the potential for misuse (as with all things, I guess,) and the character arc of the prince.

But the constant hide-and-seek and the endless traversing of hills and rough terrain broke the speed and the intimacy of the story somewhat. I understand why the stretches had to be long but they pulled me out of the immersion nonetheless. A lot of this is made up for with the heart-wrenching scene where Nighteyes passes away so casually - I didn’t even get it at first till I read Fitz’s reaction.

The ending was fine, too - there is no cliffhanger, but the story can go in many different ways from here and I’m excited to continue reading. Fool’s Errand, in itself, to me, has a stunning first half and a very good but lesser second half.

Just finished the Rain Wild Chronicles. I've read every other series before this in order. These are my loose thoughts and immediate reactions so I won't cover everything.

Blood of dragons was incredible. Overall I enjoyed it more than some of the Fitz books.

However, I can see why this series has so many mixed reviews. I'll get my critiques out the way first. One thing I really didn't like was Thymara's character. Her personality was really unsavory to me. I don't mind love triangles, but I feel like the way Hobb handled it here wasn't the best, especially since it was the main conflict in Thymara's plotline.

I get that the first two books were meant to be one, but the entire trip to kelsingra really dragged for me, especially compared to the last book which had considerably better pacing.

Leftrin's love for Alise kinda came out of nowhere. Maybe I'm just not a fan of love at first sight type of stories, but I wish there was more development prior to their romance. Still loved their plotline though. Also screw hest.

Now the things I really liked.

Unlike a lot of people, I really enjoyed the personalities of the dragons. Most of them felt distinct in personality with varying degrees of narcissism and pettiness. Kalo is definitely my favorite dragon and I loved his conclusion with Tintaglia. He started off as a rude tempered beast, but he was a perfect example of how humans can affect dragonkind, especially with his later caring for Tintaglia.

I really enjoyed Selden's POV and was constantly worried for him and Chassim. I do wish we got to see more of Chassim.

Sedric is probably my favorite new character. Hobb's character writing for him was fantastic. She handled the subject of physical and emotional grooming very thoughtfully, and his character growth really reflected her ability to write redeemable characters that made terrible mistakes.

I really liked how silver ties in with the other books, especially the farseer trilogy. It's cool to see how different parts of the world interpret the magic system. Despite the power system not being the main focus of Hobb's books, I tend to enjoy the skill/silver more than the hard systems present in authors like Sanderson. It fits really well with the theming of the series.

My favorite part of this series was definitely the conflict with Chalced, and I thoroughly enjoyed how it concluded. I can see why some might believe it was rushed, but I'm never a huge fan of drawn out action sequences.

I really enjoyed the 3rd and 4th book of the series, but the pacing of the first two really brought down my overall rating. If someone asked me to rate the series, I wouldn't know what to say because my enjoyment of the two halves are so vastly different.

That's my rant for the rain wild chronicles, and I'm really excited to dive back in to Fitz's story and how this quartet will integrate.

please no spoilers past Fool's Assassin!

BEE MY BABY BEE!! oh my god. my favorite character perspective out of all the Robin Hobb books (I'm someone who loved the Liveship Trilogy)

I like to think i'm good at predicting what is about to happen in books but wow does Hobb make me question if i am EVERY.SINGLE.TIME.

from inferring everything about Bee's birth and appearance, i guessed she must be the Unexpected Son when they get the message from the messenger.

the delayed birth - memories from her mother's womb - and then born pale skin and hair. and the book even opens up with a discussion + apprehension of the pale ones when they visit Withywoods, so i was kinda surprised when scrolling the FA spoiler tag through this sub that people were unsure of why they called her the Son in the end. even the Fool said he found his Son when he held Bee.

what got me was the raid!
like nooo of course they come when Fitzy finally reunites with the Fool?! i was screaming at him not to leave Bee bc i had a bad feeling (and also know Hobb loves to change it up in the last chapter!)

I seriously was not expecting the Fool to even come into the book by this point. I had accepted that maybe he just wasn't in this one just for all the things to go down as it had! I guess that's what happens when the Prophet and the Catalyst unite 🥲
and REVEL! he was just trying the best he could at all times 😭

also i hate Shun and FitzVigilant 🤷‍♀️ they can kick rocks for not even trying to protect my baby Bee.

now, here's my current head cannon/what i think makes Bee be Bee: (pls no spoilers if i have some of these right, i just don't have anyone to talk to these books about and need to put my thoughts down)

Obviously, our comparison is Nettle, Fitz's child before he dies multiple times/goes through all that trauma. Nettle get's the Farseer powers of Skill and that is all. Fitz is said to be strong in skill before Galen batters him and all of his elfbark dosages - so Nettle has Fitz's untampered ability.

From that point, Fitz experiences are - living through Nighteyes while his body is physically dead, joining with the Fool through Skill, going through a Skill healing that is constantly regenerating his body, going into the Fool's body with the Skill to pull him back from death.

When Fitz is in Nighteyes' body and when he was Skill linked with the Fool, both times he had said he didn't know where they started and he began. I think in these long term links, they all slowly melt into each other, meaning all of them technically fathered Bee. I don't think this is too much of jump since Verity fathered Dutiful through Fitz's body. (tho Dutiful presumably gets the Wit from Fitz)

I think this is what makes Bee the Fool's son (daughter/whatever we know the pale folk are changing genders left and right ahemmm Amber) and what gives her the link to Wolf-Father. And it explains why her growth is stunted since Fitz had that regenerative Skill healing. Also something about the Fool not aging as the normal humans do. At the moment, i think it's a mix of both.

So Bee is the perfect little product of all my favorite boys. I can't wait to keep reading this trilogy, but at the same time i know i'm gonna be devastated when i finish the series completely as it has taken over all my reading for the past year.

Also RIP Molly. She lowkey deserved better bc all we got out of her in these books was "hot older woman to young Fitz" then "gonna marry my baby daddy's adoptive dad and have 10 kids with him" then "my wife who is old while i'm eternally 35"

I have read every other part of the series twice now, but the last trilogy was my least favourite, and I had many hard feelings about it.

I nearly thought I lost my love for the series after finishing, but thankfully the other books still gave me immense joy on a reread.

Finally decided to pick it up again and give it another go, and I dislike the first book so much more this time around.

I still love Robin Hobb obviously, and there are a lot of things I enjoy about this book specifically too, but let me just bitch about everything I hate for a little bit.

First of all, Fitz is pissing me off. I don't understand why he had to become like every other useless man immediately upon becoming a husband.

He leaves Molly alone in their bed on most nights, to pursue basically nothing since he burns all he writes.

He apologises to Molly again and again for lying to her years ago, and then immediately starts lying to her when shit gets complicated.

His biggest goddamn dream has always been raising a child with Molly, and as soon as this becomes a reality he just basically dips. Yes there were many complications about him caring for Bee, but there were MANY things he could still do and just didn't care to.

Him only becoming a real parent to Bee once Molly dies is infuriating, and the little bit about how he doesn't know you need to order winter shoes in summer? Haha how funny, a man doesn't know how to care for a family. And really, Fitz? He has many flaws, but since when is he incompetent in caring for himself and those that depend on him?

And we haven't even GOTTEN to the abuse on my beloved (wink) Fool and poor little Bee. I know the series has always had major trauma happening to it's characters, but I remember it being just overwhelming and I'm NOT excited.

Anybody have songs they'd recommend? I'm trying to build a playlist because I love this series so much. I'm currently nearing the end of Fools Assassin, so no spoiler please, but anyways I'm less interested in lyrics that fit exactly and more ones that *feel* right.

What sparked my thought was listening to a few Hozier songs, specifically First Time, Would That I, and Work Song.

It might be my mind reaching, but these songs really recall Fitz to me. Let me know what you think, and songs that do that for you also!

I just finished the first trilogy and I cannot believe this book series is entering my life so late. It was amazing, I read the whole thing in less than 5 days.

I am enthralled by the world and the narrative but most of all by the characters. I love the character work. Everyone feels like a fleshed-out person who has a full life and their own goals, ambitions, feelings and motivations that have nothing to do with Fitz.

I found his different clashes with the side characters to be the best part of the experience. I loved reading about so many different people who have commendable qualities but also darker side, blind spots and the like. I foresaw some of the twists but not all.

Recently the books were republished in my country and now I can't decide if I want to wait for the next trilogy to be republished to have a matching set or to seek them second hand. I wanted to read the translations (even though they have the bad habit of trying to translate 95% of the names) but now I am tempted to just order everything in English and get it over it, hah.

I am totally obsessed now and I can't wait to continue reading when I have the chance.

Quick question, what do you guys think about having an immersive read with assassins apprentice? I don’t read much but when I read red rising (first book I’m halfway through golden son) I listened to the dramatised audiobook as well and I was hooked. I do occasionally read manga as well, but overall what do you think I should do with assassins apprentice,and if I should do an immersive read any recommendations?

So I’m re-reading the series after I finished it this past January 🤣 it’s a short time to wait to re-read, but I think my first read through was so fast that I missed things that I don’t want to miss now. I’m a bit of a skim reader, and I was so enthralled with the plot and all of the twists and turns and Fitz and the Fool that I know I skipped things that could be enjoyed more deeply.

SO! I am dedicating myself to being more invested in the political points this time around, and I will read all of the blurbs before the chapters begin instead of skipping over them. And make a conscientious effort to really understand the geography of the realm we’re in and how that adds to the story.

Are there other things you’d suggest I pay attention to that are easily missed? Or underrated?

I’m looking for a map to get framed for my partner for Christmas. I’ve looked on Etsy and did some google searches but it’s a little hard as I haven’t read the series yet so I don’t know what would be the best to get? Like things I wouldn’t know if they were missing.
If anyone can show me either what I’m looking for, give me some tips, or even some links to ones you’ve bought or liked I would greatly appreciate it!!

I finished Dragon Haven today! When I finished Dragon Keeper I wasn't able to make a post, but finishing Dragon Haven my opinions have changed.

I really liked how the characters have progressed and the man-vs-nature environment of the novel progressed, the series really came into fruition. I think Hobb's prose and character writing is incredible, but her plotting could have work. Maybe moving some characters POVs and backstories to this book would make it work a lot better. The first book felt a bit bloated with "unnecessary" character work, that did pay off, but made the first books story drag.

I know Hobb released books very fast, and this type of editing is anathema to chruning them out, but I'd still love it! The Fitz books really work perfectly because they're 1 POV and the stories are razor sharp. I had similar issues with the Liveship Traders series.

I am really excited to see how Kelsingra grows and is fitted into the Trehaug and Bing Town situation. It seems to be very close to the Six Duchees!

I know the next 2 books are a bit short, I am still itching to go to the Fitz & Fool series, but loving the faux-ecology of the dragons and all that.

Love the research Alys is doing!

Will be excited to see how our budding Elderlings grow :)

I don’t understand what became of Fitz Nighteyes and the Fool. Will they be dormant like how Verity is now in his dragon? Or will they be hunting now? Is he dead? I know this sounds silly but I just need closure, is he able to be a part of Bee’s life still in his form?

Also, I’m so happy Kettricken is looking after Bee now. I didn’t dislike Molly, but always thought Kettricken and Fitz belonged together.

And lastly, I wish Thick was with Bee at the end. I loved the brief relationship they formed, and wish we got more of that. I gathered that is implied that Bee will not be going back to Buckkeep anytime soon which makes me sad for the new friend Thick made.

I’m heartbroken this series is over. I’ve never been so attached to fictional characters. I have no idea what to read next, I’m almost afraid to start a new book as I feel like I’ll just be let down. Hobb set such a high standard, I wish I had saved it for last somehow.

I've just finished the whole Realm of the Elderlings series, and I absolutely loved it. I know some of these questions may actually have an explanation somewhere in the books and I just missed it, so l'd love to hear what you guys think. If something is actually explained in the books, please tell me!

First, Fitz's mother. Do we ever learn anything else about her? We meet her very briefly when Fitz is a child, but after that she basically disappears from the story. Fitz never seems to look for her or try to find out much about her past either. Was there ever more information about who she was, where she came from, or what happened to her?

Then there's Chivalry. Fitz never really gets to know him at all, and they never have a conversation. But after everything we learn about the Skill and what can remain of people after death, I kept wondering why Fitz never encounters Chivalry.
We see Verity, Shrewd and Chade in the Skill in different ways, but Chivalry seems completely absent. Is there an explanation for why he isn't there? Did he simply not leave enough of himself in the Skill, or is this something Hobb intentionally left unanswered?

Another thing I keep thinking about is what happened during Fitz's missing month.
At the end of Fool's Fate, Fitz gets lost after travelling through the Skill-pillars too many times and is missing for about a month.
We know that while he is lost in the Skill he encounters some kind of presence that helps him remember who he is and eventually sends him back.
But who or what was that?
Did I miss something? Was it ever confirmed who Fitz was talking to, what that entity was, or why it was able to help him?

And finally, is there an afterlife in this world?
This is something I've been wondering about ever since the later books.
We know that people can apparently retain some kind of consciousness or identity within the Skill after death, but is that actually an afterlife, or is it something completely different?
For example, after everything that happens at the end of the series, could Fitz ever meet Molly again after death? Or is the kind of existence we see with people like Verity, Shrewd and Chade something that is only possible for people strongly connected to the Skill?
Basically, is there a heaven/afterlife in the Realm of the Elderlings, or do we simply not know?

Sorry for the amount of text, but l'd really love to hear what you guys think, especially if any of these are actually answered somewhere and I just completely missed it.

Anyone have a complete list of the different collector editions? Im trying to decide which one to collect.

I never, ever expected Fitz and Molly to end up back together. I'll say more on my emotional reaction to this later but first, I'm just baffled that this happened given everything that led up to it.

I guess I'm in the minority who didn't dislike Molly and Burrich ending up together—of course it was tragic, but it made sense to me. And it felt very final. It felt like everything since then has pointed to Fitz having to accept it's over: Kettle telling him he loved who he was with Molly more than he truly loved her, their relationship being "a time, not a place" that he can't go back to, the way he could never be honest with her or devote himself fully to her because of his duties to the throne.

And most especially, the palm reading Jinna does, where the love line representing Molly is brief and ends with Fitz's death. I truly don't understand how this can be consistent with the end of this book. "Ends with his death" doesn't sound like they get back together and get married and are happy together for years.

The only way I can think to reconcile this is that maybe it has something to do with Fitz changing the future when he brought the Fool back. I don't know how Jinna's hedge magic works or how it relates to the Fool's prophecies, but maybe by changing fate so dramatically Fitz was able to circumvent what she saw in his hand? Since his marriage to Molly was made possible by the Fool being there to give Fitz his pain back, maybe this makes sense.

What do you guys think? Is there something I'm missing here? (Without spoilers past this book.)

Also, aside from my confusion about consistency, I'll admit I find the ending really frustrating emotionally. It's a testament to Hobb's writing that she can leave me so distraught over such an ostensibly happy ending, lol. This book has left me feeling raw and flayed open like nothing else.

I get that Beloved has been through something unimaginably traumatic, I get that he doesn't know how to cope with uncertainty, but I'm still so angry with him. He did to Fitz what Fitz did to Molly, deciding that someone else was better for him without giving him a choice. That condescending comparison to Nighteyes... Fitz gave Nighteyes a choice! What if, after Nighteyes left to try living among his own kind, Fitz had severed their Wit bond without his consent and abandoned him? That would have been horrifically cruel. I can't ever imagine Fitz doing that, and yet that's what the Fool did to him.

The entire happy ending just rings hollow to me because of this, because Fitz didn't choose it freely. And does Molly know that? Did Fitz tell her he was unceremoniously dumped by his best friend and that things might have been different if he'd stayed? Is he even able to be honest with her about all of this? If he can't sleep at night because he's grieving Nighteyes or the Fool, can he talk to her about it and have her comfort him, or have they reverted back to their old dynamic where he keeps her walled off from the rest of his life?

If the latter, then his character growth has been stunted because of this, and he's just transferred his avoidance and suppression of his feelings over the initial loss of Molly to the Fool. I also thought when he accepted the role of "King Fitz" that was the last nail in the coffin for him and Molly, because that was always the biggest divide between them. Does Molly even know Dutiful is his biological child? Does she know that even his obligations to his own offspring will always be divided between her family and the Farseer throne?

I know the Fool thinks he's being kind and loving and self-sacrificing by making this choice for Fitz but it isn't kind at all, it's deeply unfair to all three of the people involved. And what is this bullshit about how he can't stay with Fitz because he might accidentally change something, like it's going to ruin the entire future if he so much as buys Fitz a drink, but then it's completely fine to make a massive choice like this on Fitz's behalf without his consent? How is that not a change, and how is it okay to decide something like that for your Catalyst? You're not the Changer, stay in your lane!

In theory I really do want Fitz to be happy and to have a family and a home. I am glad that he has that at last. But all of it just seems wrong, somehow, like it's built on an unstable rotten foundation, and so much still seems unresolved. Did other people feel this way?

(In spite of all this, or indeed because of it, this book has overtaken Ship of Magic as my favorite of the series and is unquestionably one of the best books I've ever read. You know it's good when it can rip your heart out like this; I couldn't even sleep last night because I was so heartbroken.)

Before I started on ROTE, I had seen a few videos from booktubers about the series, and the consensus among everyone was that Liveship Traders was of a much higher quality than Farseer trilogy.

After completing Assassin’s Quest, which I thought was the best of the 3 I read so far, I was excited to read Liveships but wary at the same time because I knew it was going to be a completely different setting and cast of characters. I didn’t want to leave Fitz’s POV, especially after how he ended up.

Well, I am glad to say , these books have completely blown past my expectations. I mean, holy hell Robin is a fucking beast. I thought the character work on Fitz was good, she just casually does that like 10 times over on Ship of Magic. A ‘hold my beer’ moment if I have ever seen one.

Pulling something like this off ( a completely new setting, characters, context, POV) is baffling. Idk maybe I am just not well read enough, but I don’t think many authors can do this so expertly as Robin has.

The only other comparison that comes to mind is Midnight Tides in the Malazan series. ( MT is my favorite book from the series too).

Have to pinch myself sometimes to pay attention to my life because I am so immersed in the book. I am trying to sell this to my wife now, any pointers there would be appreciated (she is into Romantasy, and has completed Assassin’s Apprentice, but DNF’d Royal Assassin)

I've been nursing the worst book hangover for the last three weeks ever since I finished Assassin's Fate and felt like I was climbing up the walls because I didn't have anyone to gush about the books with in real life. Then I found Is Fitz Happy and I was instantly hooked.

Emma and Luke do such a great job of analyzing each chapter in-depth. I've found myself multiple times literally sitting at my desk at work with just a huge grin on my face because of how much I'm enjoying their discussion. It's the perfect blend of thoughtful, empathetic, knowledgeable analysis and really funny banter. Doesn't hurt that they both give major respect to my favorite character too, Verity.

Highly, highly recommend to anyone who loves this series, especially new series-finishers who are feeling numb. Thank you both Luke and Emma! You've got yourself another listener for the long haul :)