Robin Hobb is a fantastic writer - great world-building, character development, description, etc. I think this trilogy is my favorite of hers (so far!).
Book two in a trilogy the Golden Fool continues the tale of Fitzchivalry Farseer. With rich characters ,breathtaking magic, and sweeping action the Golden Fool brings the reluctant adventurer further into the fray in an epic of sacrifice,salvation and untold treachery.
This is a review for the entire Tawny Man Trilogy (Fool's Errand, Golden Fool, Fool's Fate) because I find it almost impossible to rate them as individual books.
This series takes place 15 years after The Farseer Trilogy ends. Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders Trilogy occrs in the time between the two series. It is not necessary to read the Liveship Trilogy first (I would know because I skipped it, then came back to it after finishing Fool's Fate). However, reading 'Liveship' first would make the reading experience of 'Tawny Man' that much richer.
I cannot remember the last time I was so emotionally invested in a series, when a group of characters affected me as deeply as these. Fitz might be the narrator and hero of the story, but somehow The Fool manages to be the star. Watching them go through this series together was an amazing experience. I cannot think of another pair of characters I have enjoyed reading about more. The character of The Fool himself ranks as one of my all-time favorites from any genre.
If you cared about these characters at all in The Farseer Trilogy, you will consider them part of your family by the end of The Tawny Man Trilogy. Watching Fitz and The Fool go through this series togeher was both heart warming and heart breaking. The final chapters of the book haunt me still, and I'm not entirely sure if that is because of hope or disappointment.
The series itself ends just as Hobb has always ended her books... with a painfully real-life conclusion that is fitting as well as bittersweet. This series stayed with me for days after I finished it. I was truly sad to see it end. I was exhausted emotionally (Fitz never really does get a break) and exhausted physically (who needs sleep when you have another chapter to read?) but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
Treasure these books as you read them. Mourn the end. Then read them again.
This series takes place 15 years after The Farseer Trilogy ends. Robin Hobb's Liveship Traders Trilogy occrs in the time between the two series. It is not necessary to read the Liveship Trilogy first (I would know because I skipped it, then came back to it after finishing Fool's Fate). However, reading 'Liveship' first would make the reading experience of 'Tawny Man' that much richer.
I cannot remember the last time I was so emotionally invested in a series, when a group of characters affected me as deeply as these. Fitz might be the narrator and hero of the story, but somehow The Fool manages to be the star. Watching them go through this series together was an amazing experience. I cannot think of another pair of characters I have enjoyed reading about more. The character of The Fool himself ranks as one of my all-time favorites from any genre.
If you cared about these characters at all in The Farseer Trilogy, you will consider them part of your family by the end of The Tawny Man Trilogy. Watching Fitz and The Fool go through this series togeher was both heart warming and heart breaking. The final chapters of the book haunt me still, and I'm not entirely sure if that is because of hope or disappointment.
The series itself ends just as Hobb has always ended her books... with a painfully real-life conclusion that is fitting as well as bittersweet. This series stayed with me for days after I finished it. I was truly sad to see it end. I was exhausted emotionally (Fitz never really does get a break) and exhausted physically (who needs sleep when you have another chapter to read?) but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything.
Treasure these books as you read them. Mourn the end. Then read them again.
