Review: Fools Assassin
Posted: 05 Sep 2014, 05:59
Fools Assassin is the first in a new three book series from Robin Hobb based around Fitzchivalry Farsseer. This is the third trilogy involving Fitz and his friend The Fool.
Tom Badgerlock has been living peaceably in the manor house at Withywoods with his beloved wife Molly these many years, the estate a reward to his family for loyal service to the crown. But behind the facade of respectable middle-age lies a turbulent and violent past. For Tom Badgerlock is actually FitzChivalry Farseer, bastard scion of the Farseer line, convicted user of Beast-magic, and assassin. A man who has risked much for his king and lost more. On a shelf in his den sits a triptych carved in memory stone of a man, a wolf and a fool. Once, these three were inseparable friends: Fitz, Nighteyes and the Fool. But one is long dead, and one long-missing. Then one Winterfest night a messenger arrives to seek out Fitz, but mysteriously disappears, leaving nothing but a blood-trail. What was the message? Who was the sender? And what has happened to the messenger? Suddenly Fitz's violent old life erupts into the peace of his new world, and nothing and no one is safe.
The depth of characters in this book is outstanding everything fitz, his family and friend experience is felt as if it was happening to real loved ones. The fondness felt for the returning characters that have appeared through the previous two trilogies is wonderful and the passing of a couple of old characters was heart wrenching to read. Although this book is not all out action all the way through the connection to the characters and their daily lives allows the book to keep flowing through every page. Robin hobbs skill at changing the pace of the book within a couple of pages is like no other author, and is used to great effect throughout the book. Despite reservations about the introduction of a new narrative character as the previous books have been told through Fitz’s eyes only. The new character adds a fresh and engrossing new perspective. The ending chapters of the book are full of suspense and fear and were read through tears for the most part.
I have missed Fitz and the fool and will now miss little bee and it feels more as if this is the beginning of a long story rather than the first book in a trilogy and is left on a cliffhanger that leaves me despairing that it’s going to be at least a year before the next part is released.
I GIVE IT FOUR OUT OF FOUR STARS
Tom Badgerlock has been living peaceably in the manor house at Withywoods with his beloved wife Molly these many years, the estate a reward to his family for loyal service to the crown. But behind the facade of respectable middle-age lies a turbulent and violent past. For Tom Badgerlock is actually FitzChivalry Farseer, bastard scion of the Farseer line, convicted user of Beast-magic, and assassin. A man who has risked much for his king and lost more. On a shelf in his den sits a triptych carved in memory stone of a man, a wolf and a fool. Once, these three were inseparable friends: Fitz, Nighteyes and the Fool. But one is long dead, and one long-missing. Then one Winterfest night a messenger arrives to seek out Fitz, but mysteriously disappears, leaving nothing but a blood-trail. What was the message? Who was the sender? And what has happened to the messenger? Suddenly Fitz's violent old life erupts into the peace of his new world, and nothing and no one is safe.
The depth of characters in this book is outstanding everything fitz, his family and friend experience is felt as if it was happening to real loved ones. The fondness felt for the returning characters that have appeared through the previous two trilogies is wonderful and the passing of a couple of old characters was heart wrenching to read. Although this book is not all out action all the way through the connection to the characters and their daily lives allows the book to keep flowing through every page. Robin hobbs skill at changing the pace of the book within a couple of pages is like no other author, and is used to great effect throughout the book. Despite reservations about the introduction of a new narrative character as the previous books have been told through Fitz’s eyes only. The new character adds a fresh and engrossing new perspective. The ending chapters of the book are full of suspense and fear and were read through tears for the most part.
I have missed Fitz and the fool and will now miss little bee and it feels more as if this is the beginning of a long story rather than the first book in a trilogy and is left on a cliffhanger that leaves me despairing that it’s going to be at least a year before the next part is released.
I GIVE IT FOUR OUT OF FOUR STARS
