Farseer Trilogy by Robin Hobb

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Submitted by Stephen 
(Jul 23, 2001)

I had passed this series up a few times on my trips to the library not really sure if I wanted to give it a shot. Then one day I decided to go for it. Take the plunge I said to myself. Well let me just say that I didn't regret it...up until the end of the third book. Those of you who have read it know what I'm talking about. The fact that Robin Hobb has chosen to write the entire series in 1st person is unusual I think. Its hard to carry something this big with such a limited point of view but she does it wonderfully. Not once was I bored with it. But the downside is that after you spend days inside of a characters head like that you can't help but feel empathy for him/her. And this is the downfall of this series in my opinion. The ending is completely unsatisfying. After reading of how much crap Fitz had to go through in these books much of my time when I wasn't reading the books was spent on trying to figure out what kind of reward did Robin Hobb have in store for him that makes all his suffering worth while. Call me old fashioned but I like a happy ending. Or at least something resembling a happy ending. The ending upset me so much that it scared me away from her other books. I don't think I can handle the Raiders series. I don't want to take the chance that it could end like this one. Not since Orson Scott Card has an author been able to evoke such emotions from me while reading a book. I was actually depressed for a few days after finishing this series. All in all the series is very good. If you can handle an incredibly sad ending then by all means pick it up you won't be sorry.

This is one of the best books I have ever read without doubt.I couldn't put it down at all even though I was in the middle of exams! The ending made me sad but I'm glad that the author decided to give an original ending to it. I could have cried at how unhappy it was...except it's a book...anyway, read it!

A lot has been said about the ending to this series. And that is how it should be. The series is flawless throughout, but what an ending!! Somehow I didn't think all would end well for "Fitzy Fitz." What a truly unique wrap up to an emotional series. I literally cannot wait for Fool's Errand to be released later this year. Oh joy! I wonder if FitzChivalry meets his mother and his daughter in the new trilogy?

I want to start off by saying I liked the trilogy very much (uh, oh... here it comes!). It was inventive and out of the ordinary, which I appreciate. It had a well-defined world, and exceptionally done characters. I'll definitely pick up Liveship Traders when I get the chance. That said though, I'd like to comment on a few things. First, poor Fitz must be the unluckiest SOB I've ever run into in a novel! I'm surprised he didn't spontaneously combust at the end just for good measure. Mentally, physically, and spiritually, he took more abuse than you can imagine. I put the books down once or twice for a bit because it got to be too much. Some would say that such a strong response for a character says a lot for his development and the writer's abilities, but sometimes, enough's enough! I'm hoping after the 3rd book ended he won the lottery and married a supermodel... The second, lesser point is something I'm running into more lately. The mysteries of the book, be they in the plot or in the world development, seemed to be rushed to conclusion. It seems to be a trend to packed the resolution of everything into the last 50 pages or so. Sometimes this works well (the Belgariad finished up quick, but didn't leave me unsatisfied), but a lot of times, I'm left asking "But... what about him? and her? and this thing???" Maybe, again, it's a compliment to the author that I don't want the book to end, but I like to end satisfied, not with the out of breath feeling I ended this series with. All in all, though, a good series which I can definitely recommend.

What is strange when you read all the reviews: everybody is positive. And so we should. So I have been a little critical in my review on the Sword of Truth, but The Farseer Trilogy I recommend to every fantasy reader. I even tell my friend to hurry her 'Cavern of Black ice' (J.V.Jones) novel, so she can start on the second book of Robin Hobb. I admit I was a little shocked with some aspects in the third book, but they weren't dramatized. These aspects (cryptic as not to spoil things for readers to come) were the flying thing and Fitz at the end. I suspected him being betrayed, but expected a certain person at his side at the end.