[pennywise86]

It was a very interesting read, better than the first, I think. What I realized after finishing this book is that Hobb's books are much more character-dependent than plot-dependent. It's the chracters here that move the plot forward, and you have to love these people. My favourite scenes were the ones involving Molly and Fitz, for no other reason that you could really tell how much they loved one another.

About the end, did Fitz really die and was then brought back to life Crow-style? What an awesome way to get him out of all that mess. But now he's pretty much dead to everyone, and Molly's left him. I hope he finds her in the next book.

It was pretty obvious that Shrew would die, it was just a matter of when. Oh, well, next book should be better.

[Ravenfire]

Robin Hobb is very tough on her characters. Don't expect happy endings with her, because they are rare, and very, very well earned. Characters really have to earn happiness in her novels, and IMHO, the first trilogy was the darkest of the three. For all that, I still wish I could forget everything I had read about all three trilogies purely for the pleasure of being able to reread them all over again.

[Evil Agent]

You should read some of the other threads in this Hobb forum. Auntie Pam just recently read the books (like a month or two ago) and we had a thread for each book. Maybe add some comments in there! :)

These books are my favorite fantasy reads of all time, besides LOTR and Martin's aSoIaF.

[pennywise86]

damn it, why do I get the feeling that he isn't going to get together with Molly.

[Sir Stephen]

IMO Royal Assasin is the best book Hobb has written, and one of the best I've ever read. Its kind of unusual to find the second in a trilogy outstrips its beginning and end, but there you go. The finale is fantastic with Fitz's death to be sure, but all the way throught there is a supperb TENSION that never lets up.

Damn I love that book.

[Eperitos]

damn it, why do I get the feeling that he isn't going to get together with Molly.

He will.....perhaps. ;)

BTW (since your enjoying the Farseer series) I definately recommend that you read the Liveship Traders series before you go on to the Tawny Man. some people might tell you to skip this series because Fitz isn't in it. Liveship is not directly related to the other two series, but its a great series all the same. Its actually my favorite of the bunch.

[pennywise86]

what's Liveship Traders about anyway?

[Eperitos]

Liveship chronilogically comes after Farseer and before the tawny man series (it was written in that order too - see how nicely that works out). It takes place in bingetown and the cursed shore (south of the Six Duchies).

It has a very different feel to it than the other two series, primarily because it doesn't just follow the path of one character. It is a much more character driven story than the Fitz books, and as such it has a bit more of a slower pace to it.

I won't say much of what the actual story is about because I'm very bad at these things. I'll either give too much away, or bore you to death with my explanation. While the story is not directly connected to the other two series I still think your enjoyment of the last series will be enhanced if you read this one. Some people who like the other two series don't like this, but like I said, this one is my favorite of the bunch, and I think you should give it a shot.

[Crow]

damn it, why do I get the feeling that he isn't going to get together with Molly.

This is a bad thing? Man, I hate Molly.

[clockwirk]

This is a bad thing? Man, I hate Molly.

C'mon. You really start to like Molly once she's killed off in book three.....
Oops. I've said too much.



Just Kidding.




Or am I?