[ChrisW]

Just mentioning that I've just finished this book, and after letting it all sink in, I conclude that this is probably the single best book I have ever read.

It is phenomenal and totally blew me away. Everything wonderfully resolved in a single book, where many thought after Golden Fool that there were too many plotthreads to handle in just one final book. Well she did it, and had room to spare. But the emotional impact of this book is just shattering. If you enjoyed any of her Farseer books, you're in for one hell of a treat. Of course, people have differing expectations and ideas about how they will want the story to end....

Started a new thread as the one you started got side tracked.

Hrm I just finished it and I'm actually pretty dissapointed in it. The Happy ending for Fitz was nice and all but it took her half the book to tell us it after the quest had been completed. Also I felt the emotional impact of the fools death, his being brought back to life and then him and Fitz not getting a proper goodbye suffered due to it being drawn out(not the actual scenes but the amount of time it takes fitz to feel the impact of them). If it had been condensed it would have had way more impact on me. I cry pretty easily but Hobb just failed to get a more than a momentary tear out of me in a few places.

My personal opinion is Hobb like in the Farseer trilogy tried to make it too real and avoid a fairy tale ending. That's not a bad thing and I liked the Farseer ending but I just feel robbed that I wasn't able to get closure to the three trilogies.

It was a depressing book. Out of the nine books in the series I'd have to say it was the worst which sucks as it was the last!

Anyone know what Hobbs writing next?

[templarsaint]

I too have just completed Fools Fate.

I have really enjoyed the 6 books that make up the "Farseer" saga and have closure after the completion of this book.

I am saddened that the series has ended, (Fitzchivalry is one of my favourite characters) however I would prefer the clean ending that this book provides to the ongoing saga's that are hashed out by some other well known authors.

Yes, it is slow in some places but if you can persist, then all of a sudden the pace quickens and the pages turn effortlessly.

Not the stongest book of the series but satisfying nevertheless.

TS

[Khallandra]

It is sad to seee the series go but I really did like it - though a new series with further adventures of the Fool would be cool :)

[rune]

I've just finished reading this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I thought the scenes with Fitz and Fool, were great and did find them emotional at times.

The beginning was a little slow, but once the quest for the dragon began it got much better.

I was pleased to see Fitz get a happy ending, unsure if all the explanation was needed before he got it though, but it was still nice :)

Now I am sad because the series as ended, but hopefully Hobb will pick up on another series following one of the other characters.

rune

[Eldanuumea]

I would love to see Hobb further develop the Fool and the Black Man.....follow them on their quest for knowledge.

I couldn't put the book down........was sort of wishing for a union between Fitz and Kettricken, though I suppose his getting back with Molly has that satisfying roundness of a completed circle.

The Fool is one of the most entrancing literary characters I've ever come across. And Fitz.....I've been in love with Fitz from the first book of the six. Fool's Fate is a meaty, intricately detailed, satisfying coompletion. But I hated to see the story end!

[rune]

I think it would be good to follow up on the Fool character too. She left us still a bit in the dark with him and I'd love to know all the secrets behind this interesting character :)

rune

[Leiali]

I have just finished it and am not happy.

Yes it was neatly tied up, yes everyone lived happily ever after BUT. It didn't end the way I wanted it to, there was no resolution to the relationship between Fitz and the fool, and quite frankly I was annoyed that Robin Hobb did not automatically know what I wanted her to write to make it all end ok:)

Of course it was well written and Fitz was as human as ever (did noone else have a fondness for his general stupidity?) and there were some wonderful additions especially when it came to the witted.

But I was disappointed.
:(

[Iskaral Pust]

I hope Hobb will never have more books telling the Fool's story, (s)he is an enigma, and I love that. I would like to see another series in Bingtown...

[Khallandra]

Have you read the short story in Legends II? it is really good - I wouldn't mind seeing something else like that :)

[Richardb]

Just finished and it was both amazing, and a tiny letdown. The story itself and the resolution do not cause me any issues, I sort of like it when an author has the guts to put into print the reality that life does not tie up in a tidy knot. I think she gave enough closure, however to make it feel good. I was happy for Fitz, as he was able to go back to a life, and take some pleasure for himself. As to the fool, I was glad to see him exit with the same sense of "what is he" as he entered. I for one was glad to see Hobb resist the urge to make the Fool any less and enigma as he always has been. The letdown for me was in the emotional quality of the book. As stated above, this book just did not draw out the pure emotion the prior books did. Can't nail it down, but not once did I find my throat constricting or my eyes welling up in this book, and normally, Hobb does that well in her conveyance of Fitz...
That being said, it is a fine ending to one of the all time great fantasy series. And who knows... Fitz may be back...