Assassin's Fate and Tell Me Something Tuesday: Do you Cross post your reviews on Amazon?

Prince FitzChivalry Farseer’s daughter Bee was violently abducted from Withywoods by Servants of the Four in their search for the Unexpected Son, foretold to wield great power. With Fitz in pursuit, the Servants fled through a Skill-pillar, leaving no trace. It seems certain that they and their young hostage have perished in the Skill-river.

Clerres, where White Prophets were trained by the Servants to set the world on a better path, has been corrupted by greed. Fitz is determined to reach the city and take vengeance on the Four, not only for the loss of Bee but also for their torture of the Fool. Accompanied by FitzVigilant, son of the assassin Chade, Chade’s protégé Spark and the stableboy Perseverance, Bee's only friend, their journey will take them from the Elderling city of Kelsingra, down the perilous Rain Wild River, and on to the Pirate Isles.

Their mission for revenge will become a voyage of discovery, as well as of reunions, transformations and heartrending shocks. Startling answers to old mysteries are revealed. What became of the liveships Paragon and Vivacia and their crews? What is the origin of the Others and their eerie beach? How are liveships and dragons connected?

But Fitz and his followers are not the only ones with a deadly grudge against the Four. An ancient wrong will bring them unlikely and dangerous allies in their quest. And if the corrupt society of Clerres is to be brought down, Fitz and the Fool will have to make a series of profound and fateful sacrifices.

My thoughts:

I always loved Fitz, and omg the things she put him through. I still remember crying in book 1, or was it book 2? Well she sure put him through a lot. And then came another trilogy and she continued to torment him. And then came this trilogy and omg FITZ! At least he was happy for a little while and he had his wife, and a daughter. But then Molly died, and then Bee was taken. Come on! Stop being so cruel to the poor man!

And that is where we are now. Fitz and the Fool (and others) are in the dragon city of Kelsingra and on their way to Clerres to find Bee, or kill the mofos that took her.

Bee is with her captors also on route to Clerres and I just want to kick those freaking bastards. She is a child!

I really despise the Servants and the Whites. Let's bring down holy fire on those cruel bastards.

She brings in the liveships again (never did like that series, she was so cruel there too). But the ships are fascinating.

More dragons. A bit more learned about the Elderlings.

Bee started to grow on me.

I still do not care for the Fool.

Fitz *sobs* Nighteyes *sobs* It has been like decades in this world and I still mourn him.

Did I like the end? Hmmm, yes and no. At least it finally felt like an ending to the series. Some calm before whatever storm comes next. The first trilogy did not have a good ending. The second, sort of. This one, I guess it fits. Still...

I just ramble on. I do not know what to say. OH, do NOT start with this one. Do not be an idiot. You have to read them all. Or at least the first trilogy.

Cover

Eh, works

Hardcover, 853 pages
Published May 4th 2017 by Harper Voyager
The Fitz and The Fool Trilogy #3, Realms of the Elderlings #16
Fantasy
Library

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

This week's conversation starter: 

June 13th: Do you Cross post your reviews on Amazon?

Not all of them. Amazon is just so nasty sometimes. I mean I do not even post a lot there and still the comments I have gotten have been worse than GR, where I post a lot. Not that I have gotten a lot, but it's always someone trying to defend the book, and they have obviously not even read my review. Once someone even came back to apologize cos they had commented on the wrong review. I just feel Amazon is weird.

BUT, I do post reviews on amazon and those are the ones I have gotten from publishers or authors. Not the books I have read on my own. I might just be too lazy to post them all to be honest. I do not even bother to post NG reviews there all the time.

I do not like amazons ratings either. They have like two that mean good and the rest are crap. I just end up giving everything the same rating even when I have given different ones on GR.

So my answer it, yes sometimes.

Luci in March

Fool's quest - Robin Hobb

Years ago, they freed a dragon from the glaciers on Aslevjal. Then they parted ways, the Fool returning to far-off Clerres, while Fitz finally claimed a wife, a family, and a home of his own.

Now, betrayed by his own people and broken by torment, the Fool has made his way back to the Six Duchies. But as Fitz attempts to heal his old friend in Buckkeep Castle, his young daughter Bee is abducted from Withywoods by pale and mysterious raiders who leave ruin and confusion in their wake.

Fitz must find a way to rescue his beloved Bee. At the same time it is the Fool’s fiercest wish to return to Clerres with the best assassin he has ever known, to gain vengeance and justice.

Can Fitz bear to take up the tools of his old trade again, even to avenge his dearest friend and save his child? 

My thoughts:

The way to read this book is just to let yourself be immersed in it. That when when you come up for air you are all, what is going on? Where am I? I was just so into the book that it could not put it down or stop thinking about it. I did read it in an elevator, I did read it while BF and I visited a friend of his.

Some things made me angry, some things made me smile and some things just warmed my heart. Some things made me murderous. 

Bee was kidnapped in the last book and we get to follow her and her captures, and damn I want to hunt them all down and make those effing bastards pay!!!

All while Fitz is at Buckkeep Castle tending to the Fool, but yes when he learns of this. The hunt is on.

There are just so many things I want to say, but I am kind of lost for words. And I fear how it all will end. I fear for Fitz. I have followed his life for so long now and the fear is strong. I also really want him to bond again. The loss of Nighteyes still hurts me, and him.

Conclusion:

SO yes I recommend this series, but if you want to feel all that lost and heartache then you have to start with the first trilogy.

Cover

ok

Hardcover, 740 pages
Published August 13th 2015 by Harper Voyager
The Fitz and The Fool Trilogy #2, Realms of the Elderlings #15
Fantasy
Library

Fool's Assassin - Robin Hobb

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. 

My thoughts:

I remember reading my first Fitz book back in the day *happy sigh*. It was wonderful, and sad. Later her books just got depressing. I sure hope that wont happen here :/

So Fitz is back, he is living at Whitywoods with Molly. It's a quiet life, he does not wanna go back to Buckkeep and all that. The book shows us his life, years go by. I love the daily life stories, that is what she is so good at. I do not need an army attacking, a dragon eating villages. I can just enjoy the simple life. The pretty prose. But yes of course things are brewing. They do want him back in some capacity. Something strange is happening, someone wants to get in contact with him. I guess book 2 will be more about that. The getting action part.

This book is getting to know Fitz again. I do love him, I feel so sorry for him. At one point I felt that sadness again, you know, the sadness over Nighteyes. There is another POV too, I really can't say anything about that, but the POV was clear, brilliant and strange, in a way I can't tell you. A great POV with questions that needs answering.

And the book ends with a cliffie. Noooo, you scream. Yes, sadly a cliffie. It will put book 2 in a different light. An angry light to be sure. No one messes with Fitz.

Conclusion:

Awww, I enjoyed this book. Today I read for 3 hours straight so that I could finish it. For a 600 page book it felt so light. I can't wait to read more.

And yes there are books before this series, so I would say read those first if you want the whole story.

Cover

ok

Hardcover, UK Edition, 630 pages
Published August 12th 2014 by Harper Voyager
The Fitz and The Fool Trilogy #1, Realms of the Elderlings #14
Fantasy
Library

Review: Dragon Haven - Robin Hobb + another tradition post

 The Rain Wilds Chronicles, book 2

Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 576
Published: March 2010

 The dragon keepers and the fledgling dragons are forging a passage up the treacherous Rain Wild River. They are in search of the mythical Elderling city of Kelsingra, and are accompanied by the liveship Tarman, its captain, Leftrin, and a group of hunters who must search the forests for game with which to keep the dragons fed. With them are Alise, who wants to continue her study of dragons, and  Bingtown dandy, Sedric. Rivalries and romances are already threatening to disrupt the band of explorers: but external forces may prove to be even more dangerous. Chalcedean merchants are keen to lay hands on dragon blood and organs to turn them to medicines and profit.. And then there are the Rain Wilds themselves: mysterious, unstable and ever perilous, its mighty river running with acid, its jungle impenetrable and its waterways uncharted. 

This one was, I don't know, I prefer her Fitz books more, I didn't care for the liveship books, the first Rain Wilds book was nice, but now this second one, it was just that not that much happened.

It starts where the first book ended. They continue their travels down the river. Alise has feelings for Leftrin, but what can she do when she is married to Hest? Sedric wants to steal dragon parts to be rich and run away with Hest. The dragons complain about the hard journey. The dragon keepers have internal conflicts. People are starting to wants partners even though it is forbidden for the heavy touched by the Rain Wilds to mate. Thymara has issues with loosing her independence just cos their "leader" says so. And the Rain Wilds are as dangerous as ever.

The book was ok and I read on, it's just that yes not that much happened. Sure a lot of personal problems, and some dangerous Rain Wilds things happening. But other than that it was more about the journey and the journey was just in this one place. My other problem with the book is the ending. Happy, nice, but abrupt and it left me with this big "and then what?" Nothing was resolved in a way. I did hear she was writing on another book about the Rain Wilds so perhaps we can get some questions there, I sure hope so at least.

The good things are that Hobb is a remarkable writer and her worlds are great. She is truly talented, even if I prefer Fitz ;) Also she sure loves to make her heroes or heroines suffer but here, not so much. Nothing made me sick to my stomach of worry or sadness.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: I do not like these covers

Reason for reading: From that awesome library, kind of makes me wish I lived there

Final thoughts: Perhaps not a Hobb series a newbie should start with. Cos things that happen here comes to play after events in her previous books.

End of Summer Tradition

This is something that only happens in a few places in Finland. And it's called different things, we call it "summarcottage conclusion" ok weird translation there. Anyway on the last Saturday of August the summer is finished. People go to their summerhomes to celebrate the summer one last time. This is the time when you also kind of clean up there to leave the place ready for winter. Cos sure you can go there in the winter too, but we never did.

Fireworks is the big and kind of only thing. So yesteryday I watched a nice display of fireworks coming from everywhere corner around the sky, and ate some yummy grilled sausages.

Review: Dragon Keeper - Robin Hobb

 Dragon Keeper by Robin Hobb

Book 1 of the Rain Wild Chronicles

Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 560
Published: UK July 2009/ US January 2010

Dragon keeper is the newest book by Robin Hobb, and it is book one of The Rain Wild Chronicles. The next and last book in this series will be published next year. This book takes the reader back to Bingtown and the Rain Wilds and familiar characters from the Liveship books makes an appearance.

The dragon Tintaglia has called on the sea serpents and they have migrated up the river to make their cocoons. Many have died getting there and many die making them. When they finally emerge they are nothing like the magnificent dragons of the old. They are broken, deformed, they can't fly, and some do not have the minds they should have. Something has to be done when they prove a danger to the community. The dragons start to speak of the Elderling city of Kelsingra, and soon it is decided that they will be helped getting there.

On this journey are those unlucky of The Rain Wilds, and one is Thymara, born with claws and of the knowledge she should have been put out in the wild at birth. But she is fascinated by the dragons and wants to help. Leftrin, captain of the liveship Tarman also has an interest in these dragons, and last is Alise Finbrook, who has been studying ancient texts about Elderlings and dragons for years.

The dragon keepers have a long road ahead, and there are those that see a profit in dragons, and think of them as dumb cows.


The Liveships series was not my favorite out of Hobbs books, but this one was different. Perhaps because of the mysterious Rain Wilds and its strange and deformed inhabitants. I do hope that this book may give some insight why they are as they are.

It is a good start to a series even though not much happen in the book. First closer to the end they finally start their journey and the whole book up to that is about the journey there. The reader is introduced to all the characters and learns about their lives for a couple of years and what all leads them to this point in life.

One is Thymara, who knows she has no future and who watched the dragons hatch some years ago. A strong girl who wants more but is still following the traditions and ways of her elders. She does act a bit childish longer into the book, but it is to be expected. Captain Leftrin is an interesting character, and as the book moved on I forget if he had done something wrong in the past, and the friendship he seeks from Alise is a refreshing add to the book and adds a bit of hope to the book. Something I do not always expect from Hobb's books because I do know that they tend to get a bit depressing. The main characters is always suffering, and I can't help to be curious about the next book.

Her best characters has to be Alise Finbrook, a woman stuck in a loveless marriage she helped create, and with a husband who is not all he seems to be. Her only happiness is her studies, and her biggest goal is to see the dragons. I can't help to feel sorry for her for her silent suffering. And I can honestly say that I have no idea how the next book will turn out. That is Hobb's strength, because she does not give things away, not even little hints where the books are going. Everything is always a surprise.


But this is mostly a book about dragons, and one of them Sintara, plays an important part. They are born as broken as the people of the Rain Wilds, and as always you feel with them even if they are arrogant. Hobb manages to walk that fine line, and has created a good new book to her tales of this world. There are interesting characters, fascinating towns, and it is easy to follow the story. It can be gripping, and it does get exciting too. Not all see the dragons as the rulers of the sky when they look like these dragons, and that is a good set up and thoughts as you learn to like the characters.

I enjoyed this first book and I am looking forward to the next one.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner. I think this is the US cover, I have the UK one, but I prefer this one cos it it very fantasy, while the UK have a blue dragon on it and that is it

Reason For Reading: I reviewed this for the David Gemmel Legend awards for Fantasy

Final thoughts: Not as good as the Farseer books (but then I looove those), but a good number 2 with the Fool series. But Hobb always writes good fantasy

Renegade's Magic by Robin Hobb

Renegade's Magic, Book 3 in the Soldier Son triology by Robin Hobb

Nevare Burvelle dreamed about becoming a cavalla officer, but then the Speck Plague came to Old Thares, and his life would change forever. After being disowned by his father he fled to Getty's, a small garrison at the edge of the Speck forest. And then he was accused of horrific crimes, and fled while implanting memories in the memories of those who thought they beat him to death.

In the forest of the mysterious Specks is the treewoman he cares for, Lisana. While stuggling to keep seperate his speck self Soldier's Boy from Nevare, he will venture deep into the woods and claim his right as a Great One.

Can he save the woods and the ancestor trees from being destroyed from the Gernian invaders. And can he save those he loves in Gernia from being killed by the Specks?

While the 2 sides of him struggle for power the faith of those he care about on both sides will be decided.

I left of feeling depressed after book 2. He is incredibly fat, hated by all (except the Specks), and I just saw no end at all to this series. Hobb sure has a way of writing, she spares no one, instead the puts it out there. Life is not always fair. Innocent people are wronged, and I felt so sorry for Nevare.

Book 3 starts with him fleeing from Gettys. At least he will win I think, but he is not happy being split into two. And I like the Specs, they just want their forest, and the Gernians see them as a primitive folk who foolishly believe on magic. They can't imagine that magic is really real, instead they fight with Iron and destroy more "primitive" people. Yes there are connections, not to mention something that happens later on and really echoes another era.

So what did I think, well hard to say since I was so afraid for Nevare. If I read it again I could relax more. But it was good, no where as good as the Farseer Trilogy though.

And it's not epic fantasy cos the world is really near ours when they have real guns. But I kinda liked that twist cos it fits here.