Fantasy Buddy Reads discussion

June 3rd

I might join this. who all are reading this?

At this point it's just me and Diana but I figured to bump this since we are starting in a few days and see if anyone else wanted to join in. Hopefully you will be able to join us Manju.

Oops, missed Manju's comment. I'm planning on starting this one Monday.

I'll be starting later tonight. It's been a while since I read the original trilogy so I'm hoping it won't take too long to get up to speed.

I'm going to be a little late. Will try to start Tuesday or Wed.

No problem. I'll look for you early in the week :)

Was planning to push it to a later date but I will start today. I have other open books so I will go slow with this.

I shouldn't have worried about the amount of time since reading the first trilogy, Hobb has done a nice job re-introducing the characters early on.
(view spoiler)[Chade's mysterious ways contiue right away. (hide spoiler)]

I think I read assassin's quest in '15. Who's this Chade? 😬

Oh I didn't realize it was the original cast. I thought it was another spin off one like Liveship Traders. That makes me more excited to get into this one.

Manju wrote: "I think I read assassin's quest in '15. Who's this Chade? 😬"

He's the original (view spoiler)[ assassin. The mentor that lives in the walls. The king's brother in the first trilogy. (hide spoiler)]

Thanks Diana!

Remembered him once I went deeper into the chapter.

Chapter 1

(view spoiler)[started really strong with Chade requesting Fitz to come back and train new team with Skill. Though he refused for now but I know he will go back soon. Miserable days ahead with him being near to Molly and Nettle. (hide spoiler)]

Manju wrote: "Thanks Diana!

Remembered him once I went deeper into the chapter.

Chapter 1"

(view spoiler)[You're right Manju, this won't go well. :/ (hide spoiler)]

5 chapters down and

(view spoiler)[ first and foremost the details Hobb goes in to remind us what had happened in previous books.

she summarized Fitz's relation with Chade, Burrich, Molly, and Fool as his present day's musing about his past. didn't feel like too stretched or boring. may be i didn't find it tiring as i read the first trilogy three years ago... but I will take it as a good sign for me.

When will Fitz learn? Starling's betrayal of him was expected (but her association with Chade came as a surprise for me), specially when Fool made an appearance in the book and how Fitz hesitate to tell him how Starling deceived him.

what's the average age of wolf? what's the timeline of these books? it was said that Fool is meeting Fitz after 15 years and that makes Nighteye and Fitz's bonding some 15-20 year old... I will be very unhappy if Nighteye meet an unexpected death in these books..

am surprised that Fool didn't go back to Buckkeep after the events of Assassin's Quest... stayed away and now he wants Fitz to go to Buckkeep with him... (hide spoiler)]

Manju wrote: "5 chapters down and."

(view spoiler)[I read the first trilogy in 2012 so I'm with you on the re-introduction in the first couple of chapters, it didn't seem slow to me either.
Good question about Nighteyes. I'm hoping maybe the bonding might extend his life but that's probably grasping at straws. Wasn't there a mention of his graying muzzle? (hide spoiler)]

Just started it. Chapter 1. (view spoiler)[ Fitz is the prince's father? What? He slept with Queen K? (I'm not even going to try to spell her name on my phone). I remember what I thought was him in Verity's head when verity slept with her. Am I remembering that backwards? Also, who's the new boy who lives with Fitz? And how is Nighteyes still alive? It's been like 15 years or more since we first met him. (hide spoiler)]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Just started it. Chapter 1. [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[It's been so long but I don't remember Fitz being the father. The new boy will be explained pretty quickly but I'm still trying to figure out if there is more to his identity than is initially revealed......I'm becoming very suspicious of everything. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 7
(view spoiler)[I thought we were going to lose Nighteyes right here. (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 8&9
(view spoiler)[Ton of background in these two chapters, it has slowed down just a bit through these two chapters. (hide spoiler)]

Diana, your question (view spoiler)[ about Fitz and the paternity of the prince is answered more clearly in chapter 9. It all came back to me after this explanation. (hide spoiler)]

Yet to read beyond chapter 5. Will read tonight..

Ctgt wrote: "Chapters 8&9
[spoilers removed]

Diana, your question [spoilers removed]"

I don't remember which chapter I'm on now but I guess I'm not there yet.

(view spoiler)[ The Fool has just shown up. Lots of gaps are being filled in. I still feel like I missed a step. Like the fighting on the ship that the Fool and Fitz both experienced. Is that from the Liveship Traders? And what's this wooden crown. Is that from book 3? I don't remember it. I'm waiting for Nighteyes to die, Fitz to get lonely and go back to the castle, where he finds Burrich and Molly and he ends up teaching both of *his* kids (since I guess the prince is his? Still waiting for that explanation). And he takes his new boy with him. Drama ensues. (hide spoiler)]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "Just started it. Chapter 1. [spoilers removed]"

i have no idea how did that happen. :/ that little boy Starling brought to Fitz.

I'm really enjoying this book. It has a nostalgia factor. Like coming home. I'm at 43%. I see (view spoiler)[ The Fool is still in love with Fitz. And Fitz is still clueless. But I do like that Fitz is more mature. He's more logical and likable in his older age. (hide spoiler)]

I think the writing has gotten better, too. I loved the first book, Assassin't Apprentice, but I think Robin Hobb's writing talent is getting better and better.

70% (view spoiler)[ I've been suspecting Laurel of being in with the witted and I guess this is confirmation? (hide spoiler)]

Diana Stormblessed wrote: "70% [spoilers removed]"

wow!! you are a reading express!!

Chapter 5-10

(view spoiler)[Fool is back! he is one of my favorite character from the original trilogy and he has matured so nicely in all the year since I last met him.

poor Fitz! everyone wants a slice of him.

got the connection between Dutiful and Fitz, i don't know what would happen when Fitz would be around Dutiful.

the chapter where NIghteyes almost died, wow, it gave me goosebumps. all three did what they could to save the other and came so close to losing themselves. How will it be like for Fitz if Nighteye died or vice-versa? will they make a new bond?

Will this Hop play any significant role in coming chapters? he is getting quite the focus for now..

writing, as Diana said, definitely has improved from the Farseer trilogy, at least am not falling asleep. :P Fitz too has come a long way from the days of original trilogy where he just kept whining, instead actually doing something. or may be he is just away from the civilization, whatever is the case, I am liking him very much for now.

Fool talked about the White Prophet before him, was she someone from the Livship trilogy? i am yet to read that one... will i get some major spoiler about that trilogy in this book? (hide spoiler)]

Manju wrote: "wow!! you are a reading express!!"

I concur:)

Manju wrote: "Chapter 5-10.."

(view spoiler)[I'm around 50% done and there have been some references to Liveship but nothing truly spoilerish.
Not sure what the story is with the White Prophet, also trying to figure out the Fool's background. Is he supposed to be some type of elderling? (hide spoiler)]

I have 10% left in the book. I don't think I've ever gone through a book this fast. I am listening to it on audio and i listened all during my commute to and from work, during work, last night while cooking, in bed before going to sleep. I think I listened to like 12 hours worth yesterday. Usually I average about 6. I cannot put this book down.

Manju wrote: "Chapter 5-10

Fool is back! he is one of my favorite character from the original trilogy and he has matured so nicely in all the year since I last met him.

poor Fitz! everyone wants a slice of him..."


I don't think the white prophet was in Liveship. I remember there being reference to her in the original trilogy I think.

I seriously love Fool in this book. I hated him in the original trilogy because I thought he was just mean. But how Fitz has matured and become less whiny, the Fool has matured as well. I seriously love coming back to these characters.

I've been listening to the audio as well.....I have about 2 hours left. I have a busy weekend but hopefully I can still get it done over the next few days. One of the things I love about Hobb's writing is how her characters evolve and grow.

Chapter 28
(view spoiler)[ I knew it was coming but it still hurts to lose Nighteyes. Sets up an interesting situation with both of them losing an animal partner. Also trying to figure out the feathers angle....obviously has something to do with the wooden crown but I can't put together the clues yet. (hide spoiler)]

Ctgt wrote: "Chapter 28
[spoilers removed]"
(view spoiler)[ I meant to ask about the feathers. I feel like both the crown and the feathers are from Liveship Traders (since the feathers were found on treasure island) but I can't remember their significance (hide spoiler)]

Could be, although I'm hoping it was a small reference because I can't remember anything about it. Are you folks interested in continuing the trilogy?

am yet to finish. will resume tomorrow. i think i will continue.

Ctgt wrote: "Could be, although I'm hoping it was a small reference because I can't remember anything about it. Are you folks interested in continuing the trilogy?"

Yes! Definitely.

20 chapters are done and (view spoiler)[ this certainly is so much better than the first trilogy. Fitz is behaving more like an assassin in this. he is not impulsive (perhaps because he is mature now), he pay attention to what is said around him and more cautious of his surroundings. Nighteye has been a big help all along.

the plot including Dutiful is quite complex but also very intriguing. controlling the prince through his witted animal, am amazed at that as the relation between Nighteye and Fitz is of equals but in the other one animal is completely controlling prince. and in turn the animal is controlled by someone else. very strange magic so far. Hope Hobb will do all the explaining for this unlike in original trilogy where she introduced a form of magic and then just left it behind in the next book. (hide spoiler)]

Manju wrote: "20 chapters are done and this certainly is so much better than the first trilogy. Fitz is behaving more like an assassin in this. he is not impulsive (perhaps because he is mature now), he pay atte..."

I don't remember remember how far chapter 20 is but in regards to (view spoiler)[the animal controlling Dutiful, read on as it's not as is seems. (hide spoiler)] Also, you might want to spoiler tag that whole paragraph for anyone who decides to read this book later on.

hmm... okay.

I know Diana is interested in continuing the series, how about you Manju? Early July for the next book?

Ctgt wrote: "I know Diana is interested in continuing the series, how about you Manju? Early July for the next book?"

Happy to BR.

Early July okay for you, Diana?

Ctgt wrote: "Early July okay for you, Diana?"

Sounds good!

If July 2nd works for both of you I'll have the mods add the date. Do you want to just add the third book for the beginning of August? Say August 1st?

Sounds good