Fantasy Book Club discussion

Who will be reading,Fool's Assassin by Robin Hobb, our winner for month February?
As usual, no spoilers this thread.

I'll do my best :) I've only read one other book by Robin Hobb, so this will be interesting, since I seem to have missed a lot of books in the series before this one.

I have been looking forward to reading this one. I finished the Tawny man series last year. I will be interesting to hear what people think of this book if they have not read the preceding series about Fitz.

I read this a few months ago....I think it will be hard if you are not used to Hobb's pace, but it is a great addition to the larger series.

I'm waiting the end of the series before reading.

I'm now here, I've ordered the book to read this month although I'm now a little concerned having read these comments as I thought it was the first in a series. I've never read Hobb before and I'm just trying to venture into fantasy writing having read only a little of it.

Katrina-Hobb is great-but her world building is something to take seriously. I would try and read the Farseer trilogy first. It starts with Assassin's Apprentice

I read this last month, so I'm looking forward to discuss this and see what everyone else think of it.

While I would certainly suggest reading her prior books first, Fool's Assassin may actually be a more approachable intro for people who don't normally read fantasy...

Anyway, I read this when it came out, and adored it. Will be interested in seeing the reactions of others.

I read this last summer with a NetGalley. Looking forward to discussing, but probably won't do a full re-read.

Looking forward to giving it a shot. :)

The only books I've read from Robin Hobb was the Soilder's Son trilogy. So this will be a new experience for me. Will probably start it this week.

As a big Hobb fan, I think readers need to start from the beginning in order to really appreciate Fritz, what he has been through. Not a great place to startfrothy new readers.

I read/bought the book when it came out, and felt the whole book was a setup for the trilogy.

I have to agree with Kevin, though I have yet to read this newest book.

I was planning to read this but I have not read any of the series yet. I guess I should probably start with the first one, instead.

Maggie wrote: "Katrina-Hobb is great-but her world building is something to take seriously. I would try and read the Farseer trilogy first. It starts with Assassin's Apprentice"

I think I have Assassin's Apprentice in the house so I'll have to go and dig it out.

I bought the book and will start reading it soon. I have loved the past books, so I"m excited there is a new one and I'll get to see some of my favorite characters.

I have already read it, love her work.

I just received the book from the library. So I am just begining it. I look forward to it.

Read it in January. My first (ever) review on Goodreads

So I do agree with Kevin and Brenda...

Loved the book and The Elderling stories

I have tried to get myself in the habit of not starting a series until all books are out, however, I love Robin Hobb too much to wait. I was so excited when I heard she was writing another book about Fitz and the Fool, I knew I wouldn't be able to resist for long.

I've read the Farseer, Liveship Traders, and Tawny Man trilogies, and three of the four books in the Rain Wild Chronicles. I plan to go back and read the last of the Rain Wild books after Fool's Assassin.

Ok. Started the book and was a little lost. Solution, I went to Wikipedia and read everything on the characters and places of Elderlings, and the plot summaries of all six Fitz novel. Now everything makes sense and I'm about a quarter of the way through the book. It is great. Just so everyone knows. I do plan to go back and read all the previous Fitz novels.

Tnkw01 wrote: "Ok. Started the book and was a little lost. Solution, I went to Wikipedia and read everything on the characters and places of Elderlings, and the plot summaries of all six Fitz novel. Now everythin..."

That is a great idea to catch up on the world without having to re-read all of the books when an author has years between books in a series.

On my part I found it difficult to put every new character at their rigth relation. So after 2 ou 3 chapters, I went back at the beggining of the book and build a table of the characters and their relationship. It helped a lot.

Do you think I should send it to add the table of character within the wiki page of Fool's assasin or is it going to be to big a spoiler?

Just started this one yesterday. Having not read any of the series before this I agree with what others have said that this might not be the best starting point - it is a little tough to understand so far.

Then again, I started reading the drizzt series with book 20 or so and backtracked from there, so I have a history of being confused.

I'm going to try extra note taking and character charts to get through this one. Even with me being lost I still like it so far.

Hello Brandon,
it would be a very good idea to read at the very least the The Complete Farseer Trilogy: Assassin's Apprentice, Royal Assassin, Assassin's Quest and The Complete Tawny Man Trilogy: Fool's Errand, The Golden Fool, Fool's Fate before reading the Fool's Assassin...

I was mixed with the characters even if I had read twice the 2 trilogies... ;-)

I just bought assassin's apprentice, so it'll be a while before I learn about the fool.

I'm loving the book so far - I'm about halfway through. I feel like I'm spending time with old friends!

Tnkwoi, my heart nearly stopped when I read that you'd cribbed the first two trilogies (I know I mean first and third) from wiki. I'm glad you're planning to read them. They are fabulous.

I haven't read this as I'm trying to wait but I imagine it would be difficult as the other series are quite complex. I didn't notice how the Ships set fitted in (other than same world) until I read all the Elderlings back to back. At that point, I kept having 'aha' moments.

Helen wrote: "Tnkwoi, my heart nearly stopped when I read that you'd cribbed the first two trilogies (I know I mean first and third) from wiki. I'm glad you're planning to read them. They are fabulous.

I haven'..."

Helen, sorry for just now responding, just now saw this post. I guess because I started the story, went back and read Wiki and then finished the story, it all made perfect sense. Again, I plan on reading the rest, IF I can find the time.

Hi there, well I know I'm awfully late for this subject, but I just had to respond to this lovely novel. I've been a member for years, but I've actually never commented on anything, a little shy I guess. But this book was such a excellent experience that I stopped somewhere, I suppose a third in and picked up the very first trilogy and began to read. Robin Hobb or whatever you name is I think I love you. Thanks for a nice juicy multi-trilogy for me to consume. It's been awhile.

Chime in any time!

We aren't always on the same book at the same time.
:)
Welcome
;)

Hi Jamie, welcome and well done for taking the plunge. I'm forever telling people to read all her books. Although you need tissues for some.