Fantasy Book Club discussion

Post here when finished.

It is always a pleasure to read Fitz's story and now his daughter Bee's as well. Oh Fitz...your tragedies are cruel and yet you keep living to endure more. Molly's death hit hard. The Fool's return was harsh and very informative. The Servants snatching Bee with bizarre magic. Revel...Nooo. Can't wait for the next one.

Oh and a book a year...grrm please take notes.

I like the addition of bringing Bees' perspective in. I am thinking Molly dying leaves it open for Fitz to wit bond again, since he would probably never bond again while he was married.

It was interesting Bee was able to have a conversation with Nighteyes (wolf father)

Robin Hobb is doing a good job at keeping the stories of Fitz going. This book started off like a "life after the last ending" and I started to think that it was too much, but as the story progressed, it was not the case. I am looking forward to another Fitz trilogy and can't wait until the next book. Do you think there will be more of Bee's persecutive in the next book?

Well, I really fell in love with Bee and with her kidnapping at the end, it broke my hard. The most disturbing part was she was almost glad to see the kidnappers (Servants). Can't wait to read to the next book.

I read this last year when it first came out, and I loved Bee, i loved her to pieces. it's true you have to read the farseer trilogy, the tawny man series before this to understand the importance of the meeting with the fool in the end. The whole white prophet term started way before this book, also the way the POV changes from Fitz to Bee is magnificent I embraced it. I loved that this new little girl is both Fitz and Molly's creation and i thought finally they had a child other than Nettle because Nettle was very 'out of the picture' so to speak, and it showed it really showed. But it's interesting to see what happens with Nettle now.
I also liked that nighteyes was re-introduced and that's why its crucial for readers to read her trilogies mentioned above.
Ofcourse i was so sad that molly died, oh my God i teared up for Fitz but Bee, little Bee the cutest little thing ever, she'll keep Mollys legacy...

it's feels like a new generation of Fitz and the fool and can't wait for the next book.

Tnkw01 wrote: "Well, I really fell in love with Bee and with her kidnapping at the end, it broke my hard. The most disturbing part was she was almost glad to see the kidnappers (Servants). Can't wait to read to t..."

I think that had something to do with the magic, but maybe she just felt like she was going home... I look forward to reading the next one.

I loved Bee and its a long time since I read the other books but it was great to hear about Fitz again. Poor Fitz I hope he gets some happiness soon...and to wait for a year (or 2 for the final book of the trilogy) to find out!

I enjoyed the book so much - it was neat seeing Fitz and some of his life with Molly. And I really liked Bee. I sure disliked Shun, and I was surprised by the ending - especially by the deaths. What a fun book - I'm so glad this group decided to read it.

I love how we are able to see things from both Fitz's and Bee's points of view. It's a little frustrating, though, when they have misunderstanding and miscommunication. But then it makes their triumphs all the more touching, such as when Fitz stands up for Bee when her tutor complained about her after the first day of school.

By the way, does anyone else feel that Fitz stabbing the Fool a little forced? It seems to me that Fitz reaction is a bit too much and it's as if it's there to make sure that Fitz has to leave to heal the Fool and thereby leaving Bee alone at home.

A wonderful book that, at first, I thought was a little slow, but I discovered I as so enthralled I could not put it down.

Don't you hate to rush-read to the end and then discover, NO! It's ending! I need more!

Bee was endearing and I was shocked she became so submissive under the kidnapper's spell. Arhgh! The Pain!

I enjoyed this so much that I've looped back around. As of this evening, I'm finishing the first book in the Tawny Man series, having finished the Farseer Trilogy last week. I'd meant to get around to Robin Hobb's work eventually and this seemed a timely opportunity. Sadly, I set City of Stairs aside for it, wanting to retain the continuity of Fitz's story without a break. I'll be picking up CoS after the Robin Hobb binge. Thank you to the group for the nudge.

Femmy wrote: "I love how we are able to see things from both Fitz's and Bee's points of view. It's a little frustrating, though, when they have misunderstanding and miscommunication. But then it makes their triu..."

This book was a mixed bag for me. I hated that stabby stabby bit...I had to put the book down and walk away. It was devastating, as was the condition of the Fool. I am back reading Fools Errand now , just to remember the closeness of the connection when Fool stayed at Fitz's cabin. What upset me about Fools Assassin (amongst the many things!) was that the scene in Chades rooms with Fitz/Fool lacked any of the connection they once had, it was just poorly written. Reading the beautifully written, detailed chapters in when Fool returns to Fitz in Fools Errand again made it starker. I do hope that F A was purposely slow and troublesome, just to wind us readers up! I can't wait for Fools Quest.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks for making this a group read. I enjoyed reading how other people feel about the book. In my circle of friends, there aren't many High Fantasy fans so it is good to hear from others.

Robin Hobb is a wonderful writer and world builder and it was great fun to sink down into the world of the Six Duchies again with all the memorable characters. I know that Fitz only wants to live a "normal" life but his destiny lies elsewhere. for him, Normal is just what he is living with all its discordant parts. I hope in the end he comes to realize that. I knew who Bee was the moment she appeared but even knowing that I enjoyed watching her grow. It is funny that Fitz didn't see it as well. Perhaps you don't see the forest when you stand next to the tree. It took a while to get the different POV's from chapter to chapter. Bee will make a wonderful young lady, strong and magical and rise above the FarSeer Clan someday.

The rush at the end of the book felt hurried after all those pages of every day life and troubles. Sorry to see the death of some warm and loving characters but am looking forward to the new ones that are sure to replace them in the next book.

Femmy wrote: "I love how we are able to see things from both Fitz's and Bee's points of view. It's a little frustrating, though, when they have misunderstanding and miscommunication. But then it makes their triu..."

I was pretty surprised by that too, I know he has been trained to kill etc, but I didn't think that Fitz would so readily start stabbing someone without thinking so see who they were/what was happening. I am just assuming that his love of Bee and his almost obsessive behaviour of protecting her clouded his judgement.

But, as you said, it does allow for Bee to be left alone...

I also found the stabbing too quick at the time... but in hindsight there is plenty of foreshadowing. Fitz has always been hot-tempered, but since things started going wrong with Molly's health he became more and more... twitchy. Remember the first talk with Chade and Shun, where in a split second he goes from perfectly calm to turning on Shun (iirc throwing her to the ground with a hand around her throat threatening to kill her, or things to that effect). And then in town with the dogs and the dog-man - no cunning plan, just instant violence. Fitz has always been paranoid about himself, but balanced that with a sense of duty - about Bee, he's just plain paranoid, and on top of that you can add extreme anxiety and a fair helping of PTSD...

I was surprised and did not like when the baby was narrating, but it was something different and strange.

Valyssia wrote: "I enjoyed this so much that I've looped back around. As of this evening, I'm finishing the first book in the Tawny Man series, having finished the Farseer Trilogy last week. I'd meant to get around..."
I binged on Hobb too, reading all that came before including the 'Live Ship Traders' and the 'Dragon Keeper' set ... Whew! Loved them all! :)

Yeah, I've wrapped them up since that post. It's a really solid series. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Valyssia wrote: "Yeah, I've wrapped them up since that post. It's a really solid series. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did."
Sure did. I just can't wait for the next Fitz book. Write like the wind, Robin Hobbs! :)